E. Thomas Lawson Libri

This long-overdue volume highlights a selection of writings and artists' projects from Real Life magazine, a seminal 1980s periodical edited by the artist, writer and curator Thomas Lawson and writer Susan Morgan. Published in 23 intermittent black-and-white issues from 1979-1994, Real Life was devoted to providing an outlet for a circle of artists who did not feel properly represented in the mainstream art world at the time--many of whom are now grouped with the Pictures and Post-Pictures artists. The anthology features both artists and art historians writing on art, media and popular culture--oftentimes infusing a new kind of humor into their cultural critiques--as well as original pictorial contributions. It includes writings by and about Eric Bogosian, Kim Gordon, Dan Graham, Barbara Kruger, Thomas Lawson, Allan McCollum, John Miller, Matt Mullican, Richard Prince, David Robbins, Michael Smith, Ed Ruscha, Jeff Wall and Lawrence Weiner, to name a few, as well as visual projects by Sherrie Levine, James Welling, Felix Gonzalez-Torres and Group Material, among others.

Delving into the psychological underpinnings of religious rituals, this book examines how these practices shape and reflect human thought processes. It highlights the significance of rituals in fostering community and individual identity, offering insights into their role in psychological well-being. By analyzing various ritual systems, the author reveals the intricate connections between belief, behavior, and mental frameworks, illuminating the profound impact of rituals on human experience and cognition.

The volume delves into the cognitive science of religion through Thomas Lawson's essays, examining theoretical frameworks surrounding cultural phenomena like religion. It highlights the significance of imagination in understanding these concepts and discusses various experiments that stem from these theories, offering insights into the interplay between cognitive processes and cultural practices.

Kniha přináší zasvěcený a podrobný pohled na dvě z mnoha afrických náboženství. Oba systémy - zulský a jorubský - existovaly v takzvané anglofonní Africe, tj. na území bývalých britských kolonií. Jsou dobrým příkladem systémů, z nichž jeden je výrazně polyteistický a druhý animistický. Africká náboženství jsou silně spjata s uměleckou produkcí svých nositelů, a tak valná většina toho, co Evropané označují jako „tradiční", „kmenové" či „etnické" umění, jsou nejrůznější kultovní předměty. Význam mnohých z nich neznáme a asi už také nepoznáme, protože příslušný náboženský systém zanikl anebo se pozměnil, aniž někdo zaznamenal jaho historickou podobu.