Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach

by Margaret Lazzari, Dona Schlesier

Giving you an appreciation for artworks and art styles across time and across the world, EXPLORING ART: A GLOBAL, THEMATIC APPROACH, 5E provides a solid foundation of art basics and then presents art through themes such as religion, power and politics, sexuality, mind and body, mortality and immortality, nature and technology, and entertainment and visual culture. Art Experiences features in every chapter and an all-new Chapter 15, Art in Your Life, draw explicit connections between art and daily life, illustrating how art is all around us as well as providing suggestions for interacting with art. Timelines with thumbnail images help you easily draw chronological connections between works, and detailed world maps illustrate geographical relevance. In addition to new works by such artists as Tomatsu Shomei, Cindy Sherman, Doris Salcedo, George Rickey, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keeffe, Hans Holbeing, James McNeill Whistler, Paul Klee, Giorgio de Chirico, Kay Sage, and Alexander Calder, the fifth edition offers expanded representation of contemporary artists from around the globe, including Julie Mehretu, Zaha Hadid, Ai Weiwei, Banksy, Anish Kapoor, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Do Ho Suh, Korczak Ziolkowski, and Marina Abramovic. Also available with the fifth edition, MindTap provides the ultimate personal learning experience through an interactive eBook, digital activities, author videos for each chapter, apps, and more.

Genres: Art, History, Textbooks, School

512 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2004

Reviews

[Jeanette]

I read this as part of my Intro to Art college course.

[MRWee]

Better than the standard text used for Art Appreciation, in that it departs from the standard timeline approach to art history and takes into greater account non-Western art and perspectives. The thematic approach lends itself to a visual communication/visual studies approach for the material which allows for flexibility in how/when to cover the different themes.

-never used the timelines included, so they seemed like an afterthought. Can they be integrated better?

-the book is utterly lacking in LGBTQ representation--making only TWO references in the entire text.

[summer]

This was a great read! Lots of material covered and it doesn't just include Western art/art history. I do wish there was more elaboration on some of the historical explorations; at times it felt a little rushed through.

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎]

Had to read this book for my Art as Communication class. I actually liked the class in general the book was okay read.

[Troy]

We explored art.

[Norren]

Easy to follow, informative, and has a plethora of pictures involving the art pieces/processes described in the text. I enjoyed reading it this semester.

[Margo]

I officially read this textbook cover to cover, aside from the afterword and the index, and it was a good look at art history. The chapters are diverse and the categories offer a new look to how art connects. Most art history books I have read focus on particular regions or time periods, but this book focuses on general topics and touches on various pieces for each topic. A well rounded approach to art history.

[Edward O'Neill]

A different approach to art: art as a cultural phenomenon, ways of living--inhabitation, worship, decoration of human tools, etc.

Important European art is there, too. But the context is wider. I found this a stimulating approach.

[Staci]

A must read for art educators!