Greenwood Press

Alternate Americas; science fiction film and American culture.

In this cultural history of American science fiction cinema, Booker (English, U. of Arkansas) has selected fifteen works for examination: The Day the Earth Stood Still, Forbidden Planet, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Alien, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Blade Runner, The Terminator, Robocop, The Abyss, Independence Day, and The Matrix. For each he provides a summary of the plot, discussion of some of the more important filmic achievements, and consideration of how the films concerns relate to American history and culture. For example, following the summary of the plot of Planet of the Apes, he describes the achievement of the ape costumes, followed by discussion of how the film reflected concerns about racial hierarchies, the illegitimacy of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and the ignorance of the Scopes Monkey Trial. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

American icons; an encyclopedia of the people, places, and things that have shaped our culture; 3v.

Aimed at students and general readers, this three-volume reference examines a variety of "icons" that exemplify American culture. Each essay reveals a particular icon's origins and changes, discusses its influences, and considers the meaning of its enduring appeal or negative connotations. Organized alphabetically by topic, the entries cover a diverse range of subjects, including (for example) the banjo, flea markets, Oprah Winfrey, guns, Wal-Mart, the Muppets, John Wayne, suburbia, the Golden Gate Bridge, and cell phones. Editor Dennis Hall teaches writing and popular culture at the U. of Louisville, and Susan Grove Hall is an independent scholar. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Ancient technology.

Roman historian and archaeologist Humphrey (U. of Calgary) surveys both physical and ideological/linguistic inventions of the ancient Mediterranean societies in this volume. Illustrations accompany text explaining the context and use of technologies in the categories of food and clothing, water, shelter and security, transportation and coinage, recordkeeping and timekeeping, and crafts that developed between the Archaic era in Greece and the height of the Roman Empire. Additionally, one section provides brief biographies of known inventors of the time, and another contains 54 topical primary documents, including instructions for constructing a plow and building a Roman aqueduct. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The blue and gray in black and white; a history of Civil War photography.

Because of its convergence with advances in photographic technology, the Civil War was the first major conflict to be extensively documented by American photographers. In this volume, Zeller tells the stories of the men who used wet plate cameras to produce these startling and controversial images. He also examines the impact of photography on average Americans of the time. The text is accompanied by more than 150 b&w photos. Zeller is also the author of a two- volume stereoscopic photo history titled The Civil War in Depth. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Britain's medieval castles.

The founder of Castles Unlimited, which promotes their appreciation and preservation, Hull has written two previous surveys of castles, but here she focuses not so much on particular castles as on features of castles built in Britain from the 11th to the 15th centuries. She explains how the architectural elements and construction techniques allowed the castles to serve simultaneously as offensive weapons, defensive strongholds, residences, and status symbols. Raglan Castle in Wales is her detailed case study. The photographs are monochrome. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Building the world; an encyclopedia of the great engineering projects in history; 2v.

Davidson and Lusk Brooke draw on 35-plus years of experience in engineering and history, including periods as academics at both MIT and Harvard, in assembling the first encyclopedia to cover 41 of the world's most significant, large engineering projects, from early human civilization to modern times. Each chapter describes the project's historical background, cultural context, planning, building, and importance in history, and includes the text of the original authorizing documents, where available. The collection offers readers a greater understanding of how these structures have transformed the physical world and influenced the growth and development of societies and cultures. For students, scholars and professionals in national and regional history, engineering and technology, law, architecture, public art, and historic preservation; government leaders, diplomats, planners, and social scientists; and the general public. Illustrated in b&w. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cartoonists, works, and characters in the United States through 2005; an international bibliography.

Mass communication scholar Lent (animation, Communication U. of China) offers an unannotated bibliography of books and articles from around the world about cartoonists, works, and characters in comic books and comic strips in the US; a companion volume covers works on the comic books and comic strips themselves within the same framework. The first section cites cartoonists alphabetically within subsections on comic books and comic strips. The second section treats characters and titles similarly. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cinematic savior; Hollywood's making of the American Christ.

It is not surprising that so many movies were made during 20th-century America about Jesus, remarks Stephenson (film, religion, and popular culture; Hamilton College), but it is surprising what different stories each one tells. He looks at the teenage King of Kings during the Cold War, the suburban Greatest Story Every Told, the alienated Jesus Christ Superstar, the televised Jesus of Nazareth, the psychological Last Temptation of Christ, and the action hero Passion of Christ. He also considers movies about the period and Christ parables. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Comic books and comic strips in the United States through 2005; an international bibliography.

Lent (mass communications, Communication U., China) provides a bibliography about comic books and strips in the US through 2005, categorized by general sources; resources; anthologies; artistic, business, cultural, historical, legal, and ethical aspects; collecting; content; criticism; exhibitions, festivals, and awards; media and popular culture; scholarship and theory; and technical and technological elements. Each category is further arranged by subcategories. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Contemporary youth culture; an international encyclopedia; 2v.

Focusing on trends in North America and Europe, and embracing the diversity that is the topic's essence, the entries of this encyclopedia are made useful through the seriousness with which each topic — whether cultural group, style, or attitude — is treated. A sampling of the topics includes the global influence on youth culture of hip hop, adolescent rites of passage, anime, instant messaging, remix culture, reggae, paintball, third wave feminism, various youth activist groups (each with their own article), punk, and a wide variety of alternate learning environments and events. The entries are written like short articles, and include notes and a list of resources. The contributors, who are engaged in a wide variety of youth-related education, media, poetry, and other projects, teach at American, German, and Australian universities. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Culture and customs of the Baltic states.

Baltic expert O'Connor (history, Gonzaga U.) offers an accessible account of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian people for general readers and travelers, explaining the region's complex geopolitics and history, including the effects of the Soviet era, the impact of religions, including the rise of Orthodoxy and Lutheranism, the demise of the Jewish community in the Second World War and its quiet rebirth, the roles of marriage and family life, gender issues, education, holidays, cuisine, leisure activities, folklore, literature, the media and cinema, performing arts, architecture and housing, and art. Particularly interesting is the story of the various languages in the region and the influence of its many neighbors in all directions. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Culture and customs of Morocco.

Njoku (African history, U. of Louisville) recounts the modern culture, society, and lifestyle of Morocco, which combines Berber, African, European, Arab, and Jewish customs. The introduction covers the history of the country, its land, people, and languages. The majority of the discussion centers on religions, including Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, politics, literature in indigenous and Western languages, media, traditional and contemporary art and architecture, cuisine and dishes, types of dress, ceremonies, gender roles, marriage, family, social customs, festivals, music, and dance. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Culture and customs of Liberia.

Americo-Liberians and the descendants of liberated slaves make up a minority within this complex culture, but they played a disproportionately large role in defining Liberian fashion, cuisine, religious practice, marriage customs, and attitudes toward literacy. Indigenous culture is also important to Liberia, and the result is rich and complex. In addition, political upheaval has caused a significant amount of migration, so diverse subcultures have intermingled in the relative safety of the nation's cities and refugee camps both inside and outside Liberian borders. Olukojo provides an accessible resource for the general reader, concentrating on the region's religions, literature, media, art, architecture, cuisine, traditional dress, gender roles, marriage, family, social customs, lifestyle, music and dance, tracing the influence of both the American and the traditional. The illustrations are well-chosen and include period photographs and pictures of current daily life. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Culture and customs of Botswana.

Denbow (anthropology, U. of Texas at Austin) and Thebe (anthropology, U. of Texas at Austin and National Museum of Botswana) present a guide focusing on the African country Botswana and its culture, beginning with a historical overview that covers geography, economy, and politics, followed by a description of the country's religion and worldview, literature and media, art and architecture, cuisine and dress, gender roles, marriage, family, and music, dance, and theater. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Culture and customs of Pakistan.

For general readers, Malik (history, Bath Spa U., England) discusses the religions, architecture, housing, cuisine, and traditional dress of the Pakistan culture, the influence of Islam on ideas about gender, courtship, and marriage, as well as literature, arts, film, festivals, leisure activities, customs, and lifestyles in the society. The introduction focuses on the land, people, and history of the country. Other topics include the Urdu language, historic monuments and tombs, and traditional dances. Malik is a native of Pakistan. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Culture and customs of Uganda.

Otiso (geography, Bowling Green State U., Ohio) presents an introductory overview of the East African nation of Uganda, suitable as a reference for high school and college students and general readers. An opening chapter provides a concise treatment of basic information including the land, peoples, languages, education system, resources, occupations, economy, government, and history. Subsequent chapters cover, in more depth, various aspects of the Ugandan people and their culture, including their religion and worldview; literature, film, and media; art, architecture, and housing; cuisine and traditional dress; gender roles, marriage and family; social customs and lifestyle; and music, dance, and drama. The text also contains a chronology, glossary, and bibliographic essay. Illustrated with b&w photographs. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Daily life in the Byzantine Empire.

Because of the chronological and geographical scope, Rautman (art history and archaeology, U. of Missouri-Columbia) has not focused on a representative location and period, but sketches the diversity of daily experiences as a way of conveying what did and did not change over the thousand years. His topics include society and economy, family and household, cities and towns, military life, the monastery, and artistic life. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Daily life of Native Americans from post-Columbian through nineteenth-century American.

Aimed at high school students and general readers, this text offers a glimpse of daily life in Native North America from Columbus' first voyage in 1492, to the end of the 19th century. Rather than attempt a comprehensive overview of some 500 nations, the authors (both U. of Massachusetts) focus on just a few groups in each of the main culture areas of the continental U.S. (e.g. the Iroquois Confederacy, the Great Plains). B&w drawings and historical photographs illustrate the volume. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Daily life of Native Americans in the twentieth century.

Fixico (history, Arizona State U.) presents an introduction to the big picture of Native American life in the 21st century while also providing the historical context for the primary issues faced by the members of some 500 Indian tribal groups living on 200-plus reservations and in every major city in the western U.S. Coverage includes family and women's roles; economics and urbanization; language and education; aspects of material life; aspects of political and public life; recreational life, outdoors, and sports; religious practices and morality; art, artifacts, music, and entertainment; Native Americans in literature and the media; nature, environment, home spaces, and resources; humor; the gaming industry; and health care. The text reveals the complexities of sustaining the communities and practices of a minority group while also working, living, and playing in a mainstream world. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Encyclopedia of hair; a cultural history.

Hairstyles reflect cultural, religious, and political beliefs; social status; occupation; health; and other key aspects of life. In her introduction to the universal preoccupation with hair grooming, Sherrow (For Appearance's Sake: The Historical Encyclopedia of Good Looks , Beauty, and Grooming, 2001) overviews scientific facts about hair, its social meaning, and the hair products industry. Cross-referenced entries from "adornment, ornamental" to "Zotos, International" include historical-cultural context, trends, trendsetters, b&w and some color illustrations, and further reading. This unique reference includes an extensive bibliography. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Encyclopedia of rap and hip hop culture.

Hip Hop culture encompasses more than just rap music, having been founded on the original four elements of DJing (turntablism), MCing (rapping), B-Boying (dancing), and Aerosol Art (graffiti). Although this encyclopedia recognizes this fact in its choice of material, the bulk of the figures and terms discussed in the entries remain related to rap. Although the size of the encyclopedia limits the comprehensiveness of the treatment, a careful effort has obviously been put into making the entries representative of the genre across the scope of its time period. The author includes commercially successful artists alongside lesser-known but more artistically influential creators. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Encyclopedia of the great Black migration; 3v.

The movement of southern African Americans to the urban North and Far West over the course of the 20th century was one of the most profound demographic and cultural transformations of the United States. Reich (history, James Madison U.) presents some 400 essays that explore the causes, experiences, and consequences of the Great Migration in the first two volumes of this set. Topically, the essays address business, the professions, and professionals; cities and regions; demography; government programs and policies; healthcare; institutions and organizations; Jim Crow and the rural South; literature, poetry, drama, and writers; media; music and musicians; politics, protest, and resistance; racial discrimination; racial violence; religion; scholars, educators, and intelligentsia; social and living conditions; sport, leisure, and entertainment; travel and transportation; visual arts and artists; war; and work, labor, and employment. Essays are cross-referenced and provide guides to further reading. A third volume contains 76 primary source documents taken from contemporary newspapers, literary works, memoirs, and other sources. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Encyclopedia of women's autobiography; 2v.

Some of the names one might expect, such as Erica Jong, Anais Nin, Adrienne Rich, Gertrude Stein and Virginia Woolf. Others, lesser-known, include Hildegard von Bingen, Jamaica Kincaid, Shirley Geok-lin Lim and Bharatis Kukherjee. In two volumes, 190 entries comprise brief biographies combined with extended examination of the subject's writing; geographical articles covering autobiography from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, the Pacific, Russia, and Scandinavia; material specific to ethnic identities; essays on historical events;analysis of key issues such as identity, patriarchy and relational autobiography; and seminal works such as The Book of Margery Kempe and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The entries are accessible and give students and scholars fundamental information and a solid starting-off point for more intensive study. (Annotation ©2007 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)