Design and Visual Culture from the Bauhaus to Contemporary Art: Optical Deconstructions

This book complements the more textually-based Bauhaus scholarship with a practice-oriented and creative interpretive method, which makes it possible to consider Bauhaus-related works in an unconventional light. Edit Toth argues that focusing on the functionalist approach of the Bauhaus has hindered scholars from properly understanding its design work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2018
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book is a valuable addition to the field of Bauhaus scholarship, offering a practice-oriented and creative interpretive approach that enables a fresh perspective on Bauhaus-related works. In his book, Edit Toth challenges the traditional focus on the functionalist approach of the Bauhaus, arguing that this approach has hindered our understanding of the school's design achievements. With a broad scope and under-explored topics, the book contributes to ongoing scholarly discussions about the relationship between image technologies and the body. It emphasizes the materiality of image production and explores strategies for re-channeling image culture into material processes and physical body spaces. By doing so, it sheds light on the spatial dimensions and everyday activities that shape our interactions with images.

The book's approach is interdisciplinary, drawing on insights from various fields such as art history, media studies, and design theory. It employs a range of methodologies, including close readings of visual materials, interviews with practitioners, and theoretical analysis. This combination of approaches allows the book to offer a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the Bauhaus and its impact on contemporary visual culture.

One of the key themes explored in the book is the relationship between image technologies and the body. Toth argues that the Bauhaus was particularly interested in the ways in which images could be used to shape and manipulate the body, both physically and psychologically. He explores how the school's design principles, such as simplicity, functionality, and the integration of art and technology, were used to create objects and environments that could enhance the body's experiences and sensations.

Another important aspect of the book is its consideration of the global scope of the Bauhaus. Toth argues that the school's influence extended far beyond its German origins and had a significant impact on visual culture in many parts of the world. He explores how the Bauhaus's principles and practices were adapted and transformed by different cultures and contexts, leading to the development of new forms of image production and consumption.

The book also addresses under-studied topics in the field of Bauhaus scholarship, such as the role of women in the school and the relationship between the Bauhaus and other modernist movements. Toth argues that these topics have been overlooked in previous studies and that they offer valuable insights into the school's history and legacy.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Bauhaus and its impact on contemporary visual culture. It offers a fresh and innovative approach to understanding the school's design principles and achievements, and it contributes to ongoing scholarly discussions about the relationship between image technologies and the body. With its interdisciplinary approach and comprehensive coverage of topics, the book is an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and anyone with an interest in the history and evolution of design.

Weight: 604g
Dimension: 182 x 253 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138480612