The Vocation of the Artist

The Vocation of the Artist examines the historical role of the artist and presents a particular perspective, grounded in the author’s experience as a practising artist and scholar, on the contemporary function of the artist as prophetic critic and visionary. Using specific interpretations of the words ‘vocation’, ‘prophetic’, and ‘visionary’, Deborah Haynes draws attention to the need for artists to assess critically the relationship of the past and present to the future. Bringing together a wide range of historical and theoretical sources in cultural history, art history and theory, and religion, this book is addressed to those interested in the complex interdisciplinary dialogue of the visual arts, religion, and ethics.

• Deals with artist training and the artist’s role in society - a hot topic at the moment • Especially helpful for artists in training: examines challenges facing artists today seeking to understand their role/function in a divisive art world • First book since Edmund Feldman’s The Artist (Prentice Hall/1982) to examine both historical and contemporary roles of the visual artist • Includes discussions of many contemporary artists

Part I. Preliminary Issues: 1. Introduction; 2. A proposition; 3. Vocation; 4. The efficacy of art; Part II. Roles of the Artist: 5. Premodern theocentric mimetic craftsperson; 6. Modern anthropocentric original inventor; 7. Avant-garde prophet; 8. Postmodern parodic ex-centric bricoleur; Part III. The Reclamation of the Future: 9. Prophetic criticism; 10. Visionary imagination; 11. Creativity, utopia, and hope; 12. A final image.