{"product_id":"9780812693720","title":"What Art Is: The Esthetic Theory of Ayn Rand","description":"What is art? The arts establishment has a simple answer: \u003ci\u003eanything\u003c\/i\u003e is art if a reputed artist or expert says it is. Though many people are skeptical about the alleged new art forms that have proliferated since the early twentieth century, today's critics claim that all such work, however incomprehensible, is art.  \u003cp\u003e  A groundbreaking alternative to this view is provided by philosopher-novelist Ayn Rand (1905 1982). Best known as the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Fountainhead\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAtlas Shrugged\u003c\/i\u003e, Rand also created an original and illuminating theory of art, which confirms the widespread view that much of today's purported art is really not art at all.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  In \u003ci\u003eWhat Art Is\u003c\/i\u003e, Torres and Kamhi present a lucid introduction to Rand's esthetic theory,  contrasting her ideas with those of other thinkers. They conclude that, in its basic principles, her account is compelling, and is corroborated by evidence from anthropology, neurology, cognitive science, and psychology.   \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e  The authors apply Rand's theory to a debunking of the work of prominent modernists and postmodernists from Mondrian, Jackson Pollock, and Samuel Beckett to John Cage, Merce Cunningham, and other highly regarded postmodernist figures. Finally, they explore the implications of Rand's ideas for the issues of government and corporate support of the arts, art law, and arts education.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Open Court Publishing Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47007865864432,"sku":"9780812693720","price":44.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780812693720_p0.gif?v=1763740996","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780812693720","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}