Theories of Performance invites students to explore the possibilities of performance for creating, knowing, and staking claims to the world. Each chapter surveys, explains, and illustrates classic, modern, and postmodern theories that answer the questions, "What is performance?" "Why do people perform?" and "How does performance constitute our social and political worlds?" The chapters feature performance as the entry point for understanding texts, drama, culture, social roles, identity, resistance, and technologies. Written specifically for the undergraduate classroom, performance theories are explained in ways accessible to students, relevant to their lives, and richly illustrated with examples that encourage students to think more, to think harder, and to think differently about performances around them. The text incorporates a variety of pedagogical strategies to encourage students to demonstrate, apply, extend, and share their discoveries about theory. Each chapter provides student-centered exercises, activities, and prompts. From Aristotelian tragedy to on-line avatars, Dramatism to performativity, cultural performance to public protest, canon wars to virtual reality, Theories of Performance brings classic, modern, and postmodern theories to life in the classroom. "Elizabeth Bell has done a prodigious, expert, and original synthesis of the new work in performance studies here, by grounding performance in communication theory and practice. Students reading this book will more readily see how and why performance is a way of communicating, empowering them to critically participate in producing and consuming the myriad texts and performances in which we are immersed. The 'Act Out' and other boxes present effective and innovative learning activities; they move performance from a display of competence to participation in bodily knowing. In short, Theories of Performance is an exceptional accomplishment. " - Kristin M. Langellier, University of Maine "Theories of Performance is the BEST synthesis of performance studies issues, concepts, and methodologies that yet exists. This textbook is invaluable and will make performance studies classrooms 'smarter' and more sophisticated both in terms of content and in practice. What a treat it will be to offer students a text that takes the best thoughts, practices, and examples and presents it to them in an engaging, surprising, and provocative format!" - Keith Pounds, Hofstra University

An urgent and eloquent account of a boy traveling in a caravan from his beloved homeland of El Salvador to the US border. This novel in verse is a powerful first-person account of Misael Martínez, a Salvadoran boy whose family joins the caravan heading north to the United States. We learn all the different reasons why people feel the need to leave -- the hope that lies behind their decision, but also the terrible sadness of leaving home. We learn about how far and hard the trip is, but also about the kindness of those along the way. Finally, once the caravan arrives in Tijuana, Misael and those around him are relieved. They think they have arrived at the goal of the trip -- to enter the United States. But then tear gas, hateful demonstrations, force and fear descend on these vulnerable people. The border is closed. The book ends with Misael dreaming of El Salvador. This beautiful and timely story is written in simple but poetic verse by Jorge Argueta, the award-winning author of Somos como las nubes / We Are Like the Clouds. Award-winning Mexican illustrator Manuel Monroy illuminates Misael's journey. An author's note is included, along with a map showing the caravan's route. Key Text Features author's note map illustrations Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).

From Mouse to Mermaid, an interdisciplinary collection of original essays, is the first comprehensive, critical treatment of Disney cinema. Addressing children s classics as well as the Disney affiliates more recent attempts to capture adult audiences, the contributors respond to the Disney film legacy from feminist, marxist, poststructuralist, and cultural studies perspectives. The volume contemplates Disney s duality as an American icon and as an industry of cultural production, created in and through fifty years of filmmaking. The contributors treat a range of topics at issue in contemporary cultural studies: the performance of gender, race, and class; the engendered images of science, nature, technology, family, and business. The compilation of voices in From Mouse to Mermaid creates a persuasive cultural critique of Disney s ideology.

The contributors are Bryan Attebery, Elizabeth Bell, Claudia Card, Chris Cuomo, Ramona Fernandez, Henry A. Giroux, Robert Haas, Lynda Haas, Susan Jeffords, N. Soyini Madison, Susan Miller, Patrick Murphy, David Payne, Greg Rode, Laura Sells, and Jack Zipes."

'Loss, or rather the sense of loss, has to be one of the hardest psychological problems that face human beings.' We live in aspirational times. It is all too easy for people who have more to believe they are more, and by identifying ourselves by what we have, we are increasingly vulnerable to loss. This unusual and engaging book is designed for all health care professionals as a reminder of the need for sensitivity in the clinical encounter and to encourage the application of an holistic approach to medicine in everyday practice. The A-Z of Loss comprises twenty-six varied clinical scenarios arranged alphabetically to stimulate thought and consideration. Each is followed by a psychological analysis of loss and questions for personal development. This highly practical guide is suitable for all professionals who encounter grieving people. '... should be on every healthcare professional's shelf. Health care education now includes training in communication skills. This is even more essential as we deal with an increasingly well-informed and sophisticated public.

Below is our wholesaler's description. We have ordered the cover scribing option, and we do want our professionally-written back cover prose used here, so please submit our prose for professional review. "This book is about the power of intention to create your life. It is the kind of intention that is born of choice and aligns you with your highest self, pulling you forward toward your highest good. It is also about commitment to a practice and a daily reminder that you are at choice about how you live the moments of your days. And lastly it is about the beauty and rewards of friendship and intimacy. If your life is not what you have dreamed of, you have the power within you to change it. By getting clear and conscious of your inner longing, of your true path in life, by visualizing the results and committing to authentic action, you can do anything that your heart desires. This book provides a clear and powerful format for this daily practice. Authors Elizabeth Bell and Maxine Barish-Wreden have been best friends and prayer partners for over 16 years. They are both health care professionals committed to healing and wholeness and bring the power of intention and vision to their work as well as to their own lives. In large part they credit the daily practice of prayerful intention for the rich quality of their lives and their relationships, and they look to share this with all women.