Why is Contemporary Art Addicted to Violence?

This is the title of a review by Laura Kipnis for The New York Times: Books Update  (July 14, 2011). She is writing about The Art of Cruelty: A Reckoning by Maggie Nelson. It is a question that has been on my mind recently along with the greater use and acceptance of profanity.

After reading the review, which claims that complaints about violence in the media are almost always aimed at low-brow fare while giving 'cultural' events a pass, the reviewer noted that Maggie Nelson avoids that accusation aiming "at the fine arts, literature, theater — even poetry".

I'm adding this title to my reading list. You can read the whole review HERE.