The Legacy of Neoplatonic Philosophy - by Gina Zavota (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Bringing together leading scholars from philosophy, architecture, history, classics, and art history, this volume asks: what are the key concepts in Neoplatonic aesthetics? And what impact has Neoplatonic philosophy had on the arts since the 3rd century CE?

Organized into three parts, in part I four authors examine the theory behind Neoplatonic aesthetics, including in particular the philosophy of beauty, ornament, and the artistic imagination. Based on the thought of Plato, Neoplatonism incorporated influences from Aristotle, Stoicism, and a variety of other philosophical traditions to create a unique school of thought within the Western canon. The second part explores the influence of Neoplatonic thought on the painting, architecture, and music of classical, medieval, and Renaissance Europe. With chapters on Byzantine hymns, the birth of the Gothic, and Vasari's Saint Michael, the authors bring to life the Neoplatonic influence on European culture and thinking. Finally, part III uncovers the impact of Neoplatonism right up to the modern day through a range of 19th- and 20th-century artistic case studies, from Kandinsky and Malevich to literature, music and world cinema.

Unique in its interdisciplinary breadth, historical coverage, and combination of theory and application, The Legacy of Neoplatonic Philosophy provides a fresh insight into the enduring influence of Neoplatonic thought on the arts of the Western world.

Review Quotes

"This volume, which includes discussions of artists from Rothko to Sun Ra to Buñuel, makes the case that Neoplatonic thought, far from being confined to any particular historical era, has something to offer the interpretation of any artistic medium or movement." --Edward P. Butler, Director of the Center for Polytheism Studies, Indic Academy, India

"Neoplatonism has redefined the study of ancient philosophy today. Its influence on aesthetics and the arts throughout the ages and in modern times has been in tow for reassessment until now. The Legacy of Neoplatonic Philosophy: From Ancient Aesthetics to Twentieth-Century Film does more than that. It offers a panorama of the riches of Neoplatonic reception in the well-lit corners of Classical, Medieval and Renaissance art in Europe and the less familiar terrain of modern art, musical aesthetics, semiotics, and film, in the hands of experts who have a seasoned eye for the complexity of Neoplatonic thought and its undying appeal in literature and music, painting and architecture, film theory and criticism. A strength of the collection is its accessibility to experts from other fields and popular audience. Neoplatonism is the avantgarde philosophical school of late antiquity and is served well by the avantgarde intellectual achievement of this edited volume." --Svetla Slaveva-Griffin, Professor of Classics, Florida State University, USA

"This beautifully curated collection of essays focuses on the Neoplatonic philosophy of aesthetics and affords the reader a historical grounding in central Platonizing theories of the image and the relationship between art, mind, and reality. At the same time, this revolutionary volume ventures far beyond the confines of Neoplatonic texts, into the vast world of art history, from late antique Christian hymnody, to Gothic architecture, to the Pythagorean compositions of Sun-Ra. The reader will come away from this work with fresh eyes, and be able to experience both Neoplatonic philosophy and Western art (including painting and music) in a luminous new cast, imbued with meanings and depth hitherto unsuspected. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in the spiritual dimensions of culture." --Sara Ahbel-Rappe, Professor of Classics, University of Michigan, USA

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