Ästhetik als Informationsverarbeitung by Frieder Nake (review)

160 Books with the innovative Russian artists of their time. They also tried to provide an effective bridge between these artists and the public, and between the ideas of these artists and their own. This they did in a variety of ways. Shklovsky, whose domain was literature and its formal analysis, gradually expanded his interests to the visual arts and cinema (stimulated by the work of artists around him) and then wrote and lectured extensively on these subjects. Brik, on the other hand, still largely remembered for his active collaboration with Mayakovsky, ran a kind of open house for the artists of his circle and sponsored publication of his own and others’ works. After the revolution he became active in committee work for directing fine art policy. Although in retrospect this ‘theory in a social context’ appears premature and idealistic, it remains an example of the unique vitality shown when artists and aestheticians come together. Although it was in the tradition of the European ‘school’, it transcended many of the egotisical pitfalls of this prototype. Perhaps this digression gives some idea why Scruton’s book evokes in me such a deep seated exasperation with its narrow treatment of its broad title. His approach to art could be compared to that of astronauts from another planet, who, observing the construction of the pyramids from space, descend to Earth and offer their explanations of what is happening to those constructing them. Symbol, Mythos und Legende in der Kunst. Manfred Lurker. In German. Valentin Koerner, Baden-Baden, Fed. Rep. Ger., 1974. 352 pp., illus. Paper. DM 80. Reviewed by Peter Fingesten* Symbols are like phoenixes of many lives, they must die, yet a few are reborn in new forms. In this book they are revived for a second or third time. The author evokes the past with sympathetic yet scientific eyes. His interest is clearly more than just historical or antiquarian, for he believes in the possibilities of the survival of concepts rather than of their external forms. What we learn from this erudite book is the symbolic intention of ancient societies and their aspirations as expressed by symbols. Lurker maintains a scientific attitude towards this difficult subject, which results in careful descriptions and historical structure without neglecting the spirit. According to the author, the world of the spirit is unthinkable without the symbol, and he places the artist in a mediating position between the two worlds, since a visionary state precedes creative acts (p. 19). The content of this enlarged second edition is immense and encyclopedic. It touches upon very many classes of symbols with sufficient examples to give one descriptive, historical, comparative and interpretive insights. Lurker begins with a general introduction that is broken down into basic definitions of terms, from syritbol itself to archetype, allegory, myth and legend, but always in relation to visual art. Under the subject ‘Plants’ one finds an introduction to their symbolism, with reference to Brahma rising from a lotus, as the Sun rises from a lotus in Egyptian art. He enlarges upon their magical properties, goes on to the tree of life symbolism, gardens in general, the garden of Eden, the world tree, the tree of Jesse from which Christ sprang, the light tree, then to fruits and their symbolic implications, and, finally, flower symbolism. Each chapter has a similar organization, from the most general to finer and finer details. One learns much about animal symbolism, with suprising information on deer as symbols of the soul, lizards as symbols of death, on demonic and mythological animals, fish and birds-a most impressive array of information. There are chapters on the symbolism of ‘objects’, sych as the hammer, wheel, candle and sceptre. The chapter on ‘buildings’ contains *Pace University, Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038, U.S.A. hard-to-find information on architectural symbolism. In a fascinating chapter for artists, color and number symbolism , as well as more abstract symbolic concepts, are discussed. This is the most authoritative, reliable and comprehensive one-volume guide through the forest of symbols and the pathways that lead to their understanding. The extensive bibliography on symbolism and on specialized monographs is a valuable aspect of this book. It has...