Civiltà dello sguardo

Language: IT

€ 24,50

What could a 5,000-year-old Sumerian votive stele, the Parthenon, a painted panel by Piero della Francesca, or a photograph by Luigi Ghirri possibly have in common? This question is explored in this book, which delves into the various modes of thought that translate into visual expressions, recurring in seemingly distant realms, yet reappearing in societies across centuries.

From art history to the world of visual communication, from advertising to cinema: everything we see and create in the form of images is tied to the gaze and the ways people view the world. Today, the overwhelming availability of images and their layering can generate confusion and unexpected reactions.

This essay is designed to prevent any oversimplification, targeting students, graphic designers, and those working in visual communication. Without the tools to analyze and understand the manifestations of the so-called ‘civilization of the gaze,’ designers risk losing the intellectual dimension of a craft that is never purely technical. A designer cannot ignore the awareness that looking and seeing are cultural practices, affirming a social role for those who create and interpret images.

Civiltà dello sguardo is a collection of essays written in Italian, aimed at bringing clarity and offering valuable tools for in-depth study, making it a first point of entry into the field of inquiry known as visual studies.

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Texts by Francesco Dondina
Foreword by Mario Piazza
Illustrations by Emiliano Fadda
Book design by Bunker

13.5 × 21.5 cm
240 pages
Paperback with flaps
Italian

Isbn 978-88-98030-70-5
First edition November 2024

Description

Civiltà dello sguardo is a collection of essays written in Italian. They aims to provide essential analytical tools for understanding the importance of images in contemporary society. This work serves as an introduction to visual studies, a research field increasingly recognized for its relevance. The goal is to offer a deeper understanding for students, graphic designers, and visual communication professionals.

This book seeks to avoid oversimplifications and superficialities, offering a solid theoretical foundation for grasping the crucial role that seeing and looking play in how we live and communicate. Without a clear understanding of the so-called ‘civilization of the gaze,’ designers risk reducing their work to a purely technical dimension. They would neglect the significant cultural and social aspects tied to the production and consumption of images.

The concept of ‘civiltà dello sguardo’ (civilization of the gaze) extends to numerous fields, from art history to advertising, from cinema to contemporary visual communication. Each image represents much more than a mere aesthetic object. Whether it’s a Sumerian votive stele, a Renaissance panel by Piero della Francesca, or a photograph by Luigi Ghirri. Every image is, in fact, a window into a culture that reflects how people see and interpret reality.

In an era like ours, characterized by an unprecedented availability of images, often overlapping and layered, it becomes essential to have the tools to interpret them correctly. This book is intended as a guide to navigating today’s complex visual landscape, providing tools to decode visual codes and understand how the civilization of the gaze influences the social and cultural dynamics that span across eras. Every image, beyond its aesthetic communication, carries a symbolic and cultural language rooted in the history and society in which it was produced. This link between gaze and culture is the core of the analysis presented in the book.

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