In his book “The Conspiracy of Art: Manifestos, Interviews, Essays”, French philosopher and cultural critic Jean Baudrillard presents a scathing critique of the contemporary art world. Baudrillard believes that the primary function of art in the modern era is not to create beauty or provoke thought, but rather to perpetuate the illusions of a society that is in love with its own image.
In support of his thesis, Baudrillard offers a number of provocative arguments. For instance, he claims that the cult of celebrity has co-opted the avant-garde, that self-referentiality is the only mode of expression truly available to artists working within the current system, and that the role of the artist has been reduced to that of a mere producer of commodities.
Whether one agrees with Baudrillard or not, “The Conspiracy of Art” is sure to provoke thought and discussion. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the state of contemporary art.
Baudrillard’s Critique of Contemporary Art
In “The Conspiracy of Art”, Baudrillard presents a scathing critique of the contemporary art world. He believes that the primary function of art in the modern era is not to create beauty or provoke thought, but rather to perpetuate the illusions of a society that is in love with its own image.
In support of his thesis, Baudrillard offers a number of provocative arguments. For instance, he claims that the cult of celebrity has co-opted the avant-garde, that self-referentiality is the only mode truly available to artists working within the current system, and that the role played by artists has been reduced to that producing commodities. Whether one agrees with Baudrillard or not, “The Conspiracy of Art” is sure to provoke thought and discussion. It is essential reading for anyone interested in learning about how he views contemporary art.
The book offers a scathing critique of how he views contemporary art. His primary belief is that art’s main function has become pacifying people through perpetuating illusions instead provoking thought or creating beauty. While some may disagree with him, the book is still worth reading to gain different insights into current trends within art today.