Originally published in Italian in 2010; this book is the first to address the theory of atmospheres in a thorough and systematic way. It examines the role of atmospheres in daily life; and defines their main characteristics. Outlining the typical phenomenological situations in which we experience atmospheres; it assesses their impact on contemporary aesthetics. It puts forward a philosophical approach which systematises a constellation of affects and climates; finds patterns in the emotional tones of different spaces (affordances) and assesses their impact on the felt body. It also critically discusses the spatial turn invoked by several of the social sciences; and argues that there is a need for a non-psychologistic rethinking of the philosophy of emotions. It provides a history of the term atmosphere and of the concepts anticipating its meaning (genius loci; aura; Stimmung; numinous; emotional design and ambiance); and examines the main ontological characteristics of atmospheres and their principal phenomenological characteristics.It concludes by showing how atmospheres affect our emotions; our bodies reactions; our state of mind and; as a result; our behaviour and judgments. Griffero assesses how atmospheres are more effective than we have been rationally willing to admit; and to what extent traditional aesthetics; unilaterally oriented towards art; has underestimated this truth.
#3033659 in eBooks 2014-06-13 2014-06-13File Name: B00KJDZN8M
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The work of a masterBy I. SondelThis review is for Goodreads and there are 62;000 ratings and/or reviews already. So what is the point of my writing a synopsis? The setting is a small English village circa 1850. The narrator is Mary Smith. She tells many stories of the ladies of Cranford and their interactions with the protagonist is Miss. Matilda Jenkyns ndash; the kindest soul in all of literature [if there is someone kinder please let me know ndash; I should like to read their story]. This episodic novel is a celebration of the bucolic village life. It is laugh out loud funny and tear provokingly poignant. Itrsquo;s a like Sinclair Lewisrsquo; ldquo;Main Streetrdquo; in its depiction of small town life and politics and hypocrisy ndash; yet the satire here is less ferocious; more sanguine and forgiving. The characters are indelible. Miss. Matty is a character so well drawn; so thoroughly fleshed out by Miss. Gaskell; that the reader never once questions the great love and generosity that is lavished upon her. There are great comedic set pieces ndash; the cow in pajamas; the cat that swallowed the lace. The story of Miss Mattyrsquo;s brother Peter leaving home and the effect it had on their mother ndash; itrsquo;s all so fresh I can hardly write about it without getting emotional. There is also a little story Miss Matty tells about how throughout her adult life she has been visited in her dreams by a two year old girl who reaches up her arms to be held and kissed ndash; the scene is so rich; so exquisitely rendered ndash; the literary equivalent to Rembrandt or Renoir ndash; so seemingly effortless and so obviously the work of a master. Now Irsquo;m going to be silly and take you into my confidence. I love reading lsquo;readerrsquo; surveys where they ask if yoursquo;ve ever fallen in love with a character from a book. Mr. Darcy usually comes out the victor in these ndash; but I find Thomas Holbrookrsquo;s character and countenance quite in line with my ideal ndash; his attitudes and ideas and his love of literature. Irsquo;m sure hersquo;d have been a fan of Miss. Gaskell and the lovely ladies of Cranford.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A New FavoriteBy Miranda AtchleyIn this classic novel; Elizabeth Gaskell introduces us to the small village of Cranford. Largely dominated by lower class women; we read the stories of life in a small impoverished hamlet in Victorian England. Such stories include the women of Cranford entertaining visitors; going about their daily lives; losing dear friends; and losing their life savings. As the women of Cranford endure such things; their neighbors offer all they have to give in order to help their friends.I really loved this book. I love the Victorian era; and this book gave some insight into what life was like for those Victorians that were not born into royalty. It was a lighter read than books like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. I really liked how the Cranford women were there for one another. When one hit a rough patch; the others were there to help and support her in any way they could. Itrsquo;s a nice message to read about and one that I think ought to be portrayed more in literature.This was a wonderful novel. Any fan of classic literature should read Cranford.I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The English WayBy Lewis WoolstonI had previously read "Wives and Daughters" by the same author and enjoyed it so I thought I would give this a try. I am a dedicated anglophile in my literary taste. I have a strong preference that my reading should have a lot of writers who are English and dead.Cranford centres on a little village in the English countryside of the same name. The majority of the inhabitants are women; widows and spinsters living genteel lives on inherited money. Their days are spent socializing with each other and the village and church parish fill up their lives. The scene is charming and makes one homesick for a time and a place Ive never actually lived in.The real substance of this novel is the relationships of the women with each other and how they endure the various turns of life. Some harbour secret regrets for never marrying and having children and live quiet lives of loneliness and desperation as elderly spinsters too proud and decent to let anyone know how they suffer. Others grieve for family long dead and gone and confine their hope for the life hereafter as promised by their church.The whole novel is beautiful and deserves to be read as an ode to vanished small town English life as well as the secret lives of women.I would gladly read it again.
