Synopses & Reviews
Taking aim at the mostly male bastion of art theory and criticism, Mira Schor brings a maverick perspective and provocative voice to the issues of contemporary painting, gender representation, and feminist art. Writing from her dual perspective of a practicing painter and art critic, Schorandrsquo;s writing has been widely read over the past fifteen years in
Artforum,
Art Journal,
Heresies, and
M/E/A/N/I/N/G, a journal she coedited. Collected here, these essays
challenge established hierarchies of the art world of the 1980s and 1990s and document the intellectual and artistic development that have marked Schorandrsquo;s own progress as a critic.
Bridging the gap between art practice, artwork, and critical theory, Wet includes some of Schorandrsquo;s most influential essays that have made a significant contribution to debates over essentialism. Articles range from discussions of contemporary women artists Ida Applebroog, Mary Kelly, and the Guerrilla Girls, to andquot;Figure/Ground,andquot; an examination of utopian modernismandrsquo;s fear of the andquot;gooandquot; of painting and femininity. From the provocative andquot;Representations of the Penis,andquot; which suggests novel readings of familiar images of masculinity and introduces new ones, to andquot;Appropriated Sexuality,andquot; a trenchant analysis of David Salleandrsquo;s depiction of women, Wet is a fascinating and informative collection.
Complemented by over twenty illustrations, the essays in Wet reveal Schorandrsquo;s remarkable ability to see and to make others see art in a radically new light.
Review
andldquo;Mira Schorandrsquo;s collected critical art essays are witty, insightful, incisive. As artist, writer, and magazine editor, she shows us cracks in the art worldandrsquo;s walls. She is up-to-date, on target. In a controversial field, she is a bold and confrontational critic.andrdquo;andmdash;Nancy Spero, artist
Review
andldquo;Far more than a collection of random essays, Schorandrsquo;s deliciously titled Wet is a cohesive and lively group of writings addressing issues central to the practice and theory of postmodern art. One is compelled to respect her passion and eloquence and to enjoy her rhetorical flair. Wet is a andlsquo;mustandrsquo; for all scholars, critics, and artists interested in the contemporary art scene.andrdquo;andmdash;Amelia Jones, author of Postmodernism and the En-gendering of Marcel Duchamp
Synopsis
"Far more than a collection of random essays, Schor's deliciously titled "Wet" is a cohesive and lively group of writings addressing issues central to the practice and theory of postmodern art. One is compelled to respect her passion and eloquence and to enjoy her rhetorical flair. "Wet" is a 'must' for all scholars, critics, and artists interested in the contemporary art scene."--Amelia Jones, author of" Postmodernism and the En-gendering of Marcel Duchamp"
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [239]-250) and index.
About the Author
Mira Schor is a painter and writer living in New York City. Coeditor of M/E/A/N/I/N/G from 1986 to 1996, sheand#160; currently teaches at Parsons School of Design.