I think that art history is going through an exciting time now.  I am not
sure that the terms "losing ground as a disipline" are quite appropriate.  I
think that the disipline itself is evolving and becomming a little bit less
patriarchical in terms of who writes and teaches art history and perhaps a
bit less hierarchical in terms of "what art is."  I personally am very happy
about these changes.  Although they are happening, however, I still think
that the discipline has a long way to go.  Then again, I think that the whole
university system and many other disciplines aside from art history have a
long way to go.  If one looks at it this way then art history is not the only
discipline in need of serious reform.