This assortment of study guides focuses on the arts, from cinema to cuisine. Read on to explore Aristotle’s Poetics, which analyzes the nature and uses of poetry; An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski, a manual for actors based on the author’s work and teachings at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia; and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which chronicles the art of fine dining.
Publication year 2001
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Arts / Culture, Biography
Breaking Through, an autobiography by Francisco Jimenez, is a work of juvenile literature that was published in 2001. The book records the childhood experiences of the author as he struggles to become familiar with American culture, and has been awarded a number of prizes, including The Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature and the Pura Belpre Honor Award.The story commences with a description of the then 4-year-old author, his parents, and his older... Read Breaking Through Summary
Publication year 1999
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags History: European, Arts / Culture, Renaissance
Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture is a 2000 nonfiction book by Ross King. The book describes how Filippo Brunelleschi radically altered the course of architectural history, defying expectations by designing and building the dome for Florence’s cathedral during the early Renaissance. Receiving widespread praise from critics, King has been commended for making a complex subject accessible to lay readers. King is a bestselling nonfiction writer who lectures across Europe and North America... Read Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture Summary
Publication year 1995
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Art, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Grief / Death, Psychology, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1997
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Realistic Fiction, Education, Education, Urban Development, Arts / Culture
Buried Onions (1996), by Gary Soto, is a heart-wrenching slice-of-life, stream-of-consciousness novel that allows us to peer into the lifestyles available to young men growing up on the poverty-stricken and predominately Mexican-American south side of Fresno, California.The novel guides us through several weeks in the life of Eddie, a nineteen-year-old Mexican American and the narrator of this first-person story. Eddie strives to be responsible, is mostly honest, and attempts gamely to understand the world around... Read Buried Onions Summary
Publication year 1999
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Arts / Culture, Education, American Literature
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Relationships: Marriage
Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Relationships: Family, Identity: Language
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Latin American Literature, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1945
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Friendship
Tags American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Anthropology, Animals, Class, Education, Philosophy, Poverty, Relationships, Science / Nature
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck was originally published in 1945. A Nobel Prize-winning writer, Steinbeck grew up in Salinas, California, which is near Monterey—the location of Cannery Row. Aside from a few years in Palo Alto, New York, and Los Angeles, Steinbeck spent most of his adult life living in Monterey County, and he drew on his personal experiences to write Cannery Row.Considered literary fiction or classic literature, Cannery Row is realistic and was written... Read Cannery Row Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Music, Society: Community
Tags Arts / Culture, Race / Racism, History: U.S., Social Justice, Poverty, Music
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop (Young Adult Edition) is an abridged version of the original 2005 non-fiction historical account of the origin and evolution of hip-hop culture written by Jeff Chang and David “Davey D” Cook. Jeff Chang is an American journalist, music critic, and historian who, in 1993, co-founded the hip-hop label Solesides, which aided in the launching of artists like DJ Shadow and Blackalicious. Jeff Chang earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the... Read Can't Stop Won't Stop (Young Adult Edition) Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Environment
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Arts / Culture, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture
Chasing Vermeer is the debut novel of children’s author Blue Balliett. First published in 2004, the book is a children’s art mystery novel. The novel won several awards, including the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Novel, the Agatha Award for Best YA Novel, and the Chicago Tribune Prize for Young Adult Fiction. An interactive experience, the novel uses maps, pentominoes (or Tetris-like puzzles), and coded graphics by illustrator Brett Helquist, to hide secret messages.The novel’s... Read Chasing Vermeer Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government
Tags History: World, Biography, Chinese Literature, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags History: World, History: U.S., Urban Development, Sociology, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government
Mike Davis’ City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles, won the 1990 Social Science Association Best Book Award. Davis is a Marxist urban theorist, historian, and political commentator who, following the success of City of Quartz, has written monographs on other American cities, including San Diego and Las Vegas. In his writing for The New Left Review journal, he continues to be a prominent voice in Marxist politics and environmentalism. His acclaims include... Read City of Quartz Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Society: Education, Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Class, Diversity, Education, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1914
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Midlife, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Irish Literature, Classic Fiction, British Literature, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1911
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Modernism, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1987
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Arts / Culture, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2004
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Food, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Economics
Tags Humor, Arts / Culture, Philosophy, Animals, Food, American Literature, Journalism, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy
Publication year 2006
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Globalization, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Philosophy, Education, Education, Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Arts / Culture, Politics / Government
Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers (2006) is a philosophical text written by Kwame Anthony Appiah. Appiah, a philosopher and ethicist who teaches at New York University, grew up in Kumasi, Ghana, where his father was a Ghanaian political leader and his mother a British expatriate. His family’s multicultural background, as well as the experience of growing up in diverse Kumasi and then attending school in the United Kingdom, informed Appiah’s thinking about communicating... Read Cosmopolitanism Summary
Publication year 1914
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Identity: Masculinity, Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Education, Education, History: World, Irish Literature, Arts / Culture, Classic Fiction