Popular Pleasures

An Introduction to the Aesthetics of Popular Visual Culture

Popular Pleasures
Paul Duncum
RRP:
NZ$ 54.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 42.62
Paperback
h246 x 189mm - 248pg
23 Sep 2021 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9781350193390
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order

Click to view other formats:
9781350193406 UK Hardback $127.88

Today' s many popular aesthetic pleasures have a very long history. Paul Duncum considers the historical critical discourses, and socio-political issues raised by aesthetic pleasures in fifteen thematic chapters. Using illustrative examples from the past, present, and across cultures, he challenges the idea of any decline of cultural standards and argues that no grounds exist for cultural pessimism. Refusing to condemn popular culture on the basis of taste, he reserves critique for the socio-political ideologies aesthetics invariably serve. Art history, film, cultural studies, and philosophical aesthetics are each employed to show that the sensory/emotional lures of today' s popular culture are mostly identical to those of premodern fine art. They include the violent, the horrific, the sentimental, the exotic, the erotic, and the humorous. Some of these pleasures derive from our evolutionary biology; they are all an important part of what it means to be human, and central to understanding contemporary society. Examples are wide-ranging, including British seaside postcards, Disney films, Nazi propaganda, burlesque, modern advertising, as well as many exemplars of fine art. The book reveals fresh insights for all those studying visual culture, art history, aesthetics, media studies, and media and art education.
From Plato to Pokemon GO, Duncum brilliantly examines the enduring entanglements between art and popular culture . . . This book is for everyone who wants to avoid the interminable arguments that seem to dominate all things ' aesthetics. ' * Kevin Tavin, Aalto University, Finland * Popular Pleasures is well-researched and has flashes of brilliant insight . . . The book will benefit students of many visual culture disciplines, including art education, art history, graphic arts and media communications. * Kerry Freedman, Northern Illinois University, USA * Immaculately researched and eloquently written, this engaging book highlights both the irresistible sensory appeal and economic, political, and ideological interest behind popular images. * Olga Ivashkevich, University of South Carolina, USA *
Paul Duncum is Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, USA, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Tasmania, Australia. He is the author of Picture Pedagogy (Bloomsbury, 2020).
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9781350193390
Published: 23 Sep 2021
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Bloomsbury Visual Arts
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback
Height: 246mm
Width: 189mm
Pages: 248

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information