Patti Smith: Aging, fandom, and libido

This essay traces a lifelong fandom of Patti Smith in light of issues of aging, femininity, and libido. It also considers the paucity of transformative images in Western mass culture and its fandoms of aging women. Personal narrative is brought into play, fans' experiences throughout the life cycle are referenced, and gender issues are emphasized

Domini public

Essays and artists' statements consider the photo-based group projects of 18 international artists and collectives. Ribalta discusses the avant-garde, public art, and social criticism while investigating the "autonomous" position of art in relation to society; Lavin writes on the origins and tactics of several American political art coalitions; Roberts examines the use of montage since the 1920s with respect to dialectics, the everyday, feminist expression, authorship, and empowerment. Biographical notes. 46 bibl. ref

The Business of Holidays

" Holiday celebrations in the United States are a surprisingly strong force behind the country's $3 trillion retail economy. From New Year's diets to Festivus-flavored ice cream, Presidents' Day car sales to Independence Day barbecues, Hanukkah cards to Kwanzaa candles, the social and material culture of holidays has been transformed into a finely tuned marketing extravaganza. Contemporary holiday rites showcase a particularly American obsession with celebration--and the shopping, decoration, card sending, feasting, drinking, and advertising that goes along with it. This witty and satirical look at thirty-three of our most loved (and hated) holidays explores the history and the traditions, the kitsch and the color, of the business of holidays. " -- Back cove

From Receiver to Remote Control : The TV Set

Investigating the impact of the television set through a multi-disciplinary approach, 16 essayists address the "symbiotic relationship of so-called "high" art and "popular" culture". Circa 65 bibl. ref