Rosalind Krauss Reinventing The Medium Pdf - [better]
Postmodernism, which Krauss herself helped define, reacted by dissolving these boundaries. The result, in her view, was a "deadening generality" where everything became a homogenous "installation" or "site-specific" work, lacking the internal structural rules of a medium.
“a set of conventions that are derived from a technical support, but that are not reducible to that support, and that can be repeated across different works, generating a tradition.”
Which would you prefer?
Today, we’re hacking through the underbrush to explain why Krauss’s argument matters, why she thinks modern art is haunted by the past, and what it means to truly "reinvent" a medium. rosalind krauss reinventing the medium pdf
Krauss redefines the medium not by its material (like paint), but by a "logic of double negation". It is not merely the material support (the canvas), but rather the of conventions that the artist inhabits and exceeds. The medium is a "differential" set of rules that a specific artist re-establishes for their own work. 2. The "Post-Medium" Condition
This hybrid becomes a medium because it establishes its own —a set of constraints and affordances that the artist explores systematically. It is not multimedia collage; it is a newly invented, self-consistent artistic support.
this to her earlier theories on the "Sculpture in the Expanded Field." Today, we’re hacking through the underbrush to explain
To fully understand the essay, it's essential to know the context in which it was written. By the end of the 20th century, the art world was in a state of flux. The rise of digital media and conceptual art had seemingly shattered the traditional understanding of what an artistic medium could be.
Krauss explicitly distinguishes her concept from digital “new media” theorists (e.g., Lev Manovich). For Manovich, new media are defined by computational properties (modularity, automation, variability). For Krauss, these are because they lack internal, convention-based constraints.
If you are researching this topic deeply, I can provide more specific insights. Let me know if you would like me to: The medium is a "differential" set of rules
If you are searching for a PDF of this seminal essay, you are likely trying to navigate Krauss’s complex critique of how technology impacts artistic expression. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of Krauss's arguments, the historical context of her theory, and why her concept of the "post-medium condition" remains vital today. Who is Rosalind Krauss?
If you are studying this text for an assignment or a research project, I can help you expand on specific sections. Let me know:
