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new book – ‘The Art of Intimacy: The Space Between’ by Stacey D’Erasmo

July 9, 2013

The Art of Intimacy

A Publishers Weekly PickThe Art of Intimacy: The Space Between by Stacey D. Erasmo (Graywolf Press, 2013)

(kindle ed.), (amazon.co.uk)

Book description from the publisher:

The first work of nonfiction by Stacey D’Erasmo, author of the New York Times Notable Books Tea and The Sky Below

“What is the nature of intimacy, of what happens in the space between us? And how do we, as writers, catch or reflect it on the page?” Stacey D’Erasmo’s insightful and illuminating study examines the craft and the contradictions of creating relationships not only between two lovers but also between friends, family members, acquaintances, and enemies in fiction. She argues for a more honest, more complex portrait of the true nature of the connections and missed connections among characters and, fascinatingly, between the writer and the reader. D’Erasmo takes us deep into the structure and grammar of these intimacies as they have been portrayed by such writers as Joan Didion, Toni Morrison, D. H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, and William Maxwell, and also by visual artists and filmmakers. She asks whether writing about intimacy is like staring straight into the sun, but it is her own brilliance that dazzles in this piercing and original book.

See also: review in Los Angeles Review of Books

Art of series from Graywolf Press

Comments (1) - mind,psychology

free kindle ebook – ‘Before You Quit Writing: Read This! 23 Stories & Strategies to Keep You Writing’

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new book – ‘Experiencing Art: In the Brain of the Beholder’ by Arthur Shimamura

July 8, 2013

Experiencing Art

Experiencing Art: In the Brain of the Beholder by Arthur Shimamura (Oxford University Press, USA, 2013)

(amazon.co.uk)
 

Book description from the publisher:

How do we appreciate a work of art? Why do we like some artworks but not others? Is there no accounting for taste? Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to explore connections between art, mind, and brain, Shimamura considers how we experience art. In a thoughtful and entertaining manner, the book explores how the brain interprets art by engaging our sensations, thoughts, and emotions. It describes interesting findings from psychological and brain sciences as a way to understand our aesthetic response to art.

Beauty, disgust, surprise, anger, sadness, horror, and a myriad of other emotions can occur as we experience art. Some artworks may generate such feelings rather quickly, while others depend on thought and knowledge. Our response to art depends largely on what we know–from everyday knowledge about the world, from our cultural backgrounds, and from personal experience. Filled with artworks from many traditions and time points, “Experiencing Art” offers insightful ways of broadening one’s approach and appreciation of art.

Google Books preview:

See also: Author’s website

Comments (0) - cognitive science,culture,new books

out in paperback – ‘How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character’ by Paul Tough

July 4, 2013

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Amazon Listmania – What goes on inside your brain? (book list)

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