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childrens
Culture and Lifestyle
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by Eric Dregni & Ruthann Godollei
The automobile has long been a symbol of status, power, and autonomy,
and ever since King Tut rolled through Egypt on his golden-wheeled
chariot, artists and drivers have dreamed up mobile masterpieces.
A striking photographic tribute and social history, Road Show navigates
a path across high and low art, showing how people around the world
are transforming their vehicles into stunning folk art, obsessive
collections, social commentary, and visionary performances. In this
fascinating showcase, we see how Henry Ford's motto, "Any color
as long as it's black," has been hung out to dry. From the
Wienermobile to a hand-carved wooden Ferrari that drives in the
canals of Venice to a giant red stiletto heel, Road Show brings
the "museum of the streets" to life. |
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by Amelia Klem Osterud
Living in a time when it was scandalous even to show a bit of ankle,
a small number of courageous women covered their bodies in tattoos
and traveled the country, performing nearly nude on carnival stages.
These gutsy women spun amazing stories for captivated audiences about
abductions and forced tattooing at the hands of savages, but little
has been shared of their real lives. Though they spawned a cultural
movement—almost a quarter of Americans now have tattoos—these
women have largely faded into history.
Combining thorough research
with more than a hundred historical photos, this social history
explores tattooing’s origins, women’s history, and circus
lore. A fascinating read, The Tattooed Lady pays tribute to a group
of unique and amazing women whose legacy lives on. |
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by Ted Gioia
It's hard to imagine that "the cool" could ever go out
of style. After all, cool is style. Isn't it? And it may be harder
to imagine a world where people no longer aspire to coolness. In
this intriguing cultural history, nationally acclaimed author Ted
Gioia shows why cool is not a timeless concept and how it has begun
to lose meaning and fade into history. Gioia deftly argues that
what began in the Jazz Age and became iconic in the 1950s with Miles
Davis, James Dean, and others has been manipulated, stretched, and
pushed to a breaking point—not just in our media, entertainment,
and fashion industries, but also by corporations, political leaders,
and social institutions. Tolling the death knell for the cool, this
thought-provoking book reveals how and why a new cultural tone is
emerging, one marked by sincerity, earnestness, and a quest for
authenticity. |
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by Corinne Platt & Meredith Ogilby
This documentary-style collection of photographs and narratives
profiles a wide range of prominent figures of the West as they
engage in candid discussions about the region and its identity.
A diverse group of visionary men and women, they may differ in
politics but remain united in their belief that the West requires
inspired action if it is going to endure challenges posed by political,
cultural, and environmental pressures. Allowing those on each side
of the issues to speak freely, this important work tackles such
topics as education, recreation, immigration, ranching, alternative
energy, wildlife habitat protection, oil and gas extraction, urban
development, and water conservation. Exemplifying photography and
journalism at its best, Voices of the American West provides a panoramic
view of today’s evolving West. The collection features Terry
Tempest Williams, Stewart Udall, Katie Lee, Dave Foreman, and many
others. |
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by Betina Wittels, Robert Hermesch & Editor, T. A. Breaux
Absinthe is not a relic of the past; indeed, there is a vibrant and devoted
contemporary scene focused exclusively around the notorious Green
Fairy. The liquor's lore piques the interest of many: Does
the drink drive one to madness? Does it serve as a gateway to boundless
creativity? Which is the best method for enjoying the drink—set
aflame or chilled with ice and sugar? How can I get my hands on
all of the beguiling absinthe antiques?
Answering these burning questions, authors Betina Wittels, Robert
Hermesch, and T. A. Breaux, all astute absinthe connoisseurs, have
updated their wildly successful book with an expanded historical
section, new absinthe reviews to tantalize imbibers, sidebars peeking
into various absinthe subcultures, stunning new imagery from both
past and present, and much more. For those looking to begin their
absinthe journey or for those who've been on the path for some time,
this book is a must for those who fancy all things absinthe. |
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by John Wenzel
Overpriced two-drink minimums and potato skins; bad Clinton jokes
on late night—these used to be the hallmarks of comedy, an art relegated
to the controlled environs of comedy clubs and network TV. Fortunately,
in the late '90s, a daring breed of comedians began rejecting the
status quo altogether and, by taking cues from the indie-music world,
started reviving comedy as a savvy and groundbreaking art form. Mock Stars delves headfirst into this revolutionary scene, tracing
the evolution of indie comedy as part of the underground music circuit
and into mainstream America. Through candid interviews with the
major players, including David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Neil Hamburger,
Maria Bamford, Fred Armisen, Aziz Ansari, Jon Wurster, Aimee Mann,
and dozens of others, Wenzel reveals how comedy is becoming relevant—and
dangerously funny—again. |
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by Michael Dregni
with Alain Antonietto, & Anne Legrand
Django Reinhardt was perhaps the greatest guitarist to ever live.
A gypsy who made his jazz guitar speak with a human voice, he was
dashing, charismatic, childish…and doomed to die young after
creating a legacy of Gypsy Jazz that remains vibrant today. Django
Reinhardt and the Illustrated History of Gypsy Jazz is a stylish
collection of more than 200 illustrations telling Django’s
story and the history of Gypsy Jazz. Gypsy Jazz is
a music both joyous and sad, timeless and modern. Created
amidst the glamour of Jazz Age Paris and reaching a peak during
the horrors of World War II, Gypsy Jazz gave voice to a dispossessed
people. Today, Gypsy Jazz is more popular than ever. It has a legacy
as strong as the Cuban sounds of the Buena Vista Social Club, the
blues of B. B. King, or the R&B of Ray Charles. |
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by Catherine Mabe
Encircles the history, the women of derby, the art of the edgy
sport, the blood and bruises, and what's legal and not legal in
a bout. Includes vintage promo paraphernalia, historical photographs,
and stunning modern-day shots showing how the jam has evolved. |
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by Michelle Baldwin
Though burlesque has survived in the back of our cultural consciousness
after being pushed aside by modern stripping in the '50s, the revival
that began in the early '90s has finally brought burlesque back to
the forefront of popular culture. Evolving from an underground movement
to a nearly mainstream fetish, neo-burlesque embraces a wide variety
of modern interpretations, all based on the classic bump and grind
and "taking it off" with a wink and a smile. From classic
tributes to punk rock revisionists, women of all ages, sizes, and
backgrounds are rediscovering burlesque and reinventing it. A sense
of heightened imagination, empowerment, and energy are being delivered
to the stage, perhaps even more so than during the historic heyday,
the Golden Age of Burlesque. Slipping behind the scene, Burlesque undresses the issues of feminism, modern popularity, and what exactly
draws the unique and varied audience members to the shows. The women—and
men!—of burlesque also receive their fleshed-out dues by a
categorized peek into the various troupe styles including classical,
re-creationists, revivalists, modern, circus, performance art, political,
queer, bawdy singers, and comics. |
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