{"title":"William O. Gardner","description":"\u003cp\u003eWilliam O. Gardner's works delve deep into the intersections of art, culture, and imagination, offering readers thoughtful explorations of creative movements and their impacts. His writing invites an intellectual journey through dynamic ideas that challenge and enrich our understanding of artistic expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a focus on cultural theory and visual arts, Gardner's books engage with innovative concepts, making them essential reading for those fascinated by the evolving narratives within the arts and culture landscape. \u003cem\u003eThe Metabolist Imagination\u003c\/em\u003e exemplifies his ability to illuminate complex artistic philosophies with clarity and insight.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-metabolist-imagination-by-william-o-gardner-9781517906245","title":"The Metabolist Imagination","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJapan's postwar urban imagination through the Metabolism architecture movement and visionary science fiction authors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe devastation of the Second World War gave rise to imaginations both utopian and apocalyptic. In Japan, a fascinating confluence of architects and science fiction writers took advantage of this space to begin remaking urban design. In \u003cem\u003eThe Metabolist Imagination\u003c\/em\u003e, William O. Gardner explores the unique Metabolism movement, which allied with science fiction authors to foresee the global cities that would emerge in the postwar era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis first comparative study of postwar Japanese architecture and science fiction builds on the resurgence of interest in Metabolist architecture while establishing new directions for exploration. Gardner focuses on how these innovators created unique versions of shared concepts—including futurity, megastructures, capsules, and cybercities—making lasting contributions that resonate with contemporary conversations around cyberpunk, climate change, anime, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Metabolist Imagination\u003c\/em\u003e features original documentation of collaborations between giants of postwar Japanese art and architecture, such as the landmark 1970 Osaka Expo. It also provides the most sustained English-language discussion to date of the work of Komatsu Saky, considered one of the \"big three\" authors of postwar Japanese science fiction. These studies are underscored by Gardner's insightful approach—treating architecture as a form of speculative fiction while positioning science fiction as an intervention into urban design—making it a necessary read for today's visionaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"NewSouth Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47933323575532,"sku":"9781517906245","price":54.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781517906245-the-metabolist-imagination.jpg?v=1783866514"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/william-o-gardner.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}