Mathematics in Twentieth-Century Literature and Art: Content, Form, Meaning episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 1, 2026 · 25 MIN

Mathematics in Twentieth-Century Literature and Art: Content, Form, Meaning

from Book Shelter · host Book Shelter

Explores the multifaceted relationship between mathematical concepts and creative expression across the arts. It begins by examining surrealist writing and art, showcasing how mathematical surfaces, new geometries, and abstract ideas influenced artists like Man Ray and writers like André Breton. The text then investigates the role of axiomatic structures in art, such as Malevich's "Black Square," and in literature, connecting them to Hilbert's foundational work in geometry. Further chapters reveal how mathematical forms like the Möbius strip and Klein bottle provided literal and conceptual frameworks for narratives by authors like John Barth and Alain Robbe-Grillet, while also discussing the presence of infinite numbers and graph theory in literary choices. Finally, the source illustrates the use of mathematical principles in poetry, random art, and algorithmic composition, demonstrating how artists like Alfred Jensen and writers like Jackson Mac Low integrated numbers, prime numbers, and arbitrary systems into their creative processes, ultimately arguing for mathematics' significant role in understanding modern artistic thought.You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:https://linktr.ee/book_shelterGet the Book now from Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Twentieth-Century-Literature-Art-Content/dp/1421413795?&linkCode=ll2&tag=cvthunderx-20&linkId=eaf5adc29067038995ec2e816a2f83da&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlProduced by Podcai Studio:https://www.podcaistudio.com/

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 1, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Mathematics in Twentieth-Century Literature and Art: Content, Form, Meaning

0:00 25:12

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Book Shelter?

This episode is 25 minutes long.

When was this Book Shelter episode published?

This episode was published on April 1, 2026.

Can I download this Book Shelter episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!