Showing results for "The Essays" in Art

Michel de Montaigne was a contemporary of Shakespeare who, after having played his part in France's terrible wars of religion, retired to his estates and decided to write about what he knew best--himself. And so in his likes and dislikes, his reflections on history, his loves and his travels, he brought to life, not just one man, but all human experience. "What do I know?" he asked. If not himself and his own soul, then nothing else.

In the realm of psychology, the concept of imagination has often lingered in a semi-mythological state, evading clear scientific understanding. Traditionally viewed as an elusive quality reserved for the geniuses of society, imagination has been shrouded in mystique. Yet, as M. Ribot masterfully articulates, this notion is misleading. Imagination is not a celestial gift but a fundamental function of the human mind, present to varying degrees in everyone—from commercial innovators and pragmatic leaders to the most eccentric romantic dreamers. The key distinction lies not in the existence of ...

This captivating essay by Harold Laski, a renowned figure in the British socialist movement, offers an in-depth examination of Karl Marxs life and philosophy. Born in Manchester in 1893, Laski was an influential member of the Fabian Society and the Socialist League faction of the Labour Party. As a professor at the London School of Economics, he mentored numerous politicians, including leaders of post-war Asia and Africas independence movements, and Ralph Milliband, father of the current Labour Party leader, Ed Milliband. Laskis political views, which encompassed democratic socialism, ...

Dive into the enchanting world of Elia and The Last Essays of Elia, two captivating collections of essays by the talented Charles Lamb. First published in The London Magazine from 1820 to 1825, these essays quickly became beloved classics, delighting readers with their personal and conversational style. Lamb, who embodies the persona of Elia, shares his reflections alongside his sister Mary, affectionately dubbed Cousin Bridget. The name Elia is inspired by an old Italian clerk from Lambs workplace at the South-Sea House in the early 1790s. While some essays reference Lambs contemporaries and ...

Dive into the insightful world of John Churton Collins, a distinguished literary critic who lived from 1848 to 1908. Appointed as the professor of English literature at Birmingham University in 1904, Collins offers a fascinating exploration of the lives of English and German authors, ranging from the iconic William Shakespeare to the celebrated Alfred, Lord Tennyson. His essays were crafted as a response to Thomas Carlyles On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History (1840). After his passing, his son, L.C. Collins, meticulously curated these writings from various sources, preserving his...

Ann Beattie, a master storyteller, has been delighting readers since the publication of her short stories in the 1970s and her first novel, Chilly Scenes of Winter. But as her literary acclaim grew and she was hailed “the voice of her generation,” Beattie was also moonlighting as a nonfiction writer.

Men and Style reaches beyond standard "what to wear" advice: It is equal parts style guide and intriguing conversation about the masculine identity within the world of fashion. David Coggins explores the history of men's style and learns from some of the most notable tastemakers in the industry and beyond. Its essays and interviews discuss the lessons men learned from their fathers, the mistakes they made as young men, and how they emerged to become better men.

Dive into the profound world of art through the lens of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of Germanys literary giants. In these essays, Goethe explores the intricacies of artistic expression, sharing his reflections on various art forms and the creative process. From a thought-provoking commentary on a gallery of pictures in Section 25 to the engaging dramatic readings in other sections, this collection offers a rich tapestry of letters, dialogues, and insights. Translated by S.G. Ward, these essays invite you to uncover the treasure trove of Goethes thoughts on art, creativity, and even the ...

Dive into Beccarias influential treatise, On Crimes and Punishments, a groundbreaking work that challenges the severity and irrationality of criminal penalties. It particularly criticizes torture and the death penalty. Regarded as the pinnacle of Enlightenment in Milan, this treatise profoundly influenced policy makers in Britain, America, and France. Included in this podcast is an anonymous commentary, believed to be by Voltaire, providing an enriching perspective on the text.

Sontag's most important critical writings from 1972 to 1980 are collected in Under the Sign of Saturn. One of America's leading essayists, Sontag's writings are commentaries on the relation between moral and aesthetic ideas, discussing the works of Antonin Artaud, Leni Riefenstahl, Elias Canetti, Walter Benjamin, and others. The collection includes a variety of her well-known essays. Sontag's writings are famously full of intellectual range and depth, and are at turns exhilarating, ominous, disturbing, and beautiful.

A portrait of a keen social observer at the center of the last 50 years of cultural life, captured through a vivid selection of O’Brien’s own writings on music to fashion to downtown art and, just as importantly and unexpectedly, the political temperature of America. Glenn O’Brien collaborated with visual artists, writers, fashion houses, and musicians throughout his almost 50-year career. Intelligence for Dummies gathers Glenn O’Brien’s essays, aphorisms and tweets, to create a portrait of the artist as cultural bellwether.

When Dave Hickey was 12, he rode the surfer's dream: the perfect wave. And, like so many things in life we long for, it didn't quite turn out - he shot the pier and dashed himself against the rocks of Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach, which just about killed him. Fortunately, for Hickey and for us, he survived, and continues to battle, decades into a career as one of America's foremost critical iconoclasts, a trusted, even cherished no-nonsense voice commenting on the all-too-often nonsensical worlds of art and culture.

The definitive oral history of the 1967 novel for teens, turned blockbuster film turned Tony-winning musical, and commemorated with a newly opened museum. This groundbreaking story has managed to stay gold for nearly sixty years. *Includes interviews with Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas...

Forty essays on history, art, and literature to lift your mind and spirit. Guy Davenport serves as the listener's guide through history and literature, providing links between music and sculpture, modernist poets and classic philosophers, the past and present-pointing out the values and avenues of thought that have shaped our ideas and our thinking.

Dive into the complete collection of works under this iconic title. Unlike other versions, including the Project Gutenberg edition, this collection preserves the richness and depth of Mark Twains storytelling. With a variety of essays and short stories, listeners will discover Twains eclectic style and profound humanistic insights that resonate with modern life. Each piece is a standalone exploration that invites reflection and connection. (John Greenman)

From the late editor, writer, and critic, one of the great chroniclers of the art, fashion, and celebrity scenes: an expansive collection of thirty-five essays that offer an intimate look into the worlds of some of the most important and well-known artists, designers, and actors of our time. For...

Die kulturtheoretische Schrift "Das Unbehagen in der Kultur" gehört zum Alterswerk Sigmund Freuds. Dem allgemeinen naiven Fortschrittsglauben widersprechend und von einem tiefen Kulturpessimismus durchdrungen, formuliert Freud in diesem einflussreichen Text die These, dass der Einzelne im Umfeld der Kultur, in die er integriert ist, dazu gezwungen wird, seine Triebe, insbesondere seinen Sexualtrieb und seinen Aggressionstrieb, zu unterdrückt.

“A splendid blend of histories: natural, cultural, and artistic . . . A delight for dog-loving art connoisseurs, and vice versa.” —Kirkus (starred review) From award-winning cultural historian, an enlightening and unique meditation on the presence of dogs in art, from the Paleolithic era...

A bold, expansive argument for a new way to understand immoral art in our time of cultural and political upheaval In this unconventional journey through the history of art, philosopher and artist Daisy Dixon explores works of art that society has condemned as depraved, obscene, or dangerous...

In this deeply personal book, the celebrated Haitian-American writer Edwidge Danticat reflects on art and exile. Inspired by Albert Camus and adapted from her own lectures for Princeton University’s Toni Morrison Lecture Series, here Danticat tells stories of artists who create despite (or because of) the horrors that drove them from their homelands. Combining memoir and essay, these moving and eloquent pieces examine what it means to be an artist from a country in crisis.