Dewey for Artists

John Dewey is known as a pragmatic philosopher and progressive architect of American educational reform, but some of his most important contributions came in his thinking about art. Dewey argued that there is strong social value to be found in art, and it is artists who often most challenge our preconceived notions".Dewey for Artists" shows us how Dewey advocated for an "art of democracy": not only does it take both an artist and an audience to create art, but also, he argued, true democratic societies can only function by living through art and embracing the social participation of artists. Throughout the book, Mary Jane Jacob draws on the experiences of contemporary artists and curators who have modeled Dewey's principles within their practices. We see how artists' work springs from deeply held values. We see how curators (such as the author herself) carefully consider the potential for audiences' experiences, presenting art in ways that can enable viewers to find greater meaning and purpose. And it is this self and social realization, Jacob helps us understand, that further ensures Dewey's legacy – and the culture we live in.