The Communist Postscript.

The contemporary world, argues Boris Groys, was made possible by the downfall of historical communism. At the same time, todays political and aesthetic strategiesfrom a unified Europe to political Islam and contemporary mass cultureall bear the imprint of communist heritage. The renowned art critic and philosopher Boris Groys explores this post-communist condition through a radical and disturbing account of Soviet philosophy. He argues that communist revolution is the transcription of society from the medium of money to the medium of languagea linguistic turn at the level of social praxis. From Platos philosopher-king onwards, philosophers have dreamt of ruling society through the mastery of language. Groys claims that the end of Soviet communism sets this dream free for new attempts to organize society through language, the medium of equality.
Praise for The Total Art of Stalinism: This is not just a book, but an event ... The Total Art of Stalinism is an intellectual landmark. --The Art Bulletin

Praise for Art Power: Art Power recombines categories, reconfigures assumptions, and, in the end, reimagines what art writing can be. --Bookforum

The range of topics canvassed in Art Power is impressive ... All of these subjects have been comprehensively treated elsewhere, but rarely with Groys' penetrating eye for the unexpected upshot of such developments. --Frieze