
The Painted Word
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Narrated by:
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Harold N. Cropp
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By:
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Tom Wolfe
About this listen
No one skewers the popular movements of American culture like Tom Wolfe. In 1975, he turned his satirical pen to the pretensions of the contemporary art world - a world of social climbing, elitist posturing, and ingeniously absurd self-justifying theorizing. From the fuliginous flatness of the 50s to the pop op minimal 60s, right on through the now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t 70s, Tom Wolfe debunks the great American myth of modern art in an incandescent, hilarious, and devastating blast.
©1975 Tom Wolfe (P)2000 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Story
In this 1976 collection of essays, Americana icon Tom Wolfe explores the social status strife of the 1970s, eviscerating trends of faux-sympathy and self-absorption, going as far as to coin the term "The 'Me' Decade" to describe the period’s narcissism. And when paired with the clear, confident delivery of storied narrator and stage-and-screen veteran Peter Berkrot, Wolfe’s incisive wit and cynical bite is more blistering than ever.
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A journey back to my teens
- By Richard Del Connor on 12-28-22
By: Tom Wolfe
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The Pump House Gang
- By: Tom Wolfe
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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A collection of non-fiction essays about the counter-culture of the 1960s that dives deep into the issues that marked the era: female empowerment, increasing freedom around sexuality, vibrant subcultures, and the rise of psychedelic drugs. In this sprawling work, Wolfe profiles Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and compares him to Jay Gatsby, interviews one of the first women to get breast implants, and hangs out with freewheeling surfers (aka The Pump House Gang).
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a glimpse into the Mod Life of the sixties
- By john on 05-09-24
By: Tom Wolfe
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I Am Charlotte Simmons
- By: Tom Wolfe
- Narrated by: Dylan Baker
- Length: 31 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Dupont University: the Olympian halls of learning housing the cream of America's youth, the roseate Gothic spires and manicured lawns suffused with tradition....Or so it appears to beautiful, brilliant Charlotte Simmons, a sheltered freshman from North Carolina, who has come here on full scholarship. But Charlotte soon learns, to her mounting dismay, that for the upper-crust coeds of Dupont, sex, Cool, and kegs trump academic achievement every time.
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Decadence through the eyes of a ?good girl?
- By Eric on 11-18-04
By: Tom Wolfe
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The Kingdom of Speech
- By: Tom Wolfe
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Tom Wolfe, whose legend began in journalism, takes us on an eye-opening journey that is sure to arouse widespread debate. The Kingdom of Speech is a captivating, paradigm-shifting argument that speech - not evolution - is responsible for humanity's complex societies and achievements.
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Takedown of a pseudointellectual bully!
- By Wayne on 09-01-16
By: Tom Wolfe
What listeners say about The Painted Word
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- Evert
- 02-13-21
Spot On
Have always disliked and distrusted modern art. Wolfe gives substance and foundation for that dislike. He exposes the intellectual bankruptcy of the movement showing it to be the whited sepulcher that it is! "The uglier it is, the more you should like it." Give me a break!
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- Mica
- 06-11-15
As an art theorist this encapsulates the modernist and post modernist thought to a T
Having read the texts Mr Wolfe references I can say that he hits it spot on. Anyone following art theory writing and its current trend can vouch for it. His comments shine a light on the basic ideas and the writers who cast such a towering shadow over the art world and continue to do so in the universities to this day.
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5 people found this helpful
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- nancy
- 02-05-17
A joy to read and to listen
The sophistication of the book will elude many, but I have the education and attention to find the points he makes exquisite fun. The intellectual independence Wolfe often displays is often avoided by reducing the effort to fashion. This book examines fashion in a way that allows intellect to escape fashion and understand the voice of art rather than commerce. Commerce may decide what and how we value image, however, image must stand without that decision in intimate understanding. Wolfe seems to understand the predicament well.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Diego V
- 10-05-20
Wish It Was Longer
I really enjoyed the book, but wish it was more in depth. Maybe I just knew too little about modern art. I found myself stopping and research the artists, critics and patrons mentioned in the book.
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- Lance
- 07-14-13
Modern Art makes More Sense after this Book
What did you love best about The Painted Word?
Modern art is art because of the ideas it represents, rather than aesthetics. In fact, the lack of aesthetics is of primary importance in many forms of modern art. This lack of emphasis on the visual aspect of modern visual art may be the factor that differentiates modern art from its predecessors.
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5 people found this helpful
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- ellin todd
- 02-01-23
history art in america early 20th century
great perspective on modern art in america in the early 20th century. from one who lived it
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- Samuel K Osborne
- 05-27-23
A needed corrective to Modernist hubris
Wolfe in classic form vivisects the pretentious of the 20th century art world with razor sharp wit.
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- Suzanne
- 06-19-23
Thomas Wolfe Never Fails
You can always count on T. Wolfe to strip away snobbery and pretensions. He won't let you down with this book. Enjoyable read. Helps if you are familiar with modern art.
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- T & L
- 08-26-24
This was brilliant, concise, and hilarious. It is scathing and funny and spot on.
I’ve never really read Tom Wolfe, but this was absolutely brilliant. I will read more of his books! This was wry, concise, on point with the history of the art world particularly concerning the 20th century.
The narrator was fantastic, his inflection and tone made me think it was the author himself. If you have any interest in art or art history, or a student of art, or an artist, this should be top of your list to read. If you’ve ever been confused about modern art, this is also for you.
The one thing not covered in this book is one more truth: the art world and art itself is now a standalone industry.
I laughed a lot! What a great author. What a great narrator! Perfect pairing.
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- J.B.
- 03-09-22
Elucidating
Can you grasp the distinction between the realism of Renaissance and the don’t- know -what -it’s -about metaphysics of Abstract Expressionism? Yes, you can and it’s all here in this off-the-wall essay, The Painted Word, by Tom Wolfe, and very nicely narrated by Harold N. Cropp. First, of course, it is off the wall it is a Wolfe literary work.
Here is the place to learn proper chatting parlance for enjoying works of art, at gallery showings, that elementarily don’t communicate a thing to you. It’s not supposed too stupid! You’re not here to see a landscape, still life, or portrait. You’re here to be freed up to see, what it may be that you see, that which you may feel, or just something to float your thoughts upon.
The Painted Word will do just that for you. All in one quick reading. It is great.
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