The Hydrogen Jukebox: Selected Writings of Peter Schjeldahl, 1978-1990Baudelaire's famous description of "the best criticism" as "entertaining and poetic, not coldly analytic," lives in the essays of Peter Schjeldahl. Schjeldahl self-consciously continues the modern tradition of art criticism crafted by poet-critics, providing a sharp perspective on individual artists, their work, art-world events, and new creative directions. He challenges established views, and his infectious passion for art continually engages the reader. In essays on Rothko, Munch, Warhol, Dubuffet, Nauman, Sherman, Salle, de Kooning, Guston, Ruscha, and Koons, Schjeldahl skillfully juggles theory and analysis in exploring cultural context and technique. His writings, free of the contortions of some critical prose and characterized by a sustained focus on works of art, map the contemporary art scene in New York (with occasional forays to Los Angeles and elsewhere), cataloguing the colorful personalities, cultural attractions, and ethical hazards of the art world. It's a fast, fun trip, with arguments that fold back upon themselves in surprising revelations and reversals of the author's opinion. There is never a dull moment for those with an eye on contemporary art. |
Contents
Terror Narcissism and Art I | 1 |
The Missing Master | 19 |
Missed Punk | 37 |
Dubuffet 1980 | 53 |
Exxon Exhibition at the Guggenheim | 69 |
Affairs of the Heat | 91 |
Bruce Nauman | 105 |
Why New French Art Is Lousy | 121 |
Edouard Manet | 189 |
In Defense of Artistic Fashion | 202 |
Philip Guston | 227 |
To Pico | 248 |
The Immigrant Strain | 262 |
Our Kiefer | 283 |
Mike Kelley | 300 |
De Kooning Alone | 315 |
Other editions - View all
The Hydrogen Jukebox: Selected Writings of Peter Schjeldahl, 1978-1990 Peter Schjeldahl Limited preview - 2023 |
The Hydrogen Jukebox: Selected Writings of Peter Schjeldahl, 1978-1990 Peter Schjeldahl Limited preview - 1991 |
The Hydrogen Jukebox: Selected Writings of Peter Schjeldahl, 1978-1990 Peter Schjeldahl Limited preview - 2023 |
Common terms and phrases
aesthetic American Art Andy Warhol Angeles Anselm Kiefer April art criticism art world art's artist avant-garde Balthus Balthus's beauty Bruce Nauman Clement Greenberg color contemporary art Courbet creative culture David Salle drawings Dubuffet Ed Ruscha effect emotional erotic everything exhibition experience eyes feel figure Fischl French German going Gorky Greenberg Guggenheim Museum Guston Hopper idea images irony Jackson Pollock John Julian Schnabel Kiefer late Leo Castelli Leo Castelli Gallery less live look Manet Mary Boone matter meaning mind minimalism minimalist Modern Art modernist Munch Museum of American Museum of Modern never nudes O'Hara October painter painting Paris Peter Philip Guston picture pleasure poet political Polke portraits realism retrospective Robert Smithson Rothko Ruscha Salon of Autumn Schnabel sculpture seems sense sensibility Sigmar Polke sixties social style taste things tion tradition values Velázquez viewer Whitney Museum Willem de Kooning York