David Carrier's 'Proust/Warhol' Explores Aesthetic Theories of Two 20th-Century Mavericks

David Carrier's 2009 book 'Proust/Warhol' presents a comparative study of Marcel Proust and Andy Warhol, arguing both developed comprehensive aesthetic theories. Published by American University Studies, the 128-page volume juxtaposes Proust's literary exploration of consciousness in 'In Search of Lost Time' with Warhol's film 'Sleep', which treats sleep more literally. Carrier, a philosopher and art historian, draws on his erudition to examine how each artist resolved the relationship between art and life inventively. The book includes an extensive bibliography and dense endnotes, such as 113 notes for a 14-page chapter, which may challenge readers unfamiliar with Carrier's wide references. Carrier suggests that Proust and Warhol demonstrate how to live with style and imagination by keeping the boundary between art and life permeable. The work engages with Warhol's critical legacy and Carrier's personal experience of Proust's involuntary memory, positioning the comparison as a critical tour-de-force. Despite potential disagreements with its arguments, the book offers a resource for intellectual history and prompts new perspectives on both figures.