Customer Reviews

Laokoon and How the Ancients Represented Death

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Original and enlightening two essays. I found Lessing's writing clear but quite dense; there are copious foot notes, sometimes taking up most of the page, many references to scholarly texts, and BEWARE- many paragraphs in Greek and Latin and occasionally a sentence or two in French - these almost entirely with out translations. Also only five illustrations in a text that refers to many works of art. Yet, his writing is clear enough that his ideas are quite easily understood. (Even only understanding English). I wish the book had more illustrations and translations, but, hey that's why Al Gore invented the internet - and believe it - this book will give you plenty to look up!
Conclusion: I would definitely recommend this book for lovers of Art theory, in spite of the above mentioned short comings. Laokoon deals with the relationship of the Plastic Arts and Poetry to each other and to Myth and what is appropriate to each, their essential qualities. Also touches on beauty and ugliness. How the Ancients Represented Death is an interesting little essay on a discovery Lessing believes he has made regarding exactly what the title states. Is he correct? I am not an scholar on the subject - I will refer once again to Al Gore's so called "Internet" to see what the experts have to say.
Happy reading!