SEVEN DAYS IN THE ART WORLD,   ISBN:9781847080370

Customer Rating: 

I'm of two minds with this one. On the one hand, I'm glad someone's done it; harangue the art market (if that's what you want to call it) in their own ecosystem. In retrospect however, the effort lacked either (or both) objectivity and personal judgement. If anything, it appears Thornton was swallowed by the mesmerizing beast of the art market, and taken to its lair for re-education. Where is the feeling of the hunt? Where is the aftermath of conflict? Even sarcasm or beat writing would have made it more interesting. On the other hand, Thornton didn't appear to be distanced enough from her subject to capture serious data, and thereby extending academic knowledge. It appears as if she couldn't make up her mind which of the flies on the wall to be. If it weren't a book, it would pair well with an east coast USA Martha Stewart type magazine; but as it is, I found it to be a story minus a bit of story telling.

Customer Rating: 

7 days in the art world is a classic. It doesn't pretend to be (or make) art history, nor critical essay.
Nevertheless it is art history on the original sense of Vasari's life of the artists. Therefore providing a revealing account on the current state of the western art world and the relations it spawns between free market economy, the media, universities and cultural institutions or events. An essential reading for anyone interested in the backstage of contemporary art beyond appearances.

Customer Rating: 

I just started the book but it's very informative for artists, like myself, to read. I think it puts a perspective on different cultures that exist within the art world itself. With this book, artists and those who don't make it but still enjoy it can really know what it means, not soley based on status, when art makes it into an auction and gets sold for large amounts of money. I'm about to begin chapter 3, but I can tell it will just as informative as the previous two chapters.

Customer Rating: 

This book is the most accurate representation of the art world that I have ever read. Sarah Thorton has a keen eye, a sharp intellect, and an objective stance. I read The 12 Million Dollar Shark just before this, and was put off by the judgmental tone and subjective treatment of some artists (Warhol in particular). This book was a sharp contrast to 12 Million, even though both books cover many of the same subjects. Her ethnographic approach allows her to write about the art world with such nuanced detail that I found myself nodding my head again and again in recognition. I used this for my graduate level "book club", it's a fantastic primer on the complexity of the art world, and I highly recommend it.

Customer Rating: 

Sarah Thorton does a remarkable of job giving you a front row seat to the greatest show on earth as well as exposure to the often cynical belly of the beast. A great read for any artist who feels out of touch with what is considered the upper echelon of the art world. I would not say it's an inspirational piece of work but undoubtedly interesting from chapter to chapter.