When Dave Hickey was twelve, he rode the surfer's dream: the perfect wave. And, like so many things in life we long for, it didn't quite turn out----he shot the pier and dashed himself against the rocks of Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach, which just about killed him. Fortunately, for Hickey and for us, he survived, and continues to battle, decades into a career as one of America's foremost critical iconoclasts, a trusted, even cherished no-nonsense voice...

"No art form is as instantly and continuously gratifying as film. When the house lights go down and the lion roars, we settle in to be shocked, frightened, elated, moved, and thrilled. We expect magic. While we're being exhilarated and terrified, our minds are also processing data of all sorts--visual, linguistic, auditory, spatial--to collaborate in the construction of meaning. Thomas C. Foster's Reading the Silver Screen will show movie buffs,...

Correct Me If I'm Wrong is an easy-to-use guide to the most common problems in grammar, punctuation, and word usage. You will easily find what you are looking for, since the topics are presented in alphabetical order. There is also a complete table of contents and index. This book is perfect for students from 6th grade through college and adult, writers, professionals, job seekers, and anyone who wants to improve his or her writing and speaking skills!...

While Tolstoy may be best remembered as the talented Russian author of such monumentally great works as "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina", he also wrote prolifically in essay format on various subjects. In this volume Tolstoy turns his attention to the study of aesthetics and art in all its forms. Based on fifteen years of research, "What is Art?" is Tolstoy's intellectual exposition into answering the titular question. Rich with criticism for his...

A 1916 book on theatre, with chapters devoted to the "decline" of the minstrel show and to the "long-familiar" variety show, which the author directly equates with vaudeville.

"The Art of Spiritual Harmony" is a seminal work by the pioneering abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. This influential book delves into the profound connection between art and spirituality, presenting Kandinsky's revolutionary ideas on the role of art in expressing the innermost emotions and transcending the material world. Kandinsky, a master of color and form, articulates his belief that art should go beyond mere representation and tap into deeper...

English art critic Clive Bell wrote this book on Paul Cézanne's influence on modern art. 

"Reynold Levy joined Lincoln Center in 2002. This book reveals the real story behind the 1.2 billion dollar reinvention of Lincoln Center, and all the trials and triumphs along the way. It contains unique lessons for leaders in all kinds of organizations, cautionary tales for employees, volunteers and donors, and inspiring clarity for anyone who wants to lead an institution they believe in so that it can become the best version of itself. "-- Provided...

Irish novelist and art critic George Moore writes his opinions on controversial issues within the 19th-century art world, including photography as an art form, sex in art, the relationship between religion and art and a rejection of Realism for Impressionism. These ideals that the author addresses all inspired the beginnings of modern art. Moore's opinions seem shockingly biased and sometimes prejudiced, but do give the reader a 19th-century perspective....

Mortimer Menpes' biography of American painter James McNeill Whistler, lavishly illustrated with colour plates and plates in monochrome throughout. Best known for the painting made depicting his mother, James McNeill Whistler was an American painter who worked mostly in the United Kingdom, his works often sentimental in nature. Mortimer Menpes was a British painter, illustrator and printmaker. He created a form of colour etching, as well as publishing...