criticism

Poetry in Motion
$19.95
Poetry is subjective and therefore difficult to say what one individual finds good or bad another would agree with. My opinion of the poetry presented in the film aside, this film presented a good look at various styles of poetry. Some of the poets are so long winded that you lose interest in the performance and what they are saying. Then there are those whose poetry and/or style are well worth wading through the others. All in all this is a good retrospective of the emergence of and use of various styles of poetry and poetry as performance art.

bell hooks: Cultural Criticism & Transformation

bell hooks is one of America's most accessible public intellectuals. In this two-part video, extensively illustrated with many of the images under analysis, she makes a compelling argument for the transformative power of cultural criticism. --In Part One, hooks discusses the theoretical foundations and positions that inform her work (such as the motives behind representations, as well as their power in social and cultural life). hooks also explains why she insists on using the phrase "white supremacist capitalist patriarchy" to describe the interlocking systems of domination that define our reality. -- In Part Two, she domonstrates the value of cultural studies in concrete analysis through such subjects as the OJ Simpson case, Madonna, Spike Lee, and Gangsta rap. The aim of cultural analysis, she argues, should be the production of enlightened witnesses - audiences who engaged with the representations of cultural life knowledgeably and vigilantly. -- Sections: On Cultural Criticism: Why Study Popular Culture? | Critical Thinking as Transformation | The Power of Representations | Motivated Representations | Why "White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy? | Enlightened Witness | Doing Cultural Criticism Hoop Dreams: Constructed Narrative | Dealing With OJ | Madonna: From Feminism to Conservatism | Spike Lee: Hollywood's Fall Guy | KIDS: Whose Gaze? | Rap: Authentic Expression or Market Construct? | Black Female Bodies: Color Caste Systems | Consuming Commodified Blackness. -- ABOUT BELL HOOKS: bell hooks is the author of numerous critically acclaimed and influential books on the politics of race, gender, class, and culture. Celebrated as one of our nation's leading public intellectuals by The Atlantic Monthly, as well as one of Utne Reader's "100 Visionaries Who Could Change Your Life," she is a charismatic speaker who divides her time among teaching, writing, and lecturing around the world.

Criticism Management: How to More Effectively Give, Receive, and Seek Criticism in Our Lives
$19.95
This text was recommended to me by someone who received a copy in a Leadership seminar. Since that time, I have recommended it to many others. Garner offers great insights into how we can more effectively deal with criticism in all aspects of our lives. He offers a completely new way to think about criticism---not only in the criticism we might receive from others, but in how we give criticism. Dr. Garner explains the origin of the term and helps us to realize that the sniping that we have come to associate with criticism should not be the focus.
When giving criticism Garner suggests that we consider exactly what we want to accomplish---is it to intentionally hurt or to help someone to GRIPE (Grow, Recover, Improve, Prosper or Excel). He suggests that when managers and supervisors offer criticism, they should do it with the mindset of offering criticism to our children. He correctly points out that our goal with children is to help them become better, improve, etc., not to psychologically berate them. As he points out the goal is to have a win-win relationship (we don't want a "I win, you lose" relationship with our children. This was a powerful message for me and for many others. He has great techniques for dealing with criticism, for offering criticism (even for those who don't have to listen to you), and even on ways to better solicit criticism in advance.
This book is great for those of us who regularly provide criticism and feedback to others. Leaders, managers, supervisors, and anyone who deals with criticism should place this on their "MUST HAVE" list for their personal and professional development library.

Toxic Criticism: Break the Cycle with Friends, Family, Coworkers and Yourself
$15.95
Who doesn't need more self confidence? Well, I can think of a few boasters who can be quite annoying, but we are all so insecure in our world these days, especially the boasters! I found this book to be especially helpful because the author shares his expertise from experience derived personally and in coaching performers who can have disabling anxiety and self confidence crises interfering with their creativity. I am very pleased with my choice of this particular book and I had not even realized the qualifications of the author when I made the selection.