Picture 1 of 1
Stock photo
Picture 1 of 1
Stock photo
Flickering Light : A History of Neon by Christoph Ribbat (2013, Hardcover)
L
lilev1375 (37)
94.4% positive feedback
Price:
$10.00
+ $5.22 shipping
Returns:
Condition:
paperback
- Buy It NowFlickering Light : A History of Neon by Christoph Ribbat (Paperback)
Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.
Refresh your browser window to try again.
About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherReaktion Books, The Limited
ISBN-101780230915
ISBN-139781780230917
eBay Product ID (ePID)144046698
Product Key Features
Book TitleFlickering Light : a History of Neon
Number of Pages224 Pages
LanguageEnglish
Publication Year2013
TopicInterior Design / Lighting, General
IllustratorYes
GenreArchitecture, History
AuthorChristoph Ribbat
FormatHardcover
Dimensions
Item Height1 in
Item Weight21 Oz
Item Length8.5 in
Item Width5.5 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
Dewey Edition23
Reviews"Wide-ranging history of neon-both the gas and the signage-taking in everything from Nelson Algren's pulpy novels of urban alienation, to East German adverts, to an obscure album track by The Verve. . . . Ribbat deserves credit for giving this intriguing and neglected subject the attention it has been crying out for." , Ribbat's book is a concise and revealing history of this once maligned, now nostalgically fashionable lighting beloved of retro connoisseurs, and also considers neon's place in modern art and popular music. Neon will never return to prominence, but it will continue to function as a romantic signifier of a rapidly disappearing form of urbanity., "Flickering Light describes not only the commercial development of neon-as advertising and signage-but more interestingly weaves around this its cultural influences as metaphor and inspiration for the writers, artists, and musicians who throughout the twentieth and early-twenty-first centuries have made reference to it in their work." , "This survey of the century-old material is pleasingly unconcerned with reclassifying the greatest neon commercial signage as art, as if that were to somehow ennoble it. Presented against the work of neon artists such as Burce Nauman, Lili Lakich, and Dan Flavin, we see how the same material can be a means to different and equally satisfying ends." , This survey of the century-old material is pleasingly unconcerned with reclassifying the greatest neon commercial signage as art, as if that were to somehow ennoble it. Presented against the work of neon artists such as Burce Nauman, Lili Lakich, and Dan Flavin, we see how the same material can be a means to different and equally satisfying ends., Flickering Light describes not only the commercial development of neon--as advertising and signage--but more interestingly weaves around this its cultural influences as metaphor and inspiration for the writers, artists, and musicians who throughout the twentieth and early-twenty-first centuries have made reference to it in their work., "Ribbat's book is a concise and revealing history of this once maligned, now nostalgically fashionable lighting beloved of retro connoisseurs, and also considers neon's place in modern art and popular music. Neon will never return to prominence, but it will continue to function as a romantic signifier of a rapidly disappearing form of urbanity." , Ribbat is particularly good at situating the novelty of neon within its larger historical context, elucidating how its development resonated with and reflected the shaping forces of the twentieth century., Wide-ranging history of neon--both the gas and the signage--taking in everything from Nelson Algren's pulpy novels of urban alienation, to East German adverts, to an obscure album track by The Verve. . . . Ribbat deserves credit for giving this intriguing and neglected subject the attention it has been crying out for., "Ribbat is particularly good at situating the novelty of neon within its larger historical context, elucidating how its development resonated with and reflected the shaping forces of the twentieth century." , Flickering Light , Christoph Ribbat's intriguing history of neon, explores neon's use in art, its value in advertising, and its cultural legacy.
Dewey Decimal621.327509
Table Of Content1. Reading Neon 2. Roses are Blooming in Manhattan 3. Neon Wilderness 4. Las Vegas: City of Lights 5. Green Fingers 6. Art from Tubes 7. Listening to Neon References Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index
SynopsisNeon signs illuminate modernity's ambivalence. For some observers, they stand for crass commercialism; for others, they light the way to the vibrant heart of popular culture. Energized by this tension, Flickering Light explores neon's technological and intellectual history, from the discovery of neon gas in a late-nineteenth-century London laboratory to its flickering career in the art spaces of our time. It investigates how neon transformed a sleepy desert town called Las Vegas in the 1950s and '60s. It demonstrates how writers, artists and musicians, on the move in European, American and Asian neon cities, turned the blinking lights and letters into powerful metaphors of our time., Without neon, Las Vegas might still be a sleepy desert town in Nevada and Times Square merely another busy intersection in New York City. Transformed by the installation of these brightly colored signs, these destinations are now world-famous, representing the vibrant heart of popular culture. But for some, neon lighting represents the worst of commercialism. Energized by the conflicting love and hatred people have for neon, Flickering Light explores its technological and intellectual history, from the discovery of the noble gas in late nineteenth-century London to its fading popularity today. Christoph Ribbat follows writers, artists, and musicians--from cultural critic Theodor Adorno, British rock band the Verve, and artist Tracey Emin to Vladimir Nabokov, Langston Hughes, and American country singers--through the neon cities in Europe, America, and Asia, demonstrating how they turned these blinking lights and letters into metaphors of the modern era. He examines how gifted craftsmen carefully sculpted neon advertisements, introducing elegance to modern metropolises during neon's heyday between the wars followed by its subsequent popularity in Las Vegas during the 1950s and '60s. Ribbat ends with a melancholy discussion of neon's decline, describing how these glowing signs and installations came to be seen as dated and characteristic of run-down neighborhoods. From elaborate neon lighting displays to neglected diner signs with unlit letters, Flickering Light tells the engrossing story of how a glowing tube of gas took over the world--and faded almost as quickly as it arrived., Without neon, Las Vegas might still be a sleepy desert town in Nevada and Times Square merely another busy intersection in New York City. Transformed by the installation of these brightly colored signs, these destinations are now world-famous, representing the vibrant heart of popular culture. But for some, neon lighting represents the worst of commercialism. Energized by the conflicting love and hatred people have for neon, Flickering Light explores its technological and intellectual history, from the discovery of the noble gas in late nineteenth-century London to its fading popularity today.Christoph Ribbat follows writers, artists, and musicians from cultural critic Theodor Adorno, British rock band the Verve, and artist Tracey Emin to Vladimir Nabokov, Langston Hughes, and American country singers through the neon cities in Europe, America, and Asia, demonstrating how they turned these blinking lights and letters into metaphors of the modern era. He examines how gifted craftsmen carefully sculpted neon advertisements, introducing elegance to modern metropolises during neon s heyday between the wars followed by its subsequent popularity in Las Vegas during the 1950s and '60s. Ribbat ends with a melancholy discussion of neon s decline, describing how these glowing signs and installations came to be seen as dated and characteristic of run-down neighborhoods.From elaborate neon lighting displays to neglected diner signs with unlit letters, Flickering Light tells the engrossing story of how a glowing tube of gas took over the world and faded almost as quickly as itarrived."
LC Classification NumberTK4383
All listings for this product
Ratings and Reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Aug 15, 2025
Interesting book, written more with arti...
Interesting book, written more with artists and writers views on neon signage and it's place in culture. Another addition to the neon library .Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Jun 13, 2018
Still reading...
Great book!Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
