Tango: The Art History of Love

by Robert Farris Thompson

Book Overview

A definitive study of tango in all its manifestations from the author of the classic Flash of the Spirit. Beginning with Carlos Gardel, the Argentine genius considered to have invented tango in 1917, through to Hollywood's current representations of the dance, Thompson approaches his subject from all conceivable angles. Passionately argued, unequalled in its research, synthesis and depth and written with a revelatory clarity, Tango is a monumental...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375409319
• ISBN13: 9780375409318
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Pantheon Books
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Wow! "Tango the art history of love"

Peoples mind's are set until actual life experience give a wider perspective. The book has close to 30 pages of notes. Tango as dance, music or a way of life is an emotional subject. ,Robert Farris Thompson offers his findings and other person's actual life experience, covering social history, linguistics, evolution, why things changed with this reader even more interested in Tango and related subjects.While having considerable music and dance recordings, movies and books this was an extremely importanty addition. It will take you to many places, times, customs and languages. The book is in greater depth and apparent accuracy then anything else I have read. Result: greater enjoyment of Tango. In "The Tango" by Monica Gloria de le Compte, Published by Maizal Ediciones, 2000 her first paragraph is "Tango is a word of African origin. In some African dialects the word means closed meeting place. At the end of the XVIII century the slaves met to make music and dance." History is often revised but Robert Farris Thompson offers you a more complete and accurate outline.

Recommend this for dancers interested in more than the steps.

This book was recommended to me by a fellow Tango student. It seems to be one of the best out there for those whose dancing has lead to intellectual curiosity about the Argentine culture, politics, and music. This understanding contributes to how I dance Tango today. As I learn new dances, I hope to get beyond being mechanically competent, to dancing this Tango from some inner place. This is one of those books that is helping me get there. There is a very good section on the "how-to" of the dance which will be helpful to dancers with some experience. Beginners will need a little floor time to recognize and absorb the instructions.

Great book

I found the book wonderful. It is especially good on the influences of other cultures on the development of tango in Argentina -- Spain, Africa, Cuba -- all nicely fleshed out. A terrific read.

Tango the Art History of Love

A must read for anyone serious about Tango and the history of the dance.

The philosophy, anthrpology, religion and art of the tango revealed

Robert Farris Thompson is a Yale art historian who here tackles not art but the artistically-defined world of tango, the dance of the past hundred years which evolved from 19th century European and even African origins to come to Hollywood. His isn't just a musical, dance or art expose: it embraces anthropology, religion, philosophy and more as it seeks an in-depth understanding of not just the dance but its cultural expression in TANGO: THE ART HISTORY OF LOVE. A gorgeous survey of a much-revealed form of expression.