Art

From Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita to Raven Leilani's Luster, the texts in this collection investigate themes related to the power and promise of many types of art — from the written word to visual arts such as painting and cinema.

Understanding Comics

by Scott McCloud

Publication year 1993

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Education, Identity: Language

Tags History: World, Arts / Culture

A lifetime student of graphic arts and highly regarded artist himself, Scott McCloud first published Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art in 1993. The book is a graphic nonfiction work—literally a comic book about comics as an art form. Soon after its publication, the book began to garner extensive praise, and it continues to be well received three decades later. Understanding Comics received several awards including the Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Book as well as... Read Understanding Comics Summary

Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema

by Laura Mulvey

Publication year 1975

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Gender

Tags Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy

Laura Mulvey’s essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema” originally appeared in the autumn 1975 issue of the British film journal, Screen. This study guide refers to the reprint of the essay included in Mulvey’s book Visual and Other Pleasures (Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd edition 2009).Part 1: “Introduction”In the “Introduction” to her 1975 essay, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,” Laura Mulvey announces her agenda: to appropriate psychoanalytic theory “as a political weapon” to expose how “the unconscious... Read Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema Summary

Walls Within Walls

by Maureen Sherry, Adam Stower

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Arts / Culture

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Wellness

by Nathan Hill

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Midlife, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance

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What Makes Sammy Run?

by Budd Schulberg

Publication year 1941

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Class

Tags Classic Fiction, Satire, Philosophy, American Literature, Great Depression, Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Self Help

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Whatshisface

by Gordon Korman

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art

Tags Children's Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Magical Realism

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Where the Dark Stands Still

by A. B. Poranek

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Community

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Gothic Literature

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Why I Write

by George Orwell

Publication year 1946

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Language

Tags Politics / Government, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography

... Read Why I Write Summary

Woman on Fire

by Lisa Barr

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, WWII / World War II, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Arts / Culture

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World War Z

by Max Brooks

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Class, Disability, Depression / Suicide, Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Politics / Government

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a horror fiction novel by Max Brooks published in 2006. The book was a critical and commercial success, generally receiving positive reviews and spending several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. It has sold millions of copies around the world and was subsequently turned into a successful movie starring Brad Pitt, released in 2013, and a highly rated video game, released in... Read World War Z Summary

Yellow Face

by David Henry Hwang

Publication year 2007

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Immigration

Tags Play: Drama, Play: Comedy / Satire, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Education, Education, Asian Literature, Drama / Tragedy, Humor

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You Go First

by Erin Entrada Kelly

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction

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You'll Be the Death of Me

by Karen M. McManus

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read You'll Be the Death of Me Summary