Talking Art

The Culture of Practice and the Practice of Culture in MFA Education

Fine Gary Alan

In "Talking Art", acclaimed ethnographer Gary Alan Fine gives us an eye-opening look at the contemporary university-based master's-level art program. Through an in-depth analysis of the practice of the critique and other aspects of the curriculum, Fine reveals how MFA programs have shifted the goal of creating art away from beauty and toward theory. Contemporary visual art, Fine argues, is no longer a calling or a passion – it's a discipline, with an academic culture that requires its practitioners to be verbally skilled in the presentation of their intentions".Talking Art" offers a remarkable and disconcerting view into the crucial role that universities play in creating that culture.

About the Author

Gary Alan Fine is professor of sociology at Northwestern University and the author of numerous books, including "Everyday Genius: Self-Taught Art and the Culture of Authenticity"; "With the Boys: Little League Baseball and Preadolescent Culture"; and "Shared Fantasy: Role-Playing Games as Social Worlds", all published by the University of Chicago Press.

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