Depraved

‘‘A brilliant story about art’s dark power over the human imagination. Daisy Dixon offers bold new ways to think about how art shapes our lives — and how to engage with art that shocks, horrifies, or harms. An essential, timely, sparklingly smart book for anyone who wants to place the culture wars in their historical and philosophical context.” —Dan Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Plantagenets and Henry V

‘‘Daisy Dixon is the guide you need in encountering the disturbing side of human expression. Her book gave me the courage to look closer at depraved art, not fear it, which is the ultimate power.”—Helen Carr, author of The Red Prince

“Lively, explicit, provocative. Philosopher Daisy Dixon gives her verdict on depraved art from a diverse group that includes Neolithic cave painters, the Marquis de Sade, Marina Abravomić, and Cardi B.” —Nigel Warburton, author A Little History of Philosophy

“Clear, very accessible, and thought-provoking, Depraved is an elegant blend of art history and philosophy that invites us to stare into the abyss while wrestling with the ethics of threatening, shocking, and uncomfortable art.” —Greg Jenner, author of A Million Years in a Day

“Essential. Daisy Dixon writes with grace, wit, and moral clarity about the weaponization of art. Depraved is an urgent reckoning with institutional violence, curatorial practice and the meaning of freedom — demonstrating the always-intertwined nature of aesthetics and ethics.” —Dan Hicks, author of Every Monument Will Fall