You may have to Search all our reviewed books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
What is kitsch? What is behind its appeal? More important, what is wrong with kitsch? Though central to our modern and postmodern culture, kitsch has not been seriously and comprehensively analyzed; its aesthetic worthlessness has been generally assumed but seldom explained. Kitsch and Art seeks to give this phenomenon its due by exploring the basis of artistic evaluation and aesthetic value judgments. Tomas Kulka examines kitsch in the visual arts, literature, music, and architecture. To distinguish kitsch from art, Kulka proposes that kitsch depicts instantly identifiable, emotionally charged objects or themes, but that it does not substantially enrich our associations relating to the depicted objects or themes. He then addresses the deceptive nature of kitsch by examining the makeup of its artistic and aesthetic worthlessness. Ultimately Kulka argues that the mass appeal of kitsch cannot be regarded as aesthetic appeal, but that its analysis can illuminate the nature of art appreciation.
"The Mother" is a 1938 anti-war drama written by the famous Czech novelist, Karel Capek. Heavily influenced by the Spanish civil war, the play portrays the relationships between men going off to war, and their families and mothers who want them to stay. It explores fascism and freedom, and conveys the suffering that war brings with it. This volume will appeal to anyone who enjoys war literature, and constitutes a must-read for fans of Capek's seminal work. Karel Capek (1890 - 1938) was an early twentieth century Czech writer who is most remembered for his significant influence on the genre of science fiction. We are republishing this book now in an affordable, modern edition, complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.
"Brings kids inside the world of music by helping them understand what proficient listeners think and feel as they listen to music, and what musicians think and feel as they play music ... Students construct their own understandings of music, first through an exploration of their personal relationship to music, then through a series of listen and talk sessions, and finally, by composing their own pieces and exploring the connections between their lives and the works of music they create ... All lessons fulfill the National Standards for Music Education"--From publisher description.
This volume contains 29 engrossing chapters contributed by worldwide, leading research groups in the field of chemical biology. Topics include pre-biology; the establishment of the genetic code; isomerization of RNA; damage of nucleobases in RNA; the dynamic structure of nucleic acids and their analogs in DNA replication, extra- and intra-cellular transport; molecular crowding by the use of ionic liquids; new technologies enabling the modification of gene expression via editing of therapeutic genes; the use of riboswitches; the modification of mRNA cap regions; new approaches to detect appropriately modified RNAs with EPR spectroscopy and the use of parallel and high-throughput techniques for the analysis of the structure and new functions of nucleic acids. This volume discusses how chemistry can add new frontiers to the field of nucleic acids in molecular medicine, biotechnology and nanotechnology and is not only an invaluable source of information to chemists, biochemists and life scientists but will also stimulate future research.
André Bazin remains one of the most read, most studied, and most engaging figures ever to have written about film. Fifty years after his death, he is still widely recognized as cinema's most significant philosopher-critic. Always an important presence within cinema theory, Bazin has seen a massive resurgence of interest among critics, scholars, and students now that an electronic archive of his entire critical output has been catalogued. Opening Bazin assesses the great critic's influence and legacy, with essays from several generations of the very best film scholars: Gunning, Frodon, Margulies, Conley, MacCabe, Narboni, and Vernet, to name just a few. Ultimately, these essays reaffirm Bazin's relevance in this new century, tracing his lineage, debating his aesthetics, locating him in the rich cultural moment of postwar France, and tracking the effect of his thought around the world.
“An addictive read; a strong recommendation for those who like suspense tinged with a little romance.”—Booklist A woman without a memory struggles to discover the truth about her past and her identity in this cerebral and dark thriller reminiscent of works by bestselling authors S.J. Watson and Ruth Ware. I have no memory of what happened but I was told I killed my son. And you believe what your loved ones, your doctor and the police tell you, don't you? My name is Emma Cartwright. Three years ago I was Susan Webster, and I murdered my twelve-week-old son Dylan. I was sent to Oakdale Psychiatric Institute for my crime, and four weeks ago I was released early on parole with a new identity, address, and a chance to rebuild my tattered life. This morning, I received an envelope addressed to Susan Webster. Inside it was a photograph of a toddler called Dylan. Now I am questioning everything I believe because if I have no memory of the event, how can I truly believe he's dead? If there was the smallest chance your son was alive, what would you do to get him back?