Decoys and Disruptions: Selected Writings, 1975--2001 (October Books)

Decoys and Disruptions is the first comprehensive collection of writings by American artist and critic Martha Rosler. Best known for her videos and photography, Rosler has also been an original and influential cultural critic and theorist for over twenty-five years. The writings collected here address such key topics as documentary photography, feminist art, video, government patronage of the arts, censorship, and the future of digitally based photographic media. Taken together, these thirteen essays not only show Rosler's importance as a critic but also offer an essential resource for readers interested in the issues confronting contemporary art. The essays in this collection illustrate Rosler's ongoing investigation into means of exposing truth and provoking change, providing a retrospective of characteristic issues in her work.Mixing analysis and wit, Rosler challenges many of the fundamental precepts of contemporary art practice. Her influential essay "In, around, and afterthoughts: on documentary photography" almost single-handedly dismantled the myth of liberal documentary photography when it appeared. Many of the essays in this volume have had a similarly wide-ranging influence; others are published here for the first time. Illustrating the essays are 81 images by Rosler and other artists and photographers. The first comprehensive collection of writings by Martha Rosler considers the intersection of art and politics, the operation of art systems, feminist art practices, and the media.Decoys and Disruptions is the first comprehensive collection of writings by American artist and critic Martha Rosler. Best known for her videos and photography, Rosler has also been an original and influential cultural critic and theorist for over twenty-five years. The writings collected here address such key topics as documentary photography, feminist art, video, government patronage of the arts, censorship, and the future of digitally based photographic media. Taken together, these thirteen essays not only show Rosler's importance as a critic but also offer an essential resource for readers interested in the issues confronting contemporary art. The essays in this collection illustrate Rosler's ongoing investigation into means of exposing truth and provoking change, providing a retrospective of characteristic issues in her work.Mixing analysis and wit, Rosler challenges many of the fundamental precepts of contemporary art practice. Her influential essay,'In, around, and afterthoughts: on documentary photography,'almost single-handedly dismantled the myth of liberal documentary photography when it appeared. Many of the essays in this volume have had a similarly wide-ranging influence; others are published here for the first time. Illustrating the essays are 81 images by Rosler and other artists and photographers. This Is A Collection Of Writings By American Artist And Critic Martha Rosler. The Writings Address Such Key Topics As Documentary Photography, Feminist Art, Video, Government Patronage Of The Arts, Censorship And The Future Of Digitally Based Photographic Media. I. Situated In Context. For An Art Against The Mythology Of Everyday Life ; Lookers, Buyers, Dealers, And Makers: Thoughts On Audience ; Video: Shedding The Utopian Moment. -- Ii. Strategies Of Production. The Figure Of The Artist, The Figure Of The Woman ; Lee Friedlander, An Exemplary Modern Photographer ; Notes On Quotes. -- Iii. Photography As Image And Trace. In, Around, And Afterthoughts (on Documentary Photography) ; Post-documentary, Post-photography? ; Wars And Metaphors ; Image Simulations, Computer Manipulations: Some Considerations. -- Iv. Censorship And Power. Theses On Defunding ; The Suppression Agenda For Art ; Place, Position, Power, Politics. Martha Rosler. An October Book. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 I Situated in Context......Page 14 For an Art Against the Mythology of Everyday Life......Page 16 Lookers, Buyers, Dealers, and Makers: Thoughts on Audience......Page 22 Video: Shedding the Utopian Moment......Page 66 II Strategies of Production......Page 100 The Figure of the Artist, The Figure of the Woman......Page 102 Lee Friedlander, An Exemplary Modern Photographer......Page 126 Notes on Quotes......Page 146 III Photography as Image and Trace......Page 162 In, Around, and Afterthoughts (On Documentary Photography)......Page 164 Post-Documentary, Post-Photography?......Page 220 Wars and Metaphors......Page 258 Image Simulations, Computer Manipulations: Some Considerations......Page 272 IV Censorship and Power......Page 332 Theses on Defunding......Page 334 The Suppression Agenda For Art......Page 348 Place, Position, Power, Politics......Page 362 Photo Credits......Page 392 Index......Page 394 "Decoys and Disruptions is the first comprehensive collection of writings by American artist and critic Martha Rosler. Best known for her video, photography, performance, and installation, Rosler has also been an original and influential cultural critic and theorist for over twenty-five years. The writings collected here address such key topics as documentary photography, feminist art, power hierarchies, questions of public and private spheres, the politics of early video, government patronage of the arts, censorship, and the future of digitally based photographic media. Taken together, these thirteen essays not only show Martha Rosler's importance as a critic but also offer an essential resource for readers interested in the issues confronting contemporary art, including production and reception, representation and appropriation, ethics and aesthetics and accuracy and responsibility."--BOOK JACKET.