Full of Secrets: Critical Approaches to Twin Peaks (Contemporary Film and Television Series)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Essential Reading for the Peaks Freak
  • full of revelations
  • Leaves no owl unturned
  • 1/2 Simplistic garbage, 1/2 Pseudo-intellectual nonsense
  • Full of Delight
Full of Secrets: Critical Approaches to Twin Peaks (Contemporary Film and Television Series)

Manufacturer: Wayne State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  1. The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (A Twin Peaks Book) The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer (A Twin Peaks Book)
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ASIN: 0814325068

Book Description

A collection of essays on "Twin Peaks" and the postmodern mediascape.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Essential Reading for the Peaks Freak.......2007-06-30

After there was no hope for the show's return, I found some of the essays from this book at my college library during the mid 90's. It is great to be able to own them!

Sure, some of the essays are somewhat pretensious and in some cases in accurate, but you will not find the series analyzed like this anywhere else. This book is a very unique resource. If you are a fan of the show, then you will absolutely love this book.

4 out of 5 stars full of revelations.......2007-05-14

Twin Peaks offered a door into that which is below the Matrix that we assume is "reality." In many ways it is like the red pill that Morpheus offers Neo. This book explores the various elements in the show that opens up vision. To see more does not mean there is some final answers. What does happen is-- what we assume proves to be wrong. When we hear the music of the show it is not just supportive sound, when we see people act they are not carrying out the cliches of the ordinary. We see the typologies of our pop culture but the cliches of their characters are violated or turned upside down. There is humor in the show because humor liberates and the apparent order of the town is seen to be an accomplishment of all kinds of human evnergy and possibility hidden below the cliches. If you hated the show-- the book will be of no value. IF you liked the show or are passionate about the work of David Lynch-- this book can give you words and pathways to walk to learn why.

4 out of 5 stars Leaves no owl unturned.......2003-09-03

If you've been wondering what serious academic scholars think about Twin Peaks,
this is the book for you.

On the other hand, if you want fun reading about a fun show, Agent Cooper's
Autobiography or Welcome to Twin Peaks: Access Guide would be a better bet. ;-)

A dozen in-depth analyses of the unique TV series, written by a raft of PhD's,
including professors from leading universities. No matter how many times you've
watched the programs, I guarantee that this book will tell you things you've
never noticed . . . or even imagined. There's a complete listing of characters,
a calendar/timeline, and 50 pages of scene-by-scene descriptions of all the
episodes, plus the movie.

The last chapter is a sort of free-for-all panel discussion (or, as the eight
co-authors describe it, "a writing strategy that privileges the dialogic
interchange rather than the monologic pronouncement"). Here are the concluding
remarks:

REEVES: Maybe David Lynch is possessed by BOB so he is not responsible
for his actions.
ALL: Hmmmm . . .

In my opinion, this book's sometimes pompous, sometimes far-fetched, sometimes
incomprehensible attempts to dissect the products of David Lynch's wild creativity
are--if one takes a step back--wryly appropriate to Twin Peaks' own blending of
the mundane and the weird.

3 out of 5 stars 1/2 Simplistic garbage, 1/2 Pseudo-intellectual nonsense.......2003-01-04

"The echolalia and subvocal signs of the semiotic - what we might call feminine Twinspeak - therefore co-exist with and challenge both the patriarchal canonization of Laura Palmer and its Freudian subtext. (104)"

The above sentence comes from arguably the best of the twelve essays contained within this book, Christy Desmet's "The Canonization of Laura Palmer." She makes some extremely insightful points, but to reach them, you have to wade through pretentious written-with-thesaurus-in-hand idiocy like the preceding paragraph.

In general, those expecting to find opinions on what the Red Room really is, or whether coffee and cherry pie are a metaphor for something deeper, will have to parse through endless masturbatory babble, and for the most part will be ultimately disappointed by the lack of any revelations about the show itself (one notable exception is Angela Hague's interesting "Derationalization of Detection," which delves briefly into what actually happened to Cooper in the Black Lodge).

Some essays, such as Jonathan Rosenbaum's "Bad Ideas..." might simply be re-titled "Why I liked Twin Peaks," as it comes off more like high-brow film criticism than anything else, revealing nothing about the show other than why the writer thought it was good. Ditto Marc Dolan's essay "The Peaks and Valleys...", which contains only speculation as to why the show might have lost its audience. Henry Jenkins' is awful, doing nothing more than chronicling ultimately irrelevant discussions on alt.tv.twinpeaks while the show was airing.

A few of the feminist writers are equally terrible for different reasons. Martha Nochimson's "Desire Under the Douglas Firs..." had potential to be very interesting, but went on a "phallocentric" tangent, and from her we read insights like "The phallic nature of the thumbs up sign, and the phallic incapacity of the Old Bellhop, who cannot stand up straight, are complemented by the visionary presence of The Giant, a phallic presence, as emphasized by the visual foregrounding of The Giant's crotch. (153).

In addition, I fear, some of these writers seem to be a little out of their depth, and readers who are specialists in any of the fields contained within might be able to find numerous mistakes. For instance, in the essay about music (my own area of specialty) Kathryn Kalinak misidentifies leitmotifs, writes musical examples in the wrong key AND mode, and generally reveals herself to be musically illiterate. She also assigns import and symbolism to things that deserve none. She notes that in one scene, "a country and western selection on the jukebox mysteriously disappears for Shelley and Norma's entrance only to reappear a few moments later," citing this as proof that Lynch is trying to make us aware of the line "between illusion and artifice." Nonsense. It was an editing mistake. I could wax philosophical that the chess game between Cooper and Earle (which contained impossible positions/illegal moves) was Lynch trying to symbolically demonstrate any number of things, but it was really just Lynch being lazy, and that's fine.

The essays alone really only merit two stars, but following them "Full of Secrets" has several excellent appendices which contain writing/directorial/acting credits, a Twin Peaks calendar of events, and a complete scene breakdown from the pilot through FWWM, all very well done and useful.

For the rest of the book, well, you've been warned.

5 out of 5 stars Full of Delight.......2002-09-27

David Lavery's book is, beyond any doubt, a book to purchase for any fan of "Twin Peaks" or related Lynch material. This book of essays, focusing on different themes and messages in David Lynch's tv-serial, is most likely the best of its kind on the marked.
Take a mesmorising trip through the fantastic of "Twin Peaks" or go looking for clues to unlocking its strange mysteries - this book will give you all the leads. So whether you are into exploring doubling, postmodern culture, detective fiction, the fantastic, or merely the world of David Lynch, I strongly recommend getting a hold of this book. An amazing a thorough read - even better than the otherwise strong "Weirdsville USA"!!!
American Cinema and Hollywood: Critical Approaches
Average customer rating: Not rated
    American Cinema and Hollywood: Critical Approaches

    Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0198742819

    Book Description

    'The contributors supply skilful overviews of the major critical approaches' Sight and Sound May 1998 Top international contributors Emphasis throughout on critical concepts, methods and debates Learning aids include chapter summaries, critiques of individual films and further reading This text is perfectly tailored to meet the needs of students taking a course in Hollywood cinema as part of a degree in film, media studies, or cultural studies.
    Film Studies: Critical Approaches
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Film Studies: Critical Approaches

      Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 0198742800

      Book Description

      'The contributors supply skilful overviews of the major critical approaches' Sight and Sound, May 1998 covers all the significant theories, debates and approaches to the subject chapter authors are international experts emphasis throughout on critical concepts, methods and debates includes material from important new fields such as film audiences and reception, queer theory, film and psychoanalysis, and poststructuralist approaches contains learning aids such as chapter summaries, critiques of individual films, and lists of further reading This text is the most up-to-date critical guide to the study of film. It is an ideal course companion for undergraduates taking courses in film criticism and textual analysis, and for students taking course options in gender, race and sexuality in film.
      Film Music: Critical Approaches
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Important film music book
      • A scholarly and introspective selection of essays
      Film Music: Critical Approaches

      Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      ASIN: 0826413560

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Important film music book.......2007-01-04

      This is a great book consisting of various essays on film music. The new price is high, but you can find it used for much cheaper. Fantastic analyses and theories on film music. In depth essays for those who want to read deeper into film scoring.

      5 out of 5 stars A scholarly and introspective selection of essays.......2002-09-09

      Compiled and edited by K. J. Donnelly (lecturer in Film, Television and Radio Studies, Staffordshire University), Film Music: Critical Approaches presents a scholarly and introspective selection of essays from connoisseurs of fine music who examine the contributions of twentieth century film music to the overall art form of film making. From analytic and interpretive approaches to music scholarship, to the profound influence of the music in classics such as King Kong and Citizen Kane, Film Music is a thoughtful, complex, and highly artistic critique and evaluation. Film Music is an invaluable contribution to both Film Studies and Music History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
      The American West in Film: Critical Approaches to the Western (Contributions to the Study of Popular Culture)
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        Jon Tuska
        Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
        ProductGroup: Book
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          Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
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          Film Studies: Critical Approaches
          Average customer rating: Not rated
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            Pamela Church Gibson, Richard Dyer, E. Ann Kaplan, Paul Willemen John Hill
            Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback
            ASIN: B000OLKKUA
            Film: Critical viewing approaches
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              Barbara Ziminski
              Manufacturer: Carle Place Public Schools
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              Haydn the Years of "the Creation" 1796-1800: Chronicle and Works : The Years of Creation, 1796-1800 (Haydn : Chronicle and Works)
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                H. C. Robbins Landon
                Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
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                    The distinctive Japanese print, the Ukiyo-e ("pictures of the passing, floating world"), is among the most beautiful of all art forms developed by man. This exceptional coloring book offers 38 exquisite, ready-to-be-colored plates by Japan's greatest print masters: Kiyonaga, Utamaro, Hokusai, Sharaku, Hiroshige, and 16 others. Publisher's Note. List of prints.

                    Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss what Matters Most
                    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                    • Will you ever have a hard conversation? Sure, you will! Read this book first.
                    • Difficult converations
                    • great read
                    • Best Book on Communication
                    • Quality of Life Must Read
                    Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss what Matters Most
                    Douglas Stone , Bruce Patton , Sheila Heen , and Roger Fisher
                    Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback

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                    ASIN: 014028852X
                    Release Date: 2000-04-03

                    Amazon.com

                    We've all been there: We know we must confront a coworker, store clerk, or friend about some especially sticky situation--and we know the encounter will be uncomfortable. So we repeatedly mull it over until we can no longer put it off, and then finally stumble through the confrontation. Difficult Conversations, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen, offers advice for handling these unpleasant exchanges in a manner that accomplishes their objective and diminishes the possibility that anyone will be needlessly hurt. The authors, associated with Harvard Law School and the Harvard Project on Negotiation, show how such dialogues actually comprise three separate components: the "what happened" conversation (verbalizing what we believe really was said and done), the "feelings" conversation (communicating and acknowledging each party's emotional impact), and the "identity" conversation (expressing the situation's underlying personal meaning). The explanations and suggested improvements are, admittedly, somewhat complicated. And they certainly don't guarantee positive results. But if you honestly are interested in elevating your communication skills, this book will walk you through both mistakes and remedies in a way that will boost your confidence when such unavoidable clashes arise. --Howard Rothman

                    Book Description

                    Members of the Harvard Negotiation Project--which brought you the mega-bestseller Getting to YES--show you how to handle your most difficult conversations with confidence and skill.

                    Whether you're dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with your spouse about money or child-rearing, negotiating with a difficult client, or simply saying "no," or "I'm sorry," or "I love you," we attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day. Based on fifteen years of research at the Harvard Negotiation Project, Difficult Conversations walks you through a step-by-step proven approach to having your toughest conversations with less stress and more success. You will learn:
                    how to start the conversation without defensiveness
                    why what is not said is as important as what is
                    ways of keeping and regaining your balance in the face of attacks and accusations
                    how to decipher the underlying structure of every difficult conversation

                    Filled with examples from everyday life, Difficult Conversations will help you on the job, at home, or out in the world. It is a book you will turn to again and again for advice, practical skills, and reassurance.

                    "Does this book deliver on [its] promise of an effective way through sticky situations, whether 'with your baby sitter or your biggest client'? It does."-- The New York Times

                    "These talented communicators blend a daunting array of disciplines into highly readable and practical advice."-- Booklist

                    "Brilliant. . . . I've already re-read most of it. I'm using it. What more could a reader ask?"-- Tom Peters

                    "Emotional Intelligence applied to life's tough moments."-- Daniel Goleman

                    Download Description

                    "What is a difficult conversation? Asking for a raise. Ending a relationship. Saying ""no"" to your boss or spouse. Confronting disrespectful behavior. Apologizing. Conversations we dread, and often handle clumsily as a result, are part of all our lives: in boardrooms and family rooms, across the negotiation table and the dinner table. Now, Difficult Conversations teaches us how to handle these dialogues with more success and less anxiety. How does it work? Based on fifteen years of research and consultations with thousands of people, Difficult Conversations pinpoints what works. The authors discovered that regardless of context, the same small but crucial errors are what trip us up--and a few key adjustments can make all the difference. * The role of emotions--ours and theirs * The impact of what is said and what is not said * Why admitting our mistakes will put us in a stronger position * The truth behind the myth that women are better at expressing their emotions than men * How to respond productively in the face of personal attacks Who is this for? Filled with examples from everyday life, Difficult Conversations is certain to be an instant and lasting classic for families, neighbors, bosses, employees, customers, tenants, landlords, psychologists, teachers, and more. Who are the authors? Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen teach at Harvard Law School and at the Harvard Negotiation Project. They have consulted to countless businesspeople, governments, organizations, and communities including all parties to the negotiations on constitutional transition in South Africa; school teachers in Medellin, Colombia; and community leaders and the police department in Springfield, Massachusetts. They lecture throughout the world and have written on negotiation, conflict resolution, and communication. Bruce Patton is co-author of Getting to Yes."

                    Customer Reviews:

                    5 out of 5 stars Will you ever have a hard conversation? Sure, you will! Read this book first........2007-09-21

                    This little book can be a great help. We all have avoided conversations we knew were going to be difficult. Often not talking made things worse, so as things became intolerable we had the discussion and things got even worse. These authors break down the inner structure of difficult conversations and how we often mishandle them. They then show us the ways in which we can turn this into a constructive process that brings more understanding, greater cooperation, and learning that will help avoid repeating the difficulties in the future.

                    Certainly, I can't recap the whole book in this little review, but I especially like their concept of three conversations happening within each difficult conversation. They are the debate over what happened, the feelings conversation, and the identity issues. In the what happened conversation the problem is that each side assumes it knows the truth, that they know the other party's intentions, and that they know where and how to assign blame. Of course, all this is a fiction and a waste of time. It does nothing to fix the situation or improve the process to avoid the problem in the future. The book then shows you how to have a constructive approach to the same problem. Excellent stuff!

                    The authors are part of the Harvard Negotiation Project and has a foreword by one of the authors of the famous book, "Getting to Yes". The book is concise, but full of very good information. I recommend it very much.

                    Reviewed by Craig Matteson - Ann Arbor, MI

                    5 out of 5 stars Difficult converations.......2007-09-17

                    this book is well worth the read,
                    it is easy to get throught, and does not repeat itself.
                    You want to read the whole book.
                    nancy carlson

                    5 out of 5 stars great read.......2007-08-27

                    This book is used as a textbook at the Harvard MBA. Good tool for those messy conflicts

                    5 out of 5 stars Best Book on Communication.......2007-08-24

                    This is the most useful and comprehensive compendium of effective, research validated, communication concepts I have ever seen in one book. Useful for anyone who speaks with other humans, especially significant others, business colleagues and teenagers. If you are a coach, this reading is required. Difficult ideas presented in a way that makes them easy to understand and easy to apply.

                    5 out of 5 stars Quality of Life Must Read.......2007-08-04

                    Difficult Conversations, by Stone, Patton, and Heen, is a foundational book in the literature of holding difficult conversations in purposeful ways. I have read it often and use its principles in my teaching and in daily life. Underlying its principles is the simple understanding that we can get better at listening, talking, and acknowledging what is actually going on in our relationships; that we create the reality of our lives by the ways in which we talk about it; and that one conversation at a time, we can choose to work with the energy of conflict instead of avoiding it. There are many good books on this topic. I suggest reading them all, starting here.

                    Judy Ringer is the author of Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict
                    Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most

                      Manufacturer: Tandem Library
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Unknown Binding
                      ASIN: 1417663103

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