"In this polemical book, Neil Mulholland charts the political and cultural shifts in art in Britain from the mid-1970s to the end of the twentieth century. His account covers the key trends and artists of this extraordinary diverse period, including critical postmodern, feminism, neoconservatism, object sculpture, the New Image, Brit Art, and Scottish neoconceptualism, and traces the development of critical thinking from the opinions of critics such as Richard Cork, John Roberts and Matthew Collings to tabloid press art scandals.

The Cultural Devolution offers a broad critical and historical framework within which to understand public debate on the merits of young British artists such as Damien Hirst while looking beyond such celebrities to rediscover the wealth and range of work produced. Essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary art in Britain."--Jacket.