Publications and Media Books

Against the background of rising temperatures and shorter tempers among film theorists, 'Studying Contemporary American Film' sets out to pour oil on troubled waters. Between classical models of film interpretation and analysis (auteurist, structuralist, psychosemiotic) and the current plethora of contending paradigms (cognitivist, Deleuzian,
post-feminists, deconstructivist and hypertextual) it treads a
delicate, but determined path. The authors accept that film analysis is a matter of being wise after the fact, and being aware of open or hidden agendas. In order to be clear and consistent, you don't have to be dogmatic; being able to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of certain critical positions doesn't mean that 'everything goes'. Although centered on close analysis of nine mainstream movies, this is not just another collection of essays on the authors' favorite films. The distinction classical and post-classical narrative, the Hollywood/Europe divide, the co-existence of linear narrative and videogame logic, and the differences between ontological realism and digital realism are all lucidly laid out and practically demonstrated. Highlights - to this reader at least - are the chapters on Die Hard, Lost Highway, The Fifth Element and Silence of the Lambs. The general movie buff may think the bullet points and numbered sub-headings rather too prescriptive; however, the authors tone is for the most part refreshingly dead-pan and descriptive, and students may be grateful for the many useful hints of how to ask the right questions and structure their papers accordingly. This is a guide in the best tradition of 'Teach Yourself Film Studies', of which 'Studying Contemporary American Film' could be seen as a welcome sequel.

This score is one of my favorite Mahler symphonies. Overall it is incredible to see his layering of orchestration. You will be amazed at how much underscoring there is that sometimes it's hard to notice. Dover's publication is extremely accurate for the most part. There are a few discrepancies between the score and most performances, but I feel that is probably because Mahler constantly revised the orchestration of his symphonies. Overall, highly recommended if you want to see the symphonic master at work at a very affordable price.

Any individual expressing interest in the study of the media, be it a professor or a student, MUST read this book. Zelizer's analysis of the way in which media is viewed is not only so accurately examined but also incredibly thought provoking.

From Front Jacket:

"Having read a great deal of expository prose is not sufficient preparation for designing textual materials. Experience indicates that there is a need for the systematic application of conceptually based and empirically verified principles for textual design.

This book focuses on principles - supported by extensive research in psychology, reading, instructional design, and typography - for structuring, designing, and displaying expository text. The first section is concerned with the basic structure of prose. The organization of a passage can greatly enhance its transmutation from the symbols imprinted on paper, plastic, or the video display screen into 'meaning' to the user. The arrangement and sequence of prose are implicit cues to textual meaning.

The second part of the book focuses on more overt or explicit means for displaying or signaling the structure of text. These techniques assume two basic purposes. The first is typographic methods for cuing structural characteristics or facilitating access to information in the text. The second relates to techniques for manipulating reader processing of the prose.

The third section deals with specific problems encountered in constructing and displaying text electronically. As more of our information transfer becomes computer-controlled and video displayed, these issues are going to become more important.

Finally, the last section of the book explores the nascent concerns with individual differences in processing textual media.

The textual display techniques explored in this book are technologies. While they are theory-based, they are practical and implicational in purpose. Each of the contributors to this volume has been active in the design and dissemination of textual materials. The lessons they provide should prove useful to a wide range of text users, designers, editors, product developers, teachers, and many others involved in text production and utilization."

From Preface:

"[this book] is about the technology of sequencing, structuring, designing, and laying-out of the printed page, whether that text is reproduced on paper or in electronic signals on a cathode ray tube. ..The technology of text focuses on how written discourse can be most effectively presented.

The theoretical foundation for the technology of text resides in the more contemporary paradigm (in the Kuhnian sense) of instructional technology. Such a conceptualization transcends the technology-machine equation. ...the technology of text is the application of a scientific approach to text design. It exists as a counterpoint to the artistic and unsystematic approach to text design and layout that has prevailed since petroglyphs were first inscribed on walls. The technology of text design is a process based upon theories and research in learning and communication for designing textual instructional products - not novels, but instructional text, that is, discourse that informs and teaches. It is often referred to as 'expository prose.' This is an important distinction, for to attempt to apply these techniques in designing non-instructional text would be a mistake.

Implicit techniques for text design are concerned with the structure of the content and sequencing of the message. Research in learning and memory has clearly explicated the role of organization in the storage and retrieval of information.

The methods for structuring, designing, and displaying text that are presented in this book are technologies. They represent the scientific application of theories and principles of neuropsychology, pereception, learning, memory, reading, and typography. They offer processes for systematically designing text. Completion of the book should convince you that there really is a technology of text." - David Johnson, Dec, 1981

College-level collections strong in film and television will find Television Criticism a welcome addition to the collection: it explores the business, production and entertainment aspects of the TV industry and the critical rhetoric, culture and representation surrounding it, offering a range of analytical styles for past and current TV programs in different genres. Students receive a variety of formulas for developing critical thinking about television, and are provided everything they need to develop such perspectives, from new guidelines for television analysis to insights from producers and business people working in the field. TELEVISION CRITICISM is not only recommended for library acquisition but will also make a fine course supplement - perhaps even serve as a basic text.

Risk Management in Post-Trust Society

This other book is also essential for anyone interested in this subject matter.

This audio book is a great orientation to dharma by a modern-day rinpoche whose innovation is his ability to bridge the world of tibetan buddhism with western modernity. In clear English, Rinpoche Tsem Tulku explains the role of protector deities and shares practical insight on tibetan buddhism. His instruction appears to transcend the limitations of religious confinement by providing wisdom that crosses different cultures. This audio book should be valuable for persons interested in gaining a deeper understanding about a unique and rapidly growing form of tibetan buddhism. I truly enjoyed this work and found it to be genuinely inspirational. I have happily recommended and shared this work with all my friends.

If you're a fan of soap operas, and communication about them on the internet, this is the BOOK for you! Ms. Baym's book is filled with insightful and thought-provoking information on a group of individuals in a newsgroup on the internet who all came together to discuss the good and bad of their favorite soap opera(s). And along the way, found a community of friends they never thought possible. In her long and dedicated research, Ms. Baym delves into the communication she discovered, both verbal and nonverbal of a group of people, many women, but also men, and discovers much more about them than what appears on the surface. Her conclusions are quite intriguing! She finds the common bonds between them and shows how they are not only gifted and talented individuals, but how they are able to personify themselves through they're words, acts and deeds. She also talks at length about the changes over the years and gives factual evidence as the internet became larger. The growth is written into her story. It is a fun-filled odyssey into one group of people brought together with one common bond from all walks of life, from locations all over the world and it is quite a fascinating journey. Don't waste any time - get this book!

Brava Nancy Baym!

The book is an excellent resource for understanding economics of Media. It covers the terrain in great depth.

An excellent book, full of personnal experiences from a large variety of troups "who were there". My wife really enjoyed the book to, as it is well written and easy reading. 5 stars all the way.