Because the night. An archaeology of the image of modern phantasmagoria

Abstract

49 Shock Me All Night Long: trans-illumination The invention of industrial artificial lighting marked a turning point in the way buildings and streets were perceived and represented, as the bright lights of the modern metropolis were able to dispel the fear of darkness and the unknown. However, at the same time, the night-time city also became associated with the ideas and feelings of spectrality, as the new artificial lights illuminated the previ- ously dark and opaque constructions, creating a sense of unease and uncertainty.