Transmissibility: Writing Aesthetic History

Transmissibility: Writing Aesthetic History examines the vitality and epistemic significance of an artwork through the work of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, Cy Twombly, Marina Abramović, Paul Celan, Cecil Taylor, Italo Calvino, Candida Höfer, and others, focusing on the artistic and historiographic labor that differentiates artworks from other modes of creation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 156 pages
Publication date: 17 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the concept of transmissibility to shed light on why the vitality and epistemic significance of an artwork remain anachronistic and futuristic. Transmissibility: Writing Aesthetic History takes a transdisciplinary approach to aesthetic history, drawing upon the insights of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, Cy Twombly, Marina Abramović, Paul Celan, Cecil Taylor, Italo Calvino, Candida Höfer, and other influential figures. By examining the artistic and historiographic labor that distinguishes artworks from other modes of creation, this book offers a fresh perspective on the enduring value and relevance of artistic expression.

In the realm of aesthetics, transmissibility plays a crucial role in understanding the enduring value and relevance of artistic expression. Transmissibility refers to the capacity of an artwork to transmit meaning and significance across time and cultural boundaries. It encompasses the transmission of ideas, emotions, and experiences through the medium of art, enabling artworks to connect with audiences on a profound level.

One of the key insights of transmissibility is that the vitality and epistemic significance of an artwork are not tied to its temporal or spatial context. Artworks can transcend the limitations of time and place, allowing them to speak to and resonate with people across generations and cultures. This is because art possesses a unique capacity to evoke emotions, stimulate imagination, and provoke thought, which can transcend linguistic and cultural barriers.

Transmissibility also highlights the role of the artist in the transmission process. Artists are not merely passive recipients of cultural influences but active agents who shape and transform the cultural landscape. Through their creative endeavors, artists can introduce new ideas, perspectives, and modes of expression, which can have a lasting impact on the artistic tradition and the broader cultural discourse.

Moreover, transmissibility extends beyond the individual artwork and encompasses the broader artistic and historiographic labor that surrounds it. Historians, critics, curators, and art historians play a vital role in interpreting and contextualizing artworks, ensuring that they are understood and appreciated in their historical and cultural contexts. By studying the artistic and historiographic labor, we can gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of artistic styles, movements, and genres, as well as the social, political, and cultural forces that have shaped them.

In conclusion, transmissibility is a fundamental concept in aesthetics that reminds us of the enduring value and relevance of artistic expression. Through the transmission of meaning and significance across time and cultural boundaries, artworks can connect with audiences on a profound level, evoking emotions, stimulating imagination, and provoking thought. The vitality and epistemic significance of an artwork are not tied to its temporal or spatial context, but rather to the artistic and historiographic labor that surrounds it. By studying the artistic and historiographic labor, we can gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of artistic styles, movements, and genres, as well as the social, political, and cultural forces that have shaped them.

Weight: 270g
Dimension: 155 x 233 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367859022