art and popular culture

Debate has long raged over whether graffiti can be considered an art form. Its illegal nature has caused many people to denounce it, while others contend that a work does not have to be legal to be art. The heart of the question is, what defines art? Informative text discusses competing views on the issue, presenting all sides of the debate to help readers form their own opinions. Engaging sidebars spotlight graffiti artists such as the famous Banksy, while eye-catching photographs provide examples of some of the most original graffiti designs.

Explores all types of urban street art including yarn bombing, street sculptures, sticker bombing, sidewalk art, and guerilla gardening. Offers opinions for and against the argument that urban street art is really art. Includes color photographs, a glossary, and further resources.

Examines the role of thirty well-known works of art in popular culture, including Stonehenge, the Mona Lisa, the Statue of Liberty, Rodin's The Thinker, and Grant Wood's American Gothic, and includes bibliographic entries and a subject index.

An overview of trends in the visual arts in America, in the context of popular culture, from the twentieth century until today.