Essays on the Blurring of Art and Life

By Allan Kaprow

Book Overview

Allan Kaprow's "happenings" and "environments" were the precursors to contemporary performance art, and his essays are some of the most thoughtful, provocative, and influential of his generation. His sustained inquiry into the paradoxical relationship of art to life and into the nature of meaning itself is brought into focus in this newly expanded collection of his most significant writings. A new preface and two new additional essays published in the 1990s bring this valuable collection up to date.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520240790
• ISBN13: 9780520240797
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 297 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Allan Kaprow

I thought some of the essays in this book were inspiring. Especially the topics dealing with 'work vs. fun'. It made me start consciously thinking about the balance and if it can be achieved. The essay in the beginning about Jackson Pollack is kind of random so I recommend skipping it if you really want to enjoy the book and then maybe go back to it later if you want. Anyways Allan Kaprow is really cool and it's the act of spontaneity and unforeseen outcomes that make him amazing! He is one of those people that builds roads and has helped refine the philosophy behind the process of making art.

introduction to the mind of Kaprow and his view of art

It took me 30 years to come back to this subject, which was the logical conclusion to where art was and still is heading. His reactions are still fresh and current. He will always amaze me.