The Utopian Function of Art and Literature: Selected Essays (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought) - Hardcover
Synopsis
These essays in aesthetics by the philosopher Ernst Bloch belong to the tradition of cultural criticism represented by Georg Lukacs, Theodor Adorno, and Walter Benjamin. Bloch's fascination with art as a reflection of both social realities and human dreams is evident in them. Whether he is discussing architecture or detective novels, the theme that drives the work is always the same - the striving for "something better," for a "homeland" that is more socially aware, more humane, more just.
The book opens with an illuminating discussion between Bloch and Adorno on the meaning of utopia; then follow 12 essays written between 1930 and 1973, on topics as diverse as aesthetic theory, genres such as music, painting, theater, film, opera, poetry, and the novel, and perhaps most important, popular culture in the form of fairy tales, detective stories, and dime novels.
Ernst Bloch (1885-1977) was a profoundly original and unorthodox philosopher, social theorist, and cultural critic. The MIT Press has previously published his Natural Law and Human Dignity and his magnum opus, The Principle of Hope. The Utopian Function of Art and Literature is included in the series Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought, edited by Thomas McCarthy.
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Reviews
Except for the first essay, this selection is taken from Bloch's Aesthetik des Vor-scheins (1974). For Bloch, reality is "mediation" (the subject-object relation), its final goal being the reunion of the two. This reunion ultimately comes about through utopia, wherein the subject-object distinction vanishes. Bloch's language is both difficult and dense, and the translators have tried to interpret him as clearly as possible. This is not for beginners, however, and Bloch's The Principle of Hope (also in this series) is a necessary precursor. Recommended for scholars and specialists. Terry Skeats, Bishop's Univ. Lib., Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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The Utopian Function of Art and Literature Selected Essays
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The Utopian Function of Art and Literature: Selected Essays
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Hard cover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Jacket is worn, particularly on the top and bottom edges with the top edge of the jackets spine being creased. Spine is sunned, not affecting legibility. Cover is lightly sunned along the top and bottom edges, otherwise cover is in good condition. The top edge of the text block is slightly smudges, not visible on pages. Spine is shaken, but binding is secure. Signature from previous owner on the front end page leaf, otherwise all other pages are clean and unmarked. Seller Inventory # 1143554
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The Utopian Function of Art and Literature Selected Essays
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Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Publisher's cloth. Contains some underlining else near fine. The DJ in mylar is very slightly edgeworn. ; Studies In Contemporary German Social Thought; 5.9 X 1.05 X 8.9 inches; 310 pages. Seller Inventory # 41059
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The Utopian Function of Art and Literature: Selected Essays; [by] Ernst Bloch; translated by Jack Zipes and Frank Mecklenburg
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MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass, 1988
ISBN 10: 0262022702
ISBN 13: 9780262022705
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Hardcover. Condition: good. Octavo in light green cloth; xliii, 310 pages; 24 cm; bibliographical references (pages 293-303) and index. "The aesthetic essays of the philosopher Ernst Bloch (1885-1977) belong to the rich tradition of cultural criticism represented by Georg Lukacs, Theodor Adorno, and Walter Benjamin. Bloch was a significant creative source for these thinkers, and his impact is nowhere more evident than in writings on art. Bloch was fascinated with art as a reflection of both social realities and human dreams. Whether he is discussing architecture or detective novels, the theme that drives his work is always the same -- the striving for "something better," for a "homeland" that is more socially aware, more humane, more just. The book opens with an illuminating discussion between Bloch and Adorno on the meaning of utopia; then follow 12 essays written between 1930 and 1973 on topics as diverse as aesthetic theory, genres such as music, painting, theater, film, opera, poetry, and the novel, and perhaps most important, popular culture in the form of fairy tales, detective stories, and dime novels." -- Back cover (jacket) Translated from German. Series: Studies in contemporary German social though. The first essay, Something's missing, was originally published in German in Gespr?che mit Ernst Bloch; the other essays are from Bloch's ?sthetik des Vor-Scheins. Contents: Notes on the translation and acknowledgments -- Introduction: toward a realization of anticipatory illumination / Jack Zipes -- Something's missing: a discussion between Ernst Block and Theodor W. Adorno on the contradictions of utopian longing (1964) -- [pt. 1]. Art and society -- Ideas as transformed material in human minds, or problems of an ideological superstructure (Cultural heritage) (1972) -- The wish-landscape perspective in aesthetics: the order of art materials according to the dimension of their profundity and hope (1959) -- [pt. 2]. Art and Utopia --- The creation of the ornament (1973) -- The conscious and known activity within the not-yet-conscious, the utopian function (1959) -- The artistic illusion as the visible anticipatory illumination (1959) -- Marxism and poetry (1935) -- The fairy tale moves on its own in time (1930) -- Better castles in the sky at the country fair and circus, in fairy tales and colportage (1959) -- Building in empty spaces (1959) -- On fine arts in the machine age (1964) -- On the present in literature -- The stage regarded as a paradigmatic institution and the decision within it (1959) -- A philosophical view of the detective novel (1965) -- A philosophical view of the novel of the artist (1965) -- The representation of wish-landscapes in painting, opera, and poetry (1959) -- Selected bibliography -- Index of names and works. Aesthetics. Utopias. Literature -- Aesthetics. Esth?tique. Utopies. Aesthetics. Utopias. Marxist criticism. Aesthetics, Modern -- 20th century. Utopias. Art and society. An externally worn but tight and clean copy. Overall good+ with mild discoloration, fading and rubbing to cloth. No markings to text block. Lacks dust jacket. A well worn but perfectly functional copy. Binding is tight. Seller Inventory # 92200
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The Utopian Function of Art and Literature: Selected Essays (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought)
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