Kaleidophonic Modernity: Transatlantic Sound, Technology, and Literature

Kaleidophonic Modernity explores the development of mechanical sound recording technology and its impact on visual culture and sound studies. It highlights the forgotten figures of Charles Cros and Nina de Villard, who were pivotal in the artistic and scientific vanguards of their time. Cros's scientific endeavors ranged from color photography to telecommunications, and his poetry inspired the Surrealists. Nina de Villard presided over a daring intellectual salon, welcoming literary, artistic, and musical luminaries into a crucible of the artistic avant-garde. Together, they help reframe our thinking on Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Baudelaire, and Walt Whitman, icons of urban modernity. Kaleidophonic Modernity illuminates the prehistory of the phonograph and its intersections with aesthetics of sound reproducibility, Franco-American literary exchange, Poe's legacy, the sounds of modern cities and technologies, and audiovisual experimentation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2023
Publisher: Fordham University Press

Kaleidophonic Modernity delves into the intricate development of mechanical sound recording technology, tracing the trajectories of writers, scientists, and artists in France and the United States. By seamlessly blending comparative literature, the history of science, and urban studies, author Brehm constructs a captivating bridge between visual culture and sound studies. At the center of this narrative lies the poet and inventor Charles Cros, alongside his beloved concert pianist and salonnière Nina de Villard. Cros's remarkable scientific pursuits spanned a wide range, including color photography, telecommunications, and the reproducibility of mechanical sound. His poetic works resonated deeply with the Surrealists, serving as both an ancestor and an inspiration. In parallel, Nina de Villard presided over a highly influential intellectual salon, fostering a vibrant community of literary, artistic, and musical luminaries. This salon played a crucial role in shaping the artistic avant-garde and laying the foundation for the iconic Chat Noir cabaret. Together, Charles Cros and Nina de Villard emerge as forgotten yet pivotal figures who redefine our understanding of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Baudelaire, and Walt Whitman, iconic icons of urban modernity. Through the lens of Kaleidophonic Modernity, these figures are reimagined and heard in a kaleidoscopic light, offering a fresh and compelling perspective on modern media landscapes. This transatlantic phenomenon is explored in depth, shedding light on the prehistory of the phonograph as it intersects with the aesthetics of sound reproducibility, Franco-American literary exchange, Poe's aesthetic and intellectual legacy, the sounds of modern cities, and the technological advancements of the time.

Weight: 672g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781531501488