"Acts as a concise introduction to the study of both contemporary and historical stardom and celebrity. Collecting together in one source companion an easily accessible range of readings surrounding stardom and celebrity culture, this book is a worthwhile addition to any library." - Kerry Gough, Birmingham City University "Absolutely wonderful. The inclusion of seminal works and more recent works makes this a very valuable read." - Beschara Karam, University of South Africa "An engaging and often insightful book." - Media International Australia This book brings together some of the seminal interventions which have structured the development of stardom and celebrity studies, while crucially combining and situating these within the context of new essays which address the contemporary, cross-media and international landscape of today's fame culture. From Max Weber, Walter Benjamin and Roland Barthes to Catherine Lumby, Chris Rojek and Graeme Turner. At the core of the collection is a desire to map out a unique historical trajectory - both in terms of the development of fame, as well as the historical development of the field.

Proceedings of the 177th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union, held in Antalya, Turkey, May 27-31, 1996

Through the intensive examination of films, magazines, advertising and critical texts, Dyer analyses the historical, ideological and aesthetic significance of stars, changing the way we understand screen icons. Paying particular attention to icons including Marlon Brando, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne.

Converse s Chuck Taylor All-Stars are a phenomenon that spans generations, with fans that vary as greatly as the sneaker...

From September 5 until September 9, 1968, the IVth Colloquium on Variable Stars was held in Budapest, Hungary. The Colloquium was organized by a committee consisting of G.H. Herbig (President), A. Boyarchuk, M.W. Feast, D. McNamara, J.E. Merrill, D.J.K. O'Connell, V. Tsessevich, W. Wenzel. The local organization was placed in the hands of a Committee consist ing of members of the Konkoly Observatory, Budapest: L. Detre (Chairman), 1. Almar, Julia Balazs-Detre, K. Barlai, M. Ill, S. Kany6, M. Lovas and of J. Kovacs (Hungarian Academy of Sciences). The Colloquium was attended by about 90 scientists representing Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, France, GDR, GFR, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Roumania, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, U.S.A., U.S.S.R. As chairmen acted at the sessions: M.W. Feast, G.H. Herbig, J. Sahade, A. Boyarchuk, W. Wenzel, F.B. Wood and L. Rosino. The contents of the present volume parallel closely the programme of the individual sessions of the Colloquium.

From two distinguished academics, this book includes contributions from top scholars such as Richard Dyer, and brings together key writings and new perspectives on stars and stardom in cinema across the world.

Rick Ankiel had the talent to be one of the best pitchers ever. Then, one day, he lost it. The Phenomenon is the story of how St. Louis Cardinals prodigy Rick Ankiel lost his once-in-a-generation ability to pitch -- not due to an injury or a bolt of lightning, but a mysterious anxiety condition widely known as "the Yips." It came without warning, in the middle of a playoff game, with millions of people watching. And it has never gone away. Yet the true test of Ankiel's character came not on the mound, but in the long days and nights that followed as he searched for a way to get back in the game. For four and a half years, he fought the Yips with every arrow in his quiver: psychotherapy, medication, deep-breathing exercises, self-help books, and, eventually, vodka. And then, after reconsidering his whole life at the age of twenty-five, Ankiel made an amazing turnaround: returning to the Major Leagues as a hitter and playing seven successful seasons. This book is an incredible story about a universal experience -- pressure -- and what happened when a person on the brink had to make a choice about who he was going to be.