Mathematical Basis of the Arts

by Joseph Schillinger

{ 19.78 x 26.13 cms} Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden Leaf Printing on round Spine (extra customization on request like complete leather, Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc.) Reprinted in 2022 with the help of original edition published long back [1948]. This book is printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, we processed each page manually and make them readable but in some cases some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume, if you wish to order a specific or all the volumes you may contact us. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. - English, Pages 716. EXTRA 10 DAYS APART FROM THE NORMAL SHIPPING PERIOD WILL BE REQUIRED FOR LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. COMPLETE LEATHER WILL COST YOU EXTRA US$ 25 APART FROM THE LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. {FOLIO EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.} Complete The mathematical basis of the arts. 1948 Schillinger, Joseph.

Genres: Music, Mathematics

696 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1943

Reviews

[Andreia Magalhaes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph Schillinger, a minor American Cubist who wrote, over a twenty-five year period, an often extraordinary book called The Mathemtical Basis of the Arts, divided the historical evolution of art into five “zones,” which replace each other with increasing accel- eration: 1. preaesthetic, a biological stage of mimicry; 2. tradition- al-aesthetic, a magic, ritual-religious art; 3. emotional-aesthetic, artistic expressions of emotions, self-expression, art for art’s sake; 4. rational-aesthetic, characterized by empiricism, experimental art, novel art; 5. scientific, post-aesthetic, which will make possible the manufacture, distribution and consumption of a perfect art product and will be charactertized by a fusion of the art forms and materials, and, finally, a “disintegration of art”, the “abstraction and liberation of the idea.”
source: ‘The Dematerialization of Art' , Lucy Lippard & John Chandler, Art International, 1968

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I had to cringe whenever I read a passage of Schillinger's trite personal criticism ("Caruso singing worthless and often stupid music may offer a vocal quality so harmonic that the listener's attention centers on it and he becomes unaware of other components of the artistic whole, including Caruso's own appearance." pg. 22), I still found Schillinger's methods interesting and stimulating, if a little dogmatic. Much of his esthetic theory was highly opinionated, and his technical chapters can be extremely-- unnecessarily-- dense, but the general ideas provide valuable ways of considering art analysis and production. Though his "mathematical" basis can seem shaky at times, the general application of a rigorous method produces some inspiring perspectives. I look forward to examining "The Schillinger System of Musical Composition" and exploring more of this visionary composer's ideas.