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A compilation of some of the important works of Ruskin are included here, the most important being (in Ruskin's own words) "Unto This Last", which had a profoundly moving effect on Ghandi (among others) and his approach and philosophy. For Ruskin morality and moral economics, sustaining/healthy economics, comes from basic things like knowing who made your shirts and that this person is getting a fair wage for their efforts -- taking responsibility for the effect one's use of money has on the lives of others. Taking advantage of other's economic misfortune was immoral and likely to result in a future backlash on the greater society as well as well as one's inner well being. An intelligent/knowledgeable person taking advantage of the stupid or ignorant is no different than violence of the strong upon the weak, Ruskin analogized. Ruskin illustrated his ideal of a moral economy by using the Gothic "Christian" style as an example, explained in the "Stones of Venice", its communal/community development, its imperfection yet impressive beauty. Perfection is not beautiful in Ruskin's view of life/art; which echoes something of the Zen view of art. Ruskin also argued that homes, during the Gothic age, were in the Gothic style as well and that modern Churches should mimic something of the style of the typical house being built today, the church should not be seen as a separate entity, a separate style; the Church should be integral to the community's self identity and use a similar architecture. Ruskin also inadvertantly created a style and movement he did not aprove of, by creating such a popular view of the Gothic style, that being the Anglo/Catholic movement whom enjoyed the gothic style church and ceremony.Read more ›
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John Ruskin (1819-1900) was a British art critic who later turned social critic. His most well-known work is probably "The Stones of Venice", a tribute to medieval Venetian architecture. His most interesting work, however, might be "Unto this last", published in book form in 1862. This modern edition from Penguin contains both "Unto this last" and some of Ruskin's other writings, including "The Two Boyhoods" and most of "The meaning of Gothic" (taken from his work on Venice). The point of the selection is to emphasize the connection between Ruskin's social criticism and his view of art.
Ruskin was an arch-conservative, called himself High Tory and idealized the Middle Ages, medieval Venice in particular. In art, he supported the Romantic movement, and became known for defending the Romantic landscape painter Turner. Later, he associated with the Pre-Raphaelites, an ostensibly "medievalist" art movement. He also admired Gothic architecture for it's "savageness, changefulness, naturalism, grotesqueness, rigidity and redundance", usually considered negative features. To Ruskin, the seemingly chaotic style of Gothic buildings was truthful to nature, and he believed that the medieval workmen were free and creative spirits who could manufacture Gothic sculptures and ornaments according to their own whims. In many ways, he seems to have projected the Romantic view of the world back onto the High Middle Ages.
Ruskin shocked his pampered middle-class audience in 1860, when "Cornhill Magazine" began to serialize "Unto this last". This was not a work of art criticism, but a rather violent attack on capitalism! The subscribers to the magazine demanded that Ruskin's articles should be stopped, which they also were. Although unfinished, Ruskin published them in book form two years later.Read more ›
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This book contains Ruskin's writing "Unto This Last", which was the major commentary on political economy of which he was most proud. It has a few other selections, also from economic pamphlets he wrote, as well as some of his art commentary, lectures and short fiction. I read this book because I was primarily interested in Ruskin's influence on Gandhi, and you can see some parallels of fairness and equality in Ruskin's views, but Gandhi was also creatively inspired by it to produce his own ideas. Personally Ruskin's writing style is not my favorite - add a star to this review if you really like art criticism or socialist theory, subtract a star if you are repelled by either or have no primary interest in Ruskin or his period. I do think Ruskin has made some important points, however, namely that political economy has eschewed the viewpoint of morality and justice too easily, and Ruskin's emphasis on the fairness and relative equality of work is a healthy critique to absorb. Ruskin himself seemed to have somewhat mixed views, not fully digested, as the son of a conservative Tory he valued much in the Christian faith, but ultimately became critical of these roots, as the editor makes clear. Although much in Ruskin's thought is socialist and egalitarian, he also seems to resist those terms. Suffice it to say Ruskin was critical of the capitalist, get-rich-quick-ethos, which impoverished many and benefitted a few, as he saw it. He wanted a more moral, just, and fair economy, and I think most people would agree that is a good thing, without being able to agree on how to bring it about. (and note - the title "Unto This Last" comes from Christ's parable of the workers in they vineyard, and reflects Ruskin's ongoing serious concern with a Christian egalitarian ethic)
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This item: Unto This Last and Other Writings (Penguin Classics)
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