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Books > Arts & Architecture > General
This fascinating work will prove valuable for collections in film, theater history, and Shakespearean production. . . . The book includes fascinating production photos and helpful notes in which the original acts and scenes are identified, thus showing the extent to which Welles rearranged Shakespeare by shuffling acts and scenes, dropping characters, and by merging related narratives. . . . Recommended for all libraries. Choice This volume contains the fully annotated playscripts of Orson Welles' celebrated adaptations of three Shakespearean plays. Texts for the Voodoo Macbeth and the modern dress Julius Caesar are stage managers' working copies used by the Federal Theatre Project of the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) and the Mercury Theatre; the version of Five Kings, Welles' compilation of the history plays and his theatrical masterpiece, is the oldest surviving text, and is the fullest and most inclusive. This is the first publication of these materials, which were originally produced by Welles between 1936 and 1939. Orson Welles' New York directorial debut was made in 1936 with his production of the Voodoo Macbeth. Richard France's introduction provides invaluable background information that relates the three plays and their productions to the contemporary social, historical, political, and economic climate of the 30s, in discussions that touch not only on the W.P.A., but also on the effect of the American Communist Party ideology on theatre arts and criticism, on the composition of theatre audiences, and on the expectations of such fervently liberal or leftist audiences. France contends that Welles, in his W.P.A. and Mercury Theatre productions, presided over a unique marriage of art and the highly politicized popular culture of the day. These productions ensured Welles' enormous success and have earned him an important niche in American social and cultural history. Following the general introduction, the volume is divided into three sections. A preface to each of the scripts contains further biographical and background data relevant to that play, as well as critical materials, production photos, and facsimile pages. Information about the creation and production of Voodoo Macbeth (1936), Julius Caesar (1937), and Five Kings (1939) was gathered in numerous interviews with Welles' W.P.A. and Mercury Theatre collaborators. Each playscript is proceeded by production credits and a cast list and followed by a section of notes that contains Welles' own directorial marginalia. This singular and very focused volume will be a distinguished addition to courses in American Drama, American Studies, Play Production, and in courses that explore idiosyncratic productions of Shakespeare.
Modern European cinema and love examines nine European directors whose films contain stories about romantic love and marriage. The directors are Jean Renoir, Ingmar Bergman, Alain Resnais, Michelangelo Antonioni, Agnès Varda, François Truffaut, Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard and Éric Rohmer. The book approaches questions of love and marriage from a philosophical perspective, applying the ideas of authors such as Stanley Cavell, Leo Bersani, Luce Irigaray and Alain Badiou, while also tracing key concepts from Freudian psychoanalysis. Each of the filmmakers engages deeply with notions of modern love and marriage, often in positive ways, but also in ways that question the institutions of love, marriage and the ‘couple’. -- .
As evidenced in interviews included in this volume, many African American filmmakers consider themselves artists first, their ethnicity being only part of what influences their work. This is the first book by an African American on contemporary African American filmmakers. Here directors and producers speak for themselves, posing challenges to current thinking in the field. Special emphasis is given to the filmmakers' productions and their experiences. Essays on historic figures reveal the rich history of the African American contribution to cinema. From Oscar Micheaux and Spencer Williams to Neema Barnett and the team of George Jackson and Doug McHenry, this revealing reference work will enlighten scholars, students, and film buffs. As early as 1899, African Americans were involved in the filmmaking industry. Oscar Micheaux took directing, writing, and producing to a higher level with the release of his first film in 1918; by 1948 he had made more than forty films. Currently, by international world cinema standards, the African American tradition rivals cinema from anywhere in the world, but these filmmakers face a quandary: whether to make films through the Hollywood system or follow an independent vision. This book presents a cross-section of filmmakers from each camp and also focuses on those who work in both arenas.
This book examines the television serials created by influential showrunner David Simon. The book argues that Simon’s main theme is the state of the contemporary American city and that all of his serials (barring one about the Iraq War) explore different facets of the metropolis. Each series offers distinctly different visions of the American city, but taken together they represent a sustained and intricate exploration of urban problems in modern America. From deindustrialisation in The Wire and residential segregation in Show Me a Hero to post-Katrina New Orleans in Treme and the transformation of the urban core in The Deuce, David Simon’s American city traces the urban through-line in Simon’s body of work. Based on sustained analysis of these serials and their engagement with contemporary politics and culture, David Simon’s American city offers a compelling examination of one of television’s most arresting voices. -- .
Very little has been published about the profession of theatrical lighting design, and less has been written about the individuals who practice this art. Until recently, the field was not recognized as a craft separate from stage design, and lighting designers were not credited in playbills or programs. Over four hundred individuals who designed lighting are profiled here in biographical sketches, each accompanied by a chronological listing of Broadway credits for lighting, and for scenic and costume design when relevant. An introduction briefly surveys the lighting design profession and its development on Broadway. Appendixes list winners of the three major awards in the field, and a selective bibliography on lighting design is included. The index provides access from the play title to the designer's name, and, in doing so, indicates every play for which a lighting designer was credited. The frontispiece reproduces a light plot by Jean Rosenthal for Night of the Iguana (1962). This comprehensive volume will be valuable to researchers and professionals in lighting design, stage design, and theatre history generally.
This examination and comprehensive assessment of apocalyptic film studies fifty films that illustrate the variety, range and different categories of the genre. Apocalyptic films are those that depict, on screen as part of the story, an event threatening the extinction of mankind. A brief overview identifies seven major categories of apocalyptic films: the religious or supernatural, celestial collision, solar or orbital disruption, nuclear war and radioactive fallout, germ warfare or pestilence, alien device or invasion, and scientific miscalculation. Alphabetically arranged entries rate the films and provide production information, an annotated cast listing, a synopsis of the film, a critique, and representative quotes. Film scholars and those with a special interest in apocalyptic cinema will appreciate the overview and detailed analysis of the films. Appendices provide additional examples of apocalyptic movies excluded from the main text, a sampling of post-apocalyptic cinema which is distinct from the apocalyptic genre and examples of apocalyptic television. Illustrations are included.
Shark Week expert, Dr. Greg Skomal, returns with a new shark handbook offering you a thorough exploration of the most fearsome and misunderstood shark on Earth. Discover the great white’s astonishing evolutionary adaptations, common misconceptions, and the ways these magnificent creatures are integral to marine ecosystems. Written by a premier shark expert and marine biologist, this illuminating book will take you beyond the dramatic representations in media and pop culture and allow you to appreciate the power and beauty of these remarkable cold-blooded carnivores. This great white manifesto includes: Hundreds of stunning underwater photographs A thorough profile of this shark’s habitat, behavior, anatomy, size, diet, hunting habits, and more The latest expert discoveries about this species Invaluable information about conservation efforts and threats to the population Learn from the scientists and conservationists who have made learning about and protecting these impressive sharks their lifes’ work. Sink your teeth into the secret world of sharks with The Great White Shark Handbook.
Luminous presence: Derek Jarman's life-writing is the first book to analyse the prolific writing of queer icon Derek Jarman. Although he is well known for his avant-garde filmmaking, his garden, and his AIDS activism, he is also the author of over a dozen books, many of which are autobiographical. Much of Jarman's exploration of post-war queer identity and imaginative response to HIV/AIDS can be found in his books, such as the lyrical AIDS diaries Modern Nature and Smiling in Slow Motion. This book fully explores, for the first time, the remarkable range and depth of Jarman’s writing. Spanning his career, Alexandra Parsons argues that Jarman’s self-reflexive response to the HIV/AIDS crisis was critical in changing the cultural terms of queer representation from the 1980s onwards. Luminous presence is of great interest to students, scholars and readers of queer histories in literature, art and film. -- .
Examines the impact and importance of the health education film in Europe and North America in the first half of the twentieth century. During the twentieth century, film came to be seen as a revolutionary technology that could entertain, document, instruct, and transform a mass audience. In the fields of medicine and public health, doctors, educators, health advocates, and politicians were especially enthusiastic about the potential of the motion picture for communicating about health-related topics, including sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, tuberculosis, smoking, alcoholism, and contraception. Focusing on the period from the 1910s to the 1960s, this book is the first collection to examine the history of the public health education film in Europe and North America. It explores how a variety of commercial, governmental, medical, and public health organizations in Europe and North America turned to movies to educate the public, reform their health behaviors, and manage their anxieties and hopes about health, illness, and medical and public health interventions. Moreover, by looking at categories of movies as well as individual examples, the book tackles questions of the representativeness of individual films and the relationship between the publichealth film and other forms of motion picture. CONTRIBUTORS: Christian Bonah, Tim Boon, David Cantor, Ursula von Keitz, Anja Laukötter, Elizabeth Lebas, Vincent Lowy, Kirsten Ostherr, Miriam Posner, Alexandre Sumpf Christian Bonah is a professor of the history of health and life sciences at the University of Strasbourg. David Cantor is a historian at the National Institutes of Health and the School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park. Anja Laukötter is a historian at the Center for the History of Emotions at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin.
The fabled treasures of China span thousands of years of history. From the exotic Silk Road to the mysterious Great Wall, China’s allure is as vast as the country itself. Here, Natasha Bennett introduces the fascinating world of Chinese arms and armour in the Royal Armouries’ collection. Offering a colourful insight into one of the world’s earliest civilisations, she chronicles the development of personal weapons and armour from the late Bronze Age to the early twentieth century. It is ideal for anyone interested in the military and material culture of this absorbing land.
Accompanying a major exhibition at Philip Mould & Company, Without Hands: The Art of Sarah Biffin presents the work of the remarkable 19th-century disabled artist who has been largely overlooked by art historians. This book and exhibition celebrate her art, life and legacy. Sarah Biffin (1784–1850) came from humble origins yet rose to fame in the 19thcentury as an exceptionally talented miniaturist. As a working-class, disabled female artist, her artworks – many proudly signed “without hands” – are a testament to her talent and life-long determination. Despite her prolific artistic output, Biffin’s life and work has been largely overlooked by art historians – until now. Sarah Biffin was born with the condition ‘phocomelia’, described on her baptism record as ‘born without arms and legs’. She spent her childhood in her family home where she learnt to sew and write. Biffin was later contracted to Mr Dukes, who ran a travelling sideshow, where Biffin would write and paint in front of an audience. The crowds who turned up left with a sample of her writing included in the cost of their ticket. In her mid-twenties she began formal tuition with a miniature painter, William Marshall Craig, and from 1816 she set herself up as an independent artist. Biffin travelled extensively, exhibiting her artwork and taking commissions all over the country, before finally settling in Liverpool. Throughout her long and successful career, she took commissions from nobility and royalty, and recorded her own likeness across the years through exquisitely detailed self-portraits. Working closely with the project’s advisor – artist Alison Lapper MBE (born with the same condition as Sarah Biffin 180 years later) – and consultant and contributor – Professor Essaka Joshua (specialist in Disability Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana) – this publication and exhibition seek to celebrate Biffin as a disabled artist who challenged contemporary attitudes to disability. It is fully illustrated and includes original research.
A wonderfully illustrated exploration of one of Hokusai's key motifs: Mount Fuji. Hokusai's Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji and the three volumes of his subsequent One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji show his fascination with a single motif: Mount Fuji. Hokusai's near-obsession with Fuji was part of his hankering after artistic immortality – in Buddhist and Daoist tradition, Fuji was thought to hold the secret to eternal life, as one popular interpretation of its name suggests: 'Fu-shi' ('not death'). Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji was produced from c. 1830 to 1832 when Hokusai was in his seventies and at the height of his career. Among the prints are three of the artist's most famous: The Great Wave off Kanagawa, Fine Wind, Clear Morning and Thunderstorm Beneath the Summit. By the time he created his second great tribute to Mount Fuji, three volumes comprising One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji, he was using the artist names Gakyo rojin ('Old Man Crazy to Paint'), and Manji ('Ten Thousand Things', or 'Everything'). Contrasting the mountain's steadfastness and solidity with the ravages of the surrounding elements, Hokusai depicts Fuji through different seasons, weather conditions and settings, and in so doing communicates an important message: while life changes, Fuji stands still. Including all the illustrations from these two masterpieces, this book also features many of Hokusai’s earlier renditions of the mountain, as well as later paintings. In this way, through Mount Fuji, this volume traces a history of Hokusai’s oeuvre overall.
This book offers the only examination of the television writing of David Milch and David Simon as significant contributions to American culture, literature, and social realism. David Milch and David Simon are two of the most prolific and successful television drama writers in the last 30 years. These talented writers have combined real-world knowledge with wild imaginations and understandings of the human psyche to create riveting shows with realistic environments and storylines. Minch and Simon's writing have resulted in television series that have earned both critical acclaim and millions of viewers. The Wire, Deadwood, Homicide, and NYPD Blue: Violence is Power is the most comprehensive text yet written about Milch and Simon, and documents how television dramas of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s mirrored American culture with unprecedented sociological accuracy. The author explains how both individuals are not only capable dramatists, but also insightful cultural critics. This book also examines the full range of Milch's and Simon's authorial careers, including Milch's books True Blue: The Real Stories behind NYPD Blue and Deadwood: Tales of the Black Hills and Simon's Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood.
Animation is one of the fastest growing mediums in the film and television world – whether it’s Frozen or Paw Patrol, Family Guy or Rick and Morty. This book is the definitive guide to storytelling for writers, directors, storyboard artists and animators. Suitable for both the student and the professional, it provides indispensable knowledge on the entire process of writing for animated movies, TV series and short films. The reader will be provided with all the tools necessary to produce professional quality scripts that will start, or further, their career in animation. Beginning with the fundamentals of ‘why animation?’ this book will lead the reader through a series of principles that will raise the level of their storytelling. These principles are tried and tested on a daily basis by the authors who have a twenty-year track record in the animation industry. Many people are trying to break into the world of writing for animation and a lot of the people who are ‘already in’ would like to get more work. The reality is that writing for animation is a very specific craft that can be learnt like any other craft. This book will give the reader both the basic and advanced techniques that will put them ahead of the rest of the field.
In Curating the Moving Image, influential curator and theorist Mark Nash draws on his work at Documenta11, the Venice Biennale, and elsewhere to explore the possibilities of contemporary curation. Constructing this richly illustrated book as a curatorial project in and of itself, Nash outlines several key concepts that range from exhibition architecture and curating as an affective and artistic practice to post-cold war aesthetics and contemporary Chinese art. Throughout these essays on contemporary art, film, and installation, Nash offers critical commentary and reflection on exhibitions he has curated, including those that focus on socialist and utopian ideals following the end of the Cold War. He also folds curating into a discussion of forms of artistic production that are connected to alternative trajectories of collective and collaborative practice. Ultimately, Nash demonstrates that the art world and contemporary curatorial practice constitute some of the most important tools for social and aesthetic exchange in the twenty-first century.
More than 100 years ago the brothers Adolf ("Adi") and Rudolf Dassler made their first pair of sports shoes. Hundreds of groundbreaking designs, epic moments, and star-studded collabs later, this book presents a visual review of the adidas shoe through almost 200 models.To further develop and tailor his products to athletes’ specific needs, Dassler asked them to return their worn footwear when no longer needed, with all the shoes eventually ending up in his attic (to this day, many athletes return their shoes to adidas, often as a thank you after winning a title or breaking a world record). This collection now makes up the "adidas archive", one of the largest, if not the largest archive of any sports goods manufacturer in the world—which photographers Christian Habermeier and Sebastian Jäger have been visually documenting in extreme detail for years.Shot using the highest reproduction techniques, these images reveal the fine details as much as the stains, the tears, the repair tape, the grass smudges, the faded autographs. It’s all here, unmanipulated and captured in extremely high resolution—and with it comes to light the personal stories of each individual wearer. We encounter the shoes worn by West Germany’s football team during its “miraculous” 1954 World Cup win and those worn by Kathrine Switzer when she ran the Boston Marathon in 1967, before women were officially allowed to compete; custom models for stars from Madonna to Lionel Messi; collabs with the likes of Pharrell Williams, Raf Simons, Stella McCartneyor Yohji Yamamoto; as well as the brand’s trailblazing techniques and materials.Accompanied by expert texts, each picture tells us the why and the how, but also conveys the driving force behind adidas. What we discover goes beyond mere design; in the end, these are just shoes, worn out by their users who have loved them—but they are also first-hand witnesses of our sports, design, and culture history, from the beginnings of the Dassler brothers and the founding of adidas until today.
Often referred to as the actor's actor, Spencer Tracy's subtle introspection and thoroughly naturalistic style continue to impress actors and audiences alike. He began his career on the stage, and then went on to attain considerable acclaim as a film star for Fox Studios and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He won back-to-back Academy Awards in 1937 and 1938, began a legendary personal and professional relationship with Katharine Hepburn, and worked as an independent film star in the 1950s and 1960s. This volume provides detailed information for Tracy's many performances in film, radio, television, and drama. The book begins with a short biography that summarizes Tracy's professional development. The chapters that follow chronicle his fascinating career. Each chapter is devoted to his work in a particular medium and provides entries for his individual performances. Entries present cast and credit information, plot synopses, reviews, and commentary. An annotated bibliography discusses sources of additional information about Tracy, and photos illustrate his life and work.
This book compares production and consumption of Asian horror cinemas in different national contexts and their multidirectional dialogues with Hollywood and neighboring Asian cultures. |
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