Product Description

Jean Baudrillard, alternately provocative and astonishing, is one of the leading theorists of media and culture. Regarded by many as the chief prophet of postmodernism, his writings raise important issues about the changing nature of social and political life in our contemporary, media–saturated age.


This book makes his most important writings available in a single volume. It includes selections from the entire range of his work, from his early writings on consumer culture and the political economy of the sign to his more recent work on desire, simulation and the ′hyperreal′.


This new edition includes five new extracts from Baudrillard′s writings in the 1990s, including his writings on the Gulf War, on the internet and his autobiographical reflections. It also includes an updated introduction by Mark Poster which provides an extremely lucid overview of Baudrillard′s work.




Jean Baudrillard: Selected Writings is an excellent introduction to the thought of one of the most important and influential thinkers of our day.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #496795 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Review
′Jean Baudrillard continues to be an illuminating thinker as we move into the new high–tech millennium that he has anticipated in his writings of the past decades. Mark Poster′s collection contains key texts from the entire trajectory of Baudrillard′s work. Featuring new translations and concluding with a recent interview, Selected Writings provides access to one of the most important writers of our time.′

Douglas Kellner, University of California, Los Angeles

Synopsis
Jean Baudrillard, alternately provocative and astonishing, is one of the leading theorists of media and culture. Regarded by many as the chief prophet of postmodernism, his writings raise important issues about the changing nature of social and political life in our contemporary, media-saturated age. This book makes his most important writings available in a single volume. It includes selections from the entire range of his work, from his early writings on consumer culture and the political economy of the sign to his more recent work on desire, simulation and the 'hyperreal'. This new edition includes five new extracts from Baudrillard's writings in the 1990s, including his writings on the Gulf War, on the internet and his autobiographical reflections. It also includes an updated introduction by Mark Poster which provides an extremely lucid overview of Baudrillard's work.Jean Baudrillard: Selected Writings is an excellent introduction to the thought of one of the most important and influential thinkers of our day.

From the Back Cover
Jean Baudrillard, alternately provocative and astonishing, is one of the leading theorists of media and culture. Regarded by many as the chief prophet of postmodernism, his writings raise important issues about the changing nature of social and political life in our contemporary, media–saturated age.

This book makes his most important writings available in a single volume. It includes selections from the entire range of his work, from his early writings on consumer culture and the political economy of the sign to his more recent work on desire, simulation and the ′hyperreal′.

This new edition includes five new extracts from Baudrillard′s writings in the 1990s, including his writings on the Gulf War, on the internet and his autobiographical reflections. It also includes an updated introduction by Mark Poster which provides an extremely lucid overview of Baudrillard′s work.

Jean Baudrillard: Selected Writings is an excellent introduction to the thought of one of the most important and influential thinkers of our day.

Customer Reviews

Excellent collection from an excellent writer
As the other two reviews for this particular book seem to be at best confused and at worst idiotic I feel I ought to add a few words that might be a bit more helpful - if only because the book deserves it. Baudrillard's work does tend to elicit some of the most damning criticism from his various readers (particularly vis a vis the nature of reality), but I think this tends to stem more from misinterpretation than any real attempt to criticise his ideas. One thing is certain though: he is a provocative, intriguing and stimulating writer; and for that reason alone this book has its merits. He is also, to the very last sentence, an uncompromising writer: polemical, controversial and at times unsettling. This, I believe, is what causes such frequently drastic reactions to his work, and also,I think, what ultimately gives it its zest.

I won't pretend I agree with everything he says here, but no philosophy should be taken as gospel. Nonetheless the power of his argument and its contemporary significance cannot be denied. Niether too can its applications (the fact that his work is placed, somewhat limply into the generic sphere of 'cultural studies' is really a testament to the diversity of his subject matter), and I would therefore thoroughly recommend this book to anyone wishing to understand the nature of contemporary society - or indeed anyone who feels disenfranchised by the impotency of politics, the media and the consumer society as a whole.

Baudrillard, fuel
Baudrillard gives a very critical, marxist viewpoint on western society, that is an eye-opener, if not a little one-sided account.

The three main problems with this book are, firstly, the fact that you need to read each paragraph five or so times to understand what he is saying, secondly the fact that he is quite extreme in his views of society and thirdly the fact that for a lot of its chapters you need prior knowledge of the subject to understand his arguements.

Despite being very opinionated,this is a very informative, though opinionated, account of 20/21st century society. He makes some very interesting points on society, which mostly ring true. Maybe some of his statements are generalisations that aren't the case across the board.

This book is clearly fuel for any anti-capitalist activist, but is a very interesting read for anyone who's willing to probe into post-modern society in a bit more depth. Though it is very one-sided in its account.

Marvellous
Whatsit from Texas is an idiot, Baudrillard is a friend of my head. He makes me happy.