Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics: Amazon.co.uk: Heather Busch: Books

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The fact that some domestic cats are able to make marks with paint has always been explained by biologists as instinctive territorial marking behaviour. Now, this book presents a theory based on recent evidence that supports the view that some cat's marks are aesthetically motivated.

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In 1990 a dramatic discovery was made by an Australian archeological team working in the tomb of Vizir Aperia, just beyond the west bank of the Nile. Read the first page

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8 Reviews

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4.8 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential, despite its flaws, 7 Dec 2007

By	Jon Torkelsson (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics (Hardcover)

Several theories of feline art have been put forward over the years, and this volume may serve as an excellent introduction to the uninitiated. Influential feline artists are discussed and their work reprinted in glorious detail. There is, however, a strong bias towards the mainstream of cat art. Important, indeed vital, underground movements are completely ignored. The street art of alley cats is sadly overlooked, perhaps reflecting the authors deference to the curators of that ivory tower, the Museum of Non Primate Art.
Also lacking is any serious discussion of Queer Theory, so vital in the deconstruction of any mammalian artistic representations.
Yet in spite of these flaws, Why Cats Paint remains an important and influential volume that no connaisseur of feline aesthetics can afford to ignore.

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The cat's meow, 1 Jul 2005

By	Kurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (London, SW1) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics (Paperback)

The first time I saw this book, I thought it was such a riot that I couldn't stop laughing. But then, as the pages progressed, a small thought crept over me -- 'could this be serious?'

I am a person owned by cats - if one includes the kittens, I've had 19 cats officially (and another half-dozen stray hangers-on who know that food will be forthcoming). It had never occurred to me to give them paint! What would happen if I did?

The photography in the book is impressive. Working with children or animals in the best of settings is never easy for a photographer, but Heather Busch is to be commended for bravery, patience, and creativity that obviously rivals the cat-subjects of the text. Stunning colour shows not only the cats' creations, but the cats themselves, often matching their artistic styles in body as well as spirit (for example, Rusty, the orange tabby, likes to paint in a rustic manner; Wong and Lulu collaborate on interesting abstractions, etc.).

The text is written with ironic skill and creative flair by Burton Silver (cats may paint, but have yet to write...). Silver (the name of one of my cats, by the way) is a writer and art critic based in New Zealand, having written on subjects such as contemporary erotic Japanese paper sculpture.

In addition to going through a contemporary survey, the authors look at the history of cat art (including a Xois funerary discovery, ancient Egyptian art, medieval illuminations, and more). It also looks at the psychology of why cats paint (hence the title) -- the fascinating theory of Invertism is a case in point, which explains why cats lie on their heads looking at objects upside down approximately 3% of the day.

A funny book. A fascinating book. A beautiful book. My cats each give it paws up!

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8 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Redefining the concept 'art' in a Gaiea sphere, 13 Aug 2001

By	nurgeloid@aol.com (Nottingham, UK) - See all my reviews

How often do we see the other typified by race or gender? How heated do the debates run with regards to the respective merits or demerits of modernism, postmodernism, post structuralism, Dadaism and so on versus classical or romantic representation. Indeed, representation as art is a concept which is both flourishing and yet concurrently under extinctional threat depending on whose opinion is solicited and on what pretext and context.

And yet, consider for a moment the wider picture. However broadly or narrowly the viewer wishes to consider the continnuum of 'art', it has, so far, always been limited by being considered solely a humanist domain. Now whether the reader considers this a product of conspiracy, powerplay, history or pure coincidence, it is true that Cats have been written out of the artistic canon to a much more completist extent than any other Other.

This book begins to redress this conflation. For me, the energistic creativity expressed so well by Bootsie in 'Hands up Mr Rooster' is reflected inadequately in a sale price of just $15,000.

Don't sit on thine laurels oh Hurst, Piper, Warhol and your preening cabal of self aggrandised dandys- there is a new creator on the block whose talents threaten to eclipse all others, opening and revealing vistas from minds and paws to whom the door has been closed for far too long.

This book is more than a book, it is a revolution in the making. Buy it. Buy it now. Change the world!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious book! A lot of humor for art people.
Humorous book,imitating art books.

This is a wonderful book, with very nice photos. The art world jargon is very believable. Read more

Published 18 months ago by Elise (the polyglot )

5.0 out of 5 stars The cat's meow
Like the other reviewers, I thought this was a spoof - and remain convinced that it is. It puts one in the eye to all the art-critics we love to hate, with its coy descriptions... Read more

Published 19 months ago by Mrs. D. Milward

5.0 out of 5 stars Painting Cats - [...]!
I thought this was a joke at first, but it does look like the evidence is there to suggest the pussies have a sense of aesthetics. Read more

Published on 25 Jan 2007 by Josie Henley-Einion

4.0 out of 5 stars a bit of a delusion!
We tried this out on a Saturday morning with my friend, her three kids and their cat.
I can only describe the results as "messy"! After kitting ('scuse the pun! Read more

Published on 13 Feb 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for any Cat Fanatics
This book takes a rather serious view of a light hearted subject. It combines research and history to provide an insight into cat psychology. Read more

Published on 23 Jun 2000

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	61% buy the item featured on this page: Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics 4.8 out of 5 stars (8)
	29% buy Why Paint Cats: The Ethics of Feline Aesthetics 3.3 out of 5 stars (3) �7.49
	5% buy Dancing with Cats 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
	5% buy Test Your Cat: The Cat IQ Test 3.5 out of 5 stars (4) �4.24


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Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics (Paperback)

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