Deep time of the media : toward an archaeology of hearing and seeing by technical means /

This unique book focuses on how media extend human senses. Zielinski (Academy of Media Arts, Cologne, Germany) founded a genre of historical inquiry he terms "media anthropology," and here he takes the reader on a journey of invention and innovation in expanding how people hear, see, perceive, write, exchange ideas via technology, and communicate. He finds invention and innovation are timeless and sprinkled throughout the globe. The book's nine chapters weave a tapestry of art criticism, social commentary, historical detail, character sketches, and insights about human ingenuity. The author takes apparent delight in introducing often historically obscure painters, sculptors, musicians, engineers, scientists, poets, authors, and researchers who tried to develop media or attempted to assess their utility and impact. Zielinski's scholarly scope is reminiscent of that of Harold Adams Innis and Marshall McLuhan. Carefully annotated and illustrated, and including a helpful bibliography, this translation from the German is dense and thus not suitable for inexperienced readers; it will be useful to advanced students of media studies, media arts, and history of sciences. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students through faculty. R. A. Logan emeritus, University of Missouri--Columbia