Art in Action: Toward a Christian Aesthetic

Customer Reviews:

Maybe a brick but not the building.......2006-09-17

I am a graduate student in the fine arts at a major university in the United States. I ordered this book with an eye on enriching my own theological reflection on the arts, an area that presently suffers from near pervasive theological negligence and fundamentalist reductive tendencies.

Wolterstorff's "Art in Action" is commendable in so far as it offers careful analysis of and convincing argumentation against predominate contemporary Western views on the arts. This offering is additionally refreshing because Wolterstorff avoids the reactionary views of books with similar topics.

This book advances an argument rooted in Christian narrative but driven largely by a philosophical engine that privileges rigorous analytic logic and careful scientific scrutiny. I see this as both the book's great strength and weakness.

Wolterstorff spends an overwhelming majority of the book developing exacting analysis on what he rightly considers the narrowness of contemporary Western notions regarding the arts, with frequent discussions of analytic/scientific evidence regarding the arts and the nature of perception. Unfortunately, this privileging of analytic/scientific discourses significantly undermines the development of a prophetic, coherent narrative that distills a broader, more compelling Christian view of the arts in our lives.

I make this criticism partly because Wolterstorff himself claims that this volume is meant to be the more accessible work of a set of philosophical reflections he has written on the arts.

Those whose philosophical leanings run in the pragmatic/poststructuralist direction, or those whose theological narratives are indebted more to a Christ-story rather than a creation-story (Wolterstorff relies primarily on the latter), will find that the arguments of this book occasionally seem to miss the mark. Nevertheless, they will also find a cogent analysis and critique of contemporary Western notions of the arts as well as the messy birth of a Christian perspective for the arts.

Art in Action: Toward a Christian Aesthetic

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Art in Action: Toward a Christian Aesthetic
Nicholas Wolterstorff
Manufacturer: William B. Eerdmans
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JVHEX6

Art in Action: Towards a Christian Aesthetic

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Art in Action: Towards a Christian Aesthetic
W. Wolterstorff
Manufacturer: Paternoster Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1900507560

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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American Indian English
William L. Leap
Manufacturer: University of Utah Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Examines the diversity of English in American Indian speech communities.

Basis of Decorative Element in Indian Art

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Basis of Decorative Element in Indian Art
K. Aryan
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Textbook Binding
ASIN: 0391026593

Checan; essay on erotic elements in Peruvian art

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Checan; essay on erotic elements in Peruvian art
Rafael Laroo Hoyle
Manufacturer: L. Stuart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Elements of Indian Art
S.P. Gupta
Manufacturer: DK Print World Pvt.Ltd,India
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Product Description

Includes several new chapters.by two leading specialists, includes 2 maps, 300 b/w photographs, line drawings, with index. A comprehensive overview, would make a useful text. especially valuable on symbols, images, cultural representations found in many art pieces and traditions.

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Elements of Indian art and architecture
R Nath
Manufacturer: Historical Research Documentation Programme
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 8185105073

Kalatattvakosa: A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of Indian Arts; Primal Elements, Mahabhuta (Volume 3)

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Kalatattvakosa: A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of Indian Arts; Primal Elements, Mahabhuta (Volume 3)

Manufacturer: IGNCA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Religious | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 8120814029

Book Description

The Volume is third in the series of the IGNCA Programme of multi-disciplinary lexicon of fundamental concepts of the Indian tradition. In this volume seminal terms of Primal Elements-the Mahabuta have been included. The terms have been scanned through a very wide spectrum of texts drawn from the fields of metaphysics to science and the arts.

Socio- And Stylolinguistic Perspectives on American Indian English Texts (Native American Studies)

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Socio- And Stylolinguistic Perspectives on American Indian English Texts (Native American Studies)
Guillermo Bartelt
Manufacturer: Edwin Mellen Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

Linguistics | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0773473467

Sociolinguistic Constructs of Ethnic Identity: The Syntactic Delineation of an American Indian English (Publication of the American Dialect Society, No. 87)

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Sociolinguistic Constructs of Ethnic Identity: The Syntactic Delineation of an American Indian English (Publication of the American Dialect Society, No. 87)

Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Etymology | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0822365464

Book Description

Sociolinguistic Constructs of Ethnic Identity examines ethnic language boundaries displayed in the various uses of the verb be in a multiethnic community in Robeson County, North Carolina. Clare J. Dannenberg demonstrates that ethnic identity is a dynamic process that shifts over time and social space. Ethnic groups that have been stripped of their ancestral source language, like the Lumbee Indians, may be quite resilient and able to carve out unique language varieties in their replacement language.

Basic of Decorative Element in Indian Art

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Basic of Decorative Element in Indian Art
K.C. Aryan
Manufacturer: Rekha Prakashan,India
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 8190000284

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Nature Photography Simplified
Edna. Bennett
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0136108245

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Inspired

Easy Reader

Making Short Films: The Complete Guide from Script to Screen
Clifford Thurlow
Manufacturer: Berg Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Short Films 101: How to Make a Short and Launch Your Filmmaking Career

ASIN: 1845200632
Release Date: 2005-03-10

Book Description

This is a practical and inspirational guide to students and independent film-makers. It is the only book to describe and explain the whole process, from creating an original or adapted script, through producing and directing to finance and distribution. Whether you are embarking on a short film project by yourself or are planning a more ambitious, collaborative project, Making Short Films gives you the low-down on everything you need to know, including: information on new, digital technology, a range of complete scripts for award-winning shorts with commentaries by the film-makers, insider tips on making deals, renting equipment, securing funding and getting your short shown, details on the all major film festivals, and a glossary of film terms.

Customer Reviews:

Inspired.......2006-07-22

This is probably the only book about making short films that takes readers by the hand and leads them every step of the way from writing a winning short to getting the little gem screened at the major festivals. There's a website with free material at www.making-short-films.com and there are scores of colleges up and down the country using the book as a teaching aid. Before shooting a frame of film, filmmakers would do well to read this book.

Easy Reader.......2005-07-24

A must have book for anyone thinking of starting out in the movie business. An informative, funny, up to date, practical guide that will make the journey easier.

Making Short Films: The Complete Guide from Script to Screen, Second Edition

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Making Short Films: The Complete Guide from Script to Screen, Second Edition
Clifford Thurlow
Manufacturer: Berg Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Reference | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1845208048
Release Date: 2008-04-01

Book Description

Includes standard notation and tab for a dozen top hits from Cat Stevens: Father and Son * Head Headed Woman * How Can I Tell You * If I Laugh * Katmandu * Longer Boats * Moonshadow * On the Road to Find Out * Peace Train * Where Do the Children Play? * Wild World * The Wind.

Customer Reviews:

Good for Cat Wanna-be's.......2004-07-23

This book gives you chord diagrams, strumming patterns, and good guitar tablature. it is great for beginners, or anyone who prefers reading guitar tabs instead of music notes. all the lyrics are also included. i am just beginning to learn guitar and i can already play half of father and son. its awesome. this book has helped me a lot. i recommend it.

For begginers, that's the best.......1998-10-19

If you start playing guitar and love Cat Stevens, that's the book. The chords aren't the same as the albums, but they are simplified, in a easy way. You only have a couple of tunes, greatest hits. the prints are very large and you only get the guitar lines: no bass, no piano. Thers is not the real finger picking but for begginers, it's perfect

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Excellent !!

Perfect complement

Hey look, there's the kitchen sink too!

Mutants & Masterminds: Freedom City - 2nd Edition (Mutants & Masterminds)
Steve Kenson
Manufacturer: Green Ronin Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Mutants & Masterminds: Ultimate Power Sourcebook

ASIN: 1932442537

Book Description

Freedom City is back in the first deluxe sourcebook for the Second Edition of Mutants & Masterminds. This exciting campaign setting includes a detailed history of the city, an overview of the its diverse neighborhoods, scores of locations and backdrops, a cast of supporting characters, several complete hero teams, and dozens of villains, all ready to use! The original book has been updated to the Second Edition and revised and expanded throughout. Richly detailed and lavishly illustrated in full color, Freedom City is the ideal companion book to the Mutants & Masterminds Roleplaying Game.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent !!.......2007-05-13

Very good supplement for M&M. Complete city, with tons of locations, plots hooks and plenty of superheroes and bad guys to put in your campaign.

Perfect complement.......2007-01-21

This books is a good complement for the game, with a city completely designed and ready for play.

Hey look, there's the kitchen sink too!.......2006-05-25

To say that this book goes into detail on the inner workings of the largest setting in the game is an understatement of mammoth proportions. The book opens up with the history of Freedom City, with a detailed history of the city covering nearly 300 years, with information about the site going all the way back to prehistoric times.

In modern times, it details 19 seperate areas/neighborhoods of Freedom City, including the entire transit system break down for the city, from taxi cabs to airports to the ships at the piers. Day to day living within the city is complete with lists and descriptions of major retail chains, banks, schools, entertainment centers, hospitals, religious centers, right down to nightclubs and local sports teams. The level of detail here is breathtaking, and even a little overwhelming at times.

For those that are more intrested in mechanical aspects, there are full writeups and statblocks for each member of the Freedom League, along with other hero groups such as the Atom Family, Next-Gen, as well as a number of solo heroes. And of course, there are numerous villians and evil groups to oppose the heroes. There are a total of 10 seperate supervillian organizations presented, each with a number of individual villians making them up, all with complete stat blocks. Not to mention a list of free-lance villians for those one shot game needs.

And don't think that this book is limited to just this one city. There is an entire chapter devoted to nothing but world-wide groups and organizations, including a breakdown of each major continent and the prevalance of super powered individuals they host. It also includes all of the major "secret" locations of the Mutants & Masterminds universe, from Atlantis to Kaiju Island, to galactic locations such as Far City, and groups like the Star Knights and the Grue Unity. And beyond even that are locations such as Terminus, the Zero Zone, and multiple alternate-Earths detailing everything from Ani-Earth and the Furry League to Earths that never saw the fall of the Roman Empire, or where Germany won the second world war.

Not only is it the definative guidebook for anything and everything having to do with Freedom City, it is indespensible as a resource for the entire Mutants and Masterminds 2e universe.

Customer Reviews:

Don't bother.......2005-08-22

Thank goodness I looked at the library copy of this. It's turgid and a sure cure for insomnia. You could get a Ph.D for this, as the BS is certainly piled higher and deeper. The show is overanalyzed to shreds. I hope the author has managed to get a life in the time ince this was written.

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