Seven Days in the Art World Kindle Edition

This book helps us understand how confused the elitist tendencies of the art establishment have made the world of art. But it is also misleading - because the topic is NOT the "Art World". Ms. Thornton covers only that segment of art that she enjoys - then claims it’s exceptionally important. She also fails to be a neutral writer or ethnographer.This book is not ethnography. Ethnography involves a disinterested observer (or observer with a pre-existing opinion taking an intentionally neutral position) and going into an environment with people to study their interactions. First, and foremost, to be valid ethnography it requires that the writer describe how the specific population segment they study relates to other populations.It’s also not ethnography in that it’s mostly record of interviews - interviews that don’t add much. That it’s reporting isn’t surprising - her career has been spent reporting. But the claim to be much more is specious.Ms. Thornton does admit in her afterword to the later edition to being an enthusiast for contemporary art - and seems incapable of understanding or explaining where contemporaray fits up against a much, much larger world of art and set of artists. (I suppose it was a great sales tactic though for hyping up the book and getting it bought by a publisher.)She also fails to sort out how to observe neutrally - no matter her opinion. Many of the characters she’s with assume persona’s of "edgy" while truly being pretty mundane - a fact she misses. She also fails to see (apparently) that they are rehashing essentially the same things that have been made for nearly 70 years...that little of the theories postulated by the collectors, critics, or artists are “new”.The writing covering the first two days is quite compelling and I enjoyed those parts (tho’ frustrated by her inability to be an ethnographer). The remaining 5 days were pretty dull writing - but I wanted to make sure I read through each of the events. I suppose her “studio visit” was most hilariously odd. It wasn’t a visit to a studio - but to a factory with the tour given by the CEO. Yet rather than search ethnographically to understand and give insight to this variation, she wholeheartedly embraces the CEO.As a last thought, she is fascinated by art that has the approval of this elite crowd - it’s the art she embraces. What strikes me is that she seems to lack the interest and enthusiasm for art that doesn’t have that approval - art which probes the depths of the human and expresses what’s essentially human. Certainly we could all argue about what makes something to be art and never resolve that question - because everyone answers the question differently. But this fact is what is so sadly missing from this book - the only important question in the true world of art.

About the author's experience auditing certain different high profile events in the art world and for the most part, it makes you want to hire a hitman for the poor rich jerks covered in this book (if only you had the money to).Some actual passages in this book:""We have entered a macroevent that is uncharted, a scale of expansion unseen since the Renaissance!" The older collector frowns. "Nothing goes on and on," he counters. "I'm feeling bearish. I've only spent, I don't know, two million dollars since January."""Still, because she and her husband own only about four hundred major works (as opposed to a couple of thousand) and because they don't usually spend more than 300,000 euros (rather than several million) on any given piece, she does not always find herself at the top of the international pecking order.""I can't hear what they're saying, but from the exchange of looks and the glance over at me, I can tell the dealer is asking something like "Is she the latest addition to your collection?""Listen, the writing itself is good, and if you like reading about pretentious soul-deaddening tripe you deal with in the (high) art world, you might enjoy this book. If not, STAY AWAY AND REMEMBER TO EAT THE RICH.

This book was just okay...nothing terribly interesting about it. Overall, I enjoyed the chapter about the Christie's auction the most, as it seemed like a very entertaining "show". The chapter called "The Magazine" was so boring and esoteric that it was virtually unreadable. The rest of the chapters were alright, with a mix of interesting and mind-numbingly dull sections....(a bit how I feel going to a modern-art gallery itself). I did expect to learn more about the art world than I did in this book, so it ended up being fairly disappointing in that respect. The saddest aspect of all is that I had a suspicion confirmed...the art world at this level is controlled by the rich and elite, so it's just another big corporate business! (Just read the chapter about the "artist" Murakami and you'll see what I mean).

Really enjoyed this book by Sarah Thornton, light and humorous and informatively takes you on whirlwind through the art worlds students to pomp. I bought 2nd hand, item was as described and I am very happy with the purchase

A very handy book for those who want to work / are interested in the Art World. I’ve had some bad experiences with books I bought on Amazon, but this one is legit

Contemporary Art World 101 with commentary by a stellar cast of players in the field! What a treat to have somebody with such brilliant observation and writing skills provide an intelligent and highly entertaining account of the different - yet inter-related - actors in the contemporary art market. ENJOY!

Very insightful especially for anyone into the art industry.Cleverly written and witty Hooked, can't put it down

Brilliant book, really enjoying the insider look at the art world!