Computer scientist and composer Holtzman offers a readable and winning introduction to the theoretical and aesthetic principles that will (he claims) inform artistic expression in new media such as virtual reality. Abstract art, contemporary linguistics, and 20th-century classical music are the art forms that, according to Holtzman, link up with these new media. In lucid (if slightly repetitive) chapters, he surveys Saussure's and Chomsky's structuralist approach to language, Kandinsky's evolution toward purely abstract painting, and the efforts of modern composers such as Schoenberg and Boulez to break away from traditional musical systems with 12- tone serial composition techniques. He argues that these disparate intellectual movements share a basis in abstraction: They all concentrate on developing formal ``grammars'' to describe the functioning of their ``languages,'' be they visual or musical or linguistic. Holtzman follows this with an acute sketch of the development of computers and the search for artificial intelligence, emphasizing the basic similarity between computational theory and the formal grammars of linguistics, art, and music. He's at his best discussing various ways in which artists and composers have tried to incorporate the computer into their creative processes and where such ``collaborative'' efforts may lead; unfortunately, his discussion of virtual reality and its possibilities is much shallower, frequently falling back on the tiresome hype of the hacker world. In his later chapters Holtzman argues for what he calls a ``digital aesthetic,'' but his ideas remain vague, as do the quasi-mystical links he tries to draw between structuralist theories and Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. Holtzman preaches the virtues of structuralist aesthetics and computerized art with the fervor—and occasionally the didacticism- -of a prophet; in the end, he provides one of the most insightful considerations of the aesthetics of digital culture to date.
Pub Date: June 15, 1994
ISBN: 0-262-08228-4
Page Count: 460
Publisher: MIT Press
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1994
BOOK REVIEW
Neither helpful nor humorous.
A self-help book disguised as humor.
On the surface, veteran self-help guru St. John is a good guy. He’s offered advice for the masses in print and on television, and wrote advice book Get Out of My Way–I’m Late For My Life (2003). In the introduction to his sophomore outing, he breezily discusses how important humor is to personal growth–a concept that seems like a fine launching point for an advice book. Unfortunately, one page later, we learn that St. John’s idea of helping is to insult and demean. A slight book, every page of this alleged parody consists of a cartoon rendering of one of eight “clueless characters,” each offering up two or three sentences of daily affirmation beginning with the promise, “Today I will...” St. John’s clueless characters are imbued with what most will consider stereotypical and offensive qualities. There’s Aquanetta Jackson, an African-American single mother of four who “takes her kids to see their fathers in prison annually.” (Yes, it says “fathers.”) There’s Soo Yoo, a 20-something Korean woman who manages a small manicure business and “screams for no reason.” And there’s Spencer Sterling, a metrosexual who “frequents gay clubs only for the attention.” The advice is, at best, unfunny, and at worst, inflammatory and obnoxious. For example, under the header “Karma,” Aquanetta tells us, “Today, I will intentionally inflict pain on stupid people. They have it coming.” In his ham-fisted, nasty manner, St. John is obviously telling us to do the exact opposite of his characters, but the whole project is so mean-spirited that readers may choose to ignore the author’s “lesson.”
Neither helpful nor humorous.Pub Date: March 7, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-595-41655-1
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Unadorned, but savvy, business acumen.
Faith-based motivational advice on conducting business, and life, from an auto dealer.
Smalls, an African-American who opened the first minority-owned major auto dealership in Berkeley County, S.C., is a deeply religious individual. He may not be Rev. Ike, but he believes that “if we tell God, our Father, about our dreams of career success or financial freedom, will he not bless us in ways that we could not have imagined?” The author’s God has been a steadying, inspirational force in his life, but the decent, down-home business advice he imparts will put any reader in good stead, religiously inclined or not. Through biblical parables, Smalls explains the rules by which he runs his dealership: focus, diligence, humility, preparedness, being a good neighbor and trusting his gut instincts to do the right thing. Stern but reassuring, he keeps his staff on their toes while making sure they feel integral to the operation. He also provides enriching opportunities out of his own pocket, like schooling that may take employees away from his business but adds to the common weal. Through interviews with Smalls’ family members and associates, co-author Ludlam shows an individual who cherishes his integrity and principles above all else. Smalls may be driven to succeed financially, brimming with diligence and confidence, optimistic and spirited, but honesty and good works never take a back seat to making a buck. As a foil to the hardworking Smalls, the authors created a fictional character, Frank Byggs, a man burdened by regret, self-doubt, defeatism, temptation and negativity. Sure, Frank is an obvious straw man, too easily confuted, but where his weaknesses lead him may be all too familiar to many readers.
Unadorned, but savvy, business acumen.Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-595-41254-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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