Arts and Culture Books

After 10 years, I bought the book. I visited the exhibition of the paintings in Rotterdam (Netherlands) back in '97 and was pleasantly shocked by this project and the results. The book was out of stock then, but the surprising results kept haunting my head for a decade. Now I finally have the book and it still makes me laugh.

Although the whole project has an entertaining dosis of irony, it can be a guide in understanding art and demographics - oh well, it can even help you design for the masses !

Lastly, I think every Dutch designer should buy this book or maybe it should be governmentally issued to every Dutch citizen. Why ? Just look at the very last pages of the book. I understood that the "Holland" results came in too late to be submitted to the edited content of the book. But fortunately Komar and Melamid decided that this outcome deserved a very special place, like a well kept secret that defies the other 200 pages...

I'm proud to be Dutch !

Are our senses previously designed conditioned respect our artistic tastes? , or better still is there a source of genetic origin that really predisposes us before the artistic fact ?.

The question looks so absorbing that really invites to rethink and restate ourselves several premises; the environmental conditions, for instance, must be determinant. Think about in the fact the nest of three of the most important religions (Christian, Jew and Mussulman) were founded in dessert (maybe you think it was a mere casualty, but i really don't) while the Protestant movement and Lutheranism arouse from places in which the four seasons completed its cycle naturally. This circumstance surely made propitious conditions for a major discussion of ideas, keeping in mind if you were not agree you might migrate (an unthinkable possibility in a desert).

This is the final outcome of a series of interviews in several countries about what the people wants to see in their pictures. According Melamid the uniformity of the results suggests a genetic trace. "In every country the favorite color is blue and in almost everywhere the green occupies the second place. In everywhere they wanted outdoor scenes with wild animals, water, trees and some people."

So, on the basis of this invaluable observation, they depicted the most requested image in every country.

That is why this book is so worthy to read, because it states us a plausible chance to other questions. Don't miss it.

This is one of the coolest art books I've seen, Komar and Melamid are geniuses! The whole idea art designed to please isn't that new but the idea using polls and statistics is. By using a random survey from several countries ( THe USA France China Kenya Russia Ukraine ect) they create each countries most and least wanted painting and take you through a wonderful romp discussing what art and expression and stuff are really all about. I gave this sucker out as X-mas presents! I can't reccommend it highly enough. Buy everything by Komar and Melamid...even their souls.... they did a thing in Moscow where they auctioned off their souls.

If you ever get a chance to see their 'Nostalgia' series of paintings, it's a hoot. Sort of satires of Soviet/Stalinist paintings, very good. THey also did a series of NYC as ruins in the jungle....

It's hard to express how fantastic this book really is in a review. Komar and Melamid's paintings, which threatened, for a time, to turn the art world on its ear, are supreme farces on what statistics can tell us. Obviously the principle is consiously flawed. The artist's interpretation of the statistical data is largely abstracted, but the paintings themselves are superb and outragiously funny takes on national culture. The question of the book is "What do people want in their art?" It isn't likely that you'll find a more interesting, fascinating, and entertaining answer than "Painting by Numbers."

This book will get anyone thinking about what qualifies as "art". Have you ever gone to a modern art museum or picked up a modern art magazine and wondered "how can anyone call that art?" Well this book will get you thinking about questions like that. Using scientific polling methods 2 Russian immigrants canvased the U.S. to find out what the average American considers art.

The results are exactly the kind of works most working modern artists or their patrons would be dismayed over. Get this book. It is a fascinating and entertaining read. One interesting note from the book - the editor of The Nation said that when they published the results of this poll it drew an avalanche of reader mail. It generated the largest reader response of anything they'd published in the history of that magazine to date. Several newspapers interviewed owners of prominant NYC art galleries as well as some prominant artists. All of them were horified by the results of this poll. One commentator sniffed the poll just proves Americans are boors when it comes to art - prefering only the safest, most banal subjects. What is interesting is that the book shows the results of this poll were duplicated in many other countries around the globe. Countries as diverse as Kenya and Iceland showed their own polls duplicated the preferences of the average American - i.e. a liking for landscapes with peaceful blue skies.

The book reproduces in full the entire questionaire used by the polling company along with an interview with Momar and Kelamid. The two Russians also gained notoriety by creating pictures of each countries most-preferred and least-preferred paintings. Each painting had the canvas divied up to match the percentages shown in the poll that respondents wanted (or didn't want in the case of the 'Least Preferred' paintings). Thus if the poll showed 65% preferred landscapes with a blue sky then 65% of the painting surface had a blue sky.

Interviews as well as commentary on the nature of art and what this might mean also fill the book. There is even a chapter by one of my favorite modern-day philosophers - Arthur C. Danto (I have several of his books). He asks the question "Can It Be The 'Most Wanted Painting' Even if Nobody Wants It?"

The results in this book lead to many questions. Not the least of these is 'what is art?' and 'what does this say about human nature?'. One article from the Jan/Feb 2002 issue of American Spectator illustrates this problem very well. It seems a few months ago a very famous photographer was holding a one-man exhibit at a London gallery. He is quite famous for the nauseating and offensive subject matter of his work. That night he gathered together the cigarrette butts, empty paper cups, and other assorted trash from the opening-night party and "artfully" arranged it in a pile in a corner and took a picture of it. The pile was promptly announced by a London art-critic to be worth at least 5K (in pounds). Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the janitor that night that the pile was art, not trash. So you can guess the ending of this story.

I recount this to make a point. That is, this book will shed some light on why so many people have trouble - even the U.S. Supreme Court - on saying exactly what Art is. Get this book. It is fun and fascinating look into not only the tastes in art around the world but also a window into the science of polls and polling.

I bought one of these for myself, recieved it...looked through it and proply ordered 2 more as gifts for friends. Don't pass this up. Get one, or two today.

If you want to stop chasing around after what you've heard is, or believe to be, the cool thing this season, stop right now and pick up a copy of Panda Meat. This book will make you the center of cool and the nexus of hip-intellectuality in the fly-over or port town of your choice. Panda Meat, Vol. 1 is the end product of over 100 independant artists (illustrators AND designers) who've set aside there differences long enough to entrust Mr. Frank Kozik with the editorial job of the decade thus far. The resulting collection is one that has been discussed with great enthusiasm in select coteries, coffee houses, local taverns, biker bars, hipster dives, knitting circles and living rooms across this great nation of ours. Be sure to get in on the ground floor of this phenomenon while you can still rub it in the faces of those who didn't.

This book showcases a large number of artists who have made their name in the world of (rock concert) poster design. Many styles are represented and should be on the shelf of every art director who wants to have access to a list of current and hip designers & artists.

If you are like me and cannot read good then this is the book for you. It's all like pictures and stuff and the story is super easy to follow. Whee! I like pictures!

Mere words are not enough to describe how goddamn wonderful this book is, although "astonishing" is one that comes to mind immediately after opening this tour de force of a book. A stunning collection, rich in contemporary pop culture, yet rooted in things from a more dark and sinister past. This sucker is highly recommended!

ONE HELL OF ALOT OF INFORMATION BUT NOW IN 2007 A LITTLE DATED BUT WHEN I GOT IT NEW YOU COULDN'T BEET IT FOR A REFERENCE BOOK AND CHOOSING A SHORT WAVE RADIO WHEN I AM READY TO UPGRADE AGAIN IT WILL BE MY SOURCE AGAIN

Yes, shortwave radio still exists. Hundreds of millions of people across the globe rely on it daily for their news and information. Any well rounded news freak, travel junkie or culture hound should own one. Maybe for use occasionally, maybe for use while travelling, or maybe, like many of us, you listen daily. If you own a shortwave (world band) radio and want to make the most use out of it, you must own this book. Whether at home with your radio, or travelling, it is the key to unlocking the potential of shortwave. The schedule information for stations worldwide is as complete and current as you can find anywhere. The reviews of shortwave radios are thorough and will make sense to the beginner or the advanced listener, and infused with enough humor to keep the material interesting, even if you aren't shopping for a new one. Lastly, the theme for each yearly edition changes and while the 2004 edition isn't quite as in-depth, topically, as last year's (2003), the book is an interesting read even if you don't yet own a shortwave radio. It will probably inspire you to buy one.

This is the best book to get if you are into SW. reviews of radios, addresses, guides to what to listen to according to time, country, language, and frequency (for when you find a station but have no idea what you are listening to). This is the best money you will spend if you want to explore SW.
Shortwave is great for listening to news. BBC, Radio Canada, Voice of America (paid by your tax dollars) all are worth listening to. I am less interested in the overwhelming amount of propaganda and religious programming (just how many world wide gospel broadcasts do we need?) that is on Shortwave. SHortwave radios are also great because they usually are well made an d will pull in more FM and AM stations.

Since the early days of radio, shortwave radio has been a mystery to many potential listeners. There are many factors in getting involved in this fascinating hobby. You will need a receiver, an antenna, a list of broadcasting stations, their frequencies and time schedules and an understanding of how radio signals move through and bounce off of the atmosphere and earth. Quite a daunting task for the shortwave radio novice. Becoming a shortwave radio listener (SWL) has become much easier and more pleasurable with Lawrence Magne's "Passport to World Band Radio" (I'm not sure if Magne's group coined the phrase "World Band Radio" or not but the phrase is used interchangeably with "shortwave radio").

Just after the end of World War II "The World Radio and TV Handbook (WRTH) began publishing. It has evolved into a huge reference of world radio. Nearly every broadcasting station around the globe is listed with their schedules. It is a required reference work for hard core enthusiasts (DX'ers) who cherish pulling in weak and low powered stations. The WRTH is a bit much for the casual to hobbyist-level SWL. In 1985 the first "Passport to World Band Radio" was printed. As an active SWL (already with a 1985 WRTH) I decided that I had to check it out. I realized then (just as much as now) that the "Passport" isn't as a thorough reference as the WRTH. That isn't a bad thing - in fact it's a great thing. Most articles are aimed solely at the casual SWL and not at the professional DX'er with his or her antenna farms and ten radios. If you are new to the hobby (or are returning to it like I am) this is probably the first place to study. I will not compare "Passport" to the WRTH anymore. They both have their niche in the hobby.

New receiver reviews are included each year. They run the gamut from the cheaper $50 portables to the $1000+ professional models. Other articles differ from year to year one was on Internet Radio, one on propagation - how the atmosphere reflects some signals, cancels some signals out and twists others and one on World Time stations which can help keep all of your clocks accurate. There are few advertisements - all relating to the SWL hobby.

The meat of "Passport to World Band Radio" is the guide to the individual stations and their schedules. The guide to the stations is arranged alphabetically by country. It even lists the stations' addresses. This is important as hobbyists often contact the stations to verify their reception. The station usually returns a letter or a "QSL" card to verify the reception. Stations often include pennants, stickers and other neat souvenirs. The schedules list at least 90% of the SW schedules. With seasonal changes, the schedules themselves may change over time. With a current year Passport on hand you will always find something of interest to listen to. Most English language broadcasts aimed at North America are transmitted in our evening hours. However, you will generally find some English broadcasts around the clock. Many European broadcasters transmit in their native language to North America for former residents.

You will find being a SWL a great hobby and this book will help you out a great deal.

Using your shortwave radio without this book would be like trying to use the Internet without a search engine. Passport is cross linked so many ways. By time, frequency and station. If you don't already have a SW receiver, it's a good place to read-up on what's hot and what's not before you choose.

This is a great book for history teachers and history and film buffs! You not only get an in-depth look at the making of one of the greatest films ever created, but you also get a look at the historical aspects (People, places and events) that parallel the film's fictionalized portrayal of history. Grade: A+

After looking at and reading through my copy of The Patriot: The Official Companion about 10 times, I recommend this beautiful work of art to everyone! The photos in this book are breathtaking and realistic and they cover every aspect of the movie. Some of the best shots of the film are included in this work. The articles on the actors are thorough and not only give some history and filmography on them, but also offer a very personal view into their lives. Being on the set during filming myself I can see that The Official Companion offers a view into the business of film-making, and that coupled with the historical aspect of The Patriot will truly make this book a pleasure for everyone! Suzanne and Rachel both did a *wonderful* job!

Great book! I saw the movie and the book brought it all together. One correction should be made though. I live near Rock Hill, SC and we are not a primarily farming community. I have lived here for over 25 years and I don't even know a farmer. Yes, people were excited about the movie being made here, but I don't know anyone who spent their days chasing down Mel Gibson. Anyway, I thought the book was great and so was the movie.

If you enjoyed the movie, you'll really enjoy this book. Lots of big, colorful photographs of the cast and crew at work during the filming; many pictures are suitable for framing--the photos are that good. If you are a student of film, this is a great book in which to learn how a movie is put together from start to finish: the text is very, very enlightening. The book even illustrates and explains how all of the film's special effects were accomplished.

The stunning historical imagery of "The Patriot" was the result of a lot of long hours and hard work by a lot of people, seeking out properly historical sites, consulting with the Smithsonian Institute (the first time they have ever participated in the making of a movie), and ensuring that all of the details of "The Patriot" were properly carried out. This attention to detail is a hallmark of well-made, well-thought-out movies, and was probably last seen to this degree of precision in "Titanic". Learn how "The Patriot" was made in this superb book filled with on-screen and behind-the-scenes photos. The one amusing irony I find is the amount of computer work that went into the massive battle scenes. Is it just me, or is there something slightly -- unusual about computer-generated REVOLUTIONARY WAR combatants? But if it adds to the overall impact of the movie, which it certainly does, what of it? You'll discover that and much more in this must-have book for anyone who enjoyed and was impressed by "The Patriot", which I regard as one of the most significant movies I have ever seen!

This is a beautifully done book. I was surprised by the content and delighted by the artwork. Every page is an unexpected joy. Hogshire probes our pill-taking conscience and examines the cultural significance of pills. He is playful, provocative and informative. Don't make the mistake of dismissing this important work as merely another how-to for druggies. This book transcends popculture and should be required reading for pharmacists, healthcare providers, even cops. It is a seminal work. I love this book.

As a pharmacologist, I found this book very interesting and much more informative than I expected it to be. I expected the book to be a simple review of drugs in pop culture, having read a little bit about the 'zine Pills-A-Go-Go that this book is based on. Mr. Hogshire presents some very thorough information about the processes of drug manufacture, marketing, and information control used by pharmaceutical companies. He also gives us a good history of pharmacies and the role of physicians in perpetuating this nation's obsession with prescription drugs. The book is written in a magazine style with lots of graphics, quotes, and lists. I love the use of old drug advertisements to show the history of pharmacetucial marketing toward doctors. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a career in pharmacy, pharmacology, or medicine, as well as anyone simply interested in "pill culture".

I only have two minor problems with this book. First, there are a ton of spelling and grammatical errors, which don't necessarily detract from the book's content, but do make the book a harder read. Second, the book is often very subjective and tends to follow Mr. Hogshire's very strong opinions on the pharmaceutical and medical industries. While this is to be expected based on the nature of the 'zine, it could have been written with a little less bias. In his defense however, he does a good job of telling all sides of the story on many subjects. Overall, this is a wonderful book.

This is one of the most interesting and fascinating books on drugs I have ever read. Amazingly thorough and enthralling. It has so many tidbits of information and gossip.

All I can say is, wow! This book is chock full of absolutely fantastic pharmaceutical information- more than I had even hoped for! Mr. Hogshire is right on the mark on his views of grumpy pharmacists- that was a classic chapter! I admire his bravery in writing this work- no doubt many narrow minded people will dislike this book intensely for obvious reasons, but never mind about them! I stayed up until 2 a.m. just happily reading every little interesting factoid. A MUST for all of us PDR freaks! Highly recommended!

Jim Hogshire's "Pills-A-Go-Go" is an exceptionally entertaining and informative work that is great to read in a couple of sittings or in bits, a page or two a day.

This book is a good reference point to distingish the huge difference between a drug USER and a drug ABUSER.

There are MANY issues covered here that I have rarely (if ever) seen addressed elsewhere. One example is the fact that most pills are effective to treat things that they have not been officially approved to treat but if a doctor prescribes a drug for a non-government-approved reason he risks losing his licence. Also, much inside information on the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceuticle companies. And, the fact that government agencies have more input - as to what type of and how much of a drug you need when you are sick - than your doctor does! (How certain agencies of our government think it is more important to stop someone from "having fun" with a drug than to allow someone with, for example, a severed spine to have proper relief from their pain).

Highlight chapters include "The Pill as Virgin/Whore", "Rude Pharmasists", "Rape Drugs" (in which Hogshire points out that the date rape drug of choice is nor Rohypnol... it's ALCOHOL!), "Before Viagra, Better Sex Through Pills", "Pill Road Tests" (including a roll-on-the-floor hilarious account of an extreme Robitussin "experience"), and much more.

Well written & compiled, wonderful design & layout and great artwork.

WARNING: If you lend books, you may want to buy more than one copy... this is the type of book people borrow, then "forget" to return!

Writer Rob Campbell gives us a personal look at the important place in our lives that our cars occupy. Who doesn't think back to the car we drove in high school, what car our first boyfriend took us to the prom in, what car we bought after getting that first great job; we choose cars as an expression of ourselves as much as the clothes we choose or the foods we eat. The writer's examination of the connection between self and self-expression are fascinating, and all too true.

For the non-car obsessed a facinating, introspective journey. For those who's cars are a bodily extension, a must-read. The first chapter, 'Sun, Fun, Stay, Play' really captures all the searing pain of growing up in Bakersfield, inside and outside of your cruising car.

A lovely book that does a satisfying job of blurring the lines between memoir, journalism, and quirky meditation. Expresses the ineluctable emotion we all feel for our cars, past and present that we sometimes mistake for materialism.

As a reader who is obsessed with books, orchids, and technology -- it is not hard to imagine how one can be obsessed about cars. In fact, at a younger age I would have categorized myself as such, until I read this book. Now I know what it really means to be "obsessed!"

Campbell uses these essays to enlighten, tease, rant and mostly entertain. It is a thoroughly American journey that runs the spectrum from Angst to Zen. Highly recommended.

I am not a big reader, so the agent of this book told me to start with a brief section on page 134 (called "Breakdown #2). I was blown away. Campbell, the author, is HIV-positive, but totally enlightened and enlightening. He's hilarious, but also warm and honest and accepting. MUST READ for anyone HIV-pos or anyone who knows anyone HIV-pos.

if you even somewhat like this series you need to get this "art" book and I use the term "art" loosly. It has so much more than art. The best way to describe it would have to be a Statagy guide for the series. Do not get me wrong the art in this book is breath taking from one page to the next. it also gives a full rundown of each character, each episode and then on top of all of that it give a short story for each primary character giving us just that extra little information that we didnt need but it helps expand the world by inmesasureable amounts. Please pick this up it is worth the money. Enjoy!

First off this book is translated into English. The photos, bio's, and stories are all absolutely beautiful. It's a great read, but let's face it... you're probably not buying it for the text. It offers enough fan service, but nothing graphic or anything to worry about children finding.

If you are a fan of the series then this is definetly worth the price the artwork is supurb. The layout in the book is brilliant. Loads of art not seen in the series.

Although I am a fan of anime, I have never read the Onegai Teacher! manga. I had bought this item as a gift for a friend of mine who is a die-hard fan of the series. She was completely thrilled! After much cooing over the book I got a chance to look through it, and was very impressed. This fanbook has great pictures, detailed bios, and lots of extras for those who want to know everything about this anime. This item is a must for any Onegai Teacher! fan.

Do you have the anime and manga? Well, how about the Fanbook? It's just not an art book, it has everything. Tons of art from the anime, from pinups and magazines, as well as rough drafts. It also has character files, a story guide, original short stories, art from scenes that were never made, interviews, comments and so much more. Get it for yourself or a fan of the series. Only for age 13 and up.

As an old 60s hippy, I can really appreciate this guy for his nonconformity and attacks on corporate propaganda. He's not only a talented artist, he's brilliant and not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. If more of us would stand up we could make a difference in our world. Do yourselves a favor and give this guy a look. There is also a DVD available that's very entertaining and insightful.

Ron English is masterfully twisted. I own four original pieces of his work which are the gems of my art collection. His work reminds me of Salvadore Dali's work with more raw talent added. You will enjoy this book.

Having been a protege of Ron English during the early years of his career, I am thrilled to read a comprehensive telling of his accomplishments. From his early surealistic photography tableau to illegal billboards to his brilliant current work, Ron English's art always puts his message in your face. Ron English is the ringmaster of a circus of eager zealots who will do practically anything to participate in his creative events. It is a fascinating phenomenon to observe - and even more inspiring to participate! Well written and researched, this volume gives insight into the artist's personal and creative processes. The extensive visuals and photos help tell the story of a great artist's career. Where will Ron English go from here? You should definitely tune in to find out more.

A VISUAL EXTRAVAGANZA.I COULDN'T BELEIVE HOW MANY WAYS RON ENGLISH CAN SCREW WITH YOUR HEAD. A GREAT BOOK

This glossy, colorful book collects Ron English's great works and accomplishments, spanning his 20 years of using and twisting pop art to subvert itself, popular culture, and commercialistic overkill. Although a painter, street artist, and musician, English is best known for his hilarious - and sometimes dangerous - billboard work, whereby he would covertly paint over hundreds of billboards to convey an ironic, social point, sometimes done so well that the original doesn't appear altered. One of his thoughtful pranks was to paint a close-up of Charles Manson in the style of Mac's "Think Different" ads, to point out Mac's tasteless use of geniuses and great humanitarians to sell their products. Big Tobacco is another common victim of English's talent and wit, and his Joe Camel spoofs are more effective and affective than any government-funded anti-tobacco advertisement.

Ron English's work successfully addresses the Disneyification of America, the blatant commercialism of pop art, the uncontested corporate (and irresponsible) intrusion into people's lives, and the nonstop barrage of advertising that forces itself upon us everywhere we turn. His works throw a stick into the cogs, jamming popular culture for just a moment, so that for the split second you take in his work, you can actually "think different."

In the past, I have read many books and articles by Fred Grandinetti about one of the greatest characters ever created - Popeye the Sailor. By reading this book, one finds out what Mr. Grandinetti has already discovered, the truths he has uncovered, opinions he has cultivated and even what he continues to learn and he shares all of this with us about Popeye. Even though this is an expanded update from the first edition published many years ago, one can still learn many fresh things about the character and history of Popeye from this book. With the information, descriptions, photos and illustrations provided, this book is a great springboard for the mind to rekindle one's own personal memories of Popeye from years past. If one is discovering the character of Popeye for the first time, or just revisiting him, this book can introduce and establish who he is and what he is all about. This book is one I continue to enjoy, as it can be read and re-read again and again.

This book is nothing short of genius. A detailed account of the creation of this legendary cartoon character that is still enjoyed by millions. This is the type of documentary that you just can't put down and it answers many, many questions about the history of Popeye the Sailor. Fred Grandinetti has put together an in depth analysis of the old salt and has delivered a classic piece of literature to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Indulge in all that is Popeye! Mr. Grandinetti has put together a book on the American pop culture icon, Popeye the Sailor Man and it is nothing short of fantastic. Popeye: An Illustrated Cultural History is a must for any book collector's library. It is filled with information documenting Popeye's career in print, radio, film and television. The writer has gone to great lengths in his research on the subject matter and it is apparent when admiring some of the rare and hard to find illustrations of Popeye's past layed out in this book.

With the holiday season at our door step I couldn't think of a better gift for that special someone in your life.

Popeye: An Illustrated Cultural History is a brilliant book dedicated to one of the most enduring comic book / cartoon characters of our time - Popeye the Sailor. Written by Fred Grandinetti, the co-founder of the International Popeye Fan Club, this splendidly illustrated book provides an astonishing and thoroughly researched overview of the charismatic sailor's rich history and exciting career. The author leaves no incarnation of the brusque, yet charmingly humble swab untouched - from the pipe-tooting runt's beginnings in daily funny pages, his extremely successful ventures on the silver screen, to Popeye's career on TV, radio, and stage. Mr. Grandinetti also includes a great episode guide with short summaries of every Popeye cartoon, emphasizing significant aspects of particular and/or groundbreaking "Popeye" shorts. As if that is not enough, this magnificent book provides appendixes with selected scripts from Popeye cartoons and information about the International Popeye Fan Club.

What is particularly fascinating about this book is the fact that Fred Grandinetti does not simply reiterate the familiar "essentials" about the muttering sailorman's exciting career, but also includes what has traditionally been marginalized and overlooked within the dominant Popeye discourse. For example, in the "Popeye in Print" section not only does Mr. Grandinetti deal with Popeye's creator, E.C. Segar, and his superb art of storytelling, but he also incorporates various interesting accounts on Segar's imaginative successors and their own versions of Popeye (Doc Winner, Tom Sims, Bela "Bill" Zaboly, Ralph Stein, Bud Sagendorf, Bobby London, Hy Eisman). The author also touches on the gruff mariner's incarnations in comic books and even Mad magazine.

As with his writing on Popeye in print, Fred Grandinetti tries to stay away from the homogeneous interpretations of Popeye on film. For example, not only does Mr. Grandinetti discuss the "best" of Popeye cartoon shorts (Paramount theatrical films), but he also challenges (in a rather refreshing manner) the monolithic/mainstream perception of the King Features Syndicate made-for-TV Popeye cartoons by recognizing the heterogeneous nature of these animated films in terms of different directors' styles, quality of animation, use of music, etc. Here is an example of just how meticulous and comprehensive Mr. Grandinetti's research can be: Beside dealing with the easily distinguishable versions of the spinach-munching mariner (i.e. Fleischer vs. Famous Studios vs. KFS versions of Popeye), the author goes on to display/discuss different visual designs of Popeye used by different animators (i.e. Hugh Frasier, Ed Friedman, Ken Hultgren, Alan Zaslove, etc.) within Jack Kinney's unit that worked on King Features Syndicate's TV "Popeyes" in the period between 1960 and 1961. And that is just one example.

Unlike Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny who have had numerous official releases of their best cartoons on both VHS and DVD, Popeye the Sailor, one of the most popular cartoon characters of all time, has been a very unlucky victim of a rather complex corporate quagmire that has been keeping him in a sort of legal limbo for many decades now. In other words, the pipe-smoking sailor's magnificent animated shorts have never been officially released on either VHS or DVD (You can read more about this in the book). But, unlike Mickey or Bugs, Popeye is very fortunate to have the most dedicated, passionate and hard-working fan/historian in the world - Fred Grandinetti, who paid a fantastic tribute to this timeless animated hero in this splendid book. Written with love, admiration, superb knowledge and thorough research, this beautifully illustrated book (with many original frame grabs from theatrical/TV cartoons, comic strip clips, posters and advertisements) is an homage no other classic cartoon character has.

Recommended to animation fans, students of pop culture, history/animation/film, adults, kids,...in one word: recommended to EVERYONE !!!

The breadth of Grandinetti's knowledge about Popeye is truly astounding! This is good news for readers because it means that his book covers all things Popeye. From comic strips to animated cartoons to collectibles to live action to sound recordings to theme park appearances and more, it's all here. Those wanting to learn about the sailor, or find answers to trivia questions, or rekindle childhood memories and finally solve mysteries like "What was the name of that cartoon where Bluto was a bullfighter?" will find what they need. Even long-time diehard fans like me will learn new things. And the
illustrations are wonderful! There are sample strips from all the creators of the comics over the years, stills from the animated films, theatrical posters, sheet music, ads, model sheets and more. Fred includes episode guides, sample scripts, colorizations gaffs, character profiles, mini-bios of the voice artists, a section on the censored Popeye cartoons, and information about The International Popeye Fanclub written by club co-founder Mike Brooks.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should also say that there are two pages about me and my views toward Popeye and the Famous Studios cartoons, but even without those pages I would recommend the book to anyone wanting an education in Popeye and those curious as to why, 75 years after his creation, people all over the world still talk about the one-eyed, pipe tooting hero.
Not everyone will agree with all of Grandinetti's opinions about the various incarnations of Popeye, but Fred tries to be fair and will get you to think. And fans interacting with other fans' thoughts is what fandom is all about.
Bottom line: This is a good job from perhaps the number one Popeye fan in the world.

Colin Mcginn puts the great majority of film theorists to shame with this book. For at least three decades serious film studies have been largely (not entirely) under the hegemonic thumb of poststructuralist, and especially psychoanalytic, theory. Here, we have an extremely thoughtful consideration of film in relation, not to an already-institutionalized theory, but to human beings as creatures with certain kinds of cognitive faculties. Film appeals, Mcginn argues, because of the ways our eyes attend to the world and to the eyes of other people, and because we dream when we sleep. And Mcginn's explanations always show a very clear concern for the non-academic reader. Unlike, in my opinion, most scholars of film, Mcginn understands his own key ideas so well that he can explain them in ways that any reasonably educated person can comprehend. This does not mean his ideas are simple, only that he has mastered their complexity. We may not agree with him, but we can be clear about what he is saying. This has not typically been the case with film studies. Really a good read.

What a marvelous guy is Colin McGinn. He recently appeared with Bill Moyers on the 'Faith & Reason' series and is ever more apparently the closest thing we have in our culture to a modern-day rennaisance man. In 'The Power of Movies' we come to understand how it is that movies are capable of affecting us and what is unique about the movie-viewing experience - as opposed to perceiving other forms of art such as painting, live theater, etc. Personally, I am a huge fan of the way Colin McGinn thinks, what he thinks about, and the lucid, cogent way his thoughts are regurgitated which makes for easy ingestion and assimilation.

Fans of movies and movie history will appreciate this college-level discussion by a philosophy professor who takes a different look at the entertainment industry and its appeal. His analysis considers how movies affect the mind, fire the imagination, and cause viewers to relate to events on screen. Considerations of how screen images pair with emotional reactions and how dreams and narrative work together to create atmosphere create an intriguing blend of philosophical and psychological reflection.

If you enjoyed the musical, Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber', and liked the song "New Ways to Dream", you will love this book. McGinn takes us on a journey of analytic philosophy as he tries to understand why movies have become cultural icons in our western world. He does this with the skill of a journalist without making this a tutorial on Descartes, Strawson, Barthes, Freud, Wittgenstein or the many other philosophers and psychologists whom he has extensive knowledge as a professor of philosophy at the University of Miami, Florida. His favorite metaphor is that movies are like dreams. He describes movies as synthetic reality, wish fulfillment and propaganda sharing the attribute of being able to seduce our minds. Although he includes recorded music, theater, art and literature as tools to understand the ambiguous relation between mind and the external world, he ranks movies as the most important.

This book of 210 pages is the result of a great modern thinker sharing his thoughts about modern media and the movies. This book will be a favorite for film students and film buffs alike.

I'll get straight to the point: this book changed the way I look at movies. And what's more important, it changed the way I look at the mind. I've read a number of books on philosophy of mind, and they are pretty much dry, abstract, and repetitious; but this book is great because it examines how the mind works, but in an oblique way--by looking at an externalized analogy of mental processes.
This book is highly recommended because it deals with important and complex topics in a way that is simple and very enoyable. A very rare combination. What more could you ask for?