Monday, October 20, 2014

Ukiyo-e

Dora Amsden and Woldermar von Seidlitz 
online access from EBSCOhost
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Ukiyo-e (‘pictures of the floating world’) is a branch of Japanese art which originated during the period of prosperity in Edo (1615-1868). Characteristic of this period, the prints are the collective work of an artist, an engraver, and a printer. Created on account of their low cost thanks to the progression of the technique, they represent daily life, women, actors of kabuki theatre, or even sumo wrestlers. Landscape would also later establish itself as a favourite subject. Moronobu, the founder, Shunsho, Utamaro, Hokusai, and even Hiroshige are the most widely-celebrated artists of the movement. In 1868, Japan opened up to the West. The masterful technique, the delicacy of the works, and their graphic precision immediately seduced the West and influenced greats such as the Impressionists, Van Gogh, and Klimt. This is known as the period of ‘Japonisme’. Through a thematic analysis, Woldemar von Seidlitz and Dora Amsden implicitly underline the immense influence which this movement had on the entire artistic scene of the West. These magnificent prints represent the evolution of the feminine ideal, the place of the Gods, and the importance accorded to landscape, and are also an invaluable witness to a society now long gone.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)

浮世繪的故事

宮竹正 著
online access from SuperStar Digital Library
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華美令人心折的浮世繪,是西方人在廢紙堆中掘出的寶藏。那些古老優雅的流暢線條和抽象迷濛的二維空間,觸發了印象派大師記錄視覺瞬間的衝動。人們難以想像如此醉人的藝術在日本僅僅意味著市井和歡場文化,也無從知曉浮世繪竟能漸漸蠶食幕府的勢力,推動一場驚天動地的社會變革。

本書緊扣日本德川幕府時期錯綜複雜的社會背景和日本民族特有的性格與文化,深入並全方位地闡釋浮世繪這一傳奇生動的東方藝術,同時結合歷史上各個時期、不同流派的大師名作及故事性的敘述手法,使您在最短的時間內輕鬆、直觀地把握浮世繪藝術魅力的精髓。

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)



Ukiyo-e
[Accessible on Campus Only]

Monday, October 13, 2014

Patrick Modiano

Alan Morris 
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Patrick Modiano is the recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature and winner of some of France's most prestigious literary prizes. Patrick Modiano is considered one of the most fascinating French novelists alive today. This is the first English literary critique of this best-selling French author, whose works are found increasingly in translation throughout the world and who is attracting considerable critical attention outside France.

In this lucid study, Alan Morris explores Modiano's fifteen major novels. He also traces Modiano's development as a writer and the tragedies which have influenced his works: the death of his younger brother, the neglect of his father and the horrors of the German occupation. Morris delves into Modiano's themes of time, memory, identity and the past, clearly demonstrating this intriguing writer's key place in French writing today.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)


暗店街 (Missing Person)

帕特里克・莫迪亞諾 (Patrick Modiano)
online access from Apabi
online access from SuperStar Digital Library
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為尋找自己真實的身份,患失憶症的私家偵探開展一段尋找前半生經歷的過程。四十七個片段,跨越二十年時間,回溯至佔領時代,再現這黑暗時期法國社會生活的某些側面。簡易的鋪陳中,蘊含濃郁的生命憂傷。

本書榮獲國龔古爾文學大獎,並經《今日法國》推薦為一百部必讀的。  

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)


Monday, October 6, 2014

Diversity and Occasional Anarchy: On Deep Economic and Social Contradictions in Hong Kong

Yue Chim Richard Wong
online access from JSTOR
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The world economic landscape has experienced seismic changes in the fifteen years after restoration of sovereignty over Hong Kong from Britain to China. Fortunately the Hong Kong economy has remained steadfast and is still making progress, but public confidence in the governance of the SAR government has declined, and economic and social dissatisfaction have flared. Where should Hong Kong go from here in the face of all kinds of contradictions? Economist Yue Chim Richard Wong provides an analysis of the origins of these contradictions and shares his insights on these issues. All those concerned about Hong Kong’s future should not miss this collection of essays how indigenous artists in turn manipulated Western visual languages.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)


民主的模式 (Models of Democracy)

戴維・赫爾德 (David Held)
online access from iRead eBook
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我們正生活於民主的時代,而甚麼是民主?民主生活的含義是甚麼?今天民主對我們來說意味著甚麼?本書將針對這些問題探究具有可行性之不同的民主模式,思索懸而未決的議題,以及當代民主進行思考的若干替換方式。本書更針對原著中擱置的問題,收錄兩篇作者重要的新論文,完整地呈現民主在民族間與國家間的意涵和互動關係。本書更針對原著中擱置的問題,收錄兩篇作者重要的新論文,完整地呈現民主在民族間與國家間的意涵和互動關係。

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)