Customer Reviews:
Reaaly helpful!.......2007-04-27
I really enjoyed the book besides the fact that it proved really helpful for all the papers I have had to write so far. The concepts are clear and the bibliography extensive so it is really a starter in other directions.
Excellent history of modern(ist) aesthetics.......2002-08-19
Matei Calinescu's _The Five Faces of Modernity_ is an impressive intellectual history of five concepts central to aesthetics (i.e. the theory and philosophy of art) in the past two centuries-- the concepts of 'modernism', 'the avant-garde', 'decadence', 'kitsch', and 'postmodernism'. After an introductory discussion on the concept of 'modernity' itself, each of these concepts, or 'faces of modernity' is discussed in detail. This discussion generally includes an account of the word's origins and changes in its usage, close readings of important texts that used these concepts in exemplary or revolutionary ways, and a critical analysis of the assumptions that underly the term's application to aesthetics. Throughout, Calinescu ranges quite broadly in his scope, drawing upon texts from throughout Europe and the Americas (both North and South).
Calinescu's account is far too rich and complex to summarize here, but on the whole, the history of aesthetic thought he provides is based on solid research, compelling analysis, and insightful observation. In the process, he makes some astute, and rather surprising observations about how these aesthetic terms were initially used to describe politics or social thought, and only came to be applied to aesthetics later (this is especially true with 'avant-garde')-- yet, their aesthetic application is fundamentally shaped by their earlier social-political associations.
Although this book is quite solid, I do feel that it has some shortcomings that can't be ignored. First and foremost among these is that Calinescu's bizarre characterization of Romanticism. The Romantics, he rightly noted, were crucial in the development of modern aesthetics-- and in the notions of modernism, the avant-garde, and decadence in particular. However, his account of Romanticism is one that I simply do not recognize-- basically reducing it (somewhat inaccurately, I would add) to "the relativization of beauty" and the abandonment of the notion of eternal, transcendent truths or ideals. Part of the problem here is that Calinescu limits his discussion of Romanticism to France, focussing on Chateaubriand, Stendahl, and Hugo. If he had discussed the major German Romantic thinkers or the British Romantic poets, this account of Romanticism (and the role he assigns to it in developing a concept of 'modernity') simply could not stand.
The second main shortcoming of the book is that it focuses overwhelmingly on literary art. Painting and other forms of art are discussed a little bit in some of the chapters (particularly in the one on kitsch), but for the most part, Calinescu's book focuses on prose and poetry-- not on the visual arts (or still less on music). I think his account of some of these concepts (particularly 'modernism' and 'avant-garde') wuld have been greatly improved by considering them.
Still, those criticisms are relatively minor-- this is a great book and an important one on this subject. Highly recommended to intellectual historians, art historians, and those who are interested in a good 'history of ideas' account of these five aesthetic concepts.
A brilliant introduction to excessively used concepts........2001-02-16
Calinescu succeeds in a very difficult department: definind five concepts that have become common places in criticism. Calinescu's reviews is insightful, comprehensive an very well documented. It offers an excellent introdution to the novices and a useful guide for investigating the concepts to the initiates. Calinescu is probably one of the finest critics in this topic and his book exceeds authors like Hobsbawn.
Average customer rating:
- This book has wonderful pictures and illustrations.
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Traditional Japanese Furniture
Kazuko Koizumi
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
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ASIN: 087011722X |
Book Description
Japanese furniture has a rich heritage dating back to the seventh century. Masterful craftsmanship and aesthetic sensitivity evolved with this furniture's long history. Yet, as with much that is Japanese, these pieces find virtue in restraint. The work is compelling yet sedate, with an
understated simplicity distilled from a thousand years of knowledge and careful craftsmanship.
Though the West has long acknowledged the beauty and value of these objects, the history of their making--their milieu and craftsmanship-remain virtually unexplored. This volume, first published in 1986, fills that void. Author Kazuko Koizumi, a pioneer in the field, brings a thoroughness and warmth
to the subject. A wealth of illustrated material puts the pieces in context. A historical account, laced with centuries-old drawings, traces the evolution of furniture design through the lens of Japan's "floor-based" culture.
With 114 color plates and over 650 figures, Traditional Japanese Furniture documents and discusses the roots of more than eighty unique furniture types, including the many variations of the beloved tansu chest that has made its way into homes and museums around the world. Like many of the objects it
portrays, Traditional Japanese Furniture has found its place among collectors and enthusiasts, standing today as the definitive volume on the subject.
Customer Reviews:
This book has wonderful pictures and illustrations........1998-03-22
This book is a wonderful exaple of Japan's funiture and art. It shows the many aspects of this oritental country's splendid decorum.
Customer Reviews:
Charming.......2004-05-25
This is one of my all time favorite books. I wish I had a copy of it. It is about a tradional Japanese form of packaging different things, mostly food. The idea behind it is that when you present someone with a cake, say, and its nicely packaged they get the idea that you hope they enjoy the cake.
The five eggs of the title are sort of stacked up and bound with straw woven in an ingenious way. The photographs are lovely and the descriptions of the various packages are informative as well as evocotive. I once had the chance to see
How To Wrap Five Eggs at the Japan Society Library. Boy I wish I had that one too.
Brilliant.......2002-05-16
I got my hands on this book recently. Its a book which says most of the story through pictures. Its amazing to see how advanced Japanese ancient art is and how much we can learn about them.
Book Description
An important, but often overlooked, part of the world of Japanese arts and crafts is the array of beautiful, stylized motifs that have traditionally been used to decorate a huge range of objects. Snow, Wave, Pine takes a close look at some of the most classic of those patterns, enabling the
reader to recognize and appreciate these motifs wherever they appear, and providing inspiration to anyone interested in design or arts and crafts.
The first half of the book introduces seventy-five important patterns, as depicted on a variety of objects. Seeing the "lotus blossom" or "flowing water" patterns, for instance, on antiques including brocaded kabuki robes, lacquerware trays, and metal sword guards throws into relief the patterns
themselves, rather than the objects, making possible a new level of understanding and enjoyment. The informative text describes how each pattern arose, and the significance it had in terms of art, religion, and even politics. The reader has a sense of being empowered to look at any Japanese art,
craft or design form with a new and educated eye.
The second half of the book shows a rich and dynamic selection of more than one thousand family crests. Crests are very stylized motifs whose variety and artistry are remarkable. With a minimum of lines, they are able to express the essence of such forms as a pair of facing crows with wings
outstretched; the rounded back of a monkey viewed from behind as it sits hunched over, alone; or the elegant single counter-clockwise whorl. Despite being hundreds of years old, they are extremely modern in their sensibility.
Lavishly illustrated with over 450 color plates, and with text and photos alike by experts in the traditional Japanese arts, Snow, Wave, Pine is a treasurehouse of information for anyone interested in design forms or in Japanese culture.
Customer Reviews:
Marvellous.......2007-09-07
The book is wonderful! Reach in picture and well structured. There is little research, but i'm proud i've bought it. It's really useful to my study.
The beautiful traditions of Japan........2005-11-06
Mr. Hibi and Mr Niwa, wrote this book,which has fantastic pictures of a variety of patterns used in Japanese Designs. I have used this book as reference for my students, and I strongly recommend this book for Japanese artist lovers. It has more pictures than detailed written research.However all in all it is a great package.
Nice, but..........2003-10-01
The photographs are wonderful, the book is classy. The text is kept short to not interfere with the pictures.
A bit too compressed, in my opionion. I would have liked more than four lines of text telling me that something is often depicted.
It's a wonderful book to have it displayed on a table, and to show off a little bit, but that's not the reason why I buy books...
Beauties to Behold.......2002-09-08
This eye-filling book clearly illustrates the rich symbolism of Japanese design. Though not meant as an all-inclusive guide to Japanese arts, the pictorial choices are wonderful. Each design "theme" is accompained by brief but highly informative text. There is also a generous selection of family crests (mon), which would be of particular interest to kimono enthusiasts. This color-saturated album is a joy to look at and would complement Merrily Baird's more complete and scholarly tome, "Symbols of Japan," which, though awesomely researched, has rather weak illustrations in several sections.
Book Description
Versatile collection of 276 exquisite Japanese stencil designs — clouds, birds, butterflies, bamboo, plum and cherry blossoms, geometrics, more. Copyright-free illustrations are ideal for modern decorative and graphic needs — fabric, wallpaper and textile designs, calendars, menus, woodblock printing, needlecrafts, etc. 276 black-and-white illustrations. Introduction.
Customer Reviews:
Design book based on complex tradition.......2006-07-13
Unlike the first reviewer who gave this book 1 star, this is actually an excellent book showing designs taken from one of the many complex arts and crafts traditions of Japan. These are actual designs from stencils, which were carefully cut from mulberry paper and used for printing designs on cloth.The stencils are called katagami. Some of these are still being made, and by the fine traditional craftsmen of Japan working with simple, traditional tools to produce amazing patterns. The first reviewer has not bothered to look carefully into Japanese art forms, and so is, I believe speaking from ignorance. Not a book for tatoo designs, granted, but I think most people who would like design references from a somewhat obscure Japanese art tradition would find this book of interest. If you'd like more detail on the art tradition of stencil cutting or carving, you might want to look at
"Carved Paper: The Art of the Japanese Stencil." You can also see an example with some explanations here: http://www.sohe.wisc.edu/depts/hlatc/pixelsexhibit/katagami.html
Although these stencils were/are made for the purpose of dyeing cloth, they can be considered artforms in their own right. (I own a couple of these.) The Dover book is a nice reference.
the very best of Japanese textile graphics.......2003-06-02
As a previous reviewer has noted, Clarence Hornung's "Traditional Japanese Stencil Designs" is not the book to purchase if you are seeking inspiration for tattoos. It is, however, of exceptional value if your interests include Japanese aesthetics in general and textile motifs in particular or if you are seeking sophisticated patterns that can be manipulated and reproduced as graphic designs.
The stencils included were originally designed for monochromatic printing on cotton textiles but are also typical of the patterns imprinted on deer-skin goods and traditional Japanese wrapping papers. More than any other volume in Dover's generously-sized library of books on Japanese design, Hornung's testifies to the Japanese genius for manipulating a few design elements into subtle and classically beautiful patterns. Some of the patterns are abstract and without specific meaning, but the overwhelming majority are rich in symbolism. Hornung's introduction discusses the most important of these symbolic meanings. However, the usefulness of the introduction is compromised by his failure to number the stencils and then identify for the reader precisely which plates represent each thematic motif.
a journey in unjapanese art.......2003-03-22
If you are at all trying to find sources for Japanese art, this is NOT the place to do it! Not only are the designs in the book non-Japanese they are worthless if you are using them for illustration or any reference to draw from. If you are looking for a source book for tattooing like I was, this is not it. To say this book was weak is a compliment. The biggest waste of money I've spent in a long time!
Book Description
Music, poetry, the visual arts, literature, and theater have played a vital part in Japanese society. But, although Japanese artists, musicians, actors, and authors have written much over the centuries about the creation, meaning, and appreciation of these various arts, most of these works are scattered among countless hard-to-find sources or make only a fleeting appearance in books devoted to other subjects. Compiled in this volume is a wealth of original material on Japanese arts and culture from the prehistoric era to the Meiji Restoration (1867). These carefully selected sources, including many translated here for the first time, are placed in their historical context and outfitted with brief commentaries, allowing the reader to make connections to larger concepts and values found in Japanese culture.
Although the book focuses on the visual and literary arts, it contains material on topics not easily classified in Western categories, such as the martial and culinary arts, the art of tea, and flower arranging. More than 60 color and black and white illustrations enrich the collection and provide further insights into Japanese artistic and cultural values. Included as well are a bibliography of English-language and Japanese sources and an extensive list of suggested further readings.
Traditional Japanese Arts and Culture offers an authentic look at the conceptual richness, diversity, and continuity of the Japanese cultural traditions. Rather than impose a thick layer of interpretation, this inspired and diverse collection allows the original writers and artists to speak directly to people in all areas of Japanese studies interested in what lies beneath the surface of Japanese arts and culture.
Book Description
Inspired Designs covers the whole range of traditional crafts made in Japan, both historic and contemporary. Starting with a description of the land of Japan, stretching from Siberian forests to the sub-tropical islands of Okinawa, and its natural materials: animal, vegetable, and mineral.
Customer Reviews:
For all persons interested in Japanese traditional art.......2007-09-24
Michael Dunn's vast knowledge and expertise of Japanese applied arts takes the reader on a unique journey of image and space. Rich in sophistication and full of vivid photos, Dunn writes about the Japnese sense of simplicity. The selected works represent a glimpse of Japanese treasures often kept from public view, thereby making Inspired Design a book that must be read by anyone interested in understanding the history and tradition of Japanese artisitc expression. Tremendous effort was taken to show how applied arts have evolved as Japanese craftmen refined their techniques. It is an exquisit book appropriate for the novice as well as those possessing deep knowledge of Japan.
David Wagner
Tokyo Japan
September 2007
Product Description
The KOMON (small patterns), CHUGATA- MON (medium patterns) SARASA & SHIMA Patterns, which were used for decorating the surface of clothes, patterned papers, art, and daily utensils. Lovely Full Color Illustrations
Book Description
Over 1,700 compact, graceful designs — a traditional part of many Japanese family histories — are featured in this handsome, versatile collection. Depicting plant, leaf, animal, and fan designs in circular motifs; astronomical images, and more, the authentic, royalty-free crests are ideal for use as spot illustrations in a variety of graphic projects.
Customer Reviews:
japanese crest.......2007-09-21
I am sure the book is good for some, but it wasn't what I was hoping it would be.
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