Tango: The Art History of Love [Paperback]

Robert Farris Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 5, 2006

In this generously illustrated book, world-renowned Yale art historian Robert Farris Thompson gives us the definitive account of tango, "the fabulous dance of the past hundred years–and the most beautiful, in the opinion of Martha Graham.”

Thompson traces tango’s evolution in the nineteenth century under European, Andalusian-Gaucho, and African influences through its representations by Hollywood and dramatizations in dance halls throughout the world. He shows us tango not only as brilliant choreography but also as text, music, art, and philosophy of life. Passionately argued and unparalleled in its research, its synthesis, and its depth of understanding, Tango: The Art History of Love is a monumental achievement.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Here at last is an antidote to those trite coffee-table books that treat the tango with purple prose. In language no doubt inspired by the lyrics of its subject, this serious volume examines and celebrates the cultural history of the famed Argentine dance, conveying its real passion and the author's passion for it. Thompson, the renowned Yale Africanist and art historian, convincingly evokes the often-obscured African roots of the dance, whose name comes from the Ki-Kongo word for "moving in time to a beat." He then explores the tango's relationship to cakewalk and ragtime, Cuba's habanera and Rossini's operas, along with the mutual admiration between the father of tango, Carlos Gardel, and the tenor Enrico Caruso. Thompson tells the stories of tango's composers and performers, from the female composer Eladia Blázquez to poet and lyricist Jorge Luis Borges. Hollywood versions of the dance pale once Thompson begins to mine the riches of tango's rhythms, lyrics, philosophy and steps. He explains the sinuous figure-eight footwork of ochos, the boleo circular leg thrusts and the dramatic corte y quebrada cut-and-break steps that mimic the real-life emotional combat of relationships. There may be too much detail for generalist readers, and even devotees will need to pause to digest all of the information given. Still, for fans of dance, music and cultural history, this is the real deal. B&w illus. (Sept. 30)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Thompson . . . inflames us with his reverence for the form.” –Mikhail Baryshnikov

“Thompson helps us understand the way artistry and ancestry combine to make an art form of the body.” –The Washington Post


"Elegant. . . . Uplifting and timely. . . . Thompson rescues tango from a one-dimensional tristesse, mining in its working-class origins emotions of defiance, freedom, self-control, humor, love, and redemption." –Foreign Affairs

"[Thompso treats tango as narrative art, literature and way of life. . . . By extensively tracing the lines of this 'rich suite of moves,' Thompson's work gives a dance started in the early 1900s the weight of a centuries-old form." –Newsweek

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Vintage (December 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400095794
• ISBN-13: 978-1400095797
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #674,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Dance > Popular

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The philosophy, anthrpology, religion and art of the tango revealed, March 12, 2006

By 

D. Donovan, Editor/Sr. Reviewer "California B... (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tango: The Art History of Love (Hardcover)

Robert Farris Thompson is a Yale art historian who here tackles not art but the artistically-defined world of tango, the dance of the past hundred years which evolved from 19th century European and even African origins to come to Hollywood. His isn't just a musical, dance or art expose: it embraces anthropology, religion, philosophy and more as it seeks an in-depth understanding of not just the dance but its cultural expression in TANGO: THE ART HISTORY OF LOVE. A gorgeous survey of a much-revealed form of expression.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WELL DONE MAESTRO, April 13, 2008

By 

Alex D. La Barba "JUDGE" (Seattle , Wa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tango: The Art History of Love (Paperback)

As an argentino, that grew up listenning to the Beatles and CCR, I must say that this book was quite an enlightning experience.

It opened my curiosity with regards to the history of Africo-Argentino culture. It is not dead, thank you milonga.

I have a copy signed by Mr thompson and really didnt know what I'd gotten until I went home and read the book.

His theories, to my scrutiny, are sound.

You may not see 'blacks' in Argentina now a days but, an underlined racism still lingers.

I have had difficulty talking about this book with relatives and friends.

I think that Mr Thompson has done a great catharthic piece that will test the Argentine historians for years to come.

Although the lyrics could have been translated closer to the point, using a less literal method.

I believe that this book is 'heavy' more so than anything else out there.

It has more knowledge per page and hopefully will inspire a new generation of writers within the Argentino culture.

Thank you! Mr Thompson.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommend this for dancers interested in more than the steps., October 20, 2007

By 

C. Castell (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tango: The Art History of Love (Paperback)

This book was recommended to me by a fellow Tango student. It seems to be one of the best out there for those whose dancing has lead to intellectual curiosity about the Argentine culture, politics, and music. This understanding contributes to how I dance Tango today. As I learn new dances, I hope to get beyond being mechanically competent, to dancing this Tango from some inner place. This is one of those books that is helping me get there.

There is a very good section on the "how-to" of the dance which will be helpful to dancers with some experience. Beginners will need a little floor time to recognize and absorb the instructions.