The Textile Reader

Book Details

• Author: Jessica Hemmings

• Brand: Berg Publishers

• Binding: Paperback

• Number of Pages: 463

• Release Date: 13-03-2012

• Languages: English

• ISBN: 9781847886347

About the Book

The Textile Reader is the first anthology to address textiles as a distinctive area of cultural practice and a rapidly developing field of scholarly research. This groundbreaking book brings together a diverse range of approaches to the study of textiles, making it an invaluable resource for students and scholars alike. The collection introduces theoretical frameworks essential for exploring textiles from both a critical and creative perspective.

The content of The Textile Reader is drawn from an eclectic mix of sources, including blogs, artists' statements, fiction, and critical writings. These are organized into thematic sections covering topics such as touch, memory, structure, politics, production, and use. Each section is introduced with an insightful overview and concludes with a bibliography for further reading.

The book includes contributions from renowned authors like Anni Albers, Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari, Sarat Maharaj, Rozsika Parker, Sadie Plant, Peter Stallybrass, Alice Walker, and Catherine de Zegher, making it a comprehensive and essential text for those interested in textile design, applied arts, material culture, and the wider arts community.

As an anthology, The Textile Reader is not only a compilation but also an interrogation of textile practice—offering readers a platform from which to explore the past, present, and future of the field. It challenges perceptions of textiles, elevating the discipline to its rightful place in contemporary research and practice.

Ideal for students of textile design, applied arts, material culture, and crafts, this book provides a broad overview of the field, encouraging readers to engage deeply with a wide variety of themes and key authors. The Textile Reader is a vital text for anyone looking to explore the complexities and significance of textile practice in modern culture.