What is the best way to understand the recent development of American art? An older tradition of commentary focuses on the role of tradition, noting how each new form of painting is rooted in a long history. But Jack Bankoswky and some other art writers discussing Andy Warhol have adapted a different approach, arguing that his art breaks radically…

This essay sketches out the reasons for Clement Greenberg's influence and the relationship between his reception as a critic and the emergence of art criticism as a "discipline," a phenomenon that corresponds, as Amy Newman observes, with the early history of "Artforum". But it is much more than mere "correspondence." This essay also suggests,…

A focus on school reform within the field of elementary education has brought an arts-integrated approach to teaching and learning to the forefront. This is not a new approach, as integrating what many call "hands-on activities" in the classroom is quite common. The difference lies in the quality and depth of the approach to teaching and learning,…

This article explores how online pathfinders can best meet the information needs of graduate students and foster advanced research. The article reviews the literature on pathfinders, including the historic characteristics of print pathfinders, and the recommendations that have emerged for online pathfinder content. The article explores the…

In this article, the author contends that the vast majority of American historians no longer regard American culture--whether high culture or mainstream popular culture--as an essential area of study. The much-vaunted culture turn in the humanities has run its course in one of the first disciplines it influenced. Indeed, most of the books today…

There is plenty of literature, including exhibition catalogues, journal articles, and books written for those interested in learning and teaching about African art. Information on individual artists from the countries of Africa is also increasing. These sources attempt to highlight the artists' lives, education, working conditions and what they…

This article examines the cultural history of slide projection technologies by focusing upon how such technologies acquire cultural meaning. The meanings acquired by these technologies emerge in areas as diverse as public and domestic entertainment, religion, science, and education. I identify three important discursive shifts impacting the…

There is a perception in British universities and art colleges that art students are not very good at writing, that they don't want to write, and furthermore, that writing gets in the way of the real business of making art. These perceptions are reinforced in much of the literature that has been produced about, and in support of, undergraduate art…

Numerous incidents have been reported in recent years wherein a work of art is mistaken as trash. The question is, how have people reached the point in the civilized world where a purported work of art cannot be distinguished from a pile of rubbish or a grid of condensation pipes? The answer to that question lies in the basic assumption of nearly…

This article describes how medieval cartography and art showing landscape scenes communicate important geographical knowledge. Specific attention is devoted to "Haymaking," the 1565 painting of Pieter Brueghel. (JDH)

Discusses Picasso's freestanding sculpture Baboon and Young, and art activities for using the sculpture with elementary and secondary students are suggested. A listing of resources is also included. (RM)

Brief history of American art institutions and records documenting their activities describes archival practices at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, which was founded in 1805. Major principles of archival arrangement (provenance, original order) and research requests are noted. Draft guidelines for museum archives and nine references are…

This tongue-in-cheek article calls for the critical reexamination of the history of modern art. The author believes that modern art is neither an extension of the Renaissance aesthetic nor a collective by-product of artists possessed of creative genius. Creators of modern art were actually representational artists suffering from visual stuttering.…

The feature article of this issue of Translations: "Educational Reform and Its Connection to Art Instruction: Art and Writing" (James Blasingname) presents the history and purposes of art education. This purpose falls within the broadly stated "Art for Life's Sake." The editors chose articles that "promote research on how people grapple with life…

In addition to a historic overview of papermaking, this book explains the painstaking process of papermaking and details the results of actually making paper from samples of grass gathered from Arizona to Minnesota, and Maine to California, including 11 states and climates. The book describes how to teach papermaking and offers a list of equipment…