How did Victorians; as creators and viewers of images; visualize the politics of franchise reform? This study of Victorian art and parliamentary politics; specifically in the 1840s and 1860s; answers that question by viewing the First and Second Reform Acts from the perspectives offered by Ruskins political theories of art and Bagehots visual theory of politics. Combining subjects and approaches characteristic of art history; political history; literary criticism and cultural critique; Picturing Reform in Victorian Britain treats both paintings and wood engravings; particularly those published in Punch and the Illustrated London News. Carlisle analyzes unlikely pairings - a novel by Trollope and a painting by Hayter; an engraving after Leech and a high-society portrait by Landseer - to argue that such conjunctions marked both everyday life in Victorian Britain and the nature of its visual politics as it was manifested in the myriad heterogeneous and often incongruous images of illustrated journalism.
#1479683 in eBooks 2013-12-31 2013-12-31File Name: B00HZDIT5S
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Wonderful Analysis Nicht InterpretationBy reading manThere are so many complaints about books like this from "reviewers" to the effect that all the musical "analysis" misses the point of the music. The usual line is that knowing the "form" isnt the same as "understanding" the "content."I wonder why these people think that a critic should impose himself between the music and any listener; however modest his musical knowledge? Isnt the point of analysis to describe the structure of the work? If; in addition; the critic wants to offer his own emotional response to a composition; thats very desirable.To the degree that you can understand the structure of a work; youll probably refine your personal response to it; but to ask that a definitive "interpretation" be supplied by a critic misses the point.That said; I think this book is well worth buying if you love the Bruckner 8.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Bruckner and the sublimeBy abmacUnfortunate that the reviewer who liked this book the least posted their review twice; lowering the overall rating that much more. So I was compelled to post my own review having read the book and judging it much more worthy than a 3-star rating. Since my Bruckner discovery only a few yrs back Ive been on a quest to find an answer to the question "Why does Bruckners music affect me the way it does?" Ive read most of the English language books on Bruckner (which sadly isnt saying much) and to me this book is one of the best; albeit limited in scope. In fact in a number of books on Bruckner which are mainly collections of essays written by different authors (Perspectives; Cambridge Companion...) Ive found the chapters written by this author; Benjamin Korstvedt; to be some of the most informative and well-written for a layman such as myself. Not to say they are dumbed-down; he just seems to have a knack for presenting material; often-times complex and multi-layered in the case of Bruckner; in an organized and understandable way.Its true this book is small; as are the other Cambridge Music Handbooks typically devoted to one work of a particular composer; but theres plenty packed into these pages to make it an informative and entertaining read for any Bruckner devotee or interested music lover. The symphonys reception; individual movements; textual considerations and performance practice are expertly revealed (Korstvedt published the 1888 version of the 4th for the Bruckner Collected Works edition; so he knows his Bruckner) but a couple of things really caught my attention. The first was regarding the evolution of the 8th; specifically Levis rejection of it and Bruckners reaction to that. This was not a distraught; devastated Bruckner; easily persuaded. This was an artist who knew his craft and would go on to create the greatest symphony of all time.I also enjoyed the chapter about the sublime in Bruckners music. The author begins with a brief history on writings of the sublime in general; then goes on to demonstrate it in the Adagio of the 8th. I totally relate to the sublime elements of vastness; incomprehensibility; etc in Bruckners music. So I may have gotten the answer to my question about Bruckners appeal; now I just need to understand what it is that makes something seem sublime. Keep an eye on the resale prices. I picked up a copy of the hardcover at a much better price than what im seeing now. Its a very attractive book with a great image of our boy A.B.11 of 12 people found the following review helpful. great book;a must readBy Barnard D. ShermanIf you care at all about this symphony or this era; do not miss this book - one of the best Cambridge handbooks (a superb series). Korstvedt not only clarifies the murky question of revisions; and helps us understand the creative process in this work and the structure and meaning - he also explodes what has become the conventional wisdom about editions. He makes a powerful case for the supposedly "corrupt" edition published in the composers lifetime; showing how it profoundly changes our understanding of the meaning of the work; and discussing great early recordings based on this edition (and comparing them to some distinguished modern recordings). The chapter on performance traditions by itself is worth the price (only $10 used - what a deal!) A must-read; which I hope will be read not only by listeners but by Bruckner performers.
