
Old Fields
Photography, Glamour, and Fantasy Landscape
John R. Stilgoe(Author)
University of Virginia Press
Will be published approx. on 4. March 2014
Book
Hardback
536 pages
978-0-8139-3515-7 (ISBN)
Description
Glamour subverts convention. As viewed through the lens of photography, models, images, and even landscapes can skew ordinary ways of seeing, suggesting new worlds imbued with fantasy, mystery, sexuality, and tension.
In Old Fields, John Stilgoe-one of the most original observers of his time-offers a poetic and controversial exploration of the generations-long effort to portray glamour. Fusing three forces in contemporary American culture-amateur photography after 1880; the rise of glamour and fantasy; and the often-mysterious quality of landscape photographs-Stilgoe provides a wide-ranging yet concentrated take on the cultural legacy of our photographic history.
Through the medium of ""shop theory""-the techniques, tools, and purpose-made equipment a maker uses to realise intent-Stilgoe looks at the role of Eastman Kodak in shaping the ways photographers purchased cameras and films, while also mapping the divisions that were created by European-made cameras. He then goes on to argue that with the proliferation of digital cameras, smart phones, and Instagram, young people's lack of knowledge about photographic technique is in direct correlation to their lack of knowledge of the history of glamour photography.
In his exploration of the rise of glamour and fantasy in contemporary American culture, Stilgoe offers a provocative and very personal look into his enduring fascination with, and the possibilities inherent in, creating one's own images.
In Old Fields, John Stilgoe-one of the most original observers of his time-offers a poetic and controversial exploration of the generations-long effort to portray glamour. Fusing three forces in contemporary American culture-amateur photography after 1880; the rise of glamour and fantasy; and the often-mysterious quality of landscape photographs-Stilgoe provides a wide-ranging yet concentrated take on the cultural legacy of our photographic history.
Through the medium of ""shop theory""-the techniques, tools, and purpose-made equipment a maker uses to realise intent-Stilgoe looks at the role of Eastman Kodak in shaping the ways photographers purchased cameras and films, while also mapping the divisions that were created by European-made cameras. He then goes on to argue that with the proliferation of digital cameras, smart phones, and Instagram, young people's lack of knowledge about photographic technique is in direct correlation to their lack of knowledge of the history of glamour photography.
In his exploration of the rise of glamour and fantasy in contemporary American culture, Stilgoe offers a provocative and very personal look into his enduring fascination with, and the possibilities inherent in, creating one's own images.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Charlottesville
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Illustrations
17 black & white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
889 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8139-3515-7 (9780813935157)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2014
1st Edition
Naval Institute Press
from
€89.59
Available for download
Person
John R. Stilgoe is Orchard Professor in the History of Landscape at Harvard University, USA and the author of Lifeboat, Landscape and Images, Train Time (all Virginia), and Outside Lies Magic.