In Hold It Against Me; Jennifer Doyle explores the relationship between difficulty and emotion in contemporary art; treating emotion as an artists medium. She encourages readers to examine the ways in which works of art challenge how we experience not only the artists feelings; but our own. Discussing performance art; painting; and photography; Doyle provides new perspectives on artists including Ron Athey; Aliza Shvarts; Thomas Eakins; James Luna; Carrie Mae Weems; and David Wojnarowicz. Confronting the challenge of writing about difficult works of art; she shows how these artists work with feelings as a means to question our assumptions about identity; intimacy; and expression. They deploy the complexity of emotion to measure the weight of history; and to deepen our sense of where and how politics happens in contemporary art. Doyle explores ideologies of emotion and how emotion circulates in and around art. Throughout; she gives readers welcoming points of entry into artworks that they may at first find off-putting or confrontational. Doyle offers new insight into how the discourse of controversy serves to shut down discussion about this side of contemporary art practice; and counters with a critical language that allows the reader to accept emotional intensity in order to learn from it.
#3756472 in eBooks 2014-01-28 2014-01-28File Name: B00I3RC3NO
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Wonderful book and tragic and the same timeBy Michael RobinsonWonderful book and tragic and the same time. If you wanted to know what happened to Jaco then you should read this book. It sheds light on things you didnt know and gives you info on how Jacos mental illness cost him his life. A sobering read on how mental illness was perceived in the 70s and 80s.11 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Too close to his subject?By Gordon WeakliemI finished this book thinking that Bill Milkowski was just way too close to his subject to do a true biography - at times; particularly towards the end; it becomes "my life with Jaco". However; that closeness does give Milkowski some insights into Jacos personality that another author probably wouldnt have. Milkowski correctly recognizes that one of Jacos greatest problems was the people surrounding him. One striking thing about the book was how many people close to Jaco blamed the "system" for failing Jaco (the author included); yet amazingly; how his family allowed a total stranger to convince a judge to release him under his own recognizance; 4 days before he received the fatal beating at the Midnight Bottle Club. However; unlike the treatment of John Belushi in Wired or Jim Morrison in No One Here Gets Out Alive; Milkowski avoids mythologyzing. Milkowski recognizes that when a supremely talented person destroyes himself; its not heroic; its tragic.4 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Needs AuthorityBy A CustomerFor some reason or another I have read a number of books along this same vein. Successful Musician; gifted; genius; thunderbolt from heaven; then poof; they self destruct and are gone long before they should be... yet are memorialized because of the ground they broke. Bix Beiderbeck; Jimi Hendrix; Chet Baker; Charlie Parker etc...While this book covers the basic time line information; it doesnt really get to deep below the surface. Perhaps because there are too many people too fond of Jaco.Should the journalist delve deeply or just run a shallow narrative concerning the life and times of Jaco Pastorius? Jaco had severe problems which led to his untimely death. While he was taken early in a altercation outside of a bar... he had already pushed the self destruct button and appeared to be beyond anyones reach.Sadly; no one came forward to really help this suffering soul. A few tried; and yes the responsibility ultimately rests with the individual; but Jaco was in need of some serious tough lov.; Could it have worked? Well never know.Rest peacefully Jaco; you WERE loved and ARE missed.
