Popular culture Books
University of Minnesota Press Theory for the World to Come: Speculative Fiction
Book SynopsisCan social theories forge new paths into an uncertain future? The future has become increasingly difficult to imagine. We might be able to predict a few events, but imagining how looming disasters will coincide is simultaneously necessary and impossible. Drawing on speculative fiction and social theory, Theory for the World to Come is the beginning of a conversation about theories that move beyond nihilistic conceptions of the capitalism-caused Anthropocene and toward generative bodies of thought that provoke creative ways of thinking about the world ahead. Matthew J. Wolf-Meyer draws on such authors as Kim Stanley Robinson and Octavia Butler, and engages with afrofuturism, indigenous speculative fiction, and films from the 1970s and ’80s to help think differently about the future and its possibilities.Forerunners: Ideas First Short books of thought-in-process scholarship, where intense analysis, questioning, and speculation take the lead
£10.64
Workman Publishing Mermaid Life: The Joy of Making Waves
Book SynopsisAn ode to the joy of making waves.Ah, salty breezes, beach hair, the feeling of bare feet (or fins) in warm sand. And dreams of that mer-mazing world under the sea. An ode to the joys of making waves, this sweet celebration is filled with mermaids, merman, purrmaids, and other underwater lovelies- complete with quotes, folklore, and mantras.Let the currents guide your soul. Never allow anyone to burst your bubble. And know that life offers its treasures to those who seek magic.Stay wild, ocean child.
£7.49
Dynamite Entertainment The Dynamite Art of John Cassaday
Book SynopsisJohn Cassaday’s gorgeously dynamic compositions are known the world over, both in and out of the comic book market. Now, for the first time ever, all of his incredible work for Dynamite Enter- tainment has been collected into a single work, The Dynamite Art Of John Cassaday. This volume includes colored covers, sketches, inks...some seen before, others appearing in print for the first time! Don’t miss this chance to see Cassaday’s amazing interpretations of James Bond, Red Sonja, Green Hor- net, Sherlock Holmes, Zorro, The Lone Ranger and many, many more!
£22.94
Manchester University Press Time Lords and Star Cops: British Science Fiction
Book SynopsisBritish science fiction television of the 1970s and 1980s is full of Machiavellian protagonists and fatalistic endings. It presents a complex world of moral and ethical dilemmas, appropriate to the emerging political landscape of Thatcherite Britain. This book analyses the science fiction series of the period – including Blake’s 7, Doctor Who and Sapphire & Steel – alongside Britain’s transition from social-democracy to neoliberal economics and the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. It examines the abrupt shifts in themes and tone that these series often exhibit compared to their predecessors, highlighting comparisons to the similarly abrupt change in Britain’s political landscape.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 British science fiction television in the consensus era: authority and paternalism2 ‘Wealth is the only reality’: Blake’s 7 and Thatcherism3 Sapphire & Steel: the illusion of independence4 Rewriting the Doctor: Doctor Who in the late-Thatcher era5 ‘A precarious existence’: science fiction television adaptations of the 1980s6 ‘It won’t be easy’: original science fiction series of the 1980sConclusionIndex
£63.75
Rowman & Littlefield The It Girls
Book SynopsisThe first book to explore the history of the It girl across the centuries. Nell Gwyn and Clara Bow, Marilyn Monroe and Edie Sedgwick, Jean Seberg and Margaux Hemingway, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian: These names all conjure up images of glamor and celebrity, as well as the toxic side of fame. They are the faces of their generationthe ones we can't look away from, and the ones who inevitably self-destruct.In The It Girls: Glamor, Celebrity, and Scandal, Caroline Young delves into the history and lives of these explosive, trend-setting women. From seventeenth-century London to twenty-first century Seoul, Young tells the fascinating, oftentimes tragic, stories of the women who have been celebrated for their looks and scandalized for their actions in equal measure. She explores how the It girls defined and set new standards of beautyincluding the red-haired muses of the Pre-Raphaelite artists, the World War II pin-up, the crop-haired icons of the sixties, and the cosmetically-enhanced social media darlings of todayand how, no matter the era, the treatment of these It girls is universal. While they are lauded and emulated, they are also scrutinized and criticized. The stories of the It girls are laced with childhood trauma, misogyny, gaslighting, and exploitation, revealing that fame and adoration don't always equate to happiness. The It Girls is a captivating examination of women's history, offering a reevaluation of how women have been celebrated and objectified over the centuries.
£21.25
David R. Godine Publisher Inc Ghost of the Hardy Boys: The Writer Behind the
Book Synopsis“Ghost of the Hardy Boys is an elegant book, full of charm and pathos and whimsy. The writing is restrained, the characterizations deep and rich, the humor nuanced.”—Washington Post As millions of boys and girls devoured the early adventures of the Hardy Boys, little did the young readers and aspiring sleuths know: the series’ author was not Franklin W. Dixon, as the cover trumpeted. It was Leslie McFarlane, a nearly penniless scribbler, who hammered out the first adventures while living in a remote cabin without electricity or running water in Northern Ontario. McFarlane was among the first bestselling ghostwriters and this, at last, is his story—as much fun as the stories he wrote.In 1926, 23-year-old cub newspaper reporter Leslie McFarlane responded to an ad: “Experienced Fiction Writer Wanted to Work from Publisher’s Outlines.” The ad was signed by Edward Stratemeyer, whose syndicate effectively invented mass-market children’s book publishing in America. McFarlane, who had a few published adventure stories to his name, was hired and his first job was to write Dave Fearless Under the Ocean as Roy Rockwood—for a flat fee of $100, no royalties. His pay increased to $125 when Stratemeyer proposed a new series of detective stories for kids involving two high school aged brothers who would solve mysteries. The title of the series was The Hardy Boys. McFarlane’s pseudonym would be Franklin W. Dixon. McFarlane went on to write twenty-one Hardy Boys adventures. From The Tower Treasure in 1927 to The Phantom Freighter in 1947, into full-fledged classics filled with perilous scrapes, loyal chums, and breakneck races to solve the mystery. McFarlane kept his ghostwriting gig secret until late in life when his son urged him to share the story of being the real Franklin W. Dixon. By the time McFarlane died in 1977, unofficial sales estimates of The Hardy Boys series already topped 50 million copies. Ghost of the Hardy Boys is a fascinating, funny, and always charming look back at a vanished era of journalism, writing, and book publishing. It is for anyone who loves a great story and who’s curious about solving the mystery of the fascinating man behind one of the most widely read and enduring children’s book series in history.Trade Review“Ghost of the Hardy Boys is an elegant book, full of charm and pathos and whimsy. The writing is restrained, the characterizations deep and rich, the humor nuanced.”—Washington Post “Written with the same fluid, energetic, and humorous style that brought life to the sleuthing Hardy siblings, this is an enjoyable memoir from a writer who loved his job.”—Library Journal “A must read by all fans of the Hardy Boys and even other Stratemeyer Syndicate series.”—The Hardy Boys Wiki “Leslie McFarlane has written more fiction than most authors on the North American Continent—lord knows how many millions of words. In this book, is not only a ghostwriter of the immortal Hardy Boys who speaks to us: it is a sensitive man who delights in recollection. McFarlane’s memoirs have a special romance, lyrical and profound.”—MacKinlay Kantor, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Andersonville
£18.04
Gingko Press, Inc Handmade Art
Book SynopsisIn an age where most everything is mass-produced and technology has become the filter through which we experience much of life, there is a growing appreciation of the handmade.
£29.24
Pearlsong Press Taking Up Space
Book Synopsis
£18.52
University of Iowa Press Fandom as Classroom Practice: A Teaching Guide
Book SynopsisProviding ways to engage students through their popular culture interests, this collection brings together several essays, across disciplines, to show how fan practices such as writing fan fiction, creating vids, communicating via Tumblr, and participating in film tourism can invite students to invest more of themselves into their education. Both scholarship and fandom encourage passionate engagement with texts—rather than passive consumption in isolation— and editor Katherine Anderson Howell and her contributors find that when students are encouraged to partake in a remix classroom that encourages their fan interests, they participate more in their education, are more critical of experts and authorities, and actively shape the discourse themselves. Creating this remix classroom requires thoughtfulness on the instructor’s part, and so the chapters in this volume come from teachers who have carefully constructed such courses, including several invaluable appendices that provide examples of methodologies, course assignments, teaching practices, and classroom setup. Each chapter also includes student responses that offer a sense of what students gained from each course. The result is an exciting and entertaining new way to motivate students and teachers alike, and it is sure to be a popular reference guide for instructors teaching classes from high school to graduate levels.
£54.00
University of Iowa Press Straight Korean Female Fans and Their Gay Fantasies
Book SynopsisThis book is about ardent Korean female fans of gay representation in the media, their status in contemporary Korean society, their relationship with other groups such as the gay population, and, above all, their contribution to reshaping the Korean media's portrayal of gay people. Jungmin Kwon names the Korean female fandom for gay portrayals as “FANtasy” subculture, and argues that it adds to the present visibility of the gay body in Korean mainstream media, thus helping to change the public's perspective toward sexually marginalized groups.The FANtasy subculture started forming around text-based media, such as yaoi, fan fiction, and U.S. gay-themed dramas (like Will & Grace), and has been influenced by diverse social, political, and economic conditions, such as the democratization of Korea, an open policy toward foreign media products, the diffusion of consumerism, government investment in the culture, the Hollywoodization of the film industry, and the popularity of Korean culture abroad. While much scholarly attention has been paid to female fandom for homoerotic cultural texts in many countries, this book seeks to explore a relatively neglected aspect of the subculture: its location in and influence on Korean society at large.
£53.20
Chiron Publications Map of the Soul: La Persona, l'Ombre et l'Ego
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£30.40
Akashic Books,U.S. Just A Minor Threat: The Minor Threat Photographs
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£28.00
Akashic Books,U.S. Interficial ARTelligence Moments That Met Me
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£20.39
Turner Publishing Company Santa Doesn't Need Your Help
Book SynopsisWhen a K-pop boy band shows up to “save Christmas,” it’s the last straw!Santa Claus may be getting older, achier, more forgetful over the years, but he is determined to prove to the world he can still do his job without anyone’s help.“On Dasher, on Dancer, on Cupid, on Comet, I must show the world that Santa’s still got it!”Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Maher and New Yorker cartoonist Joe Dator have given the timeless tale of saving Christmas a clever twist when Santa decides to save the day himself this year. What follows is a laugh-out-loud adventure about refusing help.Will old Saint Nick discover the true meaning of Christmas? Or will he ruin everyone’s holiday because he’s too stubborn to admit when he’s wrong?Trade Review“A Santa story for all ages, with plenty of rhyme and comedy for those who just can’t get enough of Christmas.” —School Library Journal“Heaps of holiday fun!” —Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series“Santa may need help, but this book delivers warmth and laughs all on its own.” —Michael Rex, creator of Goodnight Goon“The best Christmas stories understand that seasonal joy comes at a price, and who pays more than the holiday’s very own mascot? With Santa Doesn’t Need Your Help, Kevin Maher and Joe Dator tap into a fresh but all-too-identifiable side of our favorite deliveryman: deep, reluctant, necessary self-awareness. It’s a cheeky, charming tale about confronting our own limitations set to a deliciously playful rhythm that fits perfectly on your December bookshelf.” —Emily Intravia, host of The Feminine Critique podcast“Santa Doesn’t Need Your Help is an instant holiday cult classic for every pop culture fan in your life. Equal parts hilarious and adorable, this book is a journey through the possible behind-the-scenes mishaps that Santa encounters on his hardest day of work each year. It’s a modern reimagining of several classics all rolled into one lovely book. The magic of Christmas is alive and well in this tale which shows that we can all use a little help from our friends.” —Ali Cotterill, filmmaker, North Pole, NY“A fun, funny read for all ages, this book is the perfect soothing tonic for a stressful holiday season.” —Jennie Egerdie, author of Frog and Toad Are Doing Their Best“The brilliance of Santa Doesn't Need Your Help is how Maher and Dator breathe humanity and humor into the well-worn Santa Claus icon using fun pop tropes, clever rhymes, and beautiful illustrations. Be sure to include it into your holiday season bedtime reading rotation!” —Dan Yaccarino, author and illustrator of The Longest Storm“God, getting old is hard! Santa Doesn’t Need Your Help is the perfect holiday (or anytime) book for the Sandwich Generation. It is a tender and hilarious reminder that asking for help can be hard, especially for those who were once the helpers. This year, leave cookies and empathy under the tree for Santa and all those who are realizing that ‘It's ok to get old, it’s ok to get help.’” —Biz Ellis, host of One Bad Mother podcast “Listen, we all know Santa ain’t what he used to be. But then again, neither are any of us, right? He’s a bit of a disaster, but he’s still our Santa. This book made me laugh. Buy it. You’ll love it.” —Mike Sacks, Passing on the Right and Stinker Lets Loose!“Forty years. I’ve been portraying Santa Claus for forty years, and in all that time, no one story has resonated with me more than Santa Doesn’t Need Your Help. Though I laughed out loud while reading it, I found I was teary by the end by how poignant and honest it was. Move over ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. I’ve got a new classic to recite.” —Glen Heroy, Professional Santa Claus
£9.49
Books by Chris M. Balz Burning The May Tree: The Sacrifice of Jim
Book Synopsis
£19.65
Between the Lines Serial Girls: From Barbie to Pussy Riot
Book SynopsisMartine Delvaux produces a provocative analysis of the many gendered assumptions that underlie modern culture. She draws on the works of Barthes, Foucault, de Beauvoir, Woolf, and more to argue that serial girls are not just the ubiquitous symbols of patriarchal domination but also offer the possibility of liberation.
£17.05
Greystone Books,Canada Winterlust: Finding Beauty in the Fiercest Season
Book Synopsis“Mr. Brunner’s winning book is a reassuring, nostalgic reminder that winter is the season of both play and regeneration.”—Wall Street Journal In Winterlust, a farmer painstakingly photographs five thousand snowflakes, each one dramatically different from the next. Indigenous peoples thrive on frozen terrain, where famous explorers perish. Icicles reach deep underwater, then explode. Rooms warmed by crackling fires fill with scents of cinnamon, cloves, and pine. Skis carve into powdery slopes, and iceboats traverse glacial lakes. This lovingly illustrated meditation on winter entwines the spectacular with the everyday, expertly capturing the essence of a beloved yet dangerous season, which is all the more precious in an era of climate change “Brunner masterfully does in words what resilient and adventurous people have done in their lives for centuries; he finds beauty in blizzards and ice and the crystallized enchantment of snow.” —Dan Egan, Pulitzer finalist and author of The Death and Life of the Great LakesTrade Review“Thoughtful and meditative… Brunner offers readers pining for summer something to look forward to instead.” —Publishers Weekly “In an age of climate change, any writing about the dazzling beauty of winter takes on a subdued—almost nostalgic—tenor. Such is the case with Bernd Brunner’s slim, thoughtful meditation.” —Literary Hub “Part coffee table book, part deep dive into everything winter, Winterlust is a collector’s piece. Beautiful imagery combined with stoic storytelling weave a masterful, peaceful and, at times, thrilling embodiment of winter.” —Explore Magazine “A wonder-filled journey through humanity’s multifaceted relationships with this most endangered of seasons. Brunner’s explorations reveal how we shape and are shaped by the environments in which we live.” —David George Haskell, Pulitzer finalist and author of The Forest Unseen “Brunner masterfully does in words what resilient and adventurous people have done in their lives for centuries; he finds beauty in blizzards and ice and the crystallized enchantment of snow.” —Dan Egan, Pulitzer finalist and author of The Death and Life of the Great Lakes “A wonderful read and fascinating study of the coldest time of the year—Brunner adds warmth to this subject. I only regret this invaluable book was not available during my own research.” —Bob Eckstein, New York Times-bestselling author of The Illustrated History of the Snowman "In prose as clear and glittering as lake ice, Brunner captures the many facets of winter, which he reveals to be an enchanting—and, in some ways, endangered—season." —Robert Moor, On Trails “Winterlust is a powerful book, evocative and informative in equal measure. I thoroughly enjoyed feeling chilled by the atmosphere and then warmed by fascinating facts.” —Tristan Gooley, The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs “Winterlust is a dazzling piece of writing that explores, in prose as clear as an ice-crystal, the complex cultural meanings of winter across human and natural histories.” —Richard Hamblyn, The Invention of Clouds “What a delight … [Winterlust]is a novel exploration of various components of winter. The illustrations are delightful and help convey how the idea of winter fully engages the human imagination.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune “[Winterlust] often feels, bracingly, like a stroll through a curiosity shop.” —Christian Science Monitor
£999.99
Collective Ink Folk Opposition
Book SynopsisFor David Cameron and 'Big Society' Tories, folk culture means organic food, nu-folk pop music, and pastoral myths of Englishness. Meanwhile, postmodern liberal culture teaches us that talking about a singular 'folk' is reductive at best, neo-fascist at worst. But what is being held in check by this consensus against the possibility of a unified, oppositional, populist identity taking root in modern Britain? Folk Opposition explores a renewed contemporary divide between rulers and ruled, between a powerful elite and a disempowered populace. Using a series of examples, from folk music to football supporters' trusts, from Raoul Moat to Ridley Scott, it argues that anti-establishment populism remains a powerful force in British culture, asserting that the left must recapture this cultural territory from the far right and begin to rebuild democratic representation from the bottom up.Trade ReviewThere is a better future and Alex Niven draws inspiration from the past to show us how to get there. David Cameron's wrong, we're not all in this together. But most of us could be. (Kevin Maguire, New Statesman / Daily Mirror) (A fascinating and knowledgeable writer who accurately dissects the cultural tensions and uncertainties that define his generation and mine. (Robin Carmody, Sea Songs)
£9.49
Gibson Square Books Ltd The Knife Went In: A Prison-Doctor on Britain's
Book SynopsisFirst paperback edition of the acclaimed Hardback.Trade Review`The blackest of black humour... the best of humanity.' `Pellucid prose.' Dominic Lawson, Daily Mail; `A razor-sharp expose of our broken society... Both funny and a badly needed corrective to conventional wisdom... hugely readable ... gripping real-life stories... tells a deep truth about the sort of society we have become. A future historian, a century hence, will learn more about 21st Century Britain from this book than from any official document. So will you. Please read it.' Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday; `Nobody has observed the... fallacies of modern England with a clearer eye, or a more intelligent quill. It would be nice to know that the BBC had heard of him because we could expect to hear him deliver next year's Reith Lectures.' Sunday Telegraph; `Dalrymple is... [o]ne of the most interesting men of our times... There is nothing in his tale to celebrate, yet in the telling he deserves the commendation of anybody who values human civilization.' The Times
£10.44
Vintage Publishing This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare
Book SynopsisThe Oscar-nominated Precious star and Empire actress delivers a much-awaited memoir which is wise, complex, smart and funny.This Is Just My Face is the whirlwind tour of Gabourey Sidibe’s life so far. In it, we meet her polygamous father, her gifted mother who fed the family by busking on the subway, and the psychic who told her she’d one day be ‘famous like Oprah’. Gabby shows us round the Harlem studio apartment where she grew up, relives the debilitating depression that hit her at college, and reminisces about her first ever job as a phone sex ‘talker’ (less creepy than you’d think). With exhilaratingly honest (and often hilarious) dispatches on friendship, depression, celebrity, haters, fashion, race, and weight, This Is Just My Face will resonate with anyone who has ever felt different - and with anyone who has ever felt inspired to make a dream come true.'Frank, funny, and insanely charming' Lena Dunham'A read that lives up to the unforgettable attitude of its name' Glamour'You’re the BOMB, girl!' President Barack ObamaTrade ReviewHere, Gabourey Sidibe cements her status as gives-zero-effs queen of Hollywood AND perceptive best friend in your head. Frank, funny, and insanely charming…we are blessed by her honesty, passion and wit * Lena Dunham *A read that lives up to the unforgettable attitude of its name...This is Just My Face will make you fall in love with this funny, talented, gorgeous, bad bitch of a woman * Glamour *Gabourey Sidibe's memoir isn't your average celebrity memoir. It's good. Really good. And not just because it's revealing (although that it is), but because it's well-written... Observant and funny, but not indulgent or try-hard * Cosmopolitan *A book you will want to give your daughter * The New York Times *"I just wrote the truth, and it made me feel better." That is the theme of this unique and universal book by a young woman who is both a total surprise and an instant classic. Gabby combines New York and Senegal, the streets and the heights, bravery and self-doubt, laughing and seriousness. Her truth helps us to find ours—and what could be a bigger gift than that? * Gloria Steinem *Sidibe’s hilarious Twitter account is no fluke – the Empire actress’ memoir about growing up in New York City and finding unexpected fame in Hollywood is sharp, witty, and wonderfully substantive * Entertainment Weekly *Gabourey Sidibe’s delightful memoir This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare offers a memorable look into what happens when a black girl’s dreams come true, from the inside out. From her unique childhood as the daughter of a subway singer mother and polygamous father to struggling with depression to getting the role of Precious, Sidibe is fearless, incredibly funny and gorgeously open. What she offers of herself in these pages is a gift * Roxane Gay *A mix of complexity, intelligence and humor, Gabby's book promises to be as big a success as her acting * People *To know Gabby is to love Gabby. To read her book is to love her even more. It is bold, brave, on-your-front-foot writing. Her story inspires you to step up and own your life with a compassion and confidence so potent that it will break down any door * Laura Linney *A funny, smart memoir * Nylon *You’re the BOMB, girl! * President Barack Obama *
£7.59
Cornerstone The Sleepyhead's Bedside Companion
Book SynopsisThis is a quirky, amusing, information-packed book for all lovers of sleep. It's a celebration of nature's greatest free gift, the perfect companion for the bedside table. It's the book to curl up with before falling asleep.It looks at the history, culture, folklore, language and science of sleep. Did you know that the siesta was once a British tradition? Why do we say 'sleep like a top'? Does counting sheep work? What are the very best sleeps? Who invented pyjamas? If dogs sleep so much, why are they always yawning? What are the best films about sleep? Do today's children have less sleep than Edwardian children? Does booze help or hinder sleep?Not only is sleep a great natural pleasure, it's also essential to good health. The book examines how a lack of sleep is increasingly seen as a health risk.Sleep is also the place of dreams and nightmares. Why are so many dreams the same and what are the archetypal recurring dreams? What is the origin of the word 'nightmare'? And what do Bugs Bunny, the surrealists and Freud have to do with dreaming?Sleep is there to be enjoyed. It's not worth getting into bed for anything else.Trade ReviewA sweet and diverting book on all things sleep. Part trivia, part history and part practical advice, the gorgeous packaging makes this a perfect gift. * Emma Giacon, Bookseller's Choice *
£12.79
Gemini Books Group Ltd The Pocket Bob Marley
Book SynopsisAn encapsulation of the musician and activist?s career and legacy.From lead singer and guitarist of the Wailers, to his international solo success in the 1970s, Bob Marley is largely credited with the popularization of Reggae music in the UK and Europe. Having died in 1981, Marley?s legacy is clearly evident within society today, as evidenced by the widespread success of the film, One Love (2024). With this influx of Gen Z fans, as well as lifelong followers, this book celebrates the career of the 1978 United Nations Peace Medal winner with facts on his background, discography and live shows which have gone down in history.
£7.59
Watkins Media Limited Amazing Women Cards: 45 inspirational cards
Book SynopsisTake courage, empowerment and advice from 45 rebel muses with this inspirational deck. Meet 45 rebel women, artists, thinkers, politicians, writers and musicians from across the globe. Their weapons: power, art, science, literature and music. Most of them were stigmatized or misunderstood, but in the end – who wants to be normal? These women broke the mould and blazed a trail, and now you can too. These stylishly illustrated cards allow you to channel Frida Kahlo, Marilyn Monroe, Nina Simone and other muses from around the world – they will give you their messages on four different areas: life, work, love and learning. Marie Curie life advice? It is time to see what happens when you stop listening to others. Nina Simone's tip on work: If it doesn't open, it wasn't your door. Love according to Lady Di? Beware: the prince of your dreams can steal them. Frida Kahlo on learning: Don't stumble twice over the same stone. The accompanying booklet contains mini biographies of each woman, along with an important quote. There are also three different suggested card layouts to gain insight and inspiration.
£19.71
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the
Book SynopsisA muggy night in Abu Dhabi, 2011. Under the stadium lights a 30,000-strong sea of Libyans, Palestinians, Syrians and Egyptians wait in anticipation. Alongside them are Saudis, Iranians and Israelis. Defiance and excitement course through the crowd like electricity. Standing together, they are waiting for Metallica’s first ever show in the Middle East. Many have faced untold violence, but for tonight, nothing else matters… This is the untold story of that crowd. Of the young men and women and the music they make in the backrooms of shabby houses in al-Zarqa and al-Qatif, Nazareth and Cairo. Of illegal shows in Tehran and Riyadh. Of songs that ousted a dictator in Cairo. Of exiles that have ended in glory, in isolation, and in blood. Journalist and lifelong heavy metal fan, Orlando Crowcroft, spent six years penetrating the rock and metal scene in the Middle East. Rock in a Hard Place is a different voice, one that is at odds with the Middle East of violence, extremism, war and ISIS: a voice recognizable to anyone who has ever turned up a speaker or an amp to drown out the din of the everyday, and a voice that may help unite us when we need it most.Trade Reviewa sober chronicling of music in some of the most conservative countries on the planet … Among such somber subject matter, there are also moments of triumph. * Popmatters *An engaging new book on the heavy metal music scene in the Middle East … Crowcroft's book crackles with significance. * The National *Crowcroft’s book is a detailed narrative of how the metal scene evolved in the 1990s. With extensive interviews Crowcroft narrates the difficult birth pangs of the metal scene in the Middle East. * Socialist Worker *Riveting … Crowcroft weaves a skilful narrative, drawing on the history of metal’s evolutions and controversies to give a wider sense of the world, illustrating just how many regimes and societies are still actively hostile to metal and its fans. * Socialist Review *Rock in a Hard Place takes readers beyond perceptions of the Middle East as an essentially violent and factional entity, instead showing the complex humanity that is shared between people in the region and the world.' * Middle East Journal *Crowcroft’s book is a fine contribution to a growing literature on popular culture in the Middle East, providing a valuable, seldom-given glimpse into atheist, antiauthoritarian and anti-religious counter culture. * Contemporary Islam *Rock in A Hard Place is a must read for any musician. Especially those involved in the underground. An inspiring report on the power of music to unite human beings in the face of adversity. * Brad Logan, guitarist for F-Minus and Leftöver Crack *A fascinating insight into the impossibility of repressing everyone no matter how fanatic you may be. It is surprising that more heavy metal rockers do not get stoned to death. * Clive Stafford Smith, international human rights lawyer *Crowcroft’s book is a revelation into the torture, oppression and imprisonment metalheads stand up to, just so they can be metal in the Middle East. This book is a must read! * Max Cavalera, frontman for Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy *Black metal, Islam, war zones - and a great shock of humanity. Orlando Crowcroft goes where no other writer has even thought of going before and brings back an improbably remarkable story. * Mick Wall, author of Last of the Giants: The True Story of Guns N' Roses *Going to jail for liking a band like us, that's taking chances… It's shocking to hear that someone had to suffer and risk his life for nothing but a love of music and a passion for freedom of speech. * Silenoz, guitarist for Dimmu Borgir and Insidious Disease *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1. Saudi Arabia 2. Egypt 3. Iran 4. Israel and Palestine 5. Lebanon Epilogue
£14.24
Vintage Publishing Fear and Loathing on the Oche: A Gonzo Journey
Book SynopsisAnyone who’s ever seen or attended the PDC World Darts Championships knows that darts is no ordinary sport. Where else would you find world-class superstars, in the midst of a championship match, cultivating tomorrow’s banging hangover? Or two separate organisations, with a bitter historical rivalry, taking potshots at each other in a bid to secure players, fans and an all-important TV broadcast contract?And then there’s the fans… Darts fans are unlike any other fans in world sport. They drink the most, they wear the silliest costumes, they sing the loudest and yet they can arguably see the least live action. They feel an immense pride and ownership for the game – its theirs, and they couldn’t care less about the sneers from the mainstream. Join King ADZ as he dives headfirst into this tempestuous world, meeting former legends, future stars, dominant Internationals, the owners, the referees and of course the fans. Darts may be a simple game to many, but to most it’s absolute mayhem.Trade ReviewMost fascinating * Daily Express *
£999.99
Berghahn Books Comical Modernity
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£26.55
Amber Books Ltd King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Book SynopsisHere lies entombed the renowned King Arthur in the island of Avalon. – Inscription found at Glastonbury in the late 12th century King Arthur most probably never existed and – even if he did – we know precious little about him, and yet he is one of the most famous Britons, while Excalibur and Camelot are perhaps the world’s best known sword and castle. So, what’s the truth behind King Arthur? How did the legends take hold? And why have they endured for so long? Long before the Marvel Universe there was the universe of Arthurian romance, and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table examines the fact and the fiction behind Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, Guinevere, Galahad, among others, as well as the quest for the Holy Grail. Beginning in the 12th century, the book explores what factual basis there is for the tales and how the characters, stories and motifs developed through histories, epic poems and prose tellings. The book also charts the revived interest in Arthurian romance in the 19th century and considers how the tales still hold the popular imagination today. Illustrated with more than 180 colour and black-and-white artworks and photographs and maps, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is an expertly written account of where literature, mythology and history meet.Table of ContentsMyth and Legend Chapter One The Real King Arthur Chapter Two The Early Legends Chapter Three The Romances Chapter Four The Grail Quest Chapter Five Le Morte d’Arthur Chapter Six Arthurian Romance Today Index
£16.99
Anthem Press Iconomy: Towards a Political Economy of Images
Book SynopsisIconomy: Towards a Political Economy of Images argues that imagery of all kinds has become a definitive force in the shaping of contemporary life. While immersed in public politics and private imaginaries, such imagery also operates according to its own logic, potentialities, and limitations. This book explores viral imagery—the iconopolitics—of the pandemic, U.S. Presidents Trump and Biden, Black Lives Matter, as well as the rise of a “black aesthetic” in white artworlds. Having arrived at the term “iconomy” in the years just prior to 9/11, and tracking its growing relevance since then, Smith argues that its study does not require a discipline serving nation states and globalizing capitalism but, instead, a deconstructive interdiscipline that contributes to the politics of planetary world-making. Trade Review“A well documented and welcome history of the genesis of a new concept: iconomy.” – Peter Szendy, David Herlihy University Professor of Comparative Literature and the Humanities, Brown University, and author of The Supermarket of Images.“Charting the image economy’s historical and current coordinates with model perspicuity, Smith reveals timely political insights.” – T. J. Demos, Patricia and Rowland Rebele Endowed Chair in Art History, UC Santa Cruz, and author of Beyond the World’s End: Arts of Living at the Crossing. “Unparalleled historian and theoretician of the visual articulations of contemporaneity, Terry Smith provides an erudite and highly useful conceptual framework and historical background for understanding and criticizing the economies that images inescapably form part of in today's cultures. Iconomy is a must-read for anyone who wants to engage critically with contemporary regimes of imagery.” – Jacob Lund, Associate Professor, Aesthetics and Culture, Aarhus University, author of The Changing Constitution of the Present.“Iconomy gathers forceful evidence that images are indeed capital today. In Post-Fordist societies, as Terry Smith makes clear in this important book, the exposure value of images inaugurates a new political economy we are still struggling to understand : an eye-conomy” – Professor Emmanuel Alloa, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Philosophy, Fribourg.Smith's Iconomy is unabashedly about the present: it tracks the author's shifting perception about the political role of circulating images in contemporary society over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, the Donald Trump presidency, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Part 1, comprising six brief, roughly chronological chapters, delves into the history, theory, and politics of the image as a form of social currency, surveying ideas proffered by thinkers such as Plato; the iconodules and iconoclasts of Byzantium; and Marx, Benjamin, and Debord. Weighing the value of an amorphous definition of iconomy—a coinage created by theoreticians and marketers alike in recent decades—Smith (Univ. of Pittsburgh) acknowledges that the term is indicative of the essential unknowability and immeasurability of the digital world. The eight chapters in part 2 depart from a genealogy of the image to address the power of digital and video images in the contemporary world. In grappling with the role of image regimes in the wake of the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, the January 6th Capitol riots, and "Trumpmania," Smith shifts toward an activist methodology. Though new media concepts such as AI, memes, and NFTs are not discussed in depth, the book's juxtaposition of aesthetic theory with critical perspectives on contemporaneity is refreshing —A. Susik, Willamette University.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations; Acknowledgments; Introduction: Epidemic Images; Part I A Brief History of Iconomy, 1. A Strange Image: Seeing the Dreaming, 2. Iconoclash in Byzantium, 3. Commodities and Chains, 4. The Image in the Era of Its Technical Reproducibility, 5. Spectacle: Architecture and Occlusion, 6. Iconomy: What’s in a Name?; Part II Iconoclash, 7. The Spike-Crowned Virus, 8. Trumpmania, 9. Incident at Powderhorn, May 25, 2020, 10. Videodeath 1991 and 2020: King vs Floyd, 11. The Contest of the Images, 12. Image War, Civil War? January 6, 2021, 13. White Artworlds/Black Aesthetics, 14. The Trial: Aggressive Non-violence; Part III Toward Political Iconomy, 15. Iconomic Value: An Accounting; Index
£80.00
Channel View Publications Ltd Contents Tourism and Pop Culture Fandom:
Book SynopsisThis is the first book to apply the concept of ‘contents tourism’ in a global context and to establish an international and interdisciplinary framework for contents tourism research. The term ‘contents tourism’ gained official recognition in Japan when it was defined by the Japanese government in 2005, and it has been characterised as ‘travel behaviour motivated fully or partially by narratives, characters, locations, and other creative elements of popular culture forms including film, television dramas, manga, anime, novels and computer games’. The book builds on previous research from Japan and explores three main themes of contents tourism: ‘the Contentsization of Literary Worlds’, ‘Tourist Behaviours at “Sacred Sites” of Contents Tourism’ and ‘Contents Tourism as Pilgrimage’ and draws together these key themes to propose a set of policy implications for achieving successful and sustainable contents tourism in the 21st century.Trade ReviewIn this volume, an international group of scholars rewrites the old canon of ‘contents tourism’ with impressive cultural sensitivity. Across several chapters exploring aspects of Japanese popular culture’s adherence to performance and visuality, native phenomena are examined as instances of transnational hybridisation and global cultural connectivity. An essential read for students of international popular culture, tourism and the moving image. * Rodanthi Tzanelli, University of Leeds, UK *This book reconceptualises the largely compartmentalised views of media-tourism relationships, such as film and literary tourism, advancing and encapsulating them within the socialising frame of contents tourism. The authors provide engaging insights into the formation, curation and (re)crafting of media-related narratives, variously bonding communities, media, tourists and places across the different contexts. These insights provoke new interpretations and considerations, which will benefit anyone studying contents tourism (or any tourism-media relationship). * Glen Croy, Monash University, Australia *This important book expands the concept of contents tourism, which has so far been limited mainly to the Japanese context, and shows its transnational and transmedial potential. Case studies from different cultural contexts, which refer to enthusiasm for literature, theatre, folklore or anime, illustrate the variety of paths the imagination can take – and how imaginary journeys become real tourism. * Elisabeth Scherer, University of Düsseldorf, Germany *Contents tourism is among the very few productive new ideas that has emerged in tourism studies in the past several decades. The authors in this important volume capture the dynamics of the emotional and symbolic connection of tourists to the places they visit. The chapters prove the promise of contents tourism beyond studies of the mise en scene of Japanese anime where it originated. * Dean MacCannell, Emeritus Professor, University of California, Davis, USA *This book further contributes to academia as it clarifies the term ‘contents tourism’, broadens this term from the Japanese context to a global context, links literature and tourism from a ‘contentsization’ point of view, and focuses on mediarelated narratives in tourism. From a qualitative-research point of view, the authors have contributed to this growing field of contents tourism by building their argumentation on different qualitative methods, as the following analysis illustrates. -- Zafer Öter, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, Turkey * Journal of Qualitative Research in Tourism, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2021 *This book contributes greatly to our understanding of the role of popular culture and its contents for the contemporary global tourism landscape [and] provides a fresh perspective that will hopefully decrease the fragmentation of existing related research while making especially Japanese research in this area more accessible to English-speaking academia. -- Ina Reichenberger, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand * Journal of Tourism Futures, Vol. 7 No. 1, 2021 *This collection of essays examines the phenomenon of "contents tourism" within a global context [...] In all cases, content is the unifying element of analysis rather than the platform. This interesting construct utilizes the content itself as the focus/motivator of tourism rather than the individual modality of presentation (e.g., film, theater). This is a readable, interesting, and informative study. -- S. A. Schulman, CUNY Baruch College, USA * CHOICE, Vol. 58 No. 4, Dec 2020 *Table of ContentsForeword. Sue Beeton Introduction. Takayoshi Yamamura: Contents Tourism Beyond Anime Tourism Chapter 1. Philip Seaton: The Contents Tourism of Jane Austen’s American Fans Chapter 2. Maree Thyne & Gretchen Larsen: Conceptualising Contents Brandscapes: The Brontë Brand Chapter 3. Aleksandra Jaworowicz-Zimny: The Witcher Novels and Games-inspired Tourism in Poland Chapter 4. Takayoshi Yamamura: Traveling Heidi: International Contents Tourism Induced by Japanese Anime Chapter 5. Catherine Butler: The Cotswolds and Children’s Literature in Japanese Fantasy: The Case of Castle Combe Chapter 6. Shinobu Myoki: Yōkai Tourism in Japan and Taiwan Chapter 7. Kyungjae Jang: Contents Tourism and Religious Imagination Chapter 8. Akiko Sugawa-Shimada: The 2.5-Dimensional Theatre as a Communication Site: Non-site-specific Theatre Tourism Chapter 9. Ranny Rastati: Indonesian Cosplay Tourism Chapter 10. Sueun Kim: Outbound Tourism Motivated by Domestic Films: Contentsized Koreanness in Thai movies and Tourism to Korea Chapter 11. Christopher Hood: Contents Tourism in Plane Sight Chapter 12. Stefanie Benjamin: Breaking Benjamin: A Woman’s Pilgrimage to New Mexico Chapter 13. Sue Beeton: From Banjo to Basho: Poets, Contents and Tourism Conclusions. Philip Seaton: Sustainable Contents Tourism in the 21st Century
£33.20
Channel View Publications Ltd Touristic World-Making and Fan Pilgrimage in
Book SynopsisThis volume considers world-making as the intersection of the fan pilgrimage experience and the responses of destinations. It critically examines the emerging field of popular culture tourism and its close connection with fan studies and placemaking. The chapters illustrate how different destinations capitalise on expressive cultural practices to attract fan tourists, the processes involved in their tourismification, and the outcomes for both visitors and local communities. The book establishes a common ground for the comprehensive and critical study of popular culture tourism development and fandom. It integrates theory and practice and provides evidence-based recommendations for popular culture destinations. It is a useful resource for researchers in tourism management, fandom, pop culture and media studies, as well as for those working in the tourism industry.Trade ReviewThe entanglements between popular culture and tourism are increasingly shaping places and leisure mobility patterns. The editors of this book have curated a compelling collection of emergent spatial imaginaries and rekindled placemaking practices to showcase tourism transformations in the Anthropocene. Solidly grounded in interdisciplinary domains, this volume will be of interest to both tourism and place marketers, as well as consumer culture scholars at large. * Szilvia Gyimóthy, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark *This arresting book examines the expressive practices of popular culture that craft tourism realities. The editors’ compelling perspective guides critical exploration of what popular-culture fans desire and how communities respond to intended and unintended tourism changes. The expert authors critically interrogate contested tourism world-making emerging from various popular culture expressions, including musicians, manga, film, and Indigenous responses to colonial invasion. A must-read for anyone researching popular culture–tourism relationships. * Glen Croy, Monash University, Australia *This engaging book offers a wide-ranging approach to the diverse and rich interrelations between popular culture and tourism, both online and onsite, varying from battlefield tourism, scholarly-virtual pilgrimage and fan travel vlogs to baseball tourism. I particularly liked how the authors address the important role and perspective of fans in all these cultural practices. * Stijn Reijnders, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands *Table of ContentsContributors Prologue Chapter 1. Vassilios Ziakas, Christine Lundberg and Maria Lexhagen: Introduction to Popular Culture Destinations: Contexts, Perspectives and Insights Part 1: Fandoms and Popular Culture Tourism Placemaking Chapter 2. Warwick Frost and Jennifer Frost: Commemorating Rock Stars: Exploring Fan Interactions at AC/DC and Chrissie Amphlett Lanes, Melbourne, Australia Chapter 3. Timo Thelen and Sangkyun Kim: The Emergence of Fan Pilgrimage Sites – Unintended and Intended Part 2: Heritage and Pilgrimage Journeys of Fans Chapter 4. Michael Fagence: 'Walking Battlefield Sites': An Experience of Secular Pilgrimage Chapter 5. Tatiana Chekalina, Maria Lexhagen, Christopher Hoffman and Gustav Grönskog: Gloomy or Exciting: Image, Engagement and Violent TV Drama in a Heritage Destination Setting Chapter 6. O. Hugo Benavides: Heritage and Pilgrimage Journeys in Hawaii: Where the Secular and Sacred Intersect Part 3: Digitalisation in Popular Culture Destinations Chapter 7. Lincoln Geraghty: Wish It Were Here: Fan Travel Vlogs as Virtual Spaces of Popular Culture Tourism Chapter 8. Kelly Palmer and Glen Thomas: @Bluey_Locations: The Brisbane Local as Bluey Tourist Chapter 9. Wen (Stella) Tian, Christine Lundberg and Alkmini Gkritzali: Millennials' Responses to Popular Culture-Induced Visual and Verbal Cues: An Eye-Tracking Investigation Part 4: Popular Culture Tourism Spaces and Imaginaries of the World Chapter 10. Nicholas Wise: (Re)Celebrating Baseball’s Rural Nostalgia: Placemaking and Touristification in the Cornfields of Iowa Chapter 11. Rodanthi Tzanelli: Climate Disaster Films and Scholarly-Virtual Pilgrimage to Viable Planetary Futures Epilogue Chapter 12. Vassilios Ziakas, Christine Lundberg and Maria Lexhagen: Conclusions for Popular Culture Tourism Research: Progress and Problematics Index
£31.46
Chester Academic Press Figuring Modern Sport: Autobiographical and Historical Reflections on Sport, Violence and Civilisation
£5.08
Watkins Media Limited Shooting Hipsters: Rethinking Dissent in the Age of PR
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£10.97
University of Westminster Press Collaborative Production in the Creative
Book SynopsisIn recent years research into creative labour and cultural work has usually addressed the politics of production in these fields, but the sociotechnical and aesthetic dimensions of collaborative creative work have been somewhat overlooked. This book aims to address this gap. Through case studies that range from TV showrunning to independent publishing, from the film industry to social media platforms such as Tumblr and Wattpad, this collection develops a critical understanding of the integral role collaboration plays in contemporary media and culture. It draws attention to diverse kinds of creative collaboration afforded via the intermediation of digital platforms and networked publics. It considers how these are incorporated into emergent market paradigms and investigates the complicated forms of subjectivity that develop as a consequence. But it also acknowledges historical continuities, not least in terms of the continued exploitation of support personnel' and of resulting artistic conflicts but also of alternative models that resist the precarious nature of contemporary cultural work. Finally, this volume attempts to situate creative collaboration in broader social and economic contexts, where the experience and outcomes of such work have proved more problematic than the rich potential of their promise would lead us to expect. The Editors: James Graham is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, Middlesex University, London. Alessandro Gandini is Lecturer in Digital Media Management and Innovation in the Department of Digital Humanities, Kings College, London.
£23.77
HarperCollins Publishers Reversing Into The Future: New Wave Graphics
Book SynopsisReversing into the Future: New Wave Graphics 1977–1990 is a unique and fascinating book of graphic design history curated from Andrew Krivine’s personal and vast collection of original posters, flyers, artworks and memorabilia from the golden age of New Wave. Packed with exclusive artworks and expert texts, this is the comprehensive guide to the unforgettable period of New Wave. Having witnessed an emerging generation of music buyers who’d been energised by punk, major record labels and independents alike went in search of sounds and visions that captured something of the energy and cheeky attitude of punk, while ignoring its political edge. New Wave was embraced by the mainstream music and entertainment industries and used to promote artists who rejected the anti-consumerist, anti-materialistic, black-and-white nihilism of the original punk movement in favour of a more optimistic, humorous and colourful present refracted through the past. In doing so, and as this book illustrates, the New Wave followed Marshall McLuhan’s dictum that ‘we drive boldly into the future with our eyes fixed firmly on the rear-view mirror’. New Wave artists rejected punk’s satirical, parodic and irreverent treatment of rock ’n’ roll’s original, iconic imagery preferring to display it reverently or referenced with love and affection. Reversing Into The Future: New Wave Graphics 1977–1990 includes graphic designs for, among others, The B52s, Boomtown Rats, Devo, Duran Duran, The Cars, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, XTC, Cyndi Lauper, The Police, Simple Minds, Gary Numan, Japan, Blondie, Talking Heads, The Go-Gos, Graham Parker, Nick Lowe, Simple Minds, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and many more. Graphic artists featured include Martyn Atkins, Barney Bubbles, Chris Morton, Malcolm Garrett, Alex McDowell, Tony Wright, Martin Kaye for the Paradiso, X3 Posters, DEVO Inc., Neville Brody, The Designers Republic, Russell Mills and more. A collectable item itself, the book is beautifully produced with front and back cover artwork by world-renowned designers Malcolm Garrett and Chip Kidd. Alongside a vast array of original artworks and graphics from the New Wave period, the book includes text contributions from recognised and respected commentators, critics and designers from the UK, US and Australia. Documenting the incredible impact of New Wave, this is the ideal book for die-hard music fans and graphic design aficionados alike.Trade Review‘A visual feast’ -- Simon Reynolds
£28.00
John Spencer Writes The Best of the Salty Cee Volume 1: Christian News Satire
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£6.17
Headpress Fact, Fictions, And The Forbidden Predictions Of
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£19.54
Danann Media Publishing Limited Up Yours Menopause
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£7.59
Smith Street Books A Beginner's Guide to Astrology: Learn how the
Book SynopsisExplore the ancient art of astrology to fill your every day with magic. The stars have a language all of their own and when understood, they become a timeless and powerful tool. Celestial bodies affect each of us, and understanding their influences and transits can illuminate your challenges, deepen your strengths, and enrich your relationships with yourself and others. This book is an easy-to-understand beginner’s guide to the zodiac signs, planets and astrological houses. Learn how they each affect you and find out what crystals and essential oils can give you a boost. Everything is interconnected, and with A Beginner’s Guide to Astrology, you can explore how the stars influence who you are while shining a light on who you can be.
£13.50
Boulevard Books Dying for a Living: Sins & Confessions of a
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£28.49
Rutgers University Press The Internet Is for Cats: How Animal Images Shape
Book SynopsisLOL cats. Grumpy Cat. Dog-rating Twitter. Pet Instagram accounts. It’s generally understood the internet is for pictures of cute cats (and dogs, and otters, and pandas). But what motivates people to make and share these images, and how do they relate to other online social practices? The Internet is for Cats examines how animal images are employed to create a lighter, more playful mood, uniting users within online spaces that can otherwise easily become fractious and toxic. Placing today’s pet videos, photos, and memes within a longer history of mediated animal images, communication scholar Jessica Maddox also considers the factors that make them unique. She explores the roles that animals play within online economies of cuteness and attention, as well as the ways that animal memes and videos respond to common experiences of life under neoliberalism. Conducting a rich digital ethnography, Maddox combines observations and textual analysis with extensive interviews of the people who create, post and share animal media, including TikTok influencers seeking to make their pets famous, activists tweeting about wildlife conservation, and Redditors upvoting every cute cat photo. The Internet is for Cats will leave you with a new appreciation for the human social practices behind the animal images you encounter online. Trade Review"By exploring the ambivalent overlaps between attention, cuteness, toxicity, and neoliberalism - among other key themes - in animal imagery sharing practices, The Internet is for Cats is essential reading for understanding how and why the fun of animal memes is serious cultural business." — Whitney Phillips, author of You Are Here: A Field Guide for Navigating Polarized Speech, Conspiracy Theories, and Our Polluted Media Landscape "The Internet is for Cats skillfully demonstrates that the visual cultures of animals and pets in social media are not only cute and entertaining—they can also mask the Internet’s hateful and toxic content. Maddox’s project is an important reminder that even the most seemingly frivolous aspects of culture must be carefully examined." — Melissa A. Click, associate professor of communication studies at Gonzaga University "By exploring the ambivalent overlaps between attention, cuteness, toxicity, and neoliberalism - among other key themes - in animal imagery sharing practices, The Internet is for Cats is essential reading for understanding how and why the fun of animal memes is serious cultural business." — Whitney Phillips, author of You Are Here: A Field Guide for Navigating Polarized Speech, Conspiracy Theories, and Our "[The Internet is for Cats]'s major claim is convincing: there is more to cat (and other animal) pics than meets the eye."— Gregory Hays, New York Review of BooksTable of ContentsContents List of Illustrations Introduction 1 Kittens in Context 2 “I’ve Heard People on TikTok Love This": Attention as Materiality and Looking Relation 3 Beyond Doomscrolling in an Internet of Cute 4 “You Can’t Buy Happiness, But You Can Rescue It”: Neoliberal Pets and Animals 5 Feels Good, Man: Collisions, Collusions, and Cloaks in Pet and Animal Social Media 6 Nature is Healing, We are the Virus: Beyond Signifiers Appendix Acknowledgments Bibliography Index
£22.79
Simon & Schuster The Fresh Prince Project: How the Fresh Prince of
Book SynopsisThis “one-of-a-kind” (Jeff Pearlman, New York Times bestselling author) cultural history of the beloved nineties sitcom that launched Will Smith to superstardom—The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air—is perfect for fans of Seinfeldia and Best Wishes, Warmest Regards.More than thirty years have passed since The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on NBC but unlike other family sitcoms of its era, it has remained culturally relevant and beloved by new generations of fans. With fresh eyes on the show in the wake of 2022’s launch of Bel-Air, a Fresh Prince reboot on NBC’s Peacock, The Fresh Prince Project brings us never-before-told stories based on exclusive interviews with the show’s cast, creators, writers, and crew. Eye-opening and passionate, The Fresh Prince Project “brings home the essence of why The Fresh Prince still matters to Black America—and, really, why it should matter to all of us” (Mike Wise, New York Times bestselling author).
£10.44
Jean Boite editions NYC Street Poets & Visionaries
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£999.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Mass-Market Fiction and the Crisis of American Liberalism, 1972–2017
Book SynopsisMass-Market Fiction and the Crisis of American Liberalism, 1972–2017 tracks the transformation of liberal thought in the contemporary United States through the unique lens of the popular paperback. The book focuses on cultural shifts as they appear in works written by some of the most widely-read authors of the last fifty years: the idea of love within a New Economy (Danielle Steel), the role of government in scientific inquiry (Michael Crichton), entangled political alliances and legacies in the aftermath of the 1960s (Tom Clancy), the restructured corporation (John Grisham), and the blurred line between state and personal empowerment (Dean Koontz). To address the current crisis, this book examines how the changed character of American liberalism has been rendered legible for a mass audience.Table of Contents1. Introduction: Popular Paperbacks and the Transformation of American Liberalism Part I. The Neoliberal Turn 2. The Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic of Mass-Market Fiction 3. Danielle Steel and New Home Economics 4. Michael Crichton and the Heritage of Invention Part II: Conjunctures 5. Tom Clancy and the Liberal Family Tree 6. John Grisham and the New Economy Thriller 7. Dean Koontz and the Problem with Power
£62.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Cecil B. DeMille, Classical Hollywood, and Modern American Mass Culture: 1910–1960
Book SynopsisThis book uses the long and profitable career of Cecil B. DeMille to track the evolution of Classical Hollywood and its influence on emerging mass commercial culture in the US. DeMille’s success rested on how well his films presumed a broad consensus in the American public—expressed through consumer hedonism, faith, and an “exceptional” national history—which merged seamlessly with the efficient production methods developed by the largest integrated studios. DeMille’s sudden mid-career shift away from spectator perversity to corporate propagandist permanently tarnished the director’s historical standing among scholars, yet should not overshadow the profound links between his success and the rise and fall of mid-century mass culture.Table of Contents1. Locating DeMille 2. The Brand3. The Wanderer4. A New and Filmable Past 5. Greetings from Mr. Hollywood6. Who is Cecil B. DeMille?7. Behold Their Mighty Hands8. Re-Locating DeMille
£62.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Haunted Nature: Entanglements of the Human and
Book SynopsisThis volume is a study of human entanglements with Nature as seen through the mode of haunting. As an interruption of the present by the past, haunting can express contemporary anxieties concerning our involvement in the transformation of natural environments and their ecosystems, and our complicity in their collapse. It can also express a much-needed sense of continuity and relationality. The complexity of the question—who and what gets to be called human with respect to the nonhuman—is reflected in these collected chapters, which, in their analysis of cinematic and literary representations of sentient Nature within the traditional gothic trope of haunting, bring together history, race, postcolonialism, and feminism with ecocriticism and media studies. Given the growing demand for narratives expressing our troubled relationship with Nature, it is imperative to analyze this contested ground.“Chapter 6” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.Trade Review“Haunted Nature vitally adds to the ever-evolving theoretical landscape of the eco-gothic. … Blazan’s volume in particular offers fascinating exploration of nonhumans in human ideological constellations. … this collection of essays uniquely invents a revolutionary microscope for us to envision both the visible and invisible horrors to create a new approach. … Comprised of unconventional, popular speculative frictions, Haunted engages the reader with the serious, pressing and yet seemingly familiar environmental changes of the creepy-crawly 21st century.” (Rebecca Jordan, Journal of Ecohumanism, Vol. 2 (1), January, 2023)Table of Contents1.Haunting and Nature: An Introduction.-2. Microgothic: Microbial Aesthetics of Haunted Nature.-3. Black Mold, White Extinction: I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, The Haunting of Hill House, “Gray Matter,” and H. P. Lovecraft’s “The Shunned House”.-4.Vegetomorphism: Exploring the Material Within the Aesthetics of the EcoGothic in Stranger Things and Annihilation.-5. An Ecology of Abject Women: Frontier Gothicism and Ecofeminism in Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle.-6. Alligators in the Living Room: Terror and Horror in the Capitalocene.-7. Haunted Technonature: Anthropocene Coloniality in Ng Yi-Sheng’s Lion City (2018).-8. Haunted Nature, Haunted Humans: Intelligent Trees, Gaia, and the Apocalypse Meme.-9.The Global Poltergeist: COVID-19 Hauntings
£89.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Storytelling and Collective Psychology: Ancient
Book SynopsisThis book examines the work of psychological illusionist Derren Brown to understand the significance of storytelling and ancient philosophy in our society. Reflecting on the social disconnection and political polarisation of recent times, Darren Kelsey considers how we can rebuild a sense of collective cohesion and common good, weaving together contemporary psychology with ancient Stoicism to cut through the noise of modern life. Kelsey shows that Brown is more than a stage performer: he’s an enlightened magician who offers us guidance for navigating the challenges life throws at us, using his skills and wisdom to help us better understand ourselves and enable human flourishing. In this rigorous examination of Brown’s work, Kelsey makes a compelling case for paying closer attention to our personal, cultural and political stories and beliefs to help create a better future – for ourselves, our communities, and the planet.Table of Contents1. Introduction: Narrative Building Machines.Mythmaking and Popular Culture.Private Hallucinations.A Conjuror’s Story.A Serendipitous Discovery.Collective States of Mind.The Analytical Approach of This Book.The Structure of This Book.Stories for a Better Future.Bibliography.2. The Archetypal Magician.Transformational Spaces.The Stage Magician.The Enlightened Magician.The Shadow Magician.Trust and Authenticity.Stories, Memories and Experiences.Our Chattering Selves.Scepticism of Our Stories.Bibliography.3. Street Philosophy and the Stoics.Philosophy for Flourishing.The Dichotomy of Control.Purpose, Responsibility and Society.Actions over Outcomes.Learning and Growing.Life Skills and Lessons.Fate and Fortune.Stillness, Egos and Obstacles.Habitual Humans.Perceptions and Stories.Inner and Outer Worlds.Emotions and Reactions.Domesticate Your Emotions.Taking Back Control.The Unlived Lives of Our Parents.Freedom to Flourish.That Fraudster Feeling.Hindsight and Reflection.Bibliography.4. Self-Help and Popular Culture.An Antidote to the Self-Help Industry.Strategic Pessimism.The Verb of Happiness.Our Protestant Past.The Law of Attraction.Blame and Failure.Kicking and Screaming.Self-Help and Celebrity.The Conor McGregor Story.Narrative, Ego and Persona.The Outer World of Fame and Fortune.Paradoxical Mindsets.Trials and Tribulations.Bibliography.5. Angels and Demons.We Want Heroes, Not Gods.Welcome to the Dark Side.Social Compliance.Handing over Authorship.Conforming in Cahoots.Can We Push Back?.Hero Mentality.Hero’s Journey.If the World Ended Tomorrow.Negative Visualisation.Taking Responsibility.Compassion, Empathy and Leadership.Gratitude and Selflessness.More Than Just a Dream.Steven’s Homecoming.The Wizard of Oz.Transcendence and Individuation.Jung, Socrates and the Stoics.Compassion, Love and Empathy.Bibliography.6. Beyond Them-And-Us.The Rise of Tribalism.In These Divided Times.The Politics of Fear.Place and Belonging.The Overview Effect.Connection and Empathy.Expanding Phil’s Oikeiōsis.A Hero’s Calling.Dialogue Between Sides.Fate and Perspective.Beyond Madness and Badness.The Human Problem.Ethical Cosmopolitanism.The Quest for Complexity.Bibliography.7. Reflections and Transformations.Collective Reflections.Getting to Know Our Shadows.Introspection and Transformation.One Team, Many Stories.The Changing World of Work.A Secular Void?.Filling the Secular Void.Transformative Philosophy.Communal Connections.Transformative Mythologies.Towards a Modern Monomyth.The Collective Journey.Stories to Save the World.Collective Weaving Machines.Bibliography.
£21.84
Springer International Publishing AG Schwarzenegger: Uses of the Foreign Star
Book SynopsisThis book analyses the uses of Arnold Schwarzenegger as a foreign star in Hollywood through a film philosophical, de-westernizing and sonic critical framework. It offers very close readings of the film texts, of the roles Schwarzenegger performs, and the rhetorical strategies he adopts outside his film performances to show that in spite of attempts to occupy the position of an emblematic member of the U.S. national body Schwarzenegger remains irrevocably outside as an accented migrant body continuously accumulating markers of belonging that by their very necessity attest to their insufficiency. The book’s central project is to trace back, from the uses to which a migrant star such as Schwarzenegger is put on the screen, the construction of a sense or idea of a U.S. national community through the cinema. Given that the appeal to the American myth of an immigrant nation that promises to erase difference is fundamental to the Schwarzenegger star persona, the central aim of this book is to explore the uses of his stardom as an embodiment of the promise of America and its contradictions and exclusions.Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Destroyer.- Chapter 2: Transformer.- Chapter 3: Policing.- Chapter 4: Doubling.- Conclusion.
£85.49
Springer International Publishing AG Vampires on the Silent Screen: Cinema’s First Age
Book SynopsisThis book is the first study of the vampires in silent cinema, presenting a detailed academic yet accessible discussion of the films themselves and their sources. For the very first time, The Fire Elemental from the Wharton brothers’ The Mysteries of Myra (1916) is identified as cinema’s original vampire, his appearance initiating a rich and variegated period of film production that is currently missing from studies of horror cinema. Exciting and ground-breaking, Vampires on the Silent Screen also discusses Drakula Halála / Dracula’s death (1920), the first ever filmic female vampire in Erich Kober’s Lilith and Ly (1919), and the Dracula lookalike, Count Merlin in Alexander Korda’s Magic (1917) as well as many other productions. A socio-cultural framework with critical highlighting of eco-horror theory is used throughout to draw these unique discoveries together. This project is a must read for any horror enthusiasts out there.Table of Contents1 From Time’s Beginnings.2 The Cinematic Vampire 1896–1922: Vampire Bats and Vamps and Thieves.3 The Vampire as Spirit of Fire: Leopold and Theodore Wharton’s The Mysteries of Myra (1916).4 Count Merlin and the Alchemy of Blood Lust: Alexander Korda’s Mágia/Magic (1917).5 The Blood-Demon and the Scientist: Erich Kober’s Lilith und Ly / Lilith and Ly (1919).6 Dreaming in the Madhouse Károly Lajthay’s Drakula halála / Dracula’s Death (1921).7 Counterfeits and Genuine.8 F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu.
£98.99
