The Artifact as Argument: Art and the Human Narrative Cheryl Chen Moving beyond surface-level readings

Moving beyond surface-level readings

This collection of essays celebrates the craft of literary criticism by revealing the complex layers of meaning embedded in foundational texts from antiquity to the modern era

It examines pivotal moments when deeply rooted cultural norms

Cold War science fiction

these studies reveal that identity is not a given

The Artifact as Argument: Art and the Human Narrative Cheryl Chen Moving beyond surface-level readingsThis collection of essays explores how art serves as a powerful medium for expressing, shaping, and challenging individual and collective identities. It posits that every work of art is an argumentthat from an artists most intimate canvas to the transformation of the landscape itself, creative expression makes potent claims about our identity, cultural heritage, and social norms. The essays decode these visual arguments, examining how artists navigate