Philosophy of Rhythm: Aesthetics, Music, Poetics

The book "The Philosophy of Rhythm" explores the fundamental pulse that animates poetry, music, and dance across all cultures, and how the recent explosion of scholarly interest in the aural dimensions of aesthetic experience has yet to explore this category. It brings together a range of perspectives from philosophers, psychologists, musicians, literary theorists, and ethno-musicologists to examine formal affinities between music, dance, and poetry, and address key concepts such as embodiment, movement, pulse, and performance. The editors argue that aesthetics can offer an understanding of rhythm that helps inform our responses to visual and other arts, as well as music, dance, and poetry.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 10 January 2020
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Rhythm, the fundamental pulse that animates poetry, music, and dance across all cultures, has garnered increasing scholarly attention in recent years. However, the exploration of rhythm's aural dimensions has been relatively limited, particularly in disciplines such as sociology, cultural and media theory, and literary studies. This book aims to bridge this gap by delving into the philosophical and interdisciplinary aspects of rhythm.

The Philosophy of Rhythm brings together a diverse range of original essays by philosophers, psychologists, musicians, literary theorists, and ethno-musicologists. These essays explore formal affinities between music, dance, and poetry, while addressing key concepts such as embodiment, movement, pulse, and performance. Volume editors Peter Cheyne, Andy Hamilton, and Max Paddison have assembled a collection of thought-provoking questions that delve into the distinctions between rhythm and pulse, the relationship between everyday embodied experience and the specific experience of music, dance, and poetry, the potential of aesthetics to provide insights into rhythm, and the connections between psychological conceptions of entrainment and the humane concept of rhythm and meter.

The book appeals to a wide audience, crossing disciplinary boundaries and providing a unique overview of a neglected aspect of aesthetic experience. It offers valuable insights into the ways in which rhythm shapes our perception, interpretation, and engagement with the arts, and highlights the importance of considering rhythm's aural dimensions in our understanding of artistic expression.

In conclusion, The Philosophy of Rhythm is a groundbreaking work that contributes significantly to the understanding of rhythm and its role in the arts. By bringing together a diverse range of perspectives and disciplines, it offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of this fundamental category of aesthetic experience. This book will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and anyone with an interest in the aesthetics, music, dance, and poetry.

Weight: 758g
Dimension: 180 x 254 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780199347780