Georges Bataille

by Michael Richardson

Georges Bataille is now recognised as one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. Fascinated by the excessive movement of life, Bataille developed a complex philosophy based upon examination of the interplay between death and eroticism. For him, eroticism was the foundation of human experience, providing a sharp insight into the basis of human society and the response of the individual to it. Largely neglected during his lifetime, Bataille's influence has grown during the last thirty years, first in France and more recently in Britain and the USA, where it has often been associated with the rise of post-structuralism and post-modernism. Although most of Bataille's works have now been translated into English, little accessible critical commentary on his work has been available. This is the first book in English to look at Bataille's work as a whole and to offer an accessible introduction to what is often seen as a difficult body of thought. Often misunderstood and conflated too readily with post-modernism, Bataille is in fact a multi-faceted thinker who does not fit in easily with any simple categorisation.; The book seeks to draw out the essential qualities of Bataille's work while critically examining the concepts he used. The book will be of interest to both undergraduate and postgraduate students and is of particular value to anyone concerned with twentieth-century critical thought in France and the debate on post-modernism. Michael Richardson is a writer and translator who has edited Georges Bataille's The Absence of Myth: Writings on Surrealism .

Genres: Philosophy

ebook

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

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Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very decent 'introduction' to a major thinker and writer Georges Bataille. But it's not essential one should have this book or read it. I would go to the very source, Bataille's own writings and most of his titles are still in print in the U.S./U.K.

His connection between eroticism and death is fascinating. Plus the very unique way he sees the world as well. Bataille is also a historian of sorts, he sort of sees what fell between the cracks of time and history. A very interesting man as well as a great writer. Check him out.

[Paulo Mota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally enjoyed reading this book, something that for me is a bit unusual, considering the fact that its a book about the understanding of a man about another man. To me, its a hard task, specially in the case of George Bataille. Or maybe I just haven't found good books like this one around. It's not perfect, but the impact it had on me was perfect. I still remember it and have some regard about it. The main thing about this book is, it doesn't try to make Georges Bataille a hero nor a loser, which is something that usually happens, specially when a man is known for being a little extreme. This book turns George Bataille against himself, exposing the things that are understood to be good and bad in his work and in a way in his personality(but its very non confrontational in this quality), and what good things we can isolate from both sides. Beautiful.

[Michael A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richardson does an excellent job of laying bare the heterogeneity of Bataille's work while still pointing out the connections between Bataille's concepts. It is a very short read and I feel that it is better suited to someone who has read some Bataille already than someone completely new, though that's not to say someone completely new to his thought can't get something out of it. Richardson made some cloudy concepts much clearer.

[lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing look at Bataille's life, philosophy and writings. I picked this up by happenstance out at a little bookstore on Moody Street in Waltham and am so glad I read it. I totally understand the transgressive literary style and themes touched up on his classic pornographic novella 'Story of the Eye' and got to take a tour of all of Bataille's amazing thought around economics, sovereignty, morals, philosophy and Surrealism. I feel that art historians and students of philosophy would miss out dearly if they investigate Surrealism without considering a deeper look at Bataille. He actually seems to pull the Surrealist International to a more interesting, sociological and more scientifically significant place. Richardson's book on this interesting personality definitely deepened my understanding of Surrealism as something far more than what we read in Art History class — its much more apparent to me now that Surrealism is more of a philosophical movement, one that needs further investigation, one that needs further documentation and analysis. A very liberating read! I highly recommend it.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the desciption apty states this is the first real biographical account of Bataille in english and as such is a good general overview. It has recently been superceeded by the outstanding book "Georges Bataille" by Stuart Kendall (See that review elsewhere). Richardson presents a well rounded approach to the writings of Bataille with a more "Social Studies" approach which I prefer to the various other lenses that other authors bring to his work. See the Kendall book for more discussion of the various appropriations of bataille for other disciplines. I do think that people wanting to learn more about Bataille should see this book out, it is well worth the pursuit.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Bataille, that seminal sorcerer of acéphalica, is a like a dog attacking its master. An introduction and a challenging analysis behind the etiology of this dissenting behavior is necessary.