Americans Against the City: Anti-Urbanism in the Twentieth Century
Author: Steven Conn File Type: pdf It is a paradox of American life that we are a highly urbanized nation filled with people deeply ambivalent about urban life. An aversion to urban density and all that it contributes to urban life, and a perception that the city was the place where big government first took root in America fostered what historian Steven Conn terms the anti-urban impulse. In response, anti-urbanists called for the decentralization of the city, and rejected the role of government in American life in favor of a return to the pioneer virtues of independence and self-sufficiency. In this provocative and sweeping book, Conn explores the anti-urban impulse across the 20th century, examining how the ideas born of it have shaped both the places in which Americans live and work, and the anti-government politics so strong today. Beginning in the booming industrial cities of the Progressive era at the turn of the 20th century, where debate surrounding these questions first arose, Conn examines the progression of anti-urban movements. He describes the decentralist movement of the 1930s, the attempt to revive the American small town in the mid-century, the anti-urban basis of urban renewal in the 1950s and 60s, and the Nixon administrations program of building new towns as a response to the urban crisis, illustrating how, by the middle of the 20th century, anti-urbanism was at the center of the politics of the New Right. Concluding with an exploration of the New Urbanist experiments at the turn of the 21st century, Conn demonstrates the full breadth of the anti-urban impulse, from its inception to the present day. Engagingly written, thoroughly researched, and forcefully argued, Americans Against the City is important reading for anyone who cares not just about the history of our cities, but about their future as well.**
Author: Adriana Cavarero
File Type: pdf
In this new and accessible book, Italys best known feminist philosopher examines the moral and political significance of vertical posture in order to rethink subjectivity in terms of inclination. Contesting the classical figure of homo erectus or upright man, Adriana Cavarero proposes an altruistic, open model of the subjectone who is inclined toward others. Contrasting the masculine upright with the feminine inclined, she references philosophical texts (by Plato, Thomas Hobbes, Immanuel Kant, Hannah Arendt, Elias Canetti, and others) as well as works of art (Barnett Newman, Leonardo da Vinci, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Alexander Rodchenko) and literature (Marcel Proust and Virginia Woolf). In this new and accessible book, Italys best known feminist philosopher examines the moral and political significance of vertical posture in order to rethink subjectivity in terms of inclination. Contesting the classical figure of homo erectus or upright man, Adriana Cavarero proposes an altruistic, open model of the subjectone who is inclined toward others. Contrasting the masculine upright with the feminine inclined, she references philosophical texts (by Plato, Thoman Hobbes, Immanuel Kant, Hannah Arendt, Elias Canetti, and others) as well as works of art (Barnett Newman, Leonardo da Vinci, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Alexander Rodchenko) and literature (Marcel Proust and Virginia Woolf). **Review Inclinations bears all the marks of Cavareros work more generally rigorous argumentation, a style at once direct and playful, a wide-ranging command of the philosophical tradition, combined with trenchant feminist critique. Barbara Spackman, University of California at Berkeley About the Author Adriana Cavarero is Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Verona. Her books in English include For More than One Voice (Stanford, 2005) and Horrorism (2008).
Author: Kate Flaherty
File Type: pdf
Teaching Shakespeare Beyond the Centre showcases a wide array of recent, innovative and original research into Shakespeare and learning in Australasia, in secondary, tertiary and adult education. Premised on the dissolution of the centrecolony binary that for so long structured the reception and teaching of Shakespeare in the colonies, the book explores the use of local knowledge and experience to invigorate and renew learning. In elevating the value of the local, the book provides models of educational theory and practice that are transferable and adaptable. The editors have drawn on contributors with diverse areas of expertise including dramatic practitioners, historicist scholars, school teachers and academics who train teachers, and literary scholars with an interest in new theoretical and practical approaches to pedagogy.**
Author: Miles J. Unger
File Type: epub
When Picasso became Picasso the story of how an obscure young painter from Barcelona came to Paris and made himself into the most influential artist of the twentieth century. In 1900, an eighteen-year-old Spaniard named Pablo Picasso made his first trip to Paris. It was in this glittering capital of the international art world that, after suffering years of poverty and neglect, he emerged as the leader of a bohemian band of painters, sculptors, and poets. Fueled by opium and alcohol, inspired by raucous late-night conversations at the Lapin Agile cabaret, Picasso and his friends resolved to shake up the world. For most of these years Picasso lived and worked in a squalid tenement known as the Bateau Lavoir, in the heart of picturesque Montmartre. Here he met his first true love, Fernande Olivier, a muse whom he would transform in his art from Symbolist goddess to Cubist monster. These were years of struggle, often of desperation, but Picasso later looked back on them as the happiest of his long life. Recognition came slowly first in the avant-garde circles in which he traveled, and later among a small group of daring collectors, including the Americans Leo and Gertrude Stein. In 1906, Picasso began the vast, disturbing masterpiece known as Les Demoiselles dAvignon. Inspired by the groundbreaking painting of Paul Cezanne and the startling inventiveness of African and tribal sculpture, Picasso created a work that captured and defined the disorienting experience of modernity itself. The painting proved so shocking that even his friends assumed hed gone mad. Only his colleague George Braque understood what Picasso was trying to do. Over the next few years they teamed up to create Cubism, the most revolutionary and influential movement in twentieth-century art. This is the story of an artistic genius with a singular creative gift. It is filled with heartbreak and triumph, despair and delirium, all of it played out against the backdrop of the worlds most captivating city.**ReviewThe birth of modernism a century ago was one of historys greatest moments of creative disruption, including Einsteins physics, Stravinskys music, and the writings of Joyce and Proust. One major spark was an astonishing painting by Picasso, and Miles Unger brings us both the drama and brilliance of that creation in this thrilling book. (Walter Isaacson, author of Leonardo da Vinci ) Riveting. . . . This engrossing book chronicles with precision and enthusiasm a painting with lasting impact in todays art world. (Publishers Weekly (starred review)) About the Author Miles J. Unger writes on art, books, and culture for The Economist. Formerly the managing editor of Art New England, he was a contributing writer to The New York Times. He is the author of The Watercolors of Winslow Homer Magnifico The Brilliant Life and Violent Times of Lorenzo de Medici Machiavelli A Biography and Michelangelo A Life in Six Masterpieces. Visit MilesJunger.com.
Author: Newt Gingrich
File Type: epub
The presidency of Donald Trump marks a profound change in the trajectory of American government, politics, and culture. Like his administration, the movement that put him in office represents a phenomenon that is worth studying. Donald Trump is unlike any president weve ever had. He is the only person ever elected to be commander in chief who has not first held public office or served as a general in the military. His principles grow out of five decades of business and celebrity success-not politics-so he behaves differently than do traditional politicians. In UNDERSTANDING TRUMP, Newt Gingrich shares what he learned from more than two years helping Trump and his team throughout the campaign, the election, and during the first months of the presidency. Mr. Gingrich provides unique insight into how the new presidents past experiences have shaped his life and style of governing. This book also includes Mr. Gingrichs thorough analysis of how President Trump thinks and makes decisions, as well as the presidents philosophy, doctrine, and political agenda going forward. Further, these pages hold a detailed discussion of Trump-style solutions for national security, education, health care, economic growth, government reform, and other important topics. Mr. Gingrich also identifies the forces in the Washington establishment, media, and bureaucracy that will oppose the president at every turn. Finally, UNDERSTANDING TRUMP explains the presidents actions so far and lays out a vision for what Americans can do to help make President Trumps agenda a success. The president owes his position to the people who believed in him as a candidate, not to the elites in government and media who have expressed contempt for him since he began his campaign to become president. The very essence of Trumps mission is a willingness to enact policies and set goals that send our country in a bold new direction - one that may be unreasonable to Washington but is sensible to millions of Americans outside the Beltway. Only with the countrys help will President Trump be able to overcome the entrenched interests in Washington and fulfill his promise to make America great again for all Americans.
Author: Richard Daniel Altick
File Type: pdf
Richard Alticks classic portrayal of scholars on the prowl has delighted generations of readers. From the exposure of British rare book dealer Thomas Wisethe most famous authority of his dayas a master forger of first editions to the discovery of thousands of new James Boswell papers, Altick shows the scholar at work. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, and many others surrender previously unrevealed secrets to these dogged researchers, whose ceaseless sleuthing has increased our knowledge and appreciation of both literature and the people who created it.A carefully detailed but by no means dull account of the more dignified pursuit of detection as practiced by literary scholars. Kirkus Reviews Although Altick sensibly mentions that research may be a misadventure, he naturally enough plays up its glamour and romance and its fascination for the scholar is transmitted to the reader. His book, then, as popular reading is first-rate, solid, rewarding, and lively The Nation a brisk, well-written book Time This is a volume of gracefully written essays celebrating the feats of literary detective work performed by scores of learned men and women passionately in love with the minutiae of literary scholarships. The New York Times a more fascinating recital than any fictional mystery story, and its detectives are, it leads us to believe, more interesting in themselvesthey are not mousy researchersthan fictional private eyes The Boston Globe
Author: Michael Fielding Barnsley
File Type: pdf
Contents Introduction Metric Spaces, Equivalent Spaces, Classification of Subsets, and the Space of Fractals Transformation on Metric Spaces, Contraction Mappings, and the Construction of Fractals Chaotic Dynamics on Fractals Fractal Dimension Fractal Interpolation Julia Sets Parameter Spaces and Mandelbrot Sets Introduction to Measures on Fractals. Heavily illustrated, including 32 color plates.ReviewThe material contained in the second edition is quite obviously more extensive in detail and scope...the style of writing is technically excellent, informative, and entertaining... .Robert McCartyThe problems and examples are well-chosen and interesting...difficult concepts are introduced in a clear fashion with excellent diagrams and graphs.Alan E. Wessel, Santa Clara University From the Back CoverThe material contained in the second edition is quite obviously more extensive in detail and scope...the style of writing is technically excellent, informative, and entertaining... .-Robert McCartyThe problems and examples are well-chosen and interesting...difficult concepts are introduced in a clear fashion with excellent diagrams and graphs.-Alan E. WesselSanta Clara UniversityThis volume is the second edition of the highly successful Fractals Everywhere. The Focus of this text is how fractal geometry can be used to model real objects in the physical world. FeaturesullA new chapter on recurrent iterated function systems, including vector recurrent iterated function systems.llProblems and tools emphasizing fractal applciations.llAn all-new answer key to problems in the text, with solutions and hints.lulThis edition of Fractals Everywhere is the most up-to-date fractal textbook available today.Fractals Everywhere may be supplemented by Michael F. Barnsleys Desktop Fractal Design System (version 2.0) with IBM for Macintosh software. The Desktop Fractal Design System 2.0 is a tool for designing Iterated Function Systems codes and fractal images, and makes an excellent supplement to a course on fractal geometry
Author: Julie Sophia Paegle
File Type: pdf
From the fall of Troy recorded at the beginning of Western poetry to the ongoing mass extinction of species, Twelve Clocks meditates on the temporality of loss across the many scales of our experience and knowledge. Framed by central images of beginnings and ends, this collection searches six cities and intervals of time for the measures of loss, labor, and care. Through formal innovations derived from the second, the minute, the hour, etc., and the methods of their measure, these poems move from the stark violence of Homers tale to the terrible precision and power of the atomic age. As the reader is transported from Las Vegas to Argentina to the landscapes of Ancient Greek epic poetry, Twelve Clocks explores the connections between song, ancestry, family, loss, and time. If the imagery of the collection hints Troy might be an image of the wrecked Argentine economy under neoliberal economics, the poems eschew the abstractions of politics in favor of a vivid and sensuous lyricism. The interconnectivity of the poems in Twelve Clocks is mirrored by different elements transcendence throughout the collection. The clock that goes missing in one poem turns up in another, characters vanish and reappear, matter destroyed in one poem reoccurs as energy in another, and then matter and energy both go missing. Taken together, the poems confront the literary legacy of Western poetic tradition and our shared future.
Author: Michael Taussig
File Type: pdf
Anthropologist Michael Taussig portrays the postmodern state in terms of spirit possession. This unusual book of ficto-criticism begins with a conversation with the spirit queen as to the nourishment of the state by the dead--notably the spirits of those whose blood was spilled during the European conquest and the anti-colonial Wars of Independence. Taussig describes how through theaters of ecstasy, composed of fragments of the great story that the State, for the perpetuation of its spiritual authority, needs to tell about itself, these spirits are provided a reservoir of magical powers. Developing concepts of the sacred from Bataille, the post-Surreal College of Sociology, Canetti, Marx, Hobbes, and Walter Benjamin, Taussig creates his own whirlwind theater of spirit-possession, utilizing popular shrines, official monuments and slogans, money, the police, the freeway system, automobiles, taxis, the stealing of the sword of the state and, last but not least, through fetishization of Europes (dead) Others--Native Americans and people of African descent.
Author: Frédéric Martel
File Type: epub
A startling account of corruption and hypocrisy at the heart of the Vatican. In the Closet of the Vatican exposes the rot at the heart of the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church today. This brilliant piece of investigative writing is based on four years authoritative research, including extensive interviews with those in power. The celibacy of priests, the condemnation of the use of contraceptives, countless cases of sexual abuse, the resignation of Benedict XVI, misogyny among the clergy, the dramatic fall in Europe of the number of vocations to the priesthood, the plotting against Pope Francis all these issues are clouded in mystery and secrecy. In the Closet of the Vatican is a book that reveals these secrets and penetrates this enigma. It derives from a system founded on a clerical culture of secrecy which starts in junior seminaries and continues right up to the Vatican itself. It is based on the double lives of priests and on extreme homophobia. The resulting schizophrenia in the Church is hard to fathom. But the more a prelate is homophobic, the more likely it is that he is himself gay. Behind rigidity there is always something hidden, in many cases a double life. These are the words of Pope Francis himself and with them, the Pope has unlocked the Closet. No one can claim to really understand the Catholic Church today until they have read this book. It reveals a truth that is extraordinary and disturbing. **