Is art criticism dead? The word from the experts

“Cultural journalism has deteriorated, as if inhibited, paralyzed. It justifies, it makes apologia, it becomes publicity. How do you criticize in a newspaper an author who in an entire advertising page of the same newspaper is called ’great’ for the novel just published?” These are words of literary critic Alfonso Berardinelli, made during an interview with Repubblica on Dec. 3, 2021. And they are words that, although referring to cultural journalism and, specifically, literary criticism, could also apply well to contemporary art and art criticism, another field considered by many to have reached the end of the line.

So, is art criticism dead? And if indeed criticism is agonizing, what are the main reasons why it is in this state? Is this situation unique to Italy? Who is the art critic today, assuming there are still those in the profession? And above all: does art criticism have any hope of resurgence? These are the questions we put to the experts for the usual debate that you can read in issue 13 of Finestre Sull’Arte On Paper. To subscribe (at only 29.90 euros, price for four issues, 176 pages each) or to buy the single copy (9.90 euros) there is time until February 20: click on this link to find all the information.

The discussion in this issue is very exciting and you will find dense contributions from: Renato Barilli (Art Critic), Luca Bochicchio (Scientific Director, Jorn House Museum, Albissola Marina), Federica Bueti (Art Critic, editor and teacher of Creative Writing, Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam), Beatrice Buscaroli (Historian and critic of theart, professor of Modern and Contemporary Art, Academy of Fine Arts, Bologna), Daniele Capra (Art critic and independent curator), Vittoria Coen (Art critic), Marcella Manni (Founder and director of Metronom), Giancarlo Politi (Founder of Flash Art), Ludovico Pratesi (Art critic and director of Spazio Taverna), Luca Zuccala (Deputy Director of ArtsLife).

Is art criticism dead? The word from the experts

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