The New Shock of the New

In 1980, »Times« art critic Robert Hughes presented the BBC series THE SHOCK OF THE NEW in eight installments. His introduction to the history of modern art in the context of social and political turmoil throughout the twentieth century became a great success, and was sold to 29 other countries. 24 years later, in THE NEW SHOCK OF THE NEW, Hughes gives a review of the art world’s development since then. In his trademark tone of subtlety and decisiveness, he dismisses postmodern kitsch in the vein of Jeff Koons, whereas he holds the works of artists such as Anselm Kiefer, David Hockney and Lucien Freud in high esteem for their presumed compliance with his stipulation that the fine arts provide a counterweight to mass media’s fast-paced processing of reality.