Graphic Design: Inspirations and Innovations 2

Book Description

Observing black imagery through a century of comics.

This wide-ranging little book spotlights over 100 comics strips, comic books, and graphic novels to feature black characters from all over the world over the last century, and the result is a fascinating journey to, if not enlightenment, then at least away from the horrendous caricatures of yore.

The book begins with the habitually appalling images of blacks as ignorant "coons" in the earliest syndicated strips (Happy Hooligan, Moon Mullins, and The Katzenjammer Kids); continues with the almost-quaint colonialist images of the suppressed Tintin album Tintin in the Congo and such ambiguous figures as Mandrake the Magician's "noble savage" assistant Lothar in the '30s (not to mention Torchy Brown, the first syndicated black character), moving on to such oddities as the offensive Ebony character in Will Eisner's otherwise classic The Spirit from the '40s and '50s. We then continue into the often earnest attempts at '60s integration in such strips as Peanuts (and comic books such as the Fantastic Four), as well as the first wave of "black strips" like Wee Pals, juxtaposed with the shocking satire of underground comics such as R. Crumb's incendiary Angefood McSpade. Also investigated is the increased use of blacks in super-hero comic books such as Uncanny X-Men and Luke Cage, Hero for Hire, as well as syndicated strips like Friday Foster and Quincy in the '70s (to say nothing of Beetle Bailey's controversial Lt. Flap). From Cartoon Coons to the Boondocks wraps up from the '80s to now, with the increased visibility of blacks, often in works actually produced by blacks, all the way to the South African strip Madam & Eve, Aaron McGruder's pointed daily The Boondocks, and Ho Che Anderson's Martin Luther King biography King.

Each strip, comic, or graphic novel is spotlighted via a compact but instructive 200-word essay and a representative illustration. The book is augmented by a context-setting introduction, an extensive source list and bibliography, and a foreword by Charles R. Johnson, the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation fellowship and winner of the National Book Award for his 1990 novel Middle Passage (and a published cartoonist to boot!).

Customer Reviews:

A Visual History.......2006-01-31

I enjoyed reading the book, I always had an interest in comics growing up.
I would very much like for you to suggest to me any similar reading material.

Somewhat disappointing.......2003-09-23

This book is somewhat disappointing on a couple of grounds. For one thing, Stromberg only uses one panel from each of the comics he discusses, thus the reader has a difficult time getting these particular comics in full context (although his accompanying notes are good). This and (as Charles Johnson noted in his prologue), the "Negro Comics" of Black newspapers of the 1900s are given somewhat short shrift as a means of comparison. Cartoons dealing with the portrayal of Africans as simian-like savages are used so frequently that the point that this stereotype was common among cartoonists is beaten to the ground.

These flaws aside, it's a good introduction to the subject of Black protrayals in the cartoons. Aaron McGruder (of "Boondocks" fame) wrote his college thesis on this subject, cartoonist Tim Jackson has a website on vintage Black cartoons, and B. Keith Murphy who is a professor at Ft. Valley State University (Georgia) have also done research on this topic. I hope this book encourages them to publish their studies.

Average customer rating:
How to Shit in the Woods: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art/Non-Offensive Cover
Kathleen Meyer
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K3WZVY

Amazon.com

In this volume, Thomas Weisser reviews hundreds of Asian cult films, rating them with one to four stars. The book is packed with intriguing data and brimming with its author's knowledge, enthusiasm, and humor. Although Weisser concentrates mainly on movies from the genre's most fruitful period, the 1980s and 1990s, he also provides a supplementary guide to the martial arts films of the 1970s. Also included is an index to the films of kung fu fighters who tried to take Bruce Lee's place after the master's untimely death in 1973. As Max Allan Collins writes in the book's introduction, this is "a travel guide to an exotic but surprisingly accessible foreign land, an alternate universe of filmmaking that has the energy, talent, and enthusiasm that Hollywood long ago squandered."

Book Description

The cult of Asian action/exploitation/ martial arts movies has exploded into a phenomenon. Here's the one-of-a-kind guide for its millions of fans which includes:

* Starred reviews of more than 1,000 films
* Cast, credits, and release date
* The roots of martial arts movies
* Extensive director filmography
* The major players
* Fully illustrated

Customer Reviews:

Worth a look.......2007-09-23

As has been pointed out by multiple reviewers, this book does have some errors, but, despite that fact, it is still a valuable source for information and reviews you will not find elsewhere; if nothing else it will at least provide the names of movies you can research on your own time. For this reason alone, I recommend this book.
Also, I would like to address some of the criticism levied against this book by Amazon.com reviewers. Firstly, to the person who claimed Mr. Weisser's "opinions are wrong": how exactly can an opinion about a movie be "wrong"? Certain individuals have certain tastes; that he likes different movies than you does not make him wrong. Secondly, if I wanted to read the umpteenth review about how great Seven Samurai is or how brilliant Ozu or Ichikawa are I could pick up virtually any book on movie criticism. One would have thought the presence of the word "cult" in the title would have tipped off a semi-discerning reader to the fact that this tome addresses more obscure and trashy films (Category III , pinky and roman porno movies being perfect examples), rather than the same old art-house fare that poseurs cite when they try to seem erudite when it comes to Asian cinema.
As for his website, I do not understand why reviewers have mentioned it, as it is totally irrelevant to the quality of this book. However, since it was mentioned, I feel the need to correct the outright falsehoods written about his site. The site does not require a membership; it requires an individual to register by providing an email address and password so that personal info can be more conveniently recalled. In this respect it is no different than Amazon.com.

Sloppy and error filled book........2005-06-26

Asian Cult Cinema is a bad book. The reviews are flawed and the information is either flat out wrong or badly researched. The movie synopises are down right absmal
and headache inducing. I bought a copy of this book back in 1997. After reading it and doing my own research I sent the writer a huge list of corrections. I recieved a postcard with a note of acknowledgement. A few years later it was reprinted with the same errors.

Instead of buying this book go out and get a copy of Hong Kong Babylon. At least the writers went out and did their homework and put some time and effort into it. A.C.C. is flat out aweful. I would avoid it like the plague. Even the pictures are mislabeled. At his website he charges high prices for videos that are availible elsewhere. You even have to be a member just to purchase these videos. For shame.

Don't even think about it!

Not recommended........2002-05-12

I would not recommend this book to someone looking for a balanced introductory guide to Hong Kong films. For one, there are a lot of factual errors. Titles, release years, stars, and plots are often mixed up and inaccurate. The author also seems to have a "more exploitative & trashy, the better" attitude--so maybe if your idea of an excellent film is the kind that would be perfect on "Mystery Science Theater 3000", you would like this book. Lots of great films are omitted, and his personal bias against some stars (like Chow Sing Chi) totally color his reviews. Don't get this one unless you're a completist for volumes on HK cinema and already have much better books like "Hollywood East".

everything you need to know about butt-kickn' movies.......2001-06-01

The book provides an extensive list of movies for the Hong Kong enthusist. Complete from front to back with movies most Americans never even consider seeing. I take this book with me to the video store when I want to see something good. So far, Thomas Weisser has not steered me wrong.

Limited but Useful.......2000-12-11

While none of the other reviewers or reviews for this book are wrong, there are some things to keep in mind before you decide if this book is for you:

1) This is essentially the only printed movie guide book encompassing most all Hong Kong films up to 1997 (reviews for the past few years can easily be found on the web). It's not complete but it's much easier turning pages than trying to read links on a web site.

2) Bear in mind that most of these reviews were originally written for a small fazine/magazine called "Asian Cult Cinema," whose readers were more interested in martial arts and Category III movies (softcore/NC-17 movies). To compile the book, he has added reviews of more mainstream/movies released overseas but think of this author as the Joe Bob Briggs of HK movies without the humor or writing ability. It is not the perspective of a professional reviewer.

3) yes, it is opininated and he may be wrong in his opinions of actors and certain movies but he does award 4-stars to the obvious best of the best so again, it's a safe starting point. I think the frustration lies in its complete unevenness - there are reviews that are thoughtful, insight, informative and educated. There are others that give away plot points or seem to have been written by a 13-year old just discovering salacious movies ...

In summation, if you are fairly to completely unfamiliar with the best HK movies to start with, this book, for lack of a better choice is a good place to start. Do not read this book from beginning to end. You will become annoyed at its shifting writing styles and readibility. But you can skim through to get nice overviews of the best HK movies out there - for those who are interested in the non-dubbed works of Jaackie Chan, Samo Hung, Jet Li, Chow Yun Fat and other major players, there is a nice chronological filmography of each in the back and you can then just jump to each review or use it as a jumping point to search Amazon.com or the internet. The other reviewers aren't wrong about this book but it does have some usefulness.

Average customer rating:
ASIAN CULT CINEMA
THOMAS WEISSER
Manufacturer: PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KVG0NA

Product Description

Includes CD, 48 page color booklet and chord poster - for beginners - ideal for young children - no previous musical knowledge or experience necessary - easy to follow lesson by lesson format - play music from the very first lesson - all music examples recorded in stereo onto the enclosed CD so you can hear how each example sounds - play along with the backing band as you learn.

Average customer rating:

Simply marvelous!

Good book for maze enthusiasts

Amazeingly novel book!

Art, history, and wonder

A tasty mix of mazes, labyrinths, and ancient mysteries

Amazeing Art: Wonders of the Ancient World
Christopher Berg
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060956747
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Book Description

In Amazeing Art, Christopher Berg showcases an astonishingly beautiful series of mazes depicting the wonders of the ancient world. From Stonehenge to the Colossus of Rhodes, he matches each with a capsule history that explains its background, and brilliantly evokes its mystery and significance. Fun, fascinating, and educational, Amazeing Art contains thirty-five mazes and their solutions printed on special easy-to-erase paper for the determined maze-solver.

Customer Reviews:

Simply marvelous!.......2002-04-19

I love it!
The combination of fun mazes and interesting text is unique, exciting, fun, entertaining.
My 6 year old daughter immediately tried out the mazes. (And I did too!)
Excellent for children and grown-ups!

Good book for maze enthusiasts.......2002-04-04

This book is both unusual and perfectly suited for maze enthusiasts. There's nothing quite like it! It would make a perfect present for the right person.

Amazeingly novel book!.......2001-12-08

This book is incredibly original and inspirational. The author's enthusiasm for beautiful mazes is highly contagious. Anyone who likes cool ideas and puzzles (or just want to know the difference between a labyrinth and a maze) should take a look at this book.

Art, history, and wonder.......2001-10-20

Amazeing Art combines graphic art portraits of about 30 architectural marvels of the ancient world with vivid, detailed accounts of their histories. And each masterful drawing is, unbelievably, a maze. There is a lot of text in the book, written with an infectious passion for the mysteries of the buildings and sculptures drawn beside them. It's hard not to get hooked and develop a sense of awe at the achievements of these old civilizations.

The book is properly titled "Amazeing Art," not "Artistic Mazes." The ingenuity of the drawings rivals pen-and-ink artists like M.C. Escher, so the book is not just for maze-doers. It's for parents who enjoy some intelligent, diversionary reading--and for their children old enough to tackle challenging mazes. (In many families, it's the kids who will read and the adults who will play.) It's educational for both, with pictures and histories of the Sphinx, a Phoenician ship, the Tower of Babylon, the Parthenon, the Colossus of Rhodes, and many other masterpieces from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Greece, and Rome, including the treasures of the Hittites, the Trojans, the Ephesians, and other peoples. There's a lot to learn here, and the learning is great fun--if you can take your eyes of the drawings.

A tasty mix of mazes, labyrinths, and ancient mysteries.......2001-10-15

This book is fun and different! The mazes were beautiful and tricky, and hard to do (I couldn't solve them all). The stories that went with them were filled with all kinds of fascinating tales and little known secrets about ancient civilizations. Especially the story of the Egyptian Labyrinth, which was a long-lost architectural wonder that ancient historians said was more impressive than the Pyramids. Super interesting!

Amazeing Art: Wonders of the Ancient World

Average customer rating:

Amazeing Art: Wonders of the Ancient World
Christopher Berg
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF6SHU

Customer Reviews:

A decent intro to cold calling techniques.......2006-09-12

This book is a good introduction to cold calling, especially for someone who has never cold called, or never done it successfully.

From personal experience, I know the challenges of cold calling, and how intimidating it can be. But like anything else, you'll get out of it what you put into it.

I really like how the author starts the book. He begins by telling the reader about his early efforts in cold calling, or perhaps more accurately - his efforts at AVOIDING cold calling. He was initially so afriad to pick up the phone that he didn't make any calls. As a result, he made no sales and lost his job shortly thereafter. As one who struggled with this "cold calling fear" in my first sales job, I could certainly relate.

The author then delves into the "anatomy" of a cold call - basically 1) What to say, and 2) When to Say It. Overcoming objections is also covered, as is some basic information about identifying your target market segment.

The scripts are pretty generic, but easy to learn. Obviously, you will need to customize them a bit to fit your particular product and style.

The only real problem I have is that the scripts are designed to get an appointment...no matter what. In other words, there are no qualifications steps, and sales people who follow this program may get more appointments, but those appointments might not lead anywhere if the prospect isn't qualified. Though he addresses this somewhat in his "target market" explanation.

The author also somewhat dances around the idea of "lying" to the prospect as to the reason of the call. He says that you should say "The reason I'm calling is because I sent you something in the mail," when he didn't. He explains that mail should be sent in support of a sales call, not as a precursor. So basically this is a lie, although most salespeople would view it as a "white lie" since it doesn't really hurt anyone.

The real value of this book, I think, is that it lays out a plan and series of techniques that you can use to become effective at cold calling. The basic types of objections are covered, as well as ways to overcome them.

This is pretty basic stuff, but could be a solid foundation for an entry-level salesperson. There aren't any great revelations - just solid advice backed by experience.

Tired, old scripts that turn off listeners.......2005-04-19

I sell my services as a scientific consultant and I have learned that prospective clients are interested in themselves, not in me. As I redirect my professional practice and revitalize my marketing/selling program, I have read many helpful books. All the professional services marketing books stress the importance of focusing on benefits. So does a very good cold call selling book I just read. Goldner's book, in contrast, never mentions benefits to the prospect, only features offered by the caller. His scripts have the same artificial structure that turns off my interest immediately when telemarketers call me. I know I'm not alone in this response. I am very disappointed in this book and it will not remain in my library.

A must read for all sales people.......2004-01-03

This book was by far the best that I have read. The book covers all aspects of a sucessful cold calling campaign. I purchased this book when sales were slow and was forced to lay off my sales staff. As a result of reading this book, I was able to increase my sales and rehire my sales staff. This book is now part of our sales training.

A must read for all sales people.......2004-01-03

Must have sales tool.......2003-11-03

I have been in sales for over 9 years and have read many books, but this book opened my eyes back up again. I sell complex CRM solutions and never thought this book could help, but it did. I will say, it's nothing most of us have not heard before, but for me it opened my eyes on the importance of picking up the phone more than I usually do. The author makes some very valid points, but the best one is that it does not matter what you are selling its always a numbers game. Those who are successful in sales make that extra cold call, appointment or dial that extra number. That's what separates the successful sales people from the average sales people.

Red-hot Cold Call Selling: Prospecting Techniques That Really Pay Off

Average customer rating:

Cold Calling De-Mystified
Effective manual for organized cold-call selling
Provides many insights into what works, what doesn't, and why.

Red-hot Cold Call Selling: Prospecting Techniques That Really Pay Off
Paul S. Goldner
Manufacturer: AMACOM/American Management Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0814473482

Book Description

Completely revised with fresh examples and all new chapters, the second edition of Red-Hot Cold Call Selling reveals the secrets, strategies, and tips readers can use to elevate their prospecting skills and take their sales into the stratosphere. Readers will learn how they can:

* define and target their ideal market-and stop squandering time, energy, and money on unfocused prospecting * develop a personalized script utilizing all the elements of a successful cold call * get valuable information from assistants-and then get past them * view voice mail not as a frustrating barrier, but as a unique opportunity

Red-Hot Cold Call Selling is a vital resource for all sales professionals, brimming with field-proven techniques that work in any industry. The book includes new information on using the Internet for research and prospecting; cold-calling internationally; using e-mail instead of calling; and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Cold Calling De-Mystified.......2007-09-18

This book is about generating sales activity. It should appeal to anyone in sales who is tasked with growing an account base through new business acquisition and customer service. It is suitable for both the seasoned sales professional as well as the person just beginning their career in sales. Sales managers take note as there are some great resources and strategies for sustaining consistent activity levels.

Goldner begins with describing the importance of prospecting and the importance of tracking your daily activity. Throughout the book, the author provides useful tools to assist tracking your own sales activity. The main focus is generating sales appointments through telephone cold calling. To demonstrate the strategy, the author has several scripts, sample letters and other examples which can be used by anyone immediately. Overcoming objections, getting past the gate keeper, leaving effective voice mail messages and developing territory management strategies are also covered in this book.

This is a very well written book on the topic of prospecting and cold calling and highly recommended for sales professionals who are in a "Hunter" role and responsible for opening doors.

Eliot Hoppe
Author - Selling: Powerful New Strategies for Sales Success.

Effective manual for organized cold-call selling.......2007-06-06

Picking up the phone and calling a prospect seems like a natural thing for a sales professional to do. Yet, even the best, most seasoned salespeople avoid cold calling to steer clear of rejection. Paul S. Goldner teaches you how to cure your fears and shows you that cold calling is really just a numbers game: A certain number of calls is likely to produce a relative number of appointments and sales. Good prospecting techniques empower you to take control of your sales practices and determine your income. Goldner thoroughly covers every aspect of prospecting, including identifying the best times to call, defining your target market, writing a cold-call script, handling objections and getting past voice mail. Goldner's process will inspire even the most reluctant salesperson to dial that cold call. We suggest this as a fortifying read for anyone whose income depends on bringing prospects into the sales pipeline.

Provides many insights into what works, what doesn't, and why........2006-10-07

Paul S. Goldner's RED-HOT COLD CALL SELLING, 2ND EDITION offers sales personnel a tutorial which blends experience and examples with a different approach to cold calling. Novices to quota club attendees, pros and beginners alike will find chapters analyzing prospecting techniques for high-payoff approaches. From break-even hours and outside hours which assure success to smart definitions of target markets, RED-HOT COLD CALL SELLING provides many insights into what works, what doesn't, and why.

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