Richard A. Schwartz – författare

The first academic evaluation of the work of this major film director aims to study both his aesthetic achievement and the underlying themes and values he projects. Working within the boundaries of many diverse popular genres, Scott has infused his works with new energy through both a strong formal sense and a cohesive world view. In such films as Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, and the recent blockbuster Gladiator, Scott addresses the tensions between institutions and individuals, passion and reason, and social order and personal freedom--particularly for women, who in Scott's films often posses strong characters, moral rectitude, and physical prowess--making him the rare mainstream director who does not reserve such heroic qualities for men only.Providing extensive discussion of each of Ridley Scott's films--from 1977's The Duellists through the recent blockbuster epic Gladiator--author Richard A. Schwartz considers the power that even a filmmaker working well within the boundaries of the Hollywood studio system has to define and promote social values. Scott's frequent choice of the genre film as his mechanism for this makes him a particularly fascinating figure in contemporary cinema.

Alphabetically arranged, the entries in this encyclopedic study cover Woody Allen's movies, plays, fiction, television shows, and stand-up comedy from 1964 through 1998. Film entries begin with basic production information followed by a literary analysis of the work, which considers how and why Allen develops new narrative forms for conveying his stories. The dominant themes in Allen's work and the literary and cultural traditions he draws upon are discussed. Entries draw connections among Allen's works, outline his relationships with specific cinematographers and actors, point out major influences, and demonstrate how Allen fits into the Western canon of literature, film, and philosophy. Collectively, the entries reveal a serious and substantial artist whose experimentation with narrative form and structure enables him to explore human nature and human relationships in a new, innovative, and insightful manner.Literature and film scholars and Woody Allen enthusiasts will appreciate the easily accessible information provided in this encyclopedic format. A filmography and bibliography follow the entries and offer suggestions for further research. An index is included and photographs enhance the text.

With the end of the Cold War, the invention of the World Wide Web, the widespread availability to cellphones and personal computers, and remarkable advances in space exploration, the 1990s introduced a new era in human history.During that decade, the United States experienced changes that previous generations never imagined—the abrupt collapse of worldwide communism, the ability of ordinary Americans to connect with individuals and organizations throughout the world via the internet, and the initiation and near completion of the Human Genome Project that led to unprecedented advances in human health. These and other developments changed Americans’ lives forever. This volume in the Daily Life through History series examines how the cultural trends of the 1990s revolutionized the way people were able to teach and learn, conduct business, express themselves, and interact with one another.The book goes on to explore the evolution in long-held attitudes about the proper roles for women in society, sex, sexuality, and the concept of family to include other kinds of relationships—childless marriages, single-parent and mixed families, and LGBTQ+ relationships. New trends in fashion and music—from grunge to hip hop culture—also had a powerful impact on how some Americans presented themselves, while others rejected these cultural shifts and clung fervently, and sometimes violently, to traditional values and worldviews.Daily Life in 1990s America enables readers to better understand the significance, complexities, and enduring influence of this era-defining period in American history.