ART'S PROSPECT

Roger Kimball addresses a host of artistic topics in this collection of short pieces; he reviews specific shows, discusses major critics, and explores major artists. He is strongest when praising or informing; when he attacks those he disagrees with, he depends too heavily on arch sarcasm. However, whether Kimball is lauding or slicing, Christopher Lane always shapes his narration to fit. In fact, Lane seems to take particular pleasure in performing the more conversational style Kimball uses in the negative pieces, pausing to let choice words sink in and hammering home selected ridiculous quotations from contemporary theory. The resulting synthesis of narrator and text is highly entertaining. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]