In the age of images

Author: Ales Erjavec
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-02-01
Features: This book primarily explores the topic of the "pictorial turn" in art and culture as one of the defining features of contemporary globalized society. The chapters cover both philosophical analyses of recent and contemporary art and culture, as well as research on theories reflected in philosophical approaches. In the introductory chapter, drawing on Fredric Jameson's analysis, the author argues that the most prominent characteristics of contemporary culture, or postmodern culture, are not only visualization but also globalization and commercialization. The author points out that there are differences and continuities between modernism and postmodernism, as well as between modernity and postmodernity. In the chapter, the author further examines modern and postmodern visual art and cultural topics from a broader perspective. Additionally, the author believes that the recent cultural practices of image worship and the theoretical responses of image destruction have frequently appeared in Western history. The author argues that Maurice Merleau-Ponty's existential phenomenology is not only the foundation for overcoming the separation of subject and object in modern Western thought but also the cornerstone for overcoming the separation of form and discourse. For this purpose, the author conducts a detailed analysis of an early work by Jean-Fran?ois Lyotard, who attempted to address this issue, in Chapter 4.