Seven Ways of Thinking About Images (lecture)

This was recorded for a conference in Bressanone, Italy, which I couldn't attend; it was screened at the conference in autumn 2018.
The "seven ways" of looking at images include:
1. Do images have a nature? (An ontology? An essence?)
2. Why is it so difficult to classify images? Why can't they be classified the way that animals, plants, and so many other kinds of objects are?
3. What sort of thing is not an image? Is there anything that is clearly non-imagistic?
4. How closely do people look at images? Is the current discourse in materiality getting closer to the texture of paintings, for example?
5. What does it mean that so many people who work with images (artists, historians, theorists) do not have theories of what images are?
This material builds on the book "What is an Image?" and also the book "Visual Studies: A Skeptical Introduction." It includes thoughts on the nature of writing in art history, art theory, aesthetics, visual culture, and visual studies.

[@darklingeraeld-ridge7946]

'What Painting Is' may not be grounded enough in Art History, and have other problems arguably, but nonetheless from the point of view of a painter (and I know I'm not the only one) it is one of the most interesting and suggestive of any generic writings on the subject. (Also, I have to say the TJ Clark, 'The Sight of Death' is is about TWO Poussin paintings: 'Landscape with a Man Killed by a Snake' and 'Landscape with a Calm'.)

[@JamesElkins]

Thank you, and of course I'm aware of the general absence of historical analysis; it was a difficult choice at the time.

[@darklingeraeld-ridge7946]

That was a response to what was said in the video, rather than a criticism I have of the book. Am just re-reading it, and it seems to me that the title is right..... am tempted to say this is the ONLY book actually on painting! In the introduction you say you have found, "less than half a dozen books that address paint itself, and try to explain why it has such a powerful attraction". Would very much like to know what those books are.

[@JamesElkins]

Thanks! Actually I agree, and there are lectures in this series, coming up, which are skeptical on that point. This morning I'm giving one to a class here in Chicago, which is on the theme "Do artists need art theory?" PS, very funny about Clark's book

[@ianwaldeck]

Wonderful thank you very much. Is it possible to get a booklist of authors/books you refered to both here and in other lectures regarding the image? Maybe published here is he;lpful, and if you choose please indicate that i should mail you to receive it. Please continue publishing all your lectures and conferences here. These first ones all all fantastic. Much appreciated thanks. Iaan Waldeck

[@JamesElkins]

Thanks so much! There's a plan in the works for companion book, which woud list references and class exercises. If you think of references, please put them in the comments, and I'll add them and thank you in the book.