Popular as Art?

Thomas Hecken is Professor of Modern German Literature at the University of Siegen. At the University of Siegen he is also head of the sub-project Pop Aesthetics within the Collaborative Research Center 'Transformations of the Popular'. His research interests include conceptual history and aesthetic theory. Book publications include: Theorien der Populärkultur; Pop. Geschichte eines Konzepts 1955-2009; Handbuch Popkultur (as co-editor). He is also main editor of the journal 'Pop. Kultur und Kritik'.

• Chapter 1: Introduction.- Part I: Fundamental Questions.- Chapter 2: Standardization.- Chapter 3: Stimulus.- Chapter 4: Aesthetics.- Chapter 5: Defining Art.- Chapter 6: Is Art Useful?.- Chapter 7: Is Entertainment Art?.- Chapter Chapter 8: Are Events, Environments, and Star Performances Art?.- Chapter 9: The Art of the Show?.- Chapter 10: Can Works By Amateurs Be Art?.- Part II: Particular Valorisations: Popular Artifacts as Good Art.- Chapter 11: What’s Popular.- Chapter 12: The Popular and the ‘People’.- Chapter 13: Bestselling Novels: Realism.- Chapter 14: Genre Paradigms.- Chapter 15: Praise for ‘Popular’ Genres.- Chapter 16: Entertaining.- Chapter 17: Trash.- Chapter 18: Spotlight on the Star.- Chapter 19: Clichés on Display.- Chapter 20: Rock ‘n’ Roll: “Grotesque enough to sell a million”.- Chapter 21: The Modern Art of Rock.- Chapter 22: The Art of Pop Music.- Chapter 23: Images and Pop Fashion as Art.- Chapter 24: The Feeling and Mood of Recipients.- Chapter 25: Complexity and the Popular.- Chapter 26: Conclusion.