Average customer rating:
- Madonna IS art!!
- More than just a "coffee table" book! Don't judge this book just by its cover! Devour it... bon appetite!
- A Must for Madonna Fans - Fun for Art Lovers
- Even a non-Madonna fan will enjoy this book
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Madonna in Art
Mem Mehmet
Manufacturer: Chaucer Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1904957005 |
Book Description
In 1977, Madonna Louise Ciccone moved from Michigan to New York City, re-christening herself simply ‘Madonna’. Six years of hard work in the clubs of Manhattan with a succession of bands propelled her to the forefront of the New York scene. In 1983, her self-titled debut album was released, and the hit singles ‘Holiday’ and ‘Borderline’ soon followed. Then came seventeen consecutive top ten hits, a further ten albums, and roles in nineteen feature films, from her debut in the 80’s classic Desperately Seeking Susan to the steamy thriller Body of Evidence. Multitalented, controversial in her own proud sexuality and a dedicated campaigner for sexual tolerance, Madonna is one of the great Millennial Icons, a one-woman pop phenomenon who has pushed back and blurred the boundaries of the music, film and fashion worlds.
‘Madonna in Art’ is a celebration of the Pop Goddess at every stage of her career. A testament to her unique global impact, it features work by over a hundred artists, including Andrew Logan, Bruni, Sebastian Kruger, Al Hirschfeld, Donna Lief and Peter Howson. These images range across every role Madonna has played on the world stage, from erotic dancer to the dignified figure of Eva Peron in Evita.
Customer Reviews:
Madonna IS art!!.......2007-01-21
Fantastic hard-cover book with work by artists all over the world. Some of the stuff is really beautifully done - you've gotta have this!
More than just a "coffee table" book! Don't judge this book just by its cover! Devour it... bon appetite!.......2006-06-07
I am a librarian. Over the decades, I have had many art books pass through my hands. The compilation of fine artists by the author is glorious! The author's rigorous research in finding the artists whom he chose to be included within, certainly substantial.
In particular, the artist Susan Victor of murrrbeast.com, is
included in this book. It is about time that someone recognized her exceeding works. I would highly recommend this book -- especially to those in academia; the field of commercial art;
and anyone who simply loves art.
A Must for Madonna Fans - Fun for Art Lovers.......2004-10-30
I bought a book in 1984 called "Marilyn In Art". I always loved to every now and then flip through it because it was so much fun to see the different ways these artists drew or painted (etc) the same subject. I happen to be a longtime Marilyn fan.
From what I understand, the author (compiler) of this book, Mem Mehmet, is friends with the author of the twenty year old Marilyn book, Roger G. Taylor (who also did an "Elvis In Art"). I had the paperback version of the Marilyn book, but was lucky enough to get the hardcover version of "Madonna In Art". I am also a Madonna fan (not as much as a Marilyn fan, but...), this book is a MUST for any fan of Madonna! Fantastic, fun renditions of Madonna in every style imaginable, which also makes it great for any artist or art lover. Along with each piece of art is a quote from Madonna herself or a celebrity or author, etc. about some aspect of the superstar which is fun to read. Unlike my paperback "Marilyn In Art" book, the hardback version of this is of the highest quality. Beneath the attactive book cover, the name is embossed in silver metallic ink (which is used throughout the book). Would make a wonderful gift for Madonna fans, artists, art lovers!!! I'd scoop up the hardcover before it's only available in paperback!
Even a non-Madonna fan will enjoy this book.......2004-10-26
I've never been a fan of Madonna's music, but have admired her willingness to constantly re-invent herself. This new art book shows how others in the art world have viewed Madonna throughout her career. There are sketches, water colors, oils, and works from many other mediums with the artist's unique view on who (or in some cases, what) Madonna is.
If you love art, or love Madonna, this is the book for you. And it makes a perfect gift as well!
Book Description
Beautiful and enlightening, these classical mandalas include rose window designs from the cathedrals of Europe, Navajo sand paintings, Hindu yantras, traditional Buddhist thangka scroll designs, and motifs from illuminated Celtic manuscripts. As a symbol of the spiritual journey, the mandala expresses our yearning for the sacred and for knowledge and experience of the infinite. By coloring mandalas, we become focused on their complex symmetry and come to contemplate the divinity at our own center. With detailed directions on coloring techniques — either on the page or the computer screen—as well as charts explaining Chinese and Hindu color symbolism, this collection offers an irresistible invitation to a rewarding creative activity which is also a rich meditative experience.
Customer Reviews:
Nice but . . ........2007-09-30
This book has nice designs--and lots of them. Also, there's one design per page; they're NOT printed back-to-back like all of the Dover Coloring Books--I mostly use markers to color and they bleed through the page onto the next design if back-to-back rendering the next design unusable. However, this book is hard-bound, not spiral bound like Susanne Fincher's wonderful 3 volumes. I like to fold the book back on itself so I can color--and you can't do that with this one.
World Mandalas: Cultural captions and more.......2007-01-22
Very inspiring book. Mandalas from different cultures allow for an insight to the core of these cultures and for the establishment of a relationship between symbols and archetypes. And of course there is always ample room for creative ventures through coloring.
100 Mandalas From Five Spiritual Traditions.......2006-09-06
"Mandalas symbolize the presence of the sacred in the realm of the mundane. Mathematicians tell us that the point at the centre of a circle is dimensionless. This `essence' is contained within a limited space bounded by a circumference. Thus, by its very nature, the mandala is a symbol of the boundless and the eternal at the heart of circumscribed everyday reality." - From the book
From the Pantheon in Rome to Chartres Cathedral in France, from the exquisite images painted by the 11th century Benedictine abbess Hildegard of Bingen to Hindu yantras, sacred circles appear in architecture, art, and even nature itself. Mandalas, a word derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "circle" or "sacred center", are universal patterns that serve as symbols of wholeness, well being, time, community, nature, and the spiritual journey.
According to author Madonna Gauding, by contemplating the mandala, we discover the divinity at our own center. In her book World Mandalas: 100 New Designs for Colouring and Meditation, Gauding explains the role of mandalas in five traditions: Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Celtic, and Native American. The first part of the book, illustrated with vibrant, full-color images, introduces readers to the various expressions of mandalas, including how they serve as powerful spiritual and psychological symbols. Gauding also describes the many meanings of color as viewed by Chinese medicine, traditional associations, and the Hindu chakra system.
Why color mandalas? Besides being an enjoyable pastime, the author expresses that coloring intricate designs demand mental focus akin to the concentration you can develop through meditation. This focus can allow unconscious thoughts and feelings to emerge, as well as flashes of inspiration and solutions to problems. The author provides ten ways to use coloring mandalas:
1. Relax and center for stress relief
2. Establish your true self
3. Feel integrated and whole
4. Face up to problems
5. Problem solve
6. Generate creativity
7. Learn from color choices
8. Share your best self
9. Find your spiritual path
10. Heal yourself
For example, if you feel overwhelmed by the many roles you play, you could color a mandala to feel integrated and whole. Gauding suggests choosing a mandala with a complex design, then write down a list of the many roles you play in life. Then list both positive and negative qualities associated with those roles. Begin coloring the mandala, using as many shades and techniques as you can. After completing the design, take a moment to reflect on these roles and qualities. Do you feel more accepting and loving of who you are? she asks.
World Mandalas provides 100 blank mandalas from five spiritual traditions for coloring and meditation. They are large and easily reproducible using a scanner or photocopier. The mandalas are one-sided, so you don't have to worry about color bleeding through if you use markers or paints. (Although I'd recommend putting paper between pages, just in case.)
I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my writing hand, so coloring mandalas can be quite painful. However, I enjoyed coloring one of the Hindu mandalas with watercolor pencils, which depicted "the five ingredients for Tantric practices". I found all of the mandalas to be quite beautiful; I could feel a sense of peace just looking at them in an uncolored state! I wish I didn't have CTS so I could color mandalas as I used to; I find the process very calming and centering. It is, indeed, akin to meditation. I own several mandala coloring books, and I believe World Mandalas by Madonna Gauding has the most contemplative, attractive mandalas of them all. Highly recommended!
One of the Best.......2006-07-29
I just love this coloring book! I have Multiple Slerosis and Fibromyalgia and several other syndromes and disabled. Coloring mandalas is a great relaxation and spiritual tool. In this particular book (I have dozens), the mandalas are printed on nice paper for markers and are big. Not as challenging as some of my other mandala/spiritual/ethnic coloring books as it has the larger pictures instead of pictures with a lot on tiny details. So I use the larger pictures for when I am in relapse and shakey. It is a really great (thick)book and the price was excellent! I LOVE IT! Coloring is not just for little kids, kids over 50 love it too!
Book Description
In "Faces by Hanoch Piven: 78 Portraits from Madonna to the Pope," Piven has taken the art of caricature to a whole new level. Within the seven categories of TV, film, music, American politics, the world, finance, and miscellaneous, this book presents 78 deliciously wicked takes on the likes of such diverse folks as Sigmund Freud, Marilyn Monroe, and the Unabomber.
With a minimalist stroke of his deft hand, combined with an object related to what the subject is noted for - along with his sharp wit - Piven presents his vision of the celebrities he portrays. Thus we have Steven Spielberg's beard and mustache expressed with strips of film; Jesse Jackson's mouth is a speaker; and, of course, Barbra Steisand's nose is a microphone. This delightful collection of portraits sheds new light on the most familiar faces of our time.
Customer Reviews:
From the Publisher (Unabridged).......2005-11-22
"Hanoch Piven has taken the art of caricature to a whole new level. With a minimalist stroke of his deft hand, combined with an object related to what the subject is noted for--along with his sharp wit--Piven presents his vision of the celebrities he portrays.
"The stories Piven tells about each face are enlivened by elemental puns, developed from the three-step creative process. As Piven is sketching the subject in pencil, he is coming up with a word or two to describe the person: 'Americana' for Bruce Springsteen, 'media' for Jesse Jackson. Now he goes out 'to the field' to find the appropriate object, the field being anything from a toy store to a hardware store. Then he lays out all the stuff he has found and combines the objects, adding or culling as necessary, until he achieves the minimum amount of information the viewer needs to recognize the person.
"Thus we have Steven Spielberg's beard and moustache expressed with strips of film; Jesse Jackson's mouth is a speaker. Within the seven categories of TV, film, music, American politics, the world, finance, and miscellaneous, Faces by Hanoch Piven presents 78 deliciously wicked takes on the likes of such diverse folk as Sigmund Freud, Marilyn Monroe, and the Unabomber.
"Piven's work has appeared in such publications as Time, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and The Village Voice. Introduction by Steve Brodner. 88 pages, 78 full-color portraits, size: 6 3/4 x 9". Casebound book, with dust-jacket. ISBN: 0-7649-2131-2."--© Pomegranate
Book Description
Every writer needs a simpatico environment to be productive, and what better place than that mecca of creativity, San Francisco? The city by the bay has been home to generations of writers, from Rudyard Kipling to Mark Twain to Armistead Maupin. In this lively book, Eric Maisel gives writers the guidance they need to take a literal or figurative soul-renewing sojourn to San Francisco. Maisel, one of America’s foremost creativity coaches, explores the how and why of making an artistic pilgrimage to the city, including the pesky problem of finding the perfect pied-a-terre for writing that elusive masterpiece. Thirty individual essays profile the best sections of the city for pumping up the juices (“The View from Bernal Hill,” “South of Market”), noted literati of the past (“Mark Twain and the Onion”), how to find the perfect landlord, dealing with those inspiration-inhibiting earthquake fears, and much more.
Customer Reviews:
Food for the starving artist.......2006-12-31
Every year in December I read a creativity book and take as much time as I can to rejuvinate my creative soul and decide what projects I want to focus on in the coming year. Last year I read A Writer's Paris and this year I read A Writer's San Francisco. Both books are wonderful, inspirational texts that will help any writer find creative energy and meaning through their work. The first book made me want to get out and travel the world, using the opportunity to hone my senses and gather new experiences for my writing. It was wonderful, as far as that goes, but I don't generally have the money to fly off to Paris for a month, or even a week, to feed my creative soul. You can tell Maisel lives in San Francisco, while he himself has been only a tourist in Paris, because the second book brings writing home. It makes you appreciate your own home town, even if it's not as artist-friendly as San Francisco, and it offers an illuminating look inside a successful writer's daily life with out the rules and regulations so often laid out in "a writer's life" type of book. Recommended for all aspiring, struggling, and successful writers.
Midwest Book Review: December 2006 Issue.......2006-12-02
From Bernal Hill to Washington Square Park, Alcatraz Island to the West Portal Tunnel, Eric Maisel has traveled physically and metaphorically, and in this beautiful new book, he gives the reader a guided tour of heart, soul, and place.
The physical book is stunningly beautiful. Paul Madonna's colorful drawings of buildings, streets, interiors, and still-life scenes add amazing depth to the narrative. A center foldout shows a typically hilly San Francisco street full of narrow houses and flats with a view to the Golden Gate Bridge. Quotations by Imogen Cunningham, Dylan Thomas, Mark, Twain, and Oscar Wilde on the reverse side attest to the strength and attractions of the city.
Those who have followed Maisel's career, read his books on writing, received his frequent newsletters, and participated in his creativity workshops will be further entranced by this book of reflections, memories, and wise observations, but any author or artist who has fallen in love with a city - or, indeed, any place - will find this "Guided Journey of the Creative Soul" irresistible. Highly recommended. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review
A Writer Writing for Writers.......2006-10-31
I just finished reading A Writer's San Francisco and I'll be buying extra copies to give as gifts. I think this one is even better than A Writer's Paris (which BTW was also very good). With A Writer's San Francisco, Eric Maisel manages to weave history, his personal connections to the city and the best of his creativity coaching lessons together into a delicious mix. The wonderful illustrations by Paul Madonna were paired with the essays to compliment them perfectly.
A Writer's Paris made me consider it viable to go to Paris for a writing vacation. A Writer's San Francisco is even bigger than that--it's a writer writing for writers and revealing why it's important to write, how connection to place and events can be so meaningful and rich, and how non-fiction essays can be creative and satisfying.
This really is a great idea--I can hardly wait to read the next city that Maisel profiles from his unique perspective and writer's experience.
A real find........2006-10-22
I opened the book randomly to page 33, where the first line of the chapter read, "For a year I dated a schizophrenic poet-- let's call her Carol."
This is a travel guide?!
This essay was about a woman who hallucinated roses and poked strangers in the midriff and ended up institutionalized for some time, but who also wrote and recited poetry when she was "sane." And at one reading, a woman came up to her and said, "You are a real poet." It's the validation every writer craves, and it's the theme of this essay. Sure, the setting is San Francisco, but this is no "You must see this fine little café with the lovely murals" guide.
Having been drawn in by this essay, I flipped back to the first page and began reading. It's even more of a niche book than I imagined. It's written for nonreligious Democrat novelists who consider themselves "artists" and love San Francisco. I am precisely none of these things.
Considering how far out of his target market I am, I probably shouldn't have enjoyed this book. But I did. I enjoyed it despite wanting to toss mackerel at his kneecaps a few times. I enjoyed it partly because of that, maybe. What really matters, above all else, is that he's writing about the lives of writers. And even if I roll my eyes at the idea of "artistes" in coffee houses, we're going to have a lot in common.
The experience of walking into a bookstore and finding out someone else has already written the book you were planning to write, for instance. Trying to write even through tragedy and pressures. Missing a fabulous writing opportunity because you were in the wrong place at the right time. Blowing your first public speaking engagement in support of your book. Having conversations about the meanings of words like "haberdashery."
There are brilliant sentences and paragraphs here, things you'll wish you wrote. There are experiences you'll "get" even if you've never had them. This is part of the brotherhood and sisterhood of writers. The part that believes, regardless of what we write and where we live and what demographic boxes we check on subscription forms, that the merits of our work are still important. That those who try to belittle the craft should have their noses rearranged. That writing matters.
San Francisco - the literary muse.......2006-10-18
Armistead Maupin's fictional tales of the city are one long love letter to San Francisco ... and here is why. A must have book for al writers who plan to visit the Bay Area.
Book Description
In February 2004, the
San Francisco Chronicle began printing an enigmatic feature called "All Over Coffee." Almost immediately, letters of love and hate, confusion and praise poured in. Accustomed to the familiar formats of comic strips and cartoons, some readers struggled to understand a creation that seemed to live both within and beyond those boundaries.
All Over Coffee blends the timing of comics with the depth of poetry. Artist and writer Paul Madonna has fused art, literature, and comics by pairing timeless cityscapes with philosophical musings and poignant stories in masterfully rendered ink-wash drawings that surpass the art of Ben Katchor in elegance and architectural detail. His work has been compared to "a meeting of the tone of Edward Gorey, the uniqueness of Chris Ware, and the artfulness of Raymond Pettibon."
Quirky, whimsical, and often profound,
All Over Coffee's stunning imagery and thoughtful writing combine to create a conceptual world, both dreamlike and familiar. This selection will delight anyone who has ever lived in or visited San Francisco-or dreamed of doing so-with its original, off-the-beaten-path view of the city and its inhabitants.
Paul Madonna moved to San Francisco and began to self-publish comics after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University's fine arts program and an internship at
MAD magazine. In 2002 he launched his incredibly popular website, www.paulmadonna.com, posting a new cartoon each week. In 2004 the
San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com picked up his strip "All Over Coffee," which continues to appear weekly.
Customer Reviews:
Maybe You Had to Be There.......2007-08-23
I ended up buying this one essentially sight unseen, after seeing a couple of excerpts on the Comics Journal blog. And excerpted is probably not the best way to comprehend this - Madonna's art is stunning from the get-go, and any individual page has a really satisfying (and very 1970's-ish) feel. But as comics, it doesn't ever come together, particularly when read grouped.
Madonna's vibe seems to be a captured moment, and having 200 or so captured moments in a row doesn't do anything to increase their impact - if anything, it dilutes the strength of whatever standout strips there are.
I give it a four-star review because as a reprint volume, the standards are some of the highest I've ever seen. The sepia washes are rich and nuanced, the color is sharp and vibrant, the paper stock is top notch, etc. If you are already a fan of the strip, or really have a yen for moody yet celebratory renderings of San Francisco, this is quite a gem. If you're unfamiliar, I would recommend finding more than a few of Madonna's strips to read over and then decide if you're on his wavelength or if you want to fork over the cash for what amounts to a nice urban sketchbook with some random dialogue thrown in for effect.
A coffee buzz for your eyes!.......2007-07-09
I have been a big fan of Paul Madonna's exquisite drawings and thought-provoking captions since All Over Coffee debuted in the SF Chronicle. I left SF nearly 3 years ago and his strip on the web kept me connected to home. The book was very enjoyable because it documents the evolution of the strip, and has forever put to rest the question: "but what does it really mean?"
Do you love San Francisco? Do you appreciate finely rendered drawings of unique architecture or everyday things most people overlook? Ever wonder how much work a working artist really does? Do you like to eavesdrop on strangers' conversations and try to put the fragments of what you hear into context? If you answered yes to any one of the above, you will enjoy "All Over Coffee."
Thank you, Paul for giving your fans something tangible to linger over, with a good cup of coffee.
Book Description
A beguiling new novel from the internationally bestselling author of Last Voyage of the Valentina
When an elegant French antiques dealer dies in her adopted hometown of New York City, her son, Misha, is astonished to learn that she owned a priceless, uncataloged Titian known as The Gypsy Madonna. Misha wonders how she could have kept such a secret from him, bonded inseparably as they were since his childhood in German-occupied France. Now with the discovery of the Titian masterpiece and the loss of his mother, he must at last journey back to Bordeaux to uncover the truth about The Gypsy Madonna -- and himself.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting concept, but poorly executed........2007-07-03
Repetitive sentence structure, odd use of simile and a breathtakingly whiney main character tarnish the original concept of this book. If your looking for literature, go elsewhere. Harlequin Romance material.
Yes, yes, yes! An exquisite masterpiece of restrained prose...........2007-06-27
Every sentence is perfectly, sensitively, lovingly presented like a gift. This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever come across. I, too, feel lucky to have found it. I will sing its praises to my friends, and cherish it as one of the delicious "finds" of my life. I hope it becomes a classic among people with literary taste. It makes me ill that the most stupid, clumsy, awkwardly-written books are best-sellers, and this little gem is barely noticed. I hope that is not the last word on The Gypsy Madonna, which deserves as much (if not more) of a place on the NYT list as the mildly interesting The Memory Keeper's Daughter. (Never overestimate the taste of the American public!) In any case, those of us who love this book, let's make sure it gets known, heard and read (the audio CD is exquisite). What really thrilled me was the author's ability to truly understand, in the most delicate and heartwarming way, the heart and soul of a six-year-old boy; especially how the young are capable of soaring feelings of romantic love and friendship. Read it! You'll love it!
Could not put this book down!!!.......2007-04-12
I stumbled upon this book while searching for a novel to help me through a small infection. It was a WONDERFUL find. The prose is beautiful, and although I normally detest both coming of age stories and first-person narratives, I was captivated from the first page and was not able to stop reading --- except to take care of essentials like meals --- until the very last page. The experience reminds me of my favorite reading experiences, and the book reminds me, with its exquisite sense of place, of THE ENGLISH PATIENT. This author is AMAZING, and this book is the best I have read for ages. Thank you S & S for bringing this author to American audiences! I am appalled by the PW review. The reveiwer must be either too burned out or too immature to recognize good fiction. This skilled novelist creates such psychological and emotional tension in this story that it intriques as well as any page-turning thriller.
BRAVA, Santa Monetfiore! I can't wait to read your other books!
Average customer rating:
- Entertaining
- 'We see what we want to see'
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Madonna of the Toast
Buzz Poole
Manufacturer: Mark Batty Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
ASIN: 0977282775 |
Book Description
All over the world people cherish different beliefs. Regardless if these beliefs are rooted in religion or popular culture, a true believer cannot be swayed. So, when Mother Teresa surfaces on a cinnamon bun, the manifestation turns into an event that attracts global attention. Madonna of the Toast documents what happens when religious and secular icons appear on such things as pancakes, potato chips and cows. From highly publicized examples of these phenomena (Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese) to previously unpublicized instances of these visitations (Jar Jar Binks on a shed door, Jesus on a mandolin), all of the objects featured in the book exemplify the power of visual communication. As Buzz Poole writes, "Whether on the level of sacrosanct devotion or pop culture kitsch, these forms become as relevant as the world's finest art because they compel people to react; the objects in this book, emblazoned with faces and symbols recognized the world over, have been appraised at stunningly high sums, been toured around the globe and have inspired people to travel, pray and steal." Every example consists of colorful images accompanied by intimate, remarkable stories that relay the personal and cultural ramifications of these objects, every single one of them encapsulate very real aspects of popular culture.
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining.......2007-05-14
Very well done research. Buzz Poole is an enjoyable read. Madonna of the Toast is a great collection of everyday phenomonon that just pass us by without notice.
'We see what we want to see'.......2007-02-07
Buzz Poole (author of the brilliant GREEN DESIGN) brings his rather daunting gifts of communication both visual and verbal to yet another interesting release from the consistently creative Mark Batty Publisher in New York. This time Poole turns from ecological investigation to quasi-spiritual investigation and the results are pages of images that push the imagination and sense of humor cum fascination to new limits.
Poole opens his pictorial series of essays with a definition of the term 'Pereidolia' - 'a psychological phenomenon elicited by random visual stimuli being mistakenly perceived as recognizable'. He then personalizes this universal phenomenon by entering the world of daydreaming, a space and arrested time when we stare at clouds or bits and pieces of detritus and find faces staring back at us. Some would call them miracles, some signs from on high (or down below!), and some as mechandisable fragments for financial gain.
Poole doesn't just create his own experiences: Poole travels to meet people and places where images (not unlike the shroud of Turin) have been celebrated. We meet Myrtle and her potato chips, many of which hold images of the likes of Bob Hope's profile; shower curtains with Lenin's image as clear as a ghost; a Michelin-mimicking carrot; a Holstein cow whose black spots coalesce into the image of Mickey Mouse; endless images of Christ on mandolins, frying pans, pierogi; a pancake with the incidental likeness of Pope John Paul II; fish with Arabic signs from Allah; a melted chocolate mound resembling the Virgin Mary - the list goes on.
The pleasure in reading this book is a mixture of chuckling about what others have convinced the public is 'real' and the very tender way in which Poole captures the images and respectfully explains their derivation. This is not a book that denigrates anyone's belief: this is a book that merely shares them with a wider audience. As we are coming to expect from Poole, here is a writer/journalist/photographer/designer who has a keen eye for the little bit of paraphernalia that make our world tick! Grady Harp, February 07
Average customer rating:
- A lively and interesting read!
- Unearthing the Real Madonna
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Madonna: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies)
Mary Cross
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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Madonna Style
ASIN: 0313338116 |
Book Description
As the Material Girl, Eva Peron in Evita, and most recently, queen of the disco floor, Madonna's transformations and assumed identities keep her fans wanting more. She has inspired university professors and cultural critics to enshrine her as a postmodern icon. Known for her persona as much as for her music, Madonna has stirred controversy through her use of religious and sexual depictions in her songs, music videos, concerts, and in one notorious publication. This biography traces Madonna's ambitious journey from a Midwest upbringing as part of a large family to achieving fame on a global scale. It also brings readers up to date on her latest incarnation as a wife and mother, living on a country estate in England. Students researching cultural studies topics will accurate information on the musician's life and body of work, as well as critical commentary on her impact and lasting significance as one of the most influential female entertainers of our time. She has been the subject of countless magazines and newspaper stories around the world, whether for her sold-out concerts or as an advocate for Kabbalah, the spiritual movement rooted in Jewish mysticism. This book shares her story and provides a way to consider the influence Madonna has had through her ever-evolving career in shaping our popular culture. A timeline of significant events and a bibliography of print and electronic sources for additional research round out this volume.
Customer Reviews:
A lively and interesting read!.......2007-06-25
I picked up this book on a whim and was captured after the first three pages. The writing is so lively that it kept my interest up even when the subject veered into areas that I might not otherwise care much about. And the author's dry understatements tell volumes. Ms. Cross seems to know just about everything about Madonna and she shows interest and respect for her without being silly on the one hand or critical on the other.
Unearthing the Real Madonna.......2007-06-21
While it's a formidable task to unearth the real Madonna, Mary Cross gets as close as any journalist or writer has to date to penetrating Madonna's multiple reincarnations. Cross offers up a full sketch of Madonna's life in all its complexities and outrage.
Cross suggests that Madonna's bad girl teen years, where she learned the power of shock, gave her the instincts for making it and the confidence to succeed--traits which have served her to good advantage throughout her long career. At age 20 she was cocky enough to take herself to Manhattan where she didn't know a soul. Even a series of failed artist ventures didn't dissuade Madeonna. She stayed the course, always with the ability to be on the cutting edge. She was among the first big names to use MTV to her advantage. Madonna was also in the forefront of milking publcity through the power of shock. She shoved her panties in David Letterman's face as a guest on his late night show,and later took delight in the outrage caused by her photographic book, "Sex." Her last concert took aim at political leaders and conveyed an erotic relatinship to horses.
Cross is in awe of Madonna's capacity to keep us guessing as she pushes 50. Madonna can still create some of the most imaginative and entertaing concerts around while positioning herself as a loving mother and wife.
Maybe the real feminist message here is never to lose faith in what you believe in and to be willing to try the new. "Truth or Dare" is the Madonna story and Cross tells it with juicy details, balance and even respect. This is a well-written (Cross is a seasoned journalist) guilty pleasure supreme. The perfect summer vacation read. I read it over a rainy weekend and, much to my surprise, found myself admiring Madonna in ways I hadn't counted on.
Pat Taub
Tenants Harbor,Maine
Customer Reviews:
Amazing.......2007-01-09
This beautiful journal is astounding. The cover is a replica of a stained glass window in a church in California. The clasp is magnetic and falls into place automatically. The back cover is an imprint of the madonna in the leatherlike material. Truly a quality piece at a wonderful price.
Customer Reviews:
Bad subject, great presentation.......2003-02-13
Madonna is the ultimate emperor in new clothes (all pomp, no circumstance), but these Rolling Stone Files collections are well organized, easy to follow, and fascinating in their ability to let us follow a career via some of the best writing in the business. Madonna is a fascinating anomaly because of her almost freakish ambition combined with an appalling lack of real talent. That makes this a very readable collection, even if I never listen to the music or see the godawful movies.
Awesome.......2000-04-07
Great if you love Madonna, as I do. Also, good if you are just interested in reading about her. She is fascinating....always has been, always will be. Madonna is a living legend! Also recommend, Encyclopedia Madonnica.....Madonna is absolutely fabulous!
The 3 best books about Madonna.......1999-06-14
1. This one (Rolling Stone Files) 2. Encyclopedia Madonnica (Matthew Rettenmund) 3. Madonna Unauthorized (Christopher Anderson)
With these 3 books you will learn more about Madonna then she even knows about herself.
Mandatory for any fanatic who wants to know more about this show-biz lady, other then what they see and hear on radio, TV, onstage, and onscreen.
Viva Ciccone!
Triumphant!!!.......1999-05-04
Rolling Stone and Madonna?Why not.Her being in the cover on all reincartions deserves a compilation.Essential to all Madonnaics,here we could trace her humble begginings,rise to fame,the endless critical scrutiny...it's all here and more.Missing though are the tongue in cheek covers,picture,and one liners.(Perhaps,one need to buy RS coffee table book Covers,to totally enjoy the moment).Concise,right on track and enjoyable!!!
madonnaology.......1999-02-16
Being a Madonnaologists in my own write, I enjoyed this history. I also found the Madonna stuff in POSTMODERNISM FOR BEGINNERS, intriguing.
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