Description
ACCELERATION
Book Summary
This essay traces the secret history of a century of utopian thought, from Dadaist provocations to contemporary accelerationism. Edmund Berger connects artistic, political, and countercultural vanguard movements in an underground flow that links the Situationist International with revolutionary hooliganism, punk, German autonomism, hacker activism, cyberfeminism, and rave culture. A gripping study that has become a reference classic for understanding the radical currents that have sought to replace narratives of power with new mythologies.
What is it about?
The book explores a hundred years of experiments—sometimes extravagant, sometimes ingenious—that share the same goal: to challenge the established order and build radical alternatives. Berger begins with Dadaist provocations in interwar Europe and advances chronologically to the apocalyptic thinking of accelerationism. Along the way, he connects figures such as Tristan Tzara with the CCRU of Sadie Plant, Mark Fisher, and Nick Land, passing through the Situationist International, American revolutionary movements of the sixties, punk, the Italian seventies, German autonomism, hacker activism, cyberfeminism, rave culture, neoism, Luther Blissett, chaos magic, and the Chaos Computer Club. It is a secular tapestry where artistic vanguardism, radical politics, and counterculture intertwine in a common search for utopia.
Main Topics
- History of accelerationism as a current of political and philosophical thought.
- Artistic vanguard movements and their relationship with social transformation.
- Counterculture and radical activisms of the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Relationship between technology, magic, and politics in the search for new mythologies.
- Genealogy of utopian thought from Dadaism to contemporary philosophy.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the history of radical ideas, contemporary political philosophy, critical theory, and cultural studies. It will also be of great interest to those exploring the connections between art, technology, and activism, as well as those seeking to understand the intellectual roots of movements such as accelerationism, cyberfeminism, or situationism. It is an ideal work for students, academics, and anyone curious about the underground currents that have challenged the narratives of power.
What this book offers
- Offers a panoramic and connected view of movements that are usually studied separately, revealing their hidden links.
- Provides a historical and conceptual framework for understanding accelerationism and its evolution from Dadaism.
- Presents little-known characters, events, and experiments that have influenced contemporary culture and thought.
- Helps to understand how the search for new mythologies has been a constant in the fight against the narratives of power.
- Has established itself as a reference classic for the study of vanguards and radical movements.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Edmund Berger
- Publisher: Enclave de Libros
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Literary essays, cultural studies, demonstrations and protest movements
- Collection: Casa de Fieras
- Publication date: September 2022
- Number of pages: 394
- Weight: 300 g
Editorial Review
This is an essential reference work for those who wish to delve into the intellectual history of the radical currents of the last century. Berger manages to weave a coherent and fascinating narrative that connects seemingly disparate movements, offering the reader a unique tool for understanding the roots of utopian thought and its current relevance. Its rigorous yet accessible approach makes it a valuable read for both specialists and neophytes interested in the intersection of art, politics, and technology.