I need some help doing some research. I'm looking for quotes declairing either art or painting dead or over. I have found one from the 6th century BCE, i have a few others as well, but i'm looking for a source that has documented as many as possible. Somebody has got to have done a doctoral thesis on this, and if they haven't somebody should.

"What does it mean that for 30 years it was said something is dead? If the eulogies continue for 30 years , does it mean that something is dead? Or does that not mean something is not dead?"
--Jacques Derrida. Quoted in Dinitia Smith, "Philosopher Gamely In Defense Of His Ideas," New York Times, May 30, 1998, sect. B., p. 7.

Much thanks,
--Wislawa

P.S. I'm sorry i posted this in two places, but i need as much help on this as possible. I won't post it anywhere else. thanks.

i'm looking to read anything on the 'death' of art or painting... did you find anything?

I don't know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for, but here is a quote refuting the idea that painting is dead from the late twentieth century...

"No, I don't think is doomed. I think there are always going to be people who like something which is silent, static and incontrovertible. Because for the same reason that in our actual lives, we don't want a continuous, thin-sensory bombardment, you just want to have areas of silence, and areas of reflection."

--Robert Hughes (Art Critic)

Hi! I have an essay to write about why art (paintings/sculture etc) provide no use to society and I need evidence to back this view up. Also, I have to consider the opposite view too... Any help at all, I would be most grateful for..

Kind regards,
Mandy

Saying art provides no use to society is like saying " sex provides no use to society". Don't waste your time expanding on that absurd view, just concentrate on what art actually brings to society.

The other guy is right. Art/painting can't be dead, and that whole thing about society is quite true. Something tells me that you won't have a lot of luck with the research.

Hi Mandy !
Art is to Society is what one's heart is to a human being. Art is what confirms that a Society is ALIVE, and which also stores reflections of that Society for posterity.
What would we know about ancient civilisations, if not for the paintings and sculptures of those eras that have withstood the tests of milleniums, and still provide tangible proofs of the people who belonged to those bygone cultures !
...It is art that shows us what Cleopatra looked like. Art tells us of the kinds of dresses and ornaments preferred by Greek warriors, and Roman aristocracy. Art confirms that Indian farmers of yore used novel labour-saving mechanisms to draw water from wells or rivulets to irrigate their fields, and that the ancient Japanese knew how to build multi-storeyed buildings. Art even allows us to relive through some of the grandest moments in our human history !
...Indeed, Art cannot ever be parted from Society. For, a Society without Art/Literature will go down in history as a race without hearts.
...Would this bit help as an introduction, or conclusion to your essay, young friend ?!

INDYMAD