It is difficult to place the work of a multidiscipline artist within a holistic perspective. There have been several attempts to place Deren within this context: The Legend of Maya Deren is one, and this is the other-- the first doctoral dissertation to give Deren and her work a unity. Using the words of Deren, an 'anagram' is a set of concepts which are united and which cross-fertilize one another. The following is a description of this book:

Maya Deren's corpus of work, which has been given various designations within the American avant-garde filmmaking practice of the 1940's and 1950's, is analysed according to the historical conditions of conception and reception during her practice.

Influences on her theories in art and ethnography are noted through several historical discourses: the French Symbolist Poets, Henri Bergson, Kurt Koffka, T.S Eliot, Katherine Dunham, Alexander Hammid, Marcel Duchamp, Joseph Campbell and Gregory Bateson; the synthesis of these ideas within her films are noted.

Three major areas, the poetic, the political and the primitive are used as components of an anagrammatic complex to demonstrate the theory and practice of her work as an artist in flux between dominant representational practices in film and ethnography.

Deren's major theoretical essay, "An Anagram of Ideas on Art, Form and Film" introduced the basic structure of her ideas ( nowhere previously analyzed)

An analysis of her six completed films and work in progress are approached through a 'genetic tracing' of shooting scripts, releases and historical contexualizations.Her Work with choreocinema and ritual are examined as an epistemological break in film form within the avant garde.

"The Poetic" contextualizes key influences behind her use of the poetic idiom in film;

"The Political" examines Deren's production, distribution, exhibition and articulation of film in periodicals and lecture-demonstrations;

"The Primitive" focuses on Deren's literal and visual contributions to an understanding of Haitian Voudoun including her participant-observation in a Port-au-Prince hounfor (temple). ]

This volume is available.

Ancient Monuments (more familiarly known as "Squire and Davis") is the undisputed primary reference source on Indian mounds in the eastern US till the mid-1800s. While there were a few others (such as Caleb Atwater's book), Squire and Davis offers the grandest illustrations of what remained of the unbelievable civilizations that inhabited this continent. Even as they published in 1848, hundreds of mounds were being plowed into oblivion; so few are still extant that theirs is the only guide to what was lost. The text is enjoyable on many levels, and can be forgiven for any lapses of scientific accuracy. They trekked over Ohio at a time when we weren't even sure who made the mounds, so everything they recorded is gold. The engineering prowess, the sheer magnificence and scale of some of the works, is astounding.

One of the good things about this book is that it contains many useful charts and diagrams. For example, the procedure of making guttman scales is explained in an easily understandable manner with example charts. Suggestions for further readings also contain many useful and recent materials. As a practical guide for social research, I recommend this book, because it is reader-friendly and does not require a lot of reading; everything needed is found at a glance.

I HAVE BOUGTH SOME BOOKS ABOUT THIS TOPIC BUT THERE ARE ALOT INFORMATION THAT IS NOT NECESARY TO MY. I WANT TO HAVE A BOOK THAT ONLY GIVE MY A TIPS ABOUT THE TEST

I am a lifelong asthmatic, who suffers from numerous allergies, particularly a very, very virulent one to cat dandruff (I married the first woman I dated without cats!) I have spent the majority of my life wheezing and feeling like a freak for it. Worse yet, my parents encouraged me to be a distance runner--like they were (they met during the Boston marathon)--and I have forever been plagued by a feeling that asthma has left me inadequate. Often I must be hooked up to an atomizer, simply in order to perform daily tasks, like cooking, cleaning, or oral sex. The book covers none of these topics, but it avoids them GRACEFULLY, and details all sorts of other pertinent issues. I adore this book, and will recommend it to all of my asthmatic friends. BUT, I was dissapointed that Dr. Weiss never chose to discuss the possibility of medicinal marijuana for asthmatics, which I have been campaigning for throughout my life. True, I often pass out and must be rushed to the emergency room, but this is because street quality marijuana is often adulterated with various forms of cat dandruff. If Dr. Weiss ever chooses to update his book to include a chapter on medicinal marijuana use in the treatment of asthma, then I will be a true, lifelong fan.

The Astronomer's Journal: An Observer's Daily Log and Sketch Book... is an excellent way to catalog observations at the eyepiece. There is sufficient room for drawings and writing notes, and it is a great method for keeping organized. It is very useful, for astronomers, to review previous observations and compare notes. This journal is a valuable tool for serious observing!

I've only seen the 1986 "Project of Homecoming" done by Lyn Sullivan but having spent many joyous times in Williamson County, Tennessee at my grandmothers during high school, I was delighted to see the project "bring to life" the simple pleasures and larger than life people who make up such rural communities. Neglected for too long because of limited funds, information access, and motivation, the small towns of America tell the more important tales of common hardworking folk who helped to make America the fine country it is. The small country towns of people unique to the backroads of America have long been its strength and goodness, often reflected in surviving years of potential conflict in harmonious cooperation that many in the cities might emulate to reduce the crime rates even further. As small towns, everyone must always have a place - or move - and if they move, they usually leave all family ties behind, so they've learned to accommodate each other instead, accept their weaknesses, not dwell upon them, and to appreciate their strengths instead in a communal dignity most city dwellers are not aware of despite the fact that they are often highlighted in the lyrics of country tunes. A very welcome, first class anthology of historic importance for revealing the beginnings of America's rural towns and counties. I love the pictures. It shows how innovative and inventive America people are when they've a mind to do it! Rascals and scallywags, to boot!

This book without a doubt got me through my childhood crafting years. Random weirdness was no stranger to me, and having grown up outdoors it was natural for me to put my love of random nature and of books to hard work. I'm 18 now and looking for the books of my childhood, the books which I routinely borrowed from the local free library, and this one was the first to come to mind. I remember best making a cockroach out of my dukes of hazzard matchbox car, because it was orange and so was my crayon. Kids deserve a chance to make their own toys. Sometimes all you need is some straws and string to keep them amused.

The problem with most books on drawing that have an instructional bent to them is that they are dependant on the work of second-rate draftsment and tacky artists to illustrate them. This is obviously counter-productive. Though this is not an instructional book, it is filled with nothing but the best graphic work done in all mediums by a good variety of contemporary artists. Seeing the higher level of what is being produced now is instructional and inspirational in itself.

If you grew up and went to grade school in the 60's or 70's, you'll remember these books (there's a series of them) from when you used to check them out of the school library! They're still just as fun, and the basics are still there. A combination of good info for parents looking to teach their little ones AND take a trip down memory lane.