|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
From Library Journal
As both an art medium and a way to record events, photography has become ubiquitous in our increasingly image-driven culture since its invention in the early 1800s. These two interesting books take a serious academic look at how photography has influenced culture. Prague-born philosopher Flusser (1920-91) concerned himself with design, communication, and language. His illuminating essays, originally published in German in 1983, are offered in English for the first time. Flusser describes a world fundamentally changed by the invention of the "technical image" and the mechanisms that support and define industrialized modern culture. He argues that whereas ideas were previously interpreted by written account, the invention of photography allows the creation of images (ideas) taken at face value as truth, not interpretation that can be endlessly replicated and spread worldwide. His essays identify players in this model (his lexicon includes the Apparatus, the Functionary, and the Technical Image) and warn of rising illiteracy owing to an uncritical faith in photography's "reality." Flusser does not speak of specific photographs or images but of the larger forces at work in the increasingly technical and automated world. Unlike Flusser, Batchen (art and art history, Univ. of New Mexico) delves intricately into individual works to explicate his thoughts, digging into such topics as the invention of photography, the medium's impending demise, photography about photography, and "da(r)ta" digital art that comments on its own structure. Conveying a deep respect for the importance of photography, he laments the way images have become commodities in the digital age. Batchen also explores the history of photography and looks at larger cultural forces from within the framework of the medium. This collection of nine recent essays of various origins (with thorough notes and index) contains some repetition, but that small complaint is outweighed by Batchen's compelling arguments and analyses. Of interest to photographers, historians, and philosophers, both books will serve multiple audiences and are recommended for academic and large public libraries. Debora Miller, Minneapolis
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
A relatively little-known but significant text. -- Lindsay Smith, The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Studies
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.ca
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
astonishing and extremely inspiring, Mar 7 2010
By Ting Zhang - Published on Amazon.com
Ce commentaire est de: Towards a Philosophy of Photography (Paperback)
Towards a Philosophy of Photography by Vilem Flusser is an astonishing and extremely inspiring book. It uses the simplest language to depict the most profound issues in photography. But it is not only about photography, it has to do with everyone of us. In the end, we have to know what we are living for is to find freedom. I feel I can die after I read this book. The reason I could not is that as a photographer and a human being, it is my duty to find the space for human struggle inside the apparatus.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
understanding photogrpahy philosophically, Nov 15 2009
By R. M. Van Boeschoten "vanb" - Published on Amazon.com
Ce commentaire est de: Towards a Philosophy of Photography (Paperback)
This book by Flusser is so densely written that it is a joy to come to it again and again. It gives you a deep understanding of photography and of camera's. The digital culture cannot be properly understood without this philosophical work. Culture and technology are framed in a precise and fascinating manner.For anyone interested in digital culture this is a must.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic, Jan 12 2009
By Cristiano Burmester - Published on Amazon.com
Ce commentaire est de: Towards a Philosophy of Photography (Paperback)
This is a classic for those interested in image, photography and culture. Concise and provocative, Flusser helps the reader to thing about the roles of photography, the technical image and the culture of image we live in.
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Criticism & Essays
- Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Photo Essays
- Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Photojournalism
- Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Reference
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Education
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Humanities > Visual Arts > Photography
- Books > Nonfiction > Education > Education Theory > Contemporary Methods
- Books > Nonfiction > Education > Special Education > Ethnic Minorities
- Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Sociology > Race Relations
- Books > Professional & Technical > Education > Special Education > Ethnic Minorities
- Books > Professional & Technical > Education > Theory > Contemporary Methods
- Books > Reference
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
