The return of the real cover

The return of the real

by Hal Foster

"The Return of the Real presents an original reading of art and theory over the last three decades, with special emphasis to the controversial connections between the two. It also rethinks the relation between historical avant gardes and neo-avant-gardes. The result is an authoritative genealogy of art and theory from minimalism and pop to the present, with important ramifications for prewar studies as well." "Against the cliche that contemporary art and theory are condemned to historical pastiche, Foster argues that the avant-garde returns to us from the future, repositioned by innovative work in the present. And he poses this retroactive model of art and theory against the reactionary undoing of progressive culture that is so pervasive today."--BOOK JACKET.

More by Hal Foster

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?