Book Description

This FlexChoice product features two components: a full-color book and a Website that includes two online chapters, audio clips, pedagogy from the regular Public Speaking, and many interactive activities. The new FlexChoice version of Public Speaking retains the distinctive and popular audience-centered approach of the full book, which emphasizes the importance of analyzing and considering the audience during the public speaking process. With an engaging writing style and numerous examples, this book serves as a foundation for speechmaking as it guides readers through every step of the process. The website includes the complete text of two chapters (18 and 19), pedagogy, many illustrations, sample speeches, online practice tests, flash cards of the key terms, and many other interactive activities. For public speaking students, or anyone looking for an interactive way to improve their speech communication. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fast Service / Low price
Paid low price for quality book and fast delivery!

Easy to read- great to use
This is a really good book. I used it for a college class on public speaking, and I would have been lost without it. It covers things that you always forget to include, and great hints on how to increase your confidence and persuade an audience. For someone like me who was terrified, but no longer is of public speaking, and for those who just need a refrsher course, this book is brilliant. ... Read more

Book Description

Offering an ideal balance of theory and skills, this book provides a solid grounding in the how's and why's of public speaking, placing particular emphasis on critiquing, ethics, and critical thinking. Written in a casual, lively style and clearly organized, this edition of Mastering Public Speaking builds on its previous success. The fourth edition retains its popular and distinctive emphasis on the ethical contract between speaker and listener and on the value of critiquing speeches to improve your own skills. Learn how to think critically as you choose speech topics, conduct research, organize content, select language, manage nervousness, and deliver speeches. For anyone interested in Public Speaking. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disappointing
I'd considered buying this book from Amazon, and decided to first examine a copy at the Boston Public Library. I was unimpressed. The tone seems aimed at middle-school students, and the text is littered with patronizing "Dick & Jane" anecdotes. A quick glance through the table of contents suggests that Grice and Skinner address nearly every conceivable aspect of public speaking -- but a closer examination reveals a complete lack of depth. It seems as if they simply brainstormed ways to add pages without actually investigating their subject.

The most derelict example I found was the second chapter, devoted entirely to a discussion of ethics. This chapter includes a section on plagiarism, where Grice and Skinner define plagiarism and warn students that getting caught may result in failing a class or being expelled from school -- hardly the sort of information you'd expect from a college-level textbook. Meanwhile, Grice and Skinner lazily sidestep the most challenging issue -- the employment of speechwriters -- by confining its mention to a brief, rhetorical question among the chapter-end exercises. In other words: "Here's a complex issue. We've exhausted our space with rudimentary ones, but we encourage you to do some real work on your own!"

There are some informative, useful books on public speaking. Richard Dowis and James Humes have each written excellent books on crafting and delivering a speech. Virgil Anderson and Ann Utterback have written valuable books on training your voice, and Livingston Taylor and Keith Johnstone have written classics on stage performance. My suggestion is to skip this book. I was thoroughly disappointed with its lack of ambition, and I'd hate to be stuck with a professor who found it respectable. ... Read more

Book Description

This text provides your students with the powerful combination of exceptional skills development backed by a unique attention to the research and theory of today's most prominent communication scholars. Your students will be continually engaged while finding everything they need to strengthen their public speaking, group, and interpersonal skills-and enrich their appreciation of communication's constant value to their lives. With wonderfully integrated attention to diversity, a narrative tone, and the most integrated and current technology package available, your students are sure to understand human communication. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good 1st Yr. Speech Book
I had to have this book for my first year college speech class. It was interesting to read, but I wish that I didn't have to actually read so much of the book to get the meanings. Part of that is not knowing HOW to read a college text book.

Being a Media & Public Communications major, and I can see how this book is really useful for incoming freshman. Most have only given speeches in high school and need to develop the skills for giving good speeches and presentations in college and beyond.

This book really lays out the process for speeches and your behavior. What kind of non-verbal cues are you sending? There is also a pseudo-outline (you actually have to pick out the details from the reading) for laying out a speech.

wrong item sent
I received a book that I didn't even order. The one I ordered is yellow and white ( 3th edition). THis isn't the one I ordered; therefore, I need a refund.I sent the book back and I know the seller received it on 8/19.

Very interesting!
This book makes comminication fun and interesting. I am using this book for a speech class, but I find that it is an interesting read outside of school. The writing is very clear and examples pertain to every day life. ... Read more

Book Description

Helps readers understand how the many languages of film work together to create meaning.Louis Giannetti organizes Understanding Movies around the key elements of filmmaking, including cintematography, Mise en Sc¿, movement, editing, sound, acting, drama, casting, story, screenwriting, ideology, and theory. He synthesizes every element through a complete case study: Citizen Kane. This book's ideas are illuminated with hundreds of high-quality still photos, more than 70 in full color, taken from movies such as The Matrix, Almost Famous, jackass the movie, Chicago, Lord of the Rings, Mystic River, and Traffic. New in this edition: a full section on contemporary special effects and computer generated imagery (CGI); up-to-the-minute information on new developments in film technology; more coverage of recent films and filmmakers; more ethnic diversity (including new material on the Islamic cinema); and more lavish use of color and high-quality paper. An updated Companion Website contains animations, video clips from interviews with movie professionals, and Research Navigator access to New York Times film reviews.For everyone who wants to understand the artistry and meaning of the movies. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Review of 10th edition
Hey, wanna make a bunch of money? Let's write a college text book! We've got a captive audience that has no choice but to buy our book. Then every two or three years we can release a new edition and eliminate that nasty habit students have of reselling used text books they no longer need. Too much work, you say? Okay, let's just slap a different picture on the cover and release the old edition again! Can't quite picture it? Need an example to emulate? Try this one:

I've been using Louis Giannetti's Understanding Movies since the second or third edition. Over the years I've occasionally been pleased to see a new edition which boasts some major improvements. But in my opinion, there haven't been any since the seventh edition. Now here's the tenth edition and every film student in the country has to fork out for it rather than getting their roommate's 9th edition for a buck or two.

So what do you get for that extra money? A new cover certainly. I don't know about you but I wouldn't be caught dead with a text book with Gladiator on the cover - that would be SO three years ago! And there's an entirely new chapter! That's worth paying an extra fifty bucks - no, wait. Same chapter that's been there since Clinton was president. They just renamed it.

Did some technological revolution change the face of cinema, warranting a new version of the book to address it? Giannetti has added a new section on special effects to the chapter on photography. It's less than one page of text. I haven't read the entire book yet, but I've yet to see any reference to the fact that some films have been shot entirely on hi-def video rather than celluloid, or that this might be a significant trend in the future. The closest thing to a landmark film in the last ten years has been Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. But the only reason Giannetti even mentions it is to point out that Ian McKellen is gay.

But while we ignore or slight what could have made this edition fresh and vital, we keep that which makes it antiquated. Yes, I'm talking about the shot by shot reproductions of important films seen in Understanding Movies as far back as I can remember. We have SIXTY images from The Battleship Potemkin's justly famous Odessa Steps sequence. There's TWENTY-FOUR PAGES of story-board images from Hitchcock's North by Northwest. Giannetti's not alone here - lots of film textbook authors do this. Come on! If anyone wants to do a shot-by-shot analysis of a film like Potemkin or North by Northwest, they can get the DVD. If a film instructor thinks it's that important for students to have this level of exposure to those scenes, they can be screened in class. In the 21st century I consider it just book padding to add thirty pages of superfluous material to a text like this.

Okay, I've calmed down a bit. There's really nothing terribly wrong with Giannetti's book. It's interesting. It covers the subject material quite well. It's just that it did that ten years ago and it offends me when every two or three years students discover at the end of their courses that their books can't be resold and the following semester every student will discover there are no used editions to purchase. Sweet racket.

So enjoy that photo of Sean Penn on the cover - it cost you an extra fifty bucks!

Nothing new here
This book hasn't had any major text changes since the 7th edition. Look for the 10th edition soon.

Pull that movie apart
And put it back together again.
There are many good books on the market that specialize one or two aspects if films and/or the film industry. However this book "Understanding Movies" by Louis Giannnetti, takes you from near ground zero to a good understanding of such aspects as:
Photography
Mise en Scène (pronounced meez on sen, with the second syllable nasalized)
Movement
Editing
Sound
Acting
Drama
Story
Literature
Ideology
Theory

The films used for examples range from classics to contemporary. You will have seen most if not all of them. The author did not go off in some mission to describe some weird out of the way movie. This helps you focus on the subject being discussed.

A side benefit is that this book is a great picture book to remember your favorite movie and occasionally the one you missed.

A pleasurable, very educational book about film
I picked up this book, in part, because of the several ...[good ratings]... Isn't it great when people you don't even know turn you on to a GREAT book? I have always been a movie enthusiast, but recently, having discovered how great DVDs look and sound, I am starting to re-discover my love of movies. I want to know more about how movies work, and how different effects are acheived. This book has been wonderful in helping my understanding of cinema. From the first chapter onward, I have found insights into movies that help me look at them with a slightly different eye: why are the colors like that in this scene? Why is the shot framed like it is? Although this book seems like it could be used as a textbook in a beginning film class, I carry it around with me and read it, and even re-read parts. Thanks for the great tip. Yes a five-star book! Fun to read!

Teaches the "language" of film
"Understanding Movies" is an excellent primer book for anyone starting to learn the art of film. It is not a book that tells you why certain films are great, or why some are inferior. Rather, its objective is for the readers to acquire a good awareness of film art so they will be able to form their own opinions about the films they see. The book is comprised of 11 chapters which can be read out of sequence: Photography, Mise en Scene, Movement, Editing, Sound, Acting, Drama, Story, Literature, Ideology, Theory. Every chapter begins with an short overview (abstract) that points out the key ideas in the chapter, then it proceeds to elaborate on them. Emphases are made not just on the technical aspects of film-making, but artistic ones as well. For instance, the chapter on photography discusses not only things like f/stop, aperture, and exposure, but also how photography can achieve certain dramatic and psychological effects.

Without any hint of snobbery, the book uses examples from all kinds of films, from revered classics to recent box-office hits, to illustrate aspects of the art form. For instance, it cites James Cameron's TITANIC (hardly perceived as teaching material for film art) as an example of a filmmaker's subtle use of different flesh tones to evoke a sense of optimism or doom.

The chapter on "Ideology" was not available on some earlier editions. It provides a fascinating discussion on how movies often contain either implicit or explicit political leanings, religious beliefs, ethical values, and other allusions that reflect the attitudes of the filmmakers. It also includes a discussion on portrayals of gays and lesbians in films.

The book is replete with still photos from movies, each accompanied with a wonderful caption that serves as a mini-analysis of a certain aspect of the movie itself, so that readers can get a quick lession on film art. Illustrations that stand out include: a series of screenshots from the Odessa Staircase sequence in THE BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN, storyboards from the cropdusting scene in NORTH BY NORTHWEST, a shot-by-shot analysis of a scene from Hitchcock's SABOTAGE that demonstrates sometimes an actor's performance can be made more effective when his or her face is unseen.

This is not a film review book. You won't see capsule reviews, cast biography, production history, etc. written about every single movie. This book does cite from about 300 films, but it only uses them as examples for discussing certain aspects of film art. It often assumes the readers have already seen the films in question. That brings up my biggest concern: the book often gives away plot details of the movies it discusses. To compensate for that, a lot of films cited by the book are popular hits that have likely been seen by most people, such as PRETTY WOMAN, TITANIC, DIE HARD, etc.

Each new edition of the book differs from earlier ones mainly in the selection of still photos. Newer editions contain more stills from recent films. The first three editions came out in 1971, '75, and '80 respectively. Hence, if you want to see more coverage of, say, films made in the 70s, be sure to get at least the 3rd edition or later.

Last but not least, the book ends with a comprehensive appraisal of CITIZEN KANE that (a) analyzes the movie itself, (b) serves as a grand summation for the book, and most importantly, (c) invites the reader to apply all the knowledge gained from the book to becoming a more astute film viewer. ... Read more

Book Description

Offering the perfect balance of theory and practical skills, this market-leading text prepares readers to communicate successfully in today's world. features superior coverage of cultural diversity, expanded coverage of ethics, new discussions of the effects of technology, and a new, integrated "text and technology learning system." For anyone interested in improving their interpersonal communication skills. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Communication Theory Book... to start off with
This book is not really orientated at making you a better interpersonal and intercultural communicator (although it could be a start towards this), it is more of a book on interpersonal and intercultural theory. This book was the basis of my Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication Studies course at UQ in Australia. It is very simple to read, a high school student could easily understand this. I think this is a good thing, however, because as some of my lecutures demonstrated, interpersonal communication theory can be very dry and dull at some points! So I am giving this book five stars because althoug simplistic, I believe it tells you the basics of interpersonal comunication theory, and is a great starting book if you are interested in this!

Too Much Theory and Not Enough Substance.
I read through this book as part of an Interpersonal Communication class I took. I'll admit right off the bat that I have a biased view about the book because I read it in a class where I was the only person over 21 in a room full of freshman. With that said, I'm really glad I had the life experiences I've had to protect me from the leftists propaganda contained within. I'm also very thankful that I was never forced to read such dribble when I was a freshman in college because it can really mess you up. Most of the book is based in and upon interpersonal communication theory and there isn't a whole lot of practical information given. Not only that, but the book almost totally ignores the moral and ethical issues that are inherently apparent in interpersonal communication. Instead, the author has taken a humanistic (and fairly Machiavellian) approach and illustrates the power that good interpersonal communication skills can give a person. The book does have some good things to say, but overall it's more of a tool in brainwashing freshmen with useless knowledge than anything else. There's a lot of theory, but not much substance.

Emerson College Professor Recommends Book
I highly recommend DiVito's book...this is my fourth
year using it in in my Cont. Ed. Interpersonal Communication class, EMERSON COLLEGE, Boston, Massachusetts.

My evening classes are highly interactive and STUDENT CENTERED - I can always count of this book to keep the conversation going !

it's a quite complete and an interesting book.
i've read this book, and i think it gave a (a little bit) theoritical & practical explanation about what interpersonal comm. is. i suggest my students to keep this book to enrich their knowledge about this topic.but, i need something more than this, and i really want to have a holistic explanation about this topic (what paradigm/perspectives/approach you take to explain the whole aspect about it). i hope i can enjoy your next edition (i've ever buy it (the last edition, but it lost when i left the texas airport). i'm looking forward to the next article/journals/books about interpersonal comm. thank you very much ... Read more

Book Description

Communication helps readers see the relationships among the concepts, skills, theories, and contexts of communication by anchoring all discussion around five fundamental principles. Written by experienced and highly regarded textbook authors and teachers, Communication:Principles for a Lifetime provides readers with all the theory and skills necessary in the introductory course - in a manner that will help them to apply what they learn throughout their lives. Understanding that the challenge of basic communication is learning the myriad of skills, principles, and theories, Beebe/Beebe/Ivy emphasize five key principles of communication throughout their book: Be aware of your communication with yourself and others.Effectively use and understand verbal messages.Effectively use and understand nonverbal messages.Listen and respond thoughtfully to others. Appropriately adapt messages to others. For anyone interested in the art of communication. ... Read more

Book Description

The Ninth Edition retains all of the traditional features that have made History of the Theatre a classic for over thirty years, including over 530 photos and illustrations, useful maps, and the expertise of Oscar Brockett, one of the most widely respected theatre historians in the field. Franklin J. Hildy contributes his scholarship and experience throughout the book and, in particular, to a discussion of English Theatre/Shakespeare (Ch. 5). Reorganized with more uniform chapter lengths and a clearer chronology, the ninth edition continues to provide the most thorough and accurate assessment of theatre history available. For anyone involved with, or interested in, the theatre. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

dry, but good
Having taken a course that required reading the book I can safely say that it is dry in some sections of history due to the "PC" nature of it's telling. But it's mostly an interesting resource and reference book for theatre buffs and history buffs alike.

Yes, Oscar Brockett is God
I had the pleasure of being Brock's student for three years at the University of Texas. The book is phenomenal, easy to read and amazingly complete. The History of the Theatre experience should also be augmented by the opportunity to hear Brockett speak. He is erudite, funny, a lively teacher and an incredible intellect. There is no other book to serve as a reference and introduction to theatre history. No other book and no other teacher so expertly and informatively makes you realize the interweaving of theatre and society throughout its long history. IMHO, Brockett should write the history not just of theatre but of everything. His non-didactic, straight-forward and lively prose would make any work of history or criticism on any subject a delight.

An Excellent and Thorough Text Under Great Editorship
As a former student of Franklin J. Hildy's, and a reader of the Brockett text for several theater courses, I must highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a detailed, yet expansive, overview of the history of the theatrical arts throughout the world. Dr. Hildy's passion for and knowledge of the subject matter is rivaled by none and the complete scope of this project would have daunted many editors less competent to undertake such a task. A great reference text as well as course material. I often find mine useful in day-to-day queries as well as research on period and scenic styles.

Oscar Brockett is God.
No other theatrical historian today commands the respect and authority that Oscar Brockett receives, and "The History of the Theatre" is his master work. As complete a guide to theatre history as any on the market, this book abounds with illustrations, maps, and helpful details. When you want ideas about theatre history, find an article. When you want facts and answers, consult the Brockett. A "must have" for any true scholar of the theatre. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sanford Meisner has been called "the theater's best-kept secret," and Sanford Meisner on Acting by Dennis Longwell gives some insight into what techniques the hugely influential drama teacher used in his 50-plus years of work. One of the founding members of the Actors Studio (with Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and Harold Clurman), Meisner developed his own special lessons based upon his understandings of the great Russian teacher Stanislavsky. Turning away from the sense-memory exercises common among his colleagues, his training focused instead on a realistic approach to imagination and creativity. Unlike many other educators associated with "the Method," Meisner had little tolerance for self-absorption or striving after strong emotional effect, instead preaching that clarity of purpose and efficient use of the psyche are the actor's greatest tools. Longwell's book follows a class of eight men and eight women through one of Meisner's 15-month courses at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse, with extensive transcripts taken directly from Meisner's notes to the students on the basis of their exercises. With an introduction by director Sydney Pollack, one of the many influential artists who studied with Meisner (the book includes accolades from Maureen Stapleton, Arthur Miller, Gregory Peck, and Eli Wallach), this is an excellent introduction that helps to demystify the work of a great theatrical teacher. --John Longenbaugh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The reality of good acting
I agree... Sandford Meisner is by far one of the best kept secrets in acting. I have been studying the Meisner Technique approach to acting for almost a year a half now and it has absolutely changed me. Not just my acting but my life as well. This is a MUST HAVE for ANY actor. Whether this technique is right for you or not, the information you will get from this book will most defenitely help you understand what makes good acting.

Sanford Meisner On Acting
I am currently studying the craft of acting at one of the 3 year professional acting acadamies here in LA. I very much enjoyed reading this book and have done so at this point several times. I would most highly recommend it to anyone thinking about or currently studying the craft of acting.

In the first chapter (Setting The Scene: Duse's Blush), we are giving a chronology of Meisners life and how he came to be such a great and beloved teacher. It is also in this first chapter that Meisner recounts the story of Elenora Duse, a legendary Italian actress who played the role of Magda in Hermann Sundermanns Heimat. In the first scene of this play, as the story goes, she is a young girl that has an affair with a guy from the same village, and she has a child by him. Twenty-five years later, or thereabouts, she comes back to visit her family who live in this town, and her ex-lover comes to call on her. She accepts his flowers and they sit and talk. All of a sudden the actor realizes that she is blushing, and it gets so bad that she drops her head and hides her face in embarrassment. Although we learn that this does not happen every performance, it is this blush that is the epitome of living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. This is Meisners definition of all good acting.

The foundation of acting, is the reality of doing. It is this basic premise that is the spine of this book of exercises intended to bring the actor closer to their emotional self. It is an approach that is based on bringing the actor away from the intellectualizing of character analysis back to his emotional impulses and to acting that is firmly rooted in the instinctive. Through preparation, the actor is bought to a full state of emotional aliveness for those first precious moments on the stage at the beginnings of any scene. It would be impossible to escape the powerful impact of emotion or the importance of being able to realize and use effectively this impact in your performance.

Once those first precious moments of emotional aliveness that the actor has prepared for have elapsed however, the actor must be willing to enter into a state of, what Constantine Stanislovsky refers to as public solitude (as opposed to public exhibitionism). A complete surrendering of ego and willingness to make oneself vulnerable to the ultimate revealing of truth in who we are in the context of the words and circumstance written and demanded of the actor by the playwright.

Everything in acting is, of course, a kind of heightened intensified reality but it is based on one that is fully justified. Good acting isn't just the emotionless reciting of lines of text as mindless chatter. It is responding truthfully to the other person or persons on the stage. To fill words with the truth of your emotional life Meisner suggest that you must learn text coldly without expression in a completely neutral way. This learning should than be taken further through repetition mixed with a distracting independent activity. It is this repetition coupled with a distracting independent activity that takes the actor out of the intellectual mind into that of the of instinctual. That is, not thinking but simply acting and reacting honestly to what's happening on stage in every moment. But again, in order to get out of your head and into the emotional life of the instinctual, you have to know the lines so well that you don't even have to consciously think about them. As the logic goes; if you don't know your lines cold you can not get to the emotions. If you can't get to the emotions than you are nowhere near the heart of your instincts and can therefore not act or react honestly.

Interesting
An interesting read; detailed, descriptive & understandable. I was able to use some techniques described to advantage.

Living Truthfully Moment by Moment. Outstanding!
Sanford Meisner brings every actor who genuinely wants to stretch and bring stellar performances the wisdom to do so in this profound book.
The definition of acting is "living truthfully under imaginary circumstances" which I learned from this book, along with top training at Playhouse West in North Hollywood, CA, where this book was required reading.
Emotional preparation is crucial, BEING the character, and taking all focus off of you, while you react genuinely to the other person's movements, words, gestures, and actions moment by moment.
If you are serious about your acting career, this is the one book that will provide solid ground, which must accompany solid training and steady practice.

awesome book
I love this book is very unique in that it makes one feel like he/she is in the classroom, so it's very stimulating, highly reccommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Are your student's giving the speeches relevant to their lives and the world around them? Do your students understand that they can and will use these public speaking skills outside of the classroom? INVITATION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING will help your students acquire the speaking skills they'll need to succeed in your classroom and in the real world. Grounded in the rhetorical tradition while offering a fresh perspective, this text engages students in the public dialogue and shows them that they will use these skills beyond the classroom. Griffin also explains the reasons why certain things must be done and, most importantly, why students would want to speak publicly. Numerous pedagogical tools, speech-building exercises, thoughtful real-life examples, an invigorating art program, and an engaging voice, will help your students easily comprehend the text's basic concepts, apply them in and out of the classroom, and understand the importance of public speaking in their lives. Class-tested by more than 1000 students and reviewed by well over 100 Public Speaking Instructors, INVITATION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING, offers an exciting new approach to Public Speaking instruction. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on historical people and real events, Arthur Miller's play uses the destructive power of socially sanctioned violence unleashed by the rumors of witchcraft as a powerful parable about McCarthyism.

Introduction by Christopher Bigsby ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An excellent example of American Drama
The Crucible is Miller's most widely read piece, and perhaps his most important. At the time of its publication, The Crucible served a very important purpose that many readers today don't recognize.
Although it serves as a somewhat accurate (there are somethings left out or modified) representation of some of the key characters in the Salem witch trials, I don't think Miller would have taken the time to write the play had it not been for the status quo of his day. The play was written in the 1950s, during a time of a constant communist scare in America. Out of the communist scare came the House of Un-American Activities Commission. HUAC often interoggated people, and black-listed celebrities based on little or no evidence. One of the key players in the HUAC interoggations was Joseph McCarthy, hence the word "McCarthyism" refers to accusing someone based on insufficient evidence.
Miller wrote The Crucible as a response to what he though was an injustice in the 1950s. Unfortunatly, the theatre production of The Crucible became a financial flop, but The Crucible remains as a landmark of American Drama. Most American Art serves as a symbol to make a statement. The Crucible is a fine example of this tradition.
I'm not going to give you a summary of the story, because I think other reviewers have devled into that enough. The reason I gave the play four stars is because one flaw that Aurthur Miller has in this play, indeed in many of his plays, is the lack of character development. Despite the fact that it is a riviting story, most of the characters are weightless and I don't ever tend to care about them all that much.
The Crucible is still a fine piece of literature, however, both as for its historical significance and for its cultural message.

The Crucible; dont read the introduction.
The subject of witchcraft has always intrigued me. Unfortunately this play did not keep my interest. The biggest reason was because the introduction, written by Christopher Bigsby, gave away the ending of the play. He said that damages were paid to John Proctor's wife Elisabeth after he was executed on August 19,1692. I know the play was for the most part historically accurate. I just didn't understand why he needed to state the anticipated ending of the play on the book on the second page of the book. The rest of the introduction was interesting. I liked how he compared the fear the people in Salem had of witches to the Red Scare. He said the only difference was that communists were real. This analogy helped me to relate the ridiculous fear these people had of withes to something tangible. The play itself was less exciting than I thought it would be. It was a little hard to follow. There were many characters and many things going on at once. I didn't like how there wasn't a single character who you felt like you could relate to. I liked how throughout the play you couldn't help but have a sense of disbelief about what was going on. I was amazed that the people of Salem so easily believed children without proof. It was unbelievable how by simply telling a judge that you saw a person with the devil they were guilty until proven innocent. I gave this play three stars because it was a good story. It wasn't the best book I have ever read, but I think it was more me than the book that was the problem. I would suggest reading the play before reading the introduction.

Impressive!
Arthur Miller's The Crucible, a play in four acts, deals with the witch-craze in Salem in the 17th century. A minister from Salem discovers a groups of teenage girls dancing naked around a fire in the woods. As the girls are aware of the fact that they will have to face severe punishment for their action, they claim to have been possessed by evil spirits. This causes a major outcry in the Puritan community of Salem and a court is formed to deal with and investigate the accusations of the girls in further detail.
At first, only a few people are accused of witchcraft but in the course of events over a hundred people are accused of bewitching the girls. Even people with a very good reputation who have never acted against the will of God or the community are sent to prison due to suspicion, gossip or denunciation.
It is clear that in many cases theo girls accuse people with whom they have had some kind of problems or against whom they hold some sort of grievance. Abigail Williams accuses Elizabeth Proctor, her former employer, after having been dismissed from work by Mrs. Proctor. Abigail was the Proctors' servant but had to leave their home because Elizabeth Proctor suspected her of having an affair with her husband.
Elizabeth Proctor is sent to prison but not hanged immediately due to the fact that she is pregnant. As John Proctor tries to come to the rescue of his wife, he himself runs into difficulties because he is suspected of undermining the court.
Some of the accused avoid execution by "confessing" that they have a pact with the devil but 19 people are hanged. John Proctor does not want to confess a crime he has not committed. However, he changes his decision because of his wife and his three children and decides to sign a confession in order to save his life. But he immediately regrets his decision, tears up the confession and is brought to his execution.
The Crucible is a very impressive and powerful play. It illustrates the irrationality of the people which is strongly connected with their fears and superstitious beliefs. Miller manages to show that the people really believed that what they did was right and only done to protect a community of god-fearing people.
By reading The Crucible you can learn to understand the point of view and the world of the accusers. You begin to understand that the actions of the Puritans are very logical in their own way. You start to understand the beliefs of the accusers and even develop a kind of sympathy for them and their fears.
On the whole, The Crucible is easy to read and can also be read in one setting. The plot is easy to follow, extremely exciting and keeps you in its grip from the fist to the last line. I believe that The Crucible is hugely recommendable for everyone who is interested in understanding the witch-craze and the point of view of the accusers as well as the accused.

The Crucible: A jewel for every reader
Arthur Miller's The Crucible, a play in four acts, deals with the witch-craze in Salem in the 17th century. A minister from Salem discovers a group of teenage girls dancing naked around a fire in the woods. As the girls are aware of the fact that they will have to face severe punishment for their action, they claim to have been possessed by evil spirits. This causes a major outcry in the Puritan community of Salem and a court is formed to deal with and investigate the accusations of the girls in further detail.
At first, only a few people are accused of witchcraft but in the course of events over a hundred people are accused of bewitching the girls. Even people with a very good reputation who have never acted against the will of God or the community are sent to prison due to suspicion, gossip or denunciation.
It is clear that in many cases the girls accused people with whom they have had problems or against whom they hold some kind of grievance. Abigail Williams accuses Elizabeth Proctor, her former employer, after having been dismissed from work by her. Abigail was the Proctors' servant but had to leave their house because Elizabeth Proctor suspected her of having an affair with her husband.
Elizabeth Proctor is sent to prison but not hanged immediatley because she is pregnant. As John Proctor tries to come to the rescue of his wife, he himself runs into difficulties because he is suspecting of undermining the court.
Some of the accused avoid execution by "confessing" their pact with the devil but 19 people are hanged. John Proctor refuses to confess a crime he has not committed. However, he changes his decision because of his wife and three children and decides to sign a confession in order to save his life. But he immediately regrets his decision, tears up the confession and is executed.
The Crucible is a very impressive and powerful play. It illustrates the irrationality of the people which is strongly connected with their fears and superstitious beliefs. Miller manages to show that the people really believed that what they did was right and only done to protect a community of god-fearing people.
By reading The Crucible you can learn to understand the point of view and the world of the accusers. You begin to understand that the actions of the Puritans are very logical in their own way. You start to understand the beliefs of the accusers and even develop a kind of sympathy for them and their fears.
On the whole, The Crucible is easy to read and can also be read in one setting. The plot is easy to follow, extremely exciting and keeps you in its grip from the fist to the last line. I believe that The Crucible is hugely recommendable for everyone who is interested in understanding the witch-craze and the point of view of the accusers as well as the accused.

A Moving and Brilliant Play
The play's main narrative line tells the story of the Salem witch hunts which took place in Massachusetts, 1692. At a deeper level, Miller raises several powerful and important questions about human life and morality. But the play's most amazing quality is that it is not "deep" or "philosophical" by traditional standards. Miller has, in a short and easy-to-read manuscript, opened the door (or maybe I should say he presents the reader with a mirror) to modern political life.

The play is essentially a crtique of McCarthyism and the the communist scare of the 1950s. Miller saw the parallels between the witch hunts and the McCarthy trials, and found the witch trials to be a compelling vehicle for discussing modern events. Key themes include:

1. People gaining absolution from the powers-that-be by confessing the sins of others.
2. The power of community rituals, such as confession.
3. The role of political opposition and the consequences of compliance (passive or active).
4. The consequences of a polarized world views and mass hysteria.

These are just a few of the themes. The play is quite clearly a great tragedy, but remains a tragedy for our times. Through characters we can connect with, Miller convincingly shows us that the lessons from the witch hunts still apply. As a reader, I am convinced that Miller's play remains relevant and powerful in the twenty-first century. Miller has left me with questions, regarding world events in 2002 and 2003, that I did not have before reading the play.

I read this play in only a couple hours. It is compelling, engaging, and difficult to put down. Personally, I feel this text stands a great chance of making it onto my "top ten" list of best manuscripts. I highly recommend this play. ... Read more

Book Description

During the golden age of American theater on Broadway, the names of stars such as Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, and Ethel Merman were writ large on theater marquees. Playwrights such as Eugene O'Neill, Thornton Wilder, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller offered a new play every season.

Photographer Eileen Darby came onto the theater scene in 1939 and eschewed the stiff portraits and fixed tableaux that were in vogue. Her style of photographing not only onstage but also backstage and during rehearsals allowed an intimate look at the creative process of theater.Darby photographed more than six hundred shows during her career, and her portfolio has become the definitive photographic record of theatrical history.STARS ON STAGE is the culmination of Darby’s career in the theater’s golden age and includes dozens of previously unseen pictures of stars such as Lucille Ball, Montgomery Clift, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, and Gregory Peck.As well as the people who created the shows, including Rodgers and Hammerstein, George Abbott, irving Berlin, and Anita Loos.With an overview of the theatrical period by John Lahr and a biographical portrait of Darby and her work by Mary Henderson, STARS ON STAGE is one of the most dynamic books on this most fascinating period of American culture. ... Read more

Book Description

Over 720 songs from over 240 Broadway shows! Recently revised to include hits from Martin Guerre, Rent, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Sunset Boulevard, Victor/Victoria, and more! This is the definitive collection of Broadway music, featuring: * Song title index * Show title index * Composer and lyricist index * Synopses of each show. Song highlights include: Ain't Misbehavin' * All I Ask of You * Another Op'nin' Another Show * As Long As He Needs Me * At The Ballet * Bali Ha'i * Beauty and the Beast * Bewitched * Cabaret * Camelot * Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man * Castle on a Cloud * Consider Yourself * Dance: Ten, Looks: Three * Day by Day * Do-Re-Mi * Don't Cry for Me Argentina * Down in the Depths (On the Ninetieth Floor) * Edelweiss * Everything's Coming Up Roses * Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye * Getting to Know You * Give My Regards to Broadway * Hello, Dolly! * How Are Things in Glocca Morra * How High the Moon * I Don't Know How to Love Him * I Dreamed a Dream * If I Can't Love Her * If I Were a Man * If I Were a Rich Man * (I'm a) Yankee Doodle Dandy * The Impossible Dream * The Lady Is a Tramp * Last Night of the World * Love Changes Everything * The Music of the Night * Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' * Oklahoma * Ol' Man River * On My Own * Only You * People * The Rain in Spain * Seasons of Love * Send in the Clowns * The Sound of Music * Starlight Express * Tell Me on a Sunday * Tell Me to Go * Tomorrow * Unexpected Song * Waitin' for the Light to Shine * What I Did for Love * With One Look * You'll Never Walk Alone * more! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Worth the money
I have so much fun playing Broadway songs on my violin. I really do. The nice thing about this book, especially for violin, is that it only shows the melody in treble clef so it eliminates the annoying page-turning you have to deal with when playing from a piano book. Though sometimes I get sad the book doesn't have a song I like in it, but it really has a great selection, one or two songs from any Broadway you can think of and many pages of music from greats like Les Miz and Phantom. Well worth the investment.

not for theory challenged
Definitely not for the theory challenged as it includes only melody lines and chords -- not full arrangements. Great for auditions if you're working with a seasoned accompanist with solid chord theory and ability to play from charts. Otherwise your audition could trip up on a mediocre pianist scrambling to improvise.

Good, Not Great
This is a good buy for a pro pianist like me who might get requests for tunes I've never heard of from shows I've never seen. It has three indexes: by tune, by show, and by composers and lyricists.

One of the best things in the book is an alphabetical show-by-show synopsis, containing information about each show's history, its major personnel, and its plot.

However -- and it's a BIG however; in fact, several howevers: an awful lot of the songs are second-rate and I can't imagine getting requests for them, or even wanting to play them myself.

The book proclaims its inclusion of "great songs" from several more recent shows such as "Rent"; gimme a break -- these songs are barely listenable, much less "great."

Throughout the book, many of the chord changes are incorrect (this is a musician's constant complaint about ALL fake books).

Most of the songs do not include the verse (and for Rodgers & Hart, Gershwin, and Kern these are often essential parts of the song). And there are inexplicable omissions.

For example: (1) Some of the included shows are lacking some of their best songs: "The Nervous Set" omits "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "Finian's Rainbow omits "Necessity." "The Merry Widow" omits "The Merry Widow Waltz." "Mack and Mabel" omits "I Promise You a Happy Ending." (2) Some excellent shows are missing altogether. No "L'il Abner." No Cy Coleman's "I Love My Wife." And Leonard Bernstein is represented only by two songs from "Wonderful Town"; no "Candide," no "On the Town," no "West Side Story."

And of course there are many songs I already own in other collections, although the book is useful as a one-stop source for all of these, and there are about fifty to a hundred decent to superb songs that I own nowhere else.

There is ample representation of Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Kern, Gershwin, Porter, Frank Loesser, Jerry Herman, Harold Arlen, Lerner & Loewe, Andrew Lloyd Webber, et al.

In the end, despite its flaws, to me the book was well worth the price.

Great book,great price
I've used a friends copy of this book and it was time for me to get one of my own. Great selection of tunes. Amazon definitely has the best price.

Great Selection!
This book definitely has an amazing selection of pieces from old and new musicals alike. Everything ranging from Carosel to Rent. Althought it is quite pricey, Amazon.com has been able to reduce it greatly.

- A definite "must-have" for all you theater buffs out there! ... Read more

Book Description

This is a comprehensive survey of the technical and design aspects of play production, including scene design and construction, lighting, sound, costume, and makeup. Health and safety precautions for the backstage crew appear throughout in boxes labeled “Safety Tips,” and “Design Inspiration” boxes show how professional designers create the desired look. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

good textbook for student
we used this book in our theatre department and I find it very good for students who want a little knowledge of what goes on in the making of theatre.

Comprehensive? Yes! Acutate? You Bet! Teachable? ON TARGET
Teaching in this technical subject, like working behind thescenes in theatre, is difficult. You have so much to cover and neverenough time to get to it all. This text covers most all the topics related to production. The author has written it in a clear and open way which can be used to foster discussion as well as conveying straight information.. Appealling is the chapter on the design process, it sets the tone for "Why do I need to know all of this stuff". Even more importantly while setting forth a way to approaching design in the theatre it really sets forth a way to addressing life, as "a challenge" rather than a problem. I have taught from this book since it's first edition (and taught from most of the others on the market), this is the text which best has met my needs as a teacher. One can only marvel at how well Michael Gillette has carried on where his father's text left off (Arnold Gillette). This is what good texts are about: information, clear, and a solid foundation of how this knowledge will fit into the whole. This is One! ... Read more

Book Description

The Longman Anthology of Drama and Theatre is a fully-integrated text/anthology of drama with a global emphasis. Divided into two parts: Part One covers the origins of drama: genres, conventions, styles and descriptions of roles; and Part Two is a six chapter anthology of plays, including plays from around the world with a solid core of western plays. Each chapter in Part Two includes visuals, maps, timelines, biographical and contextual headnotes, and an overview of the history and conventions of each period that help readers gain a better understanding of the drama and theater being presented. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Important, Useful Anthology
I'm very pleased with this anthology partly because of its international scope, but also because it provides useful theoretical documents that augment and support the plays the authors have chosen. The introductions to each period and country are detailed, interesting, and easy to read.

The students in my undergraduate theatre history course have almost unanimously agreed to keep this text as part of their permanent collection--a rare reaction indeed! The choice of plays was excellent, combining some wonderful translations of important Western European texts with interesting, hard-to-find world theatre classics.

I highly recommend it as a teaching resource--particularly for theatre history, world drama, and intro to theatre courses. Your students will thank you (and they'll keep this one!).

A Milestone in Drama Anthologies
American theatre has been slower than any of the other arts to recognize the need to pay attention to what's going on outside the United States and Europe. Most introductory theatre texts make only passing mention of the theatres of Asia, Africa and South America. Anthologies of drama published in the States have likewise generally failed to address the dramatic literature of these regions. Consequently, most Americans, including theatre students, are woefully ignorant of the rich theatrical traditions of two thirds of the world's people.

In the context of this vast blindness, the Longman Anthology of World Drama is a milestone work. It includes both traditional and modern plays from China, India and Japan (integrated into the historical sequence rather than tagged on as appendices.) It treats of African theatre in connection with African-American diaspora theatre. It represents Latin and South American theatre with interesting works from the 16th century to modern Hispanic absurdism. On top of this remarkable diversity, it provides a very solid foundation in the traditional Western canon, with a particularly good sequence tracing the rise of modern realism out of romanticism.

There is an enormous amount of material in this tome, and much to commend. The only serious shortcomings are a sparseness and lack of clarity in the historical background articles (these will confuse students with no framework to build on), and some poor choices in excerpts of supporting criticism (the Victor Turner article will go completely over the heads of the uninitiated, and the excerpt by Zeami is a dull genealogy of the ritual roots of Noh theatre rather than any of the more interesting bits on the art of the performer.) ... Read more

Book Description

THEORIES OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION is considered the seminal text in the field. Littlejohn presents theories in a clear and accessible writing style while maintaining the high level of scholarship and analysis. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Thorough Overview Provided
Dr. Littlejohn does a masterful job of describing the various theories in human communication. The book is divided into manageable segments which place the theorists into understandable blocks. Before introducing the various theories, however, he discusses the nature of academic inquiry and what theory building is all about.

His various categories of theories include: general theories, thematic theories, and contextual theories. A person familiar with the writers in these various categories will find this book easy to follow, however beginning students need to be prepared to spend a little extra time with some of this material as it can be challenging when you're exposed to it initially.

Theories of Human Communication
It is a very intense book on multiple communication theories. Also a very good book if a person is studying in the communications field. Although, the overviews of each theory is brief, it makes room for most communication theories in the field. (For more in-depth information on some theories, you would want to consult a Communications Journal.) ... Read more

Book Description

Created for Theater Appreciation courses that cover both history and elements, the new fourth edition of The Lively Art emphasizes the visual dimension of the theater with a four-color interior, revised illustration program, and a new photo essay that chronicles the development and production of a play from concept to curtain call.

In addition to the text revisions, each copy of the book is accompanied by a free Theatergoer's Guide to attending performances and by the Making the Grade CD-ROM a study tool for students. ... Read more

Book Description

The ideal theater appreciation text for courses focusing on theater elements, The Theater Experience encourages students to be active theater-goers as they learn about the fundamentals of a production. By addressing the importance of the audience, Wilson brings the art of performance to life for students who may have little experience with the medium. ... Read more

Book Description

Miller's text presents organizational communication from both a communication and managerial perspective. Her writing style and consistent use of examples and case studies results in a text that undergraduates students will find easy to understand. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Absolutely Awesome!
Katherine has put together an excellent org com textbook: well-written, concise and very well organized.From Time-Motion Studies to Maslow to Theory Y, Ms. Miller gets down to the point, uses tremendous examples and gives excellent bibloigraphic information for further study.

I took Org. Com. as the first communication class I ever had, and although it was a 400-level course, Kathy's book helped make it not only a pleasure and a joy, but the defining class in my determination to pursue an MA in Communicationin the Fall of 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Actors' Bible and Great Tool for Writers
If you want to be a WORKING actor in Hollywood, the read this book - several times, and continue re-reading it every year or so to your skills honed, to remind you of what got you where you are.

Outside of a masterclass with a Sanford Meisner-type or a Ute Hagen, this well-written, well-crafted book will teach you a tremendous amount in regards to make a character yours with little or no time to prepare. It will give you the skills to leave a lasting impression on casting directors everywhere.

Shurtleff's technique extends to once you have the role as well, preparation required to get the role will also assist you in making the role memorable.

It's also extremely helpful for screenwriters and playwrights, because it should give you insight on how to craft scenes for maximum impact by understanding how actors mine scenes for character, passion and emotion.

No drama person should be without this.
People say that this is a book that no actor should be without. I disagree- this is a book that no person involved in drama at all should be without. Drama teacher, actor, writer, director- everybody needs this. It's been said that shortly after this book was first published, a lot of not-so-good actors were getting cast- simply because their auditions were going so well. If you're ever going to be involved in an audition- or just want to learn about it- then you must read this.

Actors advice
I highly recommend this book in our quest for the great parts as actors. I also recommend: Voice Lessons to Go by Vaccarino- a cheap way to get your singing lessons taken care of, because we've all had to sing at some audition, The Artsts Way by Cameron- a 12 week program to help you really focus and baby your creativity and abilities, Back Stage West- You've got to have it for audition info, and lots of great friends to support you through all the madness!

The One and Only Book You'll Ever Need to Learn a Craft
This is a fantastic book -- simple, powerful, effective. I studied with the author in person, in a series of classes one summer in Manhattan, and I have never *seen* such powerful work coming from actors -- in class or anywhere else. He's an amazing teacher, and absolutely none of it is diluted in this book. It will change the way you look at acting for the rest of your life. Craft puts power in the hands of the actor.

Michael Shurtleff started out as a casting director, and discovered some of the most revered names you know. He teaches you to be an *actor*, not just a reactor.

Jam-packed with useful insights, advice and anecdotes!
For me, this book completely eliminated all the mysteries surrounding auditions, but the book also serves as an important guide for actors to interpret scripts and bring new and complex things into their performances. We also get to read some really entertaining and informative stories about how such stars as Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Ben Vereen, and Robert DeNiro got their starts. Definitely the sort of book to be re-read many times! I would also say that it is an outstanding book to use in class or