Conversations on Art and Aesthetics

Maes's questions and comments are exceptionally well-informed, and he draws on a rich stock of artistic examples, whether to illustrate his points or to provide a challenging case to think about. ... While a few of the discussions were via email, most, Maes notes in his introduction, were conducted in person and taped. Maes has transcribed these recordings and edited them considerably so that they read with concision and focus. But he has nonetheless kept a bit of the fluidity of informal speech. The conversations are divided into useful sub-sections, and good guidance is given as to relevant further reading at the end of each discussion. ... Maes showed strong philosophical judgment throughout, but managed to temper this well with an admirable objectivity and open-mindedness ... this is a fine book, and a worthwhile genre for publishers to explore further. Andrew Huddleston, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews