Like its print predecessor (1982-1997) it is a unique critical voice, advocating objective standards in arts scholarship and criticism, and arguing that the concept of art (in the sense of the traditional fine arts of painting, sculpture, literature, music, and dance) can, and ought to be, objectively defined. Critical of both modernism and postmodernism in all the arts, Aristos vigorously opposes
the increasingly bizarre and inscrutable work promoted in the name of art since the early years of the twentieth century---from abstract painting and sculpture through the seemingly endless concoctions of the avant-garde. Aristos also champions contemporary traditional work that, like the significant art of all ages, is concerned with important human values, and is both intelligible and well crafted. Though staunchly independent, the editorial viewpoint of Aristos owes much to the thought of the philosopher-novelist Ayn Rand (1905-1982). It is aimed at a broad audience of general readers, students, critics, and scholars. The fullest explication and application of the philosophy that informs its views is found in 'What Art Is.' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
* 'WHAT ART IS: THE ESTHETIC THEORY OF AYN RAND'
Open Court (2000), by Louis Torres & Michelle Marder Kamhi, Co-Editors, Aristos. See "Chapter Summaries," "Reviews/Responses," and much more at http://www.aristos.org/editors/booksumm.htm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
* 'WHO SAYS THAT'S ART? A COMMONSENSE VIEW OF THE VISUAL ARTS'
Pro Arte Books (2014), by Michelle Marder Kamhi, Co-Editor, Aristos
About the Book: http://www.mmkamhi.com/who-says/about-the-book/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
* 'BUCKING THE ARTWORLD TIDE: REFLECTIONS ON ART, PSEUDO ART, ART EDUCATION & THEORY'
Pro Arte Books (2020), by Michelle Marder Kamhi, Co-Editor, Aristos
About the Book: https://www.mmkamhi.com/bucking-the-artworld/about-the-book/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aristos and related projects are supported by The Aristos Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. We depend on tax-deductible contributions from individuals like you to continue championing traditional contemporary arts and combating the avant-garde. Please make a donation, however modest, using your CREDIT CARD or your PayPal account:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=BhQG0Flm1D_5RhC0dPGG4nKIzEIBoDTOFYxiTfSJPZKfJ5MJCWtWbMQg6scLjWjnPy_7u0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Unique Perspective on the Arts
Aristos (An Online Review of the Arts)·Sunday, June 17, 2018·
ARISTOS (An Online Review of the Arts) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JACQUES BARZUN
“Reading Aristos has given me much pleasure and instruction.” - Jacques Barzun (1907-2012). Barzun was the most eminent cultural historian of the twentieth century. See his bio and much more at the above link. (The quote is from a letter to the Aristos editors.)
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ABOUT ARISTOS
Aristos (see link at bottom), co-edited by Louis Torres and Michelle Marder Kamhi, was founded by Torres in 1982. Like its print predecessor (1982-1997) it is a unique critical voice, advocating objective standards in arts scholarship and criticism, and arguing that the concept of art can, and ought to be, objectively defined. The journal’s primary focus is on the visual arts (painting and sculpture), but it also covers the other traditional fine and performing arts---literature (fiction and poetry), classical music, theater, and dance. Aristos is critical of both modernism and postmodernism. It vigorously opposes the increasingly bizarre and inscrutable work promoted in the name of art since the early years of the twentieth century---from abstract painting and sculpture through the seemingly endless concoctions of the avant-garde to this day. (See “The Interminable Monopoly of the Avant-Garde” by Louis Torres.) In the visual arts, Aristos champions contemporary Classical Realism (which includes the tradition of Impressionism) that, like the significant art of all ages, is concerned with fundamental human values, and is both intelligible and well crafted. The fullest explication and application of the philosophy that informs its views in all the arts is found in What Art Is: The Esthetic Theory of Ayn Rand (2000).
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WHAT ART IS: THE ESTHETIC THEORY OF AYN RAND
by Louis Torres & Michelle Marder Kamhi, Co-Editors, Aristos, Open Court (2000)
See Chapter Summaries, Reviews/Responses.
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WHO SAYS THAT'S ART? A COMMONSENSE VIEW OF THE VISUAL ARTS
Who Says That’s Art? by Michelle Marder Kamhi, Co-Editor, Aristos, Pro Arte Books (2014)
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SUPPORT THE ARISTOS FOUNDATION! Please make a donation, however modest, using your Credit Card or your PayPal account:
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PRAISE FOR ARISTOS
* "The value is there, particularly as the point of view is unique . . . controversial and combative." - Bill Katz, Library Journal (May 15, 1988)
* "Aristos is not just a passive, idealistic publication; it vigorously challenges modernist scholars and critics. . . . A scholarly but gutsy little periodical that, because it argues an unfashionable thesis, should be part of serious collections." - Magazines for Libraries, 6th ed. (1989)
* "[Its feature articles carry] more weight than those found in more substantial periodicals." - Magazines for Libraries, 7th & 8th eds. (1993, 1997)
* "Reading Aristos has given me much pleasure and instruction." (February 17, 1989; March 2, 1995) - Jacques Barzun, Cultural Historian (1907-2012)
* "I [am] glad to hear that Aristos continues in existence and that you and it remain pillars in the edifice of art education and appreciation in this country." (September 10, 2006) - Jacques Barzun [http://www.aristos.org/barzun.htm]
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PRAISE FOR WHAT ART IS
'WHAT ART IS: THE ESTHETIC THEORY OF AYN RAND' (Open Court, 2000), by Louis Torres and Michelle Kamhi [Reviews - http://www.aristos.org/editors/reviews.htm]:
* “A well-documented debunking of twentieth-century art and art theory.” - Association of College and Research Libraries (April 2001)
* “Constitutes a concerted attempt to demonstrate the relevance of [Rand’s] philosophy within contemporary cultural criticism. . . . A balanced critical assessment of her arguments.” - Association of Art Historians (U.K.) (September 2001)
* "Yours is the kind of work that makes its way slowly but lasts long, both because its subject is perennial and because of the breadth and depth of your treatment." - Jacques Barzun (October 5, 2001)
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