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Saving Beauty

By Byung-Chul Han
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3.86 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,296 ratings, 255 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Saving Beauty by Byung-Chul Han offers a profound exploration of contemporary aesthetics, questioning the modern pursuit of smoothness, beauty, and perfection in a digital age. The book critiques the superficiality and commodification of beauty, examining how these ideals impact artistic expression, societal values, and human relationships. Through philosophical insights, Han invites readers to reconsider what constitutes true beauty and its deeper significance in our lives.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2399
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're intrigued by philosophical inquiries into aesthetics and the changing concept of beauty in modern society. With a keen focus on critically examining contemporary culture, the author provides insights that challenge and provoke thought, making it a captivating read for those interested in how beauty intersects with technology and aesthetics today.

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Saving Beauty

Beauty today is a paradox. The cult of beauty is ubiquitous but it has lost its transcendence and become little more than an aspect of consumerism, the aesthetic dimension of capitalism. The sublime and unsettling aspects of beauty have given way to corporeal pleasures and 'likes', resulting in a kind of 'pornography' of beauty.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Beauty today is a paradox. The cult of beauty is ubiquitous but it has lost its transcendence and become little more than an aspect of consumerism, the aesthetic dimension of capitalism. The sublime and unsettling aspects of beauty have given way to corporeal pleasures and 'likes', resulting in a kind of 'pornography' of beauty.

In this book, cultural theorist Byung-Chul Han reinvigorates aesthetic theory for our digital age. He interrogates our preoccupation with all things slick and smooth, from Jeff Koons' sculptures and the iPhone to Brazilian waxing. Reaching far deeper than our superficial reactions to viral videos and memes, Han reclaims beauty, showing how it manifests itself as truth, temptation and even disaster.

This wide-ranging and profound exploration of beauty, encompassing ethical and political considerations as well as aesthetic, will appeal to all those interested in cultural and aesthetic theory, philosophy and digital media.

Saving Beauty provides a critical reflection on the nature of beauty in contemporary culture, urging readers to look beyond the surface to appreciate its deeper implications.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Saving Beauty by Byung-Chul Han challenges the modern perception of beauty by advocating for an aesthetic that embraces truth and the complexities of life, including negativity and disaster. The book is praised for its engaging prose and its passionate argument for a deeper understanding of beauty beyond superficial appearances, urging readers to reconsider how they perceive beauty in a fast-paced, digital world.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509515103

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 October 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Daniel Steuer

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 208.0mm

Weight: 136g

Pages: 120

Collections

Byung-Chul Han Education & Reference Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism

About the Author

Byung-Chul Han is a Korean-born Professor of Philosophy and Cultural Studies who teaches at the University of the Arts (UdK) in Berlin. He is the author of more than 20 books including The Scent of Time, The Transparency Society and The Burnout Society.

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