Tom wolfe by wolfe tom book hard cover biography australian. The painted word is a slim little volume, just 100 pages in my bantam reprint paperback, but the book packs quite a punch. It also feels as if its a little bit about tom wolfe, too, but then, what book of his doesnt feel that way. Jack the dripper, the king of abstract expressionism, an art movement author tom wolfe didnt hold in high regard you will be hardpressed to find a more lively, wittier book on the phenomenon of modern art than tom wolfes the painted word, a 100page romp through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s where the author jabs his sharp satirical needle with signature debunking flare into abstract. In the painted word 1975, american author tom wolfe writes about the power of greenberg and rosenberg. Tom wolfe goes nowhere in the painted word farrar, straus and. Americas nerviest journalist newsweek trains his satirical eye on modern art in this masterpiece the washington post wolfes style has never been more dazzling, his wit never more keen. He was also a journalist and founder of the new journalism movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Download pdf tags 20th century andy warhol art art and society art, modern artists barnett newman. Thus, to take the painted word solemnly is to miss the point while still in the starting gate. This is a wonderful little book 106 pages, immensely readable, funny, outrageous, and best of all, spot on the mark.
From the fuliginous flatness of the fifties to the pop up minimal sixties, right on through the nowyou seeitnow youdont seventies, tom wolfe debunks the great american myth of modern art in an incandescent, hilarious and devastating blast. This is his sequel to the painted word, the book that caused such a furor in the art world five years before. The painted word by tom wolfe book read online scribd. I read it four times, each of them with mounting envy for wolfes eye, ear, and surgical skill. They have been emboldened by what has looked to them, as one might imagine.
In 1975, after having put radical chic and 60s counterculture to the satirical torch, tom wolfe turned his attention to the contemporary art world. You will be hardpressed to find a more lively, wittier book on the phenomenon of modern art than tom wolfes the painted word, a 100page romp through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s where the author jabs his sharp satirical needle with signature debunking flare into abstract expressionism, pop art, op art, minimalism and conceptual art. Americas nerviest journalist newsweek trains his satirical eye on modern art in this masterpiece the washington postwolfes style has. The painted word is a 1975 book of art criticism by tom wolfe. For about six years now, realistic painters of all sorts, real nineteenthcentury types included, with 3d and all the other old forbidden sweets, have been creeping out of their stalags, crawl spaces, dp camps, deserter communes, and other places of exile, other canadas of the souland have begun bravely exhibiting.
The painted word by tom wolfe and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Buy a cheap copy of the painted word book by tom wolfe. New york sunday news wolfe has great fun destroying the straw houses of modern art theory, and reader harold cropp provides the perfect condescending tone. Editions of the painted word by tom wolfe goodreads. The painted word sounds good, and towards the end of the book, we end up with just words flatly painted on the wall as the ultimate distillation of contemporary arttheory, but really, what hes talking about is just the opposite, the written painting. The painted word is tom wolfe at his most clever, amusing, and irreverent san francisco chronicle. It may confirm your darkest suspicions about modern art. No question about it, tom wolfe is speaking for the yahoos in this little essayit appeared in its entirety in harpers magazine, and though the art world will no doubt assiduously ignore wolfes bronx cheers, a lot of ordinary philistines will say right on. He addresses the scope of modern art, from its founding days as abstract expressionism through its transformations to pop, op, minimal, and conceptual. Tom wolfe is the author of more than a dozen books, among them such contemporary classics as the electric koolaid acid test, the right stuff, the bonfire of the vanities, and a man in full.
Publication date 1976 topics painting, modern, painting publisher new york. In the opening pages of the book, wolfe tells us how he got interested in writing about art theory. Wolfe also wrote two critiques of and social histories of modern art and modern architecture, the painted word and from bauhaus to our house, published in 1975 and 1981, respectively. Once again wolfe shows how social and intellectual fashions have determined aesthetic form in. The painted word by tom wolfe 20081014 paperback 1727 by tom wolfe author. The painted word, exposes the myths and men of modern art. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
Buy the painted word by tom wolfe online at alibris. In 1975, he turned his satirical pen to the pretensions of the contemporary art world, a world of social climbing, elitist posturing, and ingeniously absurd selfjustifying theorizing. Still, its an engaging read, filled with wolfes studied observations and dripping with a detached bemusement. One of his previous books, the electric koolaid acid test of 1968 seemed to be promoting experimental drug use and other things that i had no interest in. The painted word may well be tom wolfes most successful piece of social criticism to date. The painted word by tom wolfe, 9780312427580, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. When you are done, you may never think about abstract expressionist art again in the same light, or any light. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jack the dripper, the king of abstract expressionism, an art movement author tom wolfe d. Get the best deals on 1st edition tom wolfe books when you shop the largest online selection at. Wolfe argues that they did not simply make a case for a certain reading of modern art, but their influence was such that contemporary painters obediently submitted to their read more. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. It is a relatively short book and does not assume you have or need a degree in art history. Tom wolfe the painted word tom wolfe americas nerviest journalist newsweek trains his satirical eye on modern art in this masterpiece the washington post wolfe s style has never been more dazzling, his wit never more keen.
I found it strange that the painted word should be the only book by wolfe i liked. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the painted word. Tom wolfes highwire act of language has provided a sort of cultural funhouse mirror ever since he started publishing in the mid1960s, first as a journalist and later as the acclaimed author of novels the bonfire of the vanities and a man in full. No question about it, tom wolfe is speaking for the yahoos in this little essayit appeared in its.
But greenberg most of all, since it was he who supplied the word without which abstract expressionism the. Hot damn, aging readers, you can still crank out a prize novel when you are an octoganarian. Wolfes style has never been more dazzling, his wit never more keen. Wolfe argues that they did not simply make a case for a certain reading of modern art, but their influence was such that contemporary painters obediently submitted to their ideas, showing the power of critical. The painted word charts the erratic course of the social history of modern art from its beginnings in revolutiona revolution against literary content in artto its present state, in which it has become, quite unconsciously, a parody of itself, obsessedly devoted to the pronouncements of certain gurucritics, to the point of reductio ad. In which case i know his mind a bit, and a cornerstone of it is dry wit, comic hyperbole, and funny characterizations. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Get a laugh and little insight into one of the more offbeat eras of art. The painted word no one skewers the popular movements of american culture like tom wolfe. The new york times the painted word is a masterpiece.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. In tom wolfes hands, the strange saga of american architecture in the 20th century makes for both high comedy and intellectual excitement. The painted word mocked the excessive insularity of the art world and its dependence on. Tom wolfe 19312018 was the author of numerous books considered contemporary classics, including as the electric koolaid acid test, the right stuff, and the bonfire of the vanities, among others, and several of his books have been made into major motion pictures. This article is only available as a pdf to subscribers. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. In his 1975 book the painted word tom wolfe, americas favorite whitesuited new journalist, examined the new york city art scene and the leading critics of the past 30 years. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. Painted word 1975, american author tom wolfe writes about the power of greenberg and rosenberg. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. The art critics created the rules, the artists obeyed, the media went along, and we believed it. Tom wolfe, the painted word, and modernism featured author. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
The painted word by wolfe, tom and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Tom wolfe, in a scathing new satire, the painted word, is on your side. The painted word by tom wolfe the painted word is primarily a book about the rise of modern artand art theory. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Americas nerviest journalist newsweek trains his satiric. But such criticism aside, the book remains a pillar of postwar art criticism. Read the painted word by tom wolfe for free with a 30 day free trial.