AMERICAN ART THEORY – KRAUSS, KOZLOFF, CUSPIT: DECONSTRUCTION OF GREENBERGIAN MANNER

Abstract

This text is dealing with development of the American art theory and criticism after the WWII. The main figure that marked this period in American culture was Cleement Greenberg. His elaboration of modernist theory is recognised in history of art history and theory as one of the most important that has ever been made. Also, his passionate effort to recognize the characteristics of a typical American in works of abstract expressionists led him to the role of the promoter of American art, culture and politics during the period of Cold War. The aim of the author of this text was to show the main ideas in the field of American art theory and criticism that were inspired by the ideas of Cleement Greenberg, but at the same time those that are confronted with his ideas. Because of that, we chose significant authors who were working during the second half of 20th century – Rosalind Krauss, Max Kozloff and Donald Kuspit. With this choice of authors we wanted to mark the three different ways of thinking and writing about art: 1) Krauss – new approach to art influenced by French structuralistic and post-structuralistic theories, 2) Max Kozloff – revisionistic approach based on contextual analysis, and 3) Donald Cuspit – philosophical approach to art phenomena combined with psychological analysis. Despite of the differences in the theoretical discourse of these three critics, they share the same characteristics – the need to give some other kind of critical view of the modern and contemporary art that rejects rigid greenbergian manner.