Civilization: The Way We Live Now

by William A. Ewing, Holly Roussell

Every day and every hour, human civilization expands, evolves, and mutates. These universal movements are chronicled by prestigious curator William A. Ewing in this stunning photographic exploration, Civilization. Ewing illuminates how contemporary photography, notably art photography, is fascinated by, and attempts to decode, the way we live today. This landmark publication is accompanied by an internationally touring exhibition produced by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography—a global cultural event for a global subject.


Eight thematic chapters are led by breathtaking imagery accompanied by essays, commentaries, and captions that illuminate the theme.The chapters, including "Hive", "Flow", "Rupture" and "Escape", explore the many faces of our shared civilization. From how we move goods and peoples to the complex relations of close-knit living, Civilization looks beyond the surface to the workings of the world, at the ways we live, work and play and at what happens when it all breaks down.


Visually epic and ambitiously popular in approach, Civilization will reach beyond the boundaries of the photography world to engage and connect with audiences worldwide.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Architecture, Art

352 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2018

About the author

William A. Ewing is a Canadian art historian specializing in photography. He served as the director of the Musée de l'Élysée in Lausanne from 1996 to 2010 and has been a research professor in the art history department at the University of Geneva, where he has focused on the history of photography. He has curated numerous international exhibitions and authored several books on the photographic representation of the human body. He is also the founder of the Todi Circle, an annual think tank on photography held in Todi, Italy. His publications include The Body, Le Siècle du Corps, and Edward Steichen: Carnet Mondain.

Reviews

[Jolanta (knygupė) · Rating 5 out of 5]

'It is humanity's duty today to see that civilization does not destroy culture, nor technology the human being.' -W. Mommsen (1892-1966), historian

'In 2008, humanity as a whole passed a significant milestone. For the first time in our species' history, a majority of us dwelt in cities. We are an urban animal now.' -I. Goldin/Ch. Kutarna, Age of Discovery, 2016

Šis fotografijų albumas išleistas atspindėti keliavusiai po pasaulį tarptautinei parodai/projektui ''Civilization: The Way We Live Now''. Superinė ir gigantiška apitimi knyga su daug šiuolaikinių fotomeninikų darbų ir ne taip jau mažai puikaus teksto (ne tik parodos kuratorių ir albumo sudarytojų, bet ir pačių fotomenininkų).

Leidinys jau nebe ragina pamąstyti, o labiau įspėja mus dėl mūsų sparčiai augančios populiacijos, pervartojimo, gamtos niokojimo, neatsakingo mokslo... Tai knyga apie šiuolaikinę civilizaciją apskritai. Norėtūsi ją visą išcituoti.

Michael Wolf Tokyo Compression

'In the years ahead there will be exponential growth of cities and metropolises such as has never been seen before in human history; this is due to the huge increase in world population and the consequent abandonment of the countryside. The challenges to be faced are sustainability, building speculation and the unknowns that earth and society hold in sore for us, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, migration and terrorism.' -O. Barbieri

Edward Burtynsky. Manufacturing #17
"I wonder whether Mumbai is already a city in Dystopia, or just a prequel of it. You can't be sure". P. Bialobrzeski

[Keen Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The more powerful a technology, the more likely it will be abused.”

Oh my do we get a rich, deep and varied selection of top drawer photography in here. There are images which play with scale, distort time and manipulate perspective, all along raising vital questions and making some profound points along the way.

Peppered with choice quotes, and well-considered text, this is a thoroughly well packaged product. These are photographers dealing with huge, often complex issues and they try to identify and highlight them in some truly creative and refreshing ways, allowing the audience to experience and engage with them in ways that will hopefully extend beyond mere pleasure or reflection.

There is such a broad spectrum on offer, one moment we are in the seemingly banal of the everyday and then we slip into Sci-Fi dystopia. The political and the ecological forever haunt the edges of the overall narrative, at times forcing us into the cold, clinical horror of mass industrialisation, witnessing capitalism and consumerism at it most ugliest.

The seemingly forgettable image of the "Transatlantic Sub-Marine Cables Reaching Land, VSNL International” in New Jersey, is all the more powerful for its inconspicuous appearance, and yet this phenomenally important piece of equipment extends 8,037.4 miles across the Atlantic and is capable of transmitting over 60 million simultaneous voice conversations.

We are shown the possibility of square apples, unbreakable eggs and colour manipulated fish, but of course this doesn’t mean that we should have them. The terrifying image of pristine looking Predator Drone, lurking menacing in its hangar in New Mexico shows another side of advanced technological progress.

Raphael Dallaporta’s “Antipersonnel” from 2004, displays many of the inventive ways in which landmines have been designed with the purpose of maiming fellow man in the most destructive and painful ways possible, also highlights some harsh truths about ourselves. Of course what makes so many of these photographs so powerful is the gaps you are left to fill in for yourself. What does the guy who designs landmines for a living tell his kids he does for a job?...Does he get a good 8 hours most nights?...What about the guy who pays his wages?...

The artist statements at the end of the book also makes for really worthwhile reading, they get to express themselves textually and can build on what they have been trying to say through their photography and share their motivations and aims with their work.

So this is a really strong and varied collection from around the world. These are images which make you grateful for what you have, whilst also reminding you just how fragile and precarious these things are. The political messages are powerful and the consequences are clear, but actions and the will to change in meaningful ways are terrifyingly absent or negligible at best. There is no shortage of rhetoric, hypocrisy and lies from those wielding power, but where are the leaders who are capable or brave enough to take genuine responsibility, to embrace and take on the challenges with honesty and courage?...

[Boyce McClain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authors William A. Ewing and Holly Roussell and publisher Thames & Hudson examine our present world in a fascinating collection of photographs by some of the best photographers in the world in Civilization The Way We Live Now.
The oversize, hardbound book looks at our quickly changing world that seems to grow smaller everyday as technology, world-wide trade, fast and globe-spanning transportation and other factors bring the people of the world closer together.

Close-up and personal photos of people, places and objects coupled with wide angle and overhead shots of work and dwelling places, agricultural areas, vast dumping grounds for waste and dozens of other photos of vast arenas filled with people, crowed work places, reshaped landscapes and cityscapes, spiritual centers and more demonstrate the ever-changing and frenetic pace our world is experiencing.

One hundred and forty photographers contribute over 500 images in this impressive, large and beautifully bound and printed, oversize hardback book that illuminates the human condition as shared by people from all over the globe.

What an amazing collection of images that say so much more than mere words. It’s true when they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

I learned so much from this work and came away with a new appreciation and wonder of our modern day world.

2 Corinthians 5:7 - (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect collection of photos

[Keso Gagoshidze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning. A story like Harari's HOMO DEUS, yet in photography. I'm hooked.