THE SEAMY SIDE OF HISTORY Honore de Balzac; Paperback
"The Seamy Side of History" (1840-1847) founded on a conception the obverse of the famous "Thirteen," in which a Brotherhood of Consolation, a secret society of men, joined together for the purpose of remedying the evils which society neglects. Madame de la Chanterie, persecuted and outraged, yet never failing in faith and fortitude, is the most sublime figure in the Comedie Humaine. Balzac is always a pleasure to read even if you do not appreciate the story.
Bret Easton Ellis's Controversial Fiction: Writing Between High and Low Culture (2013); Paperback
238 pages (Literary Studies), Used
Both literary author and celebrity, Bret Easton Ellis represents a type of contemporary writer who draws from both high and the low culture, using popular culture references, styles and subject matters in a literary fiction that goes beyond mere entertainment. His fiction, arousing the interest of the academia, mass media and general public, has fuelled heated controversy over his work. This controversy has often prevented serious analysis of his fiction, and this book is the first monograph to fill in this gap by offering a comprehensive textual and contextual analysis of his most important works up to the latest novel Imperial Bedrooms. Offering a study of the reception of each novel, the influence of popular, mass and consumer culture in them, and the analysis of their literary style, it takes into account the controversies surrounding the novels and the changes produced in the shifty terrain of the literary marketplace. It offers anyone studying contemporary American fiction a thorough and unique analysis of Ellis's work and his own place in the literary and cultural panorama.
PARADISE LOST John Milton; Paperback
512 pages (2003 reprint)
“This magnificent edition gives us everything we need to read Milton intelligently and with fresh perception.”
"Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven."
CONFUSION IS NEXT: The Sonic Youth Story (1994) Paperback
Music/Punk/Sonic Youth/Experimental 274 pages, Used
The unconventional history and experimental music of Sonic Youth, a seminal, New York-based post-punk band, should make a compelling story. Emerging from the punk-rock culture and avant-garde New York art scene of the 1970s, Sonic Youth has produced a myriad of records and side projects, and inspired scores of other bands with its glamorous bohemian poses, dedication to the underground art world and a noisy punk sound marked by unorthodox guitar tunings and screeching feedback. An unabashed admirer, Spin contributing editor Foege's solemn panegyric fails to pierce the band's cool veneer, throwing little light on its enigmatic members and aesthetic inconsistencies. Through interviews with the band's friends and collaborators, Foege meticulously charts its links to New York's "no wave" music scene of the late '70s, the grass-roots punk culture of the early '80s and the widespread assimilation of "indie" rock by the mainstream music industry in the early '90s. By contrast, he gives short shrift to the band's private lives (sorely absent are details of the marriage and recent parenthood of vocalists Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon). This will be of significance mainly to record collectors and fans
ALL KNOWN METAL BANDS (2008); Hardcover
300 pages Dan Nelson, Used
This volume contains the names of over 50,000 metal bands. Presuming that each of these bands had an average of four members, and multipling that by the number of bands, one might figure that at least a quarter of a million humans have pledged allegiance to one of them at some point is his or her lifetime. Never has a genre of music relegated to the underground of a civilization had so many devotees; no radio needs to transmit the power of this music, for it is sought out fiercely and freely by the doomed and the dispossessed, whose ears are never soiled by songs of love and weakness. These names are invisible tokens to be spoken aloud, each representing a human quest for superhuman spectacle: shaking floorboards and quivering walls, split ears leaking blood, with faces painted and ornaments pointy, voices uttering eternal truths shunned by woman and man alike.
TYPE PLAYER (2009); Paperback
256 pages Art/Design/Font/Graphic, New
Type can be commonly seen in our everyday lives, from covers of books, contents of commercial posters, to prints on T-shirts. Despite its commonness, it is still one of the most favoured elements that designers love to play with. The talented type players always inject life and sprit into the letters and characters, making type more appealing and fascinating. Type Player collects the world's latest and creative typographic design and their applications and presents them in their full glory. This book is expected to be an indispensable resource to any designer who looks forward to original and high quality work in typography, regardless of the medium.
HELLS ANGELS Hunter S Thompson (1967); Paperback
1971 Penguin reprint, Classic cover. Biker/Hunter S Thompson/Cult, Used
This is a report on a marginalized American subculture, written by an expert on American subcultures. With deep roots in reality, this is the true dawn of Gonzo Journalism. This is journalism rooted in first-hand experience, slightly twisted by a fine mind and writer of the first calibre. This book is about exactly what it says on the front cover, the 'Hell's Angels" as they were, where they came from, what they believed, how they operated and how they evolved and peaked (in terms of piquing America's interest) over the two year period Hunter set out to collaborate and verify their story by 'hanging out' with them and becoming their spokesman for the blatant truth, but in the context of the often grossly exaggerated image bestowed on them by the press and public officials. It's a fantastic account of a way of life that few have ever seen or understood, and as usual, Hunter nails it with his brilliant accuracy and immaculate research. This in-depth documentary, technically and historically precise, is an absolutely brilliant piece of work.
ABSTRACT GRAFFITI (2011); Hardcover
176 pages Art/Graffiti/Street Art, New
… the book is far less coffee table book than it is art history primer. Dominated by interviews with artists, writers, activists and one London judge, Lewisohn concerns himself more with individuals who’ve had a pivotal or lasting impact on the abstract side of the movement, rather than any media-hyped superstars. In other words, Abstract Graffiti is more about the hows and whys, and less about the whos. — Planet Magazine
Since the early days of the graffiti movement in late 1970s New York, street art has transformed cities around the world. Today it is a hugely popular, yet still highly controversial art form. In Abstract Graffiti, Cedar Lewisohn provides a vibrant account of the ‘outer limits’ of street art and graffiti that are being explored by artists in cities as diverse as London, Prague, Philadelphia and São Paulo. The work of these artists is ‘abstract’ not necessarily in the sense that it is non-figurative; rather, it may embrace a fresh, abstract approach to art. Lewisohn interviews both established graffiti artists and new practitioners of avant-garde forms of art in public spaces – such as Knit Graffiti and Street Training – and traces the art-historical lineage of these abstract trends. Addressing such issues as street art as a form of protest, graffiti as a crime, the place of street art in museums, and the evolution of materials, this book offers unrivalled insight into some of the most exciting and challenging work on the contemporary art scene.
HIP ART: The French Touch (2004); Paperback
164 pages English/French (bi-lingual) language - Art/Street Art/Graffiti, Used
With Hip Art the French Touch, graffiti changes its status. We are a long way from a succession of badly organized and more or less blurred images. On the contrary, Kriss Montfort's photographs provide us with an artistic vision of an urban phenomenon. This book was motivated by the desire to contribute to giving its lettres de noblesse to a major art form. If we've entitled it "Hip Art", it stems from a desire to pay tribute to Hip Hop, a culture which has inspired artists throughout the world. The sub-title, "French Touch", is an indication that this work deals with the French style we find in our environment, a particular art in that everything is blended (lettering, figurative art, diverse interventions, collage and a mixing of material, stickers, etc) and an art specific enough to warrant an entire volume. Hip Art is a copiously documented photographic study of French style (color, lettering). It also includes interviews from representatives of the French school: Jay, Mazout, and Bab2, an extensive bibliography, and an index permitting one to identify artists and their works.
STREET ART: The Spray Files (2005) Paperback
192 pages Art/Street Art/Graffiti, Used
Stunning and vibrant artwork can be found on buildings, sidewalks, street signs, and other surfaces in cities from New York to London to Barcelona. Street Art presents a comprehensive overview of this movement that began in the late 1960's with anonymous spray-can art in New York and Philadelphia and that has since grown into a cross-cultural phenomenon over the last four decades. Street Art begins with an explanation of the difference between street art and graffiti, along with new trends and styles. Each medium is then explored in a different chapter—stickers and posters, stencils, textured surfaces, traffic signs, buildings and furniture. Also included are chapters on street art characters and panoramic murals. Woven throughout are biographies of the artists—all internationally known—and an interview with each one. Street Art is an exciting look at an art movement that has been around for decades but that is just now beginning to emerge in the mainstream.
PLAYGROUND SWEDEN (2007); Hardcover
144 pages Art/Street Art/Graffiti, Used
Playground Sweden is a travel report through contemporary Swedish street art that refuses to follow conventional rules. Richly illustrated with unique pictorial material that will show you not only the finished product, but also the creative process of street art.
THE ART OF SPRAY PAINT: Inspirations and Techniques from Masters of Aerosol (2017); Paperback
160 pages Street Art/Graffiti/Art/Hip Hop, New
Artistry with spray paint goes much deeper than what some would write off as vandalism. Modern spray paint artists use the medium in a myriad of inventive ways, see them in The Art of Spray Paint. With roots in graffiti and utilitarian projects, spray paint has come to the forefront of the art world, seen both on the streets and in museums across the globe. The Art of Spray Paint investigates the diverse artists who are thriving with the medium, from the evolution of graffiti by John “CRASH” Matos, to the photo-realistic stencils of Logan Hicks, or the precise lines and can control of Tristan Eaton. Zimmer provides a window into the world of 20 leading artists working with spray paint in diverse ways including graffiti, urban art, stencil, portraiture, crisp graphic work and mixed media. You’ll also discover DIY projects and tricks of the trade, as well as a focus on the artist’s role in society, the rise of mural festivals and its effects, and each artists’ background and attraction to spray paint as a medium. Contributors include: CRASH, PichiAvo, BR163, Logan Hicks, Joe Iurato, Nick Walker, Caroline Caldwell, Casey Gray, Tristan Eaton, Matt Eaton, Hueman, Elle, Tatiana Suarez, Conor Harrington, Remi Rough, Will Hutnick, Rubin415, Rebecca Paul, Zac Braun, Ian Kuali’i, Ele Pack, and Dana Oldfather
