Rosalind Krauss Reinventing The Medium Pdf

In the landscape of contemporary art criticism, few essays have exerted as profound an influence as Rosalind Krauss’s seminal text, "Reinventing the Medium." Originally published in 1999, this work fundamentally challenged how art historians, critics, and artists understand the concept of an artistic medium in a post-media age. For students, scholars, and art enthusiasts searching for the , understanding the core arguments, historical context, and theoretical stakes of this essay is essential.

Beyond the Canvas: Understanding Rosalind Krauss and the "Reinvention of the Medium"

Rosalind Krauss's 1999 essay "Reinventing the Medium" addresses the "post-medium condition," proposing a shift from traditional material purity to a concept of "technical support" or "differential specificity" in art. The text analyzes how artists like James Coleman and William Kentridge redefine mediums through the use of obsolete technologies and discursive systems. Access the PDF version of the article via the University of Chicago Press . Rosalind Krauss: between modernism and post- medium rosalind krauss reinventing the medium pdf

a purely signifying form devoid of reference (negating pure post-structuralism). The Triadic Structure: Medium–Support–Convention

To counter this aesthetic flattening, Krauss does not advocate for a simple, nostalgic return to oil painting or marble sculpture. Instead, she redefines the medium as a In the landscape of contemporary art criticism, few

To illustrate her theory, Krauss focuses heavily on artists who repurposed obsolete or non-traditional technologies to create a new formal language. James Coleman’s Slide Projected Images

The essay is also compiled in Krauss’s influential book, Perpetual Inventory (MIT Press), which expands on these themes across various contemporary artists. The text analyzes how artists like James Coleman

Krauss’s writing is famously elliptical. She does not offer bullet points. Instead, she builds her argument through case studies. In “Reinventing the Medium,” she moves between:

Reinventing a medium is an act of resistance. By establishing a strict, self-imposed set of rules (like Coleman’s slide intervals or Ruscha’s strict geographic parameters), artists create a space for critical thinking that stands apart from the mindless consumption of mass media. Why Researchers Seek the PDF: The Lasting Legacy

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?