This book uses an examination of the annual Turner Prize to defend the view that the evaluation of artworks is a reason-based activity, notwithstanding the lack of any agreed criteria for judging excellence in art.

1.- Turner Prize and the problem of evaluation.- 2. But is it Art?.- 3. Tomma Abts: form and value.- 4. Noel Carroll and the art of slapstick.- 5. But what does it mean?.- 6. Martin Creed: ideas in an empty room.-  7. Ideal critics and the uses of reason.

This book uses an examination of the annual Turner Prize to defend the view that the evaluation of artworks is a reason-based activity, notwithstanding the lack of any agreed criteria for judging excellence in art. It undertakes an empirical investigation of actual critical practice as evident within published commentaries on the Prize in order to examine and test theories of critical evaluation, including the ideas of Noel Carroll, Frank Sibley, Kendall Walton and Suzanne Langer. Case studies of work by Turner Prize winners such as Steve McQueen, Martin Creed, Tomma Abts are used to explore definitions of art and concepts of artistic value and meaning. The book will be of interest to academics in the fields of aesthetics, contemporary art and cultural studies, but also to practitioners working in the arts, media and education.

“An engaging and illuminating book that keeps a cool head reflecting on the heated disputes about contemporary art.” (Peter Lamarque, Professor of Philosophy, University of York, UK)

“Gillon’s book offers a timely contribution to intra-disciplinary research. It considers contemporary philosophical work on the nature of criticism (Carroll, Walton), draws upon modern (Ruskin, Hume, Langer, Sibley), and sets contemporary critical debate against this broader framework. Work on Conceptual Art in analytical philosophy is presently enjoying focused attention. Gillon’s book connects that debate with work being done in art schools where research is more recently being developed.” (Edward Winters, former co-director of the Centre for Art Research, Technology and Education at University of Westminster. Author of Aesthetics and Architectur (2007)

Questions the rational basis for evaluation in art criticism Examines theories of critical evaluation against empirical investigation of actual critical practice Looks at controversial nature of the Turner Prize and the avant gardism of many of the nominees Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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