Harold Rosenberg's 1988 essay on art's transformation from dissent to societal integration

American critic Harold Rosenberg's essay from over twenty years ago examines how art has evolved from a vehicle for rebellion or dissent into a practice fully assimilated into contemporary society. The text specifically addresses art's absorption by media channels while avoiding romantic nostalgia, as illustrated in Rosenberg's discussion of action painting. Originally published in French by artpress in November 1988, the essay's relevance persists today, prompting its recent translation. Rosenberg analyzes the professionalization of art practice, tracing its shift from oppositional stance to institutional acceptance. The critique explores how artistic expression once served as radical protest but has since become integrated within mainstream cultural frameworks. Media's role in this transformation receives particular attention, with Rosenberg noting how art now operates within established systems rather than against them. The essay's enduring significance lies in its prescient observations about art's changing social function and relationship to power structures. Rosenberg's analysis remains strikingly current despite being written decades ago, offering insights into art's ongoing negotiation between autonomy and accommodation.