5 comments about Corsets and Crinolines.

1. Filled with images from primary resources, this book covers numerous details about these interesting undergarments, from patterns that help show the anatomy to pictures of them in use to caricatures, fashion plates, pictures of extant costumes--there is plenty to see in this book. The written content features the thoughts of contemporaries, quotations from famous figures, and some text by the author explaining usage, construction, styles, etc.
   
   One major problem with the book is its organization. It is not chronological; it jumps back and forth with no apparent reason, and it makes things difficult for someone who is less familiar with changing styles. Also, the quotations do not always seem relevant or even that interesting. It is an ok resource on corsets, but it's not one of the best. I would suggest looking around for something better.



2. As most reviewers, I like to book. Still a few problems:
   - The problems with organizing it have been explained in another review.
   - Why do most of quotes include something negative? Men have always admired women with narrow waists, not just complained how they dressed.
   Still, it has so much information and those problems are a minor problem.
   - The big problem are the pictures. The book is so old that it would be time - maybe when they'll do a new print - to renew the pics!
   
   In the end I agree with a lot of people - a great book.



3. This book is a MUST read for anyone interested in historic costume and undergarments! The wonderful research and illustrations make for interesting reading, and the corset blocks are wonderful for anyone interested in drafting their own corset patterns.



4. I had to use this book for my final project in my Costume Technologies class and I loved it! I made the 18th century woman's stays (1776) and they worked out wonderfully!

   Warning, though: this book is not for people who cannot draft costumes. The patterns are in miniature and are original period patterns; in other words, they will not be sized for you. You will have to draft and make many a mock-up before you are ready to make the actual piece.

   All in all, I love this book and intend to make even more of the pieces in it!




5. This book provides absolutely no information on how to make a corset. I found it boring and useless to my pursuits.

No comments about Your Child in Film & Television (Self-Counsel Reference Series).

No comments about Twelfth Night (Arkangel Shakespeare).

5 comments about David Lynch: The Air Is on Fire (Art).

1. Easily a 5 star book....if 29 pages weren't missing. Yup, my copy jumps from page 196 to 225...with nothing inbetween. According to the transcript in the front of the book there should be stills from Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and a bunch of other stuff here. Honestly, the collection is so great it's STILL worth the price. I just didn't get what I paid for.



2. This is the book which got me into Lynch's art, and subsequently aided in opening the door to my own attempts at painting. It is also the most comprehensive collection of his prolific output, ranging from bizarre, colorful ink abstractions on loose paper to production design sketches for the baby in "Eraserhead." Along the way, you also get film stills from the avant-garde director's movies; an amazing interview (text as well as spread out over two accompanying audio CD's)with Lynch; a collection of his photography (ranging from industrial landscapes to nudes) and Photoshop distortion of nudes taken by Uwe Shield; and finally, numerous oil-on-canvas paintings. The paintings are the real highlight of the book, their dark backgrounds highlighting the nightmarish experiences of Lynch's bizarre stick-man characters. Very enjoyable though thoroughly creepy and unsettling, Lynch's art is like no other. By far the best available retrospective of his art, this book is highly recommended, as is the now out-of-print "Images."



3. excellent book, this book is very unique and very exciting. David Lynch is a bit of a unique soul and has a unique way of looking at everything. He sees in abstract. The book is well written



4. Item came quickly, well wrapped and in perfect condition. What more could I want? Thanks!



5. I always buy these great art books and never actually read them because they are so damn heavy and imposing. This one, though it is big and heavy (as art books should be) comes with two cds that have a recording of David Lynch being interviewed about almost every piece in the book. It's great to put the cd in and follow along in the book. The interview is interesting and intimate and I found the book and whole experience to be a deep well of creative inspiration I can keep on my bookshelf until I'm stuck again. Highly recommended.

2 comments about The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design.

1. Having taught costume design for a number of years, the one thing I can say with certainty is that no book can do everything. I've used the text for a number of years and find it helpful...especially her approach to analyzing the text (I still use her checklists myself). However, a lot of my students are intimidated by some of the illustrations/examples of work. They don't know how to approach sketching for themselves and there are a couple of other texts that are more helpful in aiding in that particular process. Possibly there could be more graphic illustrations of getting from A to D (show us B & C) instead of just the beginning and the end result. The historical research sources and the historical costume outline are good - again some of my students think that she provides a finite list of resources and as with any historical survey the attention is to avoid variations and or anything beyond high fashion. Generally, a strong introductory text but needs supplementary materials (as does any book). No one has complained about the text; that's a good sign.



2. As a college student I was first introduced to the book The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design by Rebecca Cunningham. The book is simple and consise while providing a wealth of valuable information for the novice or professional. I enjoyed this book so much that I have choosen to use it as the text book for my costume design class. This will be my first teaching experience; however, I feel confident that this book will enable me to help my class understand the art of costume design.

No comments about Voices of Color: 50 Scenes and Monologues by African American Playwrights (Applause Acting Series).

4 comments about Inside Tap: Technique and Improvisation for Today's Tap Dancer.

1. I bought this book last year, to teach my self to tap along with Bonnie Franklin's dvd and it has been great. It is so easy to understand. I am slowly working through the step and drills. I love referring back to this and I think I will forever. It is fantastic. A great teacher reference also.



2. I was trained in traditional and flash tap dancing, so I knew very little about rhythm tap. This book goes over the basics of tap and many traditional tap steps. What makes it so great, though, are the in-depth explanations of rhythm, dynamics, syncopation, accents, and new forms of tap, including rhythm tap and orchestrated tap. The explanations are clear and easy and the practice exercises are excellent. This is a must-have book for anyone wishing to expand their tap knowledge and artistry.



3. I'm an advanced tapper who just recently began teaching an intermediate tap class. I decided to find a dictionary of tap in case one of my students asked me about a step I may not know. I ordered this book and realized that it was no dictionary. So if you're looking for a dictionary I suggest looking somewhere else. It is a wonderful how to book though! For instance it talks about syncopating the beat, has pictures of proper placement of your your foot on shuffles, tons of combinations, etc. I suggest this book to tap teachers of all levels and students interested in bettering themselves!



4. This book has been a wealth of ideas and information. I use many of the drills and combinations in my classes. They are clearly notated and easy to understand (which is unusual for a "book" on tap dance). I would recommend this book for anyone at an intermediate level or higher. Well worth the money!

No comments about Digital Performance: A History of New Media in Theater, Dance, Performance Art, and Installation (Leonardo Books).

1 comments about Clues to Acting Shakespeare.

1. This is a user friendly and practical guide for high school theatre teachers. The exercises are useful and the worksheets tremendous. I have just completed a unit of Shakespearean scenes with my second and third year students and this was a helpful resource. For a more indepth book try Speaking Shakespeare Speaking Shakespeare

1 comments about Out of the Fringe.

1. "Out of the Fringe" provides an electric and eclectic new world of plays by latinas/latinos. Thanks to this handsome new anthology, latino/latina theater is shown to alive and thriving in the U.S., whether in the hands of gay activist chicano humorist Luis Alfaro or lyrical cuban-american Nilo Cruz. Caridad Svich, who compiled the anthology, has an extremely musical incantatory play included as well. It is a testament to the energetic state of latino/latina theater and thought that mixed-blood chicano Oliver Mayer writes a play which has but a single latina character and whose themes are national more than regional. This is a must-read. These plays should be done!