The Infinity Of Lists ~ Umberto Eco

The Infinity of Lists by Umberto Eco

In the history of Western culture we find lists of saints, rosters of soldiers, catalogues of grotesque creatures or medicinal plants, and hordes of treasure. The poetics of lists can be seen from Homer to Joyce, from the treasures of Gothic cathedrals to the fantastical landscapes of Bosch and cabinets of curiosities, culminating in the 20th century with Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst. This illustrated essay is accompanied by a literary anthology and a diverse selection of works of art that represent the presented texts.