Matthew Potolsky Ordre des livres

Exploring the interplay between government secrecy and the aesthetic of the sublime, this work examines how post-War American art, film, television, and fiction reflect themes of surveillance on a grand scale. Potolsky argues that these depictions reveal deeper insights into the nature of modern intelligence, highlighting the tension between individual perception and vast governmental power. The analysis offers a fresh perspective on contemporary representations of authority and control in society.

The book challenges traditional notions of decadence, presenting it not as a retreat from society but as a vibrant movement that engaged a diverse, cosmopolitan audience. It highlights how influential figures like Charles Baudelaire and Aubrey Beardsley used shared aesthetic sensibilities to connect people across different languages and nationalities, redefining the cultural landscape of their time.

The term mimesis has long been used to refer to the relationship between an image and its 'real' original. A multidisciplinary study of a term returning to the forefront of contemporary theory, this is a guide for readers in such fields as literature, performance and cultural studies.