Each chapter incorporates both approaches to understanding art with more contextual analysis than its competitors.

Personal testimonies by artists, historians, critics, and students focus in depth on a given work of art and expose the reader to different voices and ways of responding to art.

Responding to Art includes a valuable appendix, "Writing about Art," with more information on preparing thoughtful, well-written essays.

Because students are most familiar with what they see around them, Responding to Art begins with familiar contemporary art forms such as CD covers and fashion design, before introducing less familiar aspects of architecture, sculpture, and painting.

These application boxes found throughout the text are designed to help students apply what they are learning and take an active, critical role in the visual culture that surrounds them.