What Is Culture For? by The School of Life (English) Hardcover Book

Description: What Is Culture For? by The School of Life WHAT IS CULTURE FOR? proposes that works of culture were all made, in one way or another, with the idea of improving the way we live. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Our societies frequently proclaim their enormous esteem for culture. Music, film, literature and the visual arts enjoy high prestige and are viewed by many as getting close to the meaning of life. But what is culture really for? This book proposes that works of culture were all made, in one way or another, with the idea of improving the way we live.The book connects a range of cultural masterpieces with our own dilemmas and pains around love, work and society, and invites us to see culture as a resource with which to address the complex agonies of being human. It provides us with enduring keys to unlocking culture as a way of transforming our lives. Notes Presents a fresh approach that focuses on the real world with actionable takeaways for readers. Author Biography The School of Life is devoted to developing emotional intelligence. It addresses issues such as how to find fulfilling work, how to master the art of relationships, how to understand ones past, how to achieve calm, and how better to understand and - where necessary - change the world. These ideas are delivered through a range of channels: from videos, books, and products - to classes, events, and one-to-one therapy sessions.The School of Life Press brings together the thinking and ideas of the School of Life creative team under the direction of series editor, Alain de Botton. Their books share a coherent, curated message that speaks with one voice: calm, reassuring, and sane. Table of Contents Contents Introduction Companionship Hope Balance Compassion Knowledge Encouragement Appreciation Perspective Conclusion Promotional An exploration of how the arts relate to our daily lives, and how we can draw on cultural masterpieces to find the answers to our personal dilemmas. Long Description Our societies frequently proclaim their enormous esteem for culture. Music, film, literature and the visual arts enjoy high prestige and are viewed by many as getting close to the meaning of life. But what is culture really for? This book proposes that works of culture were all made, in one way or another, with the idea of improving the way we live.The book connects a range of cultural masterpieces with our own dilemmas and pains around love, work and society, and invites us to see culture as a resource with which to address the complex agonies of being human. It provides us with enduring keys to unlocking culture as a way of transforming our lives. Excerpt from Book Hope Much to the consternation of sophisticated people, a great deal of popular enthusiasm is directed at works of culture that are distinctly cheerful (songs about hope, films about couples that work through their problems); and in the visual arts, cheerful, pleasant scenes (meadows in spring, the shade of trees on hot summer days, pastoral landscapes, smiling children). The bestselling postcard of art in France turns out to be a reproduction of Poppies by Claude Monet. Sophisticated people tend to scorn. They are afraid that such enthusiasms might be evidence of a failure to acknowledge or understand the wilful dimensions of the world. But there is another way to interpret this taste: that it doesnt arise from unfamiliarity with suffering, but from an all too close and pervasive involvement with it - from which we are impelled occasionally to seek relief if we are not to fall into despair and self-disgust. Far from naivety, it is precisely the background of suffering that lends an intensity and dignity to our engagement with hopeful cultural works. Renoirs idyllic picture of friends having a picnic together in the shade on a sunny day isnt imagining a fantasy world in which people magically never have troubles or sorrows. They may have boring jobs or tricky partners; they may have long hours of loneliness. Its just that, all the same, they can truly enjoy this opportunity of pleasant friendship in a lovely place. Renoir isnt being sentimental. Hes not implying that life as a whole is a picnic. Hes portraying a much truer and more helpful idea of which we often need reminding; that despite the manifest failings of life and the world it is still possible for us to experience true pleasure. Which leads to the odd conclusion: if (by some strange chance) normal life were to become consistently delightful we would no longer need sweetly charming, hope-inducing works of art. One of the less discussed powers of art is that, from time to time, it can bring tears to our eyes. Its normal to think that what makes people cry are sad things; thats certainly the way it works when youre a child. But the older we get, the more we start to notice an odd phenomenon: we start crying not when things are horrible (we toughen up a little), but when they are suddenly and unexpectedly precisely the opposite: when they are unusually sweet, tender, joyful, innocent or kind. This, far more than grimness, is what can increasingly prompt tears. In reality we rarely have the problem of being naively contented with our lives, or with the world in general. On the contrary, we are remorselessly confronted by our own failing and by the radical imperfections of society. Rather than needing a stern dose of disenchantment, were more likely to require art-tools that can feed and sustain our beleaguered optimism. Description for Sales People HOW MUSIC, FILM, LITERATURE AND VISUAL ART operate in our society and lives. EXPLORES CULTURAL MASTERPIECES and how they relate to our everyday lives. ILLUSTRATED with full color images throughout. THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONCEPTS that enhance any future visit to a gallery, theater or cinema. BEAUTIFULLY PRODUCED premium gift format. Details ISBN0995753539 ISBN-10 0995753539 ISBN-13 9780995753532 Format Hardcover Media Book Year 2018 Publication Date 2018-03-22 Imprint The School of Life Press Country of Publication United Kingdom DEWEY 306 Pages 112 Language English Series Essay Bks. UK Release Date 2018-03-22 AU Release Date 2018-03-22 NZ Release Date 2018-03-22 Author The School of Life Publisher The School of Life Press Audience General Illustrations 1 Halftones, color We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:123904143;

Price: 31.45 AUD

Location: Melbourne

End Time: 2024-10-20T02:18:21.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 AUD