Books with mass appeal to all disaplines

Creative Explorations: New Approaches to Identities and Audiences David Gauntlett

How do you picture identity? What happens when you ask individuals to make visual representations of their own identities, influences, and relationships? Drawing upon an array of disciplines from neuroscience to philosophy, and art to social theory, David Gauntlett explores the ways in which researchers can embrace people's everyday creativity in order to understand social experience. Seeking an alternative to traditional interviews and focus groups, he outlines studies in which people have been asked to make visual things - such as video, collage, and drawing - and then interpret them. This leads to an innovative project in which Gauntlett asked people to build metaphorical models of their identities in Lego. This creative reflective method provides insights into how individuals present themselves, understand their own life story, and connect with the social world. 

155.2 GAU

Gods BehavingBadly: Media, Religion and Celebrity Culture Pete Ward

Pete Ward develops a notion of theology in a celebrity culture based on the plausibility of faith in relation to the circulation of stories within cultural representation. Linked to the plausibility of Christian theology is the notion of theological capital i.e. that celebrity culture is a theological resource. Finally, theologizing will be linked to issues of missiology using ideas such as inculturation and acculturation. The theological expression of the Church will be presented as circulating discourse being affected by and in turn affecting the wider culture.

248.4 WAR

DIY citizenship : critical making and social media  edited by Matt Ratto and Megan Boler.

Today, DIY -- do-it-yourself -- describes more than self-taught carpentry. Social media enables DIY citizens to organize and protest in new ways (as in Egypt's "Twitter revolution" of 2011) and to repurpose corporate content (or create new user-generated content) in order to offer political counternarratives. This book examines the usefulness and limits of DIY citizenship, exploring the diverse forms of political participation and "critical making" that have emerged in recent years. The authors and artists in this collection describe DIY citizens whose activities range from activist fan blogging and video production to knitting and the creation of community gardens. Contributors examine DIY activism, describing new modes of civic engagement that include Harry Potter fan activism and the activities of the Yes Men. They consider DIY making in learning, culture, hacking, and the arts, including do-it-yourself media production and collaborative documentary making. They discuss DIY and design and how citizens can unlock the black box of technological infrastructures to engage and innovate open and participatory critical making. And they explore DIY and media, describing activists' efforts to remake and reimagine media and the public sphere. As these chapters make clear, DIY is characterized by its emphasis on "doing" and making rather than passive consumption. DIY citizens assume active roles as interventionists, makers, hackers, modders, and tinkerers, in pursuit of new forms of engaged and participatory democracy. 

323.6 RAT

Anthropomorphism,anecdotes, and animals  edited by Robert W. Mitchell et al.

An evaluation of the significance and usefulness of anthropomorphism and anecdotalism for understanding animals and humans. The 29 critical essays, written by historians, philosophers, anthropologists, psychologists, biologists, and primatologists, consider the debates between scientific and cultural

591.51 MIT

The Trend Management Toolkit A Practical Guide to the Future Anne Lise Kjaer

In a fast moving world, businesses need to keep up with data analysis and pattern spotting to identify future opportunities. Anne Lise Kjaer presents a unique methodology for global trend spotting along with practical tools and approaches to help companies and organizations analyse market changes and determine the way ahead. The toolkit includes features such as 'How to create your own Trend Atlas' and 'How to Use Trends in Action', alongside case studies and profiles of previous research projects for major organizations. She encourages readers to become market leaders rather than followers, by developing a 'future-orientated mindset' to interpret contradictive influences and identify trends as they emerge.

658 KJA

How to write about contemporary art by Gilda Williams.

How to Write About Contemporary Art is the definitive guide to writing engagingly about the art of our time. Invaluable for students, arts professionals and other aspiring writers, the book first navigates readers through the key elements of style and content, from the aims and structure of a piece to its tone and language. Brimming with practical tips that range across the complete spectrum of art-writing, the second part of the book is organized around its specific forms, including academic essays; press releases and news articles; texts for auction and exhibition catalogues, gallery guides and wall labels; op-ed journalism and exhibition reviews; and writing for websites and blogs. In counselling the reader against common pitfalls such as jargon and poor structure, Gilda Williams points instead to the power of close looking and research, showing how to deploy language effectively; how to develop new ideas; and how to construct compelling texts. More than 30 illustrations throughout support closely analysed case studies of the best writing, in Source Texts by 64 authors, including Claire Bishop, Thomas Crow, T.J. Demos, Okwui Enwezor, Dave Hickey, John Kelsey, Chris Kraus, Rosalind Krauss, Stuart Morgan, Hito Steyerl, and Adam Szymczyk. Supplemented by a general bibliography, advice on the use and misuse of grammar, and tips on how to construct your own contemporary art library, How to Write About Contemporary Art is the essential handbook for all those interested in communicating about the art of today.

808.0667 WIL

Fantasy: The Liberation of Imagination by Richard Mathews

Using a broad definition of fantasy to include myth, folklore, legend and fairy tale, this survey of the genre will entice as well as inform any student interested in the mysterious, mystical or magical. Beloved authors like J. R. R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, William Morris and Robert E. Howard are examined closely.

 808.915 MAT

A Stocking full of Photography Books

50 Years ofWildlife Photographer of the Year

This special collection is a celebration of 50 years of the world-famous Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and of wildlife photography itself. Featuring many of the greatest nature photographs of all time, it charts the development of nature photography, from the first hand-held cameras and the colour film revolution of the 1960s, to the increasingly sophisticated photographs of wild animals and unexplored places that are taken today. An incredible variety of styles, skills and approaches are on show, reflecting the great advances in technology and the many and varied ways of viewing and interpreting the natural world. The prize-winning images include ground-breaking portraits, breath-taking aerial shots, underwater photography, close-up imagery and much more. The images are accompanied by captions that put the photographs in context, explaining their importance and revealing the vision, talent, passion and technique of the world's leading wildlife photographers. All those who are passionate about photography and who have viewed this compelling exhibition since its inception 50 years ago, will treasure this astounding volume. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is an international showcase for the very best photography featuring natural subjects. The competition is owned by two UK institutions that pride themselves on revealing and championing the diversity of life on Earth: the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide. www.wildlifephotographeroftheyear.com

779.32

Moodscapes:The Theory & Practice of Fine-Art Landscape Photography by RebekkaGuoleifsdóttir

Landscape photography is one of the arts most accessible areas, whether youre just starting out or refining your vision. This book reveals the palette of techniques that will make your photography stand out from the crowd and win a place on a gallery wall. While other writers and bloggers concentrate on the technical aspects of landscape, this book will help you put those practical skills which are all in these pages too into use in a wider variety of ways, including styles popular with contemporary art customers. Readers will also gain an insight into how the Icelandic author was able to break out onto the global stage using online communities; invaluable advice for photographers at any stage in their career, but especially those at the start of it.

778.936 GUO

The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip  by DavidCampany

A book surveying photographic road trips in America, 1906 to the present.

Robert Frank : the Americans -- Ed Ruscha : twentysix gasoline stations -- Inge Morath : the road to Reno -- Garry Winogrand : 1964 -- William Eggleston : Los Alamos -- Lee Friedlander : American monument -- Joel Meyerowitz : still going -- Jacob Holdt : American pictures -- Stephen Shore : uncommon places -- Bernard Plossu : so long -- Victor Burgin : US77 -- Joel Sternfeld : American prospects -- Shinya Fujiwara : American roulette -- Alec Soth : sleeping by the Mississippi -- Todd Hido : roaming -- Ryan McGinley : whistle for the wind -- Justine Kurland : highway kind -- Taiyo Onorato and Nico Krebs : the great unreal.

779.20973 CAM

Shoreditch wild life by DougieWallace

Wild, brash, outrageous and laced with humour, Dougie Wallace's photos capture the extreme variety of street life in one of London's most iconic areas: Shoreditch. Old people, young revellers, street vendors, those from many ethnic backgrounds and at all times of day - no one is immune to Wallace's sharp eye. They are captured in vivid colour in over 50 images in this beautiful book.

779 WAL

Gautier Deblonde, Atelier.

Gautier Deblonde has photographed artists’ studios in America, Europe, and Asia for the past eight years. He is particularly drawn to the studio as a subject, capturing the work in progress with all the traces of creation, but without the artists themselves. As documentary photographs, the images are rich in detail full of sculptures half finished, brushes scattered on the floor, and shelves of inspirational material. Though the artists are conspicuously absent, there’s a lingering sense of their presence, as if magic lies in every tool, waiting to be brought to life. Left alone in the space, it feels as if time stops. Atelier provides a privileged glimpse behind the scenes to the source of artistic creation. Seventy studios have been captured in panorama, including the private spaces of Georg Baselitz, Wim Delvoye, and Ai Weiwei among others. Photographed methodically, the compositions appear together as a meditative study on the studio, leaving the viewer to interpret the artists intention and imagine the space come to life.

779.97028 DEB

Criticizing Photographs by Terry Barrett

Designed to help both beginning and advanced students of photography better develop and articulate thoughtful criticism. Organized around the major activities of criticism (describing, interpreting, evaluating, and theorizing), this title provides a clear framework and vocabulary for students' critical skill development.

770.1 BAR

Three Great New Books for the Video Games Artist

 

Unity 3 Blueprints: A Practical Guide to Indie Games Development by CraigStevenson, Simon Quig

Unity3 is an amazing game development tool being used around the world by professional, indie and bedroom game developers. This hands-on blueprints book is designed to get to the heart of Unity 3 development by showing you how to create 4 classic games with a Unity twist. All the code and the high quality game art assets are available from the Deep Pixel website so you can build the games yourself or customize your own projects! This book is aimed at indie game developers and artists who want to develop winning video games. This book will assume no prior knowledge of Unity or game creation in general, but you should be comfortable in development environments and have some knowledge of scripting (a refresher will be provided). This book uses JavaScript as the example language. Games: Match the Pairs, Top-Down Shooter, Tower Defense, Marble Madness. Play all the games and download all the code now from the Deep Pixel website.

794.81526 STE

How to Become a Video Game Artist: The Insider's Guide to Landing a Job in the GamingWorld by SamKennedy

Starting with the basics of game creation and the artistic skills necessary to get started, this book provides the inside track on how to forge a career in the world of video game art. Included are detailed breakdowns of the training and portfolio samples you'll need to make these jobs your own. It features interviews with video game art professionals who've worked for top gaming companies. In How to Become a Video Game Artist, veteran video game designer Sam R. Kennedy provides the inside track on everything you need to forge a career in the world of video game art. Starting with the basics of game creation and a look at the artistic skills necessary to get started, Kennedy spotlights specific, key roles for creators - from concept artists to character animators to marketing artists and beyond. Each chapter features screenshots from popular video games like Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon and World of Warcraft; interviews with video game art professionals who've worked for top gaming companies like BioWare, Blizzard, and Ubisoft; step-by-step examples of actual game art; and detailed breakdowns of the training and portfolio samples you'll need to make these jobs your own.

794.81526 KEN

The Essential Guide to Game Audio: The Theory and Practice of Sound for Games SteveHorowitz, Scott R. Looney

The Essential Guide to Game Audio: The Theory and Practice of Sound for Games is a first of its kind textbook and must-have reference guide for everything you ever wanted to know about sound for games. This book provides a basic overview of game audio, how it has developed over time, and how you can make a career in this industry. Each chapter gives you the background and context you will need to understand the unique workflow associated with interactive media. The practical, easy to understand interactive examples provide hands-on experience applying the concepts in real world situations.

794.81 HOR

Three books to inspire the imagination

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of DisneyMaster Classes : Volume 1
Drawnto Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: Volume 2: 

The Walt Stanchfield Lectures  by Walt Stanchfield 

Discover the lessons that helped bring about a new golden age of Disney animation! Published for the first time ever, Drawn to Life is a two volume collection of the legendary lectures from long-time Disney animator Walt Stanchfield. For over twenty years, Walt helped breathe life into the new golden age of animation with these teachings at the Walt Disney Animation Studios and influenced such talented artists as Tim Burton, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, and John Lasseter. These writings represent the quintessential refresher for fine artists and film professionals, and it is a vital tutorial for students who are now poised to be part of another new generation in the art form.

791.4334.DIS

Sketching from the Imagination: An Insight into Creative Drawing

Concepts are where all great ideas begin. Whether scribbled in a sketch pad or on a napkin, concepts are a way for artists to develop their skills and discover interesting shapes and forms that can be developed into their next masterpiece. In Sketching from the Imagination, 50 talented traditional and digital artists have been chosen to share their sketchbook works, from doodled concept sketches to fully rendered drawings. A visually stunning collection packed full with useful tips, Sketching from the Imagination is an excellent value resource for concept design to inspire artists of all abilities.

741.2 BED

A new film book with an unusual but interesting approach

The architecture of David Lynch / Richard Martin.

From the Red Room in Twin Peaks to Club Silencio in Mulholland Drive, the work of David Lynch contains some of the most remarkable spaces in contemporary culture. Richard Martin's compelling study is the first sustained critical assessment of the role architecture and design play in Lynch's films. Martin combines original research at Lynchian locations in Los Angeles, London and L dz with insights from architects including Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier and Jean Nouvel and urban theorists such as Jane Jacobs and Edward Soja. In analyzing the towns, cities, homes, roads and stages found in Lynch's work, Martin not only reveals their central importance for understanding this controversial and distinctive film-maker, but also suggests how Lynch's films can provide a deeper understanding of the places and spaces in which we live.

791.430233092 LYN

Beautifully illustrated book dedicated to the art of glass.

Voices ofcontemporary glass : the Heineman collection.              Tina Oldknow

The Heineman Collection at the The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY, is one of the largest collections of studio glass sculptures and vessels in the United States. Given to The Corning in 2006, this is the first publication documenting this vast new addition to the Museum's collections. Reflecting a deep respect for and commitment to artists and their work, the "Heineman Collection" demonstrates the versatility of one material - glass - to explore and express a wide range of ideas in art. Lively in spirit and encyclopedic in scope, the "Heineman Collection" includes 240 objects, dating from 1969 to 2005, by 87 artists from the United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan. The collection reflects historical developments in the field of contemporary studio glass, and it explores the broad themes of abstraction and material. It is a portrait of the Heinemans' career in collecting art and is a memorable celebration of individual taste.

748.2074747 OLD

A New book for inspired sketching

Sketching from the Imagination: An Insight into Creative Drawing
Concepts are where all great ideas begin. Whether scribbled in a sketch pad or on a napkin, concepts are a way for artists to develop their skills and discover interesting shapes and forms that can be developed into their next masterpiece. In Sketching from the Imagination, 50 talented traditional and digital artists have been chosen to share their sketchbook works, from doodled concept sketches to
fully rendered drawings. A visually stunning collection packed full with useful tips, Sketching from the Imagination is an excellent value resource for concept design to inspire artists of all abilities.
741.2 BED

A Mixed Assortment of New Books in the Library

Unseen London photographed by Peter Dazeley ; text by Mark Daly. 720.9421 DAZ

Peter Dazeley has gained access to the hidden interiors of some of London's most iconic buildings, from Tower Bridge to Battersea Power Station, Big Ben to the Old Bailey. His photographs of these buildings - some derelict, but many still working - are astonishing. Here is a collection of some 50 extraordinary locations, with a thoughtful text by Mark Daly which tells the story of how each of these places was created, how they are used, and what they reveal about the currents of power flowing through the city. Unseen London takes you backstage at some of the capital's great theatres, into the changing rooms of some of our greatest temples of sport, into the heart of the Establishment, the boiler room of the city's infrastructure and behind the scenes at some of the most opulent buildings in the Square Mile.

Mid-century modern complete
by Dominic Bradbury, Richard Powers. 745.2 BRA

This definitive survey of one of the most popular, collectable and dynamic periods of international design offers a rich overview of all aspects of the subject. It covers furniture, lighting, glass, ceramics, textiles, product design, industrial design, graphics and posters, as well as architecture and interior design. Nearly 100 major and influential creators of the mid-century period are highlighted, including icons such as Saul Bass, Robin Day, Charles and Ray Eames, Marimekko, Isamu Noguchi, Dieter Rams, Lucie Rie and Paolo Venini, as well as architects Alvar Aalto, Philip Johnson, Richard Neutra and Oscar Niemeyer. An additional illustrated dictionary features hundreds more key mid-century designers and manufacturers as well as important organizations, schools and movements. Complete with thirteen specially commissioned essays by renowned experts and over 1,000 mainly colour illustrations, it is a must-have acquisition for any design aficionado, collector or reader seeking inspiration for their home.

Thinking visually for illustrators
By Mark Wigan. 741.019 WIG
"Thinking Visually for Illustrators features a wide range of work, demonstrating diverse visual languages, context, ideas, techniques and skills. It also looks at the ways in which illustrators develop their own personal visual language. Contemporary illustrators from all over the world engaged in a diverse range of approaches to the discipline have contributed their artwork and commentaries on visual thinking and the working process. The text also features the work of recent graduates, present students and observations from educators past and present. This edition has been updated to include a new chapter on illustration for the digital context and new approaches to working"

Researching the visual : Demiystifying "The picture that's worth a thousand words" 
edited by Arianne Rourke and Vaughan Rees. 302.222
This book discusses from both a practical as well as theoretical perspective many different approaches to researching the visual in higher education, to assist demystifying “the picture that’s worth a thousand words.” It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to using the visual for research and discusses the role technology can play both as the subject of visual research and in the training of the visual researcher. From a variety of different disciplinary focuses, the authors offer the educator, researcher, and tertiary student both their knowledge and practical approach to systematically and creatively deciphering, deconstructing, and reconfiguring the visual form. This book promotes the worthiness of focusing on the visual as the subject of research and scholarship as we move further into the technologically sophisticated world of 21st-century learning.





The changing face of portrait photography : from daguerreotype to digital 
By Shannon Thomas Perich. 778.9209 PER

"A richly illustrated volume examines ten photographers' portrait work and explores the power of the portrait and the role it plays in our personal and national identities. The Changing Face of Portrait Photography explores ten groups of portraits selected from within the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's Photographic History Collection. The selections represent work by specific photographers with diverse relationships to portraiture, and through their sampling take a focused look at changing convention, theory, and technologies".  





Ugliness : the non-beautiful in art and theory 
Edited by Andrei Pop and Mechtild Widrich. 701.17 POP


Ugliness is very much alive in the history of art. From ritual invocations of mythic monsters to the scare tactics of the early twentieth-century avant-garde, the cabinet of curiosities to the identity politics of today, the ugly has been every bit as active as beauty, and often much more of a reality... why then has it been so neglected. This book seeks to remedy this oversight through both broad theoretical reflection and concrete case studies of ugliness in various historical and cultural contexts. The protagonists range from cooks to psychoanalysts, the object, from war prostheses to plates of asparagus, on a world stage stretching from ancient Athens to Singapore today. Drawing across disciplinary and cultural boundaries, the writers illuminated why ugliness, associated over the millennia with negative categories ranging from sin and stupidity to triviality and boredom, remains central to art and cultural practice.

50 years of illustration
by Lawrence Zeegen, Caroline Roberts. 741.6090145 ZEE

This book charts contemporary illustrations rich history: the rampant idealism of the 1960s, the bleak realism of the 1970s, the over-blown consumerism of the 1980s, the digital explosion of the 1990s, followed by the increasing diversification of illustration in the early twenty-first century. The book explores the contexts in which the discipline has operated and looks historically, sociologically, politically and culturally at the key factors at play across each decade, whilst artworks by key illustrators bring the decade to life. Contemporary illustrations impact and influence on design and popular culture are investigated through introductory essays and profiles of leading practitioners, illustrated with examples of their finest work.






Vivienne Westwood 
By Vivienne Westwood with Ian Kelly. 391 WES

Vivienne Westwood is one of the icons of our age. Fashion designer, activist, co-creator of punk, global brand and grandmother; a true living legend. Her career has successfully spanned five decades and her work has influenced millions of people across the world. For the first and only time, Vivienne Westwood has written a personal memoir, collaborating with award-winning biographer Ian Kelly, to describe the events, people and ideas that have shaped her extraordinary life. Told in all its glamour and glory, and with her unique voice, unexpected perspective and passionate honesty, this is her story.




Love objects : emotion, design, and material culture 
Edited by Anna Moran and Sorcha O'Brien. 704.9491524 MOR

How are love and emotion embodied in material form? Love Objects explores the emotional potency of things, addressing how objects can function as fetishes, symbols and representations, active participants in and mediators of our relationships, as well as tokens of affection, symbols of virility, triggers of nostalgia, replacements for lost loved ones, and symbols of lost places and times. Addressing both designed 'things with attitude' and the 'wild things' of material culture, Love Objects explores a wide range of objects, from 19th-century American portraits displaying men's passionate friendships to the devotional and political meanings of religious statues in 1920s Ireland.



Iconic designs : 50 stories about 50 things

Edited by Grace Lees-Maffei.  745.2 LEE

Iconic Designs is a beautifully designed and illustrated guide to fifty classic 'things' - designs that we find in the city, in our homes and offices, on page and screen, and in our everyday lives. In her introduction, Grace Lees-Maffei explores the idea of iconicity and what makes a design 'iconic', and fifty essays by leading design and cultural critics address the development of each iconic 'thing', its innovative and unique qualities, and its journey to classic status. Subjects range from the late 19th century to the present day, and include the Sydney Opera House, the Post-It Note, Coco Chanel's classic suit, the Sony WalkmanT, Hello KittyT, Helvetica, the Ford Model T, Harry Beck's diagrammatic map of the London Underground and the Apple iMac G3. This handsome volume provides a treasure trove of 'stories' that will shed new light on the iconic designs that we use without thinking, aspire to possess, love or hate (or love to hate) and which form part of the fabric of our everyday lives

New DVD's in the Library

Basement collection Indie game, The movie (DVD)  794.8 BAS  

The Basement Collection is a compilation of 9 award winning indie games by Edmund McMillen, creator of Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac. All of the games featured in the collection have been revamped and updated, featuring bonus chapters, new music, art and other extras.

The Basement Collection includes:

Aether - (an exploration adventure game)

Time Fcuk - (a dark puzzle game)

Spewer - (a physics based platformer)

Meat Boy - (the super meat boy prototype)

Grey Matter - (an anti shooter)

Coil - (an experimental game)

Triachnid - (a physics based spider sim)

The collection also features 2 secret unlockable games and tons of unlockable comics, sketch books and even never before seen stock footage from Indie Game: The Movie.

Key Features

8 full games, featuring new content, achievements and development extras.

8 unlockable extras featuring bonus games, comics, sketch books and videos.

A full collection soundtrack, featuring over 30 full length tracks from games featured as well as fan made bonus tracks.

Over 30 minutes of audio interviews.

Over 20 minutes of video extras from Indie Game: The Movie, (15 minutes of never before scene footage).

Over 15 pages of development sketches and character designs.

Indie Game the Movie
br> Indie Game: The Movie is the first feature documentary film about making video games. It looks specifically at the underdogs of the video game industry, indie game developers, who sacrifice money, health and sanity to realize their lifelong dreams of sharing their visions with the world.

Indie Game: The Movie is about the creative process and putting yourself out there through your work. It’s a journey many filmmakers, creators, artists, entrepreneurs - many people, can relate to in

Red Road (DVD) 791.4372 RED  

Cannes Prix du Jury-winning Scottish noir thriller about a Glasgow CCTV operator who ends up stalking a man she sees on screen. Andrea Arnold's first full-length feature after winning an Academy Award for her short film, 'Wasp', follows Jackie (Kate Dickie) a Glasgow CCTV control-room operator. One day, watching the monitors, she sees a man (Dickie Curran) she knows but is trying to forget and is soon helplessly outside her jurisdiction and brief, stalking the man, on camera, back to his flat. Eventually she crosses the line and goes to the address, meeting a young man (Martin Compston) whom, she finds out, lives there along with her subject.

Under the skin [DVD] 791.4372 UND  

An alien entity inhabits the earthly form of a seductive young woman who combs the Scottish highways in search of the human prey it is here to plunder. It lures its isolated and forsaken male victims into an otherworldly dimension where they are stripped and consumed. But life in all its complexity starts to change the alien. It begins to see itself as ‘she’, as human, with tragic and terrifying consequences. UNDER THE SKIN is about seeing ourselves through alien eyes. Starring Scarlett Johansson, is Jonathan Glazer’s critically-acclaimed third feature after Sexy Beast and Birth.

Life After People: The Complete Season One (3-Disc Set) [DVD] 791.457 LIF

Welcome To Planet Earth, Population Zero. What would happen if every human being on Earth

disappeared?

This isn't the story of how we might vanish--it is the story of what happens to the world we leave behind. Each episode is a stunningly graphic examination of how the very landscape of planet Earth would change in our absence, using cinematic CGI to reveal in scientific detail the fate of every aspect of the man-made world. 

What happens to the millions of animals that supply our food? The chemicals stored in industrial complexes? Which animals take over the subways? Do satellites fall to Earth? When do our treasured monuments wither away? From animal outbreaks to structural collapses, building to a unique visual finale, all 10 episodes in the 3-DVD set reveal what happens in the hours, days, months and years after people disappear. 

Shot on-location and around the globe, Life After People features stunning, state-of-the-art CGI graphics, movie-quality visual effects, and interviews with leading experts to show the future of the Earth once humans vanish.

Life After People - Complete Season Two (DVD)791.457 LIF

Welcome to Earth. Population Zero. What would happen if every human being on Earth disappeared? This isn’t the story of how we might vanish – it is the story of what happens to the world we leave behind. The second season of the fascinating HISTORY™ series Life After People takes a stunningly graphic journey to a world wiped clean of humanity. 

From animal outbreaks to massive structural collapses to hordes of toxins and chemicals unleashed across the globe, Life After People: The Complete Season Two reveals what happens in the hours, days, months and years after people disappear.

• The incredible cutting-edge CGI effects reveal in superb quality the scientific details of the fate of every aspect of the man-made world and how the landscape of our planet would forever change in our absence. As each scenario is revealed it is easy to forget you are  watching CGI and not the actual disintegration of our planet as we  know it.

New Library Books with Widespread Appeal

The following new books will hopefully be of interest to all disciplines across the college curriculum. Please remember that if you are looking for a particular subject or would like help in finding useful books or articles, please just ask a member of Library staff who will be delighted to help you find what looking for.

Your UndergraduateDissertation: The Essential Guide for Success (SAGE Study Skills Series)  by Nicholas Walliman808.66378 WAL

This is a refreshing and inspiring book, of equal value to both the anxious and the ambitious student' 

- Lucinda Becker, Department of English Literature, University of Reading

In the second edition of this best-selling guide, Nicholas Walliman provides expert, step-by-step advice on managing and developing a successful undergraduate project. This book takes you through each stage of your dissertation, answering questions including:

* How do I choose an appropriate topic for my dissertation?

 * How do I write a research proposal?

* What's a literature review, how do I conduct it and how do I write it up?

* How can I ensure I'm an ethical researcher?

* What methods of data collection are appropriate for my research question?

 * Once I have collected my data, what do I do?

* What's the best structure for my dissertation?

Full of examples from real student projects, interdisciplinary case studies and illustrated with cartoons to make you smile along the way, this book will tell you all you need to know to write a brilliant dissertation.

Introducing the Creative Industries: From Theory to Practice

by Rosamund Davies ,Gauti Sigthorsson  338.477 DAV

"Creativity used to be the difficult concept to define - now it has probably been overtaken by the concept 'creative industries'. However, this text does a sterling job at identifying, outlining and defining the many elements that go to make up this booming sector of industry. What makes it particularly interesting is that it includes the view of the creative industries from the perspective of working in it, then the definitions of what products and producers are involved, and ends with the broader picture of the creative economy and predictions for future trends. Add to this that they include both theory and practice, and this really is an all-round guide to the vast domain that is loosely titled 'the creative industries' - Angela Birchall, School of Media, Music & Performance, Salford University With so much talk about the creative industries, do we really know what they are, what they produce, and who works in them? This ground-breaking textbook takes the student through the history, trends, products and markets of the creative industries, showing how success depends on a mix of ideas, tactics and talent. When understanding social networks and cultural economy is just as important as hands-on skills or an entrepreneurial spirit, Introducing the Creative Industries shows students how to use theories, concepts and practical skills to get ahead in their course and professional life. Creatively imagined and beautifully written, this book: * interweaves concepts and practices in an easy-to-read layout on every page * uses cultural economy to teach the essential concepts and thinkers * integrates case studies from fashion and gaming to journalism and music * shows students strategies for navigating the links between skills, industries, creativity and markets. This book will expand students' horizons in this fast-moving industry, showing them how to spot opportunities and use their knowledge and savvy to take advantage of them. It is an essential guidebook for students of creativity in media and communication, design, creative industries and business.

Life After New Media: Mediation as a Vital Process 

302.23 KEM

In Life after New Media, Sarah Kember and Joanna Zylinska make a case for a significant shift in our understanding of new media. They argue that we should move beyond our fascination with objects--computers, smart phones, iPods, Kindles--to an examination of the interlocking technical, social, and biological processes of mediation. Doing so, they say, reveals that life itself can be understood as mediated--subject to the same processes of reproduction, transformation, flattening, and patenting undergone by other media forms. By Kember and Zylinska's account, the dispersal of media and technology into our biological and social lives intensifies our entanglement with nonhuman entities. Mediation--all-encompassing and indivisible--becomes for them a key trope for understanding our being in the technological world. Drawing on the work of Bergson and Derrida while displaying a rigorous playfulness toward philosophy, Kember and Zylinska examine the multiple flows of mediation. Importantly, they also consider the ethical necessity of making a "cut" to any media processes in order to contain them. Considering topics that range from media-enacted cosmic events to the intelligent home, they propose a new way of "doing" media studies that is simultaneously critical and creative, and that performs an encounter between theory and practice.

The Art of Critical Making: Rhode Island School of Design on Creative Practice

by John Maeda707.11745 MAE

Describes the world′s leading approach to art and design taught at Rhode Island School of Design At Rhode Island School of Design students are immersed in a culture where making questions, ideas, and objects, using and inventing materials, and activating experience all serve to define a form of critical thinking—albeit with one′s hands—i.e. "critical making." The Art of Critical Making , by RISD faculty and staff, describes fundamental aspects of RISD′s approach to "critical making" and how this can lead to innovation. The process of making taught at RISD is deeply introspective, passionate, and often provocative. This book illuminates how RISD nurtures the creative process, from brief or prompt to outcome, along with guidance on the critical questions and research that enable making great works of art and design. Explores the conceptual process, idea research, critical questions, and iteration that RISD faculty employ to educate students to generate thoughtful work Authors are from the faculty and staff of the Rhode Island School of Design, which consistently ranks as the number one fine arts and design college in the United States The Art of Critical Making shows you how context, materials, thought processes, and self–evaluation are applied in this educational environment to prepare creative individuals to produce dynamic, memorable, and meaningful works.

Resilience: facing down rejection and criticism on the road to success

by Mark McGuinness 331.702MCG

If you want to achieve something original and meaningful with your life, you MUST learn to deal with rejection and criticism. If you're an artist of any kind your work will be rejected by editors, curators and other gatekeepers. And each time you put it in front of the public, you expose yourself to criticism. If you're an entrepreneur you face rejection by (potential) customers, partners and investors. Those same people won't hesitate to criticize you if they are unhappy (justified or not).If you're chasing your dream job you'll receive your share of rejection letters. And once you land the job, taking flak when things go wrong is part of the deal. If you're an athlete or sports player it's a battle to get on the team. And you'll hear about it from all sides - your coach, your team-mates and (so-called) supporters - if they think your performance isn't up to scratch. If you're a campaigner for change you face inertia, resistance and hostility from everyone with an investment in the status quo. No wonder most people choose not to rock the boat. Between them, rejection and criticism can rob you of your dream. Many people set out on their chosen path full of hope and inspiration, only to turn back because they couldn't deal with the emotional impact of crushing rejections and vicious criticism. If you want to avoid joining the legions of also-rans, you'll need to find practical, effective ways to deal with rejection and criticism. Anyone who says 'don't take it so personally' doesn't understand what it's like when you are hit by a major rejection or biting criticism. At least to begin with, it's almost impossible NOT to take it personally (for very good psychological reasons). To deal with rejection and criticism, you need to acknowledge the pain - and find ways to bounce back from the impact. In short, you need to develop resilience. In Resilience, Mark McGuinness explains why your reactions to rejection and criticism are completely understandable - and how to deal with them effectively. Through stories from his own experience, as well as those of famous people who faced rejection and criticism on the road to their success, he will show you that you are far from alone in suffering from rejection and criticism. And he draws on years of experience as a coach to give you practical advice that has been road-tested with hundreds of people facing similar challenges to you.

You will learn:

• Why rejection and criticism hurt so much

• Several ways you may be making rejection worse (without realising it)

• How to keep going in spite of multiple rejections

• Why your inner critic is (potentially) your best friend

• When to ignore the critics - and when to listen

• Whether (and how) to respond to insults and abuse

• Why success is harder than it looks - and how to deal with it

This is not a theoretical book - it's packed with practical tips and techniques you can apply to your own challenges right away. Whether you're just setting out, in the middle of your journey, or dealing with the unexpected challenges of success, Resilience will show you how to keep moving forward. Resilience will take you a few hours to read; its lessons will help you for the rest of your life.

Big Art / Small Art

by Tristan Manco 709.22 MAN  

Scale is being taken to new extremes in art: big and bold on the one hand, intricate and intimate on the other. This book includes profiles of forty-five contemporary artists who are revolutionizing our approach to scale with works that provoke questions, arouse emotions and offer fresh perspectives, from beautifully carved leaves.

Scale is being taken to new extremes in art: big and bold on the one hand, intricate and intimate on the other. This book is divided into two sections big art and small art and includes profiles of forty-five contemporary artists who are revolutionizing our approach to scale with works that provoke questions, arouse emotions and offer fresh perspectives, from beautifully carved leaves (Lorenzo Manuel Durán, Spain) and micro reproductions of artists at work in their studio (Joe Fig, USA) to giant mechanical kinetic sculptures (Theo Jansen, Netherlands) and immersive galaxies of shimmering spheres (Nike Savvas, Australia).