Nearest Thing to Heaven; The Empire State Building and American Dreams

Kingwell, Mark

ISBN 10: 0300126123 / ISBN 13: 9780300126129

Editore: Yale University Press, 2007

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Icons of America; This elegantly written appreciation of the Empire State Building opens up the buildingâ s richness and importance as an icon of America. The book leads us through the facts surrounding the skyscraperâ s conception and construction, then enters into a provocative theoretical discussion of its function as an icon, its representation in pictures, literature, and film, and the implications of its iconic status as New Yorkâ s most important architectural monument to ambition and optimism.The Empire State Building literally cannot be seen in its totality, from any perspective. And paradoxically, this building of unmistakable solidity has been made invisible by familiarity and reproduction through imagery. Mark Kingwell encourages us to look beneath the strong physical presence of the building, to become aware of its evolving layers of meaning, and to see how the building lives within a unique imaginative space in the landscape of the American consciousness. He offers new ways of understanding the Empire State Building in all its complexity and surprising insights into its special role as an American icon.

Codice articolo 80564

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Nearest Thing to Heaven; The Empire State Building and American Dreams
• Editore: Yale University Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2007
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0300126123
• ISBN 13: 9780300126129
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: New

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

This elegantly written appreciation of the Empire State Building opens up the building’s richness and importance as an icon of America. The book leads us through the facts surrounding the skyscraper’s conception and construction, then enters into a provocative theoretical discussion of its function as an icon, its representation in pictures, literature, and film, and the implications of its iconic status as New York’s most important architectural monument to ambition and optimism.

The Empire State Building literally cannot be seen in its totality, from any perspective. And paradoxically, this building of unmistakable solidity has been made invisible by familiarity and reproduction through imagery. Mark Kingwell encourages us to look beneath the strong physical presence of the building, to become aware of its evolving layers of meaning, and to see how the building lives within a unique imaginative space in the landscape of the American consciousness. He offers new ways of understanding the Empire State Building in all its complexity and surprising insights into its special role as an American icon.

Informazioni sull'autore

Mark Kingwell is professor of philosophy, University of Toronto, a contributing editor of Harper’s Magazine, and the author of eight books.