Depraved: The Story of Dangerous Art

Description: "Timely and punchy... won't let you look away"--The Guardian

''A zesty new history of 'dangerous art, ' from prehistoric 'Venus' figurines to American rapper Cardi B's controversial 2020 hip-hop song WAP." --The Telegraph

A bold, expansive argument for a new way to understand immoral art in our time of cultural and political upheaval

In this unconventional journey through the history of art, philosopher and artist Daisy Dixon explores works of art that society has condemned as depraved, obscene, or dangerous, from prehistoric sculpture to extreme metal music, videogames to classical paintings. Interrogating our sense of morality, past and present, Depraved asks readers to engage with essential questions about art, censorship, social progress, and the eternal debate over right and wrong. Can an artwork speak? How can it shape or distort our world? Who gets to decide whether a work of art is depraved, and what are the qualities that make it so? And of course, what should we do about it?

As art is subjected to renewed criticism in the cultural and political spheres, it is imperative that we examine it with care. Only by understanding the long history of depraved art can we begin to bring our own age into focus. Art can be dangerous--but censorship can be equally catastrophic. Where does this leave us? With wit, fascinating anecdotes, and shrewd analysis, Dixon crafts a path forward that demands a new understanding of the nature of art itself.

Review Quotes: ''Timely and punchy . . . In [Depraved] philosopher Daisy Dixon explores some of the most controversial artworks ever produced.... [and] won't let you look away."--The Guardian

''If art can subtly recalibrate what we do or don't flinch at, it needs to be treated with all the seriousness of a moral agent... Such deconstructions pepper the book and show Dixon at her best. You feel the scales fall from your eyes." --Financial Times

''Compelling . . . Dixon's range is impressive and enjoyably global . . . Dixon, in this deeply impressive book, argues that art can help change the world. Let's hope she's right." --The New Statesman

''A zesty new history of "dangerous art", from prehistoric "Venus" figurines to American rapper Cardi B's controversial 2020 hip-hop song WAP . . . Dixon skips with panache across periods and genres, connecting disparate ideas and artworks." --The Telegraph

''A brilliant story about art's dark power over the human imagination. Daisy Dixon offers bold new ways to think about how art shapes our lives -- and how to engage with art that shocks, horrifies, or harms. An essential, timely, sparklingly smart book for anyone who wants to place the culture wars in their historical and philosophical context." --Dan Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Plantagenets and Henry V

''Daisy Dixon is the guide you need in encountering the disturbing side of human expression. Her book gave me the courage to look closer at depraved art, not fear it, which is the ultimate power."--Helen Carr, author of The Red Prince

"Lively, explicit, provocative. Philosopher Daisy Dixon gives her verdict on depraved art from a diverse group that includes Neolithic cave painters, the Marquis de Sade, Marina Abravomic, and Cardi B." --Nigel Warburton, author A Little History of Philosophy

"Clear, very accessible, and thought-provoking, Depraved is an elegant blend of art history and philosophy that invites us to stare into the abyss while wrestling with the ethics of threatening, shocking, and uncomfortable art." --Greg Jenner, author of A Million Years in a Day

"Essential. Daisy Dixon writes with grace, wit, and moral clarity about the weaponization of art. Depraved is an urgent reckoning with institutional violence, curatorial practice and the meaning of freedom -- demonstrating the always-intertwined nature of aesthetics and ethics." --Dan Hicks, author of Every Monument Will Fall