PDF Portraits and Prayers by Gertrude Stein in Arts-Photography

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Grandiose attempt overreaches some good materialBy The Thinking BodyIf Kozel had just presented the various creative projects that she has participated in and her musing upon them this would have been a much stronger book. Instead; she is trying to present herself as a philosopher which she clearly is not - citing Mercel-Ponty ad nauseum and using variations of the word "phenomenology" in almost every other sentence demonstrates an intellectual infatuation but it doesnt make one a philosopher. She claims to be creating a new Poetics and Ethics of digitalized corporeality but never puts forward a cogent rhetoric that outlines her ideas.The discussion of the projects was interesting however she spends too little time actually describing what was done in favor of describing her "phenomenological analysis" of what was done. While; as someone who writes about his own creative research; I appreciate her stance regarding the academic journal bias against self-reporting ones creative work; there were more than a few times she is so caught up in her beliefs that it distorts her interpretations: she cites online chats where she is clearly leading the students towards "the correct answer" as evidence that they all experienced the same things she experiences; In discussing Motion Capture ("mocap" in her lingo) she rejects Bill T. Jones and his collaborators responses to their experience as it didnt match her "phenomenological" response to her experience (I also found it a bit presumptuous of her to refer to Mr. Jones with the familial "Bill" rather than his full or last name) ; she tells us how audience members reacted to her installation without presenting any evidence to support how she can conclude that each of them had that response.I found the art direction of the book - with blurry; black and white photos and/or black banners covering the top half of each page - annoying. White font on black is difficult to read. I get that it was an attempt to ape the digital experience via book format but it was; like the text itself; overreaching and ultimately annoying.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating read on effects of convergence of technological mind and bodyBy music fanThere are many subtleties in this read that become evident through layers and layers of insights. I think this is a result of the authors deep understanding and lived experiences and reflections across many years thinking about the details presented in this work. The integration of technology with innovative live performance aesthetics increasingly are important in many mediums including concerts; digital entertainment; and interactive art.Notice Bonos recent wearable laser jacket worn during Ultraviolet on the U2 360 concert tour. Gaming hardware manufacturers on the verge of removing the console barrier where human body gesture becomes one with an immersive gaming experiece. Indeed; even mobile phones are evolving into a pervasive medium for rich human expression and consumption of interactive media. This book is highly relevant; timely; and yet very forward looking on many fronts in areas where there is yet much to be explored and discovered with respect to the influence; impact; and integration of the human body and technologically-oriented culture and lifestyles.Highly recommended if you are interested in a formal framework for understanding many of todays social computing trends; live and digital entertainment productions; as well as gaming futures.