Art, Elitism, Authenticity and Liberty Navigating Paradox

<P>This book excavates the depths of creative purpose and meaning-making and the extent to which artist autonomy and authenticity in art is a struggle against psychological conditioning, controlling cultural institutions and markets, key to which is representation.</P><P>The chapters are underpinned by examples from the arts, and the narrative weaves a trail through a range of conceptualizations that are applied to various aspects of visual culture from mainstream canonical arts to avant-garde, community and public art; social and political art to commercial art; and ethereal art to the popular, edgy and kitsch. The book is wide-ranging and employs various aesthetic, cultural, philosophical, political, psycho-social and sociological debates to highlight the problems and contradictions that an encounter with the arts and creativity engenders.</P><P>The book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, museum studies, arts management, cultural policy, cultural studies and cultural theory.</P>