A Record Could Be Your Whole World: Vinyl Records as the Total Artwork Of The Late 20th Century

This is a book about records considered ‘in themselves’. It is not about musicians, or music, or design, or music history — though all those things are considered at various points. This book tries to cast light on the unique role played by records in western culture in the late twentieth century. Records deeply penetrated everyday life and encompassed entire worldviews through their combination of sound, design and modern mythology. In this book a
diverse group of people reflect on their relationship to a specific vinyl record, and in the process reflect the diversity of human connections, needs and aspirations that records can represent. In addition thematic essays by contributors look at specific kinds of records and their significance to popular culture, providing a broader context in which to consider the personal stories that form the core of the book.

Contributors:
Lee Borrie, Jo Burzynska, Stella Corkery, Jon Dale, Kiran Dass, Richard Francis, James Goggin, Christopher L. G. Hill, Lisa MacKinney, James Meharry, Gwynneth Porter, Bruce Russell, Luke Shaw, D Thomas Herkes Tekai, Ariana Tikao, Tama-Te-Ra Tikao Calman, Tuha Tuimaka, and Luke Wood.

Editors:
Bruce Russell is a sound improviser. Since 1987 he has been a member of the Dead C. and has directed two record labels, Xpressway and Corpus Hermeticum. Bruce writes about sound and is the author of Left-handed Blows (2009). In real life he coordinates creative research and post-graduate teaching in creative practice at Ara Institute of Canterbury and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Art and Music at the University of Canterbury.

Luke Wood is currently a Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at the Ilam School of Fine Arts (University of Canterbury, Te Wananga o Waitaha). Luke’s creative work moves between design, writing, and music, and his research interests emerge from the intersection of visual communication, politics, and education. Luke was co-editor of The National Grid from 2006–2012, and Head Full of Snakes from 2011–2017.

Edition of 500 copies