Art's Realism in the Post-Truth Era

How does art transform our understanding of realism in the post-truth era? Arguing for the necessity of taking art's contribution to contemporary realism seriously, this edited collection intervenes on contemporary debates about realism by demonstrating that the arts do not simply illustrate philosophical theories. The significance of art's realism in times characterised by the normalisation of fake, manipulated and distorted representations of reality can only be fully understood by attending to the ways that the arts mediate, visualise and even shape reality. Each chapter features a different approach to realism and its aesthetic dimensions not only in the visual arts, but also in sound art, film, scientific imaging and literature. Maryse Ouellet is Research Associate in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Bonn. Amanda Boetzkes is Professor of Contemporary Art History and Theory at the University of Guelph.