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Description
Exploring the prevalence and plasticity of “toxicity” as a cultural and aesthetic metric, this book argues that the concept reflects deeper societal shifts, and is not only environmental, but also social and psychological.
Thorsten Botz-Bornstein analyses the rise of an aesthetic capitalism that values moods, atmospheres, and feelings as much as function. However, looking closer, this new humanism is just as functional as the high-modern functionalism it deems to have overcome. The phrase “toxic atmospheric functionalism” grasps the present situation.
Through vivid examples, the book explores the “air freshener paradox”: the idea that products designed to improve atmospheres often emit harmful chemicals. Similarly, urban designers, wellness coaches, and business consultants, who aim to create positivity, often generate toxicity instead. This is “toxic positivity,” distinct from “positive toxicity,” where toxicity itself is marketed as desirable, such as perfumes branded with the word toxic.
The book maps toxicity across a spectrum: from kitsch and air fresheners on the positive side to conspiracy theories and toxic masculinity on the negative. Both construct alternative realities. Ultimately, Botz-Bornstein shows how neoliberal culture absorbs ideals like feminism, ecology, and wokeness, transforming them into functional devices that sustain a pervasive toxic atmosphere.
Accessibility Information
Additional accessibility information
- EPUB 3.0
- Conforms with the requirements of EPUB Accessibility Spec v1.1
- WCAG level AA
- WCAG v2.2 compliant
- accessibility@bloomsbury.com
Hazards
The publication contains no hazards
Support for non-visual reading
- No accessibility features offered by the reading system, device or reading software are disabled or otherwise unusable with the product
- Has alternative text descriptions for images
Visual adjustments
Appearance of the text and page layout can be modified according to the capabilities of the reading system (font family and size, spaces, as well as color of background and text)
Navigation
- Page list to go to pages from the print source version
- Elements such as headings, tables, etc for structured navigation
- All or substantially all textual matter is arranged in a single logical reading order
- Content is enhanced with ARIA roles to optimize organization and facilitate navigation
- Purposes of all links are made clear
Rich content
Language tagging provided
Table of Contents
1. Toxic Positivity and Positive Toxicity
2. Aesthetic Capitalism and the Rise of Toxicity
3. Para-Toxic Constellations
4. The Phenomenology of Toxic Environments
5. Toxic versus Poisonous
6. Poisonous Lies and Toxic Bullshit
7. The Aesthetics of the Toxic
8. Toxic Kitsch
9. The Ethics of the Toxic
10. Toxic Conspiracies
11. Toxic Positivity
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Product details
| Published | Jan 21 2027 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (Epub & Mobi) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 208 |
| ISBN | 9781350633858 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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