Sir Frank Kermode; the British scholar; instructor; and author; was an inspired critic. Forms of Attention is based on a series of three lectures he gave on canon formation; or how we choose what art to value. The essay on Botticelli traces the artistrsquo;s sudden popularity in the nineteenth century for reasons that have more to do with poetry than painting. In the second essay; Kermode reads Hamlet from a very modern angle; offering a useful (and playful) perspective for a contemporary audience. The final essay is a defense of literary criticism as a process and conversation that; while often conflating knowledge with opinion; keeps us reading great art and working withmdash;and formdash;literature.
#1176393 in eBooks 2012-11-30 2012-11-12File Name: B00AG40VOU
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Dovers Poorly Rendered ReprintBy ParisYankThe images cheaply reprinted in this edition of Goyas Disasters of War are poorly rendered. They are muddied; unclear and indistinct; stripping away Goyas incredibly sure handed technique and voiding the emotionally violent impact these images must have had when they were first viewed many centuries ago. These images demand better respect; and some of them receive it by means of a duotone process in a wonderful book entitled "Goya and the Spirit of Enlightenment." If you want a clear and precise idea as to why Goyas Disasters of War were a great artistic and technical achievement the Dover edition will not deliver the goods. If you have never seen a fine reprinting of these images; then by all means purchase the Dover edition - ignorance is bliss.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. "Sad Presentiments": Mirror into MadnessBy Ren AndronicoWhile reading the amazing book "The Serial Killer Files"; I discovered several mentions to some "famous series of engravings...with its horrific images of rape; castration; and dismemberment..." Being a moral person; I had to see what all the hype was about! So I went a few weeks later to my college library and I looked at all the images...and I was shocked. To say that these images are unnerving and gruesome is the understatement of the century!! But theres something about them that makes them essential viewing for all...its the most honest depiction of war Ive ever seen in still image. Rather than try to justify the horror of his images with the idea of a greater good served or divine justice delivered; Goya simply portrays things how they were and lets us despair without any manipulation on his part.Im sure others have gone through the series of plates with this book so Ill simply list a few of the plates that I think are the most affecting: "Sad Presentiments of what must come to pass"; "This is what you were born for"; "Why?"; "What more can one do?"; "This is worse"; "Great deeds-against the dead!"; "Unhappy Mother!"; "The Consequences". Also; something that must be mentioned; aside from 2 or 3 prefaces; the only thing in this book is the 80 or so images themselves.While these images are of a war that happened hundreds of years ago in a foreign land; what they portray is something whose long claws cast their shadow across distance and time...the insanity and cruelty of man manifest in the horrors of war. For those who want an honest look into the results of war; you need look no further. But be forewarned that; in the words of Nietzsche; "...if you gaze into the abyss; the abyss gazes also into you."1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Its a good book in theory but the print quality of the ...By KatieIts a good book in theory but the print quality of the images is terrible. They are printed so dark you can barely tell what youre looking at. It makes the book basically useless. I do not recommend this book.