Customer Reviews:
Great Noir Shots.......2007-09-06
The book has an excellent selection of art from the Noir period. I love every single page better than the last!
Noir of Noir.......2007-06-18
If you must have any book of movie posters, this is it. Even the price is great. Almost 300 pages in this overlarge book with hundreds of artwork. Can't beat it. On a side note, I wondered why German Expressionism is not mentioned in the book since film noir undoubtedly has roots from this movement. In the directors chapter, where is John Huston? He directed "The Maltese Falcon" that started it all, and widened the influence of the landscape with "The Asphalt Jungle." For the writers section, where is Billy Wilder? If the remake "The Killers" can be submitted in the book, then why not "Chinatown"? No poster of "Citizen Kane". Regardless, the book is excellent.
Stunning Showcase of the Poster Art of Classic Film Noir. .......2006-11-14
"The Art of Noir" is a big, beautiful book of 338 posters and lobby cards for crime films 1940-1960, plus a handful of later films. All the film noir greats are here, from A-list films to Poverty Row, though not every film represented is strictly "noir". "The Art of Noir" is 14 1/4" x 10 1/8" -too big even for oversized book shelves- but the results are stunning: Hundreds of full-page posters in bold, eye-popping color, along with a handful of 2-page spreads and some 2-to-a-page layouts. I could not overstate how great these posters look, and author Eddie Muller has made them more fascinating with informative captions and short essays. Each poster is captioned with the film's title, year, and studio, the size of the original poster, a brief analysis of the poster's style, and a little about the film.
The posters are divided into six chapters, each with an introduction by Muller. Chapter 1 introduces us to the distinctive styles of different Hollywood studios. Chapter 2 takes us on a tour of film noir poster art around the world, with examples and explanations of how artists abroad altered or redesigned the posters for their markets. Chapter 3 focuses on thematic and iconographic elements in the posters. The icons are guns, racy women, and automobiles. The themes include bad cops, private eyes, and femmes fatales, among others. Chapter 4 showcases posters that feature the prominent stars of film noir, 9 actors and 9 actresses, with an introductory essay for each. The art of Chapter 6 is organized by writer -not only the famed Hammett, Chandler, and Cain, but also prominent noir screenwriters. Chapter 6 features the films of prominent noir directors and cinematographer John Alton.
American and international posters are featured throughout the book. I had not seen foreign film noir posters before, and scrutinizing the posters and comparing the styles turned out to be a source of nearly endless fascination. Foreign artists departed from the bold color and lurid poses of American posters but created art from their own culture's perspective that is no less striking. "The Art of Noir" will absorb fans of film noir or poster art for hours. I am reviewing the hardback edition of the book, so I cannot comment on the reproduction quality in the paperback edition. But the color and sharpness in the hardback are excellent, on slick, white paper. This is Eddie Muller's best book yet.
A Gem of the Field.......2003-10-09
Film noir is a fascinating field with a deserved faithful and ever widening audience. Eddie Muller scored impressively with "Dark City Dames," a study of the women of film noir with intimate portraits of such notables as Jane Greer, Marie Windsor and Ann Savage.
Muller returns to a familiar theme here and achieves mightily in two respects, with glossy pictures which practically jump off the page at you, giving one a feel for time and place, as well as being a part of the scene, along with a text providing valuable information on the memorable films being showcased.
San Franciscan Muller is one of the genuine authorities of the genre. He has a real feel for the world of darkness beset by flashing neon lights, smoke-filled bars, detectives in trench coats, and dangerous women.
The 'Noirhead''s coffee-table essential.......2003-04-16
A feast for the eyes! Gorgeous NOIR poster repros and interesting factoids highlight this weighty tome. Fans will swoon, and the casual viewer will have his/her interest tweaked. As a NOIR poster/lobby card collector, this book is an essential library addition, because I need to occasionally check out pictures of posters I'll sadly never be able to afford(!)
Amazon.com
Because this is Valerie Steele's second book on the topic of fetishistic clothing, her opening statements that she is an outsider to the paraphilias and perversions that she discusses seems a bit hollow. When she says that she is only "a cultural historian specializing in fashion" there's no need to fear: while the book is rigorously researched and loaded with valuable bibliographic references to previous researchers in the area, it's apparent that underneath her cool prose Steele really gets a kick out of her subject, if only on an intellectual level. Dividing her book into sections based on the various fetishes (corsets, shoes, second-skin fabrics, underwear), Steele shows a remarkable facility with the history and trivia of each item of clothing. This produces some amusing juxtapositions, such as when she reveals little-known information about the Chinese practice of footbinding, and a page later presents a Tom of Finland picture of a nude man surrounded by motorcycle-booted feet. There are plenty of drawings and photographs here, ostensibly to supplement the reading. Photos range from 19th-century Viennese ultra-high-heeled shoes to contemporary neo- gothic hipster chicks in corsets and leather. This is obviously not a book for children, but it's also far more than a collection of erotica in that it presents an informative and well-researched history of fetishism and the theories that have been put forward to explain it.
Book Description
Kinky boots, corsets, underwear as outerwear, second-skin garments of rubber and leather, uniforms, body piercing.... Today everything from a fetishist's dream appears on the fashion runways. Although some people regard fetish fashion as exploitative and misogynistic, others interpret it as a positive Amazonian statement--couture Catwoman. But the connection between fashion and fetishism goes far beyond a few couture collections. For the past thirty years, the iconography of sexual fetishism has been increasingly assimilated into popular culture. Before Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman, there was Mrs. Peel, heroine of the 1960s television show "The Avengers," who wore a black leather catsuit modeled on a real fetish costume. Street styles like punk and the gay "leatherman" look also testify to the influence of fetishism. The concept of fetishism has recently assumed a growing importance in critical thinking about the cultural construction of sexuality. Yet until now no scholar with an in-depth knowledge of fashion history has studied the actual clothing fetishes themselves. Nor has there been a serious exploration of the historical relationship between fashion and fetishism, although erotic styles have changed significantly and "sexual chic" has become increasingly conspicuous. Cultural historian Valerie Steele has devoted much of her career to the study of the relationship between clothing and sexuality, and is uniquely qualified to write this book. Marshalling a dazzling array of evidence from pornography, psychology, and history, as well as interviews with individuals involved in sexual fetishism, sadomasochism, and cross-dressing, Steele illuminates the complex relationship between appearance and identity. Based on years of research, her book Fetish: Fashion, Sex and Power explains how a paradigm shift in attitudes toward sex and gender has given rise to the phenomenon of fetish fashion. "Steele is to fetish dressing what Anne Rice is to vampires," writes Christa Worthington of Elle magazine, "the intellectual interpreter of...wishes beyond our ken." According to Steele, fetishism shows how human sexuality is never just a matter of doing what comes naturally; fantasy always plays an important role. Steele provides provocative answers to such questions as: Why is black regarded as the sexiest color? Is fetishizing the norm for males? Does fetish fashion reflect a fear of AIDS? And why do so many people love shoes?
Customer Reviews:
A must for your collection.......2003-01-03
overall this book is very good, however it leaves out some important elements of fetishism and fetish culture. It pin points important elements of fetish and fashion, while skimming over the importance of emotions, trust, childhood,sex, power. When Steele addresses sex and power she uses a freudian approach. this is simply because steele's educational backround is limited to maintinly fasion history.
The book is complete with fetish photos, and describes the history and evoltion of the fetish well. Steele, describes one fetish party that she has attended and makes assumptions about fetishes, however i find it difficult to fully accept her conclusions due to her limited exposure. She does not accuratly address the role of fetishism in the gay and lesbian and bisexual community, but rather sticks to trannies and crossdressers. Futhermore, much of the evidence that she uses to explain fetishes is based on biological sex and gender roles. Both of which i would argue are downplayed among those who are open minded enough to participate in fetish culture.
This book is very well written and hard to put down. The book is well edited and well sectioned to keep you entertained and statisfied. It great book for someone who wants a brief and PG 13 explaination of fetishism-- for someone who knows little about the history of fetishims--or for your slightly kinky friend. Please keep in mind that Steele looks at fetishes from a fashion perspective--if you are looking for a more indept explaination of fetish culture you wil left, without it
veiled neutrality.......1999-08-20
Steele's book is thoroughly researched and does an excellent job of placing fetish fashion in a historical context. What the author fails to do, however, is make a clear argument. When she states that she cannot claim to be for or against a particular piece of clothing (in this case, the corset), her well-crafted "neutral" stance weakens the very course of her history. As Steele demonstrates, each article of clothing featured in her book has a complex cultural and intellectual history imbedded with meaning. By refusing to go beyond, "feminists believe..." or "Freud argued...," the purpose of Steele's glossy work remains obscured. Moreover, the author's overuse of quotations further confuses the argument. I was lost between Steele's words and those of her sources and find that her failure to truly engage with her research rings of a forced objectivity.
My second objection is perhaps not a new criticism. I tend to cringe when I hear that the combination of being sexy and powerful rescues woman from the bad old days of obligatory femininity. Steele implies this by refusing to take a stance. The strong, yet sexy, woman remains a male fantasy. After all, the corset-clad, high-heel wearing dominatrix acts out the role to please her slave. She is there to help him live out his fantasies. Her pleasure (and this is generally the case whether the woman is dominant or submissive) tends to remain secondary. Steele's modern fetish woman gains pleasure from being pleasing to men and power from being sexually desirable. I would have liked the author to examine this issue further and even to deconstruct it.
fetish fun.......1999-08-06
this book was boring because it demeans fetishes. fetishes can be healthy outpourings of one's soul, not something that needs to be hidden away in the proverbial closet. i have a foot fetish, and this book gave me the impression that fetishes are to be spurned: i disagree and disagree strongly. my fetish is something integral to my being; i live for feet.
a dominating opinion.......1999-02-19
A very well-written and -researched essay whose clarity and wit is all the more remarkable for its breadth of subject matter (fetish and fashion, along with all the psychology, sociology, sexuality, feminism, etc. that they entail) and the high degree of subjectivity authors usually bring to that subject matter. Steele's writing is observant, engaging, stylish and piercingly critical--she gains much credibility in my mind by debunking the corset myth, for example. One flaw is that the wide implications of the subject matter often lead her off on tangents. It often takes her some time--in some cases, the entire book--to fully elucidate her points. You have to trust her to explain everything in the end--a trust which is largely well-placed.
Oddly, the largest overarching theory about the connection between obscure fetish gear and high fashion is left implicit in a "perhaps. . ." phrase at the end. That theory is that most behaviors and interests previously thought perverse are being accepted into the mainstream as our society becomes ever more leisure-oriented and pleasure-based. Also unresolved is why fetishism seems to be largely Western and modern--is this a function of social organization, the definition of "fetishism", new sex research, sexual liberation, mass-media communication, all of these? There's an interesting correlation here with the equally culture-specific and modern outbursts of schizophrenia and serial killing (killers who are of course sexually motivated, highly perverse and often fetishistic). This is a query of high social concern, and I'm now more convinced of the role of the mass media--fetishism requires visual stimulation, Steele says, and there's more of that in a wider variety of subject matter than ever before. Not to simply psychology, but it's an interesting factor.
The notion that males rather than females are prone to fetishism is almost borne out by this book itself, as though it took a woman to write sensibly and objectively about fetish/fantasy issues. Conversely, she trips up in fashion, her academic field, which she's too close to for that degree of objectivity. In dicussing whether fetish-inspired fashions empower or degrade women (a discussion wisely complicated with reader-response and intentionalist critiques), she doesn't realize the question she's begging: Why are fetish fashions almost exclusively produced for and worn by women? You could argue that fetishism is almost exclusively male activity projected onto female items. But many fetishists are just as satisfied wearing the fetish items themselves. And as Steele distinguishes, fashion is about "normal" fetishizing, not fetishism, and works by far looser rules. All she really says to this question is that men's fashions are "slower to develop" and suggests a psychoanalytic theory (interesting, though far from convincing) about why women like dressing up more than men do. I think the obvious answer she misses is that whether women feel empowered or degraded, the very reason they're allowed (or required) to dress up at all is because they have a subservient social position to men. When men are required to dress up, it's a relatively simple and standardized uniforming, whereas women are required to puff up a la a court jester or similar colorful figure of subservient/entertainment social standing. Whatever a women chooses to wear, there's no choice about dressing up, and that's where real power lies.
These lacunae aside, it's an honest, thoughtful and meaningful examination of the unspoken--and often misunderstood--meanings lurking within our clothes, and a timely, necessary study of what's going on in the 20th century sexual mind.
Also wanted to add that today's radical forms of bodybuilding should be considered as body modification in the corseting/tattooing/piercing vein. It's been a rapid movement from Schwarzenegger's Greco-Roman classical perfection to today's insanely bulging, wildly exaggerated look.--J.Ruch
Boring.......1998-12-13
You would not think that a book concerning Fetish trends etc would put you to sleep but this book will. You may nod awake for the photos but the text is a mish-mosh of psycho-drivel, unrelated and uninteresting facts and sketchy history.
Book Description
From corsets to codpieces, stockings to stilettos and piercing to push-up bras, fashion and sex have always enjoyed a very close relationship. David Kunzle's rich and revealing history of corsetry and body sculpture shows how this neglected phenomenon is closely bound up with sexual self-expression.
Book Description
This new edition of David Kunzle's rich and revealing history of corsetry and body sculpture, an often racy journey into the enigma of all those who sculpt the shape of their desires onto their bodies.
Customer Reviews:
A classic analysis of the corset and tightlacing.......2004-12-08
I first heard of David Kunzle's book through a review written by Angela Carter. The book puts forward what was a novel argument at the time it was written - namely, that use of the corset and tightlacing was not simply a sign of the social oppression of women, but that it was simulataneously a rebellion against that oppression. Particularly focussing on the Victorian era, he argues that use of the corset was subversive, in view of the socially sanctioned role for women as sexless 'angels in the house' - tightlacing being overtly sexual, and not seen as consistent with housewifely duties. He marshals an impressive array of data in support of this thesis, particularly from the vehement anti-feminist opposition. Fascinating social history - highly recommended.
Book Description
With thoroughness and elan, the author takes us on a walking tour through history, from Chinese footbinding to the outrageous distortions of the foot gladly suffered by women over the centuries in the cause of sexual allure. He explores the peculiarly American obsession with "sick" and "tired" feet, and the huge industry that has sprung up to cater to our negativism. He gives an insightful psychosexual guide to people via footwear. This book is a unique piece of social history, a provocative, often witty and always original, inquiry into human behavior.
Customer Reviews:
FOOT LOOSE AND FANCY FREE!.......1998-09-04
I read this book many, many years ago and have always wanted to obtain my own copy, and to read it again. I found this book to be UTTERLY FASCINATING...., interesting and a good giggle in places. The author clearly knows his subject, and one learns, for instance, the mystery behind Cinderella's glass slipper. It is NOT only a book for people with foot fetishes. It's a great read and I would recommend it to anyone. I can assure you that after reading this book, you will start noticing the shoes people wear... as certain types of people wear certain types of shoes.... SO TRUE! I just LOVE men in BOOTS!! Read all about it for yourselves!!!! (It will probably make you rush out and buy "appropriate" shoes!!!
Average customer rating:
|
Fashion and Fetishism
Manufacturer: SUTTON PUBLISHING
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H973Q8 |
Book Description
She lived in a savage world in an uncivilized age --a world ruled by men and governed by the sword. They called her Red Sonja - for her flame-red hair, and for the smoldering fire of her pride which gave her sword-arm a strength that few men could match, and none had ever defeated. This is a must-have colection of never-before reprinted material. Containing the FULL COLOR tales from Red SOnja 0-6, plus commentary by Michael Avon Oeming and Mike Carey!
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
This ain't the Frazetta Sonja, that is for sure. Still, entertaining She-Devil slayage. She is far more pneumatically inflated, and it is a bit hard to imagine the lithe deadly warrior, famed for her blinding speed dragging this around, so to speak. However, it definitely looks good, which, in this case is the cheesecake point, no doubt about it. Stories are solid, hard, pragmatic warrior tales as well.
The other reviews on this page are for the wrong book!.......2007-07-04
For some reason all the other reviews on this page are for the wrong book. Apparently there was some confusion in the past and no one has ever updated this page. The artwork in the Carey/Oeming/Rubi book looks better than the artwork in the Thomas/Jones/Thorne book, which was recolored but not very skillfully.
Unlike that book, there is no Conan appearance in this one. I think Dynamite publishing bought the rights to the Red Sonja character only, though I suppose an exception was made that allowed them to reprint the story featuring Conan in the Thomas/Jones/Thorne book, which reprinted the original Marvel Comics.
One annoying flaw in this book is that some of the pages are printed out of order. The pages are not numbered, but on page (I think it is) #53 Red Sonja says "It's hard for me to laugh with this knife in my chest" and it makes no sense because the knife only gets stuck in her chest three pages later!
Looks like the right product to me........2007-04-17
Anyone who's upset that this isn't the "right" item being advertised needs to LOOK MORE CLOSELY before clicking the "buy" button.
This is EXACTLY what I ordered with STUNNING art by Neal Adams and Frank Thorne. If you want classic Red Sonja, and classic Frank Thorne printed on glossy paper stock with bright coloring...you'll love it.
SONJA BACK AFTER THIRTY YEARS!.......2007-02-17
With Dynamite Entertainment producing new material for Red Sonja, The She-Devil with a sword, it was only natural that they would secure the rights to reprint the old Marvel Comics material from the 1970's. Now one thing we should be clear on is that despite popular opinion, Conan creator Robert E. Howard did not create Red Sonja, at least not the Red Sonja we know today. This is explained in the introduction by Roy Thomas. Howard's Red SONYA was a character in one of Howard's many historical adventures, actually set in the 16th century. Roy Thomas is responsible for actually creating the Sonja of the Hyborian age using Howard's creation as a blueprint.
This volume reprints the Red Sonja stories from Marvel Feature # 1 - 7 that ran from 1975 - 1976. The opening tale features absolutely stunning artwork by Neal Adams and Esteban Maroto. It's the best looking story in the volume as Adams brings his gritty realism to the character and it looks fantastic with the re-mastered color. Sonja is duped by a King into returning a precious tiara. Her reward is to be tossed into his harem. You can imagine how well this goes over with Red!
Dick Giordano handles the art on the second story, "The Temple of Abomination" as Sonja discovers an ancient ruined temple populated by horrific goat men.
Frank Thorne takes over as the artist as of the third story and would go onto become perhaps the best-known Sonja artist. Thorne's art was a radical departure from the Adams and Giordano stories. Thorne has a more whimsical style, almost an animated look. He didn't have the fine detail of Adams but made up for it by giving us perhaps the most buxom Sonja ever!
In a two-part tale, Sonja takes a key off a brigand she kills and eventually comes in contact with a witch who informs her that the key will bring to life a fantastic mechanical construct that looks like an Egyptian golem. The witch steals the key from Sonja and brings the construct to life, ordering it to kill Red!
The final story is another two-parter that guest stars Conan and Belit, Queen of the Black Coast as the trio are all seeking the Book of Skelos but not working together. There are very open hostilities between Belit and Sonja and soon she's also crossing blades with Conan.
It was a pleasure to read these stories again after so many years...over thirty to be exact. They're not in a class with Thomas' Conan stories from the same period, but they are good, swords & sorcery fun and I'm ecstatic that Dynamite has reprinted them.
Reviewed by Tim Janson
I, too, received the wrong item from Amazon........2007-02-08
I don't know if Amazon is listing this book incorrectly or what, but I'm returning my copy, as many others have apparently done.
Book Description
Walt Bannon, one of Maine's most notorious bottle diggers, shares the zany and often danger-filled predicaments he's found himself in one too many times. His near scrapes with the law-combined with insanely ridiculous situations-are humorously exposed in this enjoyable book about his antique bottle collecting adventures. You'll learn how he quickly amassed an admirable collection of old glass treasures, but better still, you'll learn from his experiences and mistakes how not to build a collection of antique bottles. If you're already a digger of these old gems, you'll certainly relate to the borderline and perilous aspects of this hobby. However, if you're just curious about Walt's passion for the hunt of these treasures that secretly lie beneath the ground your feet tread upon every day, this book will pleasantly enlighten you.
Customer Reviews:
Walter is an unbelievable character and author!.......2005-09-26
His writing makes one feel as if they're right there with him during all his adventures. I couldn't stop laughing! I wish I was out there with him. I certainly hope he continues to write other books as I wouldn't hesitate to snatch up the first copy! A+ Walter!
Books:
- The Best Awful There Is
- The Calls of Frogs and Toads
- The Defection of A. J. Lewinter: A Novel of Duplicity
- The Drinking Den (Penguin Classics)
- The Falling Nun: And Other Stories
- The Feast A Dramatic Retelling of Ireland's Epic Tale
- The Great Gilly Hopkins
- The History of Rasselas : Prince of Abyssinia (Wordsworth Classics) (Wordsworth Classics)
- The House of Seven Mabels (Jane Jeffry Mystery Series #13)
- The Impossible Country: A Journey Through the Last Days of Yugoslavia
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Pre-Foreclosure Real Estate Handbook: Insider Secrets to Locating and Purchasing Pre-Foreclosed
- Standard Catalog of World Coins: 17th Century - 1601-1700
- Havens in a Storm: The Struggle for Global Tax Regulation
- Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy
- Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
- The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: and Other Stories
- National Geographic Guide to Wildlife Watching
- Kompass Espana 2001
- Insurance Redlining: Disinvestment, Reinvestment, and the Evolving Role of Financial Institutions
- Who's Who in Canadian Business 2000
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir
Its A Bitter Little World: The Smartest Toughest Nastiest Quotes From Film Noir
Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style, Third Edition
The Noir Style
Picture Show: Classic Movie Posters from the TCM Archives
