X-Urbanism: Architecture and the American City

Book Description

For most of his career, architect Mario Gandelsonas has been exploring the American city through his writings, designs, lectures, and, above all, through a series of remarkable analytical drawings. X-Urbanism raises questions about the form of the city by examining various configurations of urban space, analyzing them in ways that blur the traditional opposition between figure and ground. This title serves as a visual lexicon of the formal properties of American urbanism-fabric, void, grid, wall-that reveal the hidden structure of the cities New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, New Haven, Des Moines, and Atlantic City. In the process, X-Urbanism confounds our expectations: it shows us the subtle order of chaotic Los Angeles, and the disruptions of New York's rigorous grid.
?X-Urbanism carefully reproduces Gandelsonas's drawings, which range from crisp, elegant pen-and-ink to colorful computer renderings and are as beautiful as they are instructive.

Customer Reviews:

Well done........1999-09-14

It is a rare moment when text and image collaborate to tell a story that could be told by neither alone. X-Urbanism is one of these moments. The dialog between the writing and drawings in this book is brilliant. The ultimate result of the conversation between the two is a nuanced understanding of the relationship that cities have with the subconscious of their inhabitants.

An inspired analysis of the city's marriage to fantasy........1999-07-29

Both eloquently and clearly, X-Urbanism explores the historical and continuing development of the American City through the lens of an eye opening thesis: fantasy and desire have been pivotal factors in the shaping of Urban Space. As the author illustrates, the implications of this point of departure reach far beyond the conventional boundaries of urban studies to include a wealth of other disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and popular culture. Through the course of this book, the affects of fantasy on the Renaissance City, the Baroque City, the Modern City, and the Post-modern City are charted. Without being dogmatic or judgmental, Mr. Gandelsonas frames the City as a simultaneous object and subject that is influenced by the desires of architects while also influencing its inhabitants with its own wishes.

After reading the text and viewing the drawings that conclude this book it was as though I was walking around an object that until now I had only understood from a stationary position.

This book is a must read for anyone who lives inside or outside of a city.

Missed Opportunity.......1999-04-13

When I picked up this book I was truly impressed. It is extremely high quality, ambitious and far reaching which makes it all the more sinister that the numerous emerging architects whose drawings comprise the most interesting aspect of this book, remain (perhaps strategically?) anonymous. Amazon's own description of the book is a perfect example of how easily the uncredited drawings can be misinterpreted as the work of Mr. Gandelsonas. If this were a purposeful issue of anonymity, I could possibly understand. However, Mies, Corbu and the likes are happily credited throughout the book. So what gives?

As a reader, book collector and architecture enthusiast, I like to use my books on the subject of design as reference material. Unfortunately, I am a little uncomfortable with the deliberate name omissions in X-Urbanism.

I would not recommend purchasing this book unless a massive erratum is installed in every single copy.

Book Description

Ever wonder how the great kung fu comic creators like Tony Wong, Andy Seto, and Wing Shing Ma work their magic? Well, now you can learn how it's done. Volume 1 of How to Draw Kung Fu Comics: Compiling Characters intuitively runs down the finer point of aesthetic character development - from how to design and draw character heads, on to completing your character creations. You'll soon be on your way to producing your original kung fu comic.

Book Description

Dealing with the most widely used imaging software on the market, Adobe Photoshop, this book provides step-by-step instruction for solving all kinds of color problems, from minor imbalances to major color shifts. Photographers learn how to evaluate their digital images by looking at highlights and shadows, evaluating overall contrast, identifying problem areas, and determining overall color casts. Included are fixes for common problems such as restoring the color and contrast to faded or yellowed prints; eliminating the color shifts that result from shooting under fluorescent, incandescent, and mixed lighting; and reproducing skin tones accurately and flatteringly.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book of concepts of Color Correcction & Enchanment.......2005-08-22

This book was well done and very informative. Thanks so much for making it available.

Sorry I haven't returned this review earlier. Getting old......

Book Description

The Black Dinosaurs have always explored the past in their adventures, but now they're going into the future -- to Space Camp! They'll learn what weightlessness feels like, what astronauts eat, even how they go to the bathroom! Ziggy, of course, really wants to meet up with aliens -- purple, three-headed, fire-spitting Martians like the ones in his Mega Mighty Martian Blaster game.

Ziggy soon discovers that real-life space travel is just as exciting as anything even his active imagination can cook up. Still, he can't help wondering where the mysterious shiny stone he finds might have come from. . . .

Book Description

The Black Dinosaurs Have Got The Moves!

Ziggy, Jerome, Rashawn, and Rico are sure they're going to win the $200 first prize in the upcoming school talent show. With their exuberant singing (especially Ziggy's), energetic dancing, and glittery costumes, how can they lose? And they have big plans for using the prize money to fix up their backyard clubhouse.

But then they meet a little girl with a big voice who may have what it takes to beat the Black Dinosaurs -- and who needs the money far more than they do. It's hard to know whom to root for -- how can everyone emerge a winner?

Customer Reviews:

Great read aloud for teachers!.......1998-07-13

I had the pleasure of meeting the author, Ms. Draper, shortly before she was voted Teacher of the Year, and she shared her motivation for writing Ziggy: she wanted something for her African-American son to read that he'd enjoy. Well, he got it in this book. And, my second grade, white, boys and girls LOVE this book. It is a fast-moving mystery about Jamaican Ziggy and his crew of pals, their secret clubhouse, and some bones... The students get a kick out of the "Hey, mons" too! Well worth the 5 bucks. Buy it now!

Lost in the Tunnel of Time (Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs)

Average customer rating:

Great for ages 8-9.

Lost in the Tunnel of Time (Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs)
Sharon M. Draper
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689879121

Book Description

Ziggy, Rashawn, Jerome, and Rico -- the Black Dinosaurs -- are thrilled

to discover that their hometown was a stop on the Underground

Railroad. Even more exciting, their new friend Mr. Greene has

given them an old map that shows a secret passage, dating back to

the days of the Railroad, right under their own school! How can

the Black Dinosaurs resist making plans to check it out?

When a trapdoor slams behind them, locking them in the tunnel,

there's only one thing they can do -- plunge deeper and deeper into

the darkness. Where will the tunnel lead them? And will the old,

crumbling walls hold until they find their way to the end?

Customer Reviews:

Great for ages 8-9........2006-12-02

A good mystery for the grades 3-4 audience. Four African-American middle school students investigate tunnels under their school for ghosts of the Underground Railroad. Slightly unbelievable that middle school kids had never heard of the Underground Railroad or that their dog digs them out of trouble. However, middle elementary should enjoy the suspense.

The Backyard Animal Show (Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs)

Average customer rating:

The Backyard Animal Show (Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs)
Sharon M. Draper
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416900004

Book Description

THE BLACK DINOSAURS TO THE RESCUE!

Ziggy, Rashawn, Jerome, and Rico are excited about watching the heavy machinery at the construction site for a new apartment complex -- until a doe is killed by a dump truck, and the boys rescue her orphaned fawn. Suddenly they realize what the destruction of their habitat means to the animals in the area.

So they decide to stage a neighborhood animal show to raise money for the local wildlife rescue center, with the adorable fawn they've named Dino as the star attraction. After all, they've managed round-the-clock feedings and cleaning up after Dino; how much trouble can their friends' cats, dogs, and hamsters be?

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