Daisy Dixon's 'Depraved' Examines Immoral Art Across History
Daisy Dixon, an assistant professor of philosophy at Cardiff University in the UK, has released a new book entitled 'Depraved: The Story of Dangerous Art' (Faber & Faber, 304pp, £20 hb). In this work, she explores what she describes as 'the most immoral art ever produced by humanity throughout history and across various cultures.' Dixon identifies five unique forms of depravity in art, likening them to a Hydra, and presents strong viewpoints on issues such as the immoral artist and censorship. She examines the works of figures like Picasso, Gauguin, Hitler, and the Marquis de Sade, highlighting how Hitler's watercolours reveal a troubling perspective, while Sade's writings hold moral and political significance despite their disturbing nature. This book stems from her 2019 PhD research on artworks as speech acts, and her ongoing studies delve into 'aesthetic injustice.'
Key facts
- Daisy Dixon is assistant professor in philosophy at Cardiff University, UK.
- Her new book is titled 'Depraved: The Story of Dangerous Art'.
- The book charts 'the most immoral art ever produced by humanity, across the globe and the ages'.
- Art can be depraved in five distinct ways, represented as a Hydra.
- Dixon takes a strong stance on the immoral artist problem, arguing that moral properties of artworks are affected by creators' lives.
- Artists discussed include Picasso, Gauguin, Hitler, and the Marquis de Sade.
- Hitler's watercolours are described as betraying a deep, insidious worldview.
- Sade's work has moral and political value despite its depravity.
- The book was published by Faber & Faber, 304pp, £20 hb.
- Dixon's PhD (2019) argued that artworks can perform speech acts.
- Her current research focuses on 'aesthetic injustice'.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Cardiff University
- Faber & Faber
- The Art Newspaper
Locations
- Cardiff
- UK