Literature in Art Books

The School of Prague related to the Russian Formalism (many of its members emmigrated to Prague after the Revolution of 1917) is one of the most important and original semiological trends in the European Lingustics. The French post-modernists and Semiologists as Roland Barthes (Elements of Semiology, Essays, etc.) was very close to their work and many of their concepts entered (without reference) his work. The School of Prague developed a large range of semiological subjects and cultural studies: poetry, theater, cinema, folclore and fashion. (It is here where Barthes loaned his idea about Fashion and the meanings of dress when he wrote his semiolocial research of the Object (also repeated by Baudrillard in a less than imaginative fashion). To acess to the original texts is important because they open the doors to the original understanding of the whole postmodern Semiology regarded erroneously as a "French" domain. The approach developed by the School of Prague is dialectical and closely related to a critique of Saussure (see also M. Bachtin who criticizes Saussures approach) and different linguistic traditions. The dialctical approach practiced by this school is highly debeloped and it is here where dialectics appears as a method and not only as a theory. Y.Tobin introduced and published for the first time many essays and works of different authors of this school making this book an important contribution to modern cultural studies.

The School of Prague related to the Russian Formalism (many of its members emmigrated to Prague after the Revolution of 1917) is one of the most important and original semiological trends in the European Lingustics. The French post-modernists and Semiologists as Roland Barthes (Elements of Semiology, Essays, etc.) was very close to their work and many of their concepts entered (without reference) his work. The School of Prague developed a large range of semiologicla subjects and cultural studies : poetry, theater, cinema, folclore and fashion. (It is here where Barthes loaned his idea about the Fashion and the dress meanings he wrote as his semiolocial research of the Object (also repeated by Baudrillard in a less than imaginative fashion). To acess the original texts is important because they open the original doors to the understanding of the whole postmodern Semiology regarded erroneously as a "French" domain. The approach developed by the School of Prague is dialectical and closely related to a critic of Saussure (see also M. Bachtin who criticez Saussures approach) as of the different linguistic traditions. The dialctical approach practicized by this school is highly debeloped and it is here where Dialectics appears as a method and not only as a theory. Y.Tobin introduces and publishes for the first time many essays and work of different authors of this chool making of this book an important contribution to modern cultural studies.

If you are thinking of collecting the Storyteller Dolls, this is a good book to begin with. Or it makes a good accompaniment to a Storyteller Doll for a nice gift.

The wonder-provoking art of Native American Storytellers has been recreated in contemporary ceramics that are now a focus for avid collectors. For me, the most interesting aspect about storyteller dolls is that the making of these figurines was suggested by Alex Girard, famous designer & folk art collector. Girard encouraged potter Helen Cordero of Cochiti Pueblo to experiment with the figures in 1964 !! She made these, appropriately, to honor the memory of her storytelling grandfather Santiago Quintana.

It was as though Girard's imagination gave birth to a new industry for Native American potters. I wonder if this is reflected in the marvelous & huge collection at Santa Fe's
Museum of International Folk Art, one of the most exciting collections you will ever visit.

As author Mark Bahti notes about craftspeople at Cochiti Pueblo: "new ideas and techniques enrich old traditions." His book is a very good introduction to both the storytelling and the making of the figurines. The latter is well-explained to those new to the art; more books to read are listed, but a promised Guide to Pronunciation is NOT included in my edition. Also, the figurines may soon represent a lost art, as oral traditions are fading. To have many of the stories preserved "on tape" is a blessing. In books, like this one, the stories should be read aloud - - you will find that children love these wild tales, and have a flair for acting them out, especially the cannibalistic ones! I hope there will be a new edition that includes a much needed GLOSSARY, & DATES for ALL of the pieces shown.

I have loved this book for many years, and listen with admiration to storytellers in my own family . There are many ENCOURAGERS of the art, too, who should not be overlooked. FOR EXAMPLE, "TALL TALE TELLERS" gather in competition each June at the gorgeous Brown County Public Library in Nashville INDIANA to vie for prizes. Reviewer mcHAIKU urges you to search out similar opportunities, either among Native Americans or in your home state - - wherever there are good listeners, acive imaginations AND healthy dollops of dramatics.


p.s., Among my favorite ceramics shown in Bahti's book are: p.17, the stunning OWL of Jemez Pueblo (NM); p.48, the mod-looking Jemez boot, reminiscent of "the old woman in the shoe" and p.47,the Storyteller, also from Jemez, with many children who have even clambered up to her top knot; p.40, the Story BOWLS, representing the cisterns of Acoma Pueblo (NM) - I, too, need to collect water!; p.48, the Santa Clara (NM) figure which should be replicated in CHOCOLATE for every child's Easter basket! and finally, the crazily striking Hopi (AZ) "koshari."

Fairy tales have not been lost! We had a great time searching for the clues and finding familiar items from traditional fairy tales. With a very clever twist, fairy tales have hit the 21st Century. I enjoyed this book so much that I bought a copy for my 48 year old brother-in-law!

Everyone thinks they know fairy tales. Everyone thinks they know what Snow White and the 7 Dwarves looks like, Red Riding Hood looks like, even the 3 bears, Right? Wrong! Think again! This book will show you these characters, and more, like you've NEVER seen them before....eg: Did you know Cinderella really wears size 14DDD shoes, Prince Charming rides a stunt motorcycle, Little Red Riding Hood delivers PIZZAS, and the 7 dwarves are really surfers? Or how about Jack and his famous beanstalk...Where have you seen HIM before (clue) 'Little Pigs, Little Pigs, let me come in'.... All this and more, with a million things to look at and for, not just the same guy on every page, although that too along with a whole bunch of the corniest gags and wordplay ever. Kids from 5 to 105 will love this book! The guy who illustrated this is TOTALLY off the planet....how do I know this? Simple. It was me. Mea Culpa! Enjoy!

Would love to see this book in paperbook so I could afford to order it for our library. Anything by this individual should be high on your list. Having personally been a student of Sexson's, I can vouch for the fact that he has an intriguing and often Dionysian take on whatever is set before him (read: fun). Not to mention that Wallace Stevens is amazing in his own right. If you don't own his collected works, well, start there, please. If you've never met a man who is fully awake, read Sexson.

Michael Sexson displays a tacticle familiarity with the throbbing heartbeat of the human psyche.

what ken does with this book is amazing for a basic person like me to sit down and read a book like this is amazing i learnt soooooo much!!!!!!!!!!! buy this book!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a fabulous book. It's a great place to start for one who is interested in the more intellectual side of vampire fiction. There is some great discussion of the vampire as an economic metaphor.

The original translation by Sir William Jones of this famous Indian play was popular accross Europe and read by prominant poets including Goethe and Schiller. Sir William Jones was also a member of Samuel Johnson's and Edmund Burke's politically influentual Literary Club and the translation by him, this is not it, was a small hit across Europe. It inspired some stylist influence upon Goethe and Goethe must have read this about the time of the end of his Italian Journey where he latter gained some creative energy after dry spell following the massive success of his "Sorrows of Young Werther". (Sir William Jones is most famous for observing that the similarities in German, Sanskrit, Persian, English and other, now called, Indo-European languages could not be just an accident).

This modern translation by W.J. Johnson is a good effort; however, for a variety of reasons loses something in translation as it was written to be performed in at least two languages, Sanskrit and Prakrit, and also involved a lot of body language which at times was almost like a dance. Sir William Jone's translation is more vibrant plus and this, and other translations of his of Oriental translations as well as original poems, had an impact on 17th and 18th century European literature. Jones was a romantic supporter of the American revolution even meeting with Benjamin Franklin in Paris to attempt a resolution.

The play was written in the 4th or 5th century CE in India and is considered one of their great plays. It is interesting for the cultural attitudes of Indian at that time, especially the strong class system, and making comparisons with other cultures around the world. Never-the-less The play still holds it own in translation as something many readers might find poetically brilliant, entertaining, and also funny.

Goethe[[ASIN:0140442332 Italian Journey: 1786-1788 (Penguin Classics)

The Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin Classics)

Sir William Jones: Selected poetical and prose works - University of Wales Press (Not carried by Amazon)
http://www.uwp.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_English_Literature_from_Britain_59.html

Kalidasa is India's greatest Sanskrit poet and playwright. Many centuries later, his commitment has not flinched to remain India's most respected bard. When you've read world's greatest plays, you must then read him for the proverbial dessert. For most people, drama was invented in Greece, yet Kalidasa didn't know that, being apart by sea and time. So far as he is concerned, he was as much an inventor of this art.
`Recognition of Sakuntala' is a beautiful love story of a married king with a country girl, his deserting her and eventually reclaiming back, by the aid of gods.
I've several translations of this play, but Johnson's version is probably the best - at least in English.
If Shakespeare or Tolstoy gratify you, Kalidasa will as much.

I have frankly never seen Modernism addressed so lucidly and exhaustively, and yet so concisely, as Dan Schwarz does in "Reconfiguration." It clears up many, many symbolical and psychological riddles that I thought I would never have a satisfactory handle on. But as for his sentences... I've frankly never seen anything like them! The competing complexity and simplicity is sheer genius. The literary student of any level would do themself an extreme injustice to miss this one! W. Pearce Brown

I have frankly never seen Modernism addressed so lucidly and exhaustively, and yet so concisely, as Dan Schwarz does in "Reconfiguration." It clears up many, many symbolical and psychological riddles that I thought I would never have a satisfactory handle on. But as for his sentences... I've frankly never seen their equal! The competing complexity and simplicity is sheer genius. The literary student of any level would do themself an extreme injustice to miss this one!

Sandra Bullock is a beautiful,talented,funny,cool,and bubbly actress whose has become a famous movie star and producer.Her charm is that she's so cool and unique and complicated and sweet and personable and gives girls the dream that someday when they grow up they could actually be like her.Like I want to be.I don't really know if she has lots of girl fans,but I'm a girl and I love her,adore her.Sandra has appeared in many feature flims and videos and produces the "Geroge Lopez" TV show for ABC.She lives in Austin,Texas,and is down-to-earth and nice in real life.She's a great actress and person and is always the right role model.I love her!

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK YOU WILL EVER READ IT IS GREAT IF YOU LIKE SANDRA BULLOCK THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!

Saw this book in a gift shop in Savannah and wished I hadn't wasted my money on a camera. Her pictures are exactly as the real thing. What a great gift for anyone who has been there.

Mrs. Streed is and excellent artist and the copy of the book contains many interesting facts about Savannah. If you buy one for a gift, you'll end up ordering another to keep. A must have

After spending one year in religious formation in a Roman Catholic men's order, I have found Schneiders' book to be the best treatment there is of the vowed life. Her focus on consecrated chastity as the key vow makes absolute sense--both theoretically and practically. Her description of religious life as meaning a life of self-gift to Christ also makes more sense than any other theory or argument I have heard to date. Her writing is clear even when she deals with difficult concepts. She gives many examples to elucidate what she means. Her discussion of the types of community life that can be lived "in community" is also fabulous. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Sister Sandra here continues her excellent series examining the Religious Life and its renewal or rather its continuity under our radically changing era.

The first in the series of Religious Life in the New Millenium explores Finding the Treasure: Locating Catholic Religious Life in a New Ecclesial and Cultural Context (Religious Life in a New Millennium, V. 1) and is not prerequisite reading to this present text, but certainly helps in defining terms and establishing a context, while avoiding unnecessary repetition here. Sister Sandra Marie Schneider is also a learned Scripture scholar, publishing such well received and important works of biblical commentary as Written that You May Believe, Revised and Expanded: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel, The Revelatory Text: Interpreting the New Testament As Sacred Scripture (Michael Glazier Books), as well as her other studies of the Religious Life such as New Wineskins: Re-Imagining Religious Life Today.

She was also recognized by her academic colleagues in such works as Exploring Christian Spirituality: Essays in Honor of Sandra M. Schneiders, IHM. This is only a brief overview of her Biblical commentaries and studies of the Religious Life, limited by the number of direct citations available in this review section; I strongly encourage you to do your own amazon search using the parameters, at least, of sandra schneider (simply cut and paste these two words!) into a BOOKS search only, and watch for the middle name of Marie.

As indicated in the title here, this present book examines in a very scholarly yet first hand manner several aspects, global and specific, of living the religious life. Perhaps of most service to women seeking or living the life in religious community (the feminine pronoun seems to be used principally as well some of the focus of concerns and interpretations), this book begins with a very up-to-date presentation of the canonical status of religious communities, whether institutes or congregations, etc. Sister Sandra explains how the constitutions of religious communites have evolved since The Second Vatican Council, refocusing constitutional documents on individual community charisms and spiritualities rather than employing universal documents with the living carried on through oral tradition and other house rules. Here we truly see first hand the value of Sister Sandra's first hand experience in living the Religious Life and in her academic examination of all of its aspects.

Sister Sandra, having established that foundation, then explores several aspects of the religious life, including, very closely, celibacy including as integral liberation from certain constrictive traditional power structures. Sister Sandra's well documented meditation on celibacy is itself worth the price of the book.

Throughout Sister Sandra relates every aspect of the Religious Life to homelessness, a correlation very important for us to draw in this our material age of heavy consumerism and focus. Again, this is a very beautiful and significant aspect of this treatise, important for every Catholic to consider with the utmost seriousness, exquisitely presented here for us by Sister Sandra.

Reference of course is made to the great women religious of the past, excellent models still for our times, including both of the best known Saint Theresa's. Thomas Merton as well is sourced, and all of the usual suspects rounded up, including most spectacularly the great and wise mystic masters Calvin and Hobbes!

This book is wonderful for any woman, or man, or teen, or delayed vocation, seeking the Religious Life and its meaning, curious about the various forms of religious congregations, their canonical status, rights and obligations, and eager to make that first brave step into commitment to the process of formation. In fact this book explains very thoroughly and validly the process of religious formation and discernment in all of their aspects. This book is so idealized yet real that the future vocation may be somewhat disappointed upon encountering the reality of a flech and blood human and deeply fallible and smelly community, but this is where true conversion begins!

An interesting supplement to this book of course may be found by the sincere seeker in the great American Benedictine Sister Joan's The Way We Were: A Story Of Conversion And Renewal, etc. For another perspective on the formation and maintenance of women's religious communities in America, read carefully Mother Benedict: Foundress of the Abbey of Regina Laudis; I accompanied the delivery of their new constitution to the Vatican in the mid 1970's. For another aspect of women's religious communities, read the various chronologies and diaries and rewritings of Sainte Therese of Lisieux, in particular her authenticated texts at Histoire d'une ame: Manuscrits autobiographiques. COnsider how the former autocratic model permitted a mother superior to arouse all of her sleep-deprived, underfed, ill sisters in the wee hours of the morning to search for her wandering cat. Consider then along with this model, the other models for religious community explored in this book, Selling all, including communion of consensus and collegiality, as a more Christian comunity model following the Acts of the Apostles, and more durable model to maintain in the long run, drawing and liberating vocations into the light of Jesus Christ and the maternal love of his Holy Mother.