Man's Rage For Chaos: Biology, Behavior & The Arts
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Edition: 3rd pr.,
Condition remarks:
Condition: Good. Jacket: No dust jacket - paperback edition. Page Condition: Good. Markings: No visible markings. Binding: Appears intact. No stickers or labels visible.
In this bold and provocative work of cultural theory, Morse Peckham argues that art's fundamental purpose is not to impose order on human experience, but to train the mind to tolerate disorder and ambiguity. Drawing on biology, behavioural psychology, and aesthetics, the book presents a radical thesis: that human beings are driven by a deep need for disorientation, and that art serves as the primary arena in which this need is safely satisfied. Peckham illustrates how exposure to the controlled chaos of artistic experience builds the psychological resilience necessary for navigating a complex world. Written with intellectual rigour and a sweeping command of cultural history, this is a challenging and rewarding read for anyone serious about understanding the relationship between human nature and artistic creation.
Author: Morse Peckham
Format: Paperback
Published: 1973, Schocken Books
Genre: The arts
Edition: 3rd pr.,
Condition remarks:
Condition: Good. Jacket: No dust jacket - paperback edition. Page Condition: Good. Markings: No visible markings. Binding: Appears intact. No stickers or labels visible.
In this bold and provocative work of cultural theory, Morse Peckham argues that art's fundamental purpose is not to impose order on human experience, but to train the mind to tolerate disorder and ambiguity. Drawing on biology, behavioural psychology, and aesthetics, the book presents a radical thesis: that human beings are driven by a deep need for disorientation, and that art serves as the primary arena in which this need is safely satisfied. Peckham illustrates how exposure to the controlled chaos of artistic experience builds the psychological resilience necessary for navigating a complex world. Written with intellectual rigour and a sweeping command of cultural history, this is a challenging and rewarding read for anyone serious about understanding the relationship between human nature and artistic creation.