This survey investigates the evolution and global dominance of American art from the mid-20th century to the present. David Joselit, an established art historian, examines the interplay between social, cultural, and technological shifts that shaped postwar American art. The book analyzes how mass media and consumer culture influenced artistic subjects and creative processes, leading to movements like Pop Art and installation art. It discusses canonical figures such as Pollock, Warhol, and Sherman alongside lesser-known contemporary artists, providing a comprehensive overview of the period.

This book is regarded as a clear and succinct introductory survey of postwar American art, covering its diversity and complexity. It is noted for tracing and analyzing the formal, ideological, and political conditions that led to American art's global predominance. The text effectively links social and cultural transformations, particularly those driven by mass media technologies, to shifts in artistic subject matter and creative methods. It provides a balanced discussion of both major figures and emerging artists of the period.