Description
PHANTASMAGORIA
Book Summary
A monumental essay that fuses political and social history with the eerie and the marvelous. Ramón Mayrata explores how, in the blood-stained Paris of the French Revolution, phantasmagoria transformed static magic lantern shows into a spectacle of vivid and enigmatic images. The work reveals the connection between revolutionary violence and the rise of these spectral projections, where the dead seemed to return to life and imaginary beings took on existence. A scholarly journey through the darkness of the human spirit and cultural history.
What is it about?
The book delves into the historical context of the French Revolution, a period of social and political conflict resolved with extreme violence. In that setting, phantasmagoria emerged as an evolution of the magic lantern, granting movement and life to static images. These solitary and enigmatic projections were presented in an atmosphere of darkness that made the shadows of the spirit visible. The work traces this practice from the Masonic sessions of figures like Schröpfer or Cagliostro to the public spectacles of Philidor, showing how the technology of illusion became intertwined with the terror and fascination of a tumultuous era.
Main Themes
- Social and cultural history of the French Revolution.
- Origin and evolution of phantasmagoria as a visual spectacle.
- Relationship between political violence and representations of the supernatural.
- History of the magic lantern and illusionist projection techniques.
- Influence of Freemasonry and occultism on 18th-century popular culture.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers passionate about social and cultural history, interested in tales of terror and ghosts from a scholarly perspective. Also for those seeking to understand how visual phenomena and superstitions intertwine with major political events. It is ideal for fans of the history of magic, illusionism, and the performing arts.
What this book offers
- An interdisciplinary vision that connects political history with the history of images and spectacle.
- A deep analysis of how the technology of illusion reflects the anxieties and obsessions of a society in crisis.
- A fascinating account of key historical figures in the development of phantasmagoria.
- A reference work for understanding the origins of horror cinema and ghostly projections.
- An original approach that transforms a marginal topic into a window into the mentality of an era.
Technical Details
- Author: RAMÓN MAYRATA
- Publisher: La Felguera Editores
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: True stories, horror and ghost tales, history, social and cultural history
- Collection: MEMORIAS DEL SUBSUELO
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: April 2017
- Number of pages: 540
- Weight: 1070 g
Editorial Review
A scholarly and passionate work that succeeds in turning a seemingly specialized topic into a captivating read. Ramón Mayrata's research is exhaustive and his narrative, immersive, managing to make the reader submerge themselves in revolutionary Paris and its dark spectacles. It is a book that not only informs, but invites reflection on the relationship between reality and illusion, violence and fear. Recommended for any cultural history library or fans of the unusual.