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Palgrave Macmillan

The Fair-Line and the Good Frontage

Surface and Effect

  • Book
  • © 2018

Overview

Authors:
  1. Stephen Walker

    1. University of Manchester, Sheffield, United Kingdom

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  • Contributes to work on affect theory, surface and atmosphere in exciting and novel ways
  • A timely interjection into architectural theory whilst having a considerable shelf life with regard to its solid engagement with key textual and historical material
  • Written in an accessible style and has a clear, readable format that logically outlines the subject, the aims of the book, theoretical context and empirical case studies

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xviii
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  2. Intro: Bostock and the Good Frontage

    • Stephen Walker
    Pages 1-9

  3. The Fair-Line

    • Stephen Walker
    Pages 11-31

  4. Surface Effect

    • Stephen Walker
    Pages 33-40

  5. From Canvas to Carving, Ornament and Supplement

    • Stephen Walker
    Pages 41-64

  6. Truth to Trompe, Theatre, Spectacle and Illusion

    • Stephen Walker
    Pages 65-81

  7. Spectatorship: The Panorama of the Whole

    • Stephen Walker
    Pages 83-102

  8. Surface and Effect: Architecture and the Patterning of Experience

    • Stephen Walker
    Pages 103-122

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 123-136
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Keywords

About this book

This book offers an extended consideration of the fairground showfront. It combines archival material, contemporary examples of fairs, and a sustained theoretical engagement with influential philosophies of surface, including recent work by Avrum Stroll and Andrew Benjamin, as well as the nineteenth century author Gottfried Semper. Semper’s work on the origin of architectural enclosure —formed from woven mats and carpets— anticipates the surface and material history of the showfront. Initial chapters introduce these philosophies, the evolution of showfronts, and the ways in which individual fairground rides and attractions are arranged to form an enclosing boundary for the whole fair. Later chapters focus on issues of spectacle and illusion, vast ‘interior’ spaces, atmosphere, crowds and surface effects. Informed by a wide range of work from other design and cultural studies, the book will be of interest to readers in these areas, as well as architecture and those curious about the fairground. 

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Manchester, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Stephen Walker

About the author

Stephen Walker is the Head of Architecture at the University of Manchester, UK. He has published widely on theories and histories at the periphery of architecture, art practice, temporary and informal architectural activities and other forms of cultural production. He is currently preparing a longer study of the architectures, cultures and identities of the travelling street fair.



Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Fair-Line and the Good Frontage

  • Book Subtitle: Surface and Effect

  • Authors: Stephen Walker

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7974-0

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Singapore

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-10-7973-3Published: 27 March 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-13-4031-4Published: 19 January 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-10-7974-0Published: 06 March 2018

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVIII, 136

  • Number of Illustrations: 30 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Human Geography, Architecture, general, Urban History, Regional and Cultural Studies

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