Ron Brown - The Art of Suicide

**"The Art of Suicide": A Visual History of Self-Inflicted Death**

"The Art of Suicide" by Ron Brown is a captivating journey through the history of how suicide has been portrayed in visual art. Brown masterfully weaves together centuries of artistic depictions, revealing a fascinating evolution of societal attitudes towards self-inflicted death. The narrative begins with ancient Greece, where suicide was often viewed as a noble act, even a form of political protest. Brown then contrasts this with the near-absence of suicide imagery in early Christianity, showcasing how societal values influenced artistic representation. As we move through time, we witness the resurgence of suicide imagery in the late Middle Ages, a period marked by a resurgence of interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought. Brown meticulously explores the evolving perception of suicide in the early modern world, highlighting the stark contrast between "heroic suicide" and "self-destruction as a crying crime." He examines how these seemingly disparate views slowly merged, ultimately shaping the societal understanding of suicide. The book delves into the Romantic era, a period that saw a romanticization of suicide as a way to express heightened emotion and despair. Brown unpacks the concept of the "man of feeling," often depicted in art as consumed by overwhelming passions that led to tragic self-destruction. The First World War, with its unprecedented scale of human loss, significantly altered perspectives on death and suicide. Brown traces how this shift in cultural understanding eventually led to the decriminalization of suicide. The 20th century, as depicted in the book, reveals a complex and ambivalent relationship with suicide. Brown examines how suicidal acts were increasingly interpreted as expressions of a death wish or cries for help. He concludes his exploration with Warhol's iconic image of Marilyn Monroe and the infamous videos of Dr. Kevorkian, highlighting the lasting impact of suicide on contemporary society. Ron Brown's insightful exploration of "The Art of Suicide" provides a unique and thought-provoking lens through which to understand the history of human self-destruction. His masterful weaving together of artistic representation and historical context offers a powerful testament to the enduring power of art to reflect and shape our understanding of life and death.

Wydawnictwo	Reaktion Books
ISBN	9781861891051
liczba stron	256
słowa kluczowe	samobójstwo, historia
kategoria	historia
język	angielski