Showing titles in History & Criticism

Joss Whedon has much to teach his fans, as he unfurls epics of sacrifice and heroism for superheroes and ordinary people. Whedon offers lessons to improve the world and our roles within it. This book compares themes, motifs, and archetypes across all his works, teasing out the common threads and the messages within

Much has been written about the work of David Lynch and existential fear in relation to Americana and the American Dream-as-American Nightmare in terms that are circular and artistically self-referential—or Lynchian. With reference to the 1983 television phenomenon The Day After, Lynch's work is newly situated in a resurgence of works reassessing the legacy of Trinity. With David Lynch's Part 8, a cultural circuit is completed, from the idiosyncratic and personal—or Lynchian—to the shared space of what theorist Paul Virilio describes as "cosmic fear"—or an emergency of social media.

This comprehensive and creepy guide explores the dark and eerie landscapes of horror down the centuries and across the world – from prehistoric death rituals and early monster myths to modern manifestations of the subject in art, literature, and film. Delve into the folklore that gave birth to iconic creatures of the night – from vampires and werewolves to the Japanese Kappa water demon and the cannibalistic Wendigo of Indigenous American lore.

Brimming with previously untold stories and insights, How Coppola Became Cage both revels in and demystifies Cage's onscreen eccentricities. No other modern actor has explored such profound creative extremes while bending the boundaries of good taste. Here is the origin story of an actor who truly is wild at heart and weird on top.

An unflinching confrontation of humanity’s dark side, Brian De Palma’s crime drama film Scarface gave rise to a cultural revolution upon its release in 1983. Its impact was unprecedented, making globe-spanning waves as a defining portrait of the gritty Miami street life. From Al Pacino’s masterful characterization of Tony Montana to the iconic “Say hello to my little friend,” Scarface maintains its reputation as an unwavering game changer in cult classic cinema.

Making Mary Poppins reveals the extraordinary true story behind the creation of one of the most beloved films of all time―and the two little-known songwriters who helped make it possible.

For almost seventy years, Hollywood has had a love affair with marauding aliens from beyond space bent on world domination and generally making our lives miserable. In 1951, the first real alien menace was thawed out at a remote arctic outpost, and reflected our Cold War fears as that thing from another world. The call to keep watching the skies was a prophetic warning that other alien terrors would soon be coming our way. Come, they did!

Mention The Phantom of the Opera at a dinner party, and each guest will have his or her own vivid, almost visceral, recollection of the tale of a disfigured musical genius and his unrequited love for a beautiful, young singer. Someone will undoubtedly pantomime the famous scene from the silent era film in which Mary Philbin (as Christine Daae) sneaks up behind the Phantom, while he is playing the organ in his subterranean lair, and unmasks the great Lon Chaney, revealing his horribly disfigured face to the audience and her.

David Cronenberg's films have long enjoyed a cult following, pushing the boundaries of taste, blending high art with horror, and straddling the commercial and the cutting-edge. Here, the listener will be presented with the familiar and unfamiliar aspects of iconic films such as Videodrome, The Fly, Naked Lunch, and Crash.

In a world where movie marketers are the stars of the story, Opening Weekend: An Insider's Look at Marketing Hollywood's Hits and Flops recounts Jim Fredrick's journey through the realm of movie marketing. Fredrick offers readers exclusive access to behind-the-scenes anecdotes and firsthand accounts of working with studio executives and navigating relationships with famous movie stars and directors.

The day-by-day inside story of the making of Tombstone (1993) as told to the author by those who were there--actors, extras, crew members, Buckaroos, historians and everyone in between. Historical context that inspired Kevin Jarre's screenplay is included. Production designers, cameramen, costume designers, composers, illustrators, screenwriter, journalists, set dressers, prop masters, medics, stuntmen and many others share their recollections--many never-before-told--of filming this epic Western.

Since the 1920s, fashion has played a central role in Hollywood. As the movie-going population consisted largely of women, studios made a concerted effort to attract a female audience by foregrounding fashion. Designers from a variety of backgrounds, including haute couture and art design, were offered long-term contracts to work on multiple movies. Though their work typically went uncredited, they were charged with creating an image for each star that would help define an actor both on- and off-screen.

We laughed at the rat who cooked. We cried when the old man floated away with his house. We felt weird things when a red panda exploded out of a teenage girl. But somehow, through all the animated chaos, these movies ended up saying something real. This book is a collection of short, heartfelt reflections on Pixar’s biggest hits — from Inside Out to Ratatouille, The Incredibles to Soul. It’s not a film analysis. It’s not a self-help book. It’s something weirder: A love letter to growing up with feelings, finding yourself in cartoons, and realizing maybe you’re not crazy for still crying at Up.

In Chronicles from the Couch, James Johnson dives headfirst into the timeless worlds of Seinfeld, Friends, and That '70s Show—unpacking what makes these shows more than just entertainment. With deep insight and undeniable humor, this book explores legendary moments like “We were on a break,” the chaotic genius of Kramer, the mythic Soup Nazi, and the soul of the sitcom archetype itself.

The concept of motherhood, often idealized as the epitome of unconditional love and nurturing, has been twisted and perverted in various cinematic works to explore darker, more complex human dynamics. Led by Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson Award, and two-time World Fantasy Award winning editor and acclaimed film professor Danel Olson, the essayists introduce listeners to traditional portrayals of mothers in film and literature, establishing a baseline for understanding how diabolical motherhood deviates from the norm.

This unique biography traces the many lives and crimes of Hannibal Lecter: his disturbing debut in Thomas Harris’s 1981 novel Red Dragon; his rise to infamy in beloved films like Michael Mann’s Manhunter and Jonathan Demme’s Academy Award–winning The Silence of the Lambs; and his unexpected comeback in the cult-hit TV series Hannibal. It also dives into the untold life and career of Harris, the secretive bestselling author whose passion for reporting, eye for grisly detail, and connections to the FBI helped birth not only Lecter, but also the modern true-crime genre.

Saturday Morning Forever: The Cartoon Network Effect is a soul-charged, nostalgia-laced journey through the cartoons that shaped a generation. From the suburban scams of Ed, Edd n Eddy to the emotional myth-building of Steven Universe, JJ unpacks the emotional, spiritual, and subconscious weight behind the madness.

El impacto visual de Titanic no solo radica en su escala monumental, sino en la maestría cinematográfica con la que James Cameron dio vida a esta historia épica. Este libro explora en profundidad cada aspecto técnico y artístico que convirtió a Titanic en una de las películas más influyentes de la historia del cine.

2024年NHK大河ドラマ松村邦洋、まさかの「光る君へ」を語る。芸能界No.1歴史YouTuberが頑張りました！無手勝流・日本一面白い大河ドラマ解説本、堂々３度目！

Eddie Mannix and Howard Strickling are virtually unknown outside of Hollywood and little-remembered even there, but as General Manager and Head of Publicity for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, they lorded over all the stars in Hollywood’s golden age from the 1920s through the 1940s—including legends like Garbo, Dietrich, Gable and Garland. When MGM stars found themselves in trouble, it was Eddie and Howard who took care of them—solved their problems, hid their crimes, and kept their secrets. They were “the Fixers.”