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June 23
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Kyle
gave
 
to:
Divine Horsemen: Living Gods of Haiti (Paperback)
by Maya Deren
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Kyle said:
"Maya Deren received a Guggenheim Fellowship in which she proposed to produce a film juxtaposing the visual effect of modern dance and Voodoo ritual dance. Instead, she became immersed in the social and spiritual aspects of ritual dance. Untrained in ...more
Maya Deren received a Guggenheim Fellowship in which she proposed to produce a film juxtaposing the visual effect of modern dance and Voodoo ritual dance. Instead, she became immersed in the social and spiritual aspects of ritual dance. Untrained in academic anthropology, Deren approaches her subject as an artist would approach the work of one of her peers. Deren's interest in Haitian Voodoo reflects certain reactionary primitivist tendencies that are to be expected from a Surrealist artist working in the 1950s. Her self-identification as an "artist-native" causes her to align the problems modern artists face as a result of industrialization with those of colonized native cultures. However, Deren's approach does result, for the most part, in enlightened conclusions. For example, her research also leads her to elevate the low art of native cultures to the status of high art--a progressive stance for the 1950s. Her work avoids sensationalism in favor of carefully researched data, most of which has been acquired through first-hand experience. She must have gotten something right as it is the only anthropological text that can be found in Haitian-owned Voodoo bookstores. ...less
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June 22
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Kyle
marked as to-read:
Sixty Stories (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics)
by Donald Barthelme
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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May 31
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Kyle
gave
to:
Mad Love (French Modernist Library)
by André Breton
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in April, 2008
Kyle said:
"This is a good translation of Breton's elliptical poem/essay on Surrealism. Breton's manipulations of language and the antidotes he relates illustrate Surrealism's concern with chance, irrationality, and the uncharted territory of the imagination. Th...more
This is a good translation of Breton's elliptical poem/essay on Surrealism. Breton's manipulations of language and the antidotes he relates illustrate Surrealism's concern with chance, irrationality, and the uncharted territory of the imagination. The intro focuses on Surrealism's socialist program, highlighting Breton's trips with Trotsky and Surrealism's rejection of "bourgeois reason" in favor of some yet-to-be conceived utopian future. The intro does not go into much in the way of aesthetic theory and readers unfamiliar with Surrealism's themes and techniques will be left in the cold. Central themes such as "convulsive beauty" and "mad love" are left for the reader to contextualize or his/her own. In addition, the footnotes hardly explain the metaphors and puns found in the text. For this reason, I rated it four stars instead of five. This text is a classic and should be required reading any student of art history or cultural theory, but readers should be prepared look elsewhere in order to comprehend the ideology caught in this web of text. ...less
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May 29
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Kyle
gave
to:
The Elements of Style With Index (Turtleback)
by William Strunk Jr.
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in May, 2008
Kyle said:
"This little book provides instructions on how to use grammar correctly and how to write concisely. Many rules will seem outdated to the reader of today. Is there still a debate amongst intellectuals as to whether or not one should use "like"...more
This little book provides instructions on how to use grammar correctly and how to write concisely. Many rules will seem outdated to the reader of today. Is there still a debate amongst intellectuals as to whether or not one should use "like" in place of "as"? Nonetheless, Strenk's belief that one must, above all, take a stand when writing is inspiring. I've read many art reviews and letters to the editor where I've felt some Strenkian constraints were needed. Like the author, I feel that the breezy manner affected alternative newspapers (and now blogs) is usually more narcissistic and dull than it is informative and edgy. Also like Strenk, I feel we should all put an end to the use of timewise, enthused, and pleez. I'd also add that we should eliminate the use of all corporate lingo such as multi-task, touch base, team player, shoot me an email, and FYI. If Strenk were alive today, I'm sure he would agree. ...less
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Kyle
gave
to:
Creative Mind and Success (Science of Mind)
by Ernest Holmes
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Kyle said:
"This was written by the founder of the Religious Science movement, a component of the New Thought movement. Anyone familiar with the New Thought movement sees its influence in almost every self-help and New Age bestseller on the racks today. Holmes' ...more
This was written by the founder of the Religious Science movement, a component of the New Thought movement. Anyone familiar with the New Thought movement sees its influence in almost every self-help and New Age bestseller on the racks today. Holmes' style is verbose and archaic; however, hearing these concepts expressed in their original voice is facinating. Holmes is essential reading for anyone interested in the development of the New Age world view and Christian cults....less
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May 28
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Kyle
marked as to-read:
Performance Art: From Futurism to the Present (World of Art)
by Roselee Goldberg
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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April 23
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Kyle
marked as to-read:
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Paperback)
by Eckhart Tolle
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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Kyle
marked as to-read:
History of Shit (Documents Book)
by Dominique Laporte
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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Kyle
marked as to-read:
The Secret Life of Plants (Paperback)
by Peter Tompkins
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
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