Image Control: Art, Fascism, and the Right to Resist
by Patrick Nathan
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Description
"Fascism comes to life as a mood, not a platform; it slips in through the cracks of a culture on the level of art and language itself, too often undetected. The deluge of images across all our various screens never stops-one second you're looking at a photograph of Syrian children suffering in the wake of a chemical attack, the next you're feeling bad about yourself because of someone else's pristine Instagram selfie. And before you can process or properly weigh either of those feelings, a show more meme momentarily captures your attention. This endless scroll through a sea of visual content overwhelms and often numbs us. By and large, we no longer critically examine the images we consume, how we consume them, and how they affect us. Mixing the literary, personal, and political, Image Control examines recent cultural episodes as well as the ancient roots of language and myth to understand how images have been used and misused as propaganda throughout history. In one instance, Nathan recounts what it was like to grapple as a queer thirteen year old with the implied violence in the photograph of the fence on which Matthew Shepard was left to die. In another, he lays bare the isolating perils of seeing only the curated highlights of a life on social media. By exploring our connection to language and image, Nathan builds toward the idea that if fascism exists first on an intimate aesthetic"-- show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
In this unique and interesting criticism of our current lives Patrick Nathan makes us stop and really think about what is going on around us. Images are constantly flying towards us before we have time to react digest another then another. We are used to it, so it seems harmless, normal even and so we fail to realize that we are losing our ability to think critically about the world and everything in it, including ourselves. Pulling from photography, social media, art and his own personal experience we are shown not only how problematic our current culture is, but teaches us how to step back look around and regain control of your self.
Brilliantly researched and a truly fascinating read Image Control is a book unlike any I've come show more across before yet it has inspired me to keep digging in order to improve upon the life in which we live.
If you like to challenge yourself, question common practices, or simply like to learn about the idea's fueling and influencing society this book is perfect for you!
3.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion, yet still highly recommended. If this concept intrigues you, don't hesitate to pick it up and dive in. You wont be disappointed.
Thank you to netgalley and publishers for providing an advance e-copy of this book so that I may share my honest opinion. show less
Brilliantly researched and a truly fascinating read Image Control is a book unlike any I've come show more across before yet it has inspired me to keep digging in order to improve upon the life in which we live.
If you like to challenge yourself, question common practices, or simply like to learn about the idea's fueling and influencing society this book is perfect for you!
3.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion, yet still highly recommended. If this concept intrigues you, don't hesitate to pick it up and dive in. You wont be disappointed.
Thank you to netgalley and publishers for providing an advance e-copy of this book so that I may share my honest opinion. show less
Ratings
Members
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Published Reviews
ThingScore 100
An unexpectedly entertaining scholarly warning about fascism’s spread through imagery.
added by karenb
Lists
Author Information
10 Works 137 Members
Awards and Honors
Notable Lists
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2021-08-17
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Sociology, Art & Design, General Nonfiction, Technology, Philosophy
- DDC/MDS
- 303.3 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Social processes Coordination and control
- LCC
- HM1231 .N38 — Social sciences Sociology (General) Sociology Social psychology Social influence. Social pressure
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 41
- Popularity
- 716,811
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
