Writings (Volume 6) (Electronic Mediations) - Softcover

Flusser, Vilem

Softcover

ISBN 10: 081663565X ISBN 13: 9780816635658

Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press, 2004

Synopsis

Ten years after his death, Vilém Flusser’s reputation as one of Europe’s most original modern philosophers continues to grow. Increasingly influential in Europe and Latin America, the Prague-born intellectual’s thought has until now remained largely unknown in the English-speaking world. His innovative writings theorize—and ultimately embrace—the epochal shift that humanity is undergoing from what he termed "linear thinking" (based on writing) toward a new form of multidimensional, visual thinking embodied by digital culture. For Flusser, these new modes and technologies of communication make possible a society (the "telematic" society) in which dialogue between people becomes the supreme value.The first English-language anthology of Flusser’s work, this volume displays the extraordinary range and subtlety of his intellect. A number of the essays collected here introduce and elaborate his theory of communication, influenced by thinkers as diverse as Martin Buber, Edmund Husserl, and Thomas Kuhn. While taking dystopian, posthuman visions of communication technologies into account, Flusser celebrates their liberatory and humanizing aspects. For Flusser, existence was akin to being thrown into an abyss of absurd experience or "bottomlessness"; becoming human required creating meaning out of this painful event by consciously connecting with others, in part through such technologies. Other essays present Flusser’s thoughts on the future of writing, the revolutionary nature of photography, the relationship between exile and creativity, and his unconventional concept of posthistory. Taken together, these essays confirm Flusser’s importance and prescience within contemporary philosophy.Vilém Flusser (1920–1991) was born in Prague and taught philosophy in Brazil. Andreas Ströhl is director of the film department at the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes in Munich. Erik Eisel works for a software technology company in Southern California.

About this title

About the Author:

Vilem Flusser was born in Prague in 1920. After emigrating to Brazil and then to France, he embarked on an influential career as a lecturer and writer on language, design, and communication. He died in 1991.

Strohl is director of the film department at the Goethe-Institute Inter Nationes in Munich.

Eisel received his Ph.D. in comparative literature from UCLA, currently works for a software technology company in Southern California.

Review:

"This collection is a must-read introduction into the connected and networked world of one of the most original and prophetic thinkers of the past century."

About this edition

• Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 081663565X
• ISBN 13: 9780816635658
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272