Why Your 5 Year Old Could Not Have Done That is Susie Hodge's passionate and compelling argument against the most common denigration of contemporary art. In this enjoyable and provocative book, she examines 100 contemporary art pieces that have attracted criticism and public hostility – from Cy Twombly's scribbled Olympia (1957), Jean-Michel Basquiat's primitive yet spontaneous 'LNAPRK' (1982), to the seemingly negligent My Bed by Tracey Emin (1998) – and explains how, far from being negligible novelties, they are inspired and logical extensions of their era's ideas. She explains how such monumental works as Carl Andre's Equivalent VIII (1966) – the infamous bricks – hold unique positions in the history of ideas, as they show influences from previous artists while simultaneously affecting subsequent ones. With illustrations of works from Hans Arp to Adolf Wölfli, Hodge places each piece in its cultural context to present an unforgettable picture of contemporary art. This book will give you an understanding of how contemporary art differs from the realistic works of previous centuries, transforming as well as informing your gallery visits for many years to come.