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The Snake Has All the Lines
by Jean KerrThe #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Please Don&’t Eat the Daisies offers another hilarious look at home life, show business, and more. Jean Kerr played many roles in her life, from exasperated mother to Broadway playwright and keen observer of mid-twentieth century suburbia. She also became one of America&’s most beloved humorists by sharing her insights and anecdotes in a series of popular newspaper columns. In The Snake Has All the Lines, Kerr explores topics ranging from family vacations and modern convenience to the trials and tribulations of opening a new play. With her inimitable wit, she reminds us that while life may be a day at the beach, a day at the beach with small children can have you questioning your life choices in no time.
The Snapple Aptitude Test: Real Facts for Real Life
by Sandy Wood Kara KovalchikSnapple's "Real Facts" have appeared on more than one billion Snapple caps since the initiative began in 2001. Now, two trivia experts have culled the very best and added a host of other trivia to create The Snapple Aptitude Test. Featuring one thousand questions, it challenges readers to test their knowledge of history, geography, science, pop culture, sports, health, literature, and technology. And when the pencils go down, the scoring begins. Achieve 1,000-point perfection and be forever known as a “Real Genius.”
The Snares of Memory
by Juan MarséIn January 1949 on an otherwise unremarkable day in an unremarkable Barcelona neighbourhood cinema, a prostitute is murdered in cold blood in the projection booth by the assistant projectionist, one Fermín Sicart.More than thirty years later, a screenwriter resolves to determine the truth behind her murder, and seeks out Fermin, who has served his time. But though Fermin remembers killing his victim, and exactly how he did it, he cannot for the life of him recall why.The Snares of Memory, by one of the great Spanish men of letters, is at once an investigation of memory, motive and murder and a pointed dig at the Spanish film industry of the second half of the twentieth century.
The Snark Handbook: Sarcasm, Bitterness, and the Holiday Season (Snark Series)
by Lawrence DorfmanBah! Humbug! It&’s that time of year again….Time to spend too much, drink too much, eat too much, smile falsely, dig down deep to try and find &“good cheer,&” battle crowds, try to find parking in over-crowded lots, ignore surly clerks, bartenders, waiters, valets, and parking lot attendants, all in the pursuit of that moment of happiness known throughout the world as…dun, dun, dun: the Holidays. Has there ever been a time more suited to tapping into snark? With commentary, jokes, and quotes regarding Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year&’s; on bad presents, worse in-laws, horrible children, and much more glorious excess. Enjoy such rotten sugar plums as: • &“Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.&”—Victor Borge • &“If someone screws up on their gift, there are seven more days to correct it...No awkward explanations of virgin birth...No Irving Berlin songs.&”—Among the Top Ten Reasons to Love Hanukkah • &“What I don&’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.&”—Phyllis DillerThe Snark Handbook: Christmas Edition is destined to be a holiday classic.
The Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire, 1828-1967
by D. Kern HolomanThis is the story of one of the world's great philharmonic societies, told by a distinguished conductor and writer. Holoman chronicles the life of the Societe, from its day-to-day operations to its role in creating the canon of orchestral concert music in our culture. In English.
The Sociolinguistics of South African Television: Language Ideologies in Selected Case Studies
by Kealeboga AisengThis book explores the interwoven relationship between language, media, and society in post-Apartheid South Africa. The author examines selected case studies from the sociolinguistic landscape of South African television, analysing dominant language ideologies and illuminating the challenges, opportunities, and potential for transformation. He argues for the power of television in shaping language ideologies, fostering cultural understanding, and advocating for more inclusive and equitable language usage in the media. This book contributes to the field of sociolinguistics by emphasizing the complexity of multilingualism in South Africa and inviting ongoing exploration and dialogue in this landscape. It will be of interest to students and scholars of Sociolinguistics, Media Studies, African Culture and History, and Language Policy and Planning.
The Solaris Effect: Art and Artifice in Contemporary American Film
by Steven DillonWhat do contemporary American movies and directors have to say about the relationship between nature and art? How do science fiction films like Steven Spielberg's A.I. and Darren Aronofsky's π represent the apparent oppositions between nature and culture, wild and tame?<P><P> Steven Dillon's intriguing new volume surveys American cinema from 1990 to 2002 with substantial descriptions of sixty films, emphasizing small-budget independent American film. Directors studied include Steven Soderbergh, Darren Aronofsky, Todd Haynes, Harmony Korine, and Gus Van Sant, as well as more canonical figures like Martin Scorcese, Robert Altman, David Lynch, and Steven Spielberg. The book takes its title and inspiration from Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 film Solaris, a science fiction ghost story that relentlessly explores the relationship between the powers of nature and art. The author argues that American film has the best chance of aesthetic success when it acknowledges that a film is actually a film. The best American movies tell an endless ghost story, as they perform the agonizing nearness and distance of the cinematic image.
The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music
by Steve LopezWhen reporter Steve Lopez sees Nathaniel Ayers playing his heart out on a 2-string violin in LA's Skid Row, he finds it impossible to walk away. At first, he sees it as fodder for his column, but what Lopez begins to unearth about the mysterious street musician leaves an indelible impression. More than 30 years earlier, Ayers had been a promising classical bass student at Juilliard - ambitious, charming, and one of the few African-Americans at the school - until he gradually lost his ability to function, overcome by a mental breakdown. When Lopez finds him, Ayers is alone, suspicious of everyone, and deeply troubled, but glimmers of brilliance are still there.
The Somewhere Out There: My Animated Life
by Don BluthAfter more than five decades in Hollywood, Don Bluth, the man behind some of the most iconic animated films ever made, tells his story. Don Bluth never felt like a Donald. So people have always called him Don. A matinee of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs awakened something within him. Despite growing up in rural Texas and Utah, he practiced and worked hard to become an Hollywood animator. And after working alongside his idol Walt Disney, and on films including Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, Winne the Pooh, The Rescuers, and Pete&’s Dragon, he realized that the company had changed into something he didn&’t necessarily believe in. So made the industry-shocking decision to start his own animation studio. It was from that studio—Don&’s studio—that came such award-winning, generation-defining films as The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Anastasia, and the video game Dragon&’s Lair. Now, after more than half a century in the movie business, Don is ready to tell the story of his life. How his passions for artistry, integrity, and his Mormon faith shaped him into the beloved icon whose creativity, entrepreneurship, and deeply-held beliefs entertained, enthralled, and inspired millions across the globe. Exclusive original art makes this book perfect for fans, cineasts, and anyone looking &“somewhere out there&” for inspiration and motivation.
The Song Machine: Inside The Hit Factory
by John Seabrook“An utterly satisfying examination of the business of popular music.” —Nathaniel Rich, The Atlantic Over the last two decades a new type of hit song has emerged, one that is almost inescapably catchy. Pop songs have always had a "hook," but today’s songs bristle with them: a hook every seven seconds is the rule. Painstakingly crafted to tweak the brain's delight in melody, rhythm, and repetition, these songs are highly processed products. Like snack-food engineers, modern songwriters have discovered the musical "bliss point." And just like junk food, the bliss point leaves you wanting more. In The Song Machine, longtime New Yorker staff writer John Seabrook tells the story of the massive cultural upheaval that produced these new, super-strength hits. Seabrook takes us into a strange and surprising world, full of unexpected and vivid characters, as he traces the growth of this new approach to hit-making from its obscure origins in early 1990s Sweden to its dominance of today's Billboard charts. Journeying from New York to Los Angeles, Stockholm to Korea, Seabrook visits specialized teams composing songs in digital labs with new "track-and-hook" techniques. The stories of artists like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Rihanna, as well as expert songsmiths like Max Martin, Stargate, Ester Dean, and Dr. Luke, The Song Machine shows what life is like in an industry that has been catastrophically disrupted—spurring innovation, competition, intense greed, and seductive new products. Going beyond music to discuss money, business, marketing, and technology, The Song Machine explores what the new hits may be doing to our brains and listening habits, especially as services like Spotify and Apple Music use streaming data to gather music into new genres invented by algorithms based on listener behavior. Fascinating, revelatory, and original, The Song Machine will change the way you listen to music.
The Song of Spider-Man
by Glen BergerFrom the show's cowriter who saw it all firsthand, this is the epic story of the most expensive, ambitious, dangerous, and controversial Broadway musical of all-time: Spider-Man.Never in the history of Broadway has there been anything like Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Lampooned by reviewers, loved and loathed by audiences, and boldly envisioned by its producers, Spider-Man has forever made its mark in pop culture history. Author Glen Berger was present at the creation, when visionary director Julie Taymor selected him to collaborate with her on the book of the musical. For seven years, Berger was an eyewitness to great artistic hopes and battles as Taymor sought to bring her vision to the stage, along with celebrated rock stars Bono and the Edge. But despite terrible reviews and public ridicule, Spider-Man went on to become one of the top ten grossing musicals in the history of Broadway--a feat inseparable from its creators' unassailable passion, immense efforts, and artistic ambition. With a sharp eye for detail and candid sense of humor, Berger reveals every aspect--the highs and lows--of the production and in doing so, takes us inside the theatrical process in a way few authors can. The Song of Spider-Man is the ultimate fly-on-the-wall account of how Broadway works, how big musicals are made, and how great artists continue to dream, even in the midst of a nightmare.
The Songaminute Man: A Tribute to the Unbreakable Bond Between Father and Son
by Simon McDermottA powerful and emotional memoir about family and memory from the father-son singing sensation whose heartwarming carpool karaoke video took social media by storm.At first, Simon’s beloved father, Ted, suffered sudden bad moods and forgetfulness. Then the diagnosis: Alzheimer’s.Ted was disappearing from the family, but Simon wanted to hold on to him. While music could bring him back temporarily—the video of the two of them singing along to Ted’s favorite song was a hit around the world—Ted could no longer tell his story.This is that story.The Songaminute Man is the heartbreaking, poignant tale of vanishing family memories, a celebration of Ted’s life and a moving account of caring for a truly loved father.
The Songs of Blind Folk: African American Musicians and the Cultures of Blindness (Corporealities: Discourses on Disability)
by Terry RowdenThe Songs of Blind Folk explores the ways that the lives and careers of blind and visually impaired African American musicians and singers have mirrored the changes in America's image of African Americans and the social positioning and possibilities of the entire black community. The book offers a historically grounded consideration of African American performers and their audiences, and the ways that blindness, like blackness, has affected the way the music has been produced and received. This book includes footnotes which contain considerable information; be sure to read them. Author Terry Rowden considers the controversial nineteenth-century prodigy Blind Tom Bethune; blues singers and songwriters such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, who achieved an unprecedented degree of visibility and acceptance in the 1920s and '30s; spiritual and gospel musicians such as the Blind Boys of Alabama; celebrated jazz and rhythm and blues artists Art Tatum, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Ray Charles; and finally, perhaps the best known of all blind performers, Stevie Wonder. Terry Rowden is Assistant Professor of English at the City University of New York, Staten Island. He is coeditor of Transnational Cinema: The Film Reader.
The Sopranos
by Franco RicciOften hailed as one of the greatest television series of all time, The Sopranos is a product of its time, firmly embedded in the problems of post-industrial, post-ethnic America. In The Sopranos: Born under a Bad Sign, Franco Ricci examines the groundbreaking HBO series and its impact as a cultural phenomenon.Ricci demonstrates an encyclopedic knowledge of the series, the genre, and their social context in his analysis of the show's complex themes and characters. He explores The Sopranos' deep engagement with problems of race, class, gender, and identity, specifically in its portrayal of the Italian-American experience, consumer and media-driven society, and contemporary psychosocial issues. The series' protagonist, Mafia boss and patriarch Tony Soprano, in many ways embodies the anxieties of our age. Focusing on Tony's internal struggles and interactions with his therapist, family, and associates, Ricci traces this archetypal character's existential conflicts and sheds light on his search for self, connection, and meaning.Comprehensive in scope and sophisticated in approach, The Sopranos: Born under a Bad Sign is richly rewarding reading for anyone with an interest in the popular television drama, both as entertainment and social commentary.
The Sopranos Sessions
by Alan Sepinwall Matt Zoller SeitzThe Sopranos Sessions, a collection of recaps, conversations, and critical essays covering every episode. Featuring a series of new long-form interviews with series creator David Chase, as well as selections from the authors' archival writing on the series, The Sopranos Sessions explores the show's artistry, themes, and legacy, examining its portrayal of Italian Americans, its graphic depictions of violence, and its deep connections to other cinematic and television classics.
The Sopranos Sessions: A Conversation with David Chase
by Alan Sepinwall Matt Zoller SeitzNew York Times–Bestseller: “The authors’ interviews with Chase are endlessly illuminating . . . the definitive celebration of a show that made history.” —Kirkus ReviewsOn January 10, 1999, a mobster walked into a psychiatrist’s office and changed TV history. By shattering preconceptions about the kinds of stories the medium should tell, The Sopranos launched our current age of prestige television, paving the way for such giants as Mad Men, The Wire, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones. As TV critics for Tony Soprano’s hometown paper, New Jersey’s The Star-Ledger, Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz were among the first to write about the series before it became a cultural phenomenon. Now they have reunited to produce The Sopranos Sessions, a collection of recaps, conversations, and critical essays covering every episode. Featuring a series of new long-form interviews with series creator David Chase, as well as selections from the authors’ archival writing on the series, The Sopranos Sessions explores the show’s artistry, themes, and legacy, examining its portrayal of Italian Americans, its graphic depictions of violence, and its deep connections to other cinematic and television classics. “Includes highly detailed recaps of each episode [and] a debate about the much-discussed final moment of the final episode.” —The New York Times“Excellent . . . an enjoyable read.” —The Irish Times
The Sopranos: Selected Scripts from Three Seasons
by David ChaseThis must-have book for every fan of HBO's hit show "The Sopranos" packs five scripts from the best episodes, handpicked by series creator David Chase. Completed scripts are included for the episodes: Pilot, College, The Happy Wanderer, The Knight in White Satin Armor, and Pine Barrens. 8-page photo insert.
The Sopranos: The Official Cocktail Book
by Sarah Gualtieri Emma Carlson BerneRaise a toast to one of television&’s greatest series with distinctive cocktails inspired by the iconic moments and legendary characters of The Sopranos.Now it&’s easier than ever to craft killer cocktails sure to make the family proud. Featuring 60 classic recipes, The Sopranos: The Official Cocktail Book will have your whole crew sipping in style. This officially licensed collection includes drinks inspired by everyone from Tony and Junior Soprano to Chris Moltisanti, Paulie, Carmela, and more–plus step-by-step instructions, bartender tips, and beautiful full-color photography–making it an essential addition to every wise guy&’s bar cart or bookshelf. 60 RECIPES: Containing a varied roster of drinks from all corners of the series, The Sopranos: The Official Cocktail Book is a must-have, comprehensive guide for... this thing of ours. FOR ALL RANKS: Detailed, step-by-step instructions and helpful mixology tips ensure success. STUNNING PHOTOS: Beautiful, full-color photography helps you present picture-perfect (FBI-proof) cocktails. DRINK LIKE A BOSS: Featuring lively concoctions inspired by the memorable locations, legends, and allies of the New Jersey mob, this book captures the world and feel of the award-winning series inside every glass.
The Soul of Anime: Collaborative Creativity and Japan's Media Success Story
by Ian CondryIn The Soul of Anime, Ian Condry explores the emergence of anime, Japanese animated film and television, as a global cultural phenomenon. Drawing on ethnographic research, including interviews with artists at some of Tokyo's leading animation studios--such as Madhouse, Gonzo, Aniplex, and Studio Ghibli--Condry discusses how anime's fictional characters and worlds become platforms for collaborative creativity. He argues that the global success of Japanese animation has grown out of a collective social energy that operates across industries--including those that produce film, television, manga (comic books), and toys and other licensed merchandise--and connects fans to the creators of anime. For Condry, this collective social energy is the soul of anime.
The Soul of It All: My Music, My Life
by Michael BoltonAfter four decades in the music industry, Michael Bolton has cemented himself as one of the most successful musicians of our time. THE SOUL OF IT ALL is his backstage pass into his life lived thus far - into the venues, buses, limos and hotel rooms of stardom, and finally into his home and heart. His story will go long and dive deep, not only into his self-proclaimed 'vagabond vampire' life, but also into the belly of the beast that is the music industry, with its joys, follies and torments.From a 14-year-old kid performing in dive bars to struggling to provide for his wife and kids, to finally breaking through with the Soul Provider album, Bolton has fought for and earned a life most just dream of. THE SOUL OF IT ALL is his life, chockful of all the incredible stories, and the star-studded cast you'd expect, including: Pavarotti, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Ray Charles and Lady Gaga.
The Soul of It All: My Music, My Life
by Michael BoltonAfter four decades in the music industry, Michael Bolton has cemented himself as one of the most successful musicians of our time. THE SOUL OF IT ALL is his backstage pass into his life lived thus far - into the venues, buses, limos and hotel rooms of stardom, and finally into his home and heart. His story will go long and dive deep, not only into his self-proclaimed 'vagabond vampire' life, but also into the belly of the beast that is the music industry, with its joys, follies and torments.From a 14-year-old kid performing in dive bars to struggling to provide for his wife and kids, to finally breaking through with the Soul Provider album, Bolton has fought for and earned a life most just dream of. THE SOUL OF IT ALL is his life, chockful of all the incredible stories, and the star-studded cast you'd expect, including: Pavarotti, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Ray Charles and Lady Gaga.
The Soul of the Journey: The Mendelssohns in Scotland and Italy
by Diana AmbacheBrother and sister Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn enjoyed a rare bond: they were intimate companions and theirs was one of the most significant musical relationships of the 19th century. They shared and commented on each other’s compositions, each highly appreciative of the other but also offering frank, critical advice. Their travels produced some great music – Felix’s best loved works, the Hebrides Overture and the Scottish Symphony, were inspired by his 1829 visit to Scotland, whilst Fanny’s innovative piano cycle Das Jahr was a musical response to the tour of Italy she made in 1839–40. Combining letters and sketches with an accompanying narrative describing their journeys, this is a wonderful celebration of the two Mendelssohns and a portrait of Scotland and Italy of the time as seen through the eyes of two of the Romantic movement’s most acclaimed composers.
The Sound Handbook (Media Practice)
by Tim Crook'Tim Crook has written an important and much-needed book, and its arrival on our shelves has come at a highly appropriate time.' Professor Seán Street, Bournemouth University The Sound Handbook maps theoretical and practical connections between the creation and study of sound across the multi-media spectrum of film, radio, music, sound art, websites, animation and computer games entertainment, and stage theatre. Using an interdisciplinary approach Tim Crook explores the technologies, philosophies and cultural issues involved in making and experiencing sound, investigating soundscape debates and providing both intellectual and creative production information. The book covers the history, theory and practice of sound and includes practical production projects and a glossary of key terms. The Sound Handbook is supported by a companion website, signposted throughout the book, with further practical and theoretical resources dedicated to bridging the creation and study of sound across professional platforms and academic disciplines.
The Sound Studies Reader
by Jonathan SterneThe Sound Studies Reader blends recent work that self-consciously describes itself as ‘sound studies’ along with earlier and lesser-known scholarship on sound from across the humanities and social sciences. The Sound Studies Reader touches on key themes like noise and silence; architecture, acoustics and space; media and reproducibility; listening, voices and disability; culture, community, power and difference; and shifts in the form and meaning of sound across cultures, contexts and centuries. Writers reflect on crucial historical moments, difficult definitions, and competing accounts of the role of sound in culture and everyday life. Across the essays, readers will gain a sense of the range and history of key debates and discussions in sound studies. The collection begins with an introduction to welcome novice readers to the field and acquaint them the main issues in sound studies. Individual section introductions give readers further background on the essays and an extensive up to date bibliography for further reading in sound studies make this an original and accessible guide to the field.
The Sound of Freedom: Marian Anderson, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Concert that Awakened America
by Raymond ArsenaultAward-winning civil rights historian Ray Arsenault describes the dramatic story behind Marian Anderson's concert at the Lincoln Memorial--an early milestone in civil rights history--on the seventieth anniversary of her performance. On Easter Sunday 1939, the brilliant vocalist Marian Anderson sang before a throng of seventy-five thousand at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington--an electrifying moment and an underappreciated milestone in civil rights history. Though she was at the peak of a dazzling career, Anderson had been barred from performing at the Daughters of the American Revolution's Constitution Hall because she was black. When Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR over the incident and took up Anderson's cause, however, it became a national issue. Like a female Jackie Robinson--but several years before his breakthrough--Anderson rose to a pressure-filled and politically charged occasion with dignity and courage, and struck a vital blow for civil rights. In the 1963 March on Washington, Martin Luther King would follow, literally, in Anderson's footsteps. This tightly focused, richly textured narrative by acclaimed historian Raymond Arsenault captures the struggle for racial equality in 1930s America, the quiet heroism of Marian Anderson, and a moment that inspired blacks and whites alike. You can find this concert on YouTube.