Spectacle: An Optimist's Handbook by Bruce Mau and David Rockwell by Rockwell Architecture Planning and Design P.C.

by Rockwell Architecture Planning and Design P.C.

In Spectacle, the architect David Rockwell, in collaboration with designer Bruce Mau, explores the allure of larger-than-life events that take place around the globe. From the running of the bulls in Pamplona to the Holi Festival in India to deafening - and dangerous - NASCAR races, Spectacle considers what it is about these "shared, live experiences" that transforms not only the way we see the world, but also how we connect with each other. Illustrated with over 200 color photographs, the dynamic visual essay highlights the power of real-time, real-space events in today's highly mediated world. The book features a collection of photographs and interviews with award-winning authors, producers, directors, and performers. These contributors have documented, participated in, or produced large events and bring a fascinating behind-the-scenes and in front-of-the footlights perspective on "spectacles" today. Interviews Muhammad Ali, champion boxer; Kurt Anderson, novelist and essayist; Simon Doonan, author and creative director; Dave Hickey, art critic; Quincy Jones, legendary music and event producer; Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil; Julie Taymor, film and theater director; Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, architects; John Waters, filmmaker; and Steve Wynn, Las Vegas mega-developer, with a concluding essay by critic Herbert Muschamp. The book offers readers an unprecedented tour of over 60 far-flung and fleeting, beautiful and bizaare manmade events around the world. An in-depth selection of "spectacles" are presented thematically in six chapters that focus on various characteristics and unique cultural attributes that connect or distinguish each of the events. Spectacle offers statistics and sidebars on the history of featured events, providing layers of information that add depth and context. Further, a reference section called "Getting There" contains a monthly calendar listing more global spectacles throughout the year, maps and insider tips you should know before you go. "An empty stadium, an open field or a busy urban thoroughfare, each--when transformed by spectacle--undergoes an alchemic process," says David Rockwell. "A group of strangers fuses into an instant community. As an architect I strive to make environments where people connect. This is rooted in vivid recollections of my childhood--from amateur theater on the Jersey shore to the open air markets of Guadalajara Mexico--that have made me deeply aware of the power of shared experience. By physically attending an event, you declare yourself; you become something greater than you." From the glitzy appeal of Las Vegas to the historical reenactment of the Calcio Storico in Florence, Spectacle presents an extraodordinary collection of images and text that convey the palpable buzz, sheer beauty and unusual fascination of public performance around the globe. If you are an armchair traveler or spontanieous jetsetter, David Rockwell and Bruce Mau offer a mesmerizing, thought-provoking journey into the world of spectacle that is bound to encourage not only conversation but also participation.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published October 15, 2006

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spectacle is a survey of Baroque maximalism in modern times, covering events and places which are big, bold, or brief: Burning Man, Las Vegas, NASCAR, the Running of the Bulls, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and more.

I definitely enjoyed the book, but its depth and focus were mildly unnerving: it was not quite a travelogue, not quite a full study of these grandiose events, and not emotional or detailed enough to be really engaging. The photography, layout, and pace of the book (designed by the great Bruce Mau) was the highlight of Spectacle, but the interviews peppered through the book were somewhat dry or forced, and the longer-form essay at the end was odd and largely incomprehensible.

I love the idea of this book, but the execution was only about 75% there, sadly. Worth flipping through for an hour to get the gist, but the bulk of the text was not a must-read.

[Sevenponds · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Rockwell has captured far-flung and fleeting human spectacles for us to marvel at. All the spectacles in his book are planned: intentionally created and experienced by willing participants, usually for pleasure.

On the other hand, spectacles that arise from tragedy are different — we call them memorials. They are created organically, driven by the creativity of collective bystanders randomly brought together by disaster. Each individual is so inexplicably moved by the emotions and meaning of death and loss that they participate in a sort of organized chaos in order to cope. We learn that tragedy bonds people and creates meaningful order that may last many lifetimes.

[Continued]

Full SevenPonds review:
http://blog.sevenponds.com/sharing-su...

[sleeps9hours · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. Full of boring interviews, poor quality photos, and a collection of mostly yawn-worthy spectacles, including Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NASCAR, Burning Man, Olympics, Fireworks. The book does nothing to make a reader/viewer feel like they are actually a part of any of these events. Really not worth even checking out of the library.

[Doug Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful photography and some interesting interviews and commentary. It's a good coffee table book. However, it lacks depth of understanding as to why humans enjoy spectacle. It also concentrates only on the 20th century.