Includes bibliographical references (p. 142-146) and index.

Introduction: modern art: monument or mockery? -- Tracking the avant-garde -- Modern media, modern messages -- From Picasso to pop idols: the eminence of the artist -- Alchemical practices: modern art and consumerism -- Past the post: whatever next?

As public interest in modern art continues to grow, there is a real need for a book that will engage general readers, offering them not only information and ideas about modern art, but also explaining its contemporary relevance and its history.