1 comments about Webslinger: Unauthorized Essays on Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Smart Pop series).

1. This book operates very well on its premise: A bunch of essays about Spider-Man. It has a myriad of opinions on the Marvel Universe, and, what I liked particularly, it incorporated the events of Marvel's Civil War up to the point where the webhead unmasks himself. It was refreshing to know that these geeks (how else can you describe authors that psychoanalyze Spider-Man?) aren't stuck in their thoughts that they formulated when they were teenagers.
   
   That being said, I did disagree with a few of the attacks/observations, and there were some superfluous interjections by the authors (science being the only thing to save mankind, for instance) that lessened the impact. Still, one of the best essays included quotes from the Bible, John Stuart Mills, Kierkegaard, and William Shakespeare, all of which harmonized with the point the author made of the wallcrawler. Not too shabby.
   
   I'm going to err on the side of enthusiasm for the subject matter in giving it a five star rating; it probably deserves a four and a half. I enjoyed it, even if it was too short a read (you could easily knock this sucker out on a nice Saturday afternoon) and stuttered through the occasional typo.
   
   In sum: great read for the thinking Spidey-phile.

5 comments about Pita-Ten (Art book).

1. I love to draw, and I get lots of ideas from Pita-Ten. I like the big pictures in this book, and I have all of the Pita-Ten manga books, and they are GREAT! I never saw the TV show, but I would love to.



2. My daughter really enjoyed Vol 7. She just can't wait to find volume 10 now.



3. I bought this for my 9 years old daughter and she loved it. She's up to volume 9 now and is asking about volume 10. I'm not sure if there is a volume 10 yet but it really help my daughter to enjoy reading more.



4. This manga has an awsome story line, and is truly amazing. I really worship Koge-Donbo for the great work, and I LOVED this story! The whole series is an amazement, and I can't wait for the next one!



5. Pita-ten is a great little manga by Koge Donobo, the creator of Di Gi Charat. If you have ever enjoyed reading Di Gi Charat, you will most certainly enjoy this series. It has the same cuteness in some of it's characters and story, at least at the beginning. It does have some serious, rather grim parts of the plot, but it's still a great manga, none-the-less.

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (Facts on File).

1. A useful listing of US animated cartoons wth dates and credits, and with lists of individual theater cartoons.
   The original 1981 edition covered theater cartoon series, listing individual films, and was a major reference.
   This is the (1999) second edition of the 1991 expanded edition which organized the material into general categories - under theater cartoons (silent, sound and feature) and TV (specials and series) There is now much more on made-for-TV cartoons than I want, and even the cover and inside color-plates are largely TV characters. There is no attempt to list individual episodes of the TV series.
   I have a general aversion to a reference being arranged in alphabetical order. For looking up an item, that's easily covered by the index. For a reading overview, arranging chronologicaly - or by producing studio - would be more instructive.



2. The highest tribute that I can give to this book is that I could not find a single animated cartoon from my experience that it did not cover. I felt sure that I knew of a few obscure ones that would not be in here- and I was wrong. Moreover, I found much here that I wasn't familiar with. That absolutely amazed me.
   
   This true encyclopedia is organised into five major sections 1) silent cartoon series, 2)theatrical sound cartoon series, 3)full-length animated features, 4) animated television specials, and 5) television cartoon series. There are numerous black and white illustrations of various characters included with the text, as well as color plates in the middle of the book. I suppose considering the scope of this reference it would have been difficult to illustrate everything. Still, it would have been fantastic to have model sheets for every single entry...
   
   I have found myself getting this book down and browsing through it more times than I want to admit- while cursing the children's television "activists" that have robbed generations of the joy of experiencing many of these classics and near classics (and some of the classically bad.)



3. This is one of the best books. Except one thing: mistakes and lies. Ok, what is with the mistakes in the voice-actor list? I mean: April Winchell as Sebastin the Crab? Tress Macnille as LanchPaud? Did two people do the voice of Velma? Of course not, there are some HUGE lies. But at least it was a good book. but it, just avoid the lies.



4. If you're in search of information regarding a certain cartoon,you'll find it in this book. This book was first released in 1981,long before the debut of the Internet and The Big Cartoon Database,aka bcdb.com. This book only lists motion picture cartoons. It does not list comicstrips. Theatrical cartoons,Saturday morning television cartoons,animated features,you'll find them all.



5. Less of a book than a listing, The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons has an exhaustive listing of cartoons from the 'teens up until about 1997. Best of all are the titles for theatrical shorts and detailed listings of Emmy and Oscar nominees/winners. If you need (or want) to look up something about a cartoon, this is probably the best place to look.

   However, this book is *not* perfect. Besides being some 6 years out of date, the book doesn't track direct-to-video movies and seems to neglect a few imported cartoons that had hit airwaves before 1997. Also, many '80s cartoons (particularly those from the great toy-license revolution) have incorrect series synopses, voice credits, and even entries (such as the listings for G.I. Joe). This book is invaluable, yes, but it is sorely in need of a third edition (and possibly a co-author who can research obscure and/or lesser regarded cartoons). Keep this in mind before purchasing the second edition.

5 comments about Gardner's Art Through the Ages.

1. Simply the best art book there is around. It is detailed without being wordy and gives you exactly what you need to know.



2. As a high school sophomore using this book as a reference source for art history AP class has been quite an experience. While encompassing many of the major aspects of art history, there are some points it fails to acknowledge and which can only be addressed by a teacher who actually knows his stuff. The only other complaint that at 13 1/2 lbs., it's very hard to trudge up four flights of stairs.



3. Short review: ... buy it. If it requires selling vital organs or loved ones to pay for it, it's worth it.

   Long review: I enrolled in an Art History course with no idea what I was going to get as a textbook. This book is well-written, intelligent, informative without being overly esoteric, and above all beautiful. The prints are generally in color and always well-reproduced. Historical context is always provided, which gives a solid background for anybody looking to learn about the time any artwork was created. The text also offers insightful commentary about each piece selected for display. This book is so good, in fact, that it's become known as the semi-official Art History 101 textbook. Even if the history's not your thing (and for crying out loud, why not?), the book provides untold hours of beauty.

   One word: perfection.




4. This is lushly detailed book with fine reproductions. However, I found the book to be full of editorial errors and blunders. Why should consumers be asked to pay one-hundred dollars for a book that is this poorly edited? Profits should go towards finding new editorial help. Let's hope the new edition finds someone in charge that is more organized and observant.



5. A superb reference book, excellent color reproduction, but too complicated and wordy for a textbook for beginning Art History
   students.

1 comments about Edmund C. Tarbell: Poet of Domesticity.

1. Edmund C. Tarbell: Poet Of Domesticity by art historian and expert Laurene Buckley is an impressive and informative artbook showcasing the breathtaking work of Edmund C. Tarbell (1862-1938), a leading painter, teacher, and contributor to American Impressionism. Black-and-white and color representations of his most notable masterpieces fill the pages, while an erudite biography and commentary adds depth to the representations of skilled artwork. Edmund C. Tarbell: Poet Of Domesticity is very highly recommended for art history students as well as the non-specialist general reader having a passion for American Impressionism.

1 comments about How to Create Tree Sculpture: TEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FULLY ILLUSTRATED.

1. I was afraid it was too good to be true: a $10 book on how to create unique wire tree sculptures? But this book turned out to be well worth it. It's written well and has good illustrations showing step-by-step directions for making the trees. Definitely recommended if you have an interest in this and the reasonable price makes it that much better!

4 comments about The Art of Moral Protest: Culture, Biography, and Creativity in Social Movements.

1. I use this book every year in my social movement class at the University of Texas at Austin. It provides an excellent overview of the social movement literature through the mid-1990s. More importantly, it provides a pathbreaking theoretical approach to social protest with rich empirical evidence.
   
   My students are also very high on the book. It is a must read for all students of social movements.



2. James Jasper offers one of the best books available on social movements. In "The Art of Moral Protest" it is mostly the cultural and emotional sides of social movements which is explored leaving aside the more traditional structural accounts of social movement theory. Jasper emphasize principally 4 dimensions of protest: culture, resources, strategies and biographies and divide movements into two categories: citizenship movements and post-citizenship movements. Interestingly however, the structure of the book do not follow these main dimensions and categories but propose a kind of linear logic of movements' evolution from the emotion (moral shock) which send people into action to the creation of a movement culture which help sustain participation to the relation between movements and the broader culture in which they evolve and try to change. An interesting last part deal with the author's own "normative view" of social movements exploring the pleasures associated with movement participation, the danger sometimes embodied in social movement (particularly those who harbour totalizing ideologies) but also the necessity of protest for our societies. The book is full of stories and historical details which help make sense of the arguments developed in the book and keep this theoretical book as interesting as a novel.

   If I had to teach a course on social movements, I would probably chose two books for my students to read. The first one would be "Power in Movement" from Tarrow and the second one would be "The Art of Moral Protest". Many excellent books have been written on social movements but very few complement each other as well as these two books. They present the two current main branches of social movement studies.

   If I had to find a few problems with the book it would be related to the reference system adopted. By placing all references and notes at the end of the book, the more interested reader easily get lost. It might sound silly at first, but since the book is quite thick it becomes quite annoying with time... especially when you are thrilled by the reading but still want to get that extra detail hidden at the end of the book.




3. I loved this book. Anyone who likes the cultural side of politics will appreciate this book, Jasper's magnum opus. If you're writing a dissertation on social movements, you can't not read it.



4. James Jasper's "The Art of Moral Protest" is one of the most important recent contributions to the scholarly literature on social movements and political and moral protest. The book's title signifies two important ideas. First, Jasper wants to restore the moral dimension to political protest, which of late has been reduced by many scholars to the calculated pursuit of material interests. Second, the book stresses the "artful" nature of protest, the fact, that is, that protest doesn't simply arise in some mechanical fashion from "structural" preconditions, but involves choices and improvisation by thinking (and feeling) individuals. Indeed, Jasper wants to reintegrate feelings and emotions, which scholars have studiously avoided in recent years, back into our understanding of moral protest. And he emphasizes how specific individuals with specific biographies (who, again, have been largely purged from the scholarly literature) matter for protest. The book weaves a powerful critique of dominant ways of thinking about protest through a series of fascinating studies of several movements and movement participants. In sum, this is an extremely important and pathbreaking book. It should be read by anyone with an interest in politics, social movements, or protest.

1 comments about Art in Theory: 1815-1900 An Anthology of Changing Ideas.

1. This text, like its counterpart Art in Theory 1900-2000, serves as an indispensable resource for those studying the birth of modern art. A superbly organized compendium of 19th century art criticism, it further incorporates secondary material from noteworthy contemporary art historians. Artists and historians: don't leave home without it!

4 comments about Ailey Spirit: The Journey of an American Dance Company.

1. I was so pleased at the condition of my book when it arrived, great photos, write up on Alvin Ailey and the many dancers. Also very timely too considering where it traveled from. I was very pleased. You will not be disappointed!



2. I have always loved dance, and especially Alvin Ailey! This book is wonderful! The photographs are vivid and beautiful. For those who have not experienced this dance company, this is a nice introduction to it's history.
   Love it!



3. this is a delightful book to own for anyone who loves and respect the art of dance. what better book to have than an american icon dance company like alvin aliey.great addition to ones book collection.



4. My only "complaint" with this book is that the compelling photography kept distracting me from the text! I finally gave up and leafed through all the photos first, then went back to read the text, which provides a good overview of the company's philosophy, founding spirits and various major dancers. Highly recommended for lovers of dance or photography.

5 comments about The Artful Dodger: Images and Reflections.

1. If you like Nick Bantock's work, you'll probably like this. It's not exhaustive, but a good collection of his work from 1970s art school through the publication date. That includes illustrations for book covers, some of which I almost remember from the original books. It includes illustrations from unpublished children's books, material not found elsewhere.

   Of course, it includes extracts from Griffin and Sabine. Those may be my favorites - I think there is material here that extends the G&S story, but was never in the original books. It also covers The Venetian's Wife and Museum at Purgatory, both of which I enjoyed. There isn't enough from any of the books to spoil them for the first-time reader, though. This is a summary of Bantock's work, not a complete catalog.

   There is some biographical information here, mostly covering his career from college through book publication. I was a little put off by parts of it, though. Bantock has certainly been successful as an illustrator, and rightly takes pride in that accomplishment. His pride tends towards smugness, though, not something the reader needs to see.

   Still, it's a good coffee table book. It's easy to thumb through, and has material that was not already presented in his other books. It would have been even better with a bit more artwork, or at least a bit less self-congratulatory text.




2. After reading and loving Bantock's Griffin & Sabine trilogy I stumbled upon this book. I was thrilled to learn background information straight from the author. I loved the trilogy but was left curious about the author and the works of art themselves. I enjoyed seeing his work develop over time and found it interesting to read about how he got started in his professional art career. I also appreciate his candid comments about the publishing industry and that he shared some negative opinions of his work with us-it shows he is not arrogant or an egomaniac!

   I loved that the images are laid out chronologically. This book contains a lot of previously published work but that is fine with me-how else would he discuss his works if we could not look at them while reading about them?!? I liked reading what led him to begin working on a certain project or what drew him to continue working with a medium (i.e. designing his own stamps). I liked hearing where he gathers pieces to use in his collages and how he puts his collages together. After reading this book I have an even deeper appreciation for his books and artwork.

   I thoroughly enjoyed reading this cover-to-cover and delighting in his gorgeous artwork. It is truly inspirational. As a person who is naturally better at writing than making art, I envy Bantock's ability to make such beautiful and thoughtful artwork!




3. everyone else LOVED this book. I liked it as well. But I do have his other adult books so many of the illustrations are redundant to me. Also, I find him a bit smug and self-important at times. Most of the illustrations are extremely beautiful, but I disliked the children's books artwork, it seemed to me as if a different, more immature (in the sense of mastery of the craft) artist did those. I would have liked to see more paintings that had not been already published, as this book seems a rehash of his same old stuff.



4. Autobiography written in a very relaxed, informal, and fun style. Excellent use of samples of his work from various times in his career as a great counterpoint to the text. Absolutely recommend this for people who are already fans of his work, and I also recommend it for people who like to learn about the creative process, how a particular artist develops their style and what their inspirations are.



5. I have always been a fan of Nick Bantock. BUt they true beauty of this book is the following: You get to view his art work and the transitions they go through from his college days on. Further he writes all about his art work at the certain time, and why he did what he did. etc... It is an upclose and personal view of this shiny artist. I was very inspired by this book as I ma an artist as well. A MUST GET