Baroque Reason: The Aesthetics of Modernity (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society)

In this fascinating book, Christine Buci-Glucksmann explores the condition of modernity - alienation, melancholy, nostalgia - through the works of a number of writers and philosophers, including the social and aesthetic philosophy of Walter Benjamin. The author examines Baudelaire's haunting image of the city and its profound effect on conceptions of modernity. She goes on to consider how such influential figures as Nietzsche, Adorno, Musil, Barthes and Lacan constitute a baroque paradigm, united by their allegorical style, their conflation of aesthetics with ethics and their subject matter - death, catastrophe, sexuality, myth, the female. In her exegesis of these fundamental themes Buci-Glucksmann proposes an epistemology This Important Book Explores The Condition Of Modernity - Alienation, Melancholy, Nostalgia - Through The Works Of Writers And Philosophers, And With Particular Reference To The Social And Aesthetic Philosophy Of Walter Benjamin. Christine Buci-glucksmann Addresses Modernity Through The Notion Of The Other, And Shows How The Feminine Is Used As One Of The Main Sources Of Allegorical Interpretation, Standing For The Miraculous, The Utopian, The Dangerous And The Androgynous. The Author Also Examines Baudelaire's Haunting Image Of The City And Its Profound Effect On Conceptions Of Modernity. She Goes On To Consider How Such Influential Figures As Nietzsche, Adorno, Musil, Barthes And Lacan Constitute A Baroque Paradigm, United By Their Allegorical Style, Their Conflation Of Aesthetics With Ethics And Their Subject Matter - Death, Catastrophe, Sexuality, Myth, The Female. In Her Exegesis Of These Fundamental Themes Buci-glucksmann Proposes An Epistemology Beyond Postmodernism. This Extraordinary Exposition Of A Baroque Reason For Modernity Sheds New Light On A Number Of Themes Central To Modern Social Theory: The Critique Of Instrumental Rationality; The Political Crisis Of Socialism; The Loss Of Community And Of Innocence Since The Growth Of Industrialization; And The Impact Of Relativism On Realist Theories Of Knowledge. This Powerful Book Is Essential Reading For All Those Interested In Cultural, Social, Feminist And Literary Theory And Philosophy And Urban Studies. This Edition Was Translated By Patrick Camiller And Includes An Introduction By Bryan S. Turner, Deakin University, Australia. Introduction / Bryan S. Turner -- Baroque Reason: The Aesthetics Of Modernity -- Pt. 1. An Archaeology Of Modernity: Angelus Novus. 1. Angelic Space: Angelus Novus, An Overwhelming Picture. 2. Baroque Space: Trauerspiel: Allegory As Origin. 3. Baudelairean Space: A Modern Baroque. 4. The Space Of Writing: The Angel And The 'scene' Of Writing: In The 'primeval Forest' (urwald) -- Pt. 2. The Utopia Of The Feminine: Benjamin's Trajectory. 2. 5. Catastrophist Utopia: The Feminine As Allegory Of Modernity. 6. Anthropological Utopia, Or The 'heroines' Of Modernity. 7. Transgressive Utopia: 'image Frontiers' Of Writing And History. 8. Appendix: Viennese Figures Of Otherness: Femininity And Jewishness -- Pt. 3. Baroque Reason. 9. An Aesthetics Of Otherness. 10. Salome, Or The Baroque Scenography Of Desire. 11. The Stage Of The Modern And The Look Of Medusa. Christine Buci-glucksmann ; Translated By Patrick Camiller ; With An Introduction By Bryan S. Turner. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 4 Introduction - Bryan S. Turner......Page 6 Baroque Reason: The Aesthetics of Modernity......Page 42 Part One - An Archaeology of Modernity: Angelus Novus......Page 46 1. Angelic Space: Angelus Novus, an Overwhelming Picture......Page 58 2. Baroque Space: Trauerspiel: Allegory as Origin......Page 68 3. Baudelairean Space: A Modern Baroque......Page 79 4. The Space of Writing: The Angel and the 'Scene' of Writing: In the 'Primeval Forest' (Urwald)......Page 87 Part Two - The Utopia of the Feminine: Benjamin's Trajectory. 2......Page 96 5. Catastrophist Utopia: The Feminine as Allegory of Modernity......Page 102 6. Anthropological Utopia, or the 'Heroines' of Modernity......Page 111 7. Transgressive Utopia: 'Image Frontiers' of Writing and History......Page 115 8. Appendix: Viennese Figures of Otherness: Femininity and Jewishness......Page 120 Part Three - Baroque Reason......Page 130 9. An Aesthetics of Otherness......Page 134 10. Salome, or the Baroque Scenography of Desire......Page 149 11. The Stage of the Modern and the Look of Medusa......Page 168 Index......Page 180 Buci-Glucksmann explores the condition of modernity through the works of a number of writers and philosophers.She considers how figures such as Nietzsche, Adorno, Musil, Barthes and Lacan constitute a baroque paradigm, united by their allegorical style, their conflation of aesthetics with ethics and their subject matter.