Art History Books

I discovered this book at my sister's home after I bought a print while visiting. The comments accompanying each print in the book provide an intimate look at Wyeth's life and art. It added a new dimension to my fondness for his work. I'd highly recommend this book to any admirer of Andrew Wyeth.

I purchased this item as a gift for an artist friend, she was very happy with the quality of the reproductions in this book.

This isn't a linear autobiography, in the usual sense. Instead, it presents selections from Wyeth's entire life as a painter, from his mid-teens to his late seventies, when this book was published. Wyeth's own notes on each piece make it an autobiography.

This says less about the artist than about his artwork, which speaks for itself. His subdued palette captures the people and places of his life. Places include farms, barn or farmhouse interiors, Maine shorelines, and other open spaces that are increasingly hard to find. Wyeth's people include his wife Betsy, his sister, and neighbors. Grittier than Norman Rickwell but no less affetionate, he presents them at work, at hard-earned rest, or simply at a quiet moment. A few nudes of teenaged Siri, including the remarkable "The Virgin," capture the gawky grace of emerging womanhood. Two images really stood out for me, though, images I would never have associated with Wyeth. "Spring" and "Christmas morning" carry a surreal sense, somehow even closer the the supernatural for their entirely realistic rendering. "Spring," especially, offers an amiguous sense of hope using the starkest and bleakest of visual language.

As Wyeth narrates each painting, a sentence to a paragraph for each, parts of his life emerge: friendships, successes, and losses. Without being mysterious, the text comes across as spotty and selective, omitting far more than it presents. If you want a standard kind of biography, you'll have to look elsewhere. Instead, this book is closer to the occasional cup of coffee with the artist, shared over weeks or months, in which different moments of his life arise almost at random. His words add an intimacy to the art that's hard to express, but that is worth experiencing - as is the art itself.

-- wiredweird

I didn't know a lot about Andrew Wyeths work before reading this book. I had seen the paintings and I liked them a lot, but I didn't know that much about them.

The book is labeled as an autobiography, but its form is not what many might expect. This is not a book consisting of prose with the occasional picture, it is a book that mainly shows Wyeths paintings with a paragraph or two about the paintings below. Written by Wyeth. For some this may not be what they are looking for, but I liked this very much.

It is a very good introduction to Wyeth's paintings and the subject matter he painted. The people, the places and their history. There isn't a lot of information about Wyeth himself in the book. At least not in the sense one would expect from a traditional biopgraphy. But after reading it I feel I know a lot more about both Wyeth and his paintings than a typical art-history or biographical text would give me.

I'd be happy to recommend this book.

My teacher introduced me to Andrew Wyeth's paintings and drawings about a year or two ago. I've been in love with his work ever since. It's just how beautiful his linework is and how he brings life to the paintings. That is so incredibly rare. There are plenty of portrait artists out there, but I can't think of one that impresses me as much as he does. I think this is because of how well he knew his subjects.

He said drawing with pencil helped him get to the core of a thing. If you've ever drawn or painted people and animals from life, as he did, it increases the appreciation for his work one hundred fold. I also think that this is why his paintings and sketches are so full of life - you just don't get that from a photo, there is NO comparison. His landscapes blow me away every time, and I'm not really a fan of landscape paintings. Something about the solitude of it all just takes me in.

My favourite is Night Sleeper, which is on the cover. His palette is just beautiful, i don't really think it's muted or drab - the closer you look, the more colours you see. How he played colours in juxtaposition, so that they glow, is another part that gives his work such intensity and life.

The comments beside all the work are, as people have mentioned, very good. The entire book is one of those slow joy books. It's just nice to sit with it and turn the pages slowly and take in every thing.

Excellent book! I wish I had known about this book before I went to Angkor Wat.

Angkor, Celestial temples of the Khmer Empire is a photobook limited to the Angkor Site and some outlining temples. Although the quality of the photo's is excellent, the book itself with regards to the informative value is disappointing. An exception to this is the chronology of sites. Angkor: Temples et monumentsThe Treasures of Angkor: Cultural Travel Guide (Rizzoli Art Guide)Angkor: Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples, Fifth Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide)Ancient Angkor (River Book Guides)Angkor Cities and Temples

I purchased three books on Angkor Wat after my week visit to Siem Reap, Cambodia and this book was by far the best I have seen. The photos are excellent and the narration in very informative. It is expensive but worth it.

Wow, what a spectacular book, truly amazing. I was blown away by the quality of the photography, the reader actually feels like they are in the jungle amid the ruins of Angkor. I have never visited Angkor Wat and probably never will, but after experiencing this book, I feel somehow that I have been there. The quality of the book is superior and the book even comes in a wonderful case. The publisher should be congradulated, it's a luxurious book. Some books are extremely expensive and you wonder why, I can assure you, you will not ask that about this one. If you have any interest in this subject or just like to own beautiful things I urge you to purchase this book, it will be a jewel in your book collection

Through his magical photographic eye, Jon Ortner has created a wondrous collection of striking images and scholarly prose. His perfectly lit photographs and well-documented historic descriptions allow one to easily understand this complicated ancient subject. Each temple is clearly organized into relevant sections from the central Angkor area to the rare and never-before-seen temples in the outer lying areas. If you have visited Angkor - Ortner's book is the perfect addition to your library. Or, if you have not visited, this book provides the perfect impetus.

As others have mentioned, this latest print of the Apostolic Fathers is accessible, readable, and great as a tool for keeping up your koine. All of the standard works are included (1&2 Clement, the Shepherd, Barnabas, Martyrdom of Polycarp, the Didache, etc).

Reading the Fathers in the koine offers the reader extraordinary opportunities not only to gain an appreciation of the language, but also of the literary and vocabulary diversity of the various authors. The Greek print in this book is very clear and easy to follow. It's an outstanding reference work for patristic research, and is an affordable starting point in building a quality patristics library.

Holmes does a good job of addressing current patristic scholarship, though one wishes his engagement with it was more substantive than alternating between 'intriguing' and dismissively 'speculative'. In particular, Hill's recent work on Polycarp is commendably referred to by Holmes, but not as substantively as one might have hoped.

However, such wishes do not really detract from what this book gives us. This book keeps the focus on the actual patristic writings, rather than getting into the kind of scholarly back and forth that can take the focus off the writings themselves. The corpus given to us here is great stuff, and waters the mouth of the reader to delve further into the patristic history and engage the kind of scholarly works that Holmes cites. Highly recommended.

This handsomely-bound hardback edition truly has everything you could desire. Despite it's light weight and manageable size (5.25 x 7.5"), it is eminently readable, due to the clear Greek and English font and thin but high-quality opaque paper. This newest edition includes all the writings of the earlier Lightfoot edition: 1 & 2 Clement, Ignatius (7 letters), Polycarp (to the Philippians & Martyrdom), the Didache, Epistle of Barnabas, Sherpherd of Hermas, Epistle to Diognetus, and fragments of Quadratus & Papias, as well as updates to notes and translation. Great for those interested in early church history, quotations of canonical New Testament literature, or a chance to practice reading Koine Greek outside the N.T.

This book contains the works of the early church fathers who helped build the foundations of what would later become the worlds largest religion. The development of the church between the apostles and latter church fathers such as Augustine or Gregory of Nazianzus is often overlooked by those studying the early church. This collection focuses mainly upon writers that occurred within the first or second century after the apostles. The epistles and books range from the solid and orthodox works of Clement to the obscure and mystical Shepherd of Hermas. Many of these works were originally included in the canon of Scripture, and it is interesting when first exposed to them to try to discern why they didnt make the cut later in church history. Another interesting question that arises from these readings is whether or not the writers were inspired, and also how much of this teaching can we take as true and authoritative. A prevalent theme in some of the works is apostolic succession, a theory that the Catholic church later latched onto in order to justify many of its questionable actions. Other theological disputes are discussed such as the allegorical interpretation of the Scriptures or the meanings of visions of the final judgement. Overall the book presents several primary sources of early theological doctrines from one of the most important (but often overlooked) eras in the history of the church.

Kudos to Holmes and Baker House for giving us a hard cover of texts New Testament Greek learners need! Nothing else in koine Greek, besides maybe the LXX, is as helpful to NT Greek students because the vocabulary and the syntax of most the Apostolic Fathers is extremely similar to the NT. This means if you know the NT vocab, you can read large blocks of this text without having to look up words. Of course, having the English on facing sides is essential since we want to be able to check our translation and not have to refer to other books. Hermes and Didache in this book are probably EASIER than say the Gospel of John, so this book is helpful even to beginners, while other texts like Ignatius and 2 Clement provide some challenges for advanced students.
And the format of this book is near perfect. I panned the second edition simply because my paperback fell apart and was hard to hold open. This edition lays flat and feels great in your hand. It uses thin paper so the book is small and portable and yet the font size is still fairly large. The only thing I don't like about the third edition is that the font is a little smaller than the second edition, whose font was perfect, and this font is a little different, not quite as pleasing on the eye Also, the second edition had pure white paper whereas this edition is somewhat yellow. Still, you can't have everything. The font on this text is probably bigger and nice than say the Loeb Classical Library, and here you get all the texts in one volume which is only a little bit bigger than Loeb. This is a must have for NT Greekers!

I have only used small sections of this book so far but it is a fantastic resource. It contains up-to-date critical information about the texts themselves and any historical information about authorship, dating, etc. I did notice that the translator tends to make things gender inclusive that are definitely not so. I am generally in favor of this as many Greek words use masculine nouns to refer to a mixed gender grouping, but this translator translated gender specific words (such as aner)to include everyone. That makes the translations a little less useful for academic work. Nevertheless, it is an excellent resource for anyone with a working knowledge of Koine Greek and an interest in 1st and 2nd century Christianity.

I was first introduced to the art of Bev Doolittle when I lived in Alaska back in 1994. I bought my first print in 1997 followed by this book and several more prints. I find her "hidden" imagery fascinating and mesmerizing. I love showing my prints and this book to guests, waiting for their inevitable reaction of surprise when they see the "whole" painting. She really is a rare talent and this book brings her whole collection (at that time) to you. I know some of her original prints are worth thousands now and its unlikely I'll ever own them. But at least I have high quality fold out "mini" prints to enjoy!

To be a part of Bev Doolittle's art is, in itself a gift. I saver each

picture as an example of anothers insite into " my West ".

The book arrived sooner than expected abd was given as a gift. the receipient was very pleased. I have been very pleased with every order I have received from Amazon.

Those unfamiliar with Bev Doolittle's work miss the opportunity to discover a true artist's blending combination of technical skill, and understanding of nature, and a love for her work which leaps from every page. She beautifully weaves nature, man, and its animals in a mystical manner. A wonderful choice for anyone who appreciates great talent. Also a wonderful experience for children in examining and finding the hidden so intricately involved.

Bev Doolittle's definitive collection (you don't need anything else of hers if you have this one) is a glorious compendium of richly detailed full-color reproductions of her paintings. The optical tricks alone are worth the book's price tag, and the minuteness and authenticity of Doolittle's details rival the paintings of Frank C. McCarthy (another favorite of mine). Anyone who loves illustrations of horses, American Indians, or both cannot call their collection complete without this title.

For a designer+Trekkie like me, this book is a collector's item. This compilation of scenic art, concept sketches and production stills is just inspirational.

When I was first given The Art of Star Trek as a special gift by a close friend I was to say the least, over the moon. The present came as something of a pleasant shock for I was totally unaware that it had been published. As a lover of "the art of" books and an avid fan of Star Trek, I had long hoped for such a title and finally... here it was! The Art of Star Trek has fast become my favourite "art of" book (along with the Art of Star Wars books) and it is always near at hand.

The Art of Star Trek is everything I would have expected and more, stunning colour pictures, informative text and lavish presentation. This long overdue book covers several of Star Treks many and varied incarnations thus far on television and film alike and charts its visual evolution over more than thirty years. It is positively overflowing with many fascinating examples of the sketches and storyboards, production and matte paintings, posters, costumes, props and sets [etc] that fill the Paramount archives and private collections alike. Although most of the designs will not be used for various reasons, they loosely form the basis for how a Star Trek production might appear when completed. The concept art included in this volume has been created by many of the top film-television designers to have worked in Hollywood throughout the years. And who have played a seminal role in shaping the distinctive aesthetic of Star Trek over its almost forty year history. Included are such artists as Mike Okuda, Andrew Probert, John Eaves, Mike Minor and Matt Jefferies, who created the first brilliant prototype Starship Enterprise in the 1960s, one which has served as the blueprint for all subsequent Starfleet starship designs. The many individuals included in this wonderful book are the unsung talents of Star Trek, and who for the most part go unrecognised by its legions of fans. They have diligently worked long hours behind the scenes of Star Trek series and movies to create the multitude of conceptual and commercial art that helps Trek run efficiently. Their concept art and finished designs play an important role in Star Treks appeal to a devoted fanbase around the world.

Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens have carefully chosen a wide selection of the finest art created for this most enduring of franchises. The book is arranged in a chronological order, the first half being devoted to the television series from Classic Star Trek to Voyager. The second half of the book is devoted to Star Trek motion pictures leading up to Generations. With stunning full colour photographs throughout this is a fascinating and engrossing volume that will keep one rapt for hours. So if you haven't already got a copy in your library and are a serious Trekkie and art lover do yourself a big favour and buy this incredible coffee table book, you won't be disappointed.

Since The Art of Star Trek was first published (some years ago now) the Star Trek universe has been steadily expanding, Voyager and Deep Space Nine have long finished, three more movies have been made so far... and Star Trek: Enterprise has sadly been cancelled. In their wake they have left a whole gallery of exiting new material gathering dust in the Paramount archives that hopefully will be used in The Art of Star Trek: volume two at some future date.

This book has some of the best artwork that was made for the first four Star Trek series and some of the movies. It has photographs of the sets and props as well as diagrams of the ships, including Klingon and Romulan vessels, the movie and series Enterprises, and even Voyager. The book follows a plan which views the art history of Star Trek from the pilot film "The Cage" to "Star Trek: Voyager". You'll love this book if you're a Star Trek fan!

My initial reaction to The Art of Star Trek and it's hefty price was skepticism. Once I did purchase it and start running through it, the price could've been twice and I still would've bought this gem. The Art of Star Trek is a pure celebration of everything that Star Trek is and was all the way through it's publication date. It includes articles from the very beginning to the lastest on Voyager and Star Trek Generations. The pictures and drawings are stunning to say the least. This is a book you'll definitely want to add to your collection if you haven't already.

"The Art of Star Trek," by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, is to date the ultimate "coffee table" book for devoted Star Trek fans. This book, which was published in 1995, covers all aspects of "Trek" history up until its publication date. Through text and plentiful illustrations, the book celebrates the visual artistry that has been such an essential component of the "Trek" phenomenon.

The book deals with each of the specific series from the original until "Voyager," including both the often neglected animated series and the aborted "Phase II" series of the mid-1970s. All films from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" to "Star Trek Generations" are also covered.

The amount and quality of items in this visual "museum" are astounding. There are behind-the-scenes photos, concept drawings, photos of models, prosthetic makeup designs, storyboards, movie posters from around the world, closeup shots of props, and more. Particularly interesting were the shots of certain props and aliens which were barely seen in fleeting shots, but which represent great imagination and artistry.

Also noteworthy are the drawings which document the evolution of both the original series "Enterprise" and the "Next Generation" ship. I was fascinated by the concept drawings of possible "Enterprises" for the aborted "Phase II" series, as well as by the rejected new uniforms for the first "Next Generation" feature film.

The concise but clear text is a good match for the wealth of glorious, full-color photographs. This book is, from start to finish, a visual feast for "Trek" fans.

The focus of Greek civilization, the Parthenon captures viewers imaginations even as it conceals its true meaning. In his ground breaking work, Robert Bowie Johnson, Jr. author of ATHENA AND EDEN: THE HIDDEN MEANING OF THE PARTHENON'S EAST FACADE demonstrates that when Athena is seen to be Eve, then Greek mythology becomes narrative art. Consequently, the marble sculptures on the east pediment of the Parthenon relate the story of the origin of mankind, matching the Genesis account in detail.

Johnson asserts that scholars have previously been unsuccessful in identifying most of the figures in the east pediment because they have failed to connect Athena with Even and the story of Eden in the Book of Genesis. Through careful research, Johnson demonstrates that we do have the literature and art to serve as a source of reconstruction. Painstaking comparison demonstrates shows that the sculptures of the eastern pediment depict the Garden of Eden, the birth of Eve, the Great Flood. Furthermore, the goddess Athena, whom the Greeks worshipped as the one who brought the serpent's wisdom, is the same person the Book of Genesis calls Eve.

Johnson, a West Point graduate, author, teacher and public speaker based his research on surviving sculptures, the ancient writings of Homer, Hesiod, Pindar and others, plus myths, vase art and the work of numerous experts. His controversial approach will certainly garner attention from all who are interested in the classics, religion, art, and mythology. Indeed, Johnson's unique perspective will provoke avid discussion among academics for years to come, yet is easily approachable by any who hold an interest in our origins.

I don't profess to know enough about Greek history or archaeology to say that the author is right on target; HOWEVER, his theory does fit the facts of Greek mythology and Biblical revelation.

The author's premise is that Greek mythology is really the story of Creation, the Fall of Man, and the Great Deluge, except told from the side of Evil. There are a lot of photos of various aspects of Greek art to back up his theory, and he does a good job of explaining it in terms a novice can grasp. This work has piqued my interest and I'm going to have to do a lot of further reading.

One thing the author didn't point out, but which I've theorized for years, is that the portions of Greek myth typically referred to as "The Clash of the Titans," was a perversion of the true story of Lucifer/Satan being cast out of heaven. I'd like to see Mr. Johnson chase that rabbit in the future.

I have accidently seen this book in Tampa Museum of Art downtown, and intrigued by its title, I bought it. Little did I know how revealing this book is.....

I always pondered about the ancient fascination of womanhood, and modern condemnation of womanhood -- where and why it all changed?

Well, the author nicely connects the ancient female divinity emphasis and the one the Bible gives in the garden of Eden.

Indeed, because of Eve's choice to be seduced by the Serpent, humankind serenity of life ended. Later generation, perhaps out of deperation and mystic of new life birth, elevated woman again, and Athena (a-thanassos -- immortal) carries the symbols of woman 's fall from the garden, yet, in sense that through the Serpent she gave humanity freedom from God, and then presented a new connection through her outstretched hand.

So strange why females were so elevated back then----Cybele and Kaabala connection (Muslim worship of black stone just like in Ephesus Artemis and black stone)...

I am often shocked to see how ancient beliefs carry over to nowadays...

D.Barbara Zapal

Athena And Eden: The Hidden Meaning Of The Parthenon's East Facade by author and educator Robert Bowie Johnson, Jr. offers the non-specialist general reader a unique, accessible, and provocative look at classical artwork and human spirituality. Athena And Eden focuses on the majesty of the Parthenon and its mystical connection to the Book of Genesis. Illustrated with numerous black-and-white photographs of Greek artistic treasures, sculptures, and pottery, Athena And Eden is an original, seminal, ground breaking, unforgettable, and highly recommended perspective that will be of particular interest to students of Hellenic art, architecture, mythology, and religion.

If you know who "the prince of the power of the air" is then you will probably find this book very interesting. I came across the book almost by accident on an Amazon list and found it to be very well reasoned and argued.

The author's main idea is that greek myth and religion consists of a retelling of the story of mankinds origins (familiar to us through the first 12 chapters of the Bible) from a greek or humanist point of view. Wow, he got me right there!

The book shows how many of the seminal events of human history such as the original sin, the murder of Abel, the flood etc. were depicted on the sculptures decorating the Parthenon. However, they have almost the opposite meaning and sentiment as the biblical depiction.

If you are interested in ancient history and how it intersects with the bible you will love this book. I bought the author's second book Athena and Kain. It supposes to make the same basic points looking at a wider selction of Greek myth than found solely on the Parthenon. However, as many follow up books do it spends a lot ot time covering material from the previous book. That's ok if you have not read the previous volume but tedious if you already have.

The book is also well illustrated.

Johan Blaauw's incredibly large atlas - a marvel of cartography -, in a glorious edition by Taschen. The combination of full page reprints and overviews with commentary makes for one of the most luscious books I ever saw. Mesmerizing!

The quality of the pics of this book is wonderful. Several images just need a frame to decorate your wall.
You will spend hours looking any detail of the book. It makes a wonderful gift or addition to a collection. Highly recommended.
This is wonderful a coffee Table book. Buy it now!

This sits on my coffee table and is a great companion to watching any sort of historical documentary on TV etc. Also makes for good cocktail party reading/conversation.

I've seen an original copy of this in the NYPL and this printing is true to form, with insightful tidibits and good translations extras.

The Bleau Atlas Major is the most beatiful and prolific atlases ever made.

I bought the Barnes and Noble edition and save 80%. That being said the B&N version is smaller and harder to read. It is also 100 pages shorter, which is why I gave it only 4 stars. Nevertheless I found the book fascinating. But the maps were so interesting I felt a little cheated not getting the other 100 pages. I guess I'll go to this book store where they have a big one displayed compare it to mine. Also the full $100+ volume is so big the box it comes in has a handle to carry it!

I echo previous reviewers in saying this is a great book.

For those wondering about a Barnes & Noble reprint of this atlas and its relationship to this edition:

(1) The B&N edition is reduced in size quite a bit (13.5 x 9 inches versus 18 x 12 inches) making the text of some maps much too small to read.
(2) The B&N edition is missing roughly 100 pages from the map section (about 25%). The layout for the remaining pages is pretty much identical to the original.
(3) The B&N edition only contains the introduction in English; the original, larger edition has a multilingual intro. The captions of the maps in both editions are multilingual.

That said, the B&N edition is roughly 1/5 of the price, so if you're not using this as a serious reference book, it's worthwhile considering the cheaper alternative. The B&N edition is still a great "coffee table book" (in fact, a more reasonable one given its smaller--though still quite massive--size and weight).

Dr. Dale Moffitt's stellar editing of Brook's spoken words is a feat of great importance and magnitude. Cheers!

This book is should be required for all students of theater. Not only does it offer inspiration, practical insight, and thought provoking questions, it is an exciting read. It is an indispensable companion to "The Empty Space." Brook's ideas are vital and timeless, and Dr. Moffitt serves as both guide and translator through them. No theater Library would be complete without this tome of wisdom from two living legends: Peter Brook and Dr. Dale Moffitt.

Dale Moffitt breathes clarity into Brook's words and often circular ideas that may have been missed otherwise. As a member of the theatre community, I feel blessed that someone was able to illustrate Mr. Brook's forum to the Dallas area. We are lucky to have such a thoughtful insight into the week-long visit of Brook's.

"Between Two Silences: Talking With Peter Brook" is the account of a conversation between Peter Brook and an academic audience over a period of several days. Intelligently edited by Dale Moffitt, it displays Brook's first rate mind. I assume the book would be helpful to students of drama and of Brook's work; my purpose is to recommend it to more general readers. Brook has keen insights into human nature and motivation, with zesty comments about ego, hierarchies, awareness of one's surroundings, and focusing on the material at hand. I profited from his comments about working with what is available, in terms of budget, personnel, setting, and so on. Anyone who needs to work with a team with limited resources, whether in business, academia, government, or even the church, will find here a comrade and a masterful intellect. Brook was clearly "present" to his audience during these conversations. One can understand that the same presence is the key to his remarkable accomplishments in directing.

Dale Moffitt, a wonderful acting teacher in his own right, presents this wonderfully useful insight into the often complex world of Peter Brook. Moffitt's own spirit shines through this book, illuminating Brook in an marvelous new light. For me, this is the next best thing to having Brook or Moffitt right there in the classroom with you!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RV95BKAPRLJ8S

"Beyond Brokeback" is an incredibly moving book, and a beautiful testament to the power of telling the truth in our lives. Intentionally or not, "Brokeback Mountain" forced thousands of people to recognize the wounds they have received in their lives due to the homophobia that exists in our world. In realizing this wounding and pain the contributors to this book could have retreated from the world and from anyone who might hurt them again. Instead, they courageously chose to build community through the Ultimate Brokeback Forum and tell their stories in "Beyond Brokeback." From this online community healing, deep human connection, and hope have emerged in the lives of thousands of people. One can only wonder how life might have been different for both Jack and Ennis if they had had access to this book, or to a community like the Forum. I highly recommend "Beyond Brokeback" for anyone of any sexual orientation who longs to help build a world where all people finally have true freedom to love.

I purchased this book as I was interested to find out how the film had impacted on others. I found the accounts to be very open and astonishingly honest, and could almost feel the anguish and pain that some have had to bear throughout their lives. To actually hear how these lives were affected by the movie was so amazing. I'm sure it will be a re-read for many days to come.

Rob.

Between the months of December 2005 and April 2006, countless individuals shared in the groundbreaking experience of "Brokeback Mountain". For many, it was the combination of witnessing a specifically gay-themed film score at the box office, snag #1 spots on critics lists, grace magazine covers, sweep awards, and became a cultural phenomenon as well as watershed moment for GLBT visibility that made it indelible. From Entertainment Tonight to Oprah, from online blogs to The New York Times, this revelation of a film was being admired and discussed around the world.
Yes, "Brokeback Mountain" happened to be Hollywood's first bona fide, well-made and commercially successful "gay weepie". But for many it is so much more; there exists something transcendent and deeply felt in the story of Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist.

In "Beyond Brokeback: The Impact of a Film," journalist Dave Cullen and the members of an online forum have fashioned together a valuable and illuminating collection that proves testament to the very impact "Brokeback" had on so many lives. This anthology of intensely personal stories, selected from contributions to the forum, offer illuminating commentary on the impact of Annie Proulx's unforgettable story and Ang Lee's landmark film. The deeply personal approach speaks to fans of the film and story alike. And in doing so, further exposes the poison of "the closet," as well as its destructive, far-reaching effects on society as a whole.

These stories of regret, loneliness, sexual conformity and hidden truths harbored are intensely personal, and do perhaps more to sting your heart. They feature their own distinct experiences, views, and voices and are impossible to shake. While some prove deeply uplifting, in others there lies a sense of hopelessness that leaves scars. We come to see what many have withstood and what they have given up and it is inescapably heartbreaking. These voices tangibly remind us, through stories of real life hardships and life altering reactions, that both literature and film can reverberate our own emotional struggles through art. "Beyond Brokeback" is sheer testament to it.

This is a wonderful testimony to the impact of the story and the film Brokeback Mountain.

This is one of those "hmmmmm...interesting" books. George Rodrigue gives a compelling history about his roots and how Blue Dog came into creation. While I love the content of the book, I am even more facinated by the design. Inside you will find a "punch-out" blue dog mask, postcards and other little nifty interactive thing-a-ma-jigs that help make this book such a pleasure to enjoy.

This is a weighty (but not cumbersome) coffee table book that any thinking, feeling human being would be happy to own. Ever since I saw some original Blue Dog paintings in New Orleans, I've wanted to own one of them. Alas, I'm too poor. This book captures the spirit of the little alien-looking pooch and lets me borrow it for a price I can manage.

You just can't fully appreciate or understand the scope and delight of Blue Dog until you read this book. I adore Blue Dog. This silly, goofy blue dog provokes emotions in me that I have not experienced with art before...there is some strange, sad, beautiful, eerie, rapturous, haunting, joyful essence to this darn dog. This book is completely unique, fun, inspirational...I could go on and on. You just have to touch this book (the cover is fuzzy!) and open it...you will be hooked. The best coffee table book and a sure conversation starter, though that is hardly its value.

Any book with more of Blue Dog is great. This features more of the pop art world of Blue Dog than the previous books of Rodrigue's work. (I actually like the paintings of Blue Dog in cajun settings best.)

Teach an old dog new tricks? Absolutely, provided the pooch in question is Blue Dog, that colorful canine spawned from the mind of Cajun artist George Rodrigue. (For those no up to their four-legged friends fodder, the cobalt canine with the yellow eyes is based on three of the artist's now-dead dogs, and was first immortalized on slick papers back in 1994.) Who says a sleeping dog must lie? This babe is everywhere: portraits hang in the White House, on the set of "Friends" and in fan Whoopi Goldberg's abode; Blue Dog also stars in an Absolut ad. This volume boasts 60 gorgeous never-before-published paintings, along with commentary by Rodrigue on the birth of Blue Dog and its transformation into a pop culture icon. Tom Brokaw, an avid Blue Dog collector, wrote the book's forward. The cat's meow. Really.