University Of Toronto Monthly

Anyone who attended the University or who is interested in the growth of Canada's intellectual heritage will enjoy this compelling and magisterial history.

The first cultural history of the iconic brand M·A·C Cosmetics, VIVA M·A·C charts the evolution of M·A·C’s revolutionary corporate philanthropy around HIV/AIDS awareness. Drawing upon exclusive interviews with M·A·C co-founder Frank Toskan, key journalists, and fashion insiders, Andrea Benoit tells the fascinating story of how M·A·C's unique style of corporate social responsibility emerged from specific cultural practices, rather than being part of a strategic marketing plan. Benoit delves into the history of the M·A·C AIDS Fund and its signature VIVA GLAM fundraising lipstick, which featured drag performer RuPaul and singer k.d. lang in its first advertising campaigns. This lively chronicle reveals how M·A·C managed to not only defy the stigma associated with AIDS that alarmed many other corporations, but to engage in highly successful AIDS advocacy while maintaining its creative and fashionable authority.

Two histories of the University of Toronto have been published, one in 1906 and one in 1927. Since the latter volume appeared, no comprehensive history of the University has been published. Given the size of the University and the complexity of the task, this is not entirely surprising. But, after sixty-six years, this gap in the intellectual history of Canada has been filled, and we are delighted to announce publication, in March of 2002, of Martin Friedland’s new history of one of Canada’s most important educational and cultural institutions. The author of several books on legal history, Professor Friedland brings to this task an accomplished eye and ear and a status as a long time member of the University community. Professor Friedland’s text is accompanied by over 200 maps, drawings and photographs. Published to coincide with the University’s 175th anniversary, The University of Toronto: A History tells the story of the university in the context of the history of the nation of which it is a part, weaving the stories of the people who have been a part of this institution – people who make up a who’s who in the history of Canada. Anyone who attended the University or who is interested in the growth of Canada’s intellectual heritage will enjoy this compelling and magisterial history.