Focusing on one landmark catastrophic event in the history of an emerging modern nationmdash;the Great Kanto Earthquake that devastated Tokyo and surrounding areas in 1923mdash;this fascinating volume examines the history of the visual production of the disaster. The Kanto earthquake triggered cultural responses that ran the gamut from voyeuristic and macabre thrill to the romantic sublime; media spectacle to sacred space; mournful commemoration to emancipatory euphoria; and national solidarity to racist vigilantism and sociopolitical critique. Looking at photography; cinema; painting; postcards; sketching; urban planning; and even scientific visualizations; Weisenfeld demonstrates how visual culture has powerfully mediated the evolving historical understanding of this major national disaster; ultimately enfolding mourning and memory into modernization.
#1660367 in eBooks 2013-01-08 2013-01-08File Name: B00AND9E3S
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. I returned this book. Snore.By S. DaneI could hardly get through the introduction - and in fact didnt finish it. The best part of the book is the cover. But in this case; the saying; "You cant judge a book by its cover"; proves particularly true. It contains predominantly text of the most tedious sort. If you have insomnia; this book might help you. If you love obscure and useless theorizing about something not many people care much about; this is your book. If the author sold copies to anyone other than family members; Id be surprised.