Part of a series of biographical guides to a diverse range of subjects drawn from literature and the arts, history and politics, religion and mythology. This book is about who's who in modern world politics. Previously published as: Who's who in world politics from 1860 to the present day.
A cultural history of the South Bronx that reaches beyond familiar narratives of urban ruin and renaissance, beyond the “inner city” symbol, to reveal the place and people obscured by its myths. For decades, the South Bronx was America’s “inner city.” Synonymous with civic neglect, crime, and metropolitan decay, the Bronx became the preeminent symbol used to proclaim the failings of urban places and the communities of color who lived in them. Images of its ruins—none more infamous than the one broadcast live during the 1977 World Series: a building burning near Yankee Stadium—proclaimed the failures of urbanism. Yet this same South Bronx produced hip hop, arguably the most powerful artistic and cultural innovation of the past fifty years. Two narratives—urban crisis and cultural renaissance—have dominated understandings of the Bronx and other urban environments. Today, as gentrification transforms American cities economically and demographically, the twin narratives structure our thinking about urban life. A Bronx native, Peter L’Official draws on literature and the visual arts to recapture the history, people, and place beyond its myths and legends. Both fact and symbol, the Bronx was not a decades-long funeral pyre, nor was hip hop its lone cultural contribution. L’Official juxtaposes the artist Gordon Matta-Clark’s carvings of abandoned buildings with the city’s trompe l’oeil decals program; examines the centrality of the Bronx’s infamous Charlotte Street to two Hollywood films; offers original readings of novels by Don DeLillo and Tom Wolfe; and charts the emergence of a “global Bronx” as graffiti was brought into galleries and exhibited internationally, promoting a symbolic Bronx abroad. Urban Legends presents a new cultural history of what it meant to live, work, and create in the Bronx.
Now bigger than ever--with 12,000 entries, Chase's is the directory that Americans have come to rely on for special events, holidays, ethnic celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, fairs and festivals, historic events, and traditional and whimsical observances of all kinds. Extensively indexed by state and by category, entries include direct-access phone numbers, addresses, and attendence figures. Line art throughout.
"The definitive guide to all holidays and anniversaries." --Wall Street Journal "In its diversity and inclusiveness, [Chase's] is an exhaustive guide to the country's ideals and passions." --Washington Post For almost 50 years, Chase's Calendar of Events has been the most trusted and comprehensive reference to just what's going on today. Whether it's an important historical anniversary, the phases of the moon, a sports event, the birthday of a favorite celebrity, a festival, or much, much more, Chase's has all the answers. This indispensable resource is perfect for people who need to be "in the know," such as: Event planners Broadcasters Librarians Advertisers . . . and others Whether it's Valentine's Day (February 14) or National Underwear Day (August 13), American Heart Month (February) or International Accordian Awareness Month (June), Chase's covers traditional and whimsical observances of all kinds: holidays, anniversaries, sporting events, astronomical phenomena, and more. In all, it has more than 12,000 entries. There is never a boring day in Chase's! Also available with a CD-ROM that allows you to customize searches by date, subject, location, and many other ways!
This one-of-a-kind reference investigates the music and the musicians that set the popular trends of the last half century in America. Many rock fans have, at one time or another, ranked their favorite artists in order of talent, charisma, and musical influence on the world as they see it. In this same spirit, author and music historian David V. Moskowitz expands on the concept of "top ten" lists to provide a lineup of the best 100 musical groups from the past 60 years. Since the chosen bands are based on the author's personal taste, this two-volume set provokes discussion of which performers are included and why, offering insights into the surprising influences behind them. From the Everly Brothers, to the Ramones, to Public Enemy, the work covers a wide variety of styles and genres, clearly illustrating the connections between them. Entries focus on the group's history, touring, membership, major releases, selected discography, bibliography, and influence. Contributions from leading scholars in popular music shed light on derivative artists and underscore the overall impact of the performers on the music industry.
Presents a comprehensive encyclopedia of rock guitar legends examining over three hundred artists beginning in the 1950s and covering a wide range of styles and includes performers such as Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Duane Eddy, Buddy Holly, Keith Richards, and more.
This 6th edition brings music of the 20th century to a close with coverage of years not included in the 5th edition--1992-2000. Entries on roughly 1,000 more composers, performers, musicologists, critics, and opera directors offer critical commentary, notable premieres and debuts, deaths of significant figures, as well as important festivals and concerts around the world.
How to behave in the diaspora has been a central problem for Jews over the ages. They have debated whether to assimilate by adopting local customs or whether to remain a God-centered people loyal to their temporal rulers but maintaining the peculiar customs that separated them from their host nations. The question not only of survival, but of the basis for survival, is also a central problem in the Joseph stories of the Book of Genesis. The work shows its readers the grand alternatives of Judaism, instilled in two larger-than-life figures, so its readers can reassess for themselves the road Judaism did not take, and understand why Joseph though admirable in many respects, is left out of the rest of the Bible. The question is answered through the stories about how Joseph, the son of Jacob, saved his people/family from famine by becoming a high-ranking administrator to Pharaoh. By analyzing his behavior to the people over whom he exercises power, Joseph lords it over his brothers, grieves his father, takes lands from Egyptian farmers, and engages in forced deportation. Wildavsky explains why Joseph-the-assimilator is replaced in the Book of Exodus by Moses-the-lawgiver. The book ends by demonstrating that Joseph and Moses are, and are undoubtedly meant to be exact opposites. As in his earlier book on The Nursing Father: Moses as a Political Leader, Wildavsky combines analysis of political and administrative leadership with both traditional and modern study of texts: thematic linkages via plot, grammar, dreams, poetry, and religious doctrine. Thus the chapter on "Joseph the Administrator" is preceded by a chapter on Joseph as The Dream Lord" and followed by an analysis and explanation of why Jacob's obscure blessings to his sons are more like curses. Always the emphasis is on the reciprocal influence of religion and politics, on rival answers to questions about how Hebrews should relate to each other and to outsiders. New, in paperback, the book will be of interest to biblical scholars and readers as well as those concerned with the interaction of religion and political life.