Aristos is an independent journal advocating objective standards in arts scholarship and criticism. We vigorously oppose the increasingly bizarre and meaningless work promoted in the name of art, by both modernists and postmodernists, in the course of the twentieth century. Equally important, we champion, in the art of our time, the concern with fundamental human values and disciplined craftsmanship that have characterized the art of the past.
The editorial viewpoint of Aristos is informed by the philosophy of Objectivism originated by Ayn Rand (author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged)--in particular, by the fundamental principles of the theory of art she outlined in the first four essays of The Romantic Manifesto. Aristos is fiercely independent, however. We are not tied to any Objectivist organization. Nor do we hesitate to criticize or depart from Rand's ideas, or from those of her principal interpreters. Moreover, we aim to reach a broad, general audience of intelligent readers and art lovers.
Aristos offers a unique alternative to the views prevailing in the arts establishment:
- We begin with an objective definition of art--a definition that is based on the conceptual nature of the human mind and that reflects the fundamental characteristics common to the major art forms (i.e., literature, painting, sculpture, music, and dance) throughout history.
- We demonstrate the spiritual bankruptcy and intellectual fraudulence of today's arts establishment. And we show through carefully reasoned philosophic argument why most of the twentieth-century work it promotes as "art" is not art at all in any meaningful sense of the word.
- Last, but far from least, we give serious attention to the work of the excellent artists, critics, and scholars of the twentieth century whose efforts have been maligned or ignored by modernists and postmodernists.
Ayn Rand's Philosophy of Art--A Critical Introduction.The first in-depth, scholarly analysis of the philosopher-novelist's theory of art--serialized in four issues. This series forms the basis of a forthcoming book entitled What Art Is: Ayn Rand's Philosophy of Art in Critical Perspective, to be published by Open Court in 1998. [Vol. 5 Nos. 2-5]
Today's "Public Art"--Rarely Public, Rarely Art.
Why the public rejects most
contemporary "public art," whether government-funded or corporate-sponsored.
[Vol. 4 No. 3]
The Child as Poet--An Insidious and Injurious Myth. On The Child as Poet: Myth or Reality?--a trenchant critique of the modernist approach to teaching children to write and appreciate poetry. [Vol. 4 No. 1]
The New Dawn of Painting. An essay-review on Realism in Revolution, a
collection of essays by a group of contemporary classical-realist painters.
[Vol.
3 No. 1]
The Misreading of Literature--Context, Would-Be Censors, and Critics. How censors and defenders alike misinterpret fiction through inattention to the author's context. [Vol. 3 No. 2]
Boswell's Johnson, Branden's Rand--"The Passion of Ayn Rand" in Historical Perspective. Biography of Rand by former protégé and close associate Barbara Branden, examined in the light of earlier prototypes. [Vol. 3 No. 5]
Of Men and Music. A courageous early critique of the modernist attempt to alter
the essential nature of music. One in a series of important reprints.
[Vol. 6 No.
2]
Ayn Rand's "We the Living"--New Life in a Restored Film Version. Review of the re-edited version of a 1942 Italian film (in two parts: "Noi vivi" and "Addio, Kira!") based on Rand's semi-autobiographical first novel, set in Russia just after the communist revolution. [Vol. 4 No. 4]
Revaluing the Liberal Arts. What "liberal education" truly means, and why it is in jeopardy today. [Vol. 6 No. 2]
Jack Schaefer, Teller of Tales. On the work of one of America's finest writers--the critically neglected author of the classic novel Shane, his first work of fiction. [Vol. 6 Nos. 4 and 5]
Yes . . . But Is It Art?--Morley Safer and Murphy Brown Take on the Experts. Prime-time television mocks the fraudulence and pretension of today's "art world."Blurring the Boundaries at the NEA. On the National Endowment for the Arts' disdain for definitions, and its destructive effect on arts education.
Kandinsky and His Progeny. Why Bruce Nauman's bizarre postmodernist "installations" are a logical consequence of Vasily Kandinsky's early modernist abstract paintings.
R.H. Ives Gammell (1893-1981). On the life and work of an influential painter, teacher, and writer, who was dedicated to perpetuating the high tradition of Western painting.
--Bill Katz, Library Journal, May 15, 1988"Aristos is not just a passive, idealistic publication; it vigorously challenges
--Magazines for Libraries, 6th ed. (1989)"[Its feature articles carry] more weight than those found in more substantial periodicals."
--Magazines for Libraries, 7th & 8th eds. (1993, 1997)
-- Jacques Barzun, Cultural Historian[Author of The Use and Abuse of Art, Classic, Romantic, and Modern, and
"Aristos is the only journal I know of that successfully applies Ayn Rand's philosophy
of art to an original and illuminating analysis of art and esthetics. It consistently
publishes independent-minded, well-written articles that enrich the reader's
understanding and enjoyment of the arts."
-- Chris Matthew Sciabarra, Visiting Scholar, New York University;"You write as well about serious ideas as anyone I can think of. Reading
Author of Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical
-- Robert D. Kephart, Largo, Florida"Aristos is the sort of journal that gives me hope that we're not all irretrievably insane."
-- Ian T. G. Lambert, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands"Although my book The Child as Poet was reviewed in the New York Times and many
-- Myra Cohn Livingston, Poet (1926-1996)"Ayn Rand's Philosophy of Art is the only good work I have seen on Rand's theory,
-- Randall R. Dipert, Professor of Philosophy, U.S. Military Academy;[Back to Contents.]
Author of Artifacts, Art Works, and Agency (Temple University Press, 1993)
For library rates, see Information for Librarians.
Aristos is edited by Louis Torres (who founded the journal in 1982) and Michelle Marder Kamhi.
Questions, comments, or suggestions regarding Aristos or this web site are welcome. Please send us an E-mail message, or write to us at the following address:
Aristos
The purpose of the Foundation is to foster public understanding and appreciation of humanistic values in the arts, as well as to deepen understanding of the nature of art and of the essential connection between the arts and human life.
Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
For further information, write to:
The Aristos Foundation
© Copyright 1997 by The Aristos Foundation Inc. All rights reserved. "Aristos" is the registered
trademark of The Aristos Foundation Inc. To duplicate any of the articles on this site for
educational purposes, please request permission by writing to us, on institutional letterhead, at
the above address.
This web site was created February 20, 1997.
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