Theory of the Rearguard: How to Survive Contemporary Art (and Almost Everything Else)
Language: English
Published by Seven Stories Press, 2025
- Softcover
- New

Seller: Ria Christie Collections, Uxbridge, United KingdomRia Christie Collections
AbeBooks seller since March 25, 2015
Condition: New
US$ 15.31
Quantity: 13 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
In English.
Seller Inventory # ria9781644214619_new
- Title
- Theory of the Rearguard: How to Survive Contemporary Art (and Almost Everything Else)
- Author
- De La Nuez, Iván
- Publisher
- Seven Stories Press
- Publication year
- 2025
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 164421461X
- ISBN 13
- 9781644214619
- Item weight
- 214 grams
Art criticism that examines contemporary art in the 21st century in relationship to politics, iconography, and literature.
“Iván de la Nuez transforms art criticism into an art form.” —Letras Libres
Theory of the Rearguard examines how contemporary art is in tension with survival, rather than in relation to life. In the twentieth century, Peter Bürger’s Theory of the Avant-Garde was a cult book focused on the two main tasks that art demanded at the time: to break its representation and to destroy the barrier that separated it from life.
Forty years later, The Theory of the Rearguard is an ironic manifesto about contemporary art and its failures, even though Iván de la Nuez does not waste his time mourning it or disguising it. He argues that our times are not characterized by the distance between art and life, but by a tension between art and survival, which is the continuation of life by any means necessary.
In the twenty-first century, Iván de la Nuez examines art in relationship to politics, iconography, and literature. This austere and sharp book—in which Duchamp stumbles upon Lupe, the revolution upon the museum, Paul Virilio upon Joan Fontcuberta or Fukuyama upon Michael Jackson—wonders if contemporary art will ever end. Because if it were mortal—“just as mortal as everything it invokes or examines under its magnifying glass”—de la Nuez argues would be worth writing an epitaph for it as he has done in this sparkling book of art criticism.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
ELLEN JONES is a literary translator from Spanish into English, a writer, and an editor. Her recent translations include This Mouth is Mine by Yásnaya Elena A. Gil (Charco Press, 2024), The Remains by Margo Glantz (Charco Press, 2023), The Forgery by Ave Barrera (Charco Press, 2022, co-translated with Robin Myers), and Nancy by Bruno Lloret (Two Lines Press, 2021). Her monograph, Literature in Motion: Translating Multilingualism Across the Americas, is published by Columbia University Press (2022).
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Ria Christie Collections
Uxbridge, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since March 25, 2015
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 6 to 12 business days | 6 to 12 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 12.43 | US$ 12.43 |
Payment methods
Store description
Hello! Ria Christie Collections is an online venture that was initially set up in 2012 to sell books. We do not have a physical high street store. We are professional online booksellers. We only sell brand new books in perfect condition that we source from various suppliers and the publishers. Primarily, our aim is to provide an excellent service to all our customers. We always work as a team to achieve this. Our other objectives are to: 1. Ensure that all our products reach their destination quickly in a safe and secure manner 2. Answer to all our customer queries within 24 hours 3. Ensure that our customers are happy with their purchases 4. Provide all the items at a competitive price 5. Always listen to our customers Ria Christie Collections is not a registered company. It is a Sole Trader venture. Other key information is shown below: Contact Person Name: Rakesh Luchmun (Mr) Storefront Name: Ria Christie Collections Place of Establishment Address: Suite B; ARUN House; ARUN Building Arundel Road Uxbridge UB8 2RR United Kingdom E-Mail Address: riachristie@hotmail.co.uk VAT Number: GB 160 5650 25 We always work hard and aim to comply with all of Abebooks Policies. If you have any issues, please do not hesitate to write to us whether before or after a purchase. We promise to reply to you promptly and, in any case, within 24 hours. Thank you kindly! Yours sincerely Mr Rakesh Luchmun (Founder) and the Ria Christie Collections Team…
Specialty
Educational books, Textbooks, Fiction, Non- fictionSeller's business information
Ryefield Investments Limited
175 Pield Heath Road
Uxbridge, United Kingdom UB8 3NL
Terms of sale
All Returns and Refund are as per Abebooks policies.
Shipping terms
Orders usually ship within 2 business days. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. Thank you!