Why Arnold Matters: The Rise of a Cultural Icon

Book Description

How Arnold Schwarzenegger has shifted the entire American cultural and political landscape, how he--and we--got there, and why we all should care.

After nearly thirty years in the public eye, Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise to fame and fortune--and statesmanship--represents a celebrity the likes of which we've never seen before. As co-authors and longtime collaborators Blitz and Krasniewicz argue in this humorous but heady book, it is not just a matter of his transformation from bodybuilder to megastar to politician. Nor is his governorship of California just a matter of another actor assuming the position. Instead, at the beginning of the 21st century, "Arnoldness" has spread into every corner of our culture. More than a name, more than a spectacular career, he has become a set of ideas--an ultramodern take on the quintessential American dream.

Having followed the cult of Arnold for twenty years, Blitz and Krasniewicz are uniquely qualified to illuminate his growing hold on our collective imagination. As an adjective, as a metaphor, as an easy reference point for anyone talking about things tough, forceful, and successful, they'll explain exactly why Arnold matters--and for better or worse, richer or poorer, America may never be the same.

Customer Reviews:

Weird book but hard to put down.......2006-04-26

No question this is a weird book. It's not a bio and it's not a fan book. There are sections you could never expect to find in a book about a famous person. For example, there is an entire chapter on the hundreds of dreams the authors had about Schwarzenegger. Believe me, the dreams are VERY worth reading. They are the weirdest part of this book, in fact. But there is a ton of interesting stuff about Arnold S., including chapters about his movies and about his getting elected to governor. I laughed out loud at a couple of parts, and I was really surprised to learn how powerful Arnold is in terms of his influence on language and culture. I cannot understand the bad reviews of this book. It may not meet your expectations if you want a regular biography, but it's a totally fun book to read.

Fun to read, like an Arnold garage sale!.......2006-03-21

I loved this book! If readers cannot find a mountain of absolutely fascinating material in this book, they must be looking for a very particular experience and won't open their minds at all. It's unbelievable how many ways Schwarzenegger has crept into our minds and vocabulary. The headlines following his election to governor are wild and sometimes scary! The chapter on the dreams the authors have had about Schwarzenegger are too too funny and weird. I felt like a voyeur, and I candidly admit that I enjoyed that sensation! The little bits on the movies actually made me want to go and see a few more than I've seen of Arnold's movies. AFter I read the one-star review on this website, I was amazed that someone could be so shallow! This book makes for great bedtime reading, bathroom reading (my husband has it in there these days!), bus reading, or any place. But if you want a plain old biography, then DON'T buy this book. It's not plain and it's too clever for you, then!

Can I give it ZERO stars?.......2006-03-13

This book sucks. Plain and simple. Don't get me wrong, I like Arnold, and I was hoping to find out some good facts about him and his political career. Instead I get a run-down of any vague reference to Arnold, the Terminator, or any of his other characters known to the free world. Like the fact that there are a lot of references out there proves anything about Arnold himself. It's all filler, no substance. It reminds me of a high school student trying to bluff their way through a book report they know little about; they prattle on endlessly about a few obscure facts they have dug up and miss the main issue. Fortunately, I got this book as a gift, so it was not my money wasted. This bad boy is going straight into the Goodwill donations bag.. although I hesitate to inflict this reading on the less fortunate. One thing it is very good for; if you are having trouble getting to sleep, I challenge you to try to get through more than 10 pages while lying in bed. It can't be done, I have tried.

So much fun!.......2006-03-03

This is not an intellectual review. I just want to say how much fun this book is to read! Maybe some of the other readers were hoping for a stuffier biography, but I found this book a real pleasure. So many quirky facts and weird cultural things related to Arnold. I had no idea! Probably one of the best airplane-reads I've had in years!

Perplexed by the negative reviews!.......2005-11-13

What gives with these one-star reviews??? Have these people actually read this book? I read it in two sittings, and every page has at least one surprising thing on it. I had no idea how far inside the "mind" of American life "Ahnold" had gotten. The authors show example after example of truly bizarre ways that Schwarzenegger has become THE quintessential example of almost everything in the culture! I thought I knew the basics about the guy, but it turns out he is connected to a lot more than movies and bodybuilding. The ways that people have used his name, his image, just the idea of him, amazing. The authors have done VERY thorough research on this guy, and this book goes in a totally different direction than the recent biography (which I read and would rate maybe 3 stars). There is even a chapter about the authors' dreams and the meaning of the fact that they had hundreds of dreams about Arnold while they were learning about him. Besides the fact that the dreams are weird and interesting, the authors connect the dreams to the ways that Arnold has been creeping into our lives. Bottom line: read this book! If you find it boring, it's time to worry about how narrow your imagination has gotten!

Book Description

The influence of music on the development of abstract and mixed-media visual art forms from the early twentieth century to the present day.

This ground-breaking new book and the exhibition it accompanies trace the history of a revolutionary idea: that fine art should attain the abstract purity of music. Over the past one hundred years some of the most adventurous modern and contemporary artists have explored unorthodox means to invent a kinetic, non-representational art modeled upon pure instrumental music.

Music has inspired some of the most progressive art of our time—from the abstract painting of Wassily Kandinsky and Frantisek Kupka to the mid-century experimental films of Oskar Fischinger and Harry Smith to contemporary installations by Jennifer Steinkamp and Jim Hodges. While early abstract paintings tended to approach music metonymically, the color organs, films, light shows, and installations from the mid-twentieth century to the present day engage a range of perceptual faculties simultaneously to create a plethora of sensations in the viewer.

The most complete examination of this phenomenon to date, Visual Music features ninety major works of art plus related documentation, focusing on abstract and mixed-media art and the connections to musical forms as varied as classical, jazz, and electronic. The book includes three scholarly essays, each discussing a distinct art historical period in depth, and an additional essay by Olivia Mattis that approaches the subject from a musicologist's perspective, as well as a chronology, artist biographies, and a selected bibliography. 250 illustrations, 200 in color.

With contributions by: Kerry Brougher, Hirshhorn; Jeremy Strick, MOCA; Ari Wiseman, MOCA; Judith Zilczer, Hirshhorn.

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive, Novel Approach to a History of Abstract Art.......2005-05-24

VISUAL MUSIC is first and foremost a traveling exhibition currently ensconced in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and as an exhibition it is informative, enlightening, well curated, and a unique way to study the history of Abstract Art from 1900 to 2004. One enters the large multi-room experience with a stop in a darkened theater where films dating back to the early part of the 20th century explore pulsating, rhythmic, liquid and explosive images, some in black and white, some in color, some 'illustrating' music from Brahms to Dizzy Gillespie and some in complete silence. The works are by such experimental artists as Oscar Fischinger, Len Lye and Harvey Smith and the films have been restored admirably.

The remainder of the walk through this marriage or courtship of visual images and music includes copious works by Kandinsky, Picabia, Klee, Ciurlionis, Kupka and many others, artists who sought to visualize the effect music has on the intellect and visual/aural 'synaesthesia' as the exhibition repeatedly explains. Some rooms are for framed works, other rooms for video forms of digitalized art in motion, some are simply walls of lines and abstractions and others the idiosyncratic color organs - the true synthesis of visual art and musical performance. The works representing today are from Jennifer Steinkamp in an elegant installation, Cindy Bernard, and Jim Hodges.

Though this is not meant to be a survey of an exhibition, knowing the presentation of this VISUAL MUSIC concept heightens the appreciation of the stunning catalogue that accompanies this show. From the sumptuous design elements to the splendid color reproductions to the scholarly essays, this is a book that is not an easy read but an important one. From Jeremy Strick's cogent introduction to the book through essays on the history of abstraction and the concept of what stimulated artists to relate to music and why, to the significant 'in defense of pure music' essay by Olivia Mattis, this is a magnum opus on abstract art that is unique in every phase. Kudos to the curators from the Hirschhorn (Kerry Brougher, Ari Wiseman) and MOCA's own Jeremy Strick. Grady Harp, May 05.

Gustav Mahler's Symphonies: Critical Commentary on Recordings Since 1986 (Discographies)

Average customer rating:

Gustav Mahler's Symphonies: Critical Commentary on Recordings Since 1986 (Discographies)
Lewis M. Smoley
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0313297711

Book Description

The popularity of Mahler's symphonic works is unremitting. More recordings have been made during the past ten years than in the previous six decades. This work is a companion to the first volume, published in 1986; together, the two review virtually every recording commercially released (as well as some private issues). The intention of both works is to provide a comprehensive analysis of all recordings. A general overview is combined with details of particular importance. Recordings of special merit are noted. The objective critical discussions will appeal to the newcomer as well as the knowledgeable devotee and the work will serve as a valuable addition to university, music school, and public libraries, as well as any music lover's library. This guide provides a symphony-by-symphony commentary, including the unfinished Tenth Symphony, Das Lied von der Erde, and piano and chamber music reductions of the works. It includes all new recordings issued worldwide as well as compact disc reissues of previously released recordings and all performances on videocassette. Listings are arranged alphabetically by conductor, and headings for each recording contain specific information about the performers, record label, catalog number, and timing. Helpful indexes by conductor, orchestra, vocal and instrumental soloists, chorus, and record label are included.

Average customer rating:

How Often Does a Reference Book Make You Laugh Out Loud?

Music Since 1900
Nicolas Slonimsky
Manufacturer: Schirmer Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Amazon.com

Nicolas Slonimsky's first edition of Music Since 1900 came out in 1937--his entry into the world of lexicography--and this fifth edition, published in 1994, was the last book he wrote. But that's only one reason why this book should be acquired, cherished, and continually browsed. The "Descriptive Chronology" begins January 1, 1900, with the publication of Hector Berlioz's first volume of collected works, wends its way through Gershwin's first performance of "Rhapsody in Blue" (February 12, 1924) and the founding of the Polish Music Publishing Society (April 15, 1945), and ends with the death of Ernst Krenek, composer of "Jonny spielt auf," (December 23, 1991). With letters (such as those to Slonimsky from Charles Ives) and documents (such as the transcript of the House Un-American Activities Committee hearing on Hanns Eisler), a Dictionary of Terms (abecedarianism to Zen), and a comprehensive index, the result is a scrupulous, eccentric, irresistible music reference.

Customer Reviews:

How Often Does a Reference Book Make You Laugh Out Loud?.......2003-06-21

Nicolas Slonimsky (b. St. Peterburg, Russia in 1894 - d. Christmas Day 1995 in Los Angeles at the exceptional age of 101 years, 9 months, 28 days) was an institution. He labeled himself a 'musical lexicographer,' having written several indispensable musical reference works such as 'Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians,' and 'The Lexicon of Musical Invective' (containing hilarious entries from reviews and other sources), as well as the esoteric and encyclopedic, 'Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns.' He also wrote one of the most amusing musical autobiographies around, 'Perfect Pitch.' But before he became a scholar/writer he was a pianist, conductor, composer, and champion of modern music. For instance, he was the first person to conduct an orchestral work of Charles Ives in Europe, and in an appendix of this gargantuan book (1260 pages) he prints twenty pages of letters he received from Ives. Because he lived so long he knew just about everybody in the field of twentieth-century music. (I even met him once when he was approaching his 100th birthday.)

The primary content of the book is a day by day account of musical events throughout the Western world from January 1, 1900 up to the death of Ernst Krenek in 1991. This volume, its Fifth Edition, contains all the material of the previous editions (with corrections and additions) plus 1500 additional entries for the period after the Fourth Edition.

For a reasonably well-informed music-lover there is rarely a page in this book without information about events in music history that are familiar, as well as others that are interesting but otherwise unknown. To illustrate this I opened the book literally at random to pages 150-151 and found entries, among others, on the première of Zandonai's 'Francesca da Rimini'; a squib about the fifteen-year-old Henry Cowell demonstrating 'tone clusters' to the San Francisco Music Club; the première of 'Hashish,' a tone-poem by Sergei Liapunov; the première of George Butterworth's 'The Banks of Green Willow'; the première of Vaughan Williams's now-beloved 'London Symphony'; the première of Franz Schmidt's opera 'Notre Dame'; the première of Albéric Magnard's magnum opus, his Fourth Symphony; the first performance as orchestral piece (as opposed to accompaniment of a ballet) of Stravinsky's 'Sacre de printemps,' Pierre Monteux conducting. All these took place in February-April 1914. You get the idea.

Also included is a section of musical 'documents' such as the Ives letters mentioned, as well as things like the Futurist manifesto, a talk by Alban Berg entitled 'What is Atonality?,' letters to Slonimsky from luminaries such as Arnold Schoenberg, George Bernard Shaw, Anton von Webern and Edgard Varèse. There are documents from Soviet Russia illuminating the control the government placed on composers and some of their responses.

Also included is a valuable section of definitions of musical and allied terms applicable to the modern era with entries from abecedarianism (a gentle term to describe simplistic music - oh, what he has to say about what we would now call minimalism!) to Zen (and its influence on the avant-garde). He also defines some of his own neologisms; for instance, he tends to refer to twentieth-century music as 'vigesimosecular.' One can imagine him smiling at his mock-pompous use of such words.

Slonimsky's writing style is idiosyncratic. He is frequently puckish, sometimes acerbic, always superdensely, polysyllabically multifactual; I counted 300 words in one exuberant Russian-doll-like sentence. He created an enormous number of musical neologisms to describe musical processes and styles, some of which have entered the technical vocabulary; for instance, 'pandiatonicism' to describe the process by which 'all seven degrees of the diatonic scale are used freely in democratic equality.' He takes sly pokes at music he does not admire but is never mean-spirited. He gives technical analyses of major works (e.g., his extensive exegeses of the Mahler symphonies which were premièred in the 20th century.) He has some inexplicable hobby-horses. For instance, he gives the precise age at death of important musicians as I've done in my opening sentence. He raves about composers that few others seem to care for, e.g., the Swiss Hans Huber. He completely omits some composers that are now well-thought-of, e.g. Sweden's Wilhelm Stenhammar. He tends to go on at length about uses of scales and melodic patterns, not surprising considering his expertise in that area. But overall he is fair-minded and although not anywhere near complete - that would be impossible - the encyclopedic nature of the work requires fervent admiration. There are a few typos along the way - unavoidable - and an occasional error of fact, although it is clear that he makes every effort to correct them (there are frequent retractions of errors made in earlier editions); this even extends to poring over governmental and church birth and death records and newspaper reviews of première performances.

For someone like me who often writes reviews of recordings of obscure twentieth-century works, this volume is indispensable. For others who are generally interested in the musical history of the previous century it would be valuable if not absolutely necessary. Every library worthy of the name ought to have a copy. Slonimsky was one of our cultural treasures and thank goodness his words will live on.

Book Description

Hailed as important, entertaining, and revealing, Copland: Since 1943 is composer Aaron Copland's irresistible account of the latter half of his career--a career that brought us such pioneering works as Appalachian Spring and Lincoln Portrait, the movie scores for Of Mice and Men and Our Town, and numerous other orchestral and chamber works. It tells the story of how a self-described "brash young man from Brooklyn" went on to become one of the founding fathers of "serious" American music. Featuring cameos by luminaries such as Leonard Bernstein, Martha Graham, Agnes de Mille, Benny Goodman, and other peers of Aaron Copland during this explosively creative period, Copland: Since 1943 is an invaluable memoir that charts the crescendo of one of the most accomplished careers in the modern canon.

Composers Since 1900: A Biographical and Critical Guide: First Supplement

Average customer rating:

Composers Since 1900: A Biographical and Critical Guide: First Supplement
David Ewen
Manufacturer: H. W. Wilson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Cultivating Music in America: Women Patrons and Activists since 1860

Average customer rating:

Cultivating Music in America: Women Patrons and Activists since 1860

Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Women in Art | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Women and Music: A History

ASIN: 0520083954

Book Description

This wide-ranging collection brings together leading authorities on the social history of American art music to reveal the indispensable contribution that women have made to American musical life. Some chapters discuss collective endeavors, such as music clubs, Wagnerites, supporters of "modern music" in the 1920s, and activists in African American communities, while others focus on the work of a single, strikingly individual patron such as Isabella Stewart Gardner or Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge. Primary sources such as private letters and autobiographies are utilized, and documentary vignettes scattered throughout the book bring to life important events and reminiscences. Among these are an interview with Betty Freeman, noted patron of avant-garde music, and advice from Mildred Bliss to Nadia Boulanger. Extensive opening and closing chapters provide conceptual and factual background on music in America and draw out the larger implications of women's patronage in the past, present, and future.

Executive Rock : A Fan's Perspective on the Evolution of Popular Music Since 1950

Average customer rating:

Executive Rock : A Fan's Perspective on the Evolution of Popular Music Since 1950
Willie G. Moseley , and Ted Nugent
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Book Description

willie Moseley is a feature writer and columnist for Vintage Guitar Magazine. Executive Rock is a collection of his opinions, essays, miscellaneous columns, musing, and interesting lists, all dealing with aspects of rock music from a fan's perspective.

Average customer rating:

French Music Since Berlioz

Manufacturer: Ashgate Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0754602826

Music Since 1900 THIRD EDITION REVISED AND ENLARGED

Average customer rating:

Music Since 1900 THIRD EDITION REVISED AND ENLARGED
Nicolas Slonimsky
Manufacturer: Coleman-Ross Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MMKEWU

Musicians Since 1900: Performers in Concert and Opera (Music & Musicians)

Average customer rating:

Musicians Since 1900: Performers in Concert and Opera (Music & Musicians)
David Ewen
Manufacturer: H. W. Wilson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Great Book - a crash course on Timelines.......2005-07-15

This is a fantastic short story on timelines. You can read it over a weekend, and influence yourself over a lifetime. Timelines is a fasinating process, of eliminating fears, anxieties, negative emotions, and most importantly, creating your future. Quite unbelievable, try it yourself, you will be amazed.

Take charge of your future.......2003-02-19

This is really great book. I have read some other similar books about getting what you want and chainging the future and also tried several methods from those books, sometimes it worked sometimes it didnt. This book explains why it didnt work and most important of all how to make it work every time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to take charge of their future. If you still thinking about buying this book while you are reading this review, stop thinking and act now. This few bucks may be the best investment you ever made in life.

It's been done so many times before........2001-11-07

This book offers the same info that has been written so many times before. So what makes this book any different than any other I read? It's basic. Set goals, write them down, set a time line, and so on. Sound familiar?

Outstanding.......2000-08-11

A truly outstanding book. A parable, yes, but it gives you the heart of what James teaches in his courses. Does it work? Well, the first piece I did was to kick up my clients' grants awarded to 5 times what it had ever been. It worked. In fact, the 5 times number was a limitation. A critical piece of Huna, and something I've sought out, since I first read of it in one of Max Freedom Long's books, for 20 years. Simple and easy.

Readable self-help introduction to Time Line Therapyý.......1999-07-30

This sets out the Time Line TherapyTM model and how to use it on yourself to clear negative emotions and create the life you want. Written in the form of a little parable, this is an excellent introduction to this highly effective intervention. As the title suggests, the book focuses more on creating the future than on clearing up the past; nevertheless, it works both as a guide for the therapist and as a self-help book for the general reader.

Average customer rating:

The Secret of Creating Your Future

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000E6S87C

Product Description

Twelve cassette tapes in a clamshell case

The Secret of Creating Your Future Personal Success Guide

Average customer rating:

The Secret of Creating Your Future Personal Success Guide
Tad James
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVVT5A

The Art of Manifesting: Creating Your Future (Laws of Attraction)

Average customer rating:

The Art of Manifesting: Creating Your Future (Laws of Attraction)
Carole Dean
Manufacturer: Dean Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000MSY7JA

Product Description

4 audio CD's, 80 minutes each with a guided meditation on number 4

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books