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Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen
by Brian RafteryFrom a veteran culture writer and modern movie expert, a celebration and analysis of the movies of 1999—arguably the most groundbreaking year in American cinematic history.In 1999, Hollywood as we know it exploded: Fight Club. The Matrix. Office Space. Election. The Blair Witch Project. The Sixth Sense. Being John Malkovich. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. American Beauty. The Virgin Suicides. Boys Don’t Cry. The Best Man. Three Kings. Magnolia. Those are just some of the landmark titles released in a dizzying movie year, one in which a group of daring filmmakers and performers pushed cinema to new limits—and took audiences along for the ride. Freed from the restraints of budget, technology (or even taste), they produced a slew of classics that took on every topic imaginable, from sex to violence to the end of the world. The result was a highly unruly, deeply influential set of films that would not only change filmmaking, but also give us our first glimpse of the coming twenty-first century. It was a watershed moment that also produced The Sopranos; Apple’s Airport; Wi-Fi; and Netflix’s unlimited DVD rentals. Best. Movie. Year. Ever. is the story of not just how these movies were made, but how they re-made our own vision of the world. It features more than 130 new and exclusive interviews with such directors and actors as Reese Witherspoon, Edward Norton, Steven Soderbergh, Sofia Coppola, David Fincher, Nia Long, Matthew Broderick, Taye Diggs, M. Night Shyamalan, David O. Russell, James Van Der Beek, Kirsten Dunst, the Blair Witch kids, the Office Space dudes, the guy who played Jar-Jar Binks, and dozens more. It’s the definitive account of a culture-conquering movie year none of us saw coming…and that we may never see again.
Philosophical Issues in Indian Cinema: Approximate Terms and Concepts
by MK RaghavendraThis book interrogates the vocabulary used in theorizing about Indian cinema to reach into the deeper cultural meanings of philosophies and traditions from which it derives its influences. It re-examines terms and concepts used in film criticism and contextualizes them within the aesthetics, poetics and politics of Indian cinema. The book looks at terms and concepts borrowed from the scholarship on American and world cinema and explores their use and relevance in describing the characteristics and evolution of cinema in India. It highlights how realism, romance and melodrama in the context of India appear in a culturally singular way and how the aggregation of constituent elements – like songs, action, comedy – in Indian film can be traced to classical theatre and other diverse religious and philosophical influences. These influences have characterized popular film and drama in India which present all aspects of life for a diverse nation. The author explores concepts like ‘fantasy’, ‘family’ and ‘patriotism’ by using various examples from films in India and outside, as well as practices in the other arts. He identifies the fundamental logic behind the choices made by film-makers in India and discusses concepts which allow for a fresh theorizing on Indian cinema’s characteristics. This book will be of great interest to students and researchers of film studies, media studies, cultural studies, literature, cultural history and South Asian studies. It will also be useful for general readers who are interested in learning more about Indian cinema, its forms, origins and influences.
Europe Speaks Arabic
by Dr V. Abdur RahimArabic gave Europe cotton to wear, candy to eat, coffee to drink, chess to play, magazine to read, mattress to sleep on, and sugar to sweeten with. This book is a lucid exposition of these and a host of other Arabic words that have become part and parcel of English and other European languages. It is not a catalogue of words, but a lively discussion based on linguistic evidence, enriched with copious literary quotations and characterized by profound regard and respect for each other's culture and views. The book opens up new worlds of fascinating information in the domains of etymology, phonetic change and semantic development. It uses English, French, Spanish, German and other languages to show how words have been derived from Arabic.
Consuming Cultural Hegemony: Bollywood in Bangladesh
by Harisur RahmanThis book examines the circulation and viewership of Bollywood films and filmi modernity in Bangladesh. The writer poses a number of fundamental questions: what it means to be a Bangladeshi in South Asia, what it means to be a Bangladeshi fan of Hindi film, and how popular film reflects power relations in South Asia. The writer argues that partition has resulted in India holding hegemonic power over all of South Asia’s nation-states at the political, economic, and military levels–a situation that has made possible its cultural hegemony. The book draws on relevant literature from anthropology, sociology, film, media, communication, and cultural studies to explore the concepts of hegemony, circulation, viewership, cultural taste, and South Asian cultural history and politics.
Humor in Middle Eastern Cinema
by Najat Rahman Gayatri DeviWhile Middle Eastern culture does not tend to be associated with laughter and levity in the global imagination, humor--often satirical--has long been a staple of mainstream Arabic film. In Humor in Middle Eastern Cinema, editors Gayatri Devi and Najat Rahman shed light on this tradition, as well as humor and laughter motivated by other intent--including parody, irony, the absurd, burlesque, and dark comedy. Contributors trace the proliferation of humor in contemporary Middle Eastern cinema in the works of individual directors and from the perspectives of genre, national cinemas, and diasporic cinema. Humor in Middle Eastern Cinema explores what humor theorists have identified as an "emancipatory," "liberatory," even "revolutionary" function to humor. Among the questions contributors ask are: How does Middle Eastern cinema and media highlight the stakes and place of humor in art and in life? What is its relation to the political? Can humor in cinematic art be emancipatory? What are its limits for its intervention or transformation? Contributors examine the region's masterful auteurs, such as Abbas Kiarostami, Youssef Chahine, and Elia Suleiman and cover a range of cinematic settings, including Egypt, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey. They also trace diasporic issues in the distinctive cinema of India and Pakistan. This insightful collection will introduce readers to a variety of contemporary Middle Eastern cinema that has attracted little critical notice. Scholars of cinema and media studies as well as Middle Eastern cultural history will appreciate this introduction to a complex and fascinating cinema.
Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking: Practical Techniques for the Guerilla Filmmaker
by Dan RahmelNuts and Bolts Filmmaking, an ideal book for the rapidly growing number of low-budget filmmakers, provides how-to information on the day-to-day techniques of actual low-budget production. Containing construction details describing how to replicate expensive tools for under $30 a piece, this book provides quick and inexpensive remedies to both the most common and most difficult production challenges. Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking is an invaluable resource to anyone looking to make a film without a big budget.
Untimely Bollywood: Globalization and India's New Media Assemblage
by Amit S. RaiKnown for its elaborate spectacle of music, dance, costumes, and fantastical story lines, Bollywood cinema is a genre that foregrounds narrative rupture, indeterminacy, and bodily sensation. In Untimely Bollywood, Amit S. Rai argues that the fast-paced, multivalent qualities of contemporary Bollywood cinema are emblematic of the changing conditions of media consumption in a globalizing India. Through analyses of contemporary media practices, Rai shifts the emphasis from a representational and linear understanding of the effects of audiovisual media to the multiple, contradictory, and evolving aspects of media events. He uses the Deleuzian concept of assemblage as a model for understanding the complex clustering of technological, historical, and physical processes that give rise to contemporary media practices. Exploring the ramifications of globalized media, he sheds light on how cinema and other popular media organize bodies, populations, and spaces in order to manage the risky excesses of power and sensation and to reinforce a liberalized postcolonial economy. Rai recounts his experience of attending the first showing of a Bollywood film in a single-screen theater in Bhopal: the sensory experience of the exhibition space, the sound system, the visual style of the film, the crush of the crowd. From that event, he elicits an understanding of cinema as a historically contingent experience of pleasure, a place where the boundaries of identity and social spaces are dissolved and redrawn. He considers media as a form of contagion, endlessly mutating and spreading, connecting human bodies, organizational structures, and energies, thus creating an inextricable bond between affect and capital. Expanding on the notion of media contagion, Rai traces the emerging correlation between the postcolonial media assemblage and capitalist practices, such as viral marketing and the development of multiplexes and malls in India.
Explodobook: The World of 80s Action Movies According to Smersh Pod
by John RainThe 1980s. A time of fear: fear of the unknown, fear of your neighbours, fear of drugs, fear of sex, fear of strangers, fear of videos, and the very real fear that the world would end at any moment in an awful, and very sudden, nuclear attack. However, in those times of turmoil and worry, there was a comfort that soothed the mind, and acted as a quiet balm: action movies. Video shops were bursting at the seams with rampant gunfire, sex, drugs, rock, roll, cars on fire, people on fire, guns, bombs, and people dressed in army fatigues (and that was just the staff). Heroes were born shrouded in fire and violent revenge, they were not only armed with guns, but also red-hot quips, that served as a muscly arm around the shoulder, and a wink that everything was going to be okay. So thank you Arnold, Sylvester, Sigourney, Bruce, Eddie, Charles, Patrick, Mel, Chuck and everyone else that made it happen. You saved the world, in your own inimitable way. Join John Rain, the author of the critically-acclaimed Thunderbook: The World of Bond According to Smersh Pod, as he examines a choice selection of the greatest action movies from the decade when the explosion was king.
Thunderbook: The World of Bond According to Smersh Pod
by John RainThe creator of SMERSH Pod explores his favorite Bond films (and the other ones, too) in this irreverent celebration of the spy thriller franchise. The Bond films have entertained annoyed, excited, bored, aroused and invigorated moviegoers for generations. Who hasn&’t wanted to kick a big bloke with metal teeth in the groin? Fly a small plane out of a pretend horse&’s bottom? Or push a middle-aged man into space? No one, that&’s who. John Rain, host of the Bond podcast SMERSH Pod, affectionately examines Bond with tongue firmly in cheek in Thunderbook. With a chapter devoted to every Bond film from Dr. No to Spectre, Thunderbook examines all the moments that are funny, silly, rubbish, nonsensical, bizarre and interesting. An irreverent celebration of Agent 007, this is the go-to companion book for Bond fans.
The Teaching of Kathakali in Australia: Mirroring the Master (Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies)
by Arjun RainaThis book tells the story of teaching Kathakali, a seventeenth century Indian dance-drama, to contemporary performers in Australia. A rigorous analysis and detailed documentation of the teaching of multiple learners in Melbourne, both in the group workshop mode and one-on-one, combined with the author’s ethnographic research in India, leads to a unique insight into what the author argues persuasively is at the heart of the art’s aesthetic- a practical realisation of the theory of rasa as first articulated in the ancient Sanskrit treatise on drama The Natyashastra. The research references the latest discoveries in neuroscience on ‘mirror neurons’ and argues for a reconceptualization of Kathakali’s imitative methodology, advancing it from the reductive category of ‘mimicry’ to a more contemporary and complex mirroring which is where its value lies in Australian actor performer training. The Teaching of Kathakali in Australia will be of great interest to students and scholars of theatre and dance, intercultural actor training, practice-led research, and interdisciplinary studies of neuroscience and performance.
44 Cats: A Cat's Best Friend (I Can Read Level 1)
by RainbowBased on the all-new animated preschool show on Nickelodeon, this level 1 early reader is purrrr-fect for any 44 Cats fan! When the neighbor’s dog Terry comes over, it’s up to the cats to teach him how to be a fabulous feline!44 Cats is an animated preschool comedy starring four cats: Lampo, Milady, Meatball, and Pilou. Also known as The Buffycats, they transform the garage into their clubhouse—a place where all cats from the neighborhood get together to have fun, relax, and most of all to help each other.44 Cat: A Cat's Best Friend is a Level One I Can Read, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.
44 Cats: Cats on a Mission (44 Cats)
by RainbowBased on the all-new animated preschool show on Nickelodeon, this all-new storybook retells a key episode from 44 Cats.When the evil neighbor tries to steal Granny Pina’s house, the cats must find the missing deed before it’s too late! They will need to use their courage, smarts, and a touch of music to save the day.44 Cats is an animated preschool comedy starring four cats: Lampo, Milady, Meatball, and Pilou. Also known as The Buffycats, they transform the garage into their clubhouse—a place where all cats from the neighborhood get together to have fun, relax, and most of all to help each other.
44 Cats: Cats Rock! (I Can Read Level 1)
by RainbowBased on the all-new animated preschool show on Nickelodeon, this early reader is purrrr-fect for any 44 Cats fan! For the first time ever, little ones can read and rock out with The Buffycats in this level 1 early reader.In this story, Lampo, Milady, Meatball, and Pilou come together to form the greatest rock band of all time—The Buffycats!44 Cats is an animated preschool comedy starring four cats: Lampo, Milady, Meatball, and Pilou. Also known as The Buffycats, they transform the garage in their clubhouse–a place where all cats from the neighborhood get together to have fun, relax, and most of all to help each other.44 Cats: Cats Rock! is a Level One I Can Read, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.
Playing With Myself
by Randy RainbowAn intimate and light-hearted memoir by viral sensation and three-time Emmy-nominated musical comedian Randy Rainbow that takes readers through his life―the highs, the lows, the lipstick, the pink glasses, and the show tunes. <p><p> Randy Rainbow, the man who conquered the Internet with a stylish pair of pink glasses, an inexhaustible knowledge of Broadway musicals, and the most gimlet-eyed view of American politics this side of Mark Twain finally tells all in Playing with Myself, a memoir sure to cause more than a few readers to begin singing one of his greatest hits like “A Spoonful of Clorox” or “Cover Your Freakin’ Face.” <p><p> As Randy has said, “There’s so much fake news out there about me. I can’t wait to set the record straight and finally give people a peek behind the green screen.” And set the record straight he does. Playing with Myself is a first-hand account of the journey that led Randy Rainbow from his childhood as the over-imaginative, often misunderstood little boy who carried a purse in the second grade to his first job on Broadway as the host at Hooters and on to the creation of his trademark comedy character. In chapters titled “Pajama Bottoms” (a look back at the days when he wore pajama bottoms on his head to pretend he was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz), “Yes, It’s My Real Name, Shut Up!” (no explanation necessary...) and “Pink Glasses” (a rose-colored homage to his favorite accessory), Playing with Myself is a memoir that answers the question “Can an introverted musical theatre nerd with a MacBook and a dream save the world, one show tune at a time?”
Playing with Myself
by Randy RainbowAn intimate and light-hearted memoir by viral sensation and three-time Emmy-nominated musical comedian Randy Rainbow that takes readers through his life—the highs, the lows, the lipstick, the pink glasses, and the show tunes.Randy Rainbow, the man who conquered the Internet with a stylish pair of pink glasses, an inexhaustible knowledge of Broadway musicals, and the most gimlet-eyed view of American politics this side of Mark Twain finally tells all in Playing with Myself, a memoir sure to cause more than a few readers to begin singing one of his greatest hits like “A Spoonful of Clorox” or “Cover Your Freakin’ Face.” As Randy has said, “There’s so much fake news out there about me. I can’t wait to set the record straight and finally give people a peek behind the green screen.” And set the record straight he does. Playing with Myself is a first-hand account of the journey that led Randy Rainbow from his childhood as the over-imaginative, often misunderstood little boy who carried a purse in the second grade to his first job on Broadway as the host at Hooters and on to the creation of his trademark comedy character. In chapters titled “Pajama Bottoms” (a look back at the days when he wore pajama bottoms on his head to pretend he was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz), “Yes, It’s My Real Name, Shut Up!” (no explanation necessary...) and “Pink Glasses” (a rose-colored homage to his favorite accessory), Playing with Myself is a memoir that answers the question “Can an introverted musical theatre nerd with a MacBook and a dream save the world, one show tune at a time?”
Unravelled: The Revealed Series (The Revealed Series #2)
by Alice RaineA sexy novel in the Revealed series, perfect for fans of 365 Days, E. L. James, Sylvia Day and Tara Sue Me.Finding herself in the middle of LA with her best friend Cait, Allie is determined to have the holiday of her life. But still reeling from the admission of the relationship between her boyfriend, Hollywood hunk Sean Phillips, and his co-star Savannah Hilton, it's not going to be easy. Cait, meanwhile, is trying to forget her past, and finds herself drawn towards an enigmatic stranger only known as Jack, who may be hiding a few secrets of his own. Struggling to adapt to the glitz and glamour of LA life, can they keep the happiness they are so determined to find out there?
Unveiled: A tempting tale laced with steamy sensuality (The Revealed Series) (The Revealed Series #3)
by Alice RaineFrom the bestselling author of The Darkness Within Him comes the Revealed series - a tale of dark secrets and the forbidden world of desires. Perfect for fans of 365 Days, E. L. James, Sylvia Day and Tara Sue Me.Unveiled is the third book in the steamy Revealed series.Readers LOVE Alice's tempting tales:'Brilliant author Well written, great read. I am loving this series' ***** Review 'Alice Raine is an excellent writer and this new series is fantastic! Would highly recommend them!!' ***** Review'Love this series. The characters keep you on your toes. Drama galore. Passion and sexy scenes and so much more' ***** Review 'Omg absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down' ***** Review _______Allie is feeling the strain of trying to cope with the realities of dating a Hollywood star, but every time she thinks things are back on track with Sean, Savannah Hilton, Sean's deviously cunning co-star returns with a vengeance. Can they make it as a couple? Meanwhile, Cait has managed to secure herself a job, but her troubled past continues to haunt her. Tempted by the possibility of lowering her defences and developing a friendship with Jack Felton, Hollywood heartthrob and the feature of her fantasies, she's torn between the chance of happiness, but struggling to comprehend how she can let a man in again when the very man who hurt her is still lurking in the shadows. Can the girls find the happiness they chase, or is Hollywood just a step too far for them?_______Don't miss the rest of this irresistibly tempting series, continuing with Undone - OUT NOW!
Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s for the Primary Grades, Revised: Activities to Expand Children's Books, Revised Edition
by Shirley Raines Brian Scott SmithThere is nothing that children love more than a good story. Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s for the Primary Grades, Revised connects 90 of the best children's books to early learning centers, stretching each story five ways with lively and entertaining activities that heighten reading readiness, sharpen comprehension skills, and expand the excitement of story time. Pulling the best stories from the original books, this new edition also features new children's books as well as old favorites, refreshed activities, and online references for expanding story experiences.
Lifestyle Media and the Formation of the Self
by Jayne RaisboroughBe the best you can be' urge self-help books and makeover TV shows, but what kind of self is imagined as needing a makeover and what kind of self is imagined as the happy result? Drawing on recent sociology and psychology, this book explores the function of slummy mummies, headless zombies and living autopsies to creating an idea of self.
Fierce: How Competing for Myself Changed Everything
by Aly Raisman<P>Discover Aly Raisman's inspiring story of dedication, perseverance, and learning to think positive even in the toughest times on her path to gold medal success in two Olympic Games--and beyond. <P>Aly Raisman first stepped onto a gymnastics mat as a toddler in a "mommy & me" gymnastics class. No one could have predicted then that sixteen years later, she'd be standing on an Olympic podium, having achieved her dreams. <P>But it wasn't an easy road to success. Aly faced obstacle after obstacle, including naysayers who claimed that she didn't have the talent to compete at an elite level and classmates who shamed Aly for her athletic body. <P>Through it all, Aly surrounded herself with supportive family, friends, and teammates and found the inner strength to believe in herself and prove her doubters wrong. <P>In her own words, Aly shows what it takes to be a champion on and off the floor, and takes readers on a behind-the-scenes journey before, during, and after her remarkable achievements in two Olympic Games--through her highest highs, lowest lows, and all the moments in between. <P>Honest and heartfelt, frank and funny, Aly's story is enhanced with never-before-published photos, excerpts from the personal journals she's kept since childhood that chronicle memorable moments with her teammates, and hard-won advice for readers striving to rise above challenges, learn to love themselves, and make their own dreams come true. <P><b> A New York Times Bestseller</b>
The Hay House Book of Cinema that Heals
by Ashok RajA unique volume that highlights – tellingly and poignantly – how the impact of the Hindi film over the decades has played a significant role in trying to bring together people belonging to different faiths and different strata of society. Covering a vast time span from the silent era to the present, this work focuses on Hindi cinema’s attempts at promoting harmony and trust among various religions, communities and ethnic groups, while performing its basic function of entertaining the viewers. It identifies appropriate situations and characters in select films – such as Padosi (1941), Hum Ek Hain (1946), Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Dharamputra (1961), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Ghulam-e-Musthafa (1997), Lagaan (2001) and Veer-Zara (2004) – and describes how positive messages have been articulated through them. It also examines the response of the film makers to the changes that have been taking place over the years in society vis-à-vis the communal milieu in the country and their contribution towards making a cinema that heals. Ever since its inception a century ago, Indian cinema, far more than other popular cultural medium, has consistently taken up highly appealing and socially relevant interpretations of popular religious beliefs and customs. It has often attempted to ensure that the audiences identified themselves with the characters as they enacted their roles on screen. This cinema, though dominated by love stories and romantic escapism, has, occasionally, sent out a powerful message against age-old religious orthodoxy and outdated traditions by emphasizing that such factors have caused tremendous social tensions and suffering. In a very significant way, Indian cinema has tried to systematically break down religious and other barriers (say, ethnic, language, caste and class) and has endeavoured to engender an egalitarian society despite numerous obstacles. Here is a work that all readers, film buffs or not, will find stimulating, engrossing and informative.
Hero Vol.1: The Silent Era To Dilip Kumar
by Ashok RajThis volume traces the growth of the indigenous Hindi film hero from the silent era up to Dilip Kumar. The film hero is depicted as a credible representative of the social, cultural and political milieu of his era. The author contends that the development of Hindi cinema has been largely centered round the frontal figure of the hero. In the course of the narrative, the subject matter presents a compact history of mainstream Hindi cinema by placing personalities, events and trends in specific time frames.
Hero Vol.2: Amitabh Bachchan To The Khans And Beyond
by Ashok RajThis volume focuses on the life and times of the ‘star of the millennium’, Amitabh Bachchan, and goes on to describe his contemporaries such as Shashi Kapoor, Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna, and also the next generation of heroes, including the Khans, Govinda, Hrithik Roshan and others who have followed. Ashok Raj is a research coordinator based in New Delhi. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, he has served as a consultant to several national and international organizations and NGOs in various spheres such as science, culture and the media. His significant work is a sixteen-part series on cinema, which was published in Screen (in 1988).
Digital Culture Unplugged: Probing the Native Cyborg’s Multiple Locations
by Nalini RajanFirst published in 2007. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Popular Cinema and Politics in South India: The Films of MGR and Rajinikanth
by S. RajanayagamThis work breaks new ground in the understanding of South Indian cinema and politics. Through incisive analysis and original concepts it illustrates the private, public and cinematic personas of MGR and Rajinikanth. It challenges the popular and scholarly myths surrounding them and shows the constant negotiation of their on-screen and off-screen identities. The book revisits the entire political history of post-Independent Tamil Nadu through its cinema,and presents a refreshing psycho-political and cultural map of contemporary South India. This absorbing volume will be an important read for scholars, teachers and students of film studies, culture and media studies, and politics, especially those interested in South India.