Urban Avant-Gardes presents original research on a range of recent contemporary practices in and between art and architecture giving perspectives from a wide range of disciplines in the arts; humanities and social sciences that are seldom juxtaposed; it questions many assumptions and accepted positions.This book looks back to past avant-gardes from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries examining the theoretical and critical terrain around avant-garde cultural interventions; and profiles a range of contemporary cases of radical cultural practices. The author brings together material from a wide range of disciplines to argue for cultural intervention as a means to radical change; while recognizing that most such efforts in the past have not delivered the dreams of their perpetrators.Distinctive in that it places works of the imagination in the political and cultural context of environmentalism; this book asks how cultural work might contribute to radical social change. It is equally concerned with theory and practice - part one providing a theoretical framework and part two illustrating such frameworks with examples.
#4048531 in eBooks 2004-07-31 2004-07-31File Name: B000OI19DA
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy robert keuschergood price fast service4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Many Nights at Many OperettasBy Lew TroopThis newly revised ( from 1984 ) book will be a treat to those who are not familiar with operettas but are interested to learn about them. Traubner is absolute accurate in his comments about each one (as I learned to my cost once in Munich. I saw "Tzar und Zimmerman" but had I paid attention to the book; I would not have.) His eye and ear for scores and librettos is spot on though; as he concedes; many of these have not been seen in perfomance in decades.The book is arranged to take the reader on an entertaining tour of the genre and never forgets this is being written for the viewer and not the musicologist. But this later group will not feel slighted. Along with historical data; original casts; performances etc. are comments on the musical construction of each one and its relationship to the time and audience in which it played.The reader may find themself wishing some of the pieces might be revived; they sound interesting; tuneful and with careful performance might do well in repetoire. However; the majority of operettas are now period pieces; fascinating in Mr. Traubners text but probably stultifying on stage.Well written; amusing in its recollections of nights in the theatre past; even if the topic is not your favorite; its a good read as it traces the sociology of taste and how it varies.As a reference source this is an invaluable book. As we get further from the time in which these pieces were written; material about them; indeed the pieces themselves (witness Gilbert and Sullivans "Thespis") simply become non-existent. They will always exist in Traubners OPERETTA; A THEATRICAL HISTORY. We should be grateful.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A brilliant bookBy John H. FlanniganRichard Traubners "Operetta: A Theatrical History" is probably the best theatre history book I have encountered. It covers a huge topic in an orderly; clear manner by dividing the subject chronologically and geographically. As a result; a reader can follow it from start to finish and learn a great deal about changing fashions in entertainment and music. But the book is an extraordinarily useful reference work as well: it has a superb index and treats even lesser-known figures of the world of operetta fairly and thoroughly. Moreover; it is generously (and beautifully) illustrated.Traubners musical taste is first-rate; too; and his engaging writing style brings to life some of the long-forgotten gems of this once-wildly popular entertainment. There are thorough treatments of impresarios; singers; composers; and lyricists. Traubner also keeps an eye on the bigger picture by locating operettas roots in 19th-century poltical satire and following its progress through the more romantic "silver" period of Lehar and Kalman to the modern Broadway musical. It also is the only English language text I know of that supplies a history of the Spanish zarzuela; so it is a necessary companion to the delightful recordings by Pilar Lorengar; Montserrat Caballe; and Placido Domingo of zarzuela hits. This is a landmark text; and any theatre; opera; or musical comedy fans should reward themselves by securing a copy.(I encountered Traubners text in its original--1984--edition and was unaware that he had produced a revised version in 2003. Needless to say; I will purchase that edition; too.)