Missing the Point: The Rise of High Modernity and the Decline of Everything Else - Brossura

Elsom, John

Brossura

ISBN 10: 071883075X ISBN 13: 9780718830755

Casa editrice: Lutterworth Pr, 2007

Riassunto

In his new book, John Elsom considers the drama of international politics from the viewpoint of a theatre critic, someone who sits in life's stalls and takes notes in semi-darkness. He relates how grand narratives of human behaviour grew from the insights of Darwin, Descartes and the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, to become the unacknowledged state religion of the West, High Modernity. He argues that the primary aim of most European ministries of culture, together with Western media companies, is to promote aspects of this faith. With a dazzling range of examples, from George Bush's New World Order to the war in Iraq, the Peace Process in Northern Ireland and John Birt at the BBC, Dr. Elsom describes how the faith in High Modernity has permeated Western habits of mind. High Modernity may alarm those who do not share its Enlightenment beliefs, but it reassures others who want to believe that the future is something that we can, and must, control, according to the mission statement for the Millennium Dome. Essential reading for anyone willing to open their minds to the realities of international differences in modern politics, this book will challenge readers' perceptions of the world they live in and the role of High Modernity in Western politics and culture.

Su questo libro

Recensione

As an internationally recognised expert on theatre and cultural politics, John Elsom examines in his new book a few myths of post-modern culture. Choosing a number of examples - the Millennium Dome, the BBC, New Labour's cultural policy, rhetoric, beauty and the sublime - he convincingly shows how we have locked ourselves into all kinds of "domes" intended to protect ourselves from a threatening outside world, as if we no longer want revelation about that world or of our inner truth. Written in a witty but thought-provoking style, Missing the Point helps the reader to be at least aware of what should not be overlooked, if we want still to understand and control our world, while not locking ourselves into the past or into the speculations of post-modernity. Reading this brilliant essay is an experience in perception management I would not have like to have missed, particularly if I had been locked in a dome or in Academia. --P. Pavis

L'autore

In his long and distinguished career as a writer, John Elsom has worked for Paramount Pictures, the BBC and the US magazine The World & I. He has also broadcast widely and taught in universities in Britain and the US. His other publications include Theatre Outside London, The History of the National Theatre, Erotic Theatre, Post-War British Theatre Criticism, Cold War Theatre and Is Shakespeare Still Our Contemporary? His play The Well-Intentioned Builder is currently running in repetoire at the National Theatre of Craiova.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Lutterworth Pr
• Data di pubblicazione: 2007
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 071883075X
• ISBN 13: 9780718830755
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 168
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile