Julian Stallabrass

This 2003 book is already a bit superceded by time passing (as you would expect in this fast-moving zone of culture) but a very good starting point for explorations into the relationship between art and the internet. Some stimulating ideas and corrections of assumptions about the technology involved but probably best read by specialists.

This book is less about art works than it is about the art world. It attempts to evaluate the art world's self-images, and to explain the art-world economy and its place in global political economies. It is a dense book, requiring close attention to keep up with the strands of argument; but it does not reek of social-scientific verbosity. Even if one finally rejects all or part of the argument, it will have made one do some hard thinking.

I had been looking for a book that would explain to show more me why I should give a rat's backside about art critics' and curators' evaluations of contemporary art. This provided a partial answer to that question. I thought that the argument is well-made. I wish it were more comprehensive, but then it is constrained by being an introduction and by being about contemporary art. I know I did not fully understand it the first time through, so I will have to read it again. I look forward to doing so. show less

Focuses too much on the relationship between art and economics instead of showing us the actual art.

Reviewed by Marina Warner for the LRB here:

http://books.guardian.co.uk/lrb/articles/0,6109,156452,00.html

Reviewed by Adrian Searle for the Guardian here:

http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/artsandentertainment/story/0,6000,131199...

Reviewed by Simon Pooley for Socialist Review here [scroll down]:

http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/sr244/books.htm

Reviewed by Ralph Rugoff for LA Weekly here:

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/00/03/wls-rugoff.php