For almost two decades the work of Rodolfo Machado and Jorge Silvetti has remained at the forefront of theoretical production. Their rigorously detailed and exquisitely drawn projects characterize an attitude of aesthetic realism towards materials, construction, function, and the cultural role of architecture. Yet the conditions they address, and the effects they produce, are unprecedented. Their projects synthesize seemingly incompatible images, uses, and typologies. Unprecedented Realism is not an illustration of theory. Rather, what emerges is a constructive theory of architecture that understands the process of design itself as a distinct mode of knowledge—as theoretical research that is still irreducibly architectural. Unprecedented Realism presents both buildings and urban infrastructures: Steps of Providence, RI; Entrance for Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Carnegie-Mellon University Center, Pittsburgh; Pershing Square, Los Angeles; and Times Square, New York City. Along with the analytic text of K. Michael Hays, the volume includes critical essays by Alan Colquhoun, George Baird, Fars el-Dahdah, and Rodolphe el-Khoury (please see the Table of Contents).

As the theoretical alignments within academia shift, this book introduces a surprising variety of realism to abolish the old positivist-theory dichotomy that has haunted Art History. Demanding frankly the referential detachment of the objects under study, the book proposes a stratified, multi-causal account of art history that addresses postmodern concerns while saving it from its errors of self-refutation. Building from the very basic distinction between intransitive being and transitive knowing, objects can be affirmed as real while our knowledge of them is held to be fallible. Several focused chapters address basic problems while introducing philosophical reflection into art history. These include basic ontological distinctions between society and culture, general and “special” history, the discontinuity of cultural objects, the importance of definition for special history, scales, facets and fiat objects as forms of historical structure, the nature of evidence and proof, historical truth and controversies. Stressing Critical Realism as the stratified, multi-causal approach needed for productive research today in the academy, this book creates the subject of the ontology of art history and sets aside a theoretical space for metaphysical reflection, thus clarifying the usually muddy distinction between theory, methodology, and historiography in art history.

What can literary theory reveal about discourses and practices of human rights, and how can human rights frameworks help to make sense of literature? How have human rights concerns shaped the literary marketplace, and how can literature impact human rights concerns? Essays in this volume theorize how both literature and reading literarily can shape understanding of human rights in productive ways. Contributors to Theoretical Perspectives on Human Rights and Literature provide a shared history of modern literature and rights; theorize how trauma, ethics, subjectivity, and witnessing shape representations of human rights violations and claims in literary texts across a range of genres (including poetry, the novel, graphic narrative, short story, testimonial, and religious fables); and consider a range of civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights and their representations. The authors reflect on the imperial and colonial histories of human rights as well as the cynical mobilization of human rights discourses in the name of war, violence, and repression; at the same time, they take seriously Gayatri Spivak’s exhortation that human rights is something that we "cannot not want," exploring the central function of storytelling at the heart of all human rights claims, discourses, and policies.

Looks at the history of pornographic films, discusses what they reveal about attitudes towards sexuality, and considers the censorship issue

In focusing on the practices, politics and ethics of listening, this wide-ranging book offers an important new perspective on questions of media audiences, publics and citizenship. Listening is central to modern communication, politics and experience, but is commonly overlooked and underestimated in a culture fascinated by the spectacle and the politics of voice. Listening Publics restores listening to media history and to theories of the public sphere. In so doing it opens up profound questions for our understanding of mediated experience, public participation and civic engagement. Taking a cross-national and interdisciplinary approach, the book explores how listening publics have been constituted in relation to successive media technologies from the invention of writing to the digital age. It asks how new practices of listening associated with sound and audiovisual media transform a public world forged in the age of print. Through detailed histories and sophisticated theoretical analysis, Listening Publics demonstrates the embodied and critical activity of listening to be a rich concept with which to rethink the practices, politics and ethics of media communication.

Art today is an increasingly multifaceted phenomenon,encompassing transgressive works that intervene in war and ecological disasters, in inequalities and revolutionary changes in technology.Carnal Aesthetics is a fascinating new examination of this aspect of contemporary visual culture. Employing recent theories of transgressive body imagery,trauma, affect and sensation,it provides a fresh look at the meeting point between the politics of representation and the politics of perception through the prismatic lens of feminist theory. Acclaimed scholars analyse a wide range of seminal case studies coming from different media:digital photography,painting,video,film and multimedia art. They explore here a number of transgressive movements that significantly reconfigure the relationship between the body and the image. Unlike other books on the complex relationship between politics and aesthetics,Carnal Aesthetics seeks to provide a novel approach to art and culture by challenging the primacy of vision and by injecting an intersectional perspective into the fields of visual studies,film and media studies,as well as trauma studies. It is a significant contribution across these dynamic fields of exploration for scholars who deal with the socio-political nature of contemporary visual culture in their work.

Spiritual Thoughts wonderfully captures his deep spiritual and holy life and his extraordinary intelligence as expressed in the first year of his papacy and begins to unlock the mystery of who this pope will be. The short reflections from his talks, homilies, and writings presented here are prayerful, at times forceful, and always satisfying.

The Encyclopedia of the Novel is the first reference book that focuses on the development of the novel throughout the world. Entries on individual writers assess the place of that writer within the development of the novel form, explaining why and in exactly what ways that writer is importnant. Similarly, an entry on an individual novel discusses the importance of that novel not only form, analyzing the particular innovations that novel has introduced and the ways in which it has influenced the subsequent course of the genre. A wide range of topic entries explore the history, criticism, theory, production, dissemination and reception of the novel. A very important component of the Encyclopedia of the Novel is its long surveys of development of the novel in various regions of the world.

Embark on a Journey into the Immersive World of "Mastering Virtual Reality" In an era of boundless technological innovation, the immersive realm of virtual reality (VR) stands as a frontier of limitless possibilities. "Mastering Virtual Reality" is your ultimate guide to delving into the art and science of creating immersive experiences that blur the line between the digital and the real. Whether you're an aspiring VR creator or a curious enthusiast, this book equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the intricacies of the captivating virtual world. About the Book: "Mastering Virtual Reality" takes you on an enlightening journey through the intricacies of virtual reality, from foundational concepts to advanced techniques. From hardware to content creation, this book covers it all. Each chapter is meticulously designed to provide both a deep understanding of the concepts and practical applications in real-world scenarios. Key Features: · Foundational Principles: Build a strong foundation by understanding the core principles of virtual reality, including presence, immersion, and interaction. · VR Hardware: Explore a range of VR hardware, from headsets and controllers to motion tracking and haptic devices, understanding their capabilities and limitations. · Content Creation: Dive into the world of content creation for virtual reality, including 3D modeling, animation, sound design, and interactive experiences. · User Experience: Master the art of crafting compelling user experiences in VR, including navigation, user interfaces, and intuitive interactions. · Immersive Environments: Learn how to design and build immersive environments that transport users to diverse virtual worlds, from gaming realms to architectural simulations. · VR Applications: Gain insights into a wide range of VR applications, including education, healthcare, entertainment, training, and beyond. · Interaction Design: Understand the principles of interaction design for VR, including locomotion techniques, gesture recognition, and natural user interfaces. · Challenges and Future Trends: Explore the challenges of VR design, from motion sickness to ethical considerations, and discover emerging trends shaping the future of VR. Who This Book Is For: "Mastering Virtual Reality" is designed for creators, designers, developers, students, and anyone curious about the immersive world of virtual reality. Whether you're seeking to enhance your skills or embark on a journey toward becoming a VR expert, this book provides the insights and tools to navigate the complexities of virtual reality. © 2023 Cybellium Ltd. All rights reserved. www.cybellium.com