In recent years, experience has been one of the most ambiguous, evasive, and controversial terms in myriad disciplines including epistemology, religion, literary theory, and philosophical aesthetics. Its association with the subjective consciousness has deprived it of the cognitive status of human knowledge. DEGREESIArt and Experience DEGREESR aims to grasp a firmer hold on this elusive concept, via essays written by a distinguished group of international scholars who have rediscovered the foundation of experience and restored its cognitive status in understanding our cultural activities. Indeed, emotions and experience play a vital role in human cognition, and the symbiotic relationship between culture and experience is a subject long overdue for further study.

Clarifying the intricacies scholars face in understanding the concept of experience, this volume's broad approach makes it an invaluable contribution to the study of the humanities. Its uniqueness lies in its focusing on the manifold aspects of the concept rather than in drawing any singular, dogmatic conclusion about its nature and function.

There is a new form of design practice within the contemporary fashion industry which is active in complex forms of social commentary and critique. While fashion in the modernist era has shown signs of criticism and subversion, these were either in the form of subcultures or perversions, such as punk or BDSM styling. Today, however, these genres have been absorbed into the fashion industry itself, meaning that "critical fashion" is now far from limited to the subcultures from which it came. This book explores this new space for criticism within the popular fashion sphere to demonstrate how designers are disrupting conventions, challenging beliefs and stirring change from within the system itself. Critical Fashion Practice considers a range of contemporary designers across the globe, from the US to Japan, whose conceptual designs embody this critical language, including case studies such as Rei Kawakubo's deconstructive silhouettes for Comme des Garcons and Walter Van Beirendonck's sadomasochistic menswear collections, amongst other key players such as Miuccia Prada, Vivienne Westwood and Viktor & Rolf. Arguing that the rise of critical fashion coincides with a noticeable decline in the criticality of art, Geczy and Karaminas go beyond slotting fashion into previously established art theories. Conceiving a new cultural role for fashion that affords insight into identity, class, race, sexuality and gender, this book shows how fashion can not only reflect and comment on, but can also be a part of social change.

This book is an analysis of the movement's functions and activities. It presents the history of the movement as it has been captured and recorded by the first generation of people who have been involved. Second edition with a new Introduction. It has been twenty-five years from the first printing of The Community Arts Council Movement: History, Opinions and Issues. So, what has changed? What is similar? Reviewing recent summaries of anniversaries and activities, one is struck by the resonance of the original concerns and the progress made: recognizing and keeping community arts issues a priority on all levels-in these years, they have become central; enabling the partnership among federal, state and local partnerships to grow and flourish perhaps beyond all expectation; developing a voice for effective advocacy-we've come a long way. But like everything else we have experienced on these levels, there is always work ahead and the "now" changes as people come into and exit the picture. No one, and no one group, is really independent of the others in the support fabric. The Community Arts Council Movement is a history of the movement which traces its beginnings to models in the health and welfare fields. It presents the history of the movement as it has been captured and recorded from people who have been involved. Research for the book includes written materials from various councils; about 150 discussions with specialists and practitioners from urban councils and regional, county and rural organizations; and questionnaires completed by movement founders, community arts administrator trainers, and local and national political figures who have promoted community arts to their peers. "This book should be required reading in order to understand the historical context of our own efforts as we map the future of the arts in our communities." - Peggy Spaeth, Director of Heights Arts "From arts administrators and arts educators, to government officials and interested citizens, this book has played a key role in illuminating the work of the nonprofit arts in America." - Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO, Americans for the Arts

The first-ever A–Z survey of the major modern and contemporary artists of the Middle East.

Artists of the Middle East celebrates a region of breathtaking creativity through the innovative, spectacular, and at times politically resonant work of more than 250 of its leading artists. Spanning diverse art movements and communities from Morocco to Iran, this is a groundbreaking survey of more than a century of artistic activity, from 1900 to the present.

Saeb Eigner shares his intimate knowledge of the stylistic, literary, and linguistic histories of the Middle East and North Africa in the detailed biographies of almost 100 culturally significant artists from the region, ranging from early modernists such as Shafic Abboud, Marwan, Bahman Mohassess, and Gazbia Sirry to contemporary artists such as Mona Hatoum, Nabil Nahas, and Shirin Neshat. Concise profiles of almost 160 additional artists offer further insight into those shaping this rich cultural landscape.

This essential, illuminating resource for anyone interested in modern and contemporary art establishes a dialogue between works that engage with the prominent issues of our age and the ever-changing social, political, and religious context of their creation.

572 color illustrations