W. J. T. Mitchell Livres

Art isn't just about creating work anymore. Today, external pressuresand constraints play a large role in the artistic process and production.In recognition of this reality, the Institut für Kunstkritik held a series ofconferences in 2006 and 2007 to explore the value system that resultsfrom what they dubbed the New Spirit of Capitalism and to confronttheoretical models with ad-hoc conditions of production. The thoughtsof conference participants Luc Boltanski, Sabeth Buchmann, TimGriffin, W.J.T. Mitchell, Sighard Neckel, Martin Saar, and Paolo Virnoare compiled in this book of questions and dilemmas for today'scultural producers and society at large.

This is a book about the things people say about images. It is not primarily concerned with specific pictures and the things people say about them, but rather with the way we talk about the idea of imagery, and all its related notions of picturing, imagining, perceiving, likening, and imitating. It is a book about images, therefore, that has no illustrations except for a few schematic diagrams, a book about vision written as if by a blind author for a blind reader. If it contains any insight into real, material pictures, it is the sort that might come to a blind listener, overhearing the conversation the sighted speakers talking about images. My hypothesis is that such a listener might see patterns in these conversations that would be invisible to the sighted participant.

Expand your aural and sensory experiences with an exploration of tomorrow's sounds (and silences) today. Michael Tau has dedicated years to the extremes of musical expression, culminating in a comprehensive study of the sounds and silences that challenge conventional definitions of music. He categorizes these recorded sounds into sections, inviting both fans and newcomers to delve into the intriguing world of musicians who defy norms. Covering a wide array of extremes—volume, speed, vulgarity, packaging, recording methods, unplayable media, outdated technologies, and digital innovations—Tau poses thought-provoking questions: Are all sounds music? Is silence music? Can a plate of rotting food, once cataloged and sold, be considered music? The work features over 100 interviews with creators and musicians, utilizing Tau's background in psychiatry to explore the motivations behind non-mainstream music. As a fan of avant-garde genres, he reveals the joys, pains, and frustrations found at the fringes of music. This guide is perfect for curious seekers, die-hard fans, and cultural investigators, complete with images and curated links to music samples.

W. J. T. Mitchell's son Gabriel was diagnosed with schizophrenia at nineteen and died by suicide at thirty-eight, leaving behind a remarkable archive of creative work. As a father, Mitchell grapples with his skepticism about psychiatry while witnessing his son’s struggles with mental illness. He seeks to understand and bear witness to Gabe's journey, navigating the complexities of loving a gifted but delusional child. Gabe's story offers valuable insights for parents and caregivers of the mentally ill, as well as those interested in mental illness as a social and political identity. He aspired to create a film that would portray madness from multiple perspectives, challenging stereotypes and stigma while highlighting the subjective experiences shared by all. Gabe aimed to transform schizophrenia from a death sentence into a learning experience, exploring various representations of madness—from the monster to the magician, the clown to the kook, and beyond. This narrative invites readers to learn from Gabe's quest for redemption within his madness, while also serving as a poignant testament to a father's love and a family's resilience.

Publikace je souborem esejí, které se postupně věnují jednotlivým aspektům vztahu textu a obrazu. Mitchell rozebírá reprezentace obrazové i verbální, souvislosti obrazu a jazyka, a to vše dokládá na velmi široké škále praktických ukázek z každodenního života. Základem Mitchellova přístupu k obrazům (a nejen k nim) je interdisciplinarita: jeho hlavní argument pro multidisciplinární náhled vychází z obavy, že důkladná lingvistická interpretace obrazů fakticky brání jejich hlubšímu porozumění. Kouzlem textů je, že se v nich nenásilně potkávají William Blake, dinosauři z Jurského parku, Nelson Goodman, přímý přenos CNN, Spike Lee, Erwin Panofsky, ale také film Olivera Stonea. Zjednodušeně můžeme konstatovat, že Teorie obrazu propaguje vizuální gramotnost, a Mitchell v tomto svém textu dospívá k závěru, že obrazům, které nás obklopují, se sice nemůžeme bránit, ale můžeme jim lépe rozumět, a tak činit svět lepším. Kniha je vhodnou vstupní branou do světa obrazů, nástrojem a pomůckou pro lepší pochopení vizuální složky světa, ve kterém žijeme.

Suhrkamp, Berlin, (2011). 288 S., 21 cm, Pappband mit Schutzumschlag - neuwertig / original verlagsfrisch verschweit -