Abstract
This paper discusses the social, philosophical and aesthetic significance of modern ruins, and conceptualizes ruin aesthetics with examples taken from a selection of contemporary Chinese photographic art works and films. By contrasting modern, uncanny ruin aesthetics with classical Chinese landscape aesthetics, this paper focuses on examining changing aesthetics in modern Chinese art and cinema, and suggests a shift in the way Chinese people perceive the world, and the relationship between human beings and the environment; from focusing of the pursuit of man-nature unity to exposing disunity, disorder and disintegration in the modern world.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Modern Art Asia: Selected Papers: Issues 1-8 |
| Editors | Majella Munro |
| Place of Publication | U.K. |
| Publisher | Enzo Arts and Publishing |
| Pages | 191-212 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781909046016 |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- motion pictures
- photography
- ruins
- aesthetics
- China