Depraved

A work of art is a strange thing. A human creation, a single art object can carry us to the soaring peaks of beauty or drag us all the way down to the burning depths of depravity. We often treat artworks as sacred, almost other-worldly objects. But they are an intimate piece of this world - born from the hands of geniuses, and from the hands of monsters. For 73,000 years, humans have made art. From cave paintings made with blood to animals suspended in formaldehyde, art is created to interpret ourselves and the world around us; to make sense of what frightens us, and to express our emotions. Art helps us communicate with others, build communities and explore love and beauty. But art has its dark side. Many creations -- from the Marquis de Sade's writings, to erotic Japanese shunga art, to contemporary performance art -- have explored human iniquity and challenged our deepest moral convictions. While some art has taught us about virtue and how to be a good person, just as many works have been considered dangerous, corrupt, or just downright evil. Depravity offers an unconventional perspective on global art history, taking the reader on a journey through depraved, obscene, and dangerous art through a philosophical lens.