Open Systems: Rethinking Art c. 1970

Book Description

Open Systems examines how international artists rethought the object of art in the last years of the 1960s and the early 1970s as they sought to connect with the increasingly urgent political developments of the time. Building on the structures of Minimalism and Conceptualism, the era saw the beginning of a radical departure from art's traditional focus to a new and wide-ranging experimentation with mediums that included dance, performance, and, most notably, film and video.

Open Systems features the works of prominent artists working in Britain, Europe, South America, Japan, and the United States, and includes sculpture, sculptural installations, painting, film, video, photography, and printed matter. Among the artists examined are Alighiero Boetti, Marcel Broodthaers, Trisha Brown, Fluxus, Dan Graham, Ilya Kabakov, Richard Long, Gordon Matta-Clark, Paul McCarthy, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, On Kawara, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Gerhard Richter, Robert Smithson, Martha Rosler, and Franz West.

Book Description

The first book ever written about Cartoon Network's Adult Swim! Includes "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," "The Brak Show," "The Oblongs," "Space Ghost Coast to Coast," "Home Movies," "Tom Goes to the Mayor," "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law," "Family Guy," "Robot Chicken," "Mission Hill," "American Dad," "Futurama," a eulogy for "Sealab 2021," and more.

Customer Reviews:

Must have for animation enthusiasts.......2007-04-07

This book is a nice, quick read that looks at the cultural phenomenon that is Adult Swim. Russo examines a number of shows featured on the animation block and provides fascinating details about each one. I referenced it several times in my senior thesis paper, but it is also a good read just for fun. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the new wave of American animation.

Laying the groundwork for academic discussion........2007-03-05

Ron Russo's 'Adult Swim and Comedy' is, quite literally, the first step for the late night programming block to legitimize into a respected and mature movement. The book is full interesting tid-bits of how the phenomenon of adult swim came to be. For instance, back in 1994 TBS gained full control of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon library, which (with the creative minds of Mike Lazzo and Keith Crawford) gave birth to Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, the first in adult swims unique "recycled" animation. Russo does an excellent job of tracking the specific history of the shows in the original (2001) line-up. Being a film professor as well, he lends his academic interpretation for possible influences and predecessors to the themes and formulas of each show. It's spot on to cite adult swim as the cartoon version of modern day Dadaists.

I'll never forget the first time I saw the bump of Aquaman shaking his rump to techno music and a drive-through speaker, seconds after falling in love with this brilliantly absurd underwater cartoon that just referenced 'Apocalypse Now!'. All I could think was "It's was about darn time something like this came along". So, its awesome to see an accurate chronicling of the roots and early days of Adult Swim, especially from the academic perspective.

More disappointment than insight.......2007-01-12

This thin book by a Kent State film professor has some good points and some serious bad points.

On the plus side:

The book makes some interesting points about how Adult-Swim-style animation is relatively cheap, often less than a tenth of the per-minute cost of "The Simpsons"; and it often stops to point out intriguing parallels, like between "Tom Goes To The Mayor" and Orson Wells's "One Man Band". And the author is clearly very enthusiastic about the material.

But on the minus side:

This book completely and inexplicably ignores the most cinematic of the Adult Swim cartoons, "Venture Brothers", not even mentioning it, even though it had been on Adult Swim for over a year when this book came out. And finally, and most annoyingly, this book reads not like well-composed prose, but like class lectures that were taped and then given to a ten-year-old to transcribe and then sent right to the printer-- leaving punctuation that is distractingly wrong more than not, and sentences that are teeth-grindingly unparseable.

If you want to learn about how modern animation is done, you're probably better off just paying attention to the commentary tracks and extras on the DVDs of "Home Movies", "Venture Brothers", or even "Dr Katz".

Customer Reviews:

Not for the narrow-of-mind or faint-of-heart.......1998-06-23

I loved Florence Kings 'Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady'. It was wildly funny and right on target for those of us who grew up in the South. 'Lump it or Leave it' has its moments but this time King's cutting humor goes to the bone. Sometimes funny, sometimes mean spirited. I think Ms. King is a brilliant story teller and I'd love to see more of that as opposed to her railings on random topics. Of course, Ms. King probably doesn't give a fuzzy rats butt what I or anyone else thinks anyway!

Average customer rating:

LUMP IT OR LEAVE IT
Florence King
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KO3Y5O

Lump it or leave it (church donations).: An article from: Presbyterian Record

Average customer rating:

Lump it or leave it (church donations).: An article from: Presbyterian Record
Tony Plomp
Manufacturer: Presbyterian Record
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Presbyterian Record, published by Presbyterian Record on June 1, 1998. The length of the article is 697 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Lump it or leave it (church donations).
Author: Tony Plomp
Publication: Presbyterian Record (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 1998
Publisher: Presbyterian Record
Volume: 122 Issue: 6 Page: 39

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Federal civilian personnel cost of lump-sum annual leave payments to employees separating from government : report to the Chairman, Committee on the Budget, ... Representatives (SuDoc GA 1.13:GGD-97-100)

Average customer rating:

Federal civilian personnel cost of lump-sum annual leave payments to employees separating from government : report to the Chairman, Committee on the Budget, ... Representatives (SuDoc GA 1.13:GGD-97-100)
U.S. General Accounting Office
Manufacturer: The Office
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00010V7UQ

Average customer rating:

Amusing as the movie

A science fiction novel of extraterrestrial life on earth.

Men in Black: The Script and the Story Behind the Film (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook)
Barry Sonnenfeld , Ed Solomon , Diana Landau , and Melinda Sue Gordon
Manufacturer: Newmarket Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 155704323X

Book Description

The official companion book to the sci-fi comedy adventure. Included in this book are the complete Ed Solomon screenplay and more than 150 full-color photos, along with production design artwork and the behind-the-scenes story of how the film was made. A special bonus section, The Official MIB Agent's Manual, features profiles of America's "Most Wanted Aliens," a Weapons Catalog, a Field Placement Evaluation for new recruits, and the MIB Dress Code. 150 color photos, drawings.

The Newmarket Pictorial Moviebooks, official companions to films, large format (8 3/8 x 10 7/8), heavily illustrated throughout, with color photographs, details on the making of the film, background on the filmmakers and cast.

Customer Reviews:

Amusing as the movie.......2002-07-11

What I like form this book is that it fulfills the three categories that I like from a movie book:
1. It's got tons of pics from behind the scenes.
2. It's got a funny agent's manual supplement for you MIB fans(Not to mention the thorough coverage on the making & cast & crew).
3. It's got the script.
What else could you expect?

A science fiction novel of extraterrestrial life on earth........1998-11-25

MEN IN BLACK

Men in Black, by John Harvey, is about a young New York policeman, who thinks he knows about everything in the world. However one day he chases down a criminal who turns out to be an alien. He tells his story when he is questioned, but no one believes him. Later, a man in a black suit and tie recruits him to be a member of the Men in Black, an organization that hides and regulates alien activity so the people of earth won't learn the truth. After he joins the Men in Black, he is given the name "Agent Jay." He realizes how little the people of earth know compared to what they think they know. Just a few days ago, he thought he knew everything, but compared to the knowledge of the world he has now, he knew nothing. Jay gains access to high-tech equipment such as cars, weapons, tracking devices, and other gadgets from all over the universe. His goal is to stop an alien spacecraft from firing on Earth by returning to them a necklace, called "The Galaxy." He battles a giant roach creature with his partner Kay. They are able to recover the Galaxy and save the planet. This book is very well written. The story is exciting and mysterious and gives good insight about the way we view and think about the world. Although the book is based on a movie, Harvey adds extra scenes and explains events that were not explained in the movie. For example, he explains how the Men in Black organization first started. Harvey uses a lot of slang words and makes sarcastic comments about some of the characters. He has a great sense of humor. The moral of this story is that we shouldn't always assume we know everything. Soon what we think is impossible will be normal. For example, people think they know that aliens don't exist, but in the story aliens are normal. The author has a very good point.

Average customer rating:
Men in Black: The Script and the Story Behind the Film
Barry, et al Sonnenfeld
Manufacturer: Newmarket Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQI98G

Book Description

Veteran record producer and journalist Harvey Kubernik is a Los Angeles insider with ties to some of the most influential performers and producers in the music business. In this examination of the music and pop culture of the 1960s, we read Kubernik's conversations with famous people who speak very freely: Ray Manzarek, Berry Gordy, Grace Slick, Andrew Loog Oldham, Jim Keltner, Jack Nitzsche, Chrissy Hynde, Ravi Shankar, and Keith Richards. There is also an epilog on Roger Steffens, a renowned scholar of reggae music.

No matter how much you think you know about the pop culture of the 1960s, you will find new information here. Certain predictable topics--the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan--come up in almost every interview. Other names prominent in the interviews are Phil Spector and Sonny Bono.

Reading Kubernik's interview with Marianne Faithfull, we learn that she and Mick Jagger often listened to Vivaldi and Marvin Gaye in the mornings; Steven Van Zandt reveals that he is the son of a Goldwater Republican; Allen Ginsberg discloses that Bob Dylan tried, unsuccessfully, to get Phil Spector to produce a recording by Ginsberg.

"It seems like [Harvey's] been around forever and knows everybody. Which is one reason why this book is so cool. You've gotta read it, 'cause Harvey's definitely got the inside stuff."--Brian Wilson, member of The Beach Boys

The true history of rock and roll and pop music is an oral history--people talking about the great music and how it happened and their experiences being part of it. Harvey Kubernik's wonderful book is a set of backstage passes to the greatest show on Earth--and a terrific opportunity for readers everywhere to learn about one of the wonders of the modern world directly from the men and women who've been at the center of it.--Paul Williams, founder of Crawdaddy! and author of Bob Dylan, Performing Artist

Veteran record producer and journalist Harvey Kubernik offers conversations with famous people who speak very freely about the pop culture and music of the 1960s: Ray Manzarek, Berry Gordy, Grace Slick, Andrew Loog Oldham, Jim Keltner, Jack Nitzsche, Chrissie Hynde, Ravi Shankar, and Keith Richards.

Average customer rating:
THIS IS REBEL MUSIC: THE HARVEY KUBERNIK INNERVIEWS. CounterCulture Series
Harvey. Kubernik
Manufacturer: Univ. of New Mexico Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N7D2FU

Amazon.com

In TIE Fighter, Lucasarts's sequel to its popular X-Wing space combat simulator, gamers finally get a chance to give into their dark side and unleash punishment on those unruly Rebels. The TIE Fighter Official Strategy Guide provides detailed descriptions of all of the missions included in the CD-ROM release of the game, with strategies, statistics and behind-the-scenes information.

Like the X-Wing Collector's CD-ROM Official Strategy Guide, most of the information is imparted in a narrative--an unusual style for a game guide and one that only a Star Wars fanatic would love. While the story does weigh things down a bit, it is filled with helpful hints and complete mission overviews. In addition, the detailed appendices feature statistics and scoring reference tables for quick perusal. Aside from the included "novelization," this is an excellent strategy guide.

Customer Reviews:

ZZOOOOOMMMM!!!!.......2001-07-18

"We have seen the end of bad gaming, we will soon see the end of the rebellion." This game is a high strategy game with enough firepower to destroy a computer! Using digital sound and lighting, a 2-D and 3-D effect blend, and amazing controlled colors and handling, this has become one of the hottest games around.

Excellent book, but where is the colour ?.......1999-07-28

An excellent guide to an excellent game. Very detailed analysis of the mission strategy, craft data, weapons, tactics, aso. that may kill you (could have been a bit less though). An innovative idea that makes this book a bedside novel one is the short story that links each after action report (for each mission) to a plot with a lot of characters of acceptable depth, but narration and plot wise this short story lacks (as expected so this is not really a flaw). The problem here, again, is the damn colour. Please we need some, we are not colour blind. All pages in black and white is a bore to the eye for a STAR WARS epic game. It's the same mistake PRIMA did with other strategy guides of superb graphic space combat simulations (see my other reviews). All and all a very good book that guides only for the basic game (up to Campaign Seven), needs its supplyment (Balance of Power guide), offers bedside excitement and bores you to death with black and white pages (I'm not racist but...)

I think this book was very good........1998-11-11

I bought this book after I had already beaten the game. I only bought it because I am a Star Wars collecter, I wouldn't normally have bought a game guide. I was reading through it, and to my surprise it was written basically in the form of a first person novel. I really enjoyed the fresh perspective of a civilian worker (Maarek Stele) on a Star Destroyer, and this book is well worth reading.

it was very........ helpful, heh heh heh.......1998-01-12

i, being a veteran of x-wing the game, think that this is an excelent guite to tie fighter. the game is better than x-wing because there are more ships and more shooting. the guide is the best cause i cheated with it

Tie Fighter Collector's Cd-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide

Average customer rating:

For the obsessive, geek nirvana

Tie Fighter Collector's Cd-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide
Rusel Demaria
Manufacturer: Boxtree Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Entertainment & Games | Computers | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Video Games | Games & Strategy Guides | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Star Wars: X-Wing Collector Series

ASIN: 0761502769

Customer Reviews:

For the obsessive, geek nirvana.......2007-04-25

A great reference to a great game. Rusel Demaria pads out the dry strategy sections with some fan-fiction to flesh out the story. It reminds me of the "choose your own adventure" books from the 1980s, which isn't a bad thing. Without it, this would be a dry tome full of stats and tables, the kind of thing one could print from an online listing.

The only criticism I have is that laying all the code on the table like this takes away a lot of the mystery and fun of the game -- it becomes painfully clear that it's a computer program when you know all the trigger points for the game's events. For the purest experience, use this as a reference if you get stuck, not as a companion piece to every mission, lest you spoil some of the surprises.

TIE Fighter : The Official Strategy Guide

Average customer rating:

TIE Fighter : The Official Strategy Guide
Rusel DeMaria
Manufacturer: Random House Reference & Information Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PGG9KE

Average customer rating:

TIE Fighter The Official Strategy Guide
Rusel, Wessman, David and Maxwell, David DeMaria
Manufacturer: Prima
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GR7I1G

Book Description

Anyone who cares about direct, clear expression should read this lucid, delightful gem by an author who practices what she advises.

Customer Reviews:

They come in small packages.......2006-11-27

"Economical Writing" is proof of the proverb that "good things come in small packages". This little book is a fine teacher; it shows how writers of economics can improve their writing and with it their communication.

As the book points out, a good number of the rules are familiar from Miss Jones English writing class. Many of these rules are bad for writing and need to be either violated, or dismissed. What remains D. McCloskey explains in a fun and encouraging style, and in easy to remember ways. The chapters on how to write clearly, fluently, coherently, concretely, and plainly are nuggets of insights. The advice on avoiding chattering, fakery, and cheap trickery are invaluable. My best pick is his suggestion to cut back on excessive use of "This, That, These, and Those".

I wish I had read this book earlier than now, but I am glad I read it later than never. Every economist will benefit from reading the book. The gains are largest for writers who have something important to tell. An excellent reference for most of us - no doubt!

Amavilah, Author
Modeling Income Determinants in Embedded Economies : Cross-section Applications to US Native American Economies
ISBN: 1600210465

Marvelous concise book to improve your writing.......2006-11-10

I am an international PhD student in Finance. I had read and skimmed other books on how to write but this one is a gem. It is a small book but worth its price. I have even started enjoying the edition stage!

Bob's Review.......2006-11-06

The book arrived exactally as described and had the information I expected it to have. It was purchased for a class.

A must for anyone serious about the discipline.......2006-02-26

A non-technical, and humorous, little book about writing well.

Very excellent book for better writing.......2005-10-12

This is a very excellent book for people writing papers for economics.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books