The Site of Culture
Contradictions, Totality
Jeff Wall
This paper was presented as a brief “statement
of position’ in a panel discussion atthe Annual
Mecting of the University Art Assoctation of
Canada, Thursday. March 10, 1983. The topic
tunder discussion was "The Site of Culture
is published here with some minor changes
1 think thatthe “site of cultural discussion, tak
ing ‘ste to mean a point of focus for it, is the
‘crrent interrogation of the historical legitimacy
‘of the idea ofthe avant-garde. This interrogation
reflects a deep socal conflict. Questioning now