This text was first published in France under the title La procédure silence (2000, Editions Galilee). The current publication is a reprint of the English version, with translation and a preface provided by Julie Rose, which was published in 2003 by Continuum. In the text, Virilio (director, École Spéciale d'Architecture, Paris) presents two essays on the development of art and science during the 20th century, which further develop his earlier theory on the "aesthetics of disappearance." Virilio reevaluates 20th-century theories of modern art and duration, the spoken word and the right to stay silent in an era that is increasingly shaped by the shrill sonority of contemporary art. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)