Capacity: History, the World, and the Self in Contemporary Art and Criticism

What sets Thomas McEvilley apart from other critics in art and culture is his direct knowledge of the newest art and theory, and his comprehensive understanding of classic art and ancient civilizations. In McEvilley's view, modernism's present was the future, and post-modernism's present is the past. He distinguishes himself from both of these positions, and — Janus-like — simultaneously scrutinizes past and present in order to facilitate the production of future discourse. G. Roger Denson brings singular insight to Thomas McEvilley's writings. As an art writer he has explored similar theory, but from the point of view of a nomadic ideologist. He addresses the issues of pragmatism, historicism, and cultural relativism. In so doing, he effectively dismantles the need to establish a master narrative.