Dawn of a New Feeling: The Neocontemplative Condition

Computers have become omnipresent, affecting the perception of the aesthetic object and nature. Dawn of a New Feeling argues that virtual reality is illusory and blunts the viewers' capacity for feeling a genuine connection with a work of art. It suggests that classical art forms stimulate an appreciation of nature and that reading, contemplation, and care for nature help us to escape the mental atrophy of a web-dominated world and find refuge from the chaos of virtual mediation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

Computers have become an omnipresent force in recent decades, permeating every aspect of modern life and shaping creative pursuits across art, architecture, music, and film. This pervasive trend has had a profound impact on our perception of aesthetics and even nature itself.

In his book "Dawn of a New Feeling," Raffaele Milani explores the implications of this technological evolution on the aesthetic experience. While acknowledging the potential of computers to create new and innovative art forms, Milani argues that virtual reality, in particular, hinders our ability to engage with and appreciate aesthetic objects. He contends that virtual or augmented reality creates an illusory world that dulls our senses and diminishes our capacity for genuine connection with art.

Milani begins by tracing the entanglement of modernity and post-modernity with virtual reality, leading to a confusion in language and anthropology. He suggests that the proliferation of mass media has contributed to a loss of meaning in art, as it has overshadowed the deeper contemplative aspects of artistic expression. In contrast, he highlights the ways in which classical art forms stimulate an appreciation of nature, which, upon reflection, reveals itself as an aesthetic object in its own right.

Through his analysis, Milani suggests that the saturation of our culture by mass media can create a renewed desire for a more intimate connection with nature. He advocates for activities such as reading, contemplation, and care for nature as means of escaping the mental atrophy of a web-dominated world and finding refuge from the chaos of virtual mediation. By reinterpreting contemplative approaches to appreciating aesthetics and understanding the profound nature of artistic vision, "Dawn of a New Feeling" offers a fresh perspective on the role of technology in shaping our artistic and environmental experiences.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228010968