Objects of Authority

This book develops a postformalist aesthetic theory that makes room for an aesthetic analysis independent of the model of competent aesthetic judgement or appreciation. It represents a rare effort at bringing together methods and concepts that are often addressed by separate disciplines.

Jakub Stejskal is a MASH Junior research group leader at the Department of Art History, Masaryk University. Previously, he held fellowship positions at eikones (University of Basel) and Freie Universität Berlin. His recent work has appeared in Critical Inquiry, Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, British Journal of Aesthetics, and RES: Anthropology and Aesthetics. He is also an associate editor of the academic journal Estetika.

Chapter 1. Postformalism: An Introduction Chapter 2. Aesthetic Suspicions Chapter 3. What Is a Format? Chapter 4. A Theory of Image Format Chapter 5. Universal Style Chapter 6. Aesthetic Analysis and Its Formats