Decoys and Disruptions

I cannot think of another book that is such a catalogue of the dullest articles ever written. I am always amused by how Americans talk up their talents - but Martha Rosler has none. The design of the book itself is appallingly uncomfortable, the margins are too big; the text is in the wrong proportions, and the notes are space fillers. In the writing there is no contrast and little interesting material, and I found it difficult to read much before falling asleep. There are more words than necessary, which is always an abuse of the English language and a feature of poor writing. If it was not for my marking the very few points made in the book, I would have gleaned nothing from this gnomic tome. There is little that is memorable: I do not rate her photographs and her artistic skills are limited, in my opinion, and if it was not for the support of photography students, it would not survive, and it still may not. That the book is rated in the US is an interesting statement about American inabilities. If there has been a sea change from the postmodern, it is the lack of tolerance for the inveterately boring; if you can’t say it briefly and succinctly, don’t waste my time, I don’t have any.