Amazon.com
For many people, Walker Evans's name conjures up visions of the rural American South of the 1930s, where the photographer made some of his most notable images. But signs--marking buildings; advertising grocery prices, churches, and cabarets; communicating political messages--transfixed him throughout his life. Evans was interested in all aspects of signs, from the typography and graphic layout to the messages they conveyed and the objects themselves. He collected nearly as many of them as he photographed and often exhibited actual signs alongside his photos. Andrei Codrescu, in the essay he wrote to accompany the images in Signs, offers a concise explanation of the power of this subject matter. He writes that Evans's era was, "the time of popular writing, of huge advertisements, of lettering that invaded every nook and cranny and even wrote the skyline. America wrote big, with bold new alphabets, in lightbulbs, in neon, in smoke. One could follow the text of twentieth-century America from coast to coast...."
This small book is beautifully designed. The 50 gelatin silver prints selected from the Getty Museum's collection are reproduced on full pages with little or no cropping, and are meticulously documented at the back of the book with notations on dimensions, dates the photos were shot, and printing dates. A wide range of images, from the Photographer's Window Display, in which miniature portraits are displayed behind a pane of glass on which the word studio is painted, to a pair of commercially produced movie posters advertising a double feature of The Man from Guntown and I Hate Women, offers readers perspective on the breadth of Evans's vision. This focused look at an element of Evans's photography helps broaden the understanding of his entire body of work.
Book Description
Walker Evans photographed signs throughout every phase of his career. From the 1920s to the time of his death in 1975, Evans was obsessed with the signage he found in modern America--from billboards to gas station pumps to street graffiti to handmade announcements of a Saturday-night dance.
This book features fifth photographs of signs from the Getty Museum's collection, presented with a lively, provocative essay by Andrei Codrescu. Codrescu trains a perceptive eye on the artistic and social climate in Evans's America and reflects on the photographer's images as documents and
commentary. Some of the images included come from the place and era most closely associated with Evans--the rural South of the 1930s. But also included are photographs that will be less familiar to many of his admirers, such as his images of New York City street scenes and advertising signs, or
pictures he took in Havana and in Sarasota, Florida.
Customer Reviews:
Graphics / Black & White fans MUST BUY.......2002-12-28
Another beautiful collection from Walker Evans, showing his greatest photos of billboards, movie posters, newspaper headlines, theater marquees, graffiti, street signs, hand-painted shop frotns, covering 1920-1975. You will discover variety of ways to interpret the different layers of meanings from his photos with striking impression. It provides an excellent documentary about American culture. Walker Evans also collected and exhibited signs, sometimes next to his photographs, which brings his work into another level. From letters to graphics, from graphics to signs, sometimes people is becoming helpless under the mass media. Highly recommended for graphics / black and white fans.
Just Beautiful!.......2000-06-22
Walker Evans SIGNS are unique and wonderful. These images glow in there black and white surroundings. Some of the images are simple and delicate and other are busy and loud...a great mixure.Codrescu's essays give you a delightful walk through of Evans life.Andrei has an original insight... description of these signs from our past.There is excitment in these essays...energy in which Evans must have had as he photographed these images.As you read on you will see Evans attraction to signs. I also enjoyed the layout of the book. The images have room to breath and the text is perfect. I was very happy to add this book with my collection of photography books.
Customer Reviews:
There should be a rule against teenagers writing autobiographies.......2006-11-14
There should be a rule against teenagers writing autobiographies. Even teenagers who have achieved as much as Michelle Kwan had by the age of seventeen.
There was, admittedly, an obvious commercial reason for bringing this book out in 1997, just ahead of the 1998 Winter Olympics at which Kwan was expected to win a gold medal. She was fortunate to come into her sport immediately after the notorious Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan affair in 1994. The skating authorities had feared that this affair (variously known as Waterskate or the Battle of Wounded Knee) would damage their sport, but in fact it had precisely the opposite effect, thus proving conclusively that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Public interest in figure skating was therefore at its height in the mid-nineties, and much of this interest centred on Kwan, Tara Lipinski and Nicole Bobek who had succeeded Harding and Kerrigan as America's leading female skaters. Bobek, another pretty blue-eyed blonde with a troubled history, was immediately crowned Queen Tonya II, leaving Kwan and Lipinski to skate off for Kerrigan's role as America's sweetheart (a role in which Nancy herself had often seemed ill at ease).
There are two main problems with this book. The first is that it came far too early in Kwan's career. Since 1997 she has gone on to become one of the great female figure skaters of all time, the winner of five world and nine American national titles. Originally criticised as a "jumping bean", a purely technical skater, she has developed into one of the most artistic skaters of recent years. (She has never won an Olympic title, but the blame for that must lie with the eccentric judges who handed the 1998 gold medal to Lipinski, a skater who throughout her amateur career never seemed to get beyond the "jumping bean" stage). In 1997 Kwan's career was only just beginning, and her ghostwriter Laura James was left with little to do except narrate a pedestrian and repetitive account of Kwan's childhood and her early skating career, leavened with occasional bits of bland philosophising. The second problem is that it the book is appallingly badly written. Ghostwriters are not normally noted for a polished literary style, but James's is dull far beyond the call of duty.
I was disappointed with this book because I have always been such an admirer of Kwan as a skater. (The second star is awarded more for her skating style than for her book's literary merits). I hope that one day, preferably after she has retired, she will find the time to produce a proper autobiography and tell the full- and doubtless fascinating- story of one of figure skating's great careers. If she lacks the time or self-confidence to write it herself (although I generally find that autobiographies actually written by the celebrity whose name appears on the cover often read better than ghostwritten ones) she should find a writer whose talent matches her own for skating.
reason for a champion.......2005-10-05
. Maggie Willems
9-29-05
Period 4
Story of a champion
Michelle Kwan
I chose Heart of a Champion because Michelle Kwan is an inspirational woman in a tough sport. She explains how she gets through the sport that she loves with all its pressure. The expectations of the reporters are described. The worlds that Michelle went to are in this extraordinary book. Michelle Kwan is a wonderful ice skater. She gets through the building pressure in the sport with help from her support group.
Michelle Kwan loves figure skating. She has loved it since her older brother, by four years, joined an ice hockey team when he was nine. She would easily learn moves and then want to move on. When she got older she was told not to go into the senior tryouts while her coach was away, but she went to the competition and was advanced to the hardest level. Since she always wanted to move on, she quickly moved up, but her support group stayed with her all the way.
Michelle Kwan's support group was an asset to her winnings. Her support group consisted of her family who always told her to "work hard, be yourself, and have fun." When they noticed she wasn't doing this they would remind he, but they were careful not to put pressure on her. Her family showed her where her flaws were and gave her support when she was no doing her best, allowing her to do better every day.
"The pressure was on, and I liked it. Correction: I loved it (page 73)," explains Michelle Kwan when she was competing for her first time at worlds. She placed eighth that year. Worlds were her favorite competition, although sometimes she didn't do her best there. When people were expecting everything from her there, she would fall short, but when nobody was paying attention, she would do her best.
` Michelle Kwan learned many things. For one, she learned that she needed to work hard, be herself, and have fun. When she wasn't having fun, she noticed and she'd always do worse. She learned to appreciate everything. Her perspective of the sport needed to change after a while, so she adjusted. Nobody is flawless, but with the right help you can become as close to perfect as you can.
Great book from a great champion!.......2004-11-17
Hard to believe that Michelle is old enough to have an autobiography, but it's a taste of her great record and the hint of promise yet to come. Ignore the troll review below me - if the person isn't a fan of skating, why did he read the book???? Skating champs come and go, but Michelle will be remembered long after she hangs up her skates. Dignified in victory and gracious in "defeat" (since when are Olympic silver and bronze medals a loss????), she exemplifies the word "Champion" both on and off the ice. A must-have for Michelle's fans and for fans of the sport.
Michelle Kwan.......2003-04-10
In this book it shows Michelle's life as it goes up and down. She takes us inside her life showing what it's like to be a teenage skater. It's not easy! As she wins more competitions she shines out more and more. Suddenly, the pressure is almost unbearable. Watch her as she falls and gets up again even better then she was before! This book is one you definitely don't want to miss!
Fantastic Book!.......2003-02-24
I loved reading Michelle Kwan's autobiography. I found it to be very imformative, and I learned even more about this very talented figure skater. It was a great book, and it was so cool to find out about Michelle's first competitions, when she first started skating, her feelings about the sport, and her 1998 Olympic story. Another cool thing about this book was that you could flip the pages and see Michelle Kwan do a triple Lutz. It was cool! I would reccomend this book to any fan of figure skating or Michelle Kwan. Excellent book!
Average customer rating:
- Awesome book~!
- Great Read
- Michelle Kwan: Quest for Gold
- quest for gold
|
Michelle Kwan: Quest For Gold
Mark Stewart
Manufacturer: Millbrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
 People of Color
| Biographies
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Nonfiction
| Winter Sports
| Sports
| Sports & Activities
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0761326227 |
Customer Reviews:
Awesome book~!.......2006-03-24
This book is really cool! I mean I really just picked out this book for my book report 'cause it was the only thing that seemed interesting. Though I did think it was going to be boring it wasn't! You can actually kind of feel what Michelle is feeling and the way the sentences were worded made it waay more interesting than a regular old biography! ;] Read this book, I recommend it if your interested in knowing more about Michelle Kwan~!
Great Read.......2003-02-20
This was the first biography I've read about Michelle Kwan. Though I'm not a figure skater, her confidence and determination have inspired me to succeed in gymnastics. It was a nice biography, with lots of pictures and nice information. I only have several complaints. First, it was a little too short in my opinion, since you mostly learn about the outlines of her life, not full details. For details I would suggest reading "Heart of A Champion", Michelle's autobiography. Second, it would have been nice if the book was longer, like I said it needs more details. Not realy for older readers, but great for anyone who wants to learn about Michelle Kwan
Michelle Kwan: Quest for Gold.......2003-01-19
I ordered this book for my daughter in 5th grade. She is a fan of Ms. Kwan's and needed to write a biography for school. Although it is a nice book, it really isn't what I thought. It is only 60 pages and mostly pictures, very little real content. If you just want a fan book this will work, but it really isn't a biography for grades 4 to 6 as represented.
quest for gold.......2002-04-20
This book is wonderful! It makes you connect with the ice just reading the words! I love this book!
Customer Reviews:
Great souvenir for fans of a great champion!.......2004-11-17
Skating champs come and go, but Michelle will be remembered long after she hangs up her skates. Dignified in victory and gracious in "defeat" (since when are Olympic silver and bronze medals a loss????), she exemplifies the word "Champion" both on and off the ice. A must-have for Michelle's fans and for fans of the sport.
Average customer rating:
|
Michelle Kwan: A Real-Life Reader Biography
John Albert Torres
Manufacturer: Mitchell Lane Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
Performing Arts
| Biographies
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Sports & Recreation
| Biographies
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1883845971 |
Book Description
A biography of the young Chinese-American figure skater who won national and world championships in 1996 and a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
Average customer rating:
|
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes the Making & Breaking of Elite Gymnasts & Figure Skaters ( Christy Henrich, Brandy Johnson, Karen Tierney, Olga Korbut, Terri Phillips, Oksana Baiul, Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya Harding, Michelle Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi ETC )
introduction,illustrated Joan Ryan
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JCXGWI |
Book Description
Lauren wins a scholarship that puts her back on the ice with Coach Perry...and just in time, too! The Regionals are only weeks away, and with Coach Perry's training, Lauren is sure that he will win first place. But suddenly Lauren finds that her feet have become all thumbs! Now she's worried that even the greatest coach in the world won't be able to help her get back on track.
Customer Reviews:
THE TURNING POINT .......2004-07-22
This is the first book in the Michelle Kwan Presents Skating Dreams series, and it includes a letter from Michelle addressed to you, in which she tells you a little bit about herself. All the books in the series include a full-color postcard of Michelle, plus her answers to real e-mails from her fans. There is an address where you can write to her, too.
In THE TURNING POINT, you'll meet 10-year-old Lauren Wing, a girl who loves to skate. She's training and practicing for the Regionals competition for novices, and she's looking forward to moving up, to become a junior-level skater, and then a senior-level skater. And maybe someday she can try out for the Olympics. In her dreams! But in her everyday life, Lauren just concentrates on skating her best in the Regionals competition.
Unfortunately, it's hard for Lauren to concentrate on her program when her cat gets lost. Her parents, her brother, her sisters, and all her friends help her look for him. They put up flyers. But they can't find him, and Lauren really misses him. To make things worse, another skater, Erica Claiborn, says nasty things to Lauren just before she has to skate in the competition, trying to make her goof up. The absolute worst thing, though, is when Lauren finds out --- just before she goes onto the ice --- that a world-famous skating coach, Eve Perry, has come to watch the competition. Lauren is scared to death!
She skates very well in her first routine, but in the second one she falls down. Erica wins first place. Lauren tries to be a good sport about it, but falling down was not something she wanted to do in front of Eve Perry! She'll never get to the Olympics that way.
Then something happens. Something that will change Lauren's life forever. If it works out. If she can do it. Will her parents go for it? Do dreams come true? Read this book to see if Lauren can find her cat, and if her skating dreams become a reality.
--- Reviewed by Tamara Penny
Fi learns about astral projection.......2000-10-13
While Fi, Clu and Jack are in Bardo, Wyoming they come along a girl they meet at a carnival who can leave her body and travel anywhere she wants to. Fi automatically is in awe by this weird happening meanwhile Clu and Jack are in awe, well just in awe of the girl. With the help of Fi Claire will learn a good lesson and gain a new friend in the process.
Average customer rating:
- a great book for Michelle Kwan's fans and who want to get better life or career
|
Ice Skating: The Incredible Michelle Kwan (Upsets & Comebacks)
Michael Sandler
Manufacturer: Bearport Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
General
| Biographies
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Nonfiction
| Winter Sports
| Sports
| Sports & Activities
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1597162523 |
Customer Reviews:
a great book for Michelle Kwan's fans and who want to get better life or career.......2007-02-28
This book makes me become a huge fan of Michelle Kwan. She is my role model now. Cited from the book: Tom Collins, producer of the figure skating show Champions on Ice, echoed that sentiment. "I've been in skating 55 years and I've never seen anyone like Michelle Kwan handle things so well, good or bad. A lot of it was bad at the two Olympics, but she accepted her defeat with graciousness," he said.... That's why Olympic gold medalist wouldn't have made us love and admire her(Sara Huges) more than Michelle Kwan.-Peggy Fleming. Learn from Michelle, we'll get better career and live better and happier.
Book Description
Being coached by Eve Perry is the best thing that has ever happened to Lauren, even if the schedule makes her life hectic. And a few low grades at school aren't a big deal - right? WRONG! And to make matters worse, her best friend, Rebecca, is mad at her. Lauren realizes that she had better get her life in balance - and fast!
Customer Reviews:
It's about more than skating.......2004-06-04
My nine year old daughter loves this series of books. The stories address some of the issues and pressures as well as the joys of skating, including not always having enough funding for lessons or the most expensive dress, trying to keep up with schoolwork and even coping with sometimes fierce competition and petty jealousies. Its about the wonderful bonds of friendship that are made between coach and student as well as between the young skaters themselves. The stories also stress that hard work and commitment will lead to success - very encouraging and positive!
A fun book for the young skating fan and Michelle Kwan fan........2000-08-31
This the second in a series of books about young skater Lauren Wing [Michelle Kwan's middle name is Wing], a fictional character that seems partially inspired by Ms. Kwan's story. The story is quite good. It is quite insightful into the life of a young skater. The cover's description that it is for ages 8-10 seems right [although I bet fans of all ages would enjoy the story]. It features in the middle of the book a wonderful picture postcard of Michelle Kwan skating to her A Day In The Life program from the '99-'00 season. The book also features Ms. Kwan's answers to questions about her and her skating. Overall, highly recommended!
Book Description
Michelle Kwan is a true champion. She has over twenty titles and has become an icon of women's figure skating. But getting to the top has not been easy. Michelle has had to work hard, make sacrifices and deal with countless obstacles.
Here Michelle helps readers to see their own potential - and how to become a champion in their own lives. Reading about Michelle's experiences will inspire readers and allow them to peek inside the interior world of a champion skater. Quizzes at the end of each chapter will help readers to evaluate themselves so that soon they too can be on the road to making their dreams come true.
Customer Reviews:
WOW!!!.......2003-11-03
Michelle Kwan has always been one of my idols through out my skating career. This book really made me see that I can accomplish my dreams as long as I work hard. Anything can happen if you just believe in yourself. The best parts of this book were the quizzes at the end of each chapter. They really teach you something about who you are. This book is a must read! I haven't met one person who has said the loved it!
I LOVED IT!!!.......2003-11-03
Michelle Kwan has always been one of my idols through my skating career. This book really helped me to see that I really can make my dreams come true. All I have to do is work hard, and I can make anything happen. My favorite part about reading this book were the quizzes and learning things about myself. This book is excellent for anyone of any age. I haven't met a person who hasn't loved it.
Commonsense.......2002-05-26
I have read Michelle Kwan's 'The Winning Attitude'T'wice!
While I no longer belong to the age group that the writing's are aimed at, not for a long........time.I nevertheless was
impressed by the writings. I fail to understand why anyone who has read this book would consider it suitable only for children.One only has to keep up with the News to know of the problems that prevail in communities among all age groups to see how the principals laid out in this book,which I found to be both educational and inspirational,could prove valuable to anyone who takes the time study and follow the guidelines therein.I would suggest this book could be used in schools if not as part of the text certainly in civic classes!
With the author as an ''outstanding role model'' who lives by the
very same rules I could only imagine this book which is full of
''commonsense'' as having a positive influence on schoolgoers,
teachers and parents alike.
Michelle's winning attitude - young and fresh.......2000-04-28
It is a bit annoying that amazon places it for age 9 - 12 and that reviewers say it's good for their children. (not good for themselves?) Though the book is full of 'childish' languages, the winning attitude here is full of youth and refreshing, unlike those written by professional psychiatrists - I'm not saying they are not good. I recommend this book to all who love Michelle.
I agree, this book is great!.......2000-03-19
Being a competitive skater myself, it's sometimes hard, especially on bad days, to keep perspective and to keep going. Michelle's book is GREAT! It really helps you to focus and get back on track -- and stay there! For anyone who works hard at anything they love to do, at age 5 or 105!
Books:
- We the Media: Grassroots Journalism By the People, For the People
- World Press Photo 2001
- Yasmina Reza: Plays 1: Art, Life x 3, The Unexpected Man, Conversations After a Burial (Contemporary Classics (Faber & Faber))
- 100 Years of Harley-Davidson Advertising
- Act Like Nothing's Wrong: The Montage Art of Winston Smith
- Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine Presents Fifty Years of Crime And Suspense
- Amazing Days Of Abby Hayes, The #03: Reach For The Stars (Amazing Days Of Abby Hayes)
- An Indolent and Blundering Art?: The Etching Revival and the Redefinition of Etching in England 1838-1892
- Anna in the Tropics
- Arts and Crafts Architecture
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Improving Business Communication Skills
- Barker's Grub : Easy, Wholesome Home-Cooking for Dogs
- The Science Fiction Image: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Science Fiction in Film, Television, Radi
- When Did Ignorance Become A Point Of View
- A Practical Guide to Information Systems Process Improvement
- Dead Heat: Global Justice and Global Warming
- Battling the Inland Sea: Floods, Public Policy, and the Sacramento Valley
- Accounting Services, the Islamic Middle East, and the Global Economy
- Tigers Tamed: The End of the Asian Miracle
- Punk Rules OK
Walker Evans
Walker Evans: The Hungry Eye
Walker Evans: Florida
Walker Evans: Cuba
Designage: The Art of the Decorative Sign
