Issue brief
September 5th, 2008Issue brief
Company: W W Norton & Co Ltd
ISBN: 0393702758
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The riveting documentary Rize explores the physically astounding Los Angeles worlds of clowning and krumping--both heightened and spectacular styles of hip-hop dance. With roots in breakdancing and the furious response to the Rodney King beating, clowning was launched by Tommy the Clown, a former drug runner turned children's-party-clown, with brightly colored jumpsuits and a psychedelic afro wig. To gather attention, Tommy began to gyrate and writhe in the street; before long, he was not only getting gigs, he'd inspired dozens of other clown groups, all with their own spin on face make-up and Tommy's dance moves. With a little cross-pollination from stripper dance moves and a good dose of aggression, clowning begat krumping, which resembles a cross between an epileptic seizure and ecstatic possession--what one practitioner calls "ghetto ballet." In addition to dancing that will make your eyes pop, Rize interviews dancers like Tight Eyez, La Nina, Lil C, and Miss Prissy, building a portrait of a subculture, culminating in a dance battle between clowns and krumps called BattleZone V. Directed by photographer and music video director David LaChappelle, Rize persuasively portrays these twin dance movements as not only a personal exorcism, but as the effort of a community to escape the corrosive forces of gangs and drugs. --Bret FetzerDirector: David LaChapelle
DVD: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Company: Lions Gate (2005-10-25)
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Anyone who has only seen celebrities perform Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues--or, for that matter, anyone who hasn't seen them at all--should give themselves the present of this HBO special, which captures Ensler's own performance. Some of the monologues--on topics ranging from the word itself (and other words), hair, orgasms, and more--are cute, some are shocking, but all are grounded in Ensler's clear intelligence, sardonic wit, and her crisp and supple voice. The simplicity of the performance is augmented with interviews with other women talking about their vaginas and interviews with Ensler herself. It's amazing that even in the 21st century many women are still uncomfortable with their sex organs; this bracing, wonderful, and deeply funny performance may open things up. --Bret FetzerDVD: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Company: Hbo Home Video (2002-06-04)
ISBN: 0783120796
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A dark and troubling dream that David Lynch must envy, made all the more unsettling because it's true, Tarnation can only be called at auto-documentary. It's a self-portrait of the family life of Jonathan Caouette, whose mother Renee (a former child model) was forced to undergo electric shock treatment repeatedly in her youth, leading to erratic behavior throughout her life. But though the events of Caouette's life are sad, horrific, or a testament to human resilience, what makes the movie striking is how it was made: Caouette cobbled the movie together from photographs, tape recordings, and home movies that he's shot throughout his life, ranging from footage of himself at 11 years old imitating a battered wife to trashy horror movies he made as an adolescent to the first time he met his father. The unique and fluid result is mesmerizing and eerily intimate, like stepping into someone else's stream of consciousness--though few of our dreams have such a killer indie rock soundtrack. --Bret FetzerDVD: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Company: Fox Lorber (2005-05-17)
ISBN: 0794205666
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Count your pennies and count your blessings, says Grandpa. Grandpa is such a character...wise, curious, passionate about life, and always up for a practical joke. Rummage through Grandpa's Briefcase and who knows what you'll find - Really, he is just a really big kid. And his briefcase proves it...filled with honest fun & treasures that tickle the fancy of little kids and their grandparents. Loads of fun pieces to take out & put back in! Help grandpa find his many pairs of eyeglasses, (Go ahead - try them on!) Spin Grandpa's Decision Maker - (Chocolate, Strawberry Vanilla) Investigate his special collections, ("Never throw anything away.") Spin the hands on his "take your time" clock "Tie your shoelaces," Use his gear-inspired pocket dictionary to "Mind your ABC's." "Have Fun!" with grandpa's trick whoopee cushion Full of fun kid activities, surprises, wit and wisdom. Genuine humor the whole family will get a chuckle over. A sweet celebration of grandpa and grandchild. My Grandpa's Briefcase Guaranteed to Make You Grin An Incomparable Gift for Grandchild or Grandpa Himself! Delightful Activities for Generations to Share 25 Activities, 60 Objects, Mementos, Life Lessons & Educational Games Build Fine Motor Skills, Creative Thinking, Vocabulary, and Wisdom! Recommended Ages 3+ (Although younger children LOVE it.)Author: P. H. Hanson
Board book: 12 pages
Company: Workman Publishing Company (2005-05-02)
ISBN: 0761137947
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Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists in history, wrote the modern classic A Brief History of Time to help nonscientists understand the questions being asked by scientists today: Where did the universe come from? How and why did it begin? Will it come to an end, and if so, how? Hawking attempts to reveal these questions (and where we're looking for answers) using a minimum of technical jargon. Among the topics gracefully covered are gravity, black holes, the Big Bang, the nature of time, and physicists' search for a grand unifying theory. This is deep science; these concepts are so vast (or so tiny) as to cause vertigo while reading, and one can't help but marvel at Hawking's ability to synthesize this difficult subject for people not used to thinking about things like alternate dimensions. The journey is certainly worth taking, for, as Hawking says, the reward of understanding the universe may be a glimpse of "the mind of God." --Therese LittletonAuthor: Stephen Hawking
Paperback: 224 pages
Company: Bantam (1998-09-01) (1998-09-01)
ISBN: 0553380168
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The most reliable and widely used personal health text, Core Concepts in Health utilizes the theme of personal responsibility to teach and motivate students about health and wellness. The Tenth Edition Update provides current, accurate, scientifically based information about a wealth of health and wellness topics and issues. The Brief edition, an affordable alternative to larger health texts, includes a built-in study guide that allows students to test their knowledge of health-related issues and assess their level of wellness.Author: Paul Insel, Walton Roth
Paperback: 544 pages
Company: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages (2007-02-09)
ISBN: 0073529648
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This book, an introduction to the history of art that features excellent scholarship, takes a global approach with an emphasis on the Western tradition in art. It reflects new interests and issues, expanding the topic to include women and minorities, and showing media and techniques other than painting, sculpture, and architecture. Written in clear, standard English without art historical or aesthetic jargon, Art: A Brief History is visually appealing as well as intellectually stimulating. This comprehensive survey of world art is based on the most recent scholarship, and includes coverage of arts inspired by all the major religions, the contribution of women and minorities, and contains discussions of all the arts, including ceramics, glass, metal, enamel, and the fiber arts. This book serves as an introduction to the history of art and a ready reference for people working in the arts, including museum docents, and art gallery employees, owners, and managers.
Author: Marilyn Stokstad
Paperback: 608 pages
Company: Prentice Hall (2006-02-05)
ISBN: 0131955411
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