In Praise of Nonsense

In Praise of Nonsense PDF Author: Ted Hiebert
Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
ISBN: 0773539735
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
A speculative exploration of theory, subjectivity and art in an age of uncertainty.

In Praise of Nonsense

In Praise of Nonsense PDF Author: Ted Hiebert
Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
ISBN: 0773539735
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
A speculative exploration of theory, subjectivity and art in an age of uncertainty.

In Praise of Nonsense

In Praise of Nonsense PDF Author: Winfried Menninghaus
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 0804783063
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 282

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Book Description
Shells, leafwork, picture frames, hummingbirds, wallpaper decorations, hems of clothing—such are the examples Kant's Critique of Judgment offers for a "free" and purely aesthetic beauty. Menninghaus's book demonstrates that all these examples refer to a widely unknown debate on the arabesque and that Kant, in displacing it, addresses genuinely "modern" phenomena. The early Romantic poetics and literature of the arabesque follow and radicalize Kant's move. Menninghaus shows parergonality and "nonsense" to be two key features in the spread of the arabesque from architecture and the fine arts to philosophy and finally to literature. On the one hand, comparative readings of the parergon in Enlightenment aesthetics, Kant, and Schlegel reveal the importance of this term for establishing the very notion of a self-reflective work of art. On the other hand, drawing on Kant's posthumous anthropological notebooks, Menninghaus extrapolates an entire Kantian theory of what it means to produce nonsense and why the Critique of Judgment defines genius precisely through the power (as well as the dangers) of doing so. Ludwig Tieck's 1797 rewriting of Charles Perrault's famous Bluebeard tale (1697) explicitly claims to be an "arabesque" book "without any sense and coherence." Menninghaus's close reading of this capricious narrative reveals a specifically Romantic—as opposed, say, to a Victorian or dadaistic—type of nonsense. Benjamin's as well as Propp's, Lévi-Strauss's, and Meletinskij's oppositions of myth and fairy tale lend additional credit to a Romantic poetics that inaugurates "universal poetry" while performing a bizarre trajectory through arabesque ornament, nonsense, parergonality, and the fairy tale.

In Praise of Nonsense

In Praise of Nonsense PDF Author: Ted Hiebert
Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
ISBN: 0773587330
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
What is truth in the postmodern age? The artistic generation of the twentieth century has grown up immersed in the delirious imagination of postmodern thought, which insists upon the ultimate uncertainty of meaning and that there is no self-evident truth. In Praise of Nonsense explores the possibilities and parameters of a postmodern imagination freed from the philosophical responsibilities of fiction, fact, and replication of lived experience. Mobilizing an array of scholars and contemporary artists, this study examines postmodern thinking through the lenses of identity and visual culture. Speculative, critical, and always creative in its approach, In Praise of Nonsense focuses on theories of disappearance, irony, and nonsense, where the pleasures of the imaginary give rise to artistic inspiration. When truth is unhinged, so is falsity, and all artistic thinking is called into question. Ted Hiebert takes on the ambitious project of holding postmodernism accountable for its own conclusions while also considering how those conclusions might still be given philosophical and artistic form.

Nonsense

Nonsense PDF Author: Jamie Holmes
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 0385348398
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
An illuminating look at the surprising upside of ambiguity—and how, properly harnessed, it can inspire learning, creativity, even empathy Life today feels more overwhelming and chaotic than ever. Whether it’s a confounding work problem or a faltering relationship or an unclear medical diagnosis, we face constant uncertainty. And we’re continually bombarded with information, much of it contradictory. Managing ambiguity—in our jobs, our relationships, and daily lives—is quickly becoming an essential skill. Yet most of us don’t know where to begin. As Jamie Holmes shows in Nonsense, being confused is unpleasant, so we tend to shutter our minds as we grasp for meaning and stability, especially in stressful circumstances. We’re hard-wired to resolve contradictions quickly and extinguish anomalies. This can be useful, of course. When a tiger is chasing you, you can’t be indecisive. But as Nonsense reveals, our need for closure has its own dangers. It makes us stick to our first answer, which is not always the best, and it makes us search for meaning in the wrong places. When we latch onto fast and easy truths, we lose a vital opportunity to learn something new, solve a hard problem, or see the world from another perspective. In other words, confusion—that uncomfortable mental place—has a hidden upside. We just need to know how to use it. This lively and original book points the way. Over the last few years, new insights from social psychology and cognitive science have deepened our understanding of the role of ambiguity in our lives and Holmes brings this research together for the first time, showing how we can use uncertainty to our advantage. Filled with illuminating stories—from spy games and doomsday cults to Absolut Vodka’s ad campaign and the creation of Mad Libs—Nonsense promises to transform the way we conduct business, educate our children, and make decisions. In an increasingly unpredictable, complex world, it turns out that what matters most isn’t IQ, willpower, or confidence in what we know. It’s how we deal with what we don’t understand.

The Nonsense Show

The Nonsense Show PDF Author: Eric Carle
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0593659619
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 23

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Book Description
A TIME Magazine Top 10 Children's Book of 2015! Ducks growing out of bananas? A mouse catching a cat? What’s wrong with this book from the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Yes, there’s something strange, something funny and even downright preposterous on every page of this book. But it’s not a mistake – it’s nonsense! And it’s also surrealism. Nonsense lies at the heart of many beloved nursery rhymes. Children readily accept odd statements like “the cow jumped over the moon” and “the dish ran away with the spoon.” This fanciful bending of reality is also basic to surrealism. In this book, nonsense and surrealism combine to spark creativity and imagination. What’s true? What’s impossible? What’s absolutely absurd? From Eric Carle, creator of the classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, comes a book to make children laugh and think, preparing them for a lifetime of loving both words and art. Following on the heels of The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (an homage to the artist Franz Marc and expressionism) and Friends, with its semi-abstract artwork, The Nonsense Show forms a trilogy of sorts, dedicated to introducing young readers to different styles of artwork without ever overlooking the need to, first and foremost, appeal to children and their love of play. One of the true legends and pioneers of picture book making continues to expand and challenge the genre. Praise for The Nonsense Show * "Carle creates fun and laughter in this homage to the surrealist artist René Magritte. [P]erfect for storytimes and silly times all round. Carle hits it out of the nonsense park!"–Booklist, starred review * "A sure hit as a read-aloud and a definite purchase for picture book collections."–School Library Journal, starred review * "A picture book made to incite pleasure and joy."–Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "[The Nonsense Show], with its cleanly designed white pages, makes the unexpected elements of the imagery stand out and prompts questions and wonder."–Horn Book, starred review

Fashionable Nonsense

Fashionable Nonsense PDF Author: Alan Sokal
Publisher: Picador
ISBN: 1466862408
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 317

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Book Description
In 1996 physicist Alan Sokal published an essay in Social Text--an influential academic journal of cultural studies--touting the deep similarities between quantum gravitational theory and postmodern philosophy. Soon thereafter, the essay was revealed as a brilliant parody, a catalog of nonsense written in the cutting-edge but impenetrable lingo of postmodern theorists. The event sparked a furious debate in academic circles and made the headlines of newspapers in the U.S. and abroad. In Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectuals' Abuse of Science, Sokal and his fellow physicist Jean Bricmont expand from where the hoax left off. In a delightfully witty and clear voice, the two thoughtfully and thoroughly dismantle the pseudo-scientific writings of some of the most fashionable French and American intellectuals. More generally, they challenge the widespread notion that scientific theories are mere "narrations" or social constructions.

And Now Let's Move Into a Time of Nonsense

And Now Let's Move Into a Time of Nonsense PDF Author: Nick Page
Publisher: Authentic Media Inc
ISBN: 1850789835
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 102

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Book Description
Have you ever felt frustrated with the words of the worship songs that we sing? Why are they so forgettable? Why are they filled with such weird language? Where have all the writers gone? Combining humour with strong argument, Nick Page analyses how worship song writers have bought into a disposable, 'pop-song' model; how they have filled their songs with a kind of semi-Biblical code and how songs suffer from poor technique and a lack of specialist lyric writers. Above all it encourages writers to really think about the words of their songs and whether they really communicate truth about God - truth which should lead to worship. Passionate, controversial and laugh-out-loud funny, this is essential reading for Christians today.

Neal Whitten's No-Nonsense Advice for Successful Projects

Neal Whitten's No-Nonsense Advice for Successful Projects PDF Author: Neal Whitten
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN: 1523097019
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
Learn the Best Practices That Make the Difference Between Troubled Projects and Consistently Successful Projects There's no better way to learn the nuts and bolts of a profession than by having a mentor at your side. But most project managers and leaders don't have that advantage — and that's why Neal Whitten wrote this book. Having Neal Whitten's No-Nonsense Advice for Successful Projects on hand is like having a mentor to guide you at every turn in the road. Neal shows you how to avoid a painful learning curve with a set of best practices for leading consistently successful projects. In this book, Neal distills his 30 years of experience into tips and strategies that are easy to learn and apply to your projects. These strategies will give you a decisive competitive edge in leading projects and working with stakeholders, clients, and team members. Learn How to: • Run your project like you'd run your own business • Become a “benevolent dictator” for the most effective leadership • Recognize and deal with professional immaturity • Deal with difficult people • Master behaviors that will make your team leaders' jobs easier and benefit your own career • Assess if you're too soft — and learn to make unpopular decisions if they're necessary to project success • Create a culture that fosters the success of your project • Gain the respect of your team members • Avoid making long-term project commitments • Manage to your top three problems

Perfect Nonsense

Perfect Nonsense PDF Author: George Carlson
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
ISBN: 1606995081
Category : Comics & Graphic Novels
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
Perfect Nonsense tells the complete story behind one of the most innovative and under-rated Golden Age artists, classic children’s illustrators, and nonsense poets in American history. For more than 50 years, George Carlson created thousands of distinctive and dynamic cartoons, comics, riddles, and games that thrilled both children and adults with their fanciful spirit and nonsensical humor. There has never been a career retrospective of this startling cartoonist and illustrator ― until now! Carlson’s inspired cartoons ― ranging from the intellectual to the surreal ― place him at home with not only acknowledged masters of American humor like George Herriman, S. J. Perelman, Milt Gross, Bill Holman, and Jack Kent, but also globally celebrated absurdists like Beckett, Pirandello, and his life-long inspiration, Lewis Carroll.

Book of Nonsense

Book of Nonsense PDF Author: Edward Lear
Publisher: Read Books Ltd
ISBN: 1447481445
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description
Edward Lear's much celebrated book of nonsense is here reproduced with all the original pictures and verse and two autobiographical letters by the author. Children and adults alike will delight in the Limerick's that here abound. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.