Book Description
This is a book about why history matters. It shows how popularized historical images and narratives deeply influence Americans' understanding of their collective past. A leading public historian, Mike Wallace observes that we are a people who think of ourselves as having shed the past but also avid tourists who are on a "heritage binge," flocking by the thousands to Ellis Island, Colonial Williamsburg, or the Vietnam Memorial.
Wallace probes into the trivialization of history that pervades American culture as well as the struggles over public memory that provoke stormy controversy. The recent imbroglio surrounding the National Air and Space Museum's proposed Enola Gay exhibit was reported as centering on why the U.S. government decided to use the A-Bomb against Japan. Wallace scrutinizes the actual plans for the exhibit and investigates the ways in which the controversy drew in historians, veterans, the media, and the general public.
Whether his subject is multimillion dollar theme parks owned by powerful corporations, urban museums, or television docudramas, Mike Wallace shows how their depictions of history are shaped by assumptions about which pasts are worth saving, whose stories are worth telling, what gets left out, and who is authorized to make the decisions.
Customer Reviews:
Mickey Mouse History.......2007-01-29
Is this guy for or against preservation? It's hard to tell sometimes. Gives another, if not confusing, viewpoint of the preservation movement.
Not a Mickey Mouse History, but a Donald Duck Rebuttal.......2002-09-16
Aside from a proverbial axe that Mr. Wallace is grinding (especially in the Reagan essay), the text employs a down-to-earth approach, avoiding the typical multi-syllabic lingo that is usually associated with academia. In addition, the broad purpose of his text is applaudable: the deconstruction of the myths and ideologies of history and the return to historical research and study.
However, I can say that while I agree with most of Mr. Wallace's viewpoints, I should also note that he has many fallacies in his case studies, particularly those with Disney. As a former Disney employee, I have to wonder how much time he truly spent researching the inner cogs of the "Mouse Machine," and who he spent time interviewing.
As a volunteer museum curator/collections manager, I must agree with other reviewers about Mr. Wallace's critical analysis of museums. "Could," "should," and "would" are great words when theorizing and idealizing about the historical preservation process, but until one actually experiences the real-world struggles of museum revitalization and artifact preservation, I tend not to pay any heed to the noisy cymbals of criticism.
Finally, as a graduate student of Popular Culture, and from an academic viewpoint, the lack of detailed citations and direct references in this book raises my concern about the integrity of the research that was done. The bibliography, while impressive in its depth, is not annotated enough to make up for the missing footnotes of works cited.
accesible, critical and still with a sense of humor.......2001-04-20
for someone interested in museum, spaces of exhibition and the like you will find section one and two of this book quite interesting. the first deals with different sorts of museums placing a critical point of view from communitary museums to opend air museums, to technology museums. the second part is great dealing with the forms of exhibition at disney. dystory, that special kind of reality that it is at once purified and sanitized and tha is quite part of the essence of thematized environments. parts three and four deal, respectively, with the restoraton movement in america and the politics of culture during regan's era, specially with the enola gay case.
Accessible and Thoughtful.......2001-03-02
Mike Wallace uses the kind of academic writing that all scholars should aspire to achieve--lively, free of jargon, and entertaining. His subject, as suggested by the book's title, is history and the debates that surround different depictions of history. Wallace observes, astutely, that the struggles over how to portray history reveals much about ourselves, our beliefs, and our agendas. Wallace points out that history is never neutral, a point that is well worth reinforcing.
My particular interest is Disney Studies, and Wallace has a section (actually two essays) devoted to Disney and it use of history. The first essay concentrates on Disney's use of history in its theme parks, particularly in places such as the Hall of Presidents and EPCOT. While Wallace does not shy from criticizing Disney's portrayal of history (in fact, one of Wallace's strengths is he does not shy from representing his own viewpoint clearly), he also does not simply dismiss the potential in integrating history, entertainment, and the kind of technological wizardy that Disney is known for. He makes a serious case for a reconsideration of Disney and its techniques, all without constantly hitting his reader over the head with things. In his second essay, Wallace concentrates on the failed Disney's America project, providing background information and a critique of Disney with a call to re-examine Disney's use of history as emblematic of other movements and struggles over American history. He also makes it clear that he believes simply dismissing Disney is not an effective strategy for considering how portrayals of history could engage the public. The strength here is that Wallace is not afraid to criticize both Disney and kneejerk criticisms of Disney, or to envision the melding of history and entertainment. Nor does he abandon the quest for critical presentations of history that open history to even further investigation. While this is no easy task, Wallace does succeed.
If there is one thing I would suggest, perhaps the element I feel is missing, is a better development of these strategies for the presentation of history that Wallace supports. Although that could indeed be a book in itself, it would have been nice to see more of Wallace dwell more on his own engagement with, even answers to, the questions he has raised in this book.
An accessible and essential look at the fight over history.......2001-02-15
This is a very easy-to-read, jargon-free book about various ways in which the American past has been marketed to the American public. Wallace makes clear that the past should not be sanitized or exaggerated for any purpose, no matter how noble. And he makes clear how dangerous distortions of the past can be, particularly in chapters that discuss Ronald Reagan's or Newt Gingrich's . . . shall we say, passing acquaintance with history as it happened, as opposed to how they wish it had happened.
That last sentence makes pretty clear that Wallace has an ideology of his own. He interprets much of American history in terms of the conflict between classes. He does not insist that his interpretation is the only valid interpretation, but the force with which he makes some of his ideological points keeps me from giving this a five star review. That said -- everyone should read this book. It pokes away at some of the myths that keep us from doing what we can to make American society even better. Mickey Mouse History might make you uncomfortable -- but it's a discomfort that has plenty of rewards in understanding.
Customer Reviews:
Disney's Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Hercules.......2002-10-03
This book is excellent. It is also very different from the 1st edition in 1992 which featured Beauty and the Beast. About 50% of the book is all new from the previous edition and it's really worth owning both versions. Gives you much insight into the making of Hercules and in '92 edition into Beauty and the Beast. Great pictures and lots of good information in a very entertaining format. All ages in our family enjoy the book from 4 years old on up. You will too. I Wonder when the next edition will come out?
A great book!.......1999-07-24
This book is great! The only complaint I have is that the "middle" features seem to have been neglected. The very early and the very recent ones are well covered and illustrated. The section on Hercules is phenomenal!! But I would recommend The Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Chracters by John Grant instead of this one, it has more information and better pictures. But if you buy both that's even better! I did!
Book Description
The Art of Walt Disney is one of Abrams' enduring classics. Thirty years and well over half a million copies after its first publication in 1973, it is still considered the definitive study of The Walt Disney Company's vast artistic achievements through the decades. The book tells the remarkable story of Walt Disney and the company he built, from Mickey Mouse to animated feature films to theme parks. Based on hundreds of interviews with Disney staff members past and present, the text is illustrated with more than 800 illustrations ranging from concept art to film stills to views of the theme-park attractions.
This revised and expanded edition covers all of the major projects since the 1995 edition, including the films Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, and Home on the Range, as well as Disney's collaborations with Pixar: Toy Story I and II; Monsters, Inc. ; Finding Nemo (the highest-grossing animated film in history); and The Incredibles, due for release this year. The live-action films and Broadway productions are also covered, as well as the latest theme-park developments, including brand-new parks such as Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland. AUTHOR BIO: Christopher Finch is a regular contributor to Architectural Digest and the author of more than 20 books, including The Art of the Lion King, Jim Henson: The Works, and Abrams' Norman Rockwell's America.
Customer Reviews:
a puff piece, however spectacular the images may be.......2007-02-28
This book goes through the entire Disney legacy, in what is supposed to be art criticism. As far as it goes, the text is pretty good, but they are mere accompaniments to the photos, which is the bane of many art/design books. Finch makes an effort at being comprehensive, though ultimately - if you read through the whole thing - it comes off as a vanilla milk shake, with virtually no depth and ultimately flattering to just about everything Disney.
Moreover, the beginning of the text is far stronger than the end, reflecting hte fact that this is an update. As such, the author worked much harder and dug deeper on the sections that covered Walt Disney's work and ideas directly - the subject of the first edition and far more interesting than later work - and then feels the rest is pasted on to update it. To cover the post-Walt Disney things, many of which represent great art in and of themselves - would merit an independent work like the first volume.
Futhermore, by separating the book into discrete sections devoted to film, TV, parks, etc., the author misses one of the most important aspects of the Disney company: its work is self-reinforcing through all the media. Thus, though the early TV shows did not get enough commercial sponsorship and hence lost money, Walt Disney viewed the shows as the ultimate tool to implant his brand in the minds of the young. Even the toys were part of this, though they are almost entirely neglected in this book. It all fits together, each part morphing into the others, which Finch fails to see.
The worst failing of this book, though, is its utter lack of analysis beyond crude evocations of historical context. Though purporting to be a critic, Finch does not ponder any of the company's impact on, or as a reflection of, American culture, particularly the dark side. Why do many people (myself not among them as I essentially love the DIsney legacy) despise the way the company transforms culture into its own immediately recognizable brand? What does it say about the American predilection to recreate realities, such as a mock European village, rather than seeking out the real thing (even at similar cost)? These are tough questions.
In the end, this reads like something directly out of a PR department. I enjoyed the images and some of the reconstrctions of the films. But this offers little in the way of true criticism.
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!!!!!!!!.......2007-02-17
This is such a great book with great information about the disney company and of course mickey! and lots of great pictures!
Disney Lovers Dream.......2007-01-13
If you love animations from Disney, or the Disney success story, this is a must buy. My Wife loves this.
A MUST for any and all Disney fans!!.......2006-02-23
This is not just a book for Disney art lovers -- it is a terrific background on the Disney Company as a whole and the process in the art of animation. It goes into detail as to the extent of Walt's genius and leadership abilities. Never the less, the art in this collection is phenomenal!! I personally love the preliminary sketches and the process that eventually become what you see on the screen. There is also a chapter on the role the Disney Studios played during WWII. I will cherish this edition for many years to come.
A few words of caution before you buy it..........2006-01-19
This book gives good insight into the story of the Disney company. It was nice to hear an honest account of whether each movie was a success or failure with critics and audiences, though I feel some were a little shortchanged. A book of this size should have had a chapter (or at least a full page) dedicated to each movie. And while it is heavily illustrated, the text does not in any way rely on the pictures. I guess screen shots from the movies or brochure style pictures of the parks are "art" but based on the title I was expecting more unique in depth imagery like preproduction and concept art, storyboards, construction photos (from the parks).
If you have the older Concise edition of this book, then I don't think this one is necessary. So there are stills from a few more movies, but all the classics up to Fantasia 2000 are covered in the smaller book. Besides, the best of the new movies covered is Finding Nemo, and who doesn't have that on tape or DVD? Don't spend this much money on a few screen shots, just watch your movie. And I was particularly interested in seeing some of the new parks that weren't in the other book (California Adventure and Tokyo DisneySea) but alas they accounted for about 3 pages. Just a warning because the annoying shrink wrap prevents anyone from flipping through to decide based on the contents whether or not to fork over that much money (and the cover is so enticing...).
If you have never read anything about Disney this is a great place to start, but if you already have a collection of Disney books (especially this one's concise ed.) then this one doesn't have much more to offer. And if your true passion is in the theme parks, don't let this deceptive title make you believe that equal emphasis is given to the "Magic Kingdoms". There are way better (and cheaper) books on that subject that will give you much more insight.
Average customer rating:
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Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse in the World of Tomorrow (Gladstone Comic Album Series, No. 17)
Floyd Gottfredson
Manufacturer: Gladstone Pub Ltd
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ASIN: 0944599176 |
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- One of Deightons best
- Life "Over There" during World War II
- A real bomber!
- Teenage reading revisited
- A Good Novel about Fighter Pilots-Also a Romance
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Goodbye, Mickey Mouse
Len Deighton
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf
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Binding: Hardcover
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Faith
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ASIN: 0394512596
Release Date: 1982-10-12 |
Book Description
ENGLAND 1944
In Goodbye Mickey Mouse, Len Deighton has written his best novel yet: a brilliant, multidimensional picture of what it is to be at war ... and what it was to be in love in the England of 1944.
Customer Reviews:
One of Deightons best.......2005-11-10
In Goodbye Mickey Mouse, Len Deighton has written his best novel yet: a brilliant, multidimensional picture of what it is to be at war ... and what it was to be in love in the England of 1944. One of Deightons earlier and one of his best.
Life "Over There" during World War II.......2005-04-16
This is a terrific book about life in England during World War II, and some of the men who fought it. We meet the American officers at an Army Air Force fighter base, and learn what life was like for these flying warriors and the women they loved. From the high tension of flying combat missions to the rowdy parties where the men try to forget their fears, we get a glimpse of how the war affected these men and how they tried to cope. The characters are vividly portrayed, and we find much to like and dislike about all of them. In the end, they all show themselves to be falible humans. The ending provided a bit of a surprise, further illustrating the unpredictability of war.
A real bomber!.......2003-03-09
I was flattened by Deighton's "Bomber" and was so excited to read one of his about fighter pilots. I was disappointed by this book, maybe my expectaions were too high. More of a historical romance really, read: Harliquin with more research. The detail of the Mustangs was bullet-proof when Deighton gets around to it but there just wasn't enough action in the novel. Slow-paced and torturous to finish in the end, the climax losses it's shock because by that time you just don't care who survives. There is almost too much depth in the characters in that it becomes a real bore. If you like stories about wartime life not involving a lot of combat then this would be a great book, but it wasn't for me.
Teenage reading revisited.......2002-03-25
I'd enjoyed Len Deighton's books before: I read "Bomber" as a teenager and was deeply impressed. I'd also read his fiendishly involved spy stories ("Only When I Laugh, The Ipcress File"), so I was favourably disposed to this one, a WWII story about a couple of American pilots in 1944 UK, and their lives and loves, and deaths. I enjoyed the story - as others have observed, the technical detail about fighter planes is incredible; it gives authority and power to the writing, without swamping the reader. Not only planes, but other details of American and British lives in 1944 southern England. Just as vital to the plot is the relationship between Colonel Bohnen and his estranged son, Jamie Fairbrother, a pilot. I found the male characters deeper, more carefully drawn and more interesting than the women, but that may be a failing in all Deighton's books. One of the most interesting scenes for me was when the fathers of the 2 lovers meet: Victoria Cooper's father is a psychologist, and makes these observations on parenthood: "After fifteen years or more of caring for a child, parents find it difficult to relinquish their role. There's a temptation to cripple the child and thus keep the child dependent...All parents are tempted to destroy their own children, Bohnen. It's a fact of life."
The dogfight scenes are riveting and highly satisfying, with Deighton wandering into the pilots' feelings and thoughts as they fly and fight. Little political comment, though, or overview of the war, despite Colonel Bohnen's high-up position.
The ending was a shock, but I felt it did little to add to the story - it was a gimmick. And the dialogue is pretty flat. But a satisfying read overall, so 3 stars.
A Good Novel about Fighter Pilots-Also a Romance.......2001-04-10
Len Deighton is one of the great writers of aviation fiction and nonfiction. He spends a great deal of time researching his stories and it shows in the final product. His novel 'Goodbye Mickey Mouse' is not a great book, but it is a good book. Deighton, in writing the book, seems to have been as interested in portraying the love lives of American aviators in England as he was in depicting the air war over Europe from the point of view of P-51 Mustang pilots. The result is a somewhat trite love story--brash American fighter pilot tamed by straightlaced English lass. The other love story in the book is a bit more interesting because it is more original. The title character, Mickey Morse, falls for an older married English woman, and this threatens his dream of becoming a celebrated fighter ace. There are some good plot twists in the book, and most of the characters are interesting, but the best segments of the book are when Deighton focuses on the flying and the military politics. This is where he shines as an author. The romance element is no better-or worse-than what you find in any book on a newstand rack and read to pass time on a plane or on a trip. The most intriguing character is the main character, Mickey Morse (known as Mickey Mouse), who grew up at a gas station in Arizona and is trying to improve his chances in life by becoming a famous fighter ace. He hopes to get a job working in the air industry after the war. However, he is blinded by love for the older married woman, with serious repurcussions. His friend, Jamie Farebrother, is the privileged son of a business tycoon who has become a general to help run the war effort. His father, who is estranged from the son but trying desperately to develop a relationship, is also an interesting character. The British characters are less well-drawn, which is rather surprising because Deighton is British. They tend towards cardboard cutouts and stereotypes. Even Jamie Farebrother's love interest Victoria is lacking in depth. That having been said, "Goodbye Mickey Mouse" is one of the best books I've read for getting a feeling for what life was like on a fighter base during the war. As a historian researching the American air war over Europe, specifically the 8th Air Force, the book provided me with some valuable insights. To be fair, I am not a big fan of romances and that element of the book didn't appeal to me; however, I think most people might enjoy the way Deighton develops the romances in the novel, and the way he weaves them together. Some of the plot twists are a bit improbable, but hey, this is fiction, where the author, especially if he is established, can get away with that kind of thing. Overall, an entertaining book, well researched, but lacking in depth of characterization as well as probability.
Book Description
Minne writes to Mickey while she is away visiting her uncle in Nugget Gulch. Mickey and Goofy decide to go there after Minnie mentions that gold has been found.
Customer Reviews:
DISH UP SOME DISNEY.......2005-07-15
Okay, so "gourmet" may be a bit of a stretch but `Mickey's Gourmet Cookbook" does hold some very, very good recipes, and it's a must for Disneyana collectors and fans of Disney period.
The over 350 recipes include beverages, breads, appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts and sauces. There's a Shogun dinner from EPCOT Center sparked with ginger and mustard sauces.
Chocaholics will relish the Chocolate Amaretto Mousse from the Disneyland Hotel. Apropos from Disney's Caribbean Resort are crunchy Caribbean Sand Bars filled with nuts and chocolate chips.
If your kids are picky eaters - try dishing up some Disney and see what happens.
- Gail Cooke
A must own for Park lovers!.......2004-04-20
If you are as big a disney park freak as I am, you love to eat your way through them! This fantastic book may be a few years old, but all the recipies are fantastic! Make sure and try the Chichen & Leek Pie from Great Britain in EPCOT!!!
Couldn't be Better.......2004-01-23
Although I have visited both Disney Theme areas on both sides of the country I have never eaten at the many restaurants, my food experience has been like many of us who just grabbed a quick hamburger and fries while on our way to the next ride. However, when I recieved this book as a gift I was pleasantly surprised. The recipes were easy to follow and came out tasting great. Now I only wish that I could go back the parks and the resorts to taste the food first hand, so I know what else I could make out of the book. Whomever gets this book I am sure they will enjoy it just as much as my family and I have.
Taste Disney at home!.......2000-08-11
I have often heard that Disney served up some of the best cuisine around. This book proves that it is true. This book has a wide variety of recipes anything from simple to complex, and american to a vast amount of ethnic dishes. Recipes are easy to follow, and turn out well. If you want to bring the taste of Disney home, or impress your family this is the way to go.
worth the purchase.......1999-05-18
Been to almost every restaurante in Disney resorts, and the recipes I have prepared are identical in taste.
Book Description
Here are tried-and-true ways for kids to learn to draw and color their favorite Disney characters! Each new drawing step is shown in blue, so children will know exactly what to do next. And because the instructions are so easy to follow, they'll be drawing Mickey and all their favorites in no time!
o Feature beloved Disney characters and easy-to-follow instructions
o Include helpful tips on coloring and creating different poses
o Emphasize basic artistic skills and techniques for beginning artists
Customer Reviews:
Great guide!.......2007-09-18
I'm 25 years old and have never been able to draw anything in my life. I recently took the free 20-minute drawing lesson at MGM Studios and was amazed to see a recognizable Donald Duck on my paper at the end of the class. I bought this book before I left Disney and can now also draw Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto. The book also includes lessons for Donald Duck, Goofy, and Daisy Duck. It should be useful for beginners to moderately advanced artists (or even advanced, if you're just starting to draw these characters).
Great for young ones who love to draw..........2007-01-11
Easy to learn and follow, kids will draw for hours:)
How To Draw A Legend.......2000-08-29
I'm an artist, i love drawing. So far, this is my best book yet You draw like a professional, You get every line perfect. Once you get get used to it, you can create a mini cartoon. This is the ultimate how-to-draw book!
Book Description
"When Mickey, Minnie, Horace and Clarabelle Head for the Wild West, they expect only a pleasant vacation and a little Romance! What they get is a metting with one of the meanest outlaws to ever ride the range as minnie is kidnapped and held prisoner"
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