If content is no longer king, what matters? Joselit argues that are the true engines of contemporary art. A format is a mechanism for capturing, storing, and distributing information. Examples include the PDF, the JPEG, the architectural blueprint, or the digital video file. Artists today do not just create content; they manipulate formats to alter how information behaves. 3. Epistemics of the Image
Because the prose is dense and theoretical, don’t just download the PDF and skim. Use this protocol:
The act of taking existing cultural artifacts and translating them into new networks to release new political or social meanings. Why After Art Matters to Contemporary Creators
As Joselit writes: "The more points of contact an image is able to establish, the greater its power will be." In that sense, After Art itself has achieved considerable power—circulating through academic syllabi, critical essays, and the search histories of curious readers around the world.
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Joselit doesn't just talk about aesthetics; he makes a controversial political argument for He suggests that Western nations should help the Global South build cultural infrastructures to "redistribute image wealth". Critics often point out that this can sometimes border on "cultural colonialism" by pushing Western artistic standards onto other regions.
Joselit analyzes Huyghe’s projects, which often involve complex ecosystems, live animals, and shifting environments. Huyghe’s work is not a static sculpture but a living network where human and non-human actors interact, demonstrating how art can model complex real-world systems.
Format an related to post-internet art theory. Share public link
Compare Joselit's theories with other critics like or Boris Groys .