For almost eight hundred years (100 BCndash;AD 650) Nasca artists modeled and painted the plants; animals; birds; and fish of their homeland on Perursquo;s south coast as well as numerous abstract anthropomorphic creatures whose form and meaning are sometimes incomprehensible today. In this first book-length treatment of Nasca ceramic iconography to appear in English; drawing upon an archive of more than eight thousand Nasca vessels from over 150 public and private collections; Donald Proulx systematically describes the major artistic motifs of this stunning polychrome pottery; interprets the major themes displayed on this pottery; and then uses these descriptions and his stimulating interpretations to analyze Nasca society. After beginning with an overview of Nasca culture and an explanation of the style and chronology of Nasca pottery; Proulx moves to the heart of his book: a detailed classification and description of the entire range of supernatural and secular themes in Nasca iconography along with a fresh and distinctive interpretation of these themes. Linking the pots and their iconography to the archaeologically known Nasca society; he ends with a thorough and accessible examination of this ancient culture viewed through the lens of ceramic iconography. Although these static images can never be fully understood; by animating their themes and meanings Proulx reconstructs the lifeways of this complex society.
#227296 in eBooks 2011-09-06 2011-09-06File Name: B004KPM1RG
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Mind-blowingly great book on Seattle music sceneBy James BaileyLoved it. LOVED it. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. This book just blew me away. Easily the best book on music Ive ever read. and probably the best book Ive read on anything in several years.Having grown up in Seattle. Ive been a fan of the Seattle bands since the early 90s. Up until very recently I actually segregated my "Seattle" bands from all the others in my CD collection. I found out just how little I actually knew about them all by reading this book. First off. the drugs. wow. I knew there were a lot of drugs being used. but holy cow I didnt have any clue as to how bad it was. Its front and center here because it took such a horrific toll on the musicians and those around them. from Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley to Stephanie Sargent and Mike Starr. But the one that really seemed to kick the entire community in the gut was Andrew Wood. To hear about what these people meant to the people who knew them. in their own words. it just takes you way beyond the music. which is often secondary in this history.Grunge seemed to have exploded onto the airwaves when Nirvana released Nevermind. but in the long arc of its rise and fall that was actually nearer the end than the beginning. Yarm tracked down virtually anyone and everyone who planted the seeds with the punk bands from throughout western Washington. like the U-Men and Melvins. While the book has plenty of Nirvana. Pearl Jam. Soundgarden. and Alice in Chains. there is no shortage of other bands. including the Screaming Trees. Candlebox. the Gits. 7 Year Bitch. Mudhoney. and Green River. And dont forget Cat Butt. (How could anyone. with a name like that?) He also gives a lot of space to the guys at Sub Pop records. who were instrumental in helping a lot of these bands find an audience.The book is entirely told by the people who were there when it all happened. at least a couple hundred in all. Fortunately. Yarm included a handy alphabetical reference list in the back. which I was constantly flipping to to remember just who someone was and what their role in the music community was.Its alternately sad (lots of death). funny. and gossipy. almost to the point of catty. particularly whenever Courtney Love is involved. She really came across to me as an utterly psychotic bitch. So much so that I feel bad for liking her music. There werent many others who had much nice to say about her. No surprise there. What did surprise me was how much everyone else hated Candlebox. a band Ive always liked. I never realized what outcasts they were on the local music scene.I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my niece a couple years ago. At the time I thought. "I should read this before I send it to her." I didnt. but I finally got my own copy and am glad I did. Fantastic.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Hands down. the BEST book about grungeBy whitneyjim_milliganThis is my favorite book EVER! I am a big. big fan of Seattle and its notorious grunge scene. This book is an oral history. meaning. it is a compilation of interviews from key players from the scene. Some names you might know. some you might not. But their story plays a vital role in the development of music and influences for the genre. I didnt think I would enjoy the "oral history." but is so well done. you almost feel like you are reading someones diary. It is the personal thoughts and stories straight from the people who lived it! And it is also well organized by chapter. so it all makes sense and flows nicely. If you like Mother Love Bone. Soundgarden. Alice in Chains. Pearl Jam and Mudhoney--this is the book for you! It also touches on all the other bands that never made it big and how all of their stories put together is what made the genre thrive in the first place! Its brilliant and kudos to Mark Yarm for putting it all together!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Essential For Any Music LoverBy WhereDidMaryGoAnything youve ever needed to know about any and every grunge band that mattered. Full of amazing stories (Kat Bjelland may or may not have had a crush on Layne Staley? Madonna may or may not have tried to seduce the singer for Candlebox?) and some unbelievable pictures. Of course. the ending is not the happiest and everyone knows how deep the demons plaguing the grunge scene ran. but this is a story of perseverance. love. and the joy of writing music and playing it with your friends to the people who matter most.
