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Klappentext Jean Baudrillard is generally recognized as one of the most important and provocative contemporary social theorists. But in the English speaking world, his reputation is largely based on books published after the 1960s, as he moved towards becoming the premier commentator on postmodernism. This wide ranging and expertly edited book examines the work of the young Baudrillard, it deepens our understanding of his seminal work on consumer culture by presenting his early essays on McLuhan, Lefebvre and Marcuse. The influence of German traditions of thought are clearly revealed, and Baudrillard's neglected and out of print writing on aesthetics is rediscovered and reprinted. Extracts from his political diaries and commentaries on European terrorism and the rise of the new Right, provide crucial insights into his later claims regarding the implosion of the masses and the rise of gesturial politics. Baudrillard emerges as a more nuanced and penetrating figure. His aesthetic and political interests are shown to be more deep-rooted and reflexive. In general, the book supplies the missing link for English speaking readers interested in understanding this prismatic and essential thinker. Zusammenfassung Jean Baudrillard is generally recognized as one of the most important and provocative contemporary social theorists. But in the English speaking world! his reputation is largely based on books published after the 1960s! as he moved towards becoming the premier commentator on postmodernism. This wide ranging and expertly edited book examines the work of the young Baudrillard! it deepens our understanding of his seminal work on consumer culture by presenting his early essays on McLuhan! Lefebvre and Marcuse. The influence of German traditions of thought are clearly revealed! and Baudrillard's neglected and out of print writing on aesthetics is rediscovered and reprinted. Extracts from his political diaries and commentaries o Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction PART ONE: YOUNG BAUDRILLARD The Novels of Italo Calvino Review of William Styron, Set This House on Fire Germany Is It a New World? Review of Uwe Johnson, The Border PART TWO: CRITIQUE OF MASS-MEDIATED LIFE Review of Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media Technique as Social Practice Review of Henri Lefebvre, Taking a Position: Against the Technocrats Ephemeral and Durable Dialectical Utopia Utopia The Smile of the Cheshire Cat Police and Play Mass (Sociology of) PART THREE: THE POETRY OF THEORY Stucco Angel PART FOUR: POLITICAL BANKRUPTCY ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT The Divine Left Dropping Out of History Our Theatre of Cruelty PART FIVE: IRONIC AESTHETIC DISORDERS Barbara Kruger Olivier Mosset The Object That Is None Enrico Baj or Monstrosity Laid Bare by the Paint Itself The Transparency of Kitsch ...
