Apropos of Something: A History of Irrelevance and Relevance

The concept of "relevance" has evolved since the nineteenth century, becoming a means to understand how something once disregarded or lost can become interesting and important. Elisa Tamarkin's book "Apropos of Something" explores this concept, derived from the Anglo-American word meaning "to raise or lift up again," and its impact on art, criticism, philosophy, logic, and social thought. It argues that relevance is a struggle for recognition and reveals versions of events that feel apropos of our lives. The book is illustrated with paintings by Winslow Homer, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and others and is a philosophical and poetic study of relevance with enormous social stakes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 19 July 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Since the nineteenth century, the concept of "relevance" has evolved significantly across art, criticism, philosophy, logic, and social thought. Elisa Tamarkin's insightful exploration delves into this transformative shift, highlighting the emergence of relevance as a means to understand and value previously disregarded or undervalued elements. In a world inundated with information, how do we discern what holds the utmost importance at any given moment?

Relevance, as Tamarkin reveals, originated from the Anglo-American term, which carries meanings of "to raise or to lift up again" and "to give relief." It resonated with prominent intellectuals such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, pragmatists, philosophers like William James, Alain Locke, John Dewey, and Alfred North Whitehead, as well as a diverse array of critics, phenomenologists, linguists, and sociologists. Within the realms of literature, art, and criticism, relevance became a battleground for recognition.

In the nineteenth century, poems and paintings took on a new pragmatic dimension, as they sought to evoke relevance and generate interest. These works revealed versions of events that felt pertinent to our contemporary lives, resonating with our experiences when we encountered them. Apropos of Something, a captivating philosophical and poetic exploration of relevance, vividly illustrates this concept through the artwork of Winslow Homer, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and others.

This book serves as a profound philosophical and poetic inquiry into the nature of relevance, urging readers to reassess their attention and perceptions of importance. With significant social implications, it remains an invitation for the humanities and for individuals grappling with the daily challenge of finding meaning and purpose. By delving into the history and evolution of relevance, Apropos of Something offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of human consciousness and the transformative power of valuing what was once overlooked.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 48 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226453095