This book will reconstruct and analyze the logic and frameworks surrounding positive evaluations of popular art in articles and books predominantly published in the United States and western Europe. It will also examine negative evaluations of the popular, especially those that have successfully prevented the popular from being perceived as (good) art and still provide partially effective counterarguments today. This book will examine both relevant judgments on individual works and groups of works as well as general judgments and assessments.

Examines positive assessments regarding the artistic qualities of popular works Provides an overview of the various ways to classify and categorize popular artifacts aesthetically Analyses the most important and topical discussions in the fields of music, literature, painting, film, and photography

Autorentext

Thomas Hecken ist Professor für Neuere deutsche Literatur, insbesondere Pop & Populäre Kulturen an der Universität Siegen.

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Part I: Fundamental Questions .- Chapter 2: Standardization.- Chapter 3: Stimulus.- Chapter 4: Aesthetics.- Chapter 5: Defining Art.- Chapter 6: Is Art Useful?.- Chapter 7: Is Entertainment Art?.- Chapter Chapter 8: Are Events, Environments, and Star Performances Art?.- Chapter 9: The Art of the Show?.- Chapter 10: Can Works By Amateurs Be Art?.- Part II: Particular Valorisations : P opular Artifacts as Good Art .- Chapter 11: What's Popular.- Chapter 12: The Popular and the 'People'.- Chapter 13: Bestselling Novels: Realism.- Chapter 14: Genre Paradigms.- Chapter 15: Praise for 'Popular' Genres.- Chapter 16: Entertaining.- Chapter 17: Trash.- Chapter 18: Spotlight on the Star.- Chapter 19: Clichés on Display.- Chapter 20: Rock 'n' Roll: Grotesque enough to sell a million.- Chapter 21: The Modern Art of Rock.- Chapter 22: The Art of Pop Music.- Chapter 23: Images and Pop Fashion as Art.- Chapter 24: The Feeling and Mood of Recipients.- Chapter 25: Complexity and the Popular.- Chapter 26: Conclusion.