The Fair-Line and the Good Frontage
Surface and Effect
1st Edition
Published on 6. March 2018
XVIII, 136 pages
978-981-10-7974-0 (ISBN)
Description
This book offers an extended consideration of the fairground showfront. It combines archival material, contemporary examples of fairs, and a sustained theoretical engagement with influential philosophies of surface, including recent work by Avrum Stroll and Andrew Benjamin, as well as the nineteenth century author Gottfried Semper. Semper's work on the origin of architectural enclosure -formed from woven mats and carpets- anticipates the surface and material history of the showfront. Initial chapters introduce these philosophies, the evolution of showfronts, and the ways in which individual fairground rides and attractions are arranged to form an enclosing boundary for the whole fair. Later chapters focus on issues of spectacle and illusion, vast 'interior' spaces, atmosphere, crowds and surface effects. Informed by a wide range of work from other design and cultural studies, the book will be of interest to readers in these areas, as well as architecture and those curious about the fairground.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Singapore
Singapore
Publishing group
Springer Singapore
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Reflowable
Illustrations
XVIII, 136 p. 30 illus.
File size
5,39 MB
ISBN-13
978-981-10-7974-0 (9789811079740)
DOI
10.1007/978-981-10-7974-0
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/2018
Springer
€53.49
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Stephen Walker is the Head of Architecture at the University of Manchester, UK. He has published widely on theories and histories at the periphery of architecture, art practice, temporary and informal architectural activities and other forms of cultural production. He is currently preparing a longer study of the architectures, cultures and identities of the travelling street fair.
Content
Chapter 1: Introduction: Bostock and the Good Frontage.- Chapter 2: The Fair-Line.- Chapter 3: Surface Effect.- Chapter 4: From Canvas to Carving, Ornament and Supplement.- Chapter 5: Truth to Trompe, Theatre, Spectacle and Illusion.- Chapter 6: Spectatorship: the Panorama of the Whole.- Chapter 7: Surface and Effect: Architecture and the Patterning of Experience.
