Download or read book Deconstruction For Beginners written by Jim Powell and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2008-01-08 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Deconstruction is so labyrinthine (and rumored to be fatal) that it’s become the monster that murdered philosophy. When Jacques Derrida, the father of deconstruction, uses buzz-words such as “phallogocentrism” and “transcendental signified,” humanities students and aspiring philosophers may get weak in the knees. Following up on the success of Derrida For Beginners, Jim Powell’s Deconstruction For Beginners is an irreverent romp through deconstructive domains. Though Powell offers lucid explanations of the most important deconstructive ideas and texts, he also dive into lesser known works. One of these, The Right to Look, finds Derrida offering his thoughts on a photo-novella consisting of images of women making love with each other. Powell then goes on to explore how deconstruction, like an unruly mistress, has escaped Derrida, especially in the realm of architecture. Then, based on Derrida’s assertion that deconstruction happens differently in different cultures, Powell examines how – through Buddhism and Taoism – deconstruction took place in ancient India, Japan, and China.

Download or read book Stanislavski For Beginners written by Allen, David and published by For Beginners, LLC. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stanislavski was the first person to develop a cogent and practical system of acting. Throughout his life he sought the answers to such fundamental questions as: "What is great acting?" and "How can you find inspiration in every performance?" Stanislavski remains the most important influence on actor training today, and yet many of his ideas are little known, or even misunderstood. Stanislavski For Beginners charts the development of the Stanislavski system. It includes a clear exposition of the key elements of the system and explores his Method of Physical Actions, which he worked on in the years before his death, and which he called “the result of my whole life’s work.”

Download or read book Chicano Movement for Beginners written by Maceo Montoya and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2016-09-13 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the heyday of the Chicano Movement of the late 1960s to early 70s fades further into history and as more and more of its important figures pass on, so too does knowledge of its significance. Thus, The Chicano Movement For Beginners is an important attempt to stave off historical amnesia. It seeks to shed light on the multifaceted civil rights struggle known as "El Movimiento" that galvanized the Mexican American community, from laborers to student activists, giving them not only a political voice to combat prejudiceand inequality, but also a new sense of cultural awareness and ethnic pride. Beyond commemorating the past, The Chicano Movement For Beginners seeks to reaffirm the goals and spirit of the Chicano Movement for the simple reason that many of the critical issues Mexican American activists first brought to the nation's attention then#8212educational disadvantage, endemic poverty, political exclusion, and social bias#8212remain as pervasive as ever almost half a century later.

Download or read book Bukowski For Beginners written by Carlos Polimeni and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2015-04-07 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Charles Bukowski, poet, novelist, short-story writer, journalist, and cult figure of the dissident and rebellious was born in Germany in 1920 and died in the USA in 1994. During his life he was hailed as "laureate of American lowlife" by Time magazine literary critic Adam Kirsch of The New Yorker wrote: "The secret of Bukowski's appeal...(is that) he combines the confessional poet's promise of intimacy with the largerthan-life aplomb of a pulp-fiction hero." Bukowski was one of the most unconventional writers and cultural critics of the 20th century. He lived an unorthodox, idiosyncratic life and wrote in a style that was unique—one that is impossible to classify or categorize. His work was at times cynical or humorous, but was always brilliant and challenging. His life and work are distinguished not only by a remarkable talent for words, but also by his rejection of the dominant social and cultural values of American society. Bukowski began writing at the age of forty and published forty-five books, six of them novels. He is also considered one of the great literary voices of Los Angeles. In Bukowski For Beginners, playwright Carlos Polimeni evaluates the life and literary achievements of the cult writer whose voice of dissidence and discontent is still heard and appreciated by readers worldwide.

Download or read book C S Lewis For Beginners written by Louis Markos and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2022-06-05 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: C.S. Lewis For Beginners is a thorough examination of C. S. Lewis, the greatest Christian apologist of the twentieth century, throughout his career as an author and as a professor at Oxford University. A Christian apologist defends Christianity as a consistent and coherent worldview that squares with human reason, history, and desire. It offers answers to every facet of our lives on earth as well as answers to our questions about what happens after we die. What makes C.S. Lewis unique as an apologist is the way he balanced so perfectly reason and imagination, logic and intuition, and head and heart. In addition to writing such non-fiction apologetics books as Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, and Miracles, he wrote eleven novels: the seven Chronicles of Narnia, a trilogy of science-fiction adventures, and a haunting retelling of an old myth set in the ancient world. All eleven tell wonderful, captivating stories that stand on their own as fiction but that also support and bring to life the kinds of apologetical arguments he makes in his non-fiction. He also wrote two utterly unique works of fiction, The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce, that offer a fresh, highly original take on sin and temptation, angels and devils, and heaven and hell. And that’s not all. Lewis the apologist and novelist had a day job. He was a celebrated English professor at Oxford, and then Cambridge, University who wrote works of literary criticism that are still famous today. C.S. Lewis For Beginners takes the reader through the wardrobe of his complete catalog of writing.

Download or read book Proust for Beginners written by Steve Bachmann and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2016-05-01 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Proust For Beginners is a compelling biography of French novelist Marcel Proust and a vivid portrait of his times. It also serves as a concise guide and critical review of In Search of Lost Time (� la recherche du temps perdu, 7 volumes, 1913 -1927), one of the most difficult "yet widely taught" works of French literature. With extensive passages from In Search of Lost Time and other essential works, Proust For Beginners highlights the defining themes and unique literary style of a modern master whom many have heard about but few fully fathom. It portrays Proust and the milieu in which he wrote in vivid detail, bringing to life the "Proustian moments" at the heart of his greatest work - and our own everyday experience. Proust's masterpiece "begins in a series of rooms in which he unlocks themes, styles, references, and foreshadows," writes Harold Augenbraum in the foreword. Proust for Beginners will provide the key.

Download or read book Literary Theory For Beginners written by Mary Klages and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2017-05-15 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Have you heard the terms structuralism and deconstruction and postmodernism but aren’t really sure what they mean? Have you taken a whole course on literary criticism but are still feeling lost? Here’s the book you need to sort it all out—and enjoy doing so! In Literary Theory For Beginners, Mary Klages takes you into her classroom, cuts through the jargon, and explains the ABCs (and the DEFs as well) in terms you can get your head around. Her breadth of knowledge, her unique skills as a teacher, and the delightful illustrations of Frank Reynoso help us understand why literature matters, how it affects us, and how it reflects history, culture, and diversity. Here are ways of thinking about literature—not just reading it—methods of study and frameworks of interpretation from classical humanism all the way up to psychoanalysis, gender and queer theory, race, postcolonialism, and, yes, postmodernism With wit and wisdom, Klages takes on the two most frequently asked questions about literature and makes it all fun: What does the work MEAN? (What is the deeper, hidden, or symbolic meaning? Did the author intend all these meanings? Are any and all meanings present in the text? Are all meanings equally valid?) What does the work DO? (Why is literature important? What effect does it have on the reader? How can literature be a force for social change?) So sit back, relax, and take it all in!

Download or read book Joyce for Beginners written by Terrance Gordon and published by For Beginners. This book was released on 2021-02-16 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The works of James Joyce are part of the literary canon worldwide--and the need to have his works broken out into palatable pieces, even for the most avid of fans, is known the world over as well. In Joyce For Beginners, W. Terrence Gordon does just that. With the assistance of Lynsey Hutchinson's humorous illustrations throughout, Gordon successfully captures bits and pieces of Joyce's works and reconstructs them in a picturesque way for the reader to visualize the stories. Gordon also examines Joyce's passion for music and how it materializes in his writing. This will be the perfect addition to any Joyce lover's library.

Download or read book Paul Robeson For Beginners written by Von Blum, Paul and published by For Beginners, LLC . This book was released on 2013-12-17 with total page 141 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Paul Robeson, despite being one of the greatest Renaissance figures in American history, still remains in relative anonymity. An exceptional scholar, lawyer, athlete, stage and screen actor, linguist, singer, civil rights and political activist, he performed brilliantly in every professional enterprise he undertook. Any serious treatment of civil rights history and radical politics as well as American sports, musical, theatrical, and film history must consider the enormous contributions of Paul Robeson. And yet, Paul Robeson remains virtually unknown by millions of educated Americans. People typically know him for only one, if any, of the major successes of his life: the concert singer best known for “Old Man River,” the star of Shakespeare’s Othello on Broadway in the early 1940s, the political activist blacklisted for his radical views and activism during the era of McCarthyism in the 1950s. Paul Robeson For Beginners demystifies and bestows light and long overdue credence to the life of this extraordinary American.

Download or read book Libertarianism For Beginners written by Todd Seavey and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2016-04-12 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Libertarianism isn’t about winning elections; it is first and foremost a political philosophy—a description of how, in the opinion of libertarians, free people ought to treat one another, at least when they use the law, which they regard as potentially dangerous. If libertarians are correct, the law should intrude into people’s lives as little as possible, rarely telling them what to do or how to live. A political and economic philosophy as old as John Locke and John Stuart Mill, but as alive and timely as Rand Paul, the Tea Party, and the novels of Ayn Rand, libertarianism emphasizes individual rights and calls for a radical reduction in the power and size of government. Libertarianism For Beginners lays out the history and principles of this often-misunderstood philosophy in lucid, dispassionate terms that help illuminate today’s political dialogue.

Download or read book Toni Morrison for Beginners written by Ron David and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2016-10-01 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many people consider Morrison s novels difficult to read. Most of her readers have at least one book on their shelves that they couldn t finish or, when they did finish one, just scratched their heads in confusion. And when we think we are sure we know what she s writing about, it turns out we are half wrong or only getting the tip of the iceberg instead of the whole, beautiful, brooding thing. Toni Morrison For Beginners is about the woman, her books, her mission, her word music, and all that subtext in her writings. Morrison s books are like the ocean: the surface is beautiful but everything that gives them life lies beneath. She s the kind of writer who can change your life and this book is here to help you navigate the words and the woman. "

Download or read book The American Presidency For Beginners written by Justin Slaughter Doty and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2017-03-06 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The President of the United States is an office that attracts men of all character. From George Washington to Barack Obama, the office has been held by farmers, scholars, veterans, and lawyers from all regions of the United States. The American Presidency For Beginners tells a concise history of the actions and consequences of all 44 presidents. The evolution of the presidency—from the weak curator of Congress to becoming the titan of policy, both domestic and foreign—is highlighted in 10 sections. The American Presidency For Beginners is a must read for those who find the position of commander in chief compelling and who want to learn more about the eclectic personalities that have led the US.

Download or read book Civil Rights For Beginners written by Paul Von Blum and published by For Beginners, LLC. This book was released on 2016-01-12 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A large swath of literature on the civil rights movement exists in the United States. Much of that literature focuses on the dramatic events of the African American resistance to Jim Crow and oppression from the mid 1950s through the early 1970s. Frequently, this material is scholarly and, at best, only marginally accessible to the general public. Moreover, many of the books on the modern civil rights movement focus exclusively on a narrow historical time frame and often on widely recognized public figures like Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King. Civil Rights For Beginners fills a major gap by placing the modern civil rights movement into a broader historical perspective. It also discusses the civil rights and liberation movements from the 60s to the present that the African American freedom struggles helped to catalyze including the Chicano Movement, the American Indian Movement, the Asian-American Movement, the Women's Movement, and the Gay Liberation Movement. Unlike most civil rights books, Civil Rights For Beginners focuses less on major leaders and more on the ordinary African Americans who provided the backbone of the successful protests and demonstrations. Moreover, it deals with the expressive culture of the movement, surveying key developments in literature, music, visual art, and film, all of which served both as integral features of the movement as well as contributing to its enduring legacy.

Download or read book Black Panthers For Beginners written by Boyd, Herb and published by For Beginners, LLC. This book was released on 2015-08-05 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A crowd of onlookers gawked from the sidewalk as four young black men dressed in black leather jackets and berets leaped from a Volkswagen, each of them wielding shotguns with bandoliers strapped across their bodies. The young men surrounded two white police officers who had accosted a black man and had him spread-eagled against a building. The young men did not say a word as the police officers watched them nervously, their eyes fixed on the shotguns. One of the young men held a large law book in his hand…This was the Black Panther Party in ideal action. The real story—the whole story—was both more and less heroic. So begins Black Panthers For Beginners. The late 1960s, when the Panthers captured the imagination of the nation’s youth, was a time of regulation. While their furious passage was marked by death, destruction and government sabotage, the Panthers left an instructive legacy for anyone who dares to challenge the system. Herb Boyd has done exhaustive research, examined the claims of all parties involved, and boiled the story down to “the truth.” We believe this is the most truthful book on the market, but each Panther has his or her own story to tell. We suggest that you check out the stories of all the Black Panthers.

Download or read book Derrida for Beginners written by Jim Powell and published by Orient Blackswan. This book was released on 2000 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The documentary comic books of the For Beginners series deal with complex and serious subjects. They attempt to untimidate and uncomplicate the great ideas and work of great thinkers. The movements and concepts dealt with are placed in their historical, political and intellectual contexts. The books are painstakingly researched, humourouly written and enlivened with classic comic-strip illustrations, photographs, paintings, etc. The range of subjects covered is truly vast and varied Malcom X and the New Age guru Castenanda, Shakespeare and Foucault, Jewish Holocaust and Arab and Israel, Structuralism and Biology.

Download or read book Harriet Tubman for Beginners written by Annette Alston and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2017-12-01 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the most famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, escaped slave Harriet Tubman earned the nickname "Moses of her People" for leading scores of men, women, and children from bondage to freedom in the North. During the Civil War, she worked as a nurse for wounded soldiers, a caretaker of refugee slaves, and a spy and scout for Union forces. Late in life she was active in the fight for women's suffrage. Mythologized by many biographers and historians, Tubman was an ordinary but complex woman - tiny but strong, guided by her belief in God and religious visions, yet a tough, savvy leader who the radical abolitionist John Brown admired as "the General." In 2016, it was announced that Tubman would become the first woman to appear on US currency "the $20 bill" in over a century. Drawing on the latest historical research, Harriet Tubman For Beginners portrays a woman who resisted and transcended slavery and fought injustice her entire life. Beyond legend, she made her mark on history by defending core American principles - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - for others.

Download or read book First Amendment For Beginners written by Michael J. LaMonica and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2018-05-08 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Join Michael LaMonica, author of French Revolutions For Beginners, as he takes you on a journey through the ins and outs of an amendment that means so much more than just freedom of speech. First Amendment For Beginners will explore some of the biggest cases ever to come before the Supreme Court and answer questions such as whether it really is okay to shout “fire” in a crowded theater, wear a T-shirt that reads “F**K THE DRAFT!” (without the asterisks) into a courthouse, burn the flag, burn your draft card, join the Communist party, sell nudie magazines, ban Ku Klux Klan marches, and publish confidential government secrets in a newspaper, to name just a few. The religion clauses are included too, with pertinent questions such as whether the First Amendment protects your right to use psychoactive drugs in religious rituals, marry multiple partners, or engage in animal sacrifice. The book also wades into the political maelstrom to examine recent controversies such as whether money really equals speech and if corporations have constitutionally protected rights to speech and religion. Whether you’re a court watcher, political junkie, history buff, civil libertarian, news enthusiast, or just curious about the most important amendment in the Constitution, this book is for you!