Reviewing the Past: The Presence of Ruins (Global Aesthetic Research)

"Though constantly in decay, ruins continue to fascinate the observer. Their still-standing survival is a loud affirmation of their presence, in which we can admire the struggle against the power of Nature aesthetically manifested during the decay. This volume takes a thematic approach to examining the aesthetics of ruins. It looks at the general aspects of architectural decay and its classical forms of admiration and then turns towards ruins from both classical and contemporary periods, from both Western and non-Western areas, and with examples from "high art" as well as popular culture. Combining the methodologies of art history, aesthetics and cultural history, this book opens up new ways of looking at the phenomenon of ruins"-- Provided by publisher Reviewing the Past Seriespage Reviewing the Past: The Presence of Ruins Copyright page Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction Classical Tendencies Chapter 1 The Fragile Presence of Ruins Notes Chapter 2 The Golden Age and Fall of Ruins Notes Chapter 3 In Front of Ruins Notes Modern Appearances Chapter 4 Ruins in East-West Perspective Notes Chapter 5 Contemporary Ruins Notes Chapter 6 “Learning from Detroit?”—From Materialised Dreams to Bitter Awakening Notes When in Works Chapter 7 Cracks in the Walls1 Notes Chapter 8 Eulogy to the Fragment Notes Chapter 9 Ruins as Context and Scenery Notes Afterlife Chapter 10 Mall with Lamassu Notes Chapter 11 What Remains of That Which Has Remained? Notes Chapter 12 “Time Transformed into Space” Notes Bibliography Index About the Author Though constantly in decay, ruins continue to fascinate the observer. Their still-standing survival is a loud affirmation of their presence, in which we can admire the struggle against the power of Nature aesthetically manifested during the decay. 0This volume takes a thematic approach to examining the aesthetics of ruins. It looks at the general aspects of architectural decay and its classical forms of admiration and then turns towards ruins from both classical and contemporary periods, from both Western and non-Western areas, and with examples from "high art" as well as popular culture. Combining the methodologies of art history, aesthetics and cultural history, this book opens up new ways of looking at the phenomenon of ruins