Other books that might interest you

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  Camille Pissarro - The Audacity...

  Anka Muhlstein

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  From the acclaimed biographer and author of Balzac's Omelette, an engaging new work on the life of "the father of Impressionism" and the role his Jewish background played in his artistic creativity. 
   
   
   
  The celebrated painter Camille Pissarro (1830–1903) occupied a central place in the artistic scene of his time: a founding member of the new school of French painting, he was a close friend of Monet, a longtime associate in Degas's and Mary Cassatt's experimental work, a support to Cézanne and Gauguin, and a comfort to Van Gogh, and was backed by the great Parisian art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel throughout his career. Nevertheless, he felt a persistent sense of being set apart, different, and hard to classify. Settled in France from the age of twenty-five but born in the Caribbean, he was not French and what is more he was Jewish. Although a resolute atheist who never interjected political or religious messages in his art, he was fully aware of the consequences of his lineage. 
   
   
   
  Drawing on Pissarro's considerable body of work and a vast collection of letters that show his unrestrained thoughts, Anka Muhlstein offers a nuanced, intimate portrait of the artist whose independent spirit fostered an environment of freedom and autonomy.

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  Introduction to Consent Culture...

  Michele Meek

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  Enjoy audio of the introduction to the book Consent Culture and Teen Films: Adolescent Sexuality in Teen Films read to you by the author. 
  Teen films of the 1980s were notorious for treating consent as irrelevant with scenes of boys spying in girls' locker rooms and tricking girls into sex. Contemporary movies, on the other hand, now routinely prioritize consent, ensuring date rape is no longer a joke and girls' desires are celebrated. Yet, sexual consent remains a problematic and often elusive ideal in teen films. 
  The introduction to the book Consent Culture and Teen Films: Adolescent Sexuality in US Movies demonstrates how teen films throughout the last several decades have shifted from trivializing nonconsent to emphasizing affirmative consent, or “yes means yes.” In doing so, they have adapted to “consent culture,” the cultural prioritization of obtaining clear verbal consent in all interactions—particularly sexual ones. 
  This chapter provides a historical context for how consent culture developed as a response to rape culture and traces how affirmative consent gained strength through legislation related to Title IX and sexual assault on college campuses between the 1990s and today. 
  Yet, at the same time, Meek reveals how teen films continue to expose how affirmative consent does not protect youth from unwanted and unpleasant sexual encounters. In the genre, we are confronted by innumerable problematic aspects of consent in practice—youth say yes when they clearly feel no; they insist on a consent and agency adults deem invalid due to their age; and they regret their sexual experiences. 
  While consent culture has provided some of the language during cinematic moments, it is strikingly evident that those words often fall short. Consent, it turns out, has not been the panacea we had hoped—that is, at least, not according to teen films.

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  Work Hard Playlist Hard - Second...

  Mike Warner

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  Streaming music has proven it is here to stay. Artists and their teams now find themselves with many new challenges in the digital landscape. With more options than ever for music distribution, standing out in a crowd, deciding where to focus your energy and finding ways to reach your audience become critical choices you and your team will have to make. Music business executive Mike Warner provides actionable advice, time-tested through more than 20 years in the music industry with proven results. Now updated to include the latest in digital music, this second edition of Work Hard Playlist Hard covers everything from growth hacks for TikTok and Twitch to new artist tools for YouTube and Beatport. With a focus on playlists and beyond, Work Hard Playlist Hard breaks down the streaming platforms and provides tools that can help artists find and grow their audience. Platforms Covered: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Pandora, Beatport, Amazon Music, Twitch, TikTok and many more. 
  Work Hard Playlist Hard, Second Edition, includes contributions from artists and music industry experts and is written and narrated by Mike Warner.

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  Pandya Empire - Tamil Kingdoms...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Pandya dynasty was one of the most ancient and influential Tamil kingdoms of South India, with origins deeply rooted in both history and legend. The earliest references to the Pandyas appear in Tamil Sangam literature, which dates back over two thousand years. These texts describe the Pandyas as powerful rulers of Madurai, a city that would become the cultural and political heart of their kingdom. The dynasty’s history is intertwined with mythology, particularly in Tamil literary traditions that claim the Pandyas descended from the gods. Some legends suggest that the first Pandya king was Kulasekara Pandya, a ruler said to be divinely blessed by Lord Shiva himself. 
  Historically, the Pandyas are believed to have established their rule as early as the 6th century BCE, although their presence likely predates this period. The Sangam Age, which spanned from roughly 300 BCE to 300 CE, marks the first well-documented era of Pandya rule. During this time, the kingdom flourished due to its strong trade networks, military strength, and patronage of Tamil poets and scholars. The Pandyas ruled alongside the Chola and Chera dynasties, forming a triad of powerful Tamil polities that competed for dominance in South India. These three kingdoms frequently engaged in alliances, conflicts, and shifting power dynamics that shaped the region’s history. 
  The early Pandyas built their capital in Korkai, an important port city known for its pearl fisheries and maritime trade. However, as their kingdom expanded, Madurai became the political and cultural center of their rule. The Pandyas were known for their patronage of literature and arts, particularly the Tamil Sangam assemblies, where poets and scholars composed some of the most revered works in Tamil history. This period saw the flourishing of Tamil culture, with kings promoting literary works that detailed heroism, love, and governance.

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  Batman Begins - The Ultimate...

  Film Trivia Metaverse

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  BATMAN BEGINS 
  THE ULTIMATE TRIVIA COLLECTION 
    
  FROM THE MOVIE DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN 
    
  CREATED BY FILM TRIVIA METAVERSE 
    
  ABOUT THE FILM 
  Batman Begins (2005) is a dark, gritty reboot of the Batman franchise, directed by Christopher Nolan. The film explores the origin story of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), from the tragic murder of his parents to his journey of self-discovery and training across the world. As Wayne returns to Gotham City, he battles crime and corruption, ultimately adopting the identity of Batman to fight the city's overwhelming criminal underworld. The film blends psychological depth, moral dilemmas, and a realistic portrayal of a superhero's struggles, with themes of fear, justice, and redemption at its core. It redefines Batman as a complex, relatable character. 
    
  TRIVIA SAMPLES: 
    
  “Christian Bale performed many of his own stunts but was not allowed near the Batmobile.” 
    
  “Christian Bale’s discomfort with his Batman outfit contributed to his portrayal of the Dark Knight, as he was often in a bad mood when wearing it.” 
    
  “Director Christopher Nolan personally oversaw every shot during the entire 129-day shoot, as he decided not to use a second unit.” 
    
  “Much of Batman’s gear, including his cape and suit, is inspired by real-life military technology.” 
    
  “Christian Bale lost his voice three times during filming due to the vocal strain of portraying Batman.”

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  Age of Cage - Four Decades of...

  Keith Phipps

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  Icon. Celebrity. Artist. Madman. Genius. 
   
   
   
  Nicolas Cage is many things, but love him, or laugh at him, there's no denying two things: you've seen one of his many films, and you certainly know his name. But who is he, really, and why has his career endured for over forty years, with more than a hundred films, and birthed a million memes? 
   
   
   
  Age of Cage is a smart, beguiling book about the films of Nicolas Cage and the actor himself, as well as a sharp-eyed examination of the changes that have taken place in Hollywood over the course of his career. Critic and journalist Keith Phipps draws a portrait of the enigmatic icon by looking at—what else?—Cage's expansive filmography. 
   
   
   
  As Phipps delights in charting Cage's films, Age of Cage also chronicles the transformation of film, as Cage's journey takes him through the world of 1980s comedies (Valley Girl, Peggy Sue Got Married, Moonstruck), to the indie films and blockbuster juggernauts of the 1990s (Wild at Heart, Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, Con Air), through the video-on-demand world of today. 
   
   
   
  Sweeping in scope and intimate in its profile of a fiercely passionate artist, Age of Cage is, like the man himself, surprising, insightful, funny, and one of a kind. So, snap out of it, and enjoy this appreciation of Nicolas Cage, national treasure.

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