Which are the Important Books for PhD Arts?
The important books for a PhD in Arts can vary widely depending on your specific field of study, research focus, and academic discipline (e.g., literature, history, philosophy, visual arts, etc.). However, here are some general categories and examples of books that are often considered essential or highly influential in arts-related PhD programs:
1. Theoretical Foundations
These books provide the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings for many arts disciplines:
\"The Critique of Judgment\" by Immanuel Kant (aesthetic theory)
\"The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction\" by Walter Benjamin (art and media theory)
\"Discipline and Punish\" by Michel Foucault (power, knowledge, and institutions)
\"The Interpretation of Cultures\" by Clifford Geertz (cultural anthropology)
\"Ways of Seeing\" by John Berger (visual culture and art criticism)
\"The Death of the Author\" by Roland Barthes (literary theory)
\"Simulacra and Simulation\" by Jean Baudrillard (postmodern theory)
2. Research Methodology
These books are essential for understanding research methods in the arts and humanities:
\"The Craft of Research\" by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams
\"Qualitative Researching\" by Jennifer Mason
\"Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches\" by John W. Creswell
\"Doing a Literature Review\" by Chris Hart
\"The Art of Case Study Research\" by Robert E. Stake
3. Art History and Criticism
For those studying visual arts, these texts are foundational:
\"The Story of Art\" by E.H. Gombrich
\"Art Since 1900\" by Hal Foster, Rosalind Krauss, Yve-Alain Bois, and Benjamin H.D. Buchloh
\"The Shock of the New\" by Robert Hughes
\"Art and Visual Perception: A Psychology of the Creative Eye\" by Rudolf Arnheim
\"The Painted Word\" by Tom Wolfe (critique of modern art)
4. Literary Theory and Criticism
For literature-focused PhDs, these works are often required:
\"The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism\" (edited by Vincent B. Leitch)
\"The Republic\" by Plato (especially the sections on art and poetry)
\"The Anxiety of Influence\" by Harold Bloom
\"Orientalism\" by Edward Said (postcolonial theory)
\"Gender Trouble\" by Judith Butler (feminist and queer theory)
\"The Postmodern Condition\" by Jean-François Lyotard
5. Cultural Studies
These books explore the intersection of art, culture, and society:
\"Culture and Imperialism\" by Edward Said
\"Imagined Communities\" by Benedict Anderson (nationalism and culture)
\"Subculture: The Meaning of Style\" by Dick Hebdige
\"The Location of Culture\" by Homi K. Bhabha (postcolonial theory)
\"Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste\" by Pierre Bourdieu
6. Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics
These texts delve into the nature of art and beauty:
\"The Birth of Tragedy\" by Friedrich Nietzsche
\"Art as Experience\" by John Dewey
\"Aesthetic Theory\" by Theodor Adorno
\"The Philosophy of Art\" by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
\"What is Art?\" by Leo Tolstoy
7. Key Texts in Specific Disciplines
Depending on your field, you may need to focus on specific works:
Film Studies: \"Film Art: An Introduction\" by David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson
Musicology: \"A History of Western Music\" by J. Peter Burkholder
Theater Studies: \"The Empty Space\" by Peter Brook
Dance Studies: \"Dancing Modernism / Performing Politics\" by Mark Franko
8. Contemporary and Interdisciplinary Approaches
For cutting-edge research, consider:
\"Relational Aesthetics\" by Nicolas Bourriaud
\"The Archive and the Repertoire\" by Diana Taylor (performance studies)
\"Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things\" by Jane Bennett (new materialism)
\"The New Media Reader\" (edited by Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Nick Montfort)
9. Writing and Academic Skills
These books help with the practical aspects of writing a dissertation:
\"Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day\" by Joan Bolker
\"How to Write a Thesis\" by Umberto Eco
\"They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing\" by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein
\"Stylish Academic Writing\" by Helen Sword
10. Field-Specific Journals and Edited Collections
In addition to books, familiarize yourself with key journals and edited collections in your field, such as:
\"October\" (art and criticism)
\"Critical Inquiry\" (interdisciplinary humanities)
\"Art Bulletin\" (art history)
\"PMLA\" (literature and language)
Final Note:
Your PhD reading list will ultimately depend on your research topic, supervisor\'s guidance, and departmental requirements. Always consult with your advisor to tailor your reading to your specific project.
