American Art Since 1945

World of Art

by David Joselit

No other introductory book presents the diversity and complexity of postwar American art from Abstract Expressionism to the present as clearly and succinctly as this groundbreaking survey. David Joselit traces and analyzes the contradictory formal, ideological, and political conditions during this period that made American art predominant throughout the world. Social and cultural transformations rooted in mass media technologies―photography, television, video, and the Internet―elevated consumer commodities to the status of legitimate art subjects, as in pop and installation art, and also brought about a mechanization of the creative act. Canonical movements and figures are discussed at length―Pollock, Rothko, Krasner, Oldenburg, Johns, Warhol, Paik, Ruscha, Sherman, Schnabel, Koons, Barney, and others―in juxtaposition with lesser known contemporary artists and practices. 183 illustrations, 80 in color

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

David Joselit is an American art historian who is currently Professor of Art, Film, and Visual Studies at Harvard University, and also a published author, including being an editor of October.

Reviews

[Tram Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was supposed to be my rented text book for an Art history class, but I ended up keeping it with a thought that I might need it later. And yet I was right, I am reading this again for my Capstone thesis class and I am so grateful for this book. It covers thoroughly the most important artworks during the Contemporary and Modern eras, which are still relevant nowadays. I found myself recognizing a lot of works while I am in the museums in California and New York thanks to this book as well. Also, this book is a huge inspiration for new artists like me. My final project is based on the concoction of the ideas of Joseph Kosuth, Sol Lewitt, Yoko Ono and Hana Wilke. I hope I could deliver the message as welly done as how these artists did with theirs. 5*/5*

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up looking for a sort of primer on post war/contemporary art. While the text delivered the synopsis/refresher I was looking for (3 stars), I still find myself disappointed at the end (1.5 stars). Published in 2003, it reads as if women artists didn’t appear in the art world until the 1970s when identity politics suddenly entered the scene.

Skimming the images, each of the first five chapters include visuals for two women artists with one chapter maxing out at three (!). (Numbers for male artists vary, but often have more visual depth for one artist, which also translates to a higher word count dedicated to their work.)

Suddenly, in chapter 6, with the introduction of the “feminist personae,” the number of women jumps to 10 artists! Lest you be concerned, the first half of the chapter is still focused on men with 9 men discussed overall. (Don’t get me started on other marginalized identities. These artists can also be counted on one hand. In that same chapter on identity, 1 Asian artist and 4 Black artists are included.)

The final chapter is a mad dash through the 80s and 90s with a similar sort of frenetic energy. Admittedly, it’s an ambitious ask for any author to cover 55 years of art within 250 pages. Joselit leaves readers pining for the halcyon days of the immediate post-war years, when one could truly admire the greats… or maybe he just wasn’t looking hard enough to expand the canon of art history.

Despite my rant, again, it serves as a succinct primer to the time period and major movements. The themes and issues remain relevant today and, in all honesty, it probably offers a more diverse perspective than most of my college textbooks back in the day.

[David C Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful survey. Begins with a quick summary of AbEx and then cruises through Rauschenberg, John’s et al to get to the main focus which is conceptual art in which mass, commercial media has basically swamped the art object. The work of art disappears into the artist which has wider ramifications which are not explored here.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice treatment of a pretty broad subject, if a bit academically inclined. Understanding a period of art history benefits from multiple sources and overlapping passes. Churn it until you learn it. Take what you like and leave the rest for others. I will revisit this one.

[HeyT · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Joselit gives a somewhat nice survey of American Art since 1945. I think it was organized well by movement in a mostly chronological way. My main complaint is that it is a little bit too cerebral and dense.