Investigating the central role that theories of the visual arts and creativity played in the development of fascism in France; Mark Antliff examines the aesthetic dimension of fascist myth-making within the history of the avant-garde. Between 1909 and 1939; a surprising array of modernists were implicated in this project; including such well-known figures as the symbolist painter Maurice Denis; the architects Le Corbusier and Auguste Perret; the sculptors Charles Despiau and Aristide Maillol; the ldquo;New Visionrdquo; photographer Germaine Krull; and the fauve Maurice Vlaminck.Antliff considers three French fascists: Georges Valois; Philippe Lamour; and Thierry Maulnier; demonstrating how they appropriated the avant-garde aesthetics of cubism; futurism; surrealism; and the so-called Retour agrave; lrsquo;Ordre (ldquo;Return to Orderrdquo;); and; in one instance; even defined the ldquo;dynamismrdquo; of fascist ideology in terms of Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisensteinrsquo;s theory of montage. For these fascists; modern art was the mythic harbinger of a regenerative revolution that would overthrow existing governmental institutions; inaugurate an anticapitalist new order; and awaken the creative and artistic potential of the fascist ldquo;new man.rdquo;In formulating the nexus of fascist ideology; aesthetics; and violence; Valois; Lamour; and Maulnier drew primarily on the writings of the French political theorist Georges Sorel; whose concept of revolutionary myth proved central to fascist theories of cultural and national regeneration in France. Antliff analyzes the impact of Sorelrsquo;s theory of myth on Valois; Lamour; and Maulnier. Valois created the first fascist movement in France; Lamour; a follower of Valois; established the short-lived Parti Fasciste Reacute;volutionnaire in 1928 before founding two fascist-oriented journals; Maulnier forged a theory of fascism under the auspices of the journals Combat and Insurgeacute;.
#2667276 in eBooks 2013-08-05 2013-08-05File Name: B00EHJ2AZ8
Review
79 of 82 people found the following review helpful. One hell of a great readBy Joe StockdaleJohn Lahrs biography; "Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrim of the Flesh;"is the best theatre book Ive read in a lifetime as actor; teacher; director and writer. I was already hooked on theatre when I served aboard the USS Wyoming dry-docked in New York harbor for an overhaul and I picked up a freefer at the Stage Door Canteen forWilliamss play; "The Glass Menagerie."That single performance is burned into my emotional memory as the most memorable of a lifetime. Taylors acting and Tennessees writing have been the most lasting influences of my own study; teaching and work in the theatre.Ive seen most all the original Williams productions in New York; had the opportunity to direct several in both college and AEA professional regional theatres; read everything published (plus a few original drafts) but this biography by John Lahr is the definitive last word. A labor of love some twelve years in the making; it is extensively researched; beautifully written and clearly told. It clarifies and contradicts exaggerations and outright fabricationsalready out there. The emphasis here is a detailed study of Tennessee himself via an insightful empathetic analysis of his characters--Amanda; Blanche;Stanley-you name them--in order for you to know; understand and appreciate the playwright himself; his tragedy;courage and determination as an artist. For anyone interested in humanism and understanding you will find no more definitive portrait of our greatest American writer than in the page-turning book by Mr Lahr. For your own sake; hie yourself to the nearest bookstore; or your computer; and order it. Youre in for one hell of a great read.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great bookBy Guthrie McIllhennonAs dramaturg for A Streetcar Named Desire recently; I bought this book to bone up on the events that led Tennessee Williams to write the play. The author John Lahr provided that necessary information and so much more. The book is very detailed in the research of Williams life; and that life was a very unusual one for the times. The book tells a story of Tennessees tough childhood; his difficult times as a young gay man in an era when it was illegal and dangerous to be so; his struggle to succeed as a writer; his success as a writer and his decline as a writer. Its a very sympathetic biography of a great writer who lived on the edge. Even if one does not know anything about the mid century theater in America; TWs story is interesting enough to hold ones attention. The book is a prize winner; the author is a lauded theater critic and this book may be his masterpiece.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. John Lahr and Tennessee Williams; Perfect TogetherBy Don CummingsIt is no surprise; of course; that this biography by John Lahr is brilliant. I have been a big fan of Mr. Williams plays; like so many before me; since high school. Additionally; I never miss a column by John Lahr in the New Yorker. He is clear headed; intentionally articulate; and covers theater; which is the business I am sometimes in (when theyll have me) as a playwright. This book is long and harrowing and a page turner. You just want to know! (Even though you already know...) What is going to happen to T.W. Lahr pulls no punches and exposes poor T.W. as the frantic; narcissistic; hysteric that he often was. Of course; the positive opposite side of that coin is we get to read how T.W. drew from his life to create all of his creations. Mr. Lahr has made it his duty to draw all the lines between Mr. Williams life and his work. Highly readable and exhaustively researched (wait til you read the end notes. Egad!)...it feels like THE OFFICIAL TOME of this great writers life. Beautifully edited. And...I read the whole crazy thing on my Kindle App on my phone; which was completely enjoyable. Buy it. Read it. Love it. Or hate it. Whatever. Its the one.