Description: A topical, art-practice focused anthology that caters to diverse interests in aesthetics.
Brief description: Brian Elliott is a faculty member in the Philosophy Department at Oregon State University. His publications include Benjamin for Architects; Natural Catastrophe: Climate Change and Neoliberal Governance; and A Child's Place in Nature: Towards a Pedagogy for the Anthropocene.
Review Quotes:
"...an essential update to one of the most comprehensive anthologies in aesthetic theory. This volume remains a cornerstone for understanding how the Western tradition--and its contemporary critics--conceptualizes the power of creative expression. The collection is masterfully curated, spanning the foundational dialogues of Plato and Aristotle to the cutting-edge intersections of art and technology ... For students and scholars alike, this anthology is not just a textbook but a map of the human attempt to find meaning through form. It proves that the 'significance' of art remains as vital and contested as ever." -- CHOICE
"...a highly engaging and readable anthology which ranges from ancient Greek writing on epic and theater to contemporary issues relating to how art is impacted by augmented reality technologies." -- Library Bookwatch
"This is the best wide-ranging collection of philosophical writings on art that I've found, and I would highly recommend it to other professors teaching undergraduate or graduate classes in aesthetics or related courses." -- Andy Amato, University of Texas at Dallas
"Art and Its Significance is wide-ranging, covering texts from the history of Western philosophy from Plato through contemporary thinkers. I like that there are so many different options in the text. That variety and diversity frees professors to design courses in a variety of ways, using the 'same' textbook to support a number of different courses. I would recommend (and have recommended) the text to others for use in their classes." -- Anne J. Mamary, Monmouth College, Illinois