Negotiations in a Vacant Lot: Studying the Visual in Canada (Volume 14) (McGill-Queen's/Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation Studies in Art History)

At a moment when the discipline of Canadian art history seems to be in flux and the study of Canadian visual culture is gaining traction outside of art history departments, the authors of Negotiations in a Vacant Lot were asked: is "Canada" - or any other nation - still relevant as a category of inquiry? Is our country simply one of many "vacant lots" where class, gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation interact? What happens to the project of Canadian visual history if we imagine that Canada, as essence, place, nation, or ideal, does not exist? The argument that culture is increasingly used as an economic and socio-political resource resonates strongly with the popular strategies of "urban gurus" such as Richard Florida, and increasingly with government policy. Such strategies both contrast with, but also speak to traditions of Canadian state support for culture that have shaped the national(ist) discipline of Canadian art history. The authors of this collection stand at the multiple points where national culture and globalization collide, however, suggesting that academic investigation of the visual in Canada is contested in ways that cannot be contained by arbitrary borders. Bringing together the work of scholars from diverse backgrounds and illustrated with dozens of works of Canadian art, Negotiations in a Vacant Lot unsettles the way we have used "nation" to examine art and culture and looks ahead to a global future. Contributors include Susan Cahill (Nipissing University), Mark A. Cheetham (University of Toronto), Peter Conlin (Academia Sinica, Taipei), Annie Gérin (Université du Québec à Montréal), Richard William Hill (York University), Kristy A. Holmes (Lakehead University), Heather Igloliorte (Concordia University), Barbara Jenkins (Wilfrid Laurier University), Alice Ming Wai Jim (Concordia University), Lynda Jessup (Queen’s University), Erin Morton (University of New Brunswick), Kirsty Robertson (Western University), Rob Shields (University of Alberta), Sarah E.K. Smith (Queen’s University), Imre Szeman (University of Alberta), and Jennifer VanderBurgh (Saint Mary’s University). At A Moment When The Discipline Of Canadian Art History Seems To Be In Flux And The Study Of Canadian Visual Culture Is Gaining Traction Outside Of Art History Departments, The Authors Of 'negotiations In A Vacant Lot' Were Asked: Is Canada--or Any Other Nation - Still Relevant As A Category Of Inquiry? Is Our Country Simply One Of Many Vacant Lots Where Class, Gender, Race, Ethnicity, And Sexual Orientation Interact? What Happens To The Project Of Canadian Visual History If We Imagine That Canada, As Essence, Place, Nation, Or Ideal, Does Not Exist? The Argument That Culture Is Increasingly Used As An Economic And Socio-political Resource Resonates Strongly With The Popular Strategies Of Urban Gurus Such As Richard Florida, And Increasingly With Government Policy. Such Strategies Both Contrast With, But Also Speak To Traditions Of Canadian State Support For Culture That Have Shaped The National(ist) Discipline Of Canadian Art History.0the Authors Of This Collection Stand At The Multiple Points Where National Culture And Globalization Collide, However, Suggesting That Academic Investigation Of The Visual In Canada Is Contested In Ways That Cannot Be Contained By Arbitrary Borders. Bringing Together The Work Of Scholars From Diverse Backgrounds And Illustrated With Dozens Of Works Of Canadian Art, 'negotiations In A Vacant Lot' Unsettles The Way We Have Used Nation To Examine Art And Culture And Looks Ahead To A Global Future. Introduction: Rethinking Relevance: Studying The Visual In Canada / Lynda Jessup, Erin Morton, And Kirsty Robertson -- Part One. Preposterous Histories Of The Present / Erin Morton -- Struck By Likening : Homer Watson, Jack Chambers, Gerhard Richter, And The Force Of Art World Analogies / Mark A. Cheetham -- Feminist Art History In Canada : A Limited Pursuit? / Kristy A. Holmes -- Dealing With Chiastic Perspectives : Global Art Histories In Canada / Alice Ming Wai Jim -- The Location Of/the Conditions For Art : On-site Specifics And Site Adjustments / Annie Gérin -- Part Two. Out With The New / Imre Szeman -- National Cultural Policy And The International Liberal Order / Barbara Jenkins -- Visualizing The New North American Landscape / Sarah E.k. Smith -- Arctic Culture/global Indieneity / Heahter Igloriorte -- The Vacant Lot : Who's Buying It? / Richard William Hill -- Part Three. Discontiguous Dependencies / Kirsty Robertson -- The Aesthetics Of The Territory-nation-state And The Canadian Problematique / Rob Shields -- Our Vacant Lot Is A Trailer Park : Why English Canada's Perpetual Threat Of Disappearing Keeps Film And Television Alive / Jennifer Vanderburgh -- The Art Of Conflict : Liberal Development After Neo-liberalism / Susan Cahill -- Considering Sovereignity And Neo-liberalism Within Indeterminate States And Self-determined Spaces / Peter Conlin. Edited By Lynda Jessup, Erin Morton, And Kirsty Robertson. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 253-273) And Index. Text In English. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Illustrations Acknowledgments Preface Colour plates Introduction: Rethinking Relevance: Studying the Visual in Canada PART ONE: PREPOSTEROUS HISTORIES OF THE PRESENT 1 Struck by Likening: Homer Watson, Jack Chambers, Gerhard Richter, and the Force of Art World Analogies 2 Feminist Art History in Canada: A “Limited Pursuit”? 3 Dealing with Chiastic Perspectives: Global Art Histories in Canada 4 The Location of/The Conditions for Art: On-Site Specifics and Site Adjustments PART TWO: OUT WITH THE NEW 5 National Cultural Policy and the International Liberal Order 6 Visualizing the “New” North American Landscape 7 Arctic Culture/Global Indigeneity 8 The Vacant Lot: Who’s Buying It? PART THREE: DISCONTIGUOUS DEPENDENCIES 9 The Aesthetics of the Territory-Nation-State and the “Canadian Problematique” 10 Our Vacant Lot Is a Trailer Park: Why English Canada’s Perpetual Threat of Disappearing Keeps Film and Television Alive 11 The Art of Conflict: Liberal Development after Neo-liberalism 12 Considering Sovereignty and Neo-liberalism within Indeterminate States and Self-Determined Spaces Bibliography Contributors Index