A wildly entertaining and surprisingly educational dive into art history as you've never seen it before, from the host of the beloved ArtCurious podcast We're all familiar with the works of Claude Monet, thanks in no small part to the ubiquitous reproductions of his water lilies on umbrellas, handbags, scarves, and dorm-room posters. But did you also know that Monet and his cohort were trailblazing rebels whose works were originally deemed unbelievably ugly and vulgar? And while you probably know the tale of Vincent van Gogh's suicide, you may not be aware that there's pretty compelling evidence that the artist didn't die by his own hand but was accidentally killed--or even murdered. Or how about the fact that one of Andy Warhol's most enduring legacies involves Caroline Kennedy's moldy birthday cake and a collection of toenail clippings? ArtCurious is a colorful look at the world of art history, revealing some of the strangest, funniest, and most fascinating stories behind the world's great artists and masterpieces. Through these and other incredible, weird, and wonderful tales, ArtCurious presents an engaging look at why art history is, and continues to be, a riveting and relevant world to explore.

By evaluating the Internet's impact on key cultural issues of the day, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the seismic technological and cultural shifts the Internet has created in contemporary society. Books about Internet culture usually focus on the people, places, sites, and memes that constitute the "cutting-edge" at the time the book is written. That approach, alas, renders such volumes quickly obsolete. This provocative work, on the other hand, focuses on overarching themes that will remain relevant for the long term. The insights it shares will highlight the tremendous impact of the Internet on modern civilization—and individual lives—well after specific players and sites have fallen out of favor. Content is presented in two volumes. The first emphasizes the positive impact of Internet culture—for example, 24-hour access to information, music, books, merchandise, employment opportunities, and even romance. The second discusses the Internet's darker consequences, such as a demand for instant news that often pushes journalists to prioritize being first over being right, online scams, and invasions of privacy that can affect anyone who banks, shops, pays bills, or posts online. Readers of the set will clearly understand how the Internet has revolutionized communications and redefined human interaction, coming away with a unique appreciation of the realities of today's digital world—for better and for worse.

While the practice of branding is typically understood as a tool of marketing, a method of attaching social meaning to a commodity as a way to make it more personally resonant with consumers, Banet-Weiser argues that in the contemporary era, brands are about culture as much as they are about economics.

Independent Filmmaking and Digital Convergence: Transmedia and Beyond offers a comprehensive analysis of the technological changes of the past few decades in independent film and media-making, and explores new strategies and practices in media production, exhibition and distribution for independent producers and content creators. The book examines how independent filmmaking concepts have merged with digital and online technologies to create new hybrid multi-platform content creations. It explores key questions like how to reach an audience at a time when media conglomerates and their products dominate the market, and simultaneously, there is an overabundance of content competing for viewer time. The book investigates what kind of stories we tell and why; how the audience has changed, and what their expectations are; what the various niche markets are for independent producers and creators in new media; and new models for media financing and distribution. The content found in this book: Bridges the gap between professional media-makers and amateurs by focusing on new and emerging media models and practices. Provides a holistic view of the new media landscape, and practical advice on producing content in the new multi-platform media environment. Demonstrates how to create financially sustainable models for independent producers and creators in a shifting and unstable environment, providing many challenges, but also opportunities for independents. The author's website (http://www.filmconvergence.com/) supports this book with case studies, news and updates.

After being transfered to an orphanage where the director punishes children for disobeying rules they have never been told, Rose looks forward to Christmas, when she will taste her first orange.

A lavish volume celebrating the award-winning classic film Conversation Piece, featuring the costumes designed by Fendi and including an exclusive DVD with a newly restored version of the film plus extras. This volume presents Conversation Piece, the iconic movie from 1974 by Luchino Visconti, and includes a newly restored version of the film plus numerous interviews on a special DVD available exclusively in the U.S. as part of this book. Conceived by Visconti as a critique of the jet set similar to Fellini's La Dolce Vita, the film features a star-studded international cast including Burt Lancaster, Silvana Mangano, and Helmut Berger. The book showcases the beautiful set designs from the movie and the costumes designed by Fendi, and chronicles how pleased Visconti was with the designs for the film. It includes important documents and behind-the-scenes information about the creation of Silvana Mangano's chic costumes and the appearance of Fendi furs in several key scenes.