From the verticals of New York; Hong Kong and Singapore to the sprawls of London; Paris and Jakarta; this interdisciplinary volume of new writing examines constructions; representations; imaginations and theorizations of cityscapes in modern and contemporary culture. With specially-commissioned essays from the fields of cultural theory; architecture; film; literature; visual art and urban geography; it offers fresh insight into the increasingly complex relationship between urban space; cultural production and everyday life. This volume draws on critical urban studies and moves beyond familiar cultural representations of the city by considering urban planning and architecture. Organized under three inter-related themes - image; text and form - essay topics range from the examination of cyberpunk skylines; pagan urbanism and the cinema of urban disaster; to the analysis of iconic city landmarks such as the twin towers; the London Eye and the Judisches Museum Berlin.Covering a diverse range of cities; including Berlin; Chicago; Jakarta; Johannesburg; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; Paris; and Venice; this fantastic resource for students; scholars and researchers alike; works expertly at the intersections of visual; material; and literary culture.
#3100467 in eBooks 2006-04-18 2006-04-18File Name: B000OI0HA6
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Disney Goes to CollegeBy LCThis is an absolute must read along with Multi-Culturalism and the Mouse; for any Walt Disney; or Disney aficionado. The in-depth research is impressive; and the read is both smooth and scholarly. The significance of broader ideas and concepts; is adeptly combined with a plethora of details and developments to create a truly interesting work. Even for those who dont get or are unmoved by Disney will better understand the depth of the conceptual process upon reading this book. Chapters are well organized; and while the information is vast the read goes quite quickly moving from concept to development to significance.I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the process of creativity and the development of ideas.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Overview of Disney CriticismBy D.K. P.This book is a useful entry point for those wishing to learn more about Walt Disney; the Disney theme parks (mostly Disneyland and Walt Disney World); and the academic criticism of the two. Bryman writes in a straightforward style; although a bit dully at times; that provides a solid foundation and useful biography for these topics. The first part of the book focuses on Walt Disney and Life after Walt; roughly. The second part of the book focuses on the theme parks and the major themes/issues that academics have touched upon. Warning: It is not; however; an in-depth examination of the theme parks; as such; and readers looking for detailed descriptions of the theme parks would be better off looking at Fjellmans Vinyl Leaves for that kind of work.What is most useful about Brymans book is his distillation of others writings. for example; Bryman helpful provides a compilation of those writers who examine the Disney theme parks from a postmodern perspective. This provides the reader with a sort of "for further reading" list and crib notes for those authors stances on Disney and postmodernism. Other themes and threads Bryman introduces include: Disney and control; families; the cinematic experience; tourism; other theoretical perspectives; etc. In many ways; Brymans book would be a good introductory textbook on Disney Studies and/or it operates as a bio-bibliography.This is not to say the book shies from its own critique. With regard to postmodernism; Brymans perspective is quite clear--he doesnt think it works too well. Overall; Brymans interest is in examining Disney theme parks from the standpoints of business and tourism. In this; Bryman offers some perspectives on Disney that have; to date; been underdeveloped. Useful are his characterizations of Walt Disney as a charismatic leader and Corporate Disney as a culture. His development of Chris Rojeks (and others) representation of tourism and post-tourism (a development of tourism studies that is more in keeping with postmodernism; and perhaps more accurate to the study of Disney).The book was well worth its original price; if for no other reason than it provides a wealth of information on other writings on Disney. If you dont mind Brymans sometimes stilted prose; or lots of summary on others ideas; or the sense that sometimes Bryman feels obligated to defend Disney from an academic (rather than personal) standpoint; its a good choice. Speaking from the perspective of an academic who is avidly trying to read as much as possible on Disney; I can truthfully say the book is invaluable. Bryman has done his homework--and my homework; too!