Individual actors Books

Book SynopsisFilm star. Icon. Agitator. Martyr. Paul Robeson was a twentieth-century icon; the most famous African-American of his time. The son of a former slave, he found worldwide fame as a performer, travelling from Hollywood to the West End, and even to communist Russia. A champion of social justice and equality, he would go on to lose everything for the sake of his principles. Here, Jeff Sparrow traces Robeson’s remarkable life. Part travelogue, part biography, this is a story of political ardour, heritage, and trauma — a luminous portrait of a man and an urgent reflection on the politics that define us now. Trade Review‘Sparrow shows how this admittedly splendid actor, this marvelous singer, this charismatic speaker, had somehow evolved into something more: he had for many people become the embodiment of the global longing for a better world, a juster dispensation … Sparrow has made perfect and haunting sense of him.’ * New York Review of Books *‘In a chronologically methodical and delightfully insightful approach that might best be described as “bio-tourism”, Australian author, journalist, and broadcaster Sparrow tells the story of preternaturally gifted Paul Robeson … [A]n excellent and perhaps timely reboot of Robeson’s singularly incredible life, especially as its trajectory now intersects with contemporary racial issues.’ * Library Journal *‘Written with an exhilarating combination of insight and passion … A necessary book. A social movement that calls itself “Black Lives Matter” exists because those lives are being treated as if they don't. Sparrow knows that when he writes of the past, “If you believed in nothing, you’d fall for anything”, he is also writing about now.’ * Anna Funder, author of Stasiland *‘This is an inspiring biography of a really remarkable human being.’ -- Johann Hari, author of Chasing the Scream‘Brilliantly told by Jeff Sparrow, Paul Robeson's story is compelling and important. No Way But This is a challenge to history and a reminder of what unites us.’ -- Owen Jones, Guardian columnist and author of The Establishment‘Jeff Sparrow is the latest biographer to tackle this riveting subject and he ably demonstrates how journalistic method can contribute to historical understanding.’ * TLS *‘Urgent and compelling … A mix of essay, journalism, history and biography [that is] engaging, original and insightful … Fascinating, instructive and full of astute observations on race and politics, No Way But This: In Search of Paul Robeson will appeal to readers passionate about social justice and the history of 20th-century political movements.’ STARRED REVIEW * Books+Publishing *‘An amazing story I didn't even know I didn't know. Jeff pulls us through the grubby terrain of race, Jesus, prison, and fascism.’ -- John Safran, author of Murder in Mississippi‘With sensitive inquisition; fierce curiosity; razor-sharp observation; crisp, engaging prose; and a fondness and respect for his subject that fairly sings, Sparrow once again proves himself one of the finest nonfiction writers we have.’ -- Maxine Beneba Clarke, author of The Hate Race‘Part journalist, part historian, Jeff Sparrow writes with loving discernment about a remarkable man and the forces that shaped his unmistakable voice. [This is] a gripping story of courage and commitment, told by one of our finest chroniclers of the human capacity for tenderness amid the squalor. Sparrow takes us on a global journey, revealing that beyond an old man and a river, there lies a deep valley of hatred and hope, sadness and solidarity.’ -- Claire Wright, Stella Prize-winning author of The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka‘Jeff Sparrow's No Way But This is a major addition to what we know of, and how we may know, this 20th-century giant … It's impossible to do justice in a brief space to such a life of commitment — or to suggest just what a compelling narrative Sparrow has made of it. He has aptly brought this giant to the attention of later generations.’ * Sydney Morning Herald *‘Paul Robeson was truly a giant of a man, in physical stature, courage, intellect, and creative endeavour. With this intimate and engaging portrait, we are able to gain an invaluable insight into a major political and artistic talent of the twentieth century. Ours is a time requiring inspiration, affiliation, and solidarity. Paul Robeson surely provides the inspiration we desperately need.’ -- Tony Birch, author of Blood and Ghost River‘A great book about a fascinating man. Read it and be inspired!’ -- Srdja Popovic, author of Blueprint for Revolution‘Both moving and illuminating … It is timely that in an era when there are more African-American men in jail or on parole in the United States than there were men in bondage at the height of slavery and when the Black Lives Matter movement is gathering momentum that there is a book to remind us about this astonishing individual and the political climate in which he used his popular voice to highlight systemic inequality.’ * Readings *‘An illuminating look at the life of a frankly remarkable man.’ FIVE BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ THIS MONTH * The AU Review *‘Book of the week … [A] conscientious and often painful biography.’ * Daily Mail *‘Sparrow has eloquently portrayed Robeson as a giant of a man who was prepared to kill off his career for his political beliefs. He emphasises that past struggles should inform today; we need not just inspiration to act but affiliation to organise and solidarity to withstand.’ * Morning Star Online *‘Remarkable … It revives Robeson as a model of integrity and bravery — someone who, despite the precarity of his social position, risked his life and career for the ideas of workers' rights, black liberation, anti-colonialism and international socialism. As Robeson's story unfolds, the ghosts of past struggles unite with those who fight for political emancipation around the world today. By naming and connecting these diverse groups, Sparrow opens a space for a new public to be formed. Robeson, with his integrity, struggles and flaws, provides a powerful model for the kinds of political action we so desperately need.’ * Sydney Review of Books *‘Told sensitively and often movingly by a writer awake to the nuances of the political and social contexts in which Robeson moved, this is a story that reverberates today, full of tragedy but also exhilaration and promise. It is the story we need to hear.’ * Overland *‘Sparrow's lively portrait should restore a little of the fame the great man deserves.’ * Weekend Herald (Auckland) *‘Robeson’s character, art, principled politics and legacy of extraordinary courage all come vividly to life in No Way But This. There are many worthy books about the life of Paul Robeson, but this is one not to be missed.’ * Red Flag *‘ … a splendid account of this fabulous figure … This is an intriguing life, beautifully realised by a fine writer, and should be widely read and appreciated.’ * The Miner *‘A thoughtful, sensitive and respectful examination of the life and work of Paul Robeson … More than the biography of one remarkable man, the book is a testament to Robeson's conviction that despite it all, there was no way but to struggle for a better world.’ * Green Left Weekly *‘The book gripped me. I read excerpts to The Spouse over breakfast; I neglected the ironing, forgot to water the vegetable patch … Now that’s a book well worth reading!’ * ANZ LitLovers *‘An entertaining, informative and important book.’ -- Kit de Waal, author of My Name is Leon‘Absolutely wonderful.’ -- Simon Callow‘Sparrow's account not only soars, it sings.’ * Sight and Sound *‘This passionate biography is testament to a figure who deserves to be better remembered.’ * Esquire, The Big Book Awards *‘[W]ritten with deep admiration for its subject.’ -- Nadifa Mohamed * The Guardian *‘[A] pleasing, engaging mix of biography, social history, in-the-footsteps research, and personal reflection … A lucid, thought-provoking tribute to Robeson by an author determined to stand where Robeson stood and imagine what he thought.’ * Kirkus *‘Sparrow has made a worthy effort, joining other recent work, including Jordan Goodman’s Paul Robeson: A Watched Man and Gerald Horne’s Paul Robeson: the Artist as Revolutionary. Each is worth reading.’ * Paul Buhle *‘Sparrow’s book is a very effective and compelling way of introducing Robeson to readers not so interested in conventional biographies.’ -- Tayo Aluko * Morning Star *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a book about three things: 1. A room called the Comedy Cellar. 2. Who gets to speak in that room. 3. What they get to say. The Comedy Cellar is a tiny basement club in New York’s Greenwich Village. Run according to the principles of its owners, the Dworman family, it became a safe place for stand-ups to take risks and experiment. Superstar comedians such as Amy Schumer, Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, and Louis CK became regulars, celebrities started to hang out, the club hosted debates, and everyone was encouraged to argue at its back table. Then the Comedy Cellar ended up on the frontline of the global culture war. Andrew Hankinson speaks to the Cellar’s owner, comedians, and audience members, using interviews, emails, podcasts, letters, text messages, and previously private documents to create a conversation about who gets to speak and what they get to say, and why. Moving backwards in time from Louis CK’s downfall to when Manny Dworman used to host folk singers including Bob Dylan, this is about a comedy club, but it’s also about the widening cultural chasm.Trade Review‘For all those interested in comedy, free speech and how they do those things in New York, Andrew Hankinson’s Don’t applaud. Either laugh or don’t is really excellent, and has made me immediately want to read his other book.’ -- Dara Ó Briain‘This book is fucking fantastic … Honestly one that was nearly impossible to stop reading.’ -- Doug Stanhope, comedian‘A fascinating tour through the history of a comedy club in a constant state of flux caused by the political and technological upheavals outside its walls.’ * The Telegraph *‘Cleverly structured ... So smartly done and so unbelievably timely too ... One of the best books I've read this year.’ -- Stuart Heritage, author of Bedtime Stories for Worried Liberals‘Fascinating.’ -- Al Murray‘If you're interested in comedy or free speech or power you MUST read Andrew Hankinson's new book about the Comedy Cellar which is one of those great bits of writing that makes everyone's position feel interesting.’ -- Sarah Ditum‘Credit to Hankinson for tackling these broad, important ideas – what speech is acceptable, what’s forbidden – and trying to understand them through the prism of a specific environment.’ -- NJ McGarrigle * The Irish Times *‘A fascinating read.’ -- Georgina Godwin * Monocle *‘Thought-provoking … the author takes the history of the nearly-forty-year-old club as a microcosm of the comedy industry; Hankinson see its values, its unspoken rules and attitude to acceptable speech, onstage and off, as a useful reflection of American culture as a whole.’ -- Madeleine Brettingham * TLS *‘Compelling … the sacrifice of authorial vanity gives this book warmth, honesty, and a resistance to easy conclusions.’ -- Sarah Ditum * UnHerd *‘This oral history is dominated by discussion of freedom of speech and what should be acceptable within the confines of a comedy club … it captures the intensely combative, competitive, hierarchical and often petty atmosphere of an iconic comedy venue.’ -- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald *‘Andrew Hankinson is a brilliant writer, and this is a fascinating book. And I say that as someone with zero interest in stand-up comedy.’ -- Melissa Harrison, author of The Stubborn Light of Things‘The best book I've yet read about freedom of expression.’ -- Andy Miller, author of The Year of Reading Dangerously‘The smartest (and funniest) book yet on the culture/free speech wars. Andrew Hankinson does it again with another incredible work of nonfiction.’ -- Will Storr, author of Selfie: How the West Became Self-Obsessed‘A deeply thoughtful and perceptive new book … [A] truly brilliant voice.’ -- Jason Hazeley, writer on Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe and Paddington‘It is brilliant.’ -- Padraig Reidy * Little Atoms *‘A valuable historical document but also a timely and important investigation into morality, masculinity, censorship and freedom of speech in the modern age. It has all the makings of a future cult classic. There’s no book like it.’ -- Benjamin Myers, author of Male Tears‘A demonstration in form and fact of what a less polarised, more humane, discussion about comedy, politics, taste and people looks and feels like, and it's so very necessary.’ -- Mark Blacklock, author of Hinton‘Cannot stop thinking about it. It's the story of an NYC comedy club but it's also about the culture war, even as it rages all around us. What a fantastic book.’ -- Andy Miller, co-host of Backlisted‘Fantastic … The structure is superb.’ -- Adelle Stripe, author of Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile‘A proper creative nonfiction writer who tells true stories with art, in the fine tradition of The New Journalism. A terrific, vital, painful subject.’ -- Richard T Kelly, author of The Knives‘It's incredible.’ -- Bonnie McFarlane, comedian, writer, and co-host of My Wife Hates Me ‘Insightful, and brings back amazing memories of the greatest club in comedy history.’ -- Colin Quinn, comedian, actor, and writer‘Done with such skill that you imbibe stuff by osmosis … Unsettling and understated, this report from the frontline of live comedy is more memorable and thought-provoking than any number of polemics on free speech and offence. Andrew Hankinson is a master of showing, not telling.’ -- Helen Lewis, author of Difficult Women‘An extraordinary insight into the workings of stand-up — the people, the practicalities, the politics, the lines that are crossed … original and affecting.’ -- Dan Davies, author of In Plain Sight‘Plenty of readers will be offended by certain jokes or comments — that’s the nature of the business — but Hankinson ably captures the importance of the Comedy Cellar. A well-crafted tale of comedy stars and thorny social issues that shows just how hard it is to make people laugh.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘What can comedy tell us about the ways the world is changing? This history of storied New York stand-up club The Comedy Cellar offers an in-depth look at the space that helped many a famous comedian break out. But, as befits a venue frequently associated with Louis CK, it also explores the comedy scene’s part in larger cultural controversies, and the Comedy Cellar’s penchant for stoking them.’ -- Tobias Carroll * Inside Hook *‘When someone comes to write the definitive account of Laughter in the Age of Trump — the cruel guffaws, the neutered snickers, the strange inversions whereby the left went into a collective cringe while the authoritarian right waved the flaming brand of free speech — Andrew Hankinson’s superb oral history of a single New York club, the Comedy Cellar, in Greenwich Village, will be heavily featured … Hankinson probes the owners, the comedians, the staff, and the audience.’ * The Atlantic, ‘Summer Reading Guide 2021’ *Praise for You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat]: ‘Immersing the reader in Moat's self-justifications, You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat] is both an experiment in empathy and an exploration of the limits of empathy — holding the reader hostage in the echo chamber of an angry and confused man's head.’ -- Louis TherouxPraise for You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat]: ‘A claustrophobic true-crime account in the tradition of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood … [Hankinson’s] purpose is to show Moat as a product of our culture and society … Moat is presented as an intriguing case study in disintegration, making bad choices then devoting all his intelligence to justifying them in his own head.’ -- Gavin Knight * The Guardian *Praise for You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat]: ‘The second-person voice is a notoriously tricky one to maintain and Hankinson uses it to great effect … Another strength is the overwhelming sense that Moat is not in control of his own narrative.’ * The Saturday Paper *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDame Maggie Smith stands as a remarkable example of the concomitance - in a performer's career - of typecasting and characterisation, that is the ability to impersonate `against type' infinitely various screen or stage characters. This book of appreciation essentially aims at correcting the preconceived image that the general public has of Dame Maggie Smith. Focusing on the last twenty-five years, it examines, through the many parts she has played since the early 1990s, her ability to go beyond typecasting and give, thanks to her chameleon skills, nuanced and convincing portrays of infinitely diverse characters. From "The Importance of Being Earnest" to "Gosford Park" and "Becoming Jane", to "Downton Abbey" and "Sister Act", to "The Last September" and the "Harry Potter" saga, Dame Maggie Smith has had a wide spanning career in TV and Film. Not to mention her theatrical work on the stage.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe great singer, Paul Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA on 9 April 1898. His father, William was a Presbyterian minister and a former slave; his mother, Maria was also descended from slaves. For Robeson as an African-American, the 'American Dream' was a nightmare. At Rutgers College he was subjected to deliberate violence on the football field; his concerts were disrupted by the Ku Klux Klan; he was hounded by the government on account of his communist sympathies. And yet, it is difficult to think of any human being in the whole of history who was more multi-talented. At Rutgers he was admitted to the very highest academic societies: he subsequently played football in the newly-created NFL; he became acquainted with more than 40 languages, and played the piano. He played 'Othello' at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon, and 'Joe' in the film, Show Boat. Yet it was his voice, arguably the finest bass baritone ever to be possessed by a human being, and the message contained in his songs and speeches that echoed right around the world. Here was a message of hope for the poor and underprivileged everywhere, of whatever colour or creed. They too could bring down the 'Walls of Jericho'; gain access to the 'Promised Land'; and finally, be carried to Heaven on a 'Sweet Chariot'! As an author, the challenge for me was to see if I could make contact with any of Paul's descendants and any descendants of his slave owner, who might have unique information about the Robeson family, and to find out where exactly his father, William and mother, Maria had been enslaved. The search was a fruitful one; beyond my wildest dreams, as the reader will discover!Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Author's Note: Some Definitions and Preferences Preface: The Author's First Introduction to Paul Robeson 1 Paul Robeson (born 9 April 1898): A Background of Slavery 2 Paul's Father, William Drew Robeson 3 Paul's Mother, Maria Louisa and her Origins 4 The Reverend William Drew Robeson is Ousted from his Post 5 The Tragic Death of Paul's mother, Maria Louisa 6 Paul's Relationship with his Father 7 Princeton, New Jersey (April 1898-1907) 8 Westfield, New Jersey (1907-1910): Somerville, New Jersey (1910-1915) 9 Paul's Siblings 10 Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey (1915-1917) 11 Harlem: Columbia University, New York City (1919-1923): Marriage to Eslanda (1921) 12 Eslanda's Background 13 The Theatre and Concerts: Paul junior is Born (2 November 1927) 14 How Eslanda Helped Her Husband, Paul 15 Paul's Alleged Faults 16 London (1928-1939) 17 Eslanda's Visit to Africa (1936) 18 Paul's Attitude to Colonialism 19 Return to the USA (1939) 20 The Paris Peace Conference (20-24 April 1949): Jackie Robinson 21 Further Strivings (1949-1953) 22 Eslanda Testifies to the HUAC (7 July 1953) 23 Paul Testifies to the HUAC (12 June 1956) 24 1956-1958 25 Wales: A Welcome in the Valleys for Paul (1957 and 1958) 26 Paul Returns to Czechoslovakia (1959) 27 1961-1976 28 Was Paul Racist? 29 Paul's Forebears: Testimony of the Family 30 Paul's Grandfather Benjamin who was Held in Slavery 31 Paul's Grandmother Sabra who was Held in Slavery 32 Temperance Congleton: A Link with the Robersons 33 The Geographical Proximity of the Roberson and the Congleton Families 34 From what Region of Africa did Benjamin and Sabra's Forebears Originate? 35 How and Where did Benjamin and Sabra First Meet? 36 Oak Grove Church, Perkins, Pitt County, North Carolina: Another Congleton/Roberson Connection 37 Benjamin as a Slave for Hire 38 The Birth of William Drew, Ezekiel, and Margaret 39 The Identity of the Slave Owner of Sabra and her family 40 More About George Outlaw Roberson 41 The Escape of William Drew, Ezekiel, and Margaret 42 How did William Drew, Ezekiel, and Margaret Effect their Escape? The 'Underground Railroad' 43 The American Civil War (12 April 1861 to 9 May 1865): The Contribution made by Blacks 44 What Became of Ezekiel and Margaret? 45 What Became of Paul's Father, William Drew Robeson 46 Were Slave Owners Universally Cruel? 47 How Paul's Songs Resonated Throughout the World 48 Paul's Final Years: Charlotte Turner Bell 49 Paul's Religious Beliefs 50 Epilogue Appendix 1 Some of Paul's Lifetime Awards and Recognitions Appendix 2 The Manilla Appendix 3 George Washington's Personal Standard Appendix 4 Evolution of the 'Stars and Stripes' Appendix 5 The Paul Robeson House & Museum, 4951 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Appendix 6 A Church in Dorset and its Connection with the 'Stars and Stripes'. Appendix 7 Tammy Roberson James, Robersonville, North Carolina, USA, 6 January 2021 Appendix 8 Stephen A. Bess, Rockville, Maryland, USA, 9 January 2021

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn October 1957 Marlon Brando married a young studio actress called Anna Kashfi. He was thirty-three and at the pinnacle of his beautiful fame having recently won an Oscar for On the Waterfront. The wedding was front-page news around the world. His new bride was twenty-three, claimed to be an Indian princess and was pregnant. The day after the wedding a factory worker living in Wales, William O'Callaghan, revealed that Brando's bride was in fact his daughter, Joan O'Callaghan and had been a butcher's assistant from Cardiff. This book sets out to discover who was telling the truth and who was lying – and, perhaps more importantly, why?

Read more less

Book SynopsisActress and playwright Vanessa Rosenthal has been searching for her identity her whole life. Is she Jewish or not? English or not? This character, or that, on and off stage? As she explores these conflicting positions, her frank and funny findings form the basis of this fascinating memoir, bringing her to no fixed conclusion. Vanessa’s story covers her early life and family – and how her mother’s conversion to Judaism sowed the seed of being on the outside looking in. It takes the reader through her years of marriage and family, and the comic trials and successes of life as an actor, mother, wife and ‘establishment’ partner as well as her travels in Europe and Israel. Along the way she examines many taboos on Jewishness, including the deeply sensitive subject of how Judaism deals with conversion. The questions persist despite a happy and creative life, bursting at the seams but this multifaceted and moving memoir moves her closer to one answer: as an apparently insufficiently Jewish Jew, what or who should she be? This memoir will appeal to readers who enjoyed Lynn Barber’s An Education and Laura Cumming’s On Chapel Sands.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Belonging? Chapter 2: London Lights Chapter 3: Beginners on Stage Chapter 4: ‘Let Me Not Admit Impediments’ Chapter 5: All Roads Roam to Leeds Chapter 6: ‘By Indirections Find Directions Out’ Chapter 7: Eastern Europe Chapter 8: Ruth Chapter 9: New Horizons Chapter 10: Bialystok to Burnley Chapter 11: Normandy and Beyond Chapter 12: Being Earnest Chapter 13: Twilight Chapter 14: ‘Writing the Century’ Chapter 15: A New End Chapter 16: And Now Acknowledgments

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnita Pallenberg, instantly recognisable as a member of The Rolling Stones rock n roll circus in the Sixties and Seventies, was no docile groupie. Fluent in four languages, she partied with the jet set in Rome, met Warhol, Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti in New York, was at home with London s leading lights of popular culture and went on to star in over a dozen films, perhaps most notably in Performance. A German-Italian rebel and social phenomenon, Anita consistently gravitated towards the next wave of movers and shakers. Based on exclusive interviews with friends and family, and full of her extraordinary adventures with the rich and famous, as well as her personal triumphs and tragedies, She's a Rainbow delves deep into her fascinating and moving story for the first time ever.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe image of Jordan with her white shards of beehive and Mondrian make-up is one of the most iconic in pop culture. From the counter of Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s taboo-busting shop on 240 King’s Road, she helped shape a revolution. But who was the woman behind it all? How did a ballet-mad girl from Sussex make her way, via the clandestine gay clubs of Brighton and London, to the eye of punk’s storm? What happened after she shared so many hair-raising adventures with the Sex Pistols, Adam and his Ants, Derek Jarman and Andy Warhol – and then just disappeared? With commentary from key players and close friends including Vivienne Westwood, Paul Cook, Marco Pirroni, Holly Johnson, and her partner behind the SEX counter, Michael Collins – plus a wealth of never-before-seen images – Jordan reveals her outrageous life story. Buckle up for a masterclass in true punk spirit.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPeter Sellers was one of the biggest stars of the 1960s and 70s. His career began with characters such as Bluebottle on BBC radio’s The Goon Show and he achieved global fame as Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series. What is less well known is that he served in the Royal Air Force Entertainment Units (known as Gang Shows) for over three years. Now, for the first time, this story can be told, a tale of the formation and education of his remarkable talents, as well as a small corner of Second World War history that seems uniquely British (groups of servicemen and women sent around the world with hampers full of theatrical props and costumes, to rally the troops in distant outposts of Empire). This book reveals previously unknown film footage, photos, performances, broadcasts and recordings, from the very beginning of Sellers’ career.Trade Review"This new book reveals previously unknown film footage, recordings and radio broadcasts, as well as records of more than 100 performances across two continents. It charts [Sellers's] progress from raw recruit to gang show veteran, a journey full of colour and inspiration." -- Chortle (UK)

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 2020, for the first time in centuries, heavy red curtains swept closed on stages across the West End; all theatres were closed. Two actors, keenly feeling the loss of their theatre homes, turned to a form of art that could still thrive over the following months, and set about photographing the stage doors of the deserted city. An extraordinary collaborative project almost two years in the making, Exeunt - The Stage Door Project collects together these moving images, alongside anecdotes from some of the world's leading luminaries who have trodden the boards of the pictured theatres. A tribute to the magical nature of the stage door and the tales lurking behind it, Exeunt is a celebration of the legendary theatres of the city, the extraordinary figures behind the curtain - and the faithful audiences who have flocked back after the storm. Proceeds from sales of this book go to the Actors' Benevolent Fund, ArtsMinds and Theatre Artists Fund Featuring the words of Dame Judi Dench, Emma Rice, Ned Seago, Simon Callow, John McCrea, Diane Page, Reece Shearsmith, Anita Dobson, Macy Nyman, David Bedella, Kwong Loke, Luke Giles, Stephanie Street, Dame Harriet Walter, Rebecca Frecknall, David Jonsson, Jackie Clune, Ben Cracknell, Richard Sutton, Adeyinka Akinrinade, Le Gateau Chocolat, Paule Constable, Lucian Msamati, Adrian Scarborough, David Acton, Natalie Law, Gordon Millar, Leanne Robinson, Thomas Aldridge, Katrina Lindsay, Eben Figueiredo, Andy Taylor, Aimie Atkinson, Jack Holden, Laura Donnelly, Laurie Kynaston, Abraham Popoola, Oengus MacNamara, Louis Maskell, Valda Aviks, Garry Cooper, Mark Dugdale, Lyn Paul, James Graham, Emma Sheppard, Paul Bazely, Preston Nyman, Lauren Ward, Jessica Hung Han Yun, Natalie McQueen, Gavin Spokes, Niamh Cusack, Paterson Joseph, Anna Fleischle, Daniel Monks, Michael Sheen, Lia Williams, Ruthie Henshall, Simon Lipkin, Tom Brooke, Ian Rickson, Rufus Hound, Zoe Tapper, Patsy Ferran, Joshua McGuire, Sharon D Clarke, Mark Gatiss, Taz Skylar, Marianne Benedict, Ferdinand Kingsley, Lez Brotherston, Tamsin Withers, Hadley Fraser, Karl Queensborough, Neil Salvage, Jessie Hart, Kathy Peacock, Howard Hudson, Jonathan Andrew Hume, Andy Nyman, Andrew McDonald, Claire Roberts, Michael Jibson, Jason Pennycooke, Christopher Tendai, Laura Baldwin, Matt Henry, Robert Lindsay, Simon Evans, Fisayo Akinade, Irvine Iqbal and Zoe Wanamaker.Table of ContentsIntroduction, Old Vic, Apollo, Novello, Playhouse, Shaftesbury, Apollo Victoria, Coliseum, Duke of York's, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Prince of Wales, National Theatre, Criterion, Fortune, Peacock, Palace, Shakespeare's Globe, Gillian Lynne, Gielgud, Trafalgar, Palladium, Phoenix, St. Martin's, Ambassadors, Savoy, Aldwych, Donmar Warehouse, Harold Pinter, Noel Coward, Royal Court, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Dominion, Piccadilly, Her Majesty's, Cambridge, Vaudeville, Garrick, Lyceum, Sondheim, Royal Opera House, Wyndham's, Lyric, Victoria Palace, Adelphi, Duchess, Prince Edward, The Bridge, Index, Acknowledgements

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn It’s Not a Proper Job, TV legend Chris Tarrant regales the reader with hilarious and heart-warming stories from his stellar 50-year career in television and radio. With trademark wit and self-mockery, Chris not only recalls his behind-the-scenes capers with fellow celebrities, but also shows us how, as a man of the people, he has relished rubbing shoulders with ordinary folk on his way to becoming one of the nation’s favourite TV faces. A former teacher and ATV newsreader, Chris soon established himself at the forefront of trailblazing telly as the host of Tiswas, and here recounts this 1970s, anarchic, flan-flinging children’s show that spearheaded a fresh format and a new era for Saturday morning TV packed with pranks, full of fun, and which remains a benchmark to this day. For later audiences, Chris will be more familiar as the face of yet another groundbreaking show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? which he presented for sixteen gripping years, and which grew into a global phenomenon exported to over one hundred countries. Here Chris remembers the joyous highs of contestants’ life-changing winnings, the frustrating lows of loss, the cringing embarrassment of ignorance, and the infamous cheating of the ‘Coughing Major’. Spanning five decades, Chris’s television credits are the envy of aspirational TV stars, but reading his laugh-out-loud anecdotes – akin to having a chat with the man himself over a pint, or listening to one of his entertaining, after-dinner speeches – reveals a man still amused by life, by the people he meets, and by his own humble assertion that none of his glittering career can, in any way, be called ‘a proper job’.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Long and Varied Career John Lyons started his acting career as a founder member of the ‘East 15 Acting School’ in 1961. Upon leaving he went into the Professional company of the school ‘Theatre Workshop’ which at the time was under the direction of Joan Littlewood. In the intervening 50 years John’s career has been both long and varied, covering both West End musicals and straight plays, including three separate years in ‘The Mousetrap’ and tours both in England and The Continent with the Musical " Oh! What a Lovely War" But his career went beyond the stage. His TV appearances are numerous (over 500) ranging from ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ Play for Today’ ‘The Sweeney’ to ‘On the Buses’ ‘George & Mildred’ and ‘The 19th Hole with Eric Sykes. John Lyons is of course best known for playing Sir David Jason’s long suffering sidekick D.S. George Toolan in ‘A Touch of Frost’ which ran for a very successful 17 ½ years and currently being repeated daily on ITV3. Panto has played a very big and fun time in John’s life, starting in 1997 with productions of Dick Whittington and Aladdin with the Comedian Jim Davidson, playing Bristol. Palace Theatre Manchester, Mayflower Southampton etc, over a period of ten years. And John is still working. John is in great demand on the after dinner speaking circuit, personal appearances at ‘On the Buses’ reunions and numerous P & O Cruises talking about ‘An actor's life - the beginning and conclusion’ – ‘The Touch of Frost Years’ (his 17 years in a Touch of Frost with clips, outtakes, clips of pranks played on him). This is the story of John Lyons, Not Just George. You'll laugh, we promise, you might cry, and you'll get a look at the life of one of the most prolific actors of our time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the Society for Theatre Research Theatre Book Prize 2023 The director Peter Dews prophesied: “You’ll be alright when you’re forty, and even better when you’re fifty.” It turns out that Peter Dews was right, almost to the month. In a study of British theatre through a varied acting career spanning over sixty years, Oliver Ford Davies explores the many changes within the performing arts scene through his experiences on various stages, in a variety of productions, across the country. Davies charts the ups and downs of British theatre in the last sixty years, while offering a unique perspective on life behind the curtain and the daring journey from leaving behind an academic career and into acting. From Shakespeare to Shaw, Chekhov to Pirandello, this is the story of an actor initially struggling to make a mark before making his breakthrough at fifty, winning the Olivier Best Actor award and being propelled into thirty years of leading roles.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe third and final volume of Kevin J. Last's books about Cotchford Farm, Hartfield, East Sussex in three different eras. Semi-Detached Suburban Mr Jones is set in the 1960s and tells the story of Brian Jones, the only middle class member of the Rolling Stones and how he came to purchase Cotchford Farm as a country retreat away from the Stones London life. Despite the fact that he was founder of the group, Jones''s increasingly wild behaviour ensured that Mick Jagger eventually became the group''s leader. Harking back to his roots, Jones saw himself as a Sussex country gentleman but it all went impossibly wrong due to a vicious East End builder, Frank Thorogood, who made life hell for him with Jones eventually drowning in his own swimming pool in suspicious circumstances. How and why this happened is examined in close detail.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWho would you trust more with your future than the high priestess herself, Meryl Streep?Printed on high-quality card material, and packaged in a handy un-bendable box, this unofficial tarot deck celebrates the legacy of Meryl Streep. With more credits to her name than cards in tarot, and 21 Academy Awards to boot, she''s a guiding beacon for us all to follow when times are unclear. This deck is based on the structure of the classic Rider-Waite, with each card featuring a character from her career''s many highlights. And hey: if your future, as ordained by these cards, ain''t looking so bright - just turn on one of your favorite movies she''s been in and lose yourself in her RAW talent. Meryl, we''re not worthy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Jenaissance has arrived!Keep Coolidge and Carry On: The Wisdom of Jennifer Coolidge is a breakdown of her career, from her time as Jodi, Jerry’s girlfriend on Seinfeld, to her ascension as Tanya McQuoid on The White Lotus, which has crowned her, rightfully, as HBO and Hollywood royalty.Study her wisdom and learn how to manage a diner you inherited from your husband, plan a birthday party for your dog, bake a perfectly moist cookie, and, of course, bend and snap.Learn about behind-the-scenes details of Coolidge’s movies and life, hear how she managed to pose as Ernest Hemmingway’s daughter to get into bars, and take a quiz that will separate fans who’ve only watched The White Lotus from the stans who can spot her in the crowd of the Austin Powers football game.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMax Markson is a name-dropper. In his line of work he has to be. As one of Australias best-known Publicists, the names of the people hes previously worked with are his calling card, his introduction and his CV, all in two words -- or, in the case of Pele, one word. On the Road With Bill Clinton is a collection of Maxs stories, memories and experiences with some of the biggest and most recognisable names in the world, from show business to sports and politics, over twenty years. Its the ultimate peek behind the curtain, both into the world of publicity, PR, event organisation and promotion, and into the personalities behind the celebrity names. From Nelson Mandela to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tony Blair to Al Gore, Kim Kardashian to former President of the United States Bill Clinton, Max Markson is often asked, What were they really like? In On the Road with Bill Clinton youll find out.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRuth Bowers had a dream of becoming a professional violinist. In 1910, when traditional careers for women included nursing or teaching, Ruth joined the chautauqua and lyceum tour circuit and hit the road. In the first part of the twentieth century, these popular tours brought music, education and entertainment to millions of people in rural North America. But chautauquas and lyceums also provided employment and fame for many female lecturers and performers. At a time when women did not even have the right to vote, musicians like Ruth Bowers were travelling, becoming financially independent and expanding ideas of what women could do-they were part of the first wave of the women''s liberation of the twentieth century. A remarkably talented violinist from Erie, Pennsylvania, Ruth Bowers performed at venues across North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and from Texas to British Columbia. Ruth shared the bill with famous people like orator William Jennings Bryan, illusionist Eugene Laurant and impersonator Elma B. Smith. While on tour, Bowers collected photographs, postcards and memorabilia and sent letters home. Using this material from his family archives, along with newspaper articles from the 1900s and research files from the chautauqua collection at the University of Iowa, author-historian Jay Sherwood pieces together the unique life of his grandmother. With over 125 previously unpublished photographs and images, CHAUTAUQUA SERENADE offers readers a backstage pass to the iconic chautauqua tour through the eyes of a young woman with a big dream.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSam Peckinpah (1925-1984), an accomplished writer and director of television westerns, did not attract media attention until the release of his second feature-length film, the award-winning Ride the High Country. Peckinpah revealed in early interviews his deep knowledge of film history, an uncompromising aesthetic, and an intolerance for any crew members who did not share his capacity for hard work. As his career progressed, he began having increasingly difficult times with producers who did not share his vision. His problems with them emerge as a major focus of his interviews. Sam Peckinpah: Interviews features the combustible director discussing his best-known films, including the gory western The Wild Bunch, the unsettling and controversial Straw Dogs (which Pauline Kael described as ""the first American film that is a fascist work of art""), and the crime thriller The Getaway. In these conversations, Peckinpah's candor--about himself, filmmaking, studios, male/female relations, violence, and contemporary politics--provides a thoughtful portrait of a polarizing filmmaker. Kevin J. Hayes is professor of English at the University of Central Oklahoma. His previous books include Poe and the Printed Word, Folklore and Book Culture, and An American Cycling Odyssey, 1887, among others. He edited Charlie Chaplin: Interviews and Conversations with Jack Kerouac, both from University Press of Mississippi.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHOLLYWOOD From Below the Line: A Prop Master's Perspective Steven M. Levine, a veteran Hollywood property master, through both humorous recollections and poignant stories, not only takes the reader onto a Hollywood set as aTrade Review"Steven clearly shows how vitally important props are to an actor--and to a film. His book is full of amazing information, anecdotes, and details only an insider would know. This is a wonderful, personal view of an often-overlooked, rarely written about, fascinating part of show business. My personal favorite is the chapter on Pee-wee's Big Adventure!" -- Paul "Pee-wee Herman" Reubens, Actor

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter Betty Grable, but before there was Marilyn, America's penchant for popcorn blondes focused on LANA, the "ultimate movie star." She had it all: Looks to die for, money to burn, the romantic adulation of the world, and lovers who included the world's most desirable men. In her 1937 film, They Won't Forget, a 16-year-old Lana, without wearing a brassiere, walked down the street with her boobs bouncing. Censors protested, but when it was shown, America cheered and nicknamed her The Sweater Girl." From there, Lana competed with Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth as the pre-eminent pinup girl (so many men, so little time") of World War II. Horny GIs referred to her as the Girl We'd Like to Find in Every Port." From the start, her private life was marked with scandal: She aborted Mickey Rooney's baby; seduced a young John F. Kennedy; and fell for Frank Sinatra, who later caught her in bed with another love goddess, Ava Gardner. In the early 1940s, after a nationwide campaign promoting the sale of War Bonds, Carole Lombard frantically boarded a small plane headed back to Hollywood, suffering a fiery death when it crashed within 13 minutes of takeoff. The risk she took during that thunderstorm was motivated, it was said, by her obsession with rescuing her husband, Clark Gable, from the amorous clutches of Lana Turner. Tyrone Powertall, dark, photogenic, and famouseventually evolved into the greatest love of her life until the Aviator, Howard Hughes, arguably the most psychotic billionaire in the history of Hollywood, flew in to seduce both of them. Lana (aka The Ziegfeld Girl") didn't hear The Postman Always Rings Twice because she was in bed with John Garfield. Later, in search of love, she spent a Weekend at the Waldorf before moving to Green Dolphin Street and later to the notorious Peyton Place, she found it during an experiment with an Imitation of Life. Gable took her to a Honky Tonk and vowed, Somewhere I'll Find You," before their Homecoming reunion. With Ray Milland, she found A Life of Her Own before dancing to The Merry Widow waltz with sexy Fernando Lamas. Many notoriously hot menmany of them her filmmaking co-starslay in her future: Richard Burton, Sean Connery, and Errol in like Flynn." Samson (Victor Mature) was said to be Lana's Biggest Thrill." Lana rescued Peter Lawford from Elizabeth Taylor; Ricky Ricardo from Lucy; and, when not singing amore with Dean Martin, Kirk Douglas learned that she was Bad and Beautiful both on and off the screen. "The bombshell" once said, I wanted one husband and seven babies, but I got the reverseseven husbands and an only child!" She married Tarzan (Lex Barker) after his designation as The Sexiest Man in the World," but the union ended when she caught him seducing her teenaged daughter. Opinions about Lana were as varied as her changing looks. She was amoral," said MGM's CEO, Louis B. Mayer. Robert Taylor commented: She was the type of woman a guy would risk five years in jail for rape." Gloria Swanson sniffed, She wasn't even an actress...only a trollop." And Ronald Reagan--a man who later became U.S. president--asked, In what cathouse did she learn those tricks?" And then there was that embarrassing murder: Did Lana fatally stab her gangster lover, Johnny Stompanato, known for his links to the Mob? Or was the heinous act committed by her daughter, a traumatized teenager who, after time in reform school, officially outed herself as a lesbian? How did these whirlwinds of scandal affect the gal who had it all? According to Lana, I'd like to think that in some small way, I've helped to preserve the glamour and beauty and mystery of the movie industry." Never before has there been, until now, a definitive, uncensored, and comprehensive biography of "the Ultimate Movie Star," LANA TURNER. Until now.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne L meets You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town AgainIn this comic and moving and completely true tale, Film School reveals what life is like at the elite school that trained Hollywood's biggest names.When Midwestern journalist Steve Boman applied to the University of Southern California's vaunted School of Cinematic Arts, the world's oldest and most prestigious film school, he had more than a few strikes against him: His wife was recovering from thyroid cancer. His beloved sister had just died of leukemia. He lost his job. He had three young children. He was in his late 30s…. And he had no experience in filmmaking.As Boman navigates his way through USC's arduous three-year graduate production program, he finds that his films fall flat, he's threatened with being kicked out of the program and he becomes the old guy no one wants to work with. Defeated, he quits and moves back to the Midwest to be with his family. After he is urged by his wife to reapply, he miraculously gets in for a second time...only to have a stroke on the first day of classes. But instead of doing the easy thing – running away again -- Boman throws caution to the wind and embraces the challenge. He slowly becomes a gray-haired Golden Boy at USC with films that sparkle. And then he does the impossible: While still in school, for a class project, he dreams up a television series that CBS catches wind of and develops into THREE RIVERS, a primetime Sunday night show.This story of challenge and triumph—and what it takes to make it in the world's most famous film school—is a must-read for anyone aspiring to become a Hollywood great or anyone just looking for a good story.Trade Review"Read Steve Boman's Film School to understand all the effort, heartbreak, creativity, begging, stealing, joy, backstabbing and stamina that it takes to make movies. Part exposé, part-American-Dream-come-true, Boman's keenly observant and fascinating book takes the shine off of the glamour we know as Hollywood and shows us the real world of making movies."—Ali Selim, writer and director of SWEETLAND, 2007 Independent Spirit winner; director of episodes of IN TREATMENT, CRIMINAL MINDS

Read more less

Book SynopsisLast Boat to Yokohama tells a story of both tragedy and grandeur in the 20th century. It recounts the life and work of Beate Sirota Gordon: the influence of her father, Leo Sirota, one of the greatest pianists of his generation; her secret work ensuring women's equality while helping to develop the post-WWII Japanese constitution--at the age of 22; her broad influence on hundreds of Western artists such as Robert Wilson, David Byrne and Peter Sellars--who were introduced to leading contemporary Asian music, dance, theater and visual artists through her extraordinary cross-cultural efforts. The book relives Beate's drive, talent, ambition, and influence, with intimate diary excerpts from her mother, an introduction by Beate herself, and an afterword from her daughter, Nicole.Trade Review"The story of the life of Beate Sirota is an inspiring one, and one that continues to inspire long after she has left the room. She set an example for all individuals, regardless of gender or nationality, that one person -- however modest, however unprepared for history -- can make a difference." --The Japan Times "With a prismatic approach that includes remarks from Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, an interview with Gordon, journal entries by Gordon's mother, and other sources, Last Boat to Yokohama: The Life and Legacy of Beate Sirota Gordon gathers respectful reflections that shed light on a specific moment in history and on one woman's remarkable career." --Foreword Reviews "Inherently fascinating and exceptionally well written from beginning to end, "Last Boat to Yokohama: The Life and Legacy of Beate Sirota Gordon" is an impressive and highly recommended addition to community and academic library 20th Century Biography collections." --Midwest Book Review "All of us have a lot to learn from Beate Gordon--a woman with the courage to match her convictions." --Yoko Ono "Women's rights activist Beate Sirota Gordon's passion for bridging cultures is clearly evoked through this fascinating tribute to her work... Nassrine Azimi and Michel Wasserman pay tribute to Beate Sirota Gordon, champion of the arts and part of the American team who developed Japan's postwar constitution under General MacArthur. Gordon's story highlights her sustaining belief in making human connections. Last Boat to Yokohama gathers respectful reflections that shed light on a specific moment in history and on one woman's remarkable career." --Foreword Reviews "A fascinating book about an extraordinary woman."--BookPleasures "Last Boat to Yokohama is a necessary addition to myriad of books written about World War II. It is complementary to Beate Sirota Gordon's memoir The Only Woman in the Room and deserves a place in any school, public or personal library." --Anne Lee, Shojo Power "A splendid book. You must get a copy of LAST BOAT TO YOKOHAMA for yourself. I will not lend mine." --Dick Cavett, talk show host, actor, writer "An important book. Every woman on both sides of the Pacific should know about Beate Sirota Gordon and what she did for the women of Japan." --Martha Burk, Ms. Magazine "An inspiring book about an inspiring woman."--Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore; and Chairperson, Water Leaders Summit "What [Beate] did as a woman in helping to create Japan's new constitution is historic. Few women of the 20th century have had her courage and vision. --Robert Wilson, experimental theater director and playwright "[Beate Gordon's] contribution in drafting language about women's rights for the new constitution was instrumental in effecting significant cultural change. Later, she would pursue a career in the performing arts in New York, where through her work at the Japan Society she brought the very essence of what was precious in Japanese culture and art to America. Read "Last Boat to Yokohama" and be inspired by her remarkable life." --Yo-Yo Ma, cellist

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs cofounder of the internationally-known, highly-controversial radical political troupe, The Living Theater, author Judith Malina is one of the leading female countercultural figures of the 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. in FULL MOON STAGES: PERSONAL NOTES FROM 50 YEARS OF THE LIVING THEATRE, she creates an intimate memoir in a unique format with a collection of personal notes written on every full moon for 50 years from 1964 to 2014. These never-before-published entries reveal Malina's most private thoughts and inform the reader on what The Living Theatre was performing as they wound their way from New York City to Italy, France, Belgium, Germany and Brazil in a nomadic series of notable performances of such underground classics as The Brig, The Connection, and Paradise Now. Malina is relentless in her commitment to the full moon schedule, writing regardless of her current life circumstance. Notes issue forth from hotels, trains--even prison, offering a light on the consequences of holding true to her code of the theatrical expression of her pacifist-anarchist principles. The book's format is well-suited for modern readers interested in history of the counterculture. In addition, the book includes 30+ rare historical photos from Living Theatre archives.Trade Review"FULL MOON STAGES transcends the reception model that comprises most books, by which one simply absorbs information in the hope of better understanding the subject matter at hand, and demands of the reader an intensity of psychic and durative commitment that is difficult to summon in these days of instantaneity. This book-length poem privileges experientiality over intellectual understanding, asking that you take the trip and allow yourself to be changed by the journey. If one commits to taking the Malinian trip, this story of a life, told sequentially yet in fragments, as if it were an existence illuminated by lightning bolts, is one of the most powerful interactions I've ever had with a piece of nonfiction. As I sat at the table after finishing it, tears streaming down my face, I could not help but reflect on all that remained to be done." --American Theatre Magazine "Judith Malina, the pioneering cofounder of the radical, politically fiery troupe The Living Theater ... has performed all over the world and even went to jail for her convictions. But come hell or high water, on every full moon she wrote a new entry in the diary of her life. This memoir collects those frank and funny observations, creating a biography of her career and a record of the movement she helped steer for decades."--Broadway Direct Book Filter Best of the Winter Picks "Serious theater buffs will applaud this final performance by a singular artist." --Library Journal "An exceptional memoir rich with detail and an inherently fascinating read from beginning to end. Of special note is the succinct dedication by Al Pacino. FULL MOON STAGES is very highly recommended for both community and academic library Theatrical History and Theatrical Biography reference collections." --Midwest Book Review "For fifty years, Malina kept a journal, recording what she and her troupe were doing during every full moon ... It becomes a sketchbook, a framework of ideas stretching across generations. FULL MOON STAGES is a work of broad strokes that ... paints an intimate portrait of an innovator and her uncompromising vision of what theater can be." --Manhattan Book Review "The music of the repetition, its insistent organizing principle, functions like the serial arrangement in Cage, Steve Reich, or Phillip Glass, and it provides a haunting resonance. The impact on a reader over 200 pages is cumulative. Even though Malina's lens may be tightly focused, the scope of her story stretches over a half-century." --LA Review of Books "I can't think of any other inspiration of freedom that comes close to representing the message of The Living Theatre and its daring and monumental effects." -- Al Pacino, award-winning actor, from the dedication "Her stamina was extraordinary. She was happy, buoyant, and spread the love." --Angelica Huston, award-winning actress "A magical diary: pithy, salient. Shows the great arc of an ever radiant revolutionary artist and activist. Judith Malina is still out in the vast sky of our Utopian Living Theatre hearts and minds." --Anne Waldman, award-winning poet and performer "If one wants to have a life as a woman artist, first of all read Judith Malina--this lovely and evocative FULL MOON STAGES. She was one of the greatest theater makers of the 20th into the 21st Century, and one of the most fascinating, brilliant women of the world." --Karen Malpede, award-winning playwright "For the people who knew Judith Malina in life nothing can fill the absence of that most vibrant, profound, quixotic, being but this book, FULL MOON STAGES is a Fattura, a spell, that can conjure Judith for YOU in the present. It is a vortex, an entry into her world, into that amazing mind and life of hers. It is a diagram, an ex-ray, a blueprint, a map of a poetic, artistic, political, metaphysical life lived to the fullest." --Penny Arcade, award-winning performance artist "Every month describes a concise lunar aspect of the Beautiful Nonviolent Anarchist Revolution. Judith has inscribed The Living's Akashic Record in a 50-year love letter." --Joanie Fritz Zosike, Living Theatre company member "A palimpsest of Living Theatre experience of over 50 years." --Thomas Walker, Living Theatre company member "Having this collection in hand is to hold an intimate portrait of Judith's honesty, resilience, pain and spirit wrapped around life with her Living Theatre!" --Lois Kagan Mingus, Living Theatre company member since 1988/Artistic Associate/Board of Directors member "I can't think of any other inspiration of freedom that comes close to representing the message of The Living Theatre and its daring and monumental effects." -- Al Pacino, award-winning actor, from the dedication "Her stamina was extraordinary. She was happy, buoyant, and spread the love." --Angelica Huston, award-winning actress "A magical diary: pithy, salient. Shows the great arc of an ever radiant revolutionary artist and activist. Judith Malina is still out in the vast sky of our Utopian Living Theatre hearts and minds." --Anne Waldman, award-winning poet and performer "If one wants to have a life as a woman artist, first of all read Judith Malina--this lovely and evocative FULL MOON STAGES. She was one of the greatest theater makers of the 20th into the 21st Century, and one of the most fascinating, brilliant women of the world." --Karen Malpede, award-winning playwright "For the people who knew Judith Malina in life nothing can fill the absence of that most vibrant, profound, quixotic, being but this book, FULL MOON STAGES is a Fattura, a spell, that can conjure Judith for YOU in the present. It is a vortex, an entry into her world, into that amazing mind and life of hers. It is a diagram, an ex-ray, a blueprint, a map of a poetic, artistic, political, metaphysical life lived to the fullest." --Penny Arcade, award-winning performance artist "Every month describes a concise lunar aspect of the Beautiful Nonviolent Anarchist Revolution. Judith has inscribed The Living's Akashic Record in a 50-year love letter." --Joanie Fritz Zosike, Living Theatre company member "A palimpsest of Living Theatre experience of over 50 years." --Thomas Walker, Living Theatre company member "Having this collection in hand is to hold an intimate portrait of Judith's honesty, resilience, pain and spirit wrapped around life with her Living Theatre!" --Lois Kagan Mingus, Living Theatre company member since 1988/Artistic Associate/Board of Directors member "The single most influential American company of its era." --Stephen J. Bottoms, author, Playing Underground: A Critical History of the 1960s Off-Off-Broadway Movement "The most prominent and persistent advocate for a 'new theater,' one that sought to dissolve the accepted artifice of stage presentations, to conjoin art and political protest, and to shrink, if not eliminate, the divide between performers and the audience." --New York Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2020 Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present Book Prize​Winner of the 2019 Art Journal Prize from the College Art Association What is the role of pleasure and pain in the politics of art? In Touched Bodies, Mara Polgovsky Ezcurra approaches this question as she examines the flourishing of live and intermedial performance in Latin America during times of authoritarianism and its significance during transitions to democracy. Based on original documents and innovative readings, her book brings politics and ethics to the discussion of artistic developments during the “long 1980s”. She describes the rise of performance art in the context of feminism, HIV-activism, and human right movements, taking a close look at the work of Diamela Eltit and Raúl Zurita from Chile, León Ferrari and Liliana Maresca from Argentina, and Marcos Kurtycz, the No Grupo art collective, and Proceso Pentágono from Mexico. The comparative study of the work of these artists attests to a performative turn in Latin American art during the 1980s that, like photography and film before, recast the artistic field as a whole, changing the ways in which we perceive art and understand its role in society.Trade Review“An astute and moving book, Touched Bodies gives account of the transition from an aesthetics of representation to an aesthetics of embodiment and bodily vulnerability in Latin American art of the 1980s. A contribution to aesthetic theory as much as to the history of art, Touched Bodies extends our understanding of performance-based art in relationship to practices of vulnerability, dissensus, and cross-temporal performativity.” -- Rebecca Schneider * author of Performing Remains: Art and War in Times of Theatrical Reenactment *"Mara Polgovsky makes an outstanding contribution to the re-evaluation of the performative turn in adversarial art from 1970s and 1980s Latin America, expanding the genealogy of conceptualism and recalibrating the spectrum of body-centered practice. The originality of her approach provides unparalleled insights into the complex interaction between corporeality, political activism and the body as site of desire and vulnerability." -- Erica Segre * author of Intersected Identities *"Polgovsky’s book, which has already been shortlisted by the Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present for its 2020 Book Prize, brings to an international audience a series of artists who have broken the mould of Latin America’s default posture of political protest and produced works which sometimes condense the cry of despair in its barest expression by breaking down the gulf between their bodies and their work. She has brought to the project a remarkable combination of philosophical erudition and descriptive skill, plus the unstoppable curiosity of the best researchers. The book marks a turning point." * Journal of Latin American Studies *“An astute and moving book, Touched Bodies gives account of the transition from an aesthetics of representation to an aesthetics of embodiment and bodily vulnerability in Latin American art of the 1980s. A contribution to aesthetic theory as much as to the history of art, Touched Bodies extends our understanding of performance-based art in relationship to practices of vulnerability, dissensus, and cross-temporal performativity.” -- Rebecca Schneider * author of Performing Remains: Art and War in Times of Theatrical Reenactment *"Mara Polgovsky makes an outstanding contribution to the re-evaluation of the performative turn in adversarial art from 1970s and 1980s Latin America, expanding the genealogy of conceptualism and recalibrating the spectrum of body-centered practice. The originality of her approach provides unparalleled insights into the complex interaction between corporeality, political activism and the body as site of desire and vulnerability." -- Erica Segre * author of Intersected Identities *"Polgovsky’s book, which has already been shortlisted by the Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present for its 2020 Book Prize, brings to an international audience a series of artists who have broken the mould of Latin America’s default posture of political protest and produced works which sometimes condense the cry of despair in its barest expression by breaking down the gulf between their bodies and their work. She has brought to the project a remarkable combination of philosophical erudition and descriptive skill, plus the unstoppable curiosity of the best researchers. The book marks a turning point." * Journal of Latin American Studies *Table of ContentsIntroduction Corporeal calligraphies in times of change The long 1980s: redefining the temporality of art From curatorial to historical revisionism Beyond the art of post-dictatorship From memory studies to the aesthetics of dissensus The performative turn The ethics of performance Overview of chapters Chapter 1 – Writing the Body A precarious aesthetic A monstrous scene Territories of excess Sacrificial bodies Neonic Obscenity A mystical occasion Sor Teresa, la Lumpérica A corporeal rhetoric The implicated self Chapter 2 – Lamentations Prayerful acts Sky writing and the poetics of ambiguity The new life Song for his/her disappeared love The politics of lamentation Purgatory Neither sorrow nor fear (Un)godly fragments Chapter 3 – Mē mou haptou: Touch, Ethics, and History Waiting for Ariel A political medium? A tortured era A glimpse into 1960s collage Noli me tangere Brailles The haptic gaze Never Again Scenes from inferno Pacem in terris Chapter 4 – Nudities Le féminin Christs and mannequins Divine phobia Intimacy reawakened A scourge from God? Chapter 5 – Ritual and/of Violence Potlatch The scene of destruction The scene of war Mexico’s parodic guerrilla art The scene of ritual Liminal personae The scene of terror Letter bombing The scene of the self Exploding time Chapter 6 – Cybernetics and Face-off Play The hybrid face The interface Facial traces The (post-)facial matrix Conclusion Touched bodies The trace Acknowledgments List of References List of Figures Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2020 Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present Book Prize​Winner of the 2019 Art Journal Prize from the College Art Association What is the role of pleasure and pain in the politics of art? In Touched Bodies, Mara Polgovsky Ezcurra approaches this question as she examines the flourishing of live and intermedial performance in Latin America during times of authoritarianism and its significance during transitions to democracy. Based on original documents and innovative readings, her book brings politics and ethics to the discussion of artistic developments during the “long 1980s”. She describes the rise of performance art in the context of feminism, HIV-activism, and human right movements, taking a close look at the work of Diamela Eltit and Raúl Zurita from Chile, León Ferrari and Liliana Maresca from Argentina, and Marcos Kurtycz, the No Grupo art collective, and Proceso Pentágono from Mexico. The comparative study of the work of these artists attests to a performative turn in Latin American art during the 1980s that, like photography and film before, recast the artistic field as a whole, changing the ways in which we perceive art and understand its role in society.Trade Review“An astute and moving book, Touched Bodies gives account of the transition from an aesthetics of representation to an aesthetics of embodiment and bodily vulnerability in Latin American art of the 1980s. A contribution to aesthetic theory as much as to the history of art, Touched Bodies extends our understanding of performance-based art in relationship to practices of vulnerability, dissensus, and cross-temporal performativity.” -- Rebecca Schneider * author of Performing Remains: Art and War in Times of Theatrical Reenactment *"Mara Polgovsky makes an outstanding contribution to the re-evaluation of the performative turn in adversarial art from 1970s and 1980s Latin America, expanding the genealogy of conceptualism and recalibrating the spectrum of body-centered practice. The originality of her approach provides unparalleled insights into the complex interaction between corporeality, political activism and the body as site of desire and vulnerability." -- Erica Segre * author of Intersected Identities *"Polgovsky’s book, which has already been shortlisted by the Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present for its 2020 Book Prize, brings to an international audience a series of artists who have broken the mould of Latin America’s default posture of political protest and produced works which sometimes condense the cry of despair in its barest expression by breaking down the gulf between their bodies and their work. She has brought to the project a remarkable combination of philosophical erudition and descriptive skill, plus the unstoppable curiosity of the best researchers. The book marks a turning point." * Journal of Latin American Studies *“An astute and moving book, Touched Bodies gives account of the transition from an aesthetics of representation to an aesthetics of embodiment and bodily vulnerability in Latin American art of the 1980s. A contribution to aesthetic theory as much as to the history of art, Touched Bodies extends our understanding of performance-based art in relationship to practices of vulnerability, dissensus, and cross-temporal performativity.” -- Rebecca Schneider * author of Performing Remains: Art and War in Times of Theatrical Reenactment *"Mara Polgovsky makes an outstanding contribution to the re-evaluation of the performative turn in adversarial art from 1970s and 1980s Latin America, expanding the genealogy of conceptualism and recalibrating the spectrum of body-centered practice. The originality of her approach provides unparalleled insights into the complex interaction between corporeality, political activism and the body as site of desire and vulnerability." -- Erica Segre * author of Intersected Identities *"Polgovsky’s book, which has already been shortlisted by the Association for the Study of the Arts of the Present for its 2020 Book Prize, brings to an international audience a series of artists who have broken the mould of Latin America’s default posture of political protest and produced works which sometimes condense the cry of despair in its barest expression by breaking down the gulf between their bodies and their work. She has brought to the project a remarkable combination of philosophical erudition and descriptive skill, plus the unstoppable curiosity of the best researchers. The book marks a turning point." * Journal of Latin American Studies *Table of ContentsIntroduction Corporeal calligraphies in times of change The long 1980s: redefining the temporality of art From curatorial to historical revisionism Beyond the art of post-dictatorship From memory studies to the aesthetics of dissensus The performative turn The ethics of performance Overview of chapters Chapter 1 – Writing the Body A precarious aesthetic A monstrous scene Territories of excess Sacrificial bodies Neonic Obscenity A mystical occasion Sor Teresa, la Lumpérica A corporeal rhetoric The implicated self Chapter 2 – Lamentations Prayerful acts Sky writing and the poetics of ambiguity The new life Song for his/her disappeared love The politics of lamentation Purgatory Neither sorrow nor fear (Un)godly fragments Chapter 3 – Mē mou haptou: Touch, Ethics, and History Waiting for Ariel A political medium? A tortured era A glimpse into 1960s collage Noli me tangere Brailles The haptic gaze Never Again Scenes from inferno Pacem in terris Chapter 4 – Nudities Le féminin Christs and mannequins Divine phobia Intimacy reawakened A scourge from God? Chapter 5 – Ritual and/of Violence Potlatch The scene of destruction The scene of war Mexico’s parodic guerrilla art The scene of ritual Liminal personae The scene of terror Letter bombing The scene of the self Exploding time Chapter 6 – Cybernetics and Face-off Play The hybrid face The interface Facial traces The (post-)facial matrix Conclusion Touched bodies The trace Acknowledgments List of References List of Figures Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first-ever graphic biography of Paul Robeson, Ballad of an American, charts Robeson’s career as a singer, actor, scholar, athlete, and activist who achieved global fame. Through his films, concerts, and records, he became a potent symbol representing the promise of a multicultural, multiracial American democracy at a time when, despite his stardom, he was denied personal access to his many audiences. Robeson was a major figure in the rise of anti-colonialism in Africa and elsewhere, and a tireless campaigner for internationalism, peace, and human rights. Later in life, he embraced the civil rights and antiwar movements with the hope that new generations would attain his ideals of a peaceful and abundant world. Ballad of an American features beautifully drawn chapters by artist Sharon Rudahl, a compelling narrative about his life, and an afterword on the lasting impact of Robeson’s work in both the arts and politics. This graphic biography will enable all kinds of readers—especially newer generations who may be unfamiliar with him—to understand his life’s story and everlasting global significance.Ballad of an American: A Graphic Biography of Paul Robeson is published in conjunction with Rutgers University’s centennial commemoration of Robeson’s 1919 graduation from the university.Study guide for Ballad of an American: A Graphic Biography of Paul Robeson (https://d3tto5i5w9ogdd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/10201015/YA_Adult-Study-Guide-for-A-Graphic-Biography-of-Paul-Robeson.pdf).View the blad for Ballad of an American.Trade Review“Paul Robeson was an artistic genius, moral titan, and courageous freedom fighter whom we must never forget!” -- Dr. Cornel West"Sharon Rudahl's graphic biography of Paul Robeson is vivid, well-informed, and deeply moving--a compelling account of a towering American hero, whose courage is more inspiring than ever at this fraught historical moment." -- Jackson Lears * Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of History, Rutgers University *"With powerful drawings, meticulous attention to historical detail, and deep appreciation for his wife, Eslanda Goode Robeson, Rudahl, Buhle, and Ware provide us with a deeply moving tribute to the enormous talent, courage and genius of Paul Robeson." -- Bettina Aptheker * Distinguished Professor Emerita, Feminist Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz *"With extraordinary rhythm, these arresting drawings and captivating words seamlessly weave insights from critical race theory, global politics, Marxist theory, cultural studies, and historical criticism to narrate the inimitable life of Paul Robeson. Robeson's story is as much a meditation on black aliveness in the face of systemic racism today as it is an insightful history of one man's fortitude against government persecution of yesteryear. This graphic biography captivated me from the first page - I couldn't put it down! It will be a classic in the genre." -- Andre C. Willis * Associate Professor of Religion, Brown University *"Ballad of an American takes a creative and thoughtful approach to sharing the life story of the great artist-activist. It is a welcome addition to the body of literature on Paul Robeson." -- Lindsey R. Swindall * author of Paul Robeson: A Life of Activism and Art *"[Ballad of an American] carries an inspiring message at a time in which our country is living amidst the most far-reaching civil rights movement in its modern-day political history." * Portside *"When Paul Robeson Became a Star: From the First-Ever Graphic Biography of the American Icon" excerpt * Literary Hub *"The first-ever graphic biography of alumnus Paul Robeson RC1919 is a suitable introduction to his remarkable life, from his birth in Princeton, New Jersey, to his athletic and academic accolades at Rutgers to his worldwide fame as a film and stage star." * Rutgers Magazine *"A Public Affair," WORT-FM interview with Sharon Rudahl * "A Public Affair," WORT *"BOOKS: NON-FICTION: Ballad of an American: A Graphic Biography of Paul Robeson" * Zinn Project Education *"Paul Robeson, Political Outlaw: Lessons for Today from the Black Radical Tradition: Greg Carr in Conversation with Jesse Hagopian" * Zinn Project Education *"Social Justice Books: A Teaching for Change Project" * Teaching for Change *"A unique mix of art, history, and radical narrative. It is a welcome introduction to Robeson’s unsurpassed contributions to the struggles for workers’ rights, African American equality, peace, and—yes—socialism....Ballad of an American is highly recommended and would make a great stocking-stuffer this holiday season." * People's World *"Much of this book is dedicated to Robeson’s political maturity and actions on behalf of the earliest civil rights movement. Also, beautifully depicted in the book is his 1934 visit to the Soviet Union following an invitation from Soviet film director Sergei Eisenstein. Rudahl tells and shows the reader how Robeson stared down and confronted Nazi guards in Berlin as he, Essie and friend Mary Seton anxiously boarded their train into Russia." * Truthout *"Ballad of an American, released in 2019 on the 100th anniversary of Robeson’s graduation from Rutgers University, brings his creative and powerful historical presence to life through Rudahl’s striking graphic text and Buhle’s and Ware’s excellent afterword. Rudahl’s review of Robeson’s life is a needed antidote to the long and shameful efforts to erase his legacy and drop him down Orwell’s memory hole of history." * Monthly Review *"If there is one thing to take away from “Ballad of an American,” it’s that all art is political—not can be, but is....Rudahl’s moving graphic biography of Robeson is a reminder that artists and creatives can still make an impact today, whether through song, comics, or bite-sized video." * Democratic Left: A Publication of Democratic Socialists of America *"Captures the essence of why Robeson’s story is a must-read for all Americans." * BeyondChron *"This book represents another graphic novel approach to teaching Black history. This time the focus is the actor and activist Paul Robeson, who is a figure worth studying because his legacy is so complex. He fought vigorously against white supremacy and was a committed Communist, even when people who shared his views started distancing themselves from the party. Robeson’s story invites us to grapple with complexity." * Book Riot *"Q&A: Sharon Rudahl: Graphic novelist honors performer, activist Paul Robeson," by G.M. Burns * Ithaca.com *"We all still stand in the shadow of this tall tree. May the leaves of this volume inspire many." * Dig Boston *"Sharon Rudahl does a magnificent job of highlighting the key details of Paul Robeson’s astonishing life." * Progressive *"Interview with Underground Comix Artist Sharon Rudahl" * Comic Grinders *"PHS Senior Talks with Eyewitness to History" * TAP into Princeton *"The volume combines engaging art with biography and radical history and did tremendous justice to Robeson’s multi-dimensional life of art and political engagement. " * The Progressive *"With beautiful illustrations and a conversational tone, this biography paints an intimate portrait of Robeson, the son of a slave, who became a leading voice in the black liberation struggle in the United States and the fight against colonial rule around the world." * Black Agenda Report *“Paul Robeson was an artistic genius, moral titan, and courageous freedom fighter whom we must never forget!” -- Dr. Cornel West"Sharon Rudahl's graphic biography of Paul Robeson is vivid, well-informed, and deeply moving--a compelling account of a towering American hero, whose courage is more inspiring than ever at this fraught historical moment." -- Jackson Lears * Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of History, Rutgers University *"With powerful drawings, meticulous attention to historical detail, and deep appreciation for his wife, Eslanda Goode Robeson, Rudahl, Buhle, and Ware provide us with a deeply moving tribute to the enormous talent, courage and genius of Paul Robeson." -- Bettina Aptheker * Distinguished Professor Emerita, Feminist Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz *"With extraordinary rhythm, these arresting drawings and captivating words seamlessly weave insights from critical race theory, global politics, Marxist theory, cultural studies, and historical criticism to narrate the inimitable life of Paul Robeson. Robeson's story is as much a meditation on black aliveness in the face of systemic racism today as it is an insightful history of one man's fortitude against government persecution of yesteryear. This graphic biography captivated me from the first page - I couldn't put it down! It will be a classic in the genre." -- Andre C. Willis * Associate Professor of Religion, Brown University *"Ballad of an American takes a creative and thoughtful approach to sharing the life story of the great artist-activist. It is a welcome addition to the body of literature on Paul Robeson." -- Lindsey R. Swindall * author of Paul Robeson: A Life of Activism and Art *"[Ballad of an American] carries an inspiring message at a time in which our country is living amidst the most far-reaching civil rights movement in its modern-day political history." * Portside *"When Paul Robeson Became a Star: From the First-Ever Graphic Biography of the American Icon" excerpt * Literary Hub *"The first-ever graphic biography of alumnus Paul Robeson RC1919 is a suitable introduction to his remarkable life, from his birth in Princeton, New Jersey, to his athletic and academic accolades at Rutgers to his worldwide fame as a film and stage star." * Rutgers Magazine *"A Public Affair," WORT-FM interview with Sharon Rudahl * "A Public Affair," WORT *"BOOKS: NON-FICTION: Ballad of an American: A Graphic Biography of Paul Robeson" * Zinn Project Education *"Paul Robeson, Political Outlaw: Lessons for Today from the Black Radical Tradition: Greg Carr in Conversation with Jesse Hagopian" * Zinn Project Education *"Social Justice Books: A Teaching for Change Project" * Teaching for Change *"A unique mix of art, history, and radical narrative. It is a welcome introduction to Robeson’s unsurpassed contributions to the struggles for workers’ rights, African American equality, peace, and—yes—socialism....Ballad of an American is highly recommended and would make a great stocking-stuffer this holiday season." * People's World *"Much of this book is dedicated to Robeson’s political maturity and actions on behalf of the earliest civil rights movement. Also, beautifully depicted in the book is his 1934 visit to the Soviet Union following an invitation from Soviet film director Sergei Eisenstein. Rudahl tells and shows the reader how Robeson stared down and confronted Nazi guards in Berlin as he, Essie and friend Mary Seton anxiously boarded their train into Russia." * Truthout *"Ballad of an American, released in 2019 on the 100th anniversary of Robeson’s graduation from Rutgers University, brings his creative and powerful historical presence to life through Rudahl’s striking graphic text and Buhle’s and Ware’s excellent afterword. Rudahl’s review of Robeson’s life is a needed antidote to the long and shameful efforts to erase his legacy and drop him down Orwell’s memory hole of history." * Monthly Review *"If there is one thing to take away from “Ballad of an American,” it’s that all art is political—not can be, but is....Rudahl’s moving graphic biography of Robeson is a reminder that artists and creatives can still make an impact today, whether through song, comics, or bite-sized video." * Democratic Left: A Publication of Democratic Socialists of America *"Captures the essence of why Robeson’s story is a must-read for all Americans." * BeyondChron *"This book represents another graphic novel approach to teaching Black history. This time the focus is the actor and activist Paul Robeson, who is a figure worth studying because his legacy is so complex. He fought vigorously against white supremacy and was a committed Communist, even when people who shared his views started distancing themselves from the party. Robeson’s story invites us to grapple with complexity." * Book Riot *"QA: Sharon Rudahl: Graphic novelist honors performer, activist Paul Robeson," by G.M. Burns * Ithaca.com *"We all still stand in the shadow of this tall tree. May the leaves of this volume inspire many." * Dig Boston *"Sharon Rudahl does a magnificent job of highlighting the key details of Paul Robeson’s astonishing life." * Progressive *"Interview with Underground Comix Artist Sharon Rudahl" * Comic Grinders *"PHS Senior Talks with Eyewitness to History" * TAP into Princeton *"The volume combines engaging art with biography and radical history and did tremendous justice to Robeson’s multi-dimensional life of art and political engagement. " * The Progressive *"With beautiful illustrations and a conversational tone, this biography paints an intimate portrait of Robeson, the son of a slave, who became a leading voice in the black liberation struggle in the United States and the fight against colonial rule around the world." * Black Agenda Report *"Sharon Rudahl’s wonderful graphic biography of Paul Robeson is a welcome addition to the recent literature on this towering figure who was probably the world’s first truly global “Black Star,” as C. L. R. James once admiringly wrote of him. With beautiful images and concise text, Rudahl’s biography captures the essence of one of the giants of twentieth-century African American cultural politics. The editors, Paul Buhle and Lawrence Ware, close the text with an insightful afterword that provides a larger frame for understanding Robeson’s life." -- Cedric R. Tolliver * ALH Online Review *Table of ContentsContents I. Son of a Slave, Star of Rutgers II. First Steps on the Stage III. He Finds His Voice IV. A World to Win V. Bloodied but Unbowed Paul Robeson: More Alive Than Ever An Afterword by the Editors Further Reading

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlthough she remains one of the all-time most recognizable Hollywood icons, Marilyn Monroe has seldom been ranked among the greatest actors of her generation. Critics have typically viewed her film roles as mere extensions of her sexpot star persona. Yet this ignores both the subtle variations between these roles and the acting skill that went into the creation of Monroe’s public persona. Some Kind of Mirror offers the first extended scholarly analysis of Marilyn Monroe’s film performances, examining how they united the contradictory discourses about women’s roles in 1950s America. Amanda Konkle suggests that Monroe’s star persona resonated with audiences precisely because it engaged with the era’s critical debates regarding femininity, sexuality, marriage, and political activism. Furthermore, she explores how Monroe drew from the techniques of Method acting and finely calibrated her performances to better mirror her audience’s anxieties and desires. Drawing both from Monroe’s filmography and from 1950s fan magazines, newspaper reports, and archived film studio reports, Some Kind of Mirror considers how her star persona was coauthored by the actress, the Hollywood publicity machine, and the fans who adored her. It is about why 1950s America made Monroe a star, but it is also about how Marilyn defined an era. Trade Review"Written with passion and verve, this meticulously researched and well-argued book is a valuable entry into our ongoing conversations about movie stars and their meanings in their original contexts as well as our own." -- Adrienne McLean * author of Being Rita Hayworth: Labor, Identity, and Hollywood Stardom *"Konkle brings fresh understanding to the Marilyn Monroe phenomenon, shedding light on her journey from sexpot to star, and revealing the complex construction and development of the Monroe image." -- Lucy Bolton * Queen Mary University of London *"Some Kind of Mirror is a fascinating study, a must-read for connoisseurs of Monroe's career, and a choice pick for public and college library Film Studies shelves. Highly recommended." * Midwest Book Review *"Highly recommended." * Choice *"Amanda Konkle has managed to add a fresh new angle to this ever-expanding topic area. From the outset, it is apparent that Konkle knows her subject extremely well and is committed to showing both Monroe’s underappreciated skills as an actress and how her constructed star persona reflected the timeframe in which she worked. The vast amount of research Konkle has employed to both her study of Monroe and American culture at the time is abundantly evident throughout." * Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television *Table of ContentsContents 1 Introduction: Playing Marilyn Monroe 2 Becoming a Star: The Publicity Buildup and Early Performances 3 Mrs. America: Marilyn Monroe and Marriage Anxiety 4 “It’s Kinda Personal and Embarrassing, Too”: Monroe, the Kinsey Reports, and the Double Standard 5 The Actress and Her Method: Resisting Playing Marilyn Monroe Conclusion: A Marilyn Monroe Type Filmography Acknowledgments Notes Works Cited Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlthough she remains one of the all-time most recognizable Hollywood icons, Marilyn Monroe has seldom been ranked among the greatest actors of her generation. Critics have typically viewed her film roles as mere extensions of her sexpot star persona. Yet this ignores both the subtle variations between these roles and the acting skill that went into the creation of Monroe’s public persona. Some Kind of Mirror offers the first extended scholarly analysis of Marilyn Monroe’s film performances, examining how they united the contradictory discourses about women’s roles in 1950s America. Amanda Konkle suggests that Monroe’s star persona resonated with audiences precisely because it engaged with the era’s critical debates regarding femininity, sexuality, marriage, and political activism. Furthermore, she explores how Monroe drew from the techniques of Method acting and finely calibrated her performances to better mirror her audience’s anxieties and desires. Drawing both from Monroe’s filmography and from 1950s fan magazines, newspaper reports, and archived film studio reports, Some Kind of Mirror considers how her star persona was coauthored by the actress, the Hollywood publicity machine, and the fans who adored her. It is about why 1950s America made Monroe a star, but it is also about how Marilyn defined an era. Trade Review"Written with passion and verve, this meticulously researched and well-argued book is a valuable entry into our ongoing conversations about movie stars and their meanings in their original contexts as well as our own." -- Adrienne McLean * author of Being Rita Hayworth: Labor, Identity, and Hollywood Stardom *"Konkle brings fresh understanding to the Marilyn Monroe phenomenon, shedding light on her journey from sexpot to star, and revealing the complex construction and development of the Monroe image." -- Lucy Bolton * Queen Mary University of London *"Some Kind of Mirror is a fascinating study, a must-read for connoisseurs of Monroe's career, and a choice pick for public and college library Film Studies shelves. Highly recommended." * Midwest Book Review *"Highly recommended." * Choice *"Amanda Konkle has managed to add a fresh new angle to this ever-expanding topic area. From the outset, it is apparent that Konkle knows her subject extremely well and is committed to showing both Monroe’s underappreciated skills as an actress and how her constructed star persona reflected the timeframe in which she worked. The vast amount of research Konkle has employed to both her study of Monroe and American culture at the time is abundantly evident throughout." * Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television *Table of ContentsContents 1 Introduction: Playing Marilyn Monroe 2 Becoming a Star: The Publicity Buildup and Early Performances 3 Mrs. America: Marilyn Monroe and Marriage Anxiety 4 “It’s Kinda Personal and Embarrassing, Too”: Monroe, the Kinsey Reports, and the Double Standard 5 The Actress and Her Method: Resisting Playing Marilyn Monroe Conclusion: A Marilyn Monroe Type Filmography Acknowledgments Notes Works Cited Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisBong Joon Ho won the Oscar® for Best Director for Parasite (2019), which also won Best Picture, the first foreign film to do so, and two other Academy Awards. Parasite was the first Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes. These achievements mark a new career peak for the director, who first achieved wide international acclaim with 2006’s monster movie The Host and whose forays into English-language film with Snowpiercer (2013) and Okja (2017) brought him further recognition. As this timely book reveals, even as Bong Joon Ho has emerged as an internationally known director, his films still engage with distinctly Korean social and political contexts that may elude many Western viewers. The Films of Bong Joon Ho demonstrates how he hybridizes Hollywood conventions with local realities in order to create a cinema that foregrounds the absurd cultural anomie Koreans have experienced in tandem with their rapid economic development. Film critic and scholar Nam Lee explores how Bong subverts the structures of the genres he works within, from the crime thriller to the sci-fi film, in order to be truthful to Korean realities that often deny the reassurances of the happy Hollywood ending. With detailed readings of Bong’s films from Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) through Parasite (2019), the book will give readers a new appreciation of this world-class cinematic talent.Trade Review“The Films of Bong Joon Ho is at once a path-breaking study of the director Bong Joon Ho—one of the most recognized and internationally acclaimed filmmakers currently active in South Korea—and his films and simultaneously a study of how the post-1987 South Korean film industry came into being. Drawing upon her own rich experience as a former staff writer and film critic in South Korea and with judicious use of relevant critical theories, Lee offers us both the larger sociopolitical, historical, and cultural context of Bong’s films as well as detailed analyses of a set of films, both critically received and commercially successful ones as well as relatively unknown earlier short films. This book is a great service not only to the fans of Bong but also to the general public who are interested in films of South Korea, as well as to the scholarly community of film studies and Korean studies.”— Namhee Lee, University of California, Los Angeles "For the legions of new fans of Bong Joon Ho, this timely book will demonstrate that the triumph of Parasite in the West was no fluke. Nam Lee demonstrates in loving detail just how Bong has managed over a two decade-long career of unprecedented critical and commercial success to condemn and critique contemporary society through the lens of satire, humor and sheer entertainment. It’s hard to think of a director better able to address both Korean controversies and universal anxieties and a writer better able to explicate these concerns."— David Desser, founding editor, the Journal of Japanese and Korean CinemaTable of ContentsTable of Contents List of Illustrations Preface Introduction Chapter 1 A New Cultural Generation Chapter 2 Cinematic “Perversions”: Tonal Shifts, Visual Gags and Techniques of Defamiliarization Chapter 3 Social Pujoris and the “Narratives of Failure”: Transnational Genre and Local Politics in Memories of Murder and The Host Chapter 4 Monsters Within: Moral Ambiguity and Anomie in Barking Dogs Never Bite and Mother Chapter 5 Beyond the Local: Global Politics and Neoliberal Capitalism in Snowpiercer and Okja Conclusion: Parasite, A New Beginning? Filmography Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom multi-hyphenate mogul and host of The Breakfast Club and Comedy Central's Tha God's Honest Truth, Charlamagne Tha God, real talk on the many ways in which we've screwed up our world, and what we need to do to climb our way back.

Read more less