The Circle of Life: Rituals from the Human Family Album (Introduction By Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Customer Reviews:

The Circle of Life.......2005-10-04

I shopped a long time to locate this publication. It is worth the cost and the wait. For anyone wishing for a glimpse of different cultural rituals of family, this is a must have for your collection.

Misguided text.......2005-08-19

Sure, the photographs look nice on big glossy oversized spreads... But I have to consider the message of the book, as loosely given in the text that introduces, accompanies, and then summarizes this collection of photos. Although the book will likely impress and inform readers about cultural diversity, unfortunately the text tries to claim how amazingly similar all these patterns are. It tries at every turn to introduce mystical elements and bases this whole approach on an interpretation of psychologist Carl Jung's conception of archetypes and the "collective unconscious." It is really too bad that the editor and commenters were so limited in their approach - tending toward the poetic rather than the analytic - for this book could have served as an introduction to the principles of cultural diffusion, history, culture areas, and other anthropological and sociological concepts and principles. Instead of looking at how the people of Madagascar had travelled from Southeast Asia, or (sometimes forceful) patterns in the spread of the "world religions" caused replacement or hybridization with traditional religions, or how the similarities in indiginous religions are rooted in the similar levels of technology and societal size/type (foragers, horticulturalists, agriculturalists, etc.); this book instead would suggest that similarities between its hand-picked photographs are supposed to show the existence of either God or a collective unconscious. It would have helped for the book to provide a clear definition of the "collective unconscious" that can actually fit in with modern understandings of cultural diffusion, memetics, social systems and cultural evolution. But it didn't; and so there was a large opportunity missed to reveal one of the truly remarkable cultural advances of modern times; that of rational and cumulative scientific endeavors. This book will instead only impress with the proneness of humanity to cling to the irrational. Instead of just a couple of quotes from Jung and Joseph Campbell, this book desperately needs quotations from Freud and Durkheim! Instead, this large tome addresses things at the same level as your average travelogue tv show. It whets the appetite and even feeds you a bit, but the "food" turns out to be candy rather than meat.

Stunning photography, great depth of feeling........1999-08-11

This book deals with "the big picture". I got a sense of viewing customs through time. The many cultures shown are contrasted in an exciting way. Stunning photographs showing rituals surrounding birth, death, marriage, etc. are accompanied by intelligent, inspiring copy. A beautiful and thought provoking book.

Average customer rating:

Modern enactment of the old cultures
WAITING FOR A BOOK
A fascinating insight into South African cultures

Vanishing Cultures of South Africa
Peter Magubane
Manufacturer: Rizzoli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

South Africa | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Modern enactment of the old cultures.......2005-04-28

This review applies equally to three of Peter Magubane's very similar books, "Vanishing Cultures of South Africa," published in 1998, "African Renaissance" published two years later in 2002 and "Ceremonies," published in 2003.

These books are almost unconscionably similar, with many photos in the second book either outright recycled from the first book or pictures taken in the same photo-shoots as the ones in the first book--sometimes of the very same people, in photos apparently shot moments apart. The first book is organized by tribe, while the latter is organized by categories such as dress, rites, arts, homesteads, etc. Nevertheless the books are largely the same, covering the same material, same people, with the same or similar pictures.

One can get the impression somebody just wanted to make a fast buck. In fact, a third book by Magubane, published a year later and titled "Ceremonies" seems to be almost entirely reprints from both of the prior books--with no warning to the prospective purchaser! There exist still more books by this guy, but these are the only three I bought, so I don't know exactly how thin he spreads his work. As for these three, I should have bought only one of them (if any), and will return at least "Ceremonies."

As for their content, you have to be aware that these pictures, taken in well-developed South Africa, depict tribal lifestyles and rituals that hark back to the past--remaining only in a modern context of revival and preservation of the old traditional ways. People dress up for them, in other words. You'll see costumes that look neat and clean and store-bought, and some evidence of modernity in the background (buildings, shirts and ties). You'd buy one of these books to see how the modern culture chooses to embrace some form of ritual (cultural heritage) from the past in the hope of informing today's culture in positive ways.

If you want to see and learn about African tribal cultures that still exists today as they have for hundreds of years (the "dressing up" is still every-day attire), then you must look elsewhere (such as, for example, the amazing books on Ethiopia's Omo Valley, by Silvester, Giansanti, Beckwith & Fisher, etc.).

Three stars might be too many for these works that are a repeated rehashing of previous works, almost identical, apparrently just to make another buck off unsuspecting customers. Shame.

WAITING FOR A BOOK.......2000-03-31

When this book was first published, here in South Africa its promotion was good. I decided this was my type of book, so I went shopping. None of the bookshops that I usually use had it and so I placed an order at a couple of the stores (explaining I also had another order somewhere else.

It really was worth waiting for, the photography is outstanding. There is also enough information for people who do not live in Africa - just to wet their taste buds

South Africa has had plenty of problems in the past but when I see a book like this, I am very honoured as I know these tribes, they are colourful and very proud.

A fascinating insight into South African cultures.......1999-04-18

This richly illustrated book is a fascinating look at the various traditional black cultures in South Africa. The photographer spent time with different tribal peoples, experiencing their day-to-day lives. His magnificent photographs allow us a glimpse into these vanishing worlds as they adapt to modern, urban influences. For travellers interested in meeting people and armchair anthropologists, this is an indispensable read.

Average customer rating:

A monumental achievement by the authors & a joy to behold
Book is good, but the supplement CD is...
See it before it disappears
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
An Africa that *does* exist, but that is vanishing

African Ceremonies: The Concise Edition
Carol Beckwith , and Angela Fisher
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Portraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

African Studies | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0810934841

Amazon.com

By a recent count, the continent of Africa comprises some 1,300 cultures. Some of them number millions of people, some only a few families; some are thriving, while others are in danger of disappearing, the victims of acculturation or, in extreme cases, of genocide. This diversity--and the dangers to it--is little known outside Africa. Photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher highlight both matters in African Ceremonies, an extraordinary two-volume collection of some 850 full-color images. The two artists have traveled to almost all the continent's 53 countries in the last three decades, documenting traditional tribal life in earlier books and articles for National Geographic, among other publications. Here they focus on the religious customs of several dozen peoples, combining stunning images with well-written essays to illustrate the enduring power of traditional beliefs.

Among the book's finest moments are a record of the Fulani cattle crossing, when for 10 days young males drive their herds across the wide Niger River to receive gifts from their grateful compatriots; a sequence showing a healing ceremony of the Himba people of Namibia and Angola, whose "wild women," possessed by lion spirits, are riveting actors on the page; and a remarkable series of photographs of Wodaabe courtship dancers, who compete to attract wives by charming them with exaggerated smiles and the skilled use of cosmetics. The authors note that, as women, they entered places men never could--and as foreigners, they were also often welcomed as "honorary males" and allowed to witness male-only ceremonies. Many of these rites are in danger of extinction as old ways are forgotten and in some cases suppressed. Beckwith and Fisher have captured them before it's too late. Beautifully designed and manufactured, African Ceremonies makes a fine companion to Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s Wonders of the African World, and invites leisurely reading--and constant revisiting. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

The monumental two-volume original edition of African Ceremonies has sold a remarkable 30,000 copies in the United States alone at a retail price of $150. Now Abrams is proud to publish a newly designed, very affordable one-volume edition of this definitive work on the traditional rituals of Africa, containing more than half the magnificent photographs that were in the original edition plus new images that will focus fresh attention on specific ceremonies. Many of these rituals are vanishing; never have they been portrayed with the intimacy and skill that Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher bring to this glorious book. The book is accompanied by an audio CD of African ceremonies.

Customer Reviews:

A monumental achievement by the authors & a joy to behold.......2006-12-04

African Ceremonies represents a decade of hard work and a tremendous achievement. Its authors convey great insight and deep respect for vanishing African cultures. Does any other work of photography or cultural anthropology even come close in its importance?

Readers will be engaged and fascinated by this window into a disappearing world. My reaction was one of deep appreciation-- thank you, Beckwith and Fisher, for sharing your journey with us.

Book is good, but the supplement CD is..........2005-11-24

There is no-doubt about the photos are more than good.

However, the attached CD is less than poor or wrong...at least on the tracks from the East Africa; 11, 15 and 17 as below.

- Track 11 : KAMBA DRUMS
This is not the Kamba(a Kenyan ethnic group) drum.
The tune played here is called "GONDA" of the Giriama tribe of Kenya and the play itself is not of a high quality. It was played by unskilled players is obvious.

- Track 15 : BUGO
Well, it is Bugo play, but not at all of a traditional way of it. Songs usually accompany Bugo and the high-pitch trumpet-like sound mixed on the track seems not of a traditional instrument. The player is not a good one, too.

- Track 17 : MABUMBUMBO (Indian Ocean)
This is totally wrong.
First of all, it is MABUMBUMBU, NOT Mabumbumb-o-.
Secondly, MABUMBUMBU is the plural of Bumbumbu, which is the name of a type of drum the Giriama tribe uses. The Giriama lives in the Coastal area of Kenya towards inland - you cannot call the Giriamas as people of Indian Ocean.
Moreover, the tune played here is not of Mabumbumbu!
The tune here is of a drum section only of ORUTU music - Orutu is a one-string instrument played by the Luo tribe. The sound of drum you hear on this track is of a drum called OHANGULA, which is not in anyway related to Mabumbumbu; for these two tribes reside in the both ends of Kenya, East and West, more than 1000Kms apart!

I wonder how these careless mistakes passed through eyes of the publishers prior to its publication.

Readers please ignore the above-mentioned tracks - I hope only these three tracks! - on the supplement CD.

See it before it disappears.......2003-05-03

A beautiful look at cultural conventions that may soon be relegated to the quaint and unusual.

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.......2003-01-20

HOW CAN ANYONE SAY THAT THESE CULTURES DON'T EXIST ANYMORE, OR THIS IS AN AFRICA THAT NO LONGER EXISTS. THEY TOOK THESE PICTURES WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS.. DIDN'T THEY ? DUH ? EVERYONE KNOWS THERE IS A COMMON EVERYDAY AFRICA.. GOING TO WORK GENERAL LIVING ( JUST LIKE US HERE IN AMERICA FOLKS) BUT STILL THERE IS AFRICAN TRIBAL SPLENDOR. JUST LIKE IN AMERICA INDIAN'S GET TOGETHER FOR TRIBAL POW WOWS. THEY STILL EXIST TOO. THE PICTURES IN THIS BOOK ARE SHOCKINGLY GORGEOUS...AFRICAN PEOPLE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL. PLEASE! THE MEN ARE HANDSOME, THE WOMEN WONDEROUS. IT JUST MAKES ME WONDER WHY THE EUROPEAN STANDARD, HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE "STANDARD" OF BEAUTY. THIS REVUE MAY SOUND SHALLOW, BUT IF YOUR INTO THE HUMAN HAS ART FORM ...BUY THIS BOOK!!

An Africa that *does* exist, but that is vanishing.......2003-01-09

The "concise edition" of AFRICAN CEREMONIES opens with a preface by Dr. Malidoma Some, president of "Echoes of the Ancestors" and author of his autobiography OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT and THE HEALING WISDOM OF AFRICA. Malidoma is from the Dagara tribe of Burkina Faso. His name means "make friends with the stranger/enemy," and that is why he now lives in the West.

I have met Malidoma on a few occasions (participating in some of his rituals) and I corresponded with him for a time. He has been incredibly helpful and supportive in my own spiritual journey (he is an initiated shaman of his tribe and has recently become the youngest initiated elder), and therefore I trust what he says. Malidoma's preface makes it clear that, sadly, AFRICAN CEREMONIES documents a world that - unlike the claims of some - is not entirely gone, but that is quickly vanishing. Malidoma comments that these photographs are very important because they show the last time that some of these ceremonies will be performed in such elaborate nature, and perhaps they will never be performed again at all.

Book Description

A whimsical array of ghosts and goblins, spooks and skeletons, vamps and vampires parade through this unparalleled collection of more than 100 years of American Halloween attire. From Little Bo Peep with lamb in hand to beatniks and pirates, from monsters and witches to clowns and animals, this veritable "carnival" of costumes visually captures All Hallows' Eve like no other book before.

In her celebration of Halloween revelry, photographer Phyllis Galembo never settles for the ordinary; here instead are evocative scenes of dressed-to-scare young trick-or-treaters "modeling" their disguises, of undead spirits haunting their surroundings, and of costumes spanning over a century that take on an eerie new creepiness thanks to special lighting effects. Accompanying the costume shots is a history of this always-popular holiday and an essay placing the work in the wider context of fashion and costume. Of interest to enthusiasts, designers, and students alike, this devilishly diverting book is the perfect gift for all Halloween aficionados.

Customer Reviews:

DON'T WASTE YOU TIME.......2007-01-04

THE MASK ON THE COVER IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THE WHOLE BOOK...beware!!!!

Read for Thrills!.......2005-09-24

This book is filled with wonderful, artistic photos. Galembo's collection thrills anyone interested in costumes and vintage Halloween.

AMAZING!!!.......2003-08-01

If you have ANY feel for Halloween, BUY this book! It is THAT good! It will remind you of your childhood and the magic that flew through the air on Halloween. HIGHLY reccomended!

Average customer rating:

Desert Eves: An Indian Paradise
Catherine Clement
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

In this exotic, boldly colorful book, famed photographer Hans Silvester points his lens at the inhabitants of a remote village in northwest India to create an engrossing view of a vanishing culture. From his marvelous photographs and from Catherine Clément's poetic and provocative essay emerges a moving portrait of a people—especially the women—who have little, yet appear to have found great personal freedom.

Customer Reviews:

Photos are great but photographer leaves much to be desired.......2007-08-10

I bought this book for the photos and was not disappointed! As a native american artist with limited resources it has been often difficult to find photos of authentic dress. I was thrilled to see such great documentation in this book. That aside, when I contacted the photographer Ben Marra to see if I could use parts of his photos in my paintings his answer was absolutely not. Wow! But the photos are great none the less.

Great photography.......2003-07-31

The photos in this book are absolutely marvelous. If you are interested in making your own regalia, this will help you get ideas for the finer details. Most of the colorful "outfits" use contemporary as opposed to traditional materials, and with great ingenuity.

I believe that the photographers (a husband and wife team) had a terrific eye for what makes beautiful regalia. The photos are expert and visually enjoyable. Contrary to a previous reviewer, I think the plain backdrop works well. Yes, the book is limited in scope to static (non-dancing) poses, i.e. still portraits.

And nearly every photo is accompanied by an inspirational paragraph transcribed from the words of the Native American pictured. Good reading!

My only objection to this book is that since it was photographed at powwows in the northwestern U.S., it is mainly limited to representatives of tribes in that area. Otherwise, an excellent book!

Very nice bit.......2003-06-28

This book falls shy of a couple stars for me for one reason:
Although the photographs are all very well done, clear,
and pletiful, they are all inside studio settings only.
Compared to outdoors settings and natural light, these pics
loose something crucial in the translation.
There are NO outdoor shots and, most importantly, NO PICTURES
OF NATIVE DANCING!! Can't believe it!! I can't
believe that a book of ceremonial dress woulb have no
pictures including dancing ceremonies, for the costumes truely come alive when in motion. Tsk-tsk for not even giving us even a few - such pictures are the main reason I bought the book. Two or three would have helped immensely. Otherwise, I agree with the other reviewers, who don't seem to mind the omission I mention.

Pow Wow: Images Along the Red Road.......1999-12-01

I highly recommend this visually stunning book for anyone with any interest at all in Native American pow wow culture. The color photographic portraits are riveting and the commentary from the dancers themselves is compelling.

Beautiful, unique portraits and statements, wonderful book.......1997-06-07

A review should on some occasions cut to the chase. Buy this unique and beautiful book for your school library (any age), yourself, gifts. You can see some photos and some of what the dancers said on http:www.halcyon.com/benmarra/ Ben Marra's powwow web page. With his permission, I chose a few pix of young people and what they said for my Fancy Powwow Outfits page at http://www.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/art/beads/powwow.html, part of my beads and beadwork section .

These give a good idea of the wonderful contents, so here I'll say a few other things. First, a book of portraits of people in full powwow regalia: close up, clear, relaxed, and talking (or a grandma speaks for a little one) about the meanings of it and their personal involvements in their own culture is unusual, unique. We've all probably got little collections of photos we took ourselves of Uncle leading the Grand entry, Sister in her jingledress, etc. Nobody has any like this, though. There's no comparison to books of "taken at powwows photos" put out by other publishers. These are the work of a lifelong pro photographer, who -- together with his wife -- was able to put people at ease and capture character and meanings that work with what the people say to create an integrated work of art -- this book -- that is accessible to anyone from little children to busy city folk, who don't really know what a powwow is.

Linda Marra told me almost all the portraits were taken within a 5- minute set-up period, in improvised 'studios,' set up somewhere close enough to the dance arenas for the dancers to move on, but a little out of the way. The portraits are all against a plain brown backdrop/floor. All attention is on the people. Linda interviewed the people for the moving, interesting, and culturally informative statments by each (or parents or grandparents of the littlest ones). Help -- introductions to the people, encouragement, philosophy -- was provided by Bernie Whitebear (Colville), Executive Director of Indians of All Tribes; and by the staff of Iw'asil Youth Program in Seattle (who put on a number of the powwows over the years), and Bob Eaglestaff (Lakota), principal of the American Indian Heritage High School.

Tuscarora Richard W. Hill, Sr. (Native American Studies, State University of New York, Buffalo, and National Museum of the American Indian) contributes an interesting preface, which is a good context for most of this review. He explains "I almost came to resent the powwow as a sort of tourist fabrication, a 'minstrel show' put on mostly for white culture-consumers. But the power of the drum is just too much for me to resist....The powwow has now spread from coast to coast, and while some see it as a pan-Indian fabrication, I now see it serves as a vital catalyst for cultural renewal."

"Magic happens when individuals take the time to make the beadwork and bustles, learn the songs and steps, and personally step forward to express themselves through their dances....The powwow has become our light in a very dark world."

"These photographs are a testimony to those individuals who make the powwow magic. They are the human element behind the tradition, the real people who keep it all going. They may be construction workers, computer operators, students, or blackjack dealers during the week. On weekends, the ageless drum calls again, not to help them relive their cultural past, but to celebrate their real existence in the world. It is the dancers' faces in these photographs that speak to me the loudest, despite their quiet demeanor. They tell me of themselves, determined and honor-bound to keep the dancing traditions alive."

Another preface, by Nez Perce elder Horace Axtell, leader of the Seven Drum Religion on the reservation, is more philosophical -- and practical, too:

"We try to follow in the footsteps of our elders, who cleared the way for us with clean minds, hearts, and bodies....They prayed for our welfare, but their foresight could not cover such problems of today as drugs and alcohol. So, in order to keep the Red Road clean and good, we must be strong followers of our Indian ways. We must help all concerned in the war against drug and alcohol problems, which threaten to destroy our youth today. That is why our powwows are kept free of drugs and alcohol....We can enjoy the Red Road with dignity as it was intended."

Marra attended his first powwow 8 years ago by chance -- seeing some dancers while biking, and later arranging to improvise portrait photos at a school powwow. "When we looked at the results of that night's work, we discovered I had recorded more than just colorful images or fabulous outfits. I had recorded a sense of a people's spirituality, dignity, and proud identity...a glimpse of history and heritage. We had been allowed to make art in response to it."

And so he was, and so this is. There is little for the reviewer to say, here, beyond declaring that this book is a must-have for anyone of any age who has any kind of interest in Native American people. (Marra has some pretty nice photo calendars too.)

Book Description

Here, brought vividly to life, is an icon of Japanese culture and custom—the geisha in her role as human work of art and perfect woman.

A hundred years ago geisha numbered eighty thousand; today there are a thousand at most. Happily, Jodi Cobb is able to show us—before they vanish—both the ceremonial world of the geisha in Tokyo and Kyoto and their private world as few outsiders have ever seen it.

Many of the older women we meet here were forced into this world by hardship; the young women were drawn to it by their dream of a
romantic life or their love of traditional arts. We see geisha in their daytime routines: fine-tuning their breathtakingly lavish wardrobes; perfecting the art of makeup; training maikos (apprentices); and preparing for annual dance performances.

But as we watch the geisha at night, as they entertain (for huge sums) at private parties, their art takes a different form. Their purpose is to provide a dream—of luxury, romance and exclusivity. As the men sit at dinner, geisha position themselves at their elbows to serve them sake and delicacies and practice a brilliantly honed art of conversation. As the alcohol flows and the guests relax, geisha play party tricks and sing songs. Geisha have for centuries studied the male ego. They tend it like a garden—and we watch men bloom.

This long-hidden world is revealed here both in superlative photographs and in a fascinating text that includes the voices of the geisha themselves. These women have created a life of beauty, making themselves an embodiment of Japanese culture, tradition and refinement—a life that is captured exquisitely in this remarkable book.

Customer Reviews:

not at all the real geisha.......2007-01-29

This book of uncaptioned photographs is a waste of money. Some of the photos are interesting in a voyeuristic way but without captions or more information about the photos, it seems somewhat like snapshots with a paparazzi quality (as one reviewer commented).

I did not feel that the photographer had a deep respect for her subjects nor a great deal of knowledge of the Geisha world which she was allowed to photograph.

Some of the shots are simply ridiculous, like the one of the guy getting "pantsed" at a party. I mean - what does that have to do with Geisha? Yeah, ok, so they go to parties to entertain and end up playing silly drinking games. What does that tell me about Geisha?

If I was Geisha, I would have been embarrassed by this book.

Courtesans instead of Geisha?.......2005-12-22

I could be completely wrong, but was anyone else irritated by the fact that the photos with more sexual connotation in this book, seemed to be of courtesans, and NOT Geisha.

At least according to the differentiations made in costume between the two in Liz Dalby's book "Geisha" (front tied obi)

Otherwise gorgeous photographs. But I was curious if anyone else caught that.

Good but not great.......2004-12-30

I was really looking for a book with very detailed photographs of geisha and their kimono and hairstyles (each represents something different, such as seasons etc.) for illustration reference purposes, but this book kind of fell short. A handful of photos are absolutley gorgeous, but a few are a little akward. Many are out of focus and there are several of older women bathing... I think many people can enjoy this book, it all depends on what you are looking for.

Long on visual beauty, short on information.......2004-11-29

I commend the author for publishing these pictures notwithstanding the criticism she received from another reviewer for doing so. Those interested in looking into this world were hungry for this information. I do agree with the previous reviewer, however, that the book should have contained explanatory captions and information in the context of the photographs. I wanted to know the story behind the photograph, and this was lacking.

Enchanting!.......2003-04-04

This book is absolutely beautiful. Not a whole lot of information, but the scenes depicted are a window into a world closed to most everyone. The quotes from the Geisha are quite interesting, as well.

Fashion Spreads: Word and Image in Fashion Photography since 1980 (Dress, Body, Culture)

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A thesis on fashion photography 1980-present

Fashion Spreads: Word and Image in Fashion Photography since 1980 (Dress, Body, Culture)
Paul Jobling
Manufacturer: Berg Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law (Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law)

ASIN: 1859732283

Book Description

Doubly tainted by its associations with consumerism and the 'frivolous' world of couture, fashion photography has long been ignored as a serious site for academic study. Yet both the body and dress have proved keenly revealing of gender, race and sexual politics. Further, fashion photography has been transformed by aesthetic concerns, sexual politics and the pleasure of spectatorship - all of which suggest that its iconography represents a rich source for the analysis of how identity is constructed.

Exploring representations of the feminine and the masculine body - from super-vamp to super-waif, from buffalo boy to new man - this book considers the social, economic and aesthetic factors that have been instrumental in forging an identity for fashion photography since 1980. Drawing extensively on fashion spreads from Vogue, The Face and Arena, the author takes as his starting point Barthes' axiom that the magazine is 'a machine for making Fashion'. He explores how meaning is constructed in word and image, but he refutes Barthes' claim that the fashion system is a vacuous form of signification. In evaluating the ostensible paradox between sexual objectification and spectatorship, the author also looks at what the depiction of both male and female bodies in fashion spreads reveals about power, knowledge and pleasure. How does the iconography of fashion gratify our desires? Who are these images for - men and women? men or women? Does fashion photography invent role models, or simply satisfy nascent cultural values of beauty and sexual attraction? Why is fashion photography considered a form of 'soft porn' for the delectation of men when women are by far the largest consumers of fashion periodicals? How do the investments of different producers and spectators - male and female, gay and straight, white and non-white - affect the fashion image?

In answering these questions and many more, this book represents a significant contribution to the following areas: photography; fashion and dress; cultural studies; sex, race and gender studies; art and design history; media studies; and sociology.

Customer Reviews:

A thesis on fashion photography 1980-present.......2000-04-06

A sometimes dense and pretentious evaluation of magazine fashion photography, "Fashion Spreads" is nonetheless an informative and thought-provoking work. Jobling too often cites photographs as examples that are not included in the book, and many of his arguments on gender theory are tenuous at best. He is most convincing with his definition on the difference between "fashion" and "clothing", and in his description of the fashion cycle and what it says about society.

The Radical Reader: A Documentary History of the American Radical Tradition

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Very interesting! You don't need to be a Radical to enjoy.
Superb, Comprehensive Look At Radical Thought In America

The Radical Reader: A Documentary History of the American Radical Tradition

Manufacturer: New Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565846826

Book Description

Key documents illustrate the richness of the American radical tradition.

Radicalism is as American as apple pie. One can scarcely imagine what American society would look like without the abolitionists, feminists, socialists, union organizers, civil-rights workers, gay and lesbian activists, and environmentalists who have fought stubbornly to breathe life into the promises of freedom and equality that lie at the heart of American democracy.

The first anthology of its kind, The Radical Reader brings together more than 200 primary documents in a comprehensive collection of the writings of America's native radical tradition. Spanning the time from the colonial period to the twenty-first century, the documents have been drawn from a wealth of sources—speeches, manifestos, newspaper editorials, literature, pamphlets, and private letters. From Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" to Kate Millett's "Sexual Politics," these are the documents that sparked, guided, and distilled the most influential movements in American history. Brief introductory essays by the editors provide a rich biographical and historical context for each selection included.

Includes:
• Common Sense, Thomas Paine
• Second Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln
• Confession, Nat Turner
• Last Speech to the Jury, John Brown
• Letters on the Equality of the Sexes, Sarah Grimke
• Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, Seneca Falls Convention
• Life in the Iron Mills, Rebecca Harding Davis
• Speech to Striking Coal Miners, Mother Jones
• Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr.
• The Ballot or the Bullet, Malcolm X
• The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan
• Silent Spring, Rachel Carson

Customer Reviews:

Very interesting! You don't need to be a Radical to enjoy........2004-02-09

This book is real treasure of various ideas and the people behind them. A great resource for scholars or teachers. The curious person who enjoys US history will find something in here that they will enjoy.

Superb, Comprehensive Look At Radical Thought In America.......2003-11-19

The ordinary American's personal experience of history is often organized around a pantheon of readings and tomes that view our democratic experience as a pristine and elevated philosophical exercise by icons of verity and probity. Recent treatments such as Howard Zinn's "A People's History of The United States" and the wonderful "Founding Brothers" by Joseph J. Ellis have helped us to recognize the fact that while brilliant they were, the founders of this country were both mortal and fallible, and were hardly disinterested and objective idealists. This superb work by Timothy McCarthy and John McMillan (both history professors at Harvard) offers us over 150 short but spellbinding works by a wide variety of authors that help to widen the reader's understanding of the radical American experience, and to demystify the highly emotional and politically explosive issues and concerns that have faced us in terms of home-grown radical perspectives regarding social and political issues ranging from the original Articles of Confederation to those surrounding slavery, from corporate sponsored police brutality against union organizing to the war in Vietnam, from strident environmentalism to the current protests against the war in Iraq. All of it is here, and wonderfully so.

In essence, the authors have culled a treasure-trove of radical statements and observations that breathe life into our rather checkered history. Far from the sanitized and revisionist efforts one finds in most public school treatments of American history, herein one discovers a masterfully articulated series of articles written in colorful prose by those intimately involved in the radical protest, and most usually written from the radical perspective. The reader fins himself on an incredible journey into the various issues and concerns that have animated our long and often fractious progress toward a more perfect civil union. The book is organized into eleven principal chapters, each of which offers an absorbing selection of articles pertaining to cross-cutting issues such as the American revolution; the utopian visions relating to the very idea of a constitutional republic itself; abolitionism; suffrage and feminism; labor, anarchism, and socialism; civil rights; the new left and the counterculture; radical environmentalism; gay rights; and an epilogue with articles directed to some recent transcending issues and the radical writings relating to them.

The list of notable authors included ranges from Samuel Adams to Ralph Nader, from Thoreau to Frederick Douglas, from Susan B. Anthony to Huey Long, and from Barry Commoner to Malcolm X. The list of worthwhile notables just goes on and on. Without a doubt, this is the most readable, provocative, and useful collection of American critical writings by radical thinkers I have personally had the joy and benefit of reading. What I truly love about it is that it is the perfect way to read short articles and thought-pieces without spending hours plowing through individual chapters. The length of the individual articles ranges from two to seven pages, so the book is a great way to spend some break time or lunch time reading material along and to be able to finish the particular piece in a single short sitting. It is also provides an extremely eclectic and electrifying range of views and opinions for one to have the chance to experience, and adds immeasurably to the reading experience as a companion teaching device one could use admirably as an adjunct to a text such as Zinn's for use with the average undergraduate student. This is a book I would heartily recommend for anyone interested in a fascinating exploration of radical American thought and critiques of the mainstream culutre, and one that is certainly a terrific way to give a meaningful educational gift to aloved one this holiday season! Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Beautiful, accurate and perceptive

New Guinea Ceremonies (Photography)
David Gillison
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810906015

Book Description

When David Gillison first arrived in New Guinea in 1973, ceremonies marking birth, death, initiation, and marriage were still being conducted by the Gimi tribe as they had been for thousands of years. Today, many of the Gimi's indigenous traditions, like those depicted in Abrams' acclaimed African Ceremonies, are disappearing forever.

Gillison's brilliant photographs and intimate text capture the remarkable dramas enacted during what was probably the last-ever Hau, a two-week fertility festival. Ranging from creation myths to scenarios of affairs, clan jealousies, and family strife, these playlets, ultimately forbidden by Westerners, are no longer performed. Gillison movingly preserves them here for history. The only photographic record we have of the Gimi and their unique theater rituals, the book also depicts the major effort to save the spectacular rainforest home of the Gimi, which stands as a world model for indigenous conservation.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful, accurate and perceptive.......2002-09-03

The photography in this book is spectacular. Gillison spent years getting to know the Gimi people of PNG and it shows in the photography. Subjects are casual and acting normally; you won't find photos like this by any photographer briefly (read less than a couple years) visiting PNG. This book is a window into the lives and ceremonies of PNG people that few outsiders are fortunate enough to see and even fewer talented photogaphers capture. This is not the standard travelogue with snapshots,

The text is equally exceptional. Gillison obviously knows his subjects and writes crisply and to the point. The text matches the art for giving the reader an insight to the lives of Gimi people-- a group of people with fascinating traditions, ceremonies, and culture. Gillison has witnessed the staggering transition that the Gimi are going through as the 20th century world intrudes in their rainforest and garden paradise. It gives the reader a different perspective from which to examine our own culture and traditions.

The price is a bargain. 168 pages, almost every one with at least one well-reproduced color photo. This could be a "coffee-table" art book selling for 4-5 times the price. I collect books on New Guinea and live in the country. This is one of the best books for my shelf in many years.

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