Book Description
For many of us, the return of Zen conjures up images of rock gardens and gently flowing waterfalls. We think of mindfulness and meditation, immersion in a state of being where meaning is found through simplicity. Zen lore has been absorbed by Western practitioners and pop culture alike, yet there is a specific area of this ancient tradition that hasn’t been fully explored in the West. Now, in The Zen of Creativity, American Zen master John Daido Loori presents a book that taps the principles of the Zen arts and aesthetic as a means to unlock creativity and find freedom in the various dimensions of our existence. Loori dissolves the barriers between art and spirituality, opening up the possibility of meeting life with spontaneity, grace, and peace.
Zen Buddhism is steeped in the arts. In spiritual ways, calligraphy, poetry, painting, the tea ceremony, and flower arranging can point us toward our essential, boundless nature. Brilliantly interpreting the teachings of the artless arts, Loori illuminates various elements that awaken our creativity, among them still point, the center of each moment that focuses on the tranquility within; simplicity, in which the creative process is uncluttered and unlimited, like a cloudless sky; spontaneity, a way to navigate through life without preconceptions, with a freshness in which everything becomes new; mystery, a sense of trust in the unknown; creative feedback, the systematic use of an audience to receive noncritical input about our art; art koans, exercises based on paradoxical questions that can be resolved only through artistic expression. Loori shows how these elements interpenetrate and function not only in art, but in all our endeavors.
Beautifully illustrated and punctuated with poems and reflections from Loori’s own spiritual journey, The Zen of Creativity presents a multilayered, bottomless source of insight into our creativity. Appealing equally to spiritual seekers, artists, and veteran Buddhist practitioners, this book is perfect for those wishing to discover new means of self-awareness and expression—and to restore equanimity and freedom amid the vicissitudes of our lives.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
A Big Commitment for Creativity.......2006-04-09
I am certain that even that torrent of innovation, Pablo Picasso, was interested in improving his creativity. So it's no surprise that the title of this book would pique the interest of artists
Loori is a photographer who adopted Zen and established a monastery that is noted for its way of integrating Zen and art. He begins the book by telling the story of how he came to be a Zen Buddhist after being influenced by the great photographer Minor White. He then explains how to adopt several Zen practices to enable one to be more creative and he describes exercises to develop these skills. These include the practices of still point, direct experience, caretaking, experiencing without identifying, and expressing things for what else they are. He next discusses the Zen aesthetic as expressed in various forms of Zen art with examples from history (or at least legend) and his personal experience. As the book progresses, various forms of enigmatic statements that appear to be common in the Zen tradition are introduced. For example, the author states "In the Zen transmission of wisdom, nothing is transmitted; nothing goes from teacher to student".
It would be nice if some principle could be extracted from a religion (for surely that's what Zen Buddhism is) that could be used by an artist without actually adopting the religion. On the other hand, I have never heard of a Christian way to be creative without being a Christian. So I suspect that Loori has placed the horse before the cart. If we are to practice the creativity of Zen Buddhism, we must first become Zen Buddhists and then the Zen creativity will come.
I'm not certain if readers are willing to adopt a religion to perhaps find new creativity as artists. I particularly wonder if an artist would be willing to confine his work to the constrained limits of what Zen art appears to be: haiku, pottery, calligraphy and so forth. I have always admired artists who work to innovate within rigidly defined standards, like the pueblo potters of the American southwest, but I have never been anxious to abandon my own art to adopt these traditions. Even the pictures that Loori provides of his Zen photographs, like the picture of a heron in black and white, look remarkably like the ink drawings shown throughout the book. I might have been more receptive if I had seen a color landscape that had been influenced by Zen principles.
I will acknowledge that I did not try the various exercises suggested by Loori throughout the book. It seemed clear that these were not one-shot exercises that could be tried and finished. Rather they were ways of behavior that would have to be practiced day after day to have an effect. And I was not interested in becoming a Zen Buddhist.
Even though I believe most artist will not want to adopt the path to creativity suggested by this book, I think artists will find it valuable to see how art is shaped by the cultural beliefs and milieu in which it is created.
great experience!.......2006-02-25
i ordered the book for a class and the book arrived within a few days. also, in the condition that was stated on the website.
Class.......2005-09-29
I bought this bought for my design college course and it has been pretty helpful. I don't agree with all of the theories and practices but my teacher really does. It is good that I have to read it, it helps me understand him more. If you would like to learn practices of zen or zazen I'd recommend this book. It is also helpful if you like creative arts.
Perfection.......2005-09-17
Before reading this book, look at it. Turn the pages, but do not stop to read. Let your gaze come to rest on a typical page of text and notice the artistry of the type setter. Each page is a Zen garden with emptiness bounded by lines printed in beautiful font, and perfectly spaced so that the eye follows word after word without effort. Illustrations and graphics hold the reader's attention with few words of explanation to bias the experience. Finally, look at the covers, front and back. The front cover deserves contemplation, not interpretation. I will point to one disturbing feature of these covers - tiny dots of intense red ink. These dots are so perfectly placed, three on the front and four on the back, and so subtly infused into the background that when you finally see them, it is difficult to look away. Perfection.
Loori's writing is equally sublime, effortlessly awakening the reader's creative spirit without ever saying what it is one should create or how it must done. Yet, in his portrayal of the lives of artists with whom he has studied, as with his own, we are not only granted an intimate view of the creative process, we are invited to begin the process ourselves. Most important of all is the invitation to 'sit' with your subject before doing anything at all. Loori invites to be quiet and have no preconceived notions so that when the time is right, the picture takes itself when creating photographic images, the painting paints itself, poetry has no author, and tea springs to life in the cup.
Finally, this book is much more than a treatise on creativity. It is book about life lived simply in the manner of a Zen master. In this instance, the master is John Daido Loori.
Zen Can't Dance.......2005-02-03
While this book is much more personal and revealing, a refreshing change from Loori's other ponderous books, American Zen takes itself too seriously -- at Loori's monastery one feels the "creative" has been deleted from their rigidly dense rule book. Case in point, many of the stories contained in the book derive from the period prior to Loori's zen training thirty years earlier . The message: If you want to dance with life, avoid becoming a "zen master" -- bad for the soul , and deeply damaging to any kind of authentic artistic experience.
Book Description
Legendary Web designer and author Hillman Curtis has always been fascinated by motion and movement. In 2001, inspired in part by the affordability and accessibility of digital video, he began to experiment with short digital films in an effort to reinvigorate his creative spirit and express himself both personally and professionally.
The nine projects Hillman describes in this book, each between 60 seconds and 10 minutes long, draw from a wide variety of creative sources and take various forms—documentaries, music videos, a fictional short film, and a series of video portraits. Each one is unique, yet the goal is always the same: to capture in video the essence of his subject.
Equal parts inspiration, instruction, and personal essay, Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web offers an intimate look into the author’s personal filmmaking process: from the ideas and influences that drive the concept and theme of the piece, through the setup, shoot, and assembly of a rough cut, to the final edit. Hillman explains how his flexible, often spontaneous filmmaking style is guided by certain principles—the value of leaving room for serendipity, the freedom found within self-imposed limitations, the importance of collaborating with others, and the possibilities for discovery and revision when reacting to unforeseen accidents.
Throughout the book, Hillman offers advice on filmmaking’s numerous elements, such as direction, sound, editing, and interviewing. Also included is a primer to help you get up and running with your own digital video projects—explaining the equipment you’ll need and providing an overview of the filmmaking process—and an appendix that guides you through building your own Flash video player.
Hillman Curtis is the founder of hillmancurtis.com, a design studio specializing in Web site design, motion graphics, and digital video. Hillman’s clients include Yahoo!, Adobe, RollingStone.com, British Airways, MTV, and Intel. His expert and innovative design solutions have garnered him and his company numerous awards, including the Communication Arts Award of Excellence and the South by Southwest Conference “Best Use of Design” and “Best of Show.” Author of the bestselling Flash Web Design: The Art of Motion Graphics and MTIV: Process, Inspiration and Practice for the New Media Designer, Hillman lives in New York City with his family.
Customer Reviews:
It's an okay read.......2006-06-12
This is a very lightweight read regarding the process of production. It's more of a personal journal, blog-style account than anything substantial a reader can learn from. However, it does have merit in that respect. So, if you're a newbie and want to get your feet wet, this may be a book you'd like to read to get yourself into those baby steps.
It's a bit refreshing to read a guy's perspective when it's not full of posturing and bravado. The author has a more self-nurturing tone and approaches the work with humility, which again isn't bad for a newbie.
The bottom line is: don't expect anything that is going to turn you into a video producer overnight. Admittedly, it's a hard profession, technical, requiring time, money and connections, and is very competitive. This is not a strong technical manual.
I have a BA in Film/Video and make educational videos/multimedia for a living, so my perspective is a bit skewed.
Hillman should get an Oscar........2006-03-06
For anyone wanting to create a short film, web or otherwise, this book is a great starting point. Curtis takes you through some of his works and offers insights into projects - success and not so successful. The candid approach to the work runs more like a one man show of dialogue. Do not expect a How To format. Curtis is all about letting you in on his experiences.
Curtis these days is trying to re-invent himself from a designer to a digital video producer from a web designer (an a darn good one at that). Being one who is starting to dabble in video after I picked up my dvd palmcam last year - I appreciated being shown the path by one who has been there before.
Ver good read.......2006-03-04
This is a very good book. I didn't think too highly of Hillman before this book, and was under the impression that he was sort of a hack, and happened to be in the right place at the right time for much of his design career.
But I bought this book because I wanted to give him a chance, and I am glad I did. He is able to point out his successes as well as his mistakes, and graciously tries to offer his own humble insights to his process. It is a valuable book for designers, and will look into more of his work.
Hillman Curtis on creating short films for the web.......2006-02-17
A very illuminating book from a designer artist who shows how one can learn on the way. It is more philsophical than technical - about the attitude to creating rather than just a lot of technical facts
learning from a nonmaster.......2006-01-22
This is a superquick read comprised of simple sentiments, casually expressed and ultimately well-tuned to the author's professed mistakes and mediocrity. A typical Curtis film relies on others' art to cover for his lack of artistry: stills of great posters cover for a bad video shoot; a great song drives an edit; a great film is the subject of dialogue within his own film.
The result is sub not meta but that's not so terribly bad and it looks so terribly easy. Bravo for offering one way in.
Book Description
The heroes of Lodoss Island battle an army of undead skeletons raised by the Grey Witch! When the dust settles, the Grey Witch stands before them, ready for a battle...to the death!
Customer Reviews:
EPIC FANTASY DONE RIGHT.......2005-08-29
GREY WITCH has always been my favorite LODOSS manga, probably because it's the one that inspired the OVA, and as aa result, the TV Series. It's an epic that borrows more than a little bit from LORD OF THE RINGS, but the differences are more interesting than the similarities.
Of course, there's a mismatched band of heroes on a quest, with the threat of impending war hanging over everyone's heads. But even as the stakes are raised to colassal proportions, author Ryo Mizuno manages to keep the focus on the characters, instead of generic armies going into endless generic battles. It was a good choice to make, because in that regard I found GREY WITCH to be far more enjoyable than the 3rd Rings movie, RETURN OF THE KING.
The artwork is awesome, very American comics influenced. The dialogue is crisp and to the point, and the overall narrative is straightforward.
If you're only going to read one LODOSS manga, I'd recommend GREY WITCH.
The final edition concludes with a bang!.......2003-02-15
Ending the original series of Lodoss War we final get the conclusion. I won't spoil anything but you won't be disappointed. This was a great story and one of the best Manga's I have read. Well worth it.
Average customer rating:
- Amusing and informative, makes you want to learn more.
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The Grim Reaper's Book of Days: A Cautionary Record of Famous, Infamous, and Unconventional Exits
Ed Morrow
Manufacturer: Carol Publishing Corporation
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Amusing and informative, makes you want to learn more........1998-06-04
A highly entertaining read that will both amuse and inform you, this book discusses the demise of famous and fascinating people, as well as the unusual circumstances involved in the demise of non-famous people. The format is organized by calendar day, who died that day, how, with fascinating facts about the famous that will peak your curiousity and make you want to learn more. I am disappointed to see the book is out of print as it is a favorite of mine. Read it if you can!
Average customer rating:
- MEET THE B MOVIE SCREAM QUEENS
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Assault of the Killer B's: Interviews With 20 Cult Film Actresses
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
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Book Description
The women who starred in low-budget cult movies created many memorable experiences for those fans of late night flicks such as Saturday Night Frights, Movie Macabre and Up All Night. Brinke Stevens, who played Linda in The Slumber Party Massacre, recalls, "Suddenly I was riding in limos, flying to foreign countries for film festivals, appearing on dozens of popular talk and entertainment TV shows, and truly feeling like a glamorous movie star."
This collection of revealing interviews provides insights into the lives of 20 cult film actresses. They discuss the pros and cons of making these movies and the directions their careers have taken since. Among the films they starred in are Night of the Living Dead, The Slumber Party Massacre, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Sleepaway Camp and Elvira's Haunted Hills.
Customer Reviews:
MEET THE B MOVIE SCREAM QUEENS.......2005-08-15
"B" movie horrors became a cottage industry in the 1980's making stars, even legends out of many women who starred in these low-budget films. Writer Jason Paul Collum interviews 20 of these women in his new book "Assault of the Killer B's" and also gets us caught up with what these women are up to today. The first interview is with Judith O'Dea who played the doomed Barbara in the original "Night of the Living Dead". O'Dea probably doesn't fit the mold of a scream queen and certainly doesn't see herself that way, but the importance of this film is not lost on her or the fans of the horror genre. O'Dea talks about working for George Romero and John Russo's production company in Pittsburgh in the 1960's, doing voice over work for documentaries and how this film came to be. She relates that much of the dialog was ad-libbed such as when she tells Ben what happened to her and her brother Johnny. She also admits to being truly terrified in the scene where she is dragged out of the house by a horde of zombies.
The largest section of the book features the girls of the Slumber Party Massacre series of films. It would seem that this was the most expansive section due to the fact that so many of these women were available for interviews, unlike some of the other horror franchises. Among those featured are Debra DeLiso, Heidi Kozak, Brandi Burkett, and one of the greatest of all Scream Queens, Brinke Stevens. They all share their thoughts on doing these films as well as the other horror films they've been in.
Collum relates his frustration in trying first to track down and then get interviews with many of the actresses who starred in the Friday the 13th films. Many simply could not be located and many that were flat-out refused to be interviewed. It seems that many, including Adrienne King from the first film had their problems with stalkers and obsessed fans and as a result they've tried to distance themselves from these movies. Collum did manage to land Lar Park Lincoln who played the psychic Tina in Friday the 13th part 7 The new Blood. Lincoln, too, had her problems with a stalker but after many years away has recently made a return to film in bit roles. Also interviewed is Kari Keegan from "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday"
Stars from Nightmare on Elm Street are also featured including Lisa Wilcox who starred in parts 4 & 5, and Lisa Zane who played Freddy Kruegers daughter Maggie in what was supposed to have been the final film in the series, "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare".
One of the more enjoyable interviews Collum conducted was with Pamela Susan Shoop of Halloween II. Shoop's long list of TV credits include: Mannix, Night Gallery, The Mod Squad, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk, CHiPs, Knight Rider, Murder She Wrote, and many others. But horror fans will always remember her as the beautiful Nurse Karen in Halloween II, who was perhaps the most famous victim of Michael Myers as she was strangled in the hospital hot tub. Shoop relates how she got an ear infection due to the water being so cold in the "hot tub".
Collum also interviews Cassandra Peterson, AKA Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the women from the Sleepaway Camp Series, and several more. Collum's book is well-researched and the interviews very conversational in tone. There were some notable omissions from the book such as perhaps the two most well-known scream queens Linnea Quigley and Julie Strain, but all in all, Collum did a great job in tracking down the actresses who played in these now legendary cult films.
Reviewed by Tim Janson
Product Description
MB93310
Product Description
Easy to read tablature lessons
no note reading required! Lead sheets for note readers. Solos and chords, fun and relaxing to play. Performance CD included!
Customer Reviews:
One of the best and most thoughtful AD&D city designs.......2000-05-02
This wonderful sourcebook is very similar to FR1 Waterdeep, or the City of Greyhawk boxed set, but it details a city more legendary than either - Lankhmar! Included are a hundred-odd pages of maps, adventures, lore, new monsters, mysteries, and much more... this one comes complete with the ever-elusive map booklet and full-color poster map! One of the best urban settings ever designed for D&D.
Average customer rating:
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Lankhmar, City of Adventure
Manufacturer: TSR Hobbies
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ASIN: 0394548612 |
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- How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
- Good call for newly admitted realists
- Required Reading
- Walter Rodney Lives
- Walter Rodney Unleashed!!!!!
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How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
Walter Rodney
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Customer Reviews:
How Europe Underdeveloped Africa.......2007-05-07
Education here in the United States leaves much to the imagination concerning western societie's historic connection to Africa... This book takes into account the socio-economical, and political relationships that the western world has maintained with Africa and other parts of the eastern world since the 1400s, and is a must read in my opinion..... Why is Africa so far behind in so many ways? How does Europe and American achieve so much at the same time that Africa is languishing.... In this book the answers to these much pondered questions have been thoroughly answered....
Good call for newly admitted realists.......2007-01-06
Readers ignorant of the long-lasting effects of european colonialism, or any other regime that aims to extract and re-construct previously sovereign regions, without any fluent knowledge of the diverse array of under-developments that occur out of it, (take for example the iraq war), surely won't find Walter Rodney's take on the topic too digestible. The motive is not simply to blame the "whitey" or the rich-cadillac-man(cadillacs probably the worst car ever made), or to align the african nations in some crude opposition. It is rather, to diagnose the diseases of capitalism, and yes, there are many, and in that sense also, it is not to propose marxism as an acceptable alternative. On the other hand, the readers below, and anybody else reading this book, must understand the teleological process that governs the present states of nations, they must also follow route of the money, and avoid the word "marxism" as a red light for their intellectual endeavors.
Also, if you are the type to munch on potato chips while you watch tv in your dim lit suburbia, watching Bill o reilly go off on some uninformed tangent, a sentiment that you wildly agree with for a quick pat in the back (that takes you away from your intellectual responsibilities) , then why even review a book like this? This is an alternative reading of history, not the jerry springer show, move on.
Required Reading.......2006-04-28
This Book has been around for more than 25 years. It is destined to be a classic because it is so well written and researched. Dr. Rodney outlines and explains the conception and implementation by European governments of a system through which the continent of Africa would be exploited for her natural resources while her growth would be stultified. The book outlines the reasons why Europeans first went to the African continent, and the strategies they employed to entrench their positions, and to ensure that the "Dark Continent" was kept dark. "If you know your history, then you will know where you're coming from." This book certainly broadens one's understanding of our history.
Walter Rodney Lives.......2006-03-02
"How Europe Underdeveloped Africa" is among the most insightful analysis of the reasons behind the underdevelopment of the African continent. The book, published in 1972, was written in a Marxist context. The author demonstrates exceptional analytical depth and critical research into how European colonialism and capitalism were a double edged sword in creating deep rooted underdevelopment of the continent which has been very difficult to uproot.
Since the book was published, a lot has happened in the world which would appear to expose some flaws in the book, particularly his views that socialism or Marxism are the correct vehicle for the development of the African continent. However, the Marxist philosophy is now almost completely discredited. The few states worldwide that still practice unadulterated Marxism are impoverished pariah States tottering on the brink of collapse weighed down by the irrelevance of the Marxist dogma (they are indeed slaves of a dead philosopher). However, this hardly diminishes the legacy and impact of this great and famous writer in his exceptional exposure of how Europe underdeveloped Africa. His basic message of the need for the generality of the African peoples to enjoy the vast resources of the continent is still a cherished dream.
The profound underdevelopment of the continent highlighted by Rodney is still with us today, although the blame for this should now be shifted to African leaders. In fact, the legacy of colonialism has been the rise of some political leaders who mimic the colonial masters in their ruthless exploitation and subjugation of their people and their grotesque excesses. The various territorial conflicts on the continent are largely the result of the creation of the artificial borders during the partition of Africa, with no regard to the cultural affinities of the indigenous populations. The brain drain that started with slavery 400-500 years ago continues unabated to this day, with most of Africa's brains working outside the continent.
Because of his principled stand for the downtrodden Africans in Africa and the diaspora, Walter Rodney was assassinated in 1980 in his native country Guyana. However, his legacy and thinking will never die. The book is a must read for people who seek a just and equitable world order and those who wish to understand the history of Africa.
Walter Rodney Unleashed!!!!!.......2005-08-01
After a world lit only by fire this is a great segue into what happened to the medieval mind during the reconnaissance years and one continents horrific adventure...Once the euro forces wrestled control of the Mediterranean and the North African waterways from the Arabs and the African moors they used the technology to sail to other continents, in this case Africa in the late 1400's to early 1500's. Secondly control of trading routes were disrupted and eventually taken out of the Africans control. Third once other land was discovered in the western hemisphere free labor was needed to work it…with control of trading routes, the outsiders were able to impose the type of merchandise to be traded...this massive trade helped the invaders move from a economically and socially backward geo-political system to a full fledged capitalist system , while causing an African brain drain (ages 14 to 30) of massive proportions and depopulation of the highest order. One of conscious mind could only look in horror as boatloads of emaciated children pulled up to ports. These were the poster children for the age of unreason and of course this was with the help of the bamboozled chiefs and the mulatto class. Although there were a few empires that launched kicka@#s offensives, the war was already lost. The Africans failed to see the world picture that the enemy saw. Once trading in slavery commenced on a massive scale , merchants got paid on a billion dollar scale...taking profits and moving those profits to other investments... such as technology, colonial corporations etc…, and on to the next phase of raw oppression . Under colonialism the medieval men choked off every single surplus of the peasant farmers and raw materials the workers had and mined sending billons home. The combination of slavery and colonialism caused massive famines, disease outbreaks, wars, and indigenous systems were arrested . In other words the model that the medieval population now capitalists brought and originated from, took a mere 500 years to transport elsewhere.
Lets be real clear regarding the type of development that was allegedly brought...it was economic. For when the medieval invaders reached their targeted geo area they had already found social development too advance for them to fathom...for unlike the military invading force, this areas people were very healthy and able to feed themselves, had an educational system in place, little to no crime, and political administrations.
One could only hope the land that launch intellect and spirituality can muster up forces to alleviate its current situation based on its past. This is an excellent read.
Books:
- This Is How We Flow: Rhythm in Black Cultures
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- Untitled
- Visual Literacy: A Conceptual Approach to Graphic Problem Solving
- Who's Who in Art, 28th Edition
- Wild Girls: Paris, Sappho, and Art: The Lives and Loves of Natalie Barney and Romaine Brooks
- Windows and Mirrors: Interaction Design, Digital Art, and the Myth of Transparency (Leonardo Books)
Books Index
Books Home
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