Feast Of Excess

In 1952, John Cage shocked audiences with 4'33," his composition showcasing the power of silence. From Cage's minimalism to Chris Burden's radical performance art two decades later, the post-war avant-garde sought to liberate the art world by shattering the divide between high and low art.Feast of Excess presents an engaging and accessible portrait of the cultural extremism that emerged in the United States after World War II. This "New Sensibility," as termed by Susan Sontag, was predicated upon excess, pushing and often crossing boundaries whether in the direction of minimalism ormaximalism. Through brief vignette profiles of prominent figures in literature, music, visual art, poetry, theater and journalism, George Cotkin leads readers on a focused journey through the interconnected stories of prominent figures such as Andy Warhol, Anne Sexton, John Cage, John Coltrane, BobDylan, Erica Jong, and Chris Burden, among many others, who broke barriers between artist and audience with their bold, shocking, and headline-grabbing performances.This inventive narrative captures the sentiment of liberation from high and low culture in artistic endeavors spanning from the 1950s to the 1970s and reveals the establishment of excess in American culture as the norm. A detailed emersion in the history of cultural extremism, Feast of Excess leavesreaders to consider the provocative revelation that the essence of excess remains in our culture today, for good and ill.

"A Feast for the Eyes is the first book-length study of the court banquets of northwestern Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries"--Jacket.

The 'HOLIDAY Ultimate Collection' stands as a monumental anthology, encompassing a vast array of literary styles and themes. From the timeless magic of Dickens' Christmas to the provocative depths of Dostoevsky's existential musings, the collection offers a rich tapestry of holiday narratives that span the gamut of human emotion and experience. It is a compendium that not only celebrates the festive spirit but also explores the profound questions of faith, hope, and redemption that often accompany the season. Highlighting classics such as Shakespeare's poetic finesse and the whimsical tales of Beatrix Potter, this anthology provides readers with a unique exploration of holiday literature through the ages, celebrating both the diversity and the universality of the human condition. The contributing authors of the 'HOLIDAY Ultimate Collection' bring together a remarkable blend of cultural and literary backgrounds, each adding their distinctive voice to the choir of holiday celebrations. The editors have masterfully curated works from luminaries such as Tolstoy, Shakespeare, and Yeats, alongside lesser-known yet equally compelling authors like Ewing and Sedgwick. This collective effort bridges various literary movements and historical periods, from the romanticism of Wordsworth to the realism of Twain, offering a panoramic view of the cultural and social dimensions of holiday literature. The anthology not only serves as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling during festive times but also provides insight into the evolving nature of holiday traditions and reflections across different epochs and geographies. 'HOLIDAY Ultimate Collection' is an indispensable volume for readers seeking to immerse themselves in the rich literary traditions of the holiday season. It invites scholars and enthusiasts alike to traverse the snowy paths of nineteenth-century England, the celebratory fires of medieval Europe, and the serene, starlit nights that have inspired poets and writers for centuries. This collection not only promises a delightful reading experience filled with wonder and nostalgia but also offers a profound educational journey through the history of holiday literature. It beckons readers to embrace the spirit of the season with an open heart and a keen mind, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling and the myriad ways it can illuminate the darkest of winters.

Throughout time and in every culture, human beings have eaten together. Commensality - eating and drinking at the same table - is a fundamental social activity, which creates and cements relationships. It also sets boundaries, including or excluding people according to a set of criteria defined by the society. Particular scholarly attention has been paid to banquets and feasts, often hosted for religious, ritualistic or political purposes, but few studies have considered everyday commensality. Commensality: From Everyday Food to Feast offers an insight into this social practice in all its forms, from the most basic and mundane meals to the grandest occasions. Bringing together insights from anthropologists, archaeologists and historians, this volume offers a vast historical scope, ranging from the Late Neolithic period (6th millennium BC), through the Middle Ages, to the present day. The sixteen chapters include case studies from across the world, including the USA, Bolivia, China, Southeast Asia, Iran, Turkey, Portugal, Denmark and the UK. Connecting these diverse analyses is an understanding of commensality's role as a social and political tool, integral to the formation of personal and national identities. From first experiences of commensality in the sharing of food between a mother and child, to the inaugural dinner of the American president, this collection of essays celebrates the variety of human life and society.