SKU: 81830883365

Documents of Contemporary Art: The Cute

Sale price$18.00 Regular price$20.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $5.00 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 25 - Jul 30

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Documents of Contemporary Art: The CuteEdited by Sianne Ngai "In her groundbreaking Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, Interesting (2012), Sianne Ngai showed how our ambivalent attachment to cuteness is a key aesthetic response to our current hypercommodified world. The Cute is a brilliantly curated archive of the pervasiveness and complexities of cute sensibilities, as reflected in the work of a wide range of artists and thinkers. If you did not know already, the cute is everywhere."

Edited by Sianne Ngai

"In her groundbreaking Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, Interesting (2012), Sianne Ngai showed how our ambivalent attachment to cuteness is a key aesthetic response to our current hypercommodified world. The Cute is a brilliantly curated archive of the pervasiveness and complexities of cute sensibilities, as reflected in the work of a wide range of artists and thinkers. If you did not know already, the cute is everywhere."

-Ina Blom, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Classics,
History of Art and Ideas, University of Oslo/Department of
Art History, University of Chicago


"Sianne Ngai, the groundbreaking analyst of the minor aesthetic categories that pervade capitalist culture, provides here a sourcebook of the cute – that deeply ambivalent feeling that oscillates between cuddles and a voracious, even violent, need to consume. The striking array of texts sets some figures who would seem the antithesis of cuteness (Adorno, Wyndham Lewis) against the various blandishments of Jeff Koons, Yoshitomo Nara and Mariko Mori."


-Julian Stallabrass, Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art
Courtauld Institute of Art, London


"The inexhaustibility of the meaningfulness of cuteness demonstrated in this volume reflects the promiscuity and associative magnetism of the concept of cuteness, thus transforming what was once a relatively 'simple' phenomenon into a teeming crowd of cuteness and para-cuteness. Flooding the zone of cuteness in this way models its bewildering and generative sociability – and its capacity to serve as a mob-like emblem of mass consumption."


-Daniel Tiffany, author of My Silver Planet:
A Secret History of Poetry and Kitsch

The Cute tracks the astonishing impact of a single aesthetic category on post-war and contemporary art, and on the vast range of cultural practices and discourses on which artists draw. From robots and cat videos to ice cream socials, The Cute explores the ramifications of an aesthetic ‘of’ or ‘about’ minorness – or what is perceived to be diminutive, subordinate, and above all, unthreatening – on the shifting forms and contents of art today. This anthology is the first of its kind to show how contemporary artists have worked on and transformed the cute, and in ways that not only complexify its meaning, but reshape their own artistic practices.

Artists surveyed include Peggy Ahwesh, Nayland Blake, Paul Chan, Adrian Howells, Juliana Huxtable, Larry Johnson, Mike Kelley, Dean Kenning, Wyndham Lewis, Jeff Koons, Sean-Kierre Lyons, Mammalian Diving Reflex, Alake Shilling, Annette Messager, Mariko Mori, Takashi Murakami, Charlemagne Palestine, David Robbins, Mika Rottenberg, Allen Ruppersberg, Jack Smith, Cosima von Bonin, Kara Walker, Andy Warhol, Yoshitomo Nara.

Writers include Sasha Archibald, Roland Barthes, Leigh Claire La Berge, Lauren Berlant, Ian Bogost, Jennifer Doyle, Lee Edelman, Adrienne Edwards, Lewis Gordon, Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Stephen Jay Gould, Lori Merish, John Morreall, Juliane Rebentisch, Frances Richard, Carrie Rickey, Friedrich Schiller, Peter Schjeldahl, Kanako Shiokawa, Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy, Kevin Young.

Sianne Ngai is the author of Ugly Feelings (2005), Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, Interesting (2012) and Theory of the Gimmick: Aesthetic Judgment and Capitalist Form (2020). She is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of English at the University of Chicago.

Paperback, 240 pages, 210 x 145 mm

ISBN 978-0-85488-298-4

First published 2022

Click here for delivery info and restrictions

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 81830883365

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 5 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
S
Verified Purchase
SheMyGo
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
I don’t often leave reviews, but this exceeded my expectations and I LOVE it!!! I NEEDED it!
Style: MULTIBALM
I don’t review things unless they REALLY “wow” me, rare, lol. My eyes had been watering for about a month from allergies, then last week my eyeballs were literally hurting so badly, which that had never happened to me before. So I got eye drops made with ketotifen (from the Walmart App) and it got rid of the pain in my eyeballs and stopped symptoms immediately, thank goodness. Then, from the constant watering, rubbing, dabbing and wiping my eyes, alll above, below and around my eyes became raw and chapped, burning and painful. I tried everything! Aquaphore, Goldbond, Pili Ani, and a lot of other brand name high quality face washes, moisturizers, masks, creams, oils and nothing was helping and some seemed to make it even worse. I saw this product and after reading the reviews, decided to give this one last shot before going to a Dermatologist. The moment I applied it, I felt INSTANT relief and soothing. I also was surprised to literally feel it tighten the skin! This morning I woke up to use it, day 3, and before I did I noticed my skin was so much better!!!…No longer painful, discolored or swollen & puffy, the skin was still silky soft from applying it last night, and my orbital skin is 97% better!!! The pink/red/purple has gone away, it’s no longer tender/burns to the touch, and you can literally feel it nourishing and tightening your skin. After begging, my husband let me try it on his skin (lol) just to make sure I wasn’t going koo koo. He noticed too! And commented about how soft it is! Yes~Exactly! It makes your skin like SILK! It is a tad oily when you first put it on, but it “settles” quickly into a gentle softness and doubles as a primer before you apply your makeup! It smooths out your pores and makes your skin so smooth. Just this morning was the first time I applied makeup with it and was pleasantly surprised. I have tested it putting it on the top of one hand and nothing on the other, timed an hour and WOWWWWW the difference in undeniable! I personally recommend using it after washing your face before you put anything else on (moisturizer, makeup, etc). As long as you give it 10-15 minutes to let it absorb and settle, you’re good to go with or without makeup! I’m just really glad I found this because that skin is so sensitive and NEEDS this type of care. This product gets a solid 5 stars from me and I’m excited to make it part of my morning and evening routines! : )
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2026
F
Verified Purchase
Fleur de Wreath
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 4
Excellent Formula, but the Product Runs Out Far Too Quickly
Style: MULTIBALM
The balm is genuinely hydrating, smooth, and very convenient to use. It applies beautifully, gives the skin a healthy glow, and works well on dry areas, lips, and the face overall. The texture feels comfortable and nourishing without feeling overly heavy or greasy. My only major disappointment is the value for the price. Even using a very thin layer across the face once each evening, one stick lasted only about a week. I purchased two of them, and both were exactly the same, so this was clearly not an issue with a defective or partially filled tube. If you intend to use it regularly over the full face, expect it to run out extremely quickly. I purchased mine during a significant sale, and even at the discounted price I still felt disappointed by how little use I got from it. Overall, the formula performs well, but the quantity does not justify the regular price for consistent daily use.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
Chelly
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Youthful, even skin!
Style: MULTIBALM
I’m loving this stick! I almost sent it back after the first two days but I’m so glad I didn’t. This has really helped me look more refreshed. It’s def helped with shallow lines. Overall it’s made me skin more even. It’s very oily and it sits on your skin so I use it before bed. But I’ve noticed it’s helped balance my skin. I usually get really oily during the day but oddly as oily as this is it keeps my skin from getting oily during the day under my makeup. My makeup looks more even. It’s just overall been great for my skin and it’s made me look younger. Def recommend!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
E
Verified Purchase
Elizabeth
Boise, US
★★★★★ 3
Hydrating moisturizer with pleasant scent
Style: MULTIBALM
Update: I’ve now used 2 sticks. I won’t be buying again. Although I like how convenient this moisturizer is, the price is too high for the amount you get. Also, going through another stick, I’ve noticed no signs that it helps with fine lines or wrinkles. This product is simply an on the go moisturizer or even a highlighter. But I can use castor oil and Vaseline for that. I had to deduct a star. So far, this moisturizing stick has been a great and convenient addition to my routine. It glides on smoothly and has a light, pleasant scent. The formula is definitely hydrating and leaves my skin feeling soft. It does go on a bit oily or greasy at first. If that bothers you, rubbing it in helps, though it doesn't absorb immediately—so expect a bit of shine for a while after application. As a moisturizer, it works well and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a quick, on-the-go option. I haven’t noticed any additional benefits yet (like long-term improvements in skin texture or tone), but it might be too early to say. I’ll update my review if anything changes with continued use. I do have a couple of concerns. First, the price—it feels expensive for the amount of product you get. Second, I’ve seen some people compare this to Botox, and I’m not sure why. It’s definitely not a substitute, and expecting those kinds of results just isn’t realistic. Along those lines, the product name—“Wrinkle Bounce”—may be a little misleading. While it’s hydrating and may temporarily plump the skin, it doesn’t deliver dramatic wrinkle-reducing effects.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2025
K
Verified Purchase
Kindle Customer Jools
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Product!
Style: MULTIBALM
After reading many reviews I decided to try this product, my skin is dry with oily areas plus as I get older I have patchy small discolored areas. I love this product! After a few days of putting this on first thing am after washing my face, I found it balanced my skin beautifully! After washing my face to get ready for work, I discovered my makeup goes on so much more smoother, and stays in place without having to touch up constantly. It doesn’t remove wrinkles but definitely makes my skin smoother and wrinkles gentle versus distinctive. Great product!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026

recommand products