Dear Everybody,

Brian O’Doherty’s “Inside the White Cube” is a dense read, full of flowery tangents, analgous diversions that tend to confuse more than they shed any light on modernism and the gallery space. Regardless, some of O'Doherty's ideas were interesting, and his views on photography seemed to smack of Edward Hirsch's in "Seizing the Light." He states, in his assured tone, "Everyone wants to have photographs not only to prove but to invent their experience. This constellation of narcissism, insecurity, and pathos is so influential I suppose none of us is quite free of it" (52). Again, photography is cast in the art theory canon as the great equalizer, the unavoidable art. 

Discussion questionz: Do you agree with O’Doherty perception of the gallery space as “the archetypal image of twentieth century art” (14)? Is there any want or need for a definitive image of modern art on the whole?

Love,

Ryan Hudgins