Originally published as: But is it art? 2001.

Includes bibliographic references and index.

Blood and beauty -- Paradigms and purposes -- Cultural crossings -- Money markets, museums -- Gender, genius, and Guerrilla Girls -- Cognition, creation, comprehension -- Digitizing and disseminating.

"This book provides the ideal introduction to thinking about art. Cynthia Freeland explains why innovation and controversy in art are constantly in the headlines, and why it matters. She discusses the relationship of art with beauty, culture, money, sex, and new technology, and draws on examples from Rembrandt, Goya, and Damien Hirst to African nail fetishes, Indian Pueblo dancing, and MTV."--BOOK JACKET.