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Popular Culture March 2020
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Dangerous Melodies: Classical Music in America from the Great War Through the Cold...
by Jonathan Rosenberg
What it's about: the surprising ways in which America's classical music scene was shaped by 20th-century global politics, from the ban on German operas during World War I to the Cold War-era boasting of American achievement at the International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Is it for you? Classical music fans and readers who enjoy political histories will best appreciate this richly detailed work from history professor and Juilliard-trained musician Jonathan Rosenberg.
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Switched on pop : how popular music works, and why it matters
by Nate Sloan
'Switched on Pop' illuminates the essential musical concepts behind two decades of chart-topping songs. The text moves through close studies of 16 modern pop classics by artists from Beyoncé to Zedd, each chapter bringing out key aspects of a particular song as well as introducing core concepts such as rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre. As the work progresses, more complex concepts such as syncopation, counterpoint, rhyme, and modulation are covered, culminating in an examination of genre, identity, and musical meaning. Accessible prose and engaging illustrations break down pop hits and musical ideas in clear, jargon-free language, and point toward a new way of listening to the modern soundtrack of pop.
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1973: Rock at the Crossroads
by Andrew Grant Jackson
Welcome to...1973, the year that ushered in a sea change for many of rock music's biggest acts, heralded the arrival of new talents, and saw the rising popularity of genre offshoots including punk, reggae, hip hop, funk, disco, and outlaw country.
Why you might like it: Andrew Grant Jackson's engaging season-by-season chronicle reveals how a transformative moment in music reflected the social and cultural developments of a fractured era.
Book buzz: 1973 is the follow-up to Jackson's 1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music.
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Build yourself happy : The Joy of Lego Play
by Abbie Headon
Provides over 20 building ideas and activities help readers use the relaxing, inspiring and creative power of LEGO bricks to increase joy, feel more balanced and live a more joyful life. Illustrations.
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On Time : A Princely Life in Funk
by Morris Day
The composer, soul singer, drummer and band leader of The Time examines his career, creative process and turbulent but triumphant life and reflects on his lifelong friendship and musical collaborations with Prince.
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Not afraid : the evolution of Eminem
by Anthony Bozza
In a sequel to the best-selling Whatever You Say I Am, the so-called “wilderness” years of rapper Eminem’s life are examined, including his battle with addiction and his eventual triumphant return to music and sobriety.
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Idol truth : a memoir
by Leif Garrett
The former teen idol traces the story of his life, from his years as a child actor in the 1970s and his struggles with fame through his harrowing fight with addiction and his encounters with fellow celebrities.
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God save the queens : the essential history of women in hip-hop
by Kathy Iandoli
Paying tribute to the women of hip-hop, and exploring issues of gender, money, sexuality, violence, objectification and more, this important and monumental work of music journalism finally gives these influential artists the respect they have long deserved.
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Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World
by Richard Snow
What it is: a lively, well-researched chronicle of the development of Disneyland, the iconic California amusement park that opened in 1955.
Read it for: profiles of the workers who tirelessly helped make the park a reality, like former United States Navy admiral and submarine designer Joe Fowler, who built the Mark Twain Riverboat.
Try this next: David Koenig's Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World offers an immersive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Disney's east coast park.
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Sidney Lumet: A Life
by Maura Spiegel
Starring: five-time Academy Award-nominated director Sidney Lumet (1924-2011), best known for helming the 1970s classics Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, and Network.
What sets it apart: Supplemented with materials from an unfinished memoir and interviews with Lumet's loved ones and collaborators, this first-ever biography of the quintessential "actor's director" offers rare insights into his creative process and relationships.
Reviewers say: "Essential reading for movie fans" (Booklist).
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The Movie Musical!
by Jeanine Basinger
What it is: a lively, vividly written history of Hollywood musicals from the 1930s to the present, featuring more than 200 eye-catching photos.
Read it for: film historian Jeanine Basinger's infectious enthusiasm and insights into both the genre's biggest hits and forgotten gems.
Don't miss: Basinger's dressing-down of 2016's La La Land.
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It's Garry Shandling's book
by Garry Shandling
From the director of such films as The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Trainwreck comes an intimate portrait of his mentor, the legendary stand-up comic and star of The Larry Sanders Show
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The documentary filmmaking master class : tell your story from concept to distribution
by Betsy Chasse
"In The Documentary Filmmaking Guide, Betsy Chasse teaches readers everything they need to know to make a documentary: from preliminary research on topics and audiences, to developing a business plan and securing funding, to working with a production team and interviewees, to post-production, marketing, and distribution. This down-to-earth guide is truly an all-access pass to what goes on behind the camera"
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Ghost-Hunting for Dummies
by Zak Bagans
A paranormal investigator, star and executive producer of the Travel Channel’s hit series Ghost Adventures, taking readers into the supernatural world, provides expert advice for studying a wide range of paranormal activity.
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| Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War by Mark HarrisStarring: directors Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, George Stevens, and William Wyler, who put their talents to use during World War II by creating military training films, propaganda, and documentaries.
Read it for: a perceptive look at how the war impacted their lives and careers -- particularly Stevens, whose experiences filming the horrors of Dachau informed his directing of 1959's The Diary of Anne Frank.
Media buzz: Five Came Back is the basis for the Emmy Award-winning Netflix docuseries of the same name narrated by Meryl Streep. |
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| We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Life, Legend, and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most... by Noah IsenbergWhat it is: a page-turning chronicle of the production of 1942 classic Casablanca, chock-full of fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits; a nostalgic celebration of the film's enduring legacy.
Did you know? Dooley Wilson, the actor who portrayed pianist Sam, didn't know how to play the piano; many of the film's supporting cast were real-life European refugees who can be seen during the emotional "La Marseillaise" scene. |
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| Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood by Karina LongworthWhat it's about: how eccentric businessman and aviator Howard Hughes became a successful film producer, often at the expense of the actresses he sought to employ -- and control.
Why you should read it: Rife with sobering parallels to the #MeToo movement, Seduction illuminates the long and troubling history of Hollywood power players' exploitation of women.
Author alert: Film historian Karina Longworth is the creator and host of the popular classic Hollywood podcast You Must Remember This. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Iredell County Public Library 201 North Tradd Street Statesville, North Carolina 28677 704-878-3090 |
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