How to Write About Contemporary Art

How to Write About Contemporary Art is the definitive guide to writing engagingly about the art of our time. Invaluable for students, arts professionals and other aspiring writers, the book first navigates readers through the key elements of style and content, from the aims and structure of a piece to its tone and language. Brimming with practical tips that range across the complete spectrum of art-writing, the second part of the book is organized around its specific forms, including academic essays; press releases and news articles; texts for auction and exhibition catalogues, gallery guides and wall labels; op-ed journalism and exhibition reviews; and writing for websites and blogs. In counselling the reader against common pitfallssuch as jargon and poor structureGilda Williams points instead
to the power of close looking and research, showing how to deploy language effectively; how to develop new ideas; and how to construct compelling texts. More than 30 illustrations throughout support closely analysed case studies of the best writing, in Source Texts by 64 authors, including Claire Bishop, Thomas Crow, T.J. Demos, Okwui Enwezor, Dave Hickey,
John Kelsey, Chris Kraus, Rosalind Krauss, Stuart Morgan, Hito Steyerl, and Adam Szymczyk. Supplemented by a general bibliography, advice on the use and misuse of grammar, and tips on how to construct your own contemporary art library, How to Write About Contemporary Art is the essential handbook for all those interested in communicating about the art of today.

Contents:
Introduction
I. There is no single best way to write about art 
II. International Art English
III. Anyone can learn to write well about art
Section 1. The Job Why Write about Contemporary Art?
Section 2. The Practice How to Write about Contemporary Art
I. Fear is the root of bad writing
II. How to substantiate your ideas
III. The audience: grounding specialists and non-specialists
IV. Practical how-tos
Section 3. The Ropes How to Write Contemporary Art Formats
I. How to write an academic essay
II. Explaining texts
III. Evaluating texts
IV. How to write an artists statement
V. Comparative writing formats: a single-artist example

Reference section:
I cant get any/Satisfaction: rules of grammar and when to break them
Beginning a contemporary art library
Bibliography and Electronic Sources
Author Biography
Acknowledgments
Picture Credits
Index