Turning Turk looks at contact between the English and other cultures in the early modern Mediterranean; and analyzes the representation of that experience on the London stage. Vitkuss book demonstrates that the English encounter with exotic alterity; and the theatrical representations inspired by that encounter; helped to form the emergent identity of an English nation that was eagerly fantasizing about having an empire; but was still in the preliminary phase of its colonizing drive. Vitkus research shows how plays about the multi-cultural Mediterranean participated in this process of identity formation; and how anxieties about religious conversion; foreign trade and miscegenation were crucial factors in the formation of that identity.
#3105845 in eBooks 2016-07-07 2016-07-07File Name: B01FXHME0I
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Not everyone will care for his style. but the craftsmanship is simply incredible. Wonderful photos.so-so text.By lyndonbrechtLet me qualify one thing--the five stars is for the excellent quality of the very many photos in this book of this artists work. The text is a bit stiff. as seems all too common in text written by art critics and museum curators. Its readable. just dull. The text on the individual pieces is better. The book is published under the auspices of a Colorado museum.Konovalenko (1929-89) lives in the USSR. then because he was married to a Jewish woman was able to immigrate (the plan was to Israel but he decided the US was better). The detail on his personal life is brief. The most interesting story is about how he got an exhibit in Moscow. angered the Communist party boss in St Petersburg (the book does not use the name "Leningrad" although the name change came later than this event). who then pressed criminal charges over possession and use of illegal materials (used in the sculpture). That was worked out. he moved to Moscow and for a time had to create items at he request of powerful political figures. He left for the US in 1981.Konovalenko was a carver in gems. an old Russian art form. perhaps best known in the art workshops of Fabege in Tsarsist times (Faberge was Russian. despite that French name--a French ancestor settled in Russia). Konovalenkos method is different. Instead of carving from a single stone. he made drawings. sculpted a model then cut the model into a number of pieces and made the sculpture in pieces. joining them together to form the final work. He used dozens of minerals. some precious and many not. and also used cloisonneacute; technique. and silver and other materials for some of the sculptures.The sculptures in the book are primarily related to Russian history. culture and legend. Some pieces feature two or three figures. sometimes with thoroughly Russian features such as samovar and peasant clothes incredibly detailed. The figures are not in the classic mode. but rather more the look of art sketches for the theater or ballet (he sometimes worked as a set designer and related). even the comic.The sculptures are not large. maybe 5 to 9 inches typically. One illustration is thoroughly propaganda. a Red Army veteran teaching peasants how to read. but its done with simple incredible detail--a single work might have taken him six months or more. Only one has an American theme. Gold Prospectors. which as a simply amazing burro as part of the piece.Of the several dozen works show in the book. my favorites are the several Ice Fishing pieces. the Tsars Henchman (which is splendidly menacing. carrying irons for prisoners). a peasant in a barrel bath whos just run out of tea in his saucer. and a trio of pals. The work has to be seen to be believed. Amazing craftsmanship. whether you like the work or not.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Wonderful book - Great detail in the picturesBy Jj VandagriffI visited the exhibit in Colorado a few years ago and loved it. As a rock hound and Rusophile. this book was right up my alley. The pictures are stunning. The detail is easier to appreciate in the book than in real life (due to the glass cases at the museum). The writing is interesting and clear. I would definitely recommend this book!
