"Joseph Beuys: Diverging Critiques presents contributions to the conference held in conjunction with the display 'Joseph Beuys: the Revolution is US', mounted at the Tate Gallery Liverpool from April 1993 to January 1994. The objectives of the conference were to reveal the latest thinking on the subject of Joseph Beuys and to encourage new interpretation stimulated by the display, some of which is included here in complementary papers. The results are presented here as a number of diverging critiques, for it is evident that with increasing historical perspective the work of Beuys informs - and is informed by - a great many social and cultural issues. Though these were perhaps evident in first generation studies of Beuys, they are being subjected to highly specific critical analysis for the first time as interest in his work passes beyond the range of the strong influence of his personality. This volume therefore approaches Beuys' work from the standpoints of a number of fields of interest - psychology, religion, gender, politics, art history. As his work questions the ingrained assumptions of these fields, the result is a spectrum of unorthodox analysis that both explicates and is empowered by its subject. Some contributors knew Beuys personally; others did not. The volume thus encapsulates the transfer of guardianship of his reputation. Paramount in this process is the role of the museum of contemporary art, and the collection includes a reprinted interview with Beuys on this subject which has provided a bearing for post-conference interpretation."--BOOK JACKET."Contributions to the conference held in conjunction with the display 'Joseph Beuys: the revolution is us' ..."-- back cover.