Popular culture Books
Tuttle Publishing Kokoro: An Intimate Portrait of Japanese Inner
Book Synopsis"The papers composing this volume treat of the inner rather than of the outer life of Japan, for which reason they have been grouped under the title Kokoro (heart). [This] word signifies also mind, in the emotional sense; spirit; courage; resolve; sentiment; affection; and inner meaning, just as we say in English, "the heart of things." —Lafcadio HearnAs an interpreter of Japan for the West, Lafcadio Hearn has no peer. His books are still read with fascination by foreigners and Japanese alike—a tribute to his keen powers of observation and the vividness of his prose. Kokoro is Hearn's love letter to Japan—his exploration of the genius of Japanese civilization and the wonder he felt at encountering these islands and their inhabitants.The 15 extraordinary stories in this book include: "Kimiko"— A beautiful geisha hatches a desperate plan to save her mother from poverty but then must make a heartbreaking choice. "A Conservative"— A samurai's son embraces the West and travels to Europe but finds his new home to be a shallow and faithless land. "A Street Singer"— A woman captivates crowds with the beauty of her voice, but her life story goes much deeper than her musical talents. "By Force of Karma"— The peculiar tale of a Buddhist priest who receives a letter from a mysterious woman and ultimately takes his own life. Published six years after Hearn arrived in Japan, these stories focus on the inner spiritual life of the Japanese. Sometimes touching and always compelling, they are drawn from Hearn's own experiences, telling stories of the people and customs that still make Japan so unique. Kokoro includes an informative foreword by Patricia Welch which highlights how, 125 years later, our understanding of Japan can still be deepened by Hearn's heartfelt prose.Trade Review"When not penning his observations, travels and historico-cultural analysis, Hearn switches to passages of novelistic invention, as if crafting an inspirational gothic fantasy out of Japan that will take him to the heart ("kokoro") of the mystery of human existence." --The Japan Times"Many of the essays in Kokoro are informed by Hearn's preoccupation and fascination with Japan's headlong rush to catch up with the West. Now, 125 years later, his heartfelt reflections on the psyche of a nation in a time of transition still captivate the reader." --The Japan Times"This book is a brilliant analysis of the collective Japanese heart from an honest outsider's perspective…Hearn's prose is as vivid as it gets. He writes in a way that reads like fiction--as if life simply couldnÆt be as beautiful as he describes…" --Dominique Jardiolin, "Chroniqled" bookstagram
£11.69
Tuttle Publishing The Ultimate Guide to Manga Fashion
Book SynopsisThe ultimate fashion bible for manga and anime artists!Create realistic-looking outfits and one-of-a-kind looks for your manga and anime characters, or design amazing creations for any cosplay event. Author Rabimaru is Japan's leading fashion illustrator and she teaches you how to develop your own unique manga fashion vocabulary!In this comprehensive fashion sourcebook, you'll learn to create an array of stunning outfits including stylish separates and original ensembles. Rabimaru then shows you how to add realistic details, folds, creases, contours and shadows that will make your characters truly come alive!From casual classics to high fashion, The Ultimate Guide to Manga Fashion does it allin style!Streetwear and basics from T-shirts and hoodies to the frilliest of skirtsBusiness and formalwear for polished professionals and fashionistasSchool uniforms and sailor suits for casual cosplay inspirationSneakers, shoes and accessories to complete each lookWhether you're looking to develop
£14.39
Damiani We Started a Nightclub
Book SynopsisWe Started a Nightclub: The Birth of the Pyramid Cocktail Lounge as Told by Those Who Lived It is the story of the beginnings of the club that was the launching pad for countless talented performers, musicians, and artistsmany at the earliest stages of their careers. It begins in 1981 at the last moment in the city's history when the East Village was considered a dangerous no man's land, rents were cheap, AIDS was still unknown, and a new generation of creators broke the mold and went on to make art in an atmosphere of unbridled celebration. An oral history told through more than 75 interviews, it covers the early years of the Pyramid from the time of its founding through its rise, near demise, and rebirth as the first producer of downtown's annual Wigstock festival. The book includes narrative commentary by Butterick, Martin, and Nakas; press releases, and never-before-seen photos, snapshots, flyers, and other ephemera The Pyramid, at 101 Avenue A, was ground zero for an explosion of
£36.00
Hong Kong University Press Asian Celebrity Cultures in the Digital Age
Book Synopsis
£53.10
Insight Editions DC Batman Mini Book
£10.80
PM Press Surrealism Bugs Bunny and the Blues
Book Synopsis
£22.09
Running Press Book Publishers Smoko Friends Magnet Set
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£9.49
Hachette Books A Hard Kick in the Nuts
Book SynopsisStephen 'Steve-O' Glover—social media icon, comedy-touring stalwart, and star of Jackass—delivers a hilarious and practical guide to recovery, relationships, career, and how to keep thriving long after you should be dead. Steve-O is best known for his wildly dangerous, foolish, painful, embarrassing, and sometimes death-defying stunts. At age 48, however, he faces his greatest challenge yet: getting older. A Hard Kick in the Nuts: What I’ve Learned from a Lifetime of Terrible Decisions is a captivating exploration of life and how to live it by an individual who has already lived way more than a lifetime’s worth of extreme experiences. Steve-O grapples with the right balance between maturity and staying true to yourself, not repeating your “greatest hits,” maintaining sobriety and a healthy regimen, avoiding selfishness, and finding the right partner for life. Having built a gargantuan and loyal social media following while establishing a successful stand-up career—all after a couple of decades of dubious behavior—Steve-O is proof that anyone can find meaning and fulfillment in life, no matter what path they choose. Packed with self-deprecating wit and gruelingly earned wisdom, A Hard Kick in the Nuts will reverberate with readers everywhere who have lived a lot (sometimes too much) and are now wondering how to approach the years to come. Or maybe just need some good motivation to get out of bed tomorrow. One of many tips: Be your own harshest critic, then cut yourself a break, and enjoy this book.
£13.59
Little, Brown Book Group Toxic
Book Synopsis'Illuminating.' New Statesman'Ditum's prose is never overwrought, and she treats pop culture with a rare seriousness. She is right to do so. The women who came of age in the noughties are entering middle age, with all the agency that brings... Ditum's reframing of an era, suggests that the uproar over (Russell) Brand may have been just the beginning of a reckoning.' Financial Times'Ditum gets the tone right: critically engaged, well-researched, colourful without seeming exploitative... a serious book of reportage.... For readers interested in real celebrity journalism.' Irish Times'Furious and funny.' Guardian - BOOKS OF THE YEAR'(A) pageturning exploration of a time when new technology and old misogyny collided and the concept of privacy collapsed.' Daily MirrorBritney, Paris, Lindsay, Aaliyah, Janet, Amy, Kim, Chyna, Jen. Nine iconic women whose fame in the early internet years of the century came at a price. In Toxic: Women, Fame and The Noughties, journalist Sarah Ditum describes h
£9.89
Vehicule Press Girls Interrupted
Book Synopsis
£16.10
HarperCollins Publishers Queen Elizabeth II: A Lifetime Dressing for the
Book SynopsisExquisite and sumptuous, immaculately tailored, dignified and, above all, practical. The wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth II was as distinctive in style as her position in the world was unique. This remarkable book is a fond reflection of the days when her Majesty led the field in fashion, showcasing some of the world's best designers. At every appearance, as the world looked on, the impeccable outfits of Queen Elizabeth II were at the centre of keen discussion and debate. This sartorial biography celebrates Her Majesty as a much-loved and timeless style icon. Showcasing the best of the world’s designers, including Norman Hartnell, Hardy Amies and Ian Thomas, it also tells us much about the many years in which she reigned. Journey through the decades to discover classic designs with nipped-in waists and full skirts, strong tailored silhouettes, as well rather more relaxed styles from the 70s, all worn by Her Majesty, who always dressed with poise and diplomacy for the world stage. Princess Elizabeth was the leading style influencer of her day. Young and beautiful (and a real princess), she represented postwar optimism and renewal, both personal and cultural. She had a wardrobe most could only dream of, custom-made in the finest fabrics. From practical clothes for her beloved outdoor pursuits to exquisite and sumptuous gowns, her personal style reflected cultural and social changes over nine decades and reveals a rare understanding of the value of impeccable dressing. In our current era of casual clothing for nearly every occasion, the Queen's formal attire signalled respect for those she was visiting. With stunning formal portraits and candid photography, discover the careful work that underpinned the royal wardrobe and celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s enduring legacy.Trade Review“I will remain forever grateful for the Queen’s championing of British arts and industry” – Paul Smith (Vogue UK) “The ultimate icon in every way. Strength, power, grace and style” -– Michael Kors (Vogue UK) “It was a great honour in 2018 to host Her Majesty at London Fashion Week to launch The QEII Award for British Design.” – British Fashion Council (Vogue UK) “Her wardrobe, like her, was dependable yet dazzling and majestic, never shocking but somehow always relevant.” – Bethan Holt (Grazia Daily)
£17.00
Watkins Media Limited Football the Peoples Shame
Book SynopsisAsks what has happened to English football and how we can launch a revolution amongst English fandom in order not just to take back control of the game, but invent new ways our society and economy can work in the interest of the people again. Despite thirty plus years of rampant commercialization and marketization, football and football clubs remain central to many communities: sources of solidarity, civic engagement and national and international pride. This book explores the history of the people's game, looks at how it has become less and less the province of the people and more and more the plaything of oligarchs, billionaires and commercial interests, and explains why and how we need to take it back. Football's importance not just to local communities but to local and national economies is used as the jumping-off point to argue for a new economic model for the sport, one based on the idea of the public-commons partnership. These partnerships and the reorganising of production
£10.99
Continental Sales Blind Drunk
Book Synopsis
£13.81
Transcript Verlag Fictional Practices of Spirituality I:
Book SynopsisFICTIONAL PRACTICES OF SPIRITUALITY provides critical insight into the implementation of belief, mysticism, religion, and spirituality into worlds of fiction, be it interactive or non-interactive. This first volume focuses on interactive, virtual worlds - may that be the digital realms of video games and VR applications or the imaginary spaces of life action role-playing and soul-searching practices. It features analyses of spirituality as gameplay facilitator, sacred spaces and architecture in video game geography, religion in video games and spiritual acts and their dramaturgic function in video games, tabletop, or LARP, among other topics. The contributors offer a first-time ever comprehensive overview of play-rites as spiritual incentives and playful spirituality in various medial incarnations.
£43.99
Academic Studies Press Engaging Cultural Ideologies: Classical Composers
Book SynopsisEngaging Cultural Ideologies offers a recontextualization of the effects of Poland’s cultural practices, especially those concerning issues such as nationalism, elitism, and race, on the genesis and performance of contemporary Polish compositions from 1918 to 1956. Based on extensive archival research that includes the first comprehensive examination of concert programs in Poland as well as a series of case studies focused on composers’ challenges in the midst of nearly constant turmoil, Bylander brings fresh insights into the public and private power struggles concerning artistic freedom that were animated by similar points of contention across seemingly diverse historical eras.Trade Review"The book brings a new interpretation of archival materials, in as much as it includes the first such broad analysis of concert programs... Her knowledge of sources is impressive, as is her excellent insight into the meanderings of Polish culture."— Marta Szoka, Ruch Muzyczny (translated from the Polish)“As a synthesis of current Polish- and English-language scholarly debates, Engaging Cultural Ideologies is essential to scholars, students and Polish music enthusiasts looking for an entry point on the subject. Most of all, as promised in the book’s introduction, Bylander delivers a ‘penetrating picture of the life cycle and performance history of contemporary Polish compositions’ (p. 9) by providing an unparalleled overview of Polish composition and programming practices between 1918 and 1956.”— Marta Beszterda van Vliet, SEERTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsAbbreviationsIntroduction1. Between the World Wars: Performing a Utopian Vision2. World War II: Continuity And Disruption3. From War to Socialism: Elitism versus Accessibility 1944–19484. Negotiating a New Path 1949–19535. Ideological Turbulence, Hopeful Composers 1954–19566. Socialist RamificationsBibliographyIndex
£90.09
Sentient Publications Take the L
£16.65
Epic Ink Law Order SVU Confidential
£17.09
Running Press,U.S. Pusheen 2In1 DoubleSided 500Piece Puzzle
Book SynopsisEnjoy a double dose of sweetness with this irresistible double-sided, 500-piece puzzle featuring your favorite chubby kitty, Pusheen!* 500-PIECE PUZZLE: This unique 500-piece puzzle features two adorable plant-themed images of Pusheen -- one scene,and one mesmerizing pattern.* DOUBLE-SIDED: With different images of Pusheen on both sides, you get two puzzles in one! One side of the puzzle is matte and the other is glossy for easy sorting and piecing.* SPECIFICATIONS: Full-color and printed on high-quality stock, the completed puzzle measures approximately 16 x 20.* INCLUDES STICKER BOOK: Box includes a deluxe sticker book filled with 100+ stickers of Pusheen and her pals!
£17.09
Chartwell Books Unofficial Audrey Hepburn Book and Crochet Kit
Book Synopsis
£17.27
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Unofficial Beyoncé Book and Crochet Kit
Book Synopsis
£17.27
Orion Publishing Co Music Tarot
Book SynopsisA TAROT DECK FOR MUSIC LOVERS with the biggest stars representing the cards'' meaningsAN ACCESSIBLE ENTRY TO TAROT or an exciting new addition to a card collectionCULT FAVOURITES AND BIG STARS: there''s something for fans of every genreSTUNNING ILLUSTRATIONS with more to find on every readingINCLUDES A BOOKLET that unpacks the meanings of the cards and explains how to conduct your own readingsTune into your inner wisdom with this unique tarot deck inspired by cult music icons. Inside you''ll find musicians who perfectly encapsulate the tarot card meanings: Lorde is the Fool, Prince is the Emperor and David Byrne is the Hermit. The 78 cards work as a fully functional tarot deck, and the kit also includes a booklet with more information about the musicians, as well as information on how to interpret the cards and conduct your own readings.
£18.35
Union Square & Co. Vox Mega Book of Mini Crosswords
Book SynopsisIs this book bigger on the inside? It must be, or how else could it contain so much puzzle entertainment in such a small space? Dive into Vox Mega Book of Mini Crosswordsthe first-ever crossword puzzle book from the puzzle wizards at Vox.com! Crossword enthusiasts and pop culture aficionados alike will delight in this book's lay-flat binding and pages featuring 150 mini crosswords. Each of the 9×9 crosswords, lovingly crafted by Vox.com's all-star crew of crossword constructorswhich includes Patrick Blindauer, Juliana Tringali Golden, Adesina O. Koiki, Will Nediger, and Andrew J. Ries, all of whom have published multiple puzzles in The New York Timesoffers a delightful fusion of current pop culture references and general knowledge that caters to solvers of all levels. Whether you're exploring pop culture for beginners or hunting for gifts for news junkies, Vox crosswords offer a delightful escape into the world of puzzle-solving and trivia books. So why wait? Grab your pencil and un
£11.39
Insight Editions DC Flip Pop: The Joker
Book SynopsisDisplay this pop-up Joker™ and transform into a completely different look with just one touch!Display and play! The DC Flip Pop: The Joker book transforms from one look to another with just a push of a button! TWO FIGURES IN ONE: With the push of a button, this pop-up Joker transforms from the iconic classic comic book version of The Joker to the more modern version of The Joker COMPLETE THE SCENE: Pull the tab inserts to reveal an intricate scene full of detail PLAY AND DISPLAY: Add a touch of Gotham City excitement to a bookshelf, table, or display case BONUS BOOKLET: Discover fun facts and behind the scenes secrets about the Clown Prince of Crime in the bonus pull-out booklet COLLECT THEM ALL: DC Flip Pop: Batman also available!
£21.12
Kuperard Ethiopia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to
Book SynopsisDon't just see the sights-get to know the people. Set in Africa, but not wholly African; an isolated nation, yet receptive to the outside world; hierarchical and conservative, yet innovative and desirous of modernity; conformist as a people, and fiercely independent as individuals the Ethiopian identity defies definition. Ethiopia exists simultaneously in different time periods. Its people, when they see something new that might work to their advantage, will embrace it and find ways to improve on it. Modern democracy, however, has understandably been slower to bloom given the strong historical antecedents of its monarchy. Culture Smart! Ethiopia unpacks the values, attitudes, and traditions of this culturally rich nation. Etiquette in daily life, socializing, and communicating are all helpfully described, and advice is given to on how make the most of a visit. Above all, it provides the tools to do so in a considerate and sensitive manner. Have a more meaningful and successful time abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes, customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit, while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.Trade Review"Culture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers," - Sunday Times Travel; "...the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries," - Global Travel; "...full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas," - Observer; "...as useful as they are entertaining," - Easy Jet Magazine; "...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world," - New York TimesTable of ContentsKey History - Politics - Economic Life - Values - Attitudes - Religion - Traditions - Taboos - Festivals & Holidays - Friendships & Family - Women in Society - Humour - Hospitality & Home life - Cultural Life - Cuisine & Dining Out - Socializing - Dos and Don'ts - Business Etiquette - Punctuality & Time Keeping - Meetings & Presentations - Negotiating - Bureaucracy - Communication & Language - Tips
£11.77
Smith Street Books The Pop Culture Timeline
Book SynopsisTest your knowledge of when pop cultural events happened with this fun card game!Featuring 300 cards of iconic pop culture moments from the beginning of the century to now, players must arrange each event in chronological order to win.From movie releases to celeb break-ups, fashion trends to viral memes, The Pop Culture Timeline covers all the major events that have shaped the cultural landscape of the past two decades. What came first, the Gilmore Girls pilot or the premiere of Shrek? Did the first American Idol episode air before or after Beyoncé released her debut solo album Dangerously in Love? Was Instagram around in time to post a pic of the first ever woman to win Best Director at the Oscars?Players must use their knowledge and intuition to place each card in the correct order, with the first player to successfully organize all the cards declared the winner.Perfect for game nights, parties, or just
£19.19
Insights 2026 Yellowstone The Dutton Ranch 13Month Weekly
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Columbia University Press Bookishness
Book SynopsisJessica Pressman explores the rise of “bookishness” as an identity and an aesthetic strategy that proliferates from store-window décor to experimental writing. Ranging from literature to kitsch objects, stop-motion animation films to book design, she considers the multivalent meanings of books in contemporary culture.Trade ReviewFizzing with ideas and sparkling with finds, this analysis of the digital age’s love affair with print shows Pressman’s keen eye for the paradoxes of contemporary cultural practices. -- Leah Price, author of What We Talk About When We Talk About Books: The History and Future of ReadingJessica Pressman’s great strength lies in her wonderful touch for the material. Her expansive command of exemplars runs the gamut from the high literary to cultural kitsch. Bookishness offers that rare and enviable combination of fascinating source material and an easily transportable take-away—the title term itself, which is sure to become widely adopted and relied upon. -- Matthew Kirschenbaum, author of Track Changes: A Literary History of Word ProcessingJessica Pressman has written an eloquent book on our attempts, at once kitschy and inspired, to maintain a sense of attachment to reading during the book's twilight. A profound reminder of the continued hold books have on our imaginations. -- Andrew Piper, author of Book Was There: Reading in Electronic TimesUltimately, both hobbyist and scholar will take bookishness seriously after reading Bookishness by Jessica Pressman. * Society for U.S. Intellectual History blog *A brainy exploration of what it means to be a book lover in the 21st century. * Everything Zoomer *Understanding how our relationship with words has changed, and recognising bookishness as a way of navigating this shift, is what Pressman’s clear-sighted study brings to light. * Money Control *Pressman absorbs academic debate into her sometimes heartfelt prose, and treads the line between readability and rigour with ease. If Bookishness articulates a democratic world where ‘books’ are enjoyed by a demographic of ‘readers’ more broadly conceived, then this book performs that aspirational inclusivity. * The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory *A delight to read. * Choice Reviews *Bookishness is a trenchant, original exploration of a widespread contemporary phenomenon. Situated at the intersection of literary studies, media studies and book history, it innovatively combines analyses of literary fiction and material culture. * Publishing Research Quarterly *A quick, timely, provocative read that—as with the command "Don’t think of pink elephants"—readers won’t be able to walk away from seeing the world the way they did going in. It opens a field of inquiry that stretches to the far corners of culture. “Look there,” one wants to say, pointing at another example of bookishness. And there. And there! Bookishness makes one want to make such lists and then shout—er, write down on paper—The book is dead, long live the book! * The Rumpus *Bookishness will likely be of interest to technical communicators interested in literature and books broadly, and those concerned with how physical and digital mediums interact in our contemporary world. * Technical Communication *Table of ContentsList of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. How and Now Bookishness2. Shelter3. Thing4. Fake5. Weapon6. MemorialCodaNotesIndex
£22.50
Indiana University Press The Worlds of John Wick The Years Work at the
Book SynopsisTrade Review"The Worlds of John Wick is a brilliant, wide-ranging, interdisciplinary, and theoretically savvy collection on one of the most compelling and successful phenomena of action cinema in recent years: the John Wick franchise. Using approaches ranging from the discussion of 'world-building' in the 'Wickverse,' to the films' striking use of games and play, and allusions to forms such as folklore and fairy tales, the contributors present a stellar case for (re-) engaging with these remarkable movies. The chapters offer groundbreaking readings referencing Frankfurt School 'Culture Industry,' gender performance and masculinity, and much more. Caitlin G. Watt and Stephen Watt are to be applauded for their bold, original, and exciting work."—Oliver Buckton, author of The World is Not Enough: A Biography of Ian Fleming, Florida Atlantic University"Especially because the John Wick franchise is largely viewed by the critical establishment as well-made, but fundamentally inconsequential, this volume is important in revealing the layers of meaning and significance."—James Kendrick, author of A Companion to the Action Film"This wide-ranging and thought-provoking collection of essays is essential reading. Its breadth and accessibility will appeal not only to fans of the John Wick franchise but also to anyone interested in film, gender studies, architecture, and popular culture as a whole."—David Schmid, Professor of English, University at Buffalo"The Worlds of John Wick explores the (first) three John Wick films. In fifteen richly referential essays, Caitlin and Stephen Watt and their contributors discuss the balletic fight choreography, allusive storytelling, underlying philosophies, folkloric roots, and more. An illuminating academic examination of one of the very best – and most popular – contemporary action film franchises."—Chris Holmlund, University of Tennessee, Knoxville"Through an inventive array of critical lenses, methodologies, and theoretical perspectives on gender, the body, and space and time, Watt and Watt's collection explicates the crucial importance of the John Wick franchise within contemporary action cinema, confirming its place alongside the enduring legacies of action cinema icons James Bond, Ellen Ripley, Sarah Connor, and John Rambo."—Ian Kinane, editor of the International Journal of James Bond StudiesTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: The Worlds of John Wick, by Caitlin G. Watt and Stephen WattPart I: John Wick and Action Cinema1. Red Circle of Revenge: Anatomy of the Fight Sequence in John Wick, by Lisa Coulthard and Lindsay Steenberg2. Hidden in Plain Sight: Stunt-Craft Work in John Wick and the Networked Worlds of 87Eleven Action Design, by Lauren Steimer3. Killing in Equanimity: Theorizing John Wick's Action Aesthetics, by Wayne WongPart II: The Economies and Phenomenology of the Wickverse4. The Continental Abyss: John Wick vs. the Frankfurt School, by Skip Willman5. Bitcoin, Shitcoin, Wickcoin: The Hidden Phenomenology of John Wick, by Aaron JaffePart III: John Wick: Other Cultural Forms and Genres6. Fortune Favors the Bold: The State of Games and Play in the John Wick Films, by Edward P. Dallis-Comentale7. 'The One You Sent to Kill the Boogeyman': Folklore and Identity Deconstruction in the John Wick Universe, by Caitlin G. Watt8. Captain Dead Wick: Grief and the Monstrous in the John Wick and Deadpool Films, by Mary NestorPart IV: John Wick's Matrix: Space and Time9. Classical Orders, Modernist Revisions, Fantastical Expansions: Reading the Architecture of the John Wick Franchise, by Andrew Battaglia and Marleen Newman10. Out of Time and Going Sideways: John Wick, Time Traveler, by Charles M. Tung11. John Wick's Blank Cosmopolitanism and the Global Spatiality of the Wickverse, by Mi Jeong LeePart V: Gender and the Body in John Wick12. John Wick's Multiply Signifying Dogs, by Karalyn Kendall-Morwick13. Masculinity, Isolation, and Revenge: John Wick's Liminal Body, by Owen R. Horton14. Professionalism and Gender Performance in the John Wickverse, by Vivian Nun Halloran15. Style and the Sacrificial Body in John Wick 3, by Stephen WattBibliographyIndex
£25.19
Harvard University Press Killer Instinct
Book SynopsisIn the 1960s biologists and social scientists engaged in a public debate about human nature. The questionwhether humans are innately aggressive or cooperativeeventually receded, but the oppositional naturenurture binary created in the course of the debate left a lasting legacy that would underpin subsequent discussions of human behavior.Trade ReviewInformative, accessible, and filled with fascinating portraits of her large cast of characters, Weidman’s book makes an important contribution to our understanding of how ideas about nature and nurture were constructed, contested, and disseminated in the United States between the 1950s and 1980s. -- Glenn C. Altschuler * Psychology Today *Weidman deserves praise for her rigorous historiography. The book reads so well and smoothly that it could be approached by anyone…[An] excellent piece of scholarship. -- Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda * H-Net Reviews *Weidman masterfully examines the quest for humankind’s innate, biological nature in the years following the Second World War. With compelling scientific storytelling, the author chronicles how charismatic individuals shaped selective scientific findings into a bloody vision of aggressive Homo sapiens in the public mind. It is as much a rich historical account as it is a cautionary tale, considering the virality of current distortions of science. -- B. Natterson-Horowitz * Quarterly Review of Biology *Nadine Weidman has written a brilliant and elegant book. If you’ve ever wondered about the real reasons human beings act one way or another—and why this search for our root instincts has maintained persistent prominence throughout time—you now have the ideal guide. -- Rebecca Lemov, author of Database of Dreams: The Lost Quest to Catalog HumanityWith exceptional scholarship and a compelling narrative, Nadine Weidman reveals how the science of an essentialized ‘human nature’ was constructed, popularized, and fought over in the 1950s through the 1980s. Focusing on the work of Konrad Lorenz, Ashley Montagu, Robert Ardrey, E. O. Wilson, and Ruth Hubbard, Weidman provides an important new understanding of the history of instinct, aggression, and ‘popular science.’ -- Andrew S. Winston, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph
£33.11
Princeton University Press The Drama of Celebrity
Book Synopsis
£15.19
Johns Hopkins University Press The Deadly Rise of Antiscience
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe author's short, passionate polemic, dense with studies and charts, provides overwhelming evidence that scientific research benefits humanity and that vaccines are lifesavers.Supremely well-informed.—Kirkus ReviewsVirologist and vaccine expert Peter Hotez has provided the definitive work on this era....[His] warning about the broader implications of Covid denial must be heeded.—Arthur Caplan, Science[A] powerful eyewitness account of anti-scientific activities in the USA.—Naomi Oreskes, The LancetHarrowing and deeply alarming.[Hotez's] analysis of the modern US anti-vaccine movement and its entanglement with the authoritarian right is astute.—New ScientistTable of ContentsPrefaceChapter 1. An Army of Patriots Turns against the ScientistsChapter 2. Health Freedom Propaganda in AmericaChapter 3. Red COVIDChapter 4. An Anti-science Political EcosystemChapter 5. A Tough Time to Be a ScientistChapter 6. The Authoritarian PlaybookChapter 7. The Hardest Science Communication EverChapter 8. Southern Poverty Law Center for ScientistsLiterature CitedIndex
£18.45
University of Texas Press Earthmoving
£46.80
Duke University Press American Blockbuster
Book SynopsisBen-Hur (1959), Jaws (1975), Avatar (2009), Wonder Woman (2017): the blockbuster movie has held a dominant position in American popular culture for decades. In American Blockbuster Charles R. Acland charts the origins, impact, and dynamics of this most visible, entertaining, and disparaged cultural form. Acland narrates how blockbusters emerged from Hollywood''s turn to a hit-driven focus during the industry''s business crisis in the 1950s. Movies became bigger, louder, and more spectacular. They also became prototypes for ideas and commodities associated with the future of technology and culture, accelerating the prominence of technological innovation in modern American life. Acland shows that blockbusters continue to be more than just movies; they are industrial strategies and complex cultural machines designed to normalize the ideologies of our technological age.Trade Review“Charles R. Acland has written an astute, masterful genealogy of the film critic's kryptonite: the blockbuster. Bringing clarity to the massive films that hide from scholars in plain view, Acland shows just how complex and unstable ostensibly self-evident genre and trade terms can be. Beyond a film history, this wide-ranging book offers a prototype for multi-modal historiographic method and incisive film analysis in an era of big data and digital humanities. Far more than an origin story, Acland's reverse engineering lays bare the struggles behind the management of Hollywood's blockbuster category, the fabrication of overdone artlessness. A must-read in film and media studies.” -- John Thornton Caldwell, author of * Production Culture: Industrial Reflexivity and Critical Practice in Film and Television *“No other book traces the emergence of the stabilization of Hollywood's blockbuster strategy as deftly as American Blockbuster. Charles R. Acland's powerful synthesis of historical analysis and cultural theory, along with his assessment of Hollywood's blockbuster economy—and of the studios’ prevailing blockbuster aesthetic—will have a significant impact.” -- Thomas Schatz, author of * The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era *“This is a stunningly insightful and comprehensive study of the blockbuster that contributes new historical, cultural, and critical perspectives on a definitive phenomenon in American cinema. Through impeccable research and lucid writing, Charles R. Acland ultimately shows us how movie blockbusters have functioned to drive and to legitimate the ‘technological exhibitionism’ that lies at the heart not only of the film industry but also of society more broadly, offering a rich assessment of why these films are among the most consequential popular art forms in modern times.” -- Barbara Klinger, Indiana University"A crucial addition to the burgeoning scholarship on contemporary Hollywood cinema, this deeply researched, densely reasoned book explodes a number of well-worn myths about the blockbuster film while advancing a provocative new thesis about its role in modern society. Drawing on a wealth of historical data, Acland demonstrates conclusively that the origins of blockbuster cinema lie not in the 1970s—as critics pointing to the mammoth success of movies like Jaws have often argued—but in the 1950s with the creation of such Hollywood super-productions as Ben-Hur. . . . [T]his landmark book illuminates much about US cinema and culture. Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty." -- I. Olney * Choice *"Acland’s intelligent and unexpectedly absorbing book is the origin story of a World War II weapon that became synonymous with a postwar Hollywood economic strategy. . . ." -- Carrie Rickey * Film Quarterly *“American Blockbuster is an important study.... Acland successfully links midcentury Hollywood production history to today’s big budget spectacles and convincingly demonstrates their related appeal to audiences.” -- Richard Ravalli * Business History *"Acland's examination of the blockbuster film reveals much about not only the genre itself, but about the culture that produces and consumes this form of entertainment. For these reasons, and since the blockbuster has long-remained such a vital part of popular culture, Acland's American Blockbuster makes an important contribution to an ongoing dialog about the film category and its cultural impacts." -- Heather Duerre Humann * Journal of Popular Film and Television *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Part I. The Spectacle Industry 1. Blockbuster Ballyhoo 3 2. Industrial Regimes of Entertainment 35 Part II. The Rise of the Blockbuster 3. Delivering Blockbusters 87 4. The Business of Big 124 5. Hollywood's Return 160 6. Cosmopolitan Artlessness 191 Part III. The Technological Sublime of Entertainment Everywhere 7. The End of James Cameron's Quiet Years 233 8. The Technological Heart of Movie Culture 266 Epilogue. Exhausted Entertainment 296 Notes 305 Filmography 337 Bibliography 347 Index
£22.79
MP-MPP University Press of Mississippi The Films of Delmer Daves Visions of Progress in
Book SynopsisArgues that the Delmer Daves' work warrants sustained scholarly attention. Examining all of Daves' films, his screenplays, scripts that were not filmed, and personal papers, Douglas Horlock argues that Daves was a serious and enlightened filmmaker whose work confronts the general conservatism of Hollywood in the mid-twentieth century.
£27.96
University Press of Mississippi Monsters and Saints LatIndigenous Landscapes and
Book SynopsisPresents a collection of stories, poetry, art, and essays divining the contemporary intersection of Latinx and Indigenous cultures from the American Southwest, Mexico, and Central and South America.Trade ReviewThis truly innovative book amasses creative and research-based writing that illustrates a connection between historical indigenous communities and contemporary Chicanx identified peoples." - Rachel González-Martin, author of Quinceañera Style: Social Belonging and Latinx Consumer Identities
£22.46
University Press of Mississippi Comics and Modernism
Book SynopsisOffers an interdisciplinary consideration of myriad social, cultural, and aesthetic connections. Drawing on work in literary studies, art history, film studies, philosophy, and material culture studies, contributors attend to the dynamic relationship between avant-garde art, literature, and comics.
£26.96
Cornell University Press Marvel Comics in the 1970s
Book SynopsisMarvel Comics in the 1970s explores a forgotten chapter in the story of the rise of comics as an art form. Bridging Marvel''s dizzying innovations and the birth of the underground comics scene in the 1960s and the rise of the prestige graphic novel and postmodern superheroics in the 1980s, Eliot Borenstein reveals a generation of comic book writers whose work at Marvel in the 1970s established their own authorial voice within the strictures of corporate comics.Through a diverse cast of heroes (and the occasional antihero)Black Panther, Shang-Chi, Deathlok, Dracula, Killraven, Man-Thing, and Howard the Duckwriters such as Steve Gerber, Doug Moench, and Don McGregor made unprecedented strides in exploring their characters'' inner lives. Visually, dynamic action was still essential, but the real excitement was taking place inside their heroes'' heads. Marvel Comics in the 1970s highlights the brilliant and sometimes gloriously imperfect creations thatTrade ReviewMarvel Comics in the 1970s is a detailed, wonky examination of a significant period in the history of Marvel Comics for die-hard comics fans and scholars of the graphic novel. * Kirkus Reviews *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Best Marvel Comic of the 1970s 1. Inside Out: Stan Lee and the Drama of the Visible Self 2. Everyday Transcendence: Steve Englehart and the Quest for Selfhood 3. Crouching Tiger, Running Commentary: Doug Moench on the Margins of Marvel 4. Blood Will Tell: Marv Wolfman's Tomb of Dracula 5. Bodies and Words: Don McGregor's Tortured Romantic Individualism 6. Subjectivity and Its Discontents: Steve Gerber and the Uses of Disenchantment Coda: Claremont Rising
£18.04
Stanford University Press Crowds: The Stadium as a Ritual of Intensity
Book SynopsisAnyone who has ever experienced a sporting event in a large stadium knows the energy that emanates from stands full of fans cheering on their teams. Although "the masses" have long held a thoroughly bad reputation in politics and culture, literary critic and avid sports fan Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht finds powerful, as yet unexplored reasons to sing the praises of crowds. Drawing on his experiences as a spectator in the stadiums of South America, Germany, and the US, Gumbrecht presents the stadium as "a ritual of intensity," thereby offering a different lens through which we might capture and even appreciate the dynamic of the masses. In presenting this alternate view, Gumbrecht enters into conversation with thinkers who were more critical of the potential of the masses, such as Gustave Le Bon, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, José Ortega y Gasset, Elias Canetti, Siegfried Kracauer, T. W. Adorno, or Max Horkheimer. A preface explores college crowds as a uniquely specific phenomenon of American culture. Pairing philosophical rigor with the enthusiasm of a true fan, Gumbrecht writes from the inside and suggests that being part of a crowd opens us up to an experience beyond ourselves.Trade Review"A wild, entertaining ride from Maradona to Nietzsche, from the Russian Revolution to the Boston Tea Party, from Jesus to Karl Marx." —Neue Zürcher Zeitung"[Gumbrecht's] new book takes an empathetic look at the elation of fans like me, on nights like the one I experienced eight years ago [at the Pittsurgh Pirates playoff game against the Cincinnati Reds]. In a synoptic history, Gumbrecht explores both fear of crowds, of their violence and unreason—going back, via Freud and José Ortega y Gasset, to Gustave Le Bon's Psychologie des Foules in 1895—and implausible hopes for their political efficacy, from the French Revolution to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Arab Spring."—Keiran Setiya, Times Literary Supplement"Seamlessly weav[es] together philosophy, theology, history, politics, and culture with ethnographic participant observation and personal experience... What the book lacks in length, it more than makes up for in its ability to advance readers' theoretical and conceptual understanding of what transpires in so many of the grand settings in which culture is experienced, expressed, consumed, and re-created. As people accept that COVID-19 is here to stay but nevertheless feel the urge to return to normal life and reconvene againen masse, the lessons articulated in this book will be invaluable to sociologists, historians, philosophers, and all scholars who study sport spectatorship and popular-culture fandom. Highly recommended."—J. R. Mitrano, CHOICE"This small, delightful, and passionate book didn't require the evacuation of crowds from sports stadiums in 2020 to come into being and to make its case. But the ghostly and ghastly memory of empty stadiums during the early pandemic supplies any reading of Gumbrecht's series of energetic essays with a lens that magnifies most of his at once playful and utterly serious claims."—Lutz Koepnick, The German QuarterlyTable of ContentsAbout the Present and the Presence of Crowds: Preface to the English Translation of a German Book 1. Empty Stadiums 2. Stadium-Masses 3. The Contempt for the Masses 4. Masses of the Past 5. In the Crowd—Laterally: Swarms, Mirror Neurons, Primates 6. In the Crowd—Vertically: Mystical Bodies, Intensity, Transfiguration 7. The Stadium as Ritual of the Crowd 8. "You'll Never Walk Alone": Dortmund, March 13, 2016
£13.98
University of Minnesota Press Re-Enchanted: The Rise of Children's Fantasy
Book SynopsisFrom The Hobbit to Harry Potter, how fantasy harnesses the cultural power of magic, medievalism, and childhood to re-enchant the modern world Why are so many people drawn to fantasy set in medieval, British-looking lands? This question has immediate significance for millions around the world: from fans of Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones to those who avoid fantasy because of the racist, sexist, and escapist tendencies they have found there. Drawing on the history and power of children’s fantasy literature, Re-Enchanted argues that magic, medievalism, and childhood hold the paradoxical ability to re-enchant modern life.Focusing on works by authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Susan Cooper, Philip Pullman, J. K. Rowling, and Nnedi Okorafor, Re-Enchanted uncovers a new genealogy for medievalist fantasy—one that reveals the genre to be as important to the history of English studies and literary modernism as it is to shaping beliefs across geographies and generations. Maria Sachiko Cecire follows children’s fantasy as it transforms over the twentieth and twenty-first centuries—including the rise of diverse counternarratives and fantasy’s move into “high-brow” literary fiction. Grounded in a combination of archival scholarship and literary and cultural analysis, Re-Enchanted argues that medievalist fantasy has become a psychologized landscape for contemporary explorations of what it means to grow up, live well, and belong. The influential “Oxford School” of children’s fantasy connects to key issues throughout this book, from the legacies of empire and racial exclusion in children’s literature to what Christmas magic tells us about the roles of childhood and enchantment in Anglo-American culture.Re-Enchanted engages with critical debates around what constitutes high and low culture during moments of crisis in the humanities, political and affective uses of childhood and the mythological past, the anxieties of modernity, and the social impact of racially charged origin stories.Trade Review"Re-Enchanted is essential for the study of the fantastic. While other recent critical studies have focused on fantasy’s origins before 1900 or the genre’s place in the contemporary literary landscape, Maria Sachiko Cecire focuses the reader on the influence of the Oxford School fantasists, also known as the ‘Inklings,’ who mapped the world of story through perspectives influenced by their times. Thus, fantasy was left behind while the rest of the world changed. Re-Enchanted reminds us of the ways that English-language fantasy is, was, and can continue to be an instrument of empire. Engaging, thorough, and absolutely necessary."—Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, author of The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to the Hunger Games"Full of revelatory scholarship on J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Phillip Pullman, and their heirs, Re-Enchanted makes the case for scholarship itself at the heart of fantasy. No one will read The Lord of the Rings or His Dark Materials again without realizing just how much Oxford itself—its libraries and its landscape—scripted their imaginations and how its syllabi inspire, to this day, Harry Potter, The Magicians, and beyond."—Seth Lerer, author of Children's Literature: A Reader's History, from Aesop to Harry Potter"In the twenty-first century, fantasy has become a way of speaking, in fiction (adults or children's) and outside it. Here Maria Sachiko Cecire interrogates the Oxford roots of something that has become, like wallpaper, part of our world, and helps us to see the landscape of J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, of Diana Wynne Jones and Philip Pullman, and understand how that landscape became universal, the ways it buoys us up and the ways that it fails us."—Neil Gaiman "Cecire calls upon readers to acknowledge the dangers of the Oxford School’s project while recognizing the cultural power its members harnessed. She encourages us to embrace and explore new ways of expanding the scope of the tropes of children’s fantasy to become more inclusive in the ways it reaches into the past to find magic in a difficult contemporary world."—Medievally Speaking"Effectively, Cecire proves that in terms of modern children’s fantasy literature, all roads lead to the Oxford School."—CHOICE"Cecire illustrates brilliantly how Tolkien and Lewis took the building blocks of medieval literature and historical linguistics and created alternative worlds."—Times Literary Supplement"An important and endlessly engaging book that will provoke much further thought and discussion."—Mythlore"A compelling case both for training our critical attention on medieval and medievalist literature and for expanding the texts we read, teach, study, and share."—The Medieval Review"Re-Enchanted reveals how magic mystifies ideologies, embedding antimodernist, nationalist, colonialist ideas in children’s fantasy, concealing them in an invisibility cloak of (white) childhood innocence. It’s an essential book for anyone who wants to unlearn the hidden assumptions of our own childhood reading and find better stories for the next generation. "—ALH Online Review
£20.69
Pen & Sword Books Ltd A Guide to Manga, Anime and Video Game Cosplay
Book SynopsisDo you find yourself sat at home wishing you could be in your favourite video game? Or dream of a time when you pretended you were Sailor Moon? Or do you want to embody your Dungeons and Dragons character for real? What's holding you back? Maybe you need to introduced to cosplay! Cosplay is a phenomenon that is taking over the world. If you haven't seen it yet, have you not been looking at social media? Cosplay is a mix of exciting craft skills, heady escapism and passion for pop culture that lets you be whoever you want, whenever you want. Cosplay has made its way into TV shows and documentaries, been included as part of film premieres and video game launches, it's even referenced in the comics, manga and media it comes from! Talk about meta. But what is this super popular hobby? Well, pick up this book, and it's twin A Guide to Movie and TV Cosplay, to get all the answers. Because it's more than just dressing up, promise. With a little bit of help from this handy, dandy guide to cosplay, you can get stuck in. Learn about the history of the hobby (it's been around longer than you'd think!), where it came from and how it got to be the way it is now, get your head around making and designing costumes, find out how about all the amazing skills people are using to make these costumes, and perhaps even try a few yourself. Who knows, you might be rocking out as Astro Boy, Chris Redfield or All Might at the next big comic con! So why not give it a try and play make believe for a day.
£21.25
Tuttle Publishing A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga,
Book SynopsisCreated specifically for fans of Japanese cool culture, A Geek in Japan is one of the most iconic, hip, and concise cultural guides available. Reinvented for the internet age, it is packed with personal essays and hundreds of photographs and presents all the touchstones of traditional and contemporary culture in an entirely new way. A Geek in Japan decodes the mysteries of the Japanese language, Japanese social values and daily habits, business and technology, the arts, and symbols and practices that are peculiarly Japanese. This revised and expanded edition contains many new pages of materials on all sorts of topics including Kyoto, Japanese architecture, and Japanese video games. It also features a guide to author Hector Garcia's favourite Tokyo hangouts and tips on visiting many secret places around Japan. Highlighting the originality and creativity of the Japanese, debunking myths, and answering nagging questions such as why the Japanese are so fond of wearing face masks, Garcia has written an irreverent, insightful, and highly informative guide for the growing ranks of Japanophiles around the world.Trade Review"Everyone who is interested in Japan will find this book fascinating." --Larry Ellison, cofounder and CEO, Oracle Corporation"One of the funniest and yet most accurate descriptions of modern Japanese culture that I've ever seen. Highly recommended!" --Joichi Ito, director, MIT Media Lab"Hector and I share a deep interest and affection for all things Japanese. But in my case, I only get to enjoy Japan on my business trips. Back in Spain, I like to keep in touch. And that I do reading kirainet, 'A geek in Japan.' Now you can do the same. And in book format. Enjoy!" --Martin Varsavsky, entrepreneur, founder of Fon and Safe Democracy Foundation
£14.39
HarperCollins Publishers Fall into Fall
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Harvard University Press The Bear
Book SynopsisFrom antiquity to the Middle Ages, the bear’s centrality in cults and mythologies left traces in European languages, literatures, and legends. Michel Pastoureau considers how this once venerated creature was deposed by Christianity and continued to sink lower in the symbolic bestiary before rising again in Pyrrhic triumph as the teddy bear.Trade ReviewPastoureau brings erudition and expertise to his subject as he traces how the bear was a venerated figure in pagan Europe, but dethroned as king of beasts by Christianity. He makes an important contribution by providing a long history of the bear, an animal whose symbolic importance is unknown by many. Readers will be treated to an elegant review of medieval history and theology, as well as informed discussions about the art on cave walls, the boundary between humans and animals in Greek myth, the philosophical foundations of natural history from Aristotle to Buffon, and a wealth of information about popular culture during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. -- Matthew Senior, Oberlin CollegeThe scholarship displayed in this groundbreaking study is the best kind: deep, broad, imaginative. Medievalist Pastoureau takes on the history of the bear, that exceptional animal once said to most resemble man. Once king of the beasts in the West, at times even god, the bear was hunted down in Europe from the time of Charlemagne (d. 814) and its image systematically degraded. By the end of the 12th century, the bear's place as king of the beasts had been usurped by the lion. Henceforth the bear was largely a figure of ridicule. How did this happen? What purposes did the change serve? Pastoureau uses evidence from history, textual analysis, heraldry, anthropology, and iconography to produce an eclectic study that not only reads like a dream but opens avenues for future research. -- David Keymer * Library Journal *William Kotzwinkle (The Bear Went Over the Mountain) and Bella Pollen (The Summer of the Bear) have already demonstrated the appeal of ursine protagonists. But their treatment of our bruinish cousins is nowhere near as encyclopedic as that of Michel Pastoureau, who starts his survey in prehistory and rambles down to the present, tracing the biology, allure, and legends of bears right up to the cuddly teddy bear that represents a hearthside version of the former king of beasts. * Barnes & Noble Review *The animal that dominated the forests of prehistoric and early medieval Europe--and the collective unconscious of Europeans--was, naturally, the largest and strongest creature there, the brown bear...Uncannily human-like in its diet, supposed sexual tastes and ability to stand upright, the bear was seen as an intermediary creature dwelling between the human and animal worlds. It appears in countless myths: Paris, who stole away Helen and sparked the Trojan War, was raised by a she-bear whose milk gave him a taste for abduction. And it has always provided personal names in various European languages, from the epic hero Beowulf (meaning bee-wolf, meaning honey-loving bear) to tennis ace Bjorn (Bear) Borg. What drove Europe's king of beasts from his throne and demoted him to the pitiful dancing entertainer of the late Middle Ages is the core of Pastoureau's engrossing book. And the short answer is Christianity. -- Brian Bethune * Maclean's *The chief subject of Pastoureau's fascinating book...is not the prominent place bears once held in the human imagination but the manner in which they fell from that place. -- Christopher R. Beha * New York Times Book Review *
£22.46
MIT Press Playing at the World 2E Volume 2
Book SynopsisThe second volume of two in a new, updated edition of the 2012 book Playing at the World, which charts the vast and complex history of role-playing games.This new edition of Playing at the World is the second of two volumes that update the 720-page original tome of the same name from 2012. This second volume is The Three Pillars of Role-Playing Games, a deep dive into the history of the setting, system, and characters of Dungeons & Dragons—the three pillars indicated by the volume’s title. (The first volume of the new edition is The Invention of Dungeons & Dragons, which explores the publication and reception of that iconic game.)In this second volume, Jon Peterson covers the medieval fantasy setting—the first pillar—and addresses why the first role-playing game evolved around fantasy and medieval settings as opposed to some other historical setting. In the second pillar, the author explores how the rules
£46.75
Tuttle Publishing Learn to Draw Exciting Anime & Manga Characters:
Book SynopsisThis complete guide provides lessons and insights from 100 professional artists!Imagine an art class taught by 100 professional Japanese manga and anime illustrators. In much the same way, this essential guide gathers the collective knowledge, tips and techniques from over 100 anime and manga artists. The lessons cover everything from the basics of figure drawing and posing to advanced cutting-edge digital illustration and coloration techniques.The 200 step-by-step lessons include: Anatomy and body structure Facial features and expressions Drawing clothing and accessories Digital painting and coloration techniques Composition and narrative structure And much more! Learn to Draw Exciting Anime & Manga Characters features full-color examples that focus on the fine details as well as the big-picture, broad-stroke basics. With over 600 sample illustrations to guide the reader, this book offers tips and techniques for traditional hand-drawing and digital design alike. This is the anime and manga drawing guide that all aspiring artists need!
£13.49
McFarland & Co Inc The Beatles and the Historians
Book Synopsis Hundreds of books have been written about The Beatles. Over the last half century, their story has been mythologized and de-mythologized and presented by biographers and journalists as history. Yet many of these works do not strictly qualify as history and the story of how the Beatles'' mythology continues to be told has been largely ignored. This book examines the band''s historiography, exploring the four major narratives that have developed over time: The semi-whitewashed Fab Four account, the acrimonious breakup-era Lennon Remembers version, the biased Shout! narrative in the wake of John Lennon''s murder, and the current Mark Lewisohn orthodoxy. Drawing on the most influential primary and secondary sources, Beatles history is analyzed using historical methods.Trade Review"Weber’s book should be a set text for a course in popular music studies, lucidly demonstrating an approach transferable to the reception history of any number of artist studies." - Dai Griffiths, Popular Music
£20.89
Oxford University Press Cultural Strategy
Book SynopsisCultural Strategy provides a step-by-step guide for managers and entrepreneurs to building businesses based upon innovative ideologies: ideas that leverage social change and needs. Analyzing classic cases such as Nike, Starbucks, Marlboro, Jack Daniels, and Ben & Jerry's, Holt and Cameron show how the theory works as an actionable strategy.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition May well be one of the most important books on advertising and branding in the past ten years. * Richard Huntington Adliterate.com 15.10.10 *Table of ContentsPART I: CULTURAL INNOVATION THEORY; PART II: APPLYING THE CULTURAL STRATEGY MODEL; PART III: ORGANIZING FOR CULTURAL INNOVATION
£30.49
HarperCollins Publishers Me Cheeta
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£10.44
