This phenomenon you're referring to, "academia's need to validate it's self" by sliding artworks and artists into convenient little boxes of time and concept, has existed for quite some time.  I'm with you on your warning against the dangers of categorizing, as it applies to probably every art movement EXCEPT modern and contemporary.  Who are we to decide where the exact break is between Northern and Italian Renaissance, for example?  Point taken.

But 20th-century artists were more-than-familiar with this problem as they were (and are) working.  Modernists artists contemplated their position within the scheme of "Modernism" as they were creating consciously Modernist works.  Post-Modern and Conceptual artists later commented on and against these very works, all the while conscious of the fact that they were to be catgorized AS Post-Modern and Conceptual artists.

The categorization of artists and art movements can be a bad thing.  We all know this.  It is an imprecise science which can build walls between people, between ideas.  But this very fact has served as such a great source of commentary in 20th century art!  It is far to idealist to propose that we stop drawing these lines, or refuse to acknowledge those already drawn, as the lines don't just draw boxes around history, they help to shape it.

Ahhh... my first posting ever.

Please be gentle.

Ellen

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