A Dictionary of the Avant-Gardes [Paperback]

Richard Kostelanetz (Author)

List Price:	CDN$ 53.95
Price:	CDN$ 46.17 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save:	CDN$ 7.78 (14%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca. Gift-wrap available.

Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Tuesday, May 29? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout.

	Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Hardcover	--	--	--
Paperback	CDN $46.17	--	--
See # more paperbacks

Product Details

Paperback: 736 pages
Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (Aug 15 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0415937647
ISBN-13: 978-0415937641
Product Dimensions: 27.6 x 21.4 x 3.8 cm
Shipping Weight: 1.8 Kg
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,225,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

From Library Journal

Surprisingly, this is the first subject dictionary that addresses avant-garde artists and styles among the visual and performing arts. Prolific artist and author Kostelanetz ( Conversing with Cage , LJ 10/1/93) first develops a working definition of avant-garde art: it expresses aesthetic innovation, gains initial acceptance from a limited audience, and serves as inspiration to future artists. From this he selects for inclusion such artists and movements as Beckett, Cage, Bunuel, Abstract Expressionism, free jazz, and video art. All 681 entries are well written, and most include brief bibliographies. The work's strengths lie in its interdisciplinary approach, coverage of art produced from about 1850 to the present, and discussion of many minor and contemporary artists. Also, Kostelanetz's critical approach allows for discussion of the truly innovative side of artists like Andy Warhol while ignoring those aspects that fall outside his definition of the avant-garde. Finally, his work is currently priced within the budget of even small institutions and individuals interested in the arts. A worthy addition to the art and culture collection of all libraries.
- Stephen L. Hupp, Capital Univ. Lib., Columbus, Ohio
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

In the words of the author, a prolific writer and student of avant-garde topics, "this book was written not just to be consulted but to be read from beginning to end." It draws upon his knowledge of literature, art, architecture, performing arts, movements, and esthetics. He is admittedly opinionated in his judgment of artists and their works. The artists included are mainly twentieth century, with no birth date earlier than Edward Lear's (1812). They include such well-known subjects as Muybridge, Bierce, and Stravinsky and such contemporary figures as environmental-artist Christo and performance-artist Laurie Anderson. The entries for Kinetic Art, Serial Music, Mixed-Means Theater, Zaum (poetry), SoHo, and Something Else Press create a rich image of a period.

Entries are alphabetically arranged, with dates and alternative names. The work is highly readable. One entry leads to another quite seamlessly through the use of asterisks placed after the mention of related entries (e.g., Slonimsky, Nicholas leads to Var{Š}ese, Edgard; Ives, Charles; Dada; and Constructivism). There are cross-references to appropriate headings, "Kovacs, Ernie see Television." Most entries include one or more references at the end, and the "Postface" includes a bibliography of 19 works consulted. The initials of nine scholars, authors, and critics appear on the entries they have contributed. Small black-and-white photographs add interest.

This work is shaped by names so familiar that, in some cases, they no longer seem avant-garde: Eisenstein in film, James Joyce in literature, Merce Cunningham in dance, Buckminster Fuller in architecture, Mary Quant in fashion, Allen Ginsberg in poetry. Some entries, such as Futurism (Russian), lead to numerous related entries that may be less familiar.

This small volume, bringing together a wealth of information on esthetic innovation, will make avant-garde art more accessible to everyone and will be a welcome addition to art reference collections. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)

Explore More
Concordance

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.ca

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Share your experience with this product with others

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com ^(beta)

Amazon.com: 4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as accurate or complete as it could have been., Feb 27 2005

By Tom Furgas - Published on Amazon.com

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: A Dictionary of the Avant-Gardes (Paperback)

Sorry to say, this dictionary of the avant-garde has it's gaps, misinterpretations, and inaccuracies. It is quite valuable for the most part, but the aforementioned problems should be addressed before the next edition hits the racks. There is scant mention of free improvisation, Derek Bailey (and his many contemporaries), Paul Klee, Al Hansen (and many other valuable Fluxus artists indivudually) and much else, but there are referances to one-off a-g practitioners (such as that Republican apologist P.J. O'Rourke) and others. Weird...maybe RK was trying to use his dictionary to stir up debate, but that's not what dictionaries are fundamentally for, I think.

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars AN AMAZING BOOK!, July 23 2000

By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: Dictionary of the Avant-Gardes (Hardcover)

this book helped me to understand the meaning of avant-garde, and help push towards improving my knowledge of cultures which are unknown to many. if you want to spend that much money on a book then go ahead and get it, ASAP!

› Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars