Ivan Gaskell Book order

Ritual and Capital is an expansive volume that collects an interdisciplinary range of voices and genres that reflect on ritual as a form of resistance against capitalism. The poems, essays, and artworks included in this anthology explore habits and practices formed to subvert, subsist, and survive under the repression of capital. These works explore the refuge in ritual, how ritual practices might endow objects with qualities that resist market values, the use of ritual in embodied practices of healing and care, and how ritual strengthens communities. The publication of Ritual and Capital is the culmination of a series of public readings organized by Wendy’s Subway, a nonprofit organization in Brooklyn, as part of their Spring 2016 Reading Room residency at the Bard Graduate Center. Copublished by the Bard Graduate Center and Wendy’s Subway, Ritual and Capital is the first title in the BGCX series, a publication series designed to expand time-based programming after the events themselves have ended. Springing from the generative spontaneity of conversation, performance, and hands-on engagement as their starting points, these experimental publishing projects will provide space for continued reflection and research in a form that is inclusive of a variety of artists and makers.

Focusing on European paintings, the book examines the intersection of art and historical knowledge, revealing how visual representations can convey insights and assertions about the past. It delves into the ways in which these artworks serve as tools for understanding and interpreting historical narratives. Through this exploration, the author highlights the significance of art in shaping our perceptions of history.

This book explores the interplay between explanation and the valuation of literature and painting through an interdisciplinary lens. It examines how different fields contribute to understanding artistic works and the criteria used to assess their worth. By integrating insights from various disciplines, the study offers a nuanced perspective on the significance of art and literature in culture.

267 illustrations, including 137 plates in color. Bound in publisher's original navy blue cloth with the spine stamped in gilt.