BOOK : History of cinema: Kristin Thompson and David Bordwell

Pataki Publications“History of cinema” of Kristin Thompsonand hisDavid Bordwell.


 In this book the authors tell the history of cinema as they conceived it, it was written and taught by the most important theorists and historians of the seventh art. With the help of hundreds of examples and photos, the reader can gain a thorough and comprehensive picture of the evolution of cinema, from the first attempts to project moving images with the kinetoscope to the blockbusters of the 21st century.
Film historians often say that there is not one "Film History" but many. For some, this means that it is not possible to include all genres in a single narrative, the schools, trends and events. But for others, a "Cinema History" is called upon to make use of a variety of perspectives and to combine various methodological tools, interests and goals. The present volume adopts the second approach and invites the reader to know the art of cinema through contemporary aesthetic and ideological perceptions.
The book does not require special knowledge of film aesthetics or theory, and is mentioned in both fiction and documentary films, in experimental or avant-garde cinema and animated films. It is an essential textbook for those attending film studies programs, but also a rich source of information for all movie lovers.
THECHRISTIAN THOMPSONis an honorary doctorate in the Department of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He holds an MA in film from the University of Iowa and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
THE DAVID BORDWELLis Professor of Cinema Studies at the Jacques Ledoux Chair in the Department of Arts and Communication, as well as a Hilldale Chair in the Humanities Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
 Source : culturenow.gr

Honda NSX : The return of the myth

This time it's not just a concept car. It is the final model and according to what Honda announced / Acura, the Acura Concept NSX which premiered at the Detroit Auto Show a few hours ago, will go into production by – at the latest- the 2015.
The Japanese car industry (for those who are confused let us clarify that Acura is nothing but Honda's US based subsidiary) has shown many experimental models over the years, which were rumored to replace the Honda / Acura NSX, which was manufactured by 1990 up to 2005. For some reason though, none of these concept cars made it to the production stage
This time, Nevertheless, Acura says the NSX concept seals the company's decision for the production model, which will debut within the next three years.
Just like the original model, so the new NSX will have a mid-mounted engine. The engine will be V6 naturally aspirated while Acura engineers have added Hybrid SH-AWD. This is a hybrid system that uses three electric motors and gives the car a four-wheel drive concept. Two of the three electric motors are mounted on each of the front wheels and provide the required torque during cornering for better traction results.
"This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of Acura's concept of creating a car that will help elevate the relationship between man and machine", said Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor.
“Like the first NSX, we will once again express high performance through engine performance", Ito added, who led the development of the first Acura NSX . “In this new era, we also focus on the enjoyable driving spirit of the NSX, while at the same time I believe that a supercar must meet modern environmental requirements.”
While in most supercars the reference point is the very high horsepower, the NSX Concept is an advocate of the genuine racing philosophy of an excellent power-to-weight ratio.
Using a drive unit with 2 electric motors (2 Electric Motor Drive Unit) with adaptive bi-directional torque control system, the new hybrid AWD system can directly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels when the vehicle turns. According to Honda's estimates it is superior to all previous AWD systems. Beyond the advantages of the excellent driving behavior of the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD®, a powerful next-generation VTEC® V-6 engine with direct injection will work with the dual-clutch transmission, which has a built-in electric motor, managing to combine acceleration befitting a supercar with excellent performance.
With the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, the NSX becomes the ultimate expression of "the collaboration between man and machine," added Ito. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car, promoting dynamic driving experience without unnecessary interference”.
Except for the new NSX Concept, Honda of America introduced the Accord Coupe Concept, which gives a first insight into the design direction of the ninth generation of the American Accord – it is expected to be released in the US in the fall 2012. This model is designed exclusively for the American market and is not intended for Europe.
Already in its second 25 years as a representative of Honda in the premium category, high performance luxury cars, Acura also introduced a concept version of the Acura ILX compact sedan and a prototype 2013 RDX crossover SUV.
The Acura ILX Concept is the harbinger of Acura's new luxury compact sedan set to launch this spring 2012. Intended to be the brand's introductory model, the ILX will be available with three engines, including Acura's first hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain.
Source : auto24.gr

DAKAR RALLY : The Greeks who crossed the desert...

It may be that the traditional Dakar rally has left Africa, due to fear of terrorist attacks and has been going on for two years (this year's race in progress) in Argentina and Chile (this year also in Peru), however race from Paris to Dakar, as a revival of the original struggle, done and just finished. The Greeks of Palaskas/Zachariou also participated in it, who arrived in Dakar after 13 days.

They finished 34th overall, 26in the T1 category and 7th in the class 1.1. This performance could have been better, if it weren't for the misfortune of New Year's Eve (stuck in the sand along with approx 20 vehicles for many hours) and if the crew had more desert experience.
He won the match, for one more time, the experienced Jean-Louis Schlesser, with the buggy vehicle he has designed!

Termination was not such an easy task after all. The initially good appearance was followed by the New Year's adventure. Then the winds made the desert in Mauritania very difficult. They were forced to make repairs under unimaginable conditions, with a lot of wind and sandstorm. In the 9th special, the ball carriers broke and were forced to continue with two "simple" ones, whom they "married" with the sophisticated ends. The road was very bad, to the point of running the risk of abandoning the service car!
Hopefully next year with more luck.

Source : sport-fm.gr

An international spiral has vandalized Picasso's paintings

Among the questions raised by yesterday's theft of Picasso's work from the National Gallery, the possible involvement of robbers with an international network that "specializes" in specific thefts are also reasonable.

Since the theft of important works of art has increased worldwide—as has the demand for specific paintings and signatures—it is only natural that suspicions turn to the international milieu.. Suffice it to say that just last summer the thief of the famous "Woman's Head" - by tragic coincidence the painting stolen from the Gallery is titled "Woman's Head" - that was stolen from a San Francisco gallery was arrested.

It should be noted that the perpetrator who was released after his arrest posted bail 5 millions of dollars without anyone ever questioning their origin! Equally paradoxical was the attempt made to disassociate the name of the robber in question from an international network of art smugglers.

Two years before the San Francisco robbery there had also been a major robbery at the Picasso Museum, noon day, by two armed robbers. The robbers had then escaped with two large ones, expensive and valuable Picasso works under dispute, the: “The painter and the model” (1963) and “Minotaur, drinker and women” (1933) as well as a pad with drawings by the Spanish painter. Suffice it to note that the Picasso Museum is located in the bustling Marais area of ​​Paris, in narrow and difficult alleys - which are not suitable for such escapes.

However, the biggest heist of Picasso's works, had noted the 1993 from the Stockholm Museum of Modern Art,  where they had, among others, eight are stolen (;) works by Picasso and one by the French cubist Georges Braque, value 40 million dollars. Some of them were found, some others remain unclaimed, like so many others bearing the signature of the famous Spanish artist. Be that as it may, in times of crisis, Picasso's name remains high on the international art market, and it is natural that it is at the center of experienced - and not only - art robbers.

The scenarios that the Police are considering

From their side, the security police have come up with two possible scenarios for what really happened in the early hours of yesterday at the National Gallery. Given that the perpetrators "struck" in just seven minutes, they knew details and possibly even had insider information about the big job, these lead to the conclusion that they are professional burglars who have been planning the trick for a long time.

Absolutely valid information states that the first scenario wants:

–    The perpetrators are members of an international ring, "bad works of art", who after stealing the paintings, they dump them on the black market. After all, all over the world and especially in Russia, China and America there are avid collectors who would pay a lot of money to acquire a Picasso, even through underground black market connections.

"We have already informed the international security authorities about this particular one and the other two that took flight", stresses to protothema.gr a ​​police officer dealing with the case and adds: “Indeed, we are trying through informants to find out if there is specific information on the specific paintings in the black markets of art".

–    The theft was made to order. That is, a collector made a deal with mice for a large sum to enter the National Gallery and disappear the works. In this case, the work of the Police is more difficult, as the three stolen paintings and especially the only Picasso that existed in Greece will not go under the hammer.

Either scenario is ultimately verified, The work of the Police is particularly difficult, as the perpetrators left little traces behind them…

Source : protothema.gr

An international spiral has vandalized Picasso's paintings

Among the questions raised by yesterday's theft of Picasso's work from the National Gallery, the possible involvement of robbers with an international network that "specializes" in specific thefts are also reasonable.

Since the theft of important works of art has increased worldwide—as has the demand for specific paintings and signatures—it is only natural that suspicions turn to the international milieu.. Suffice it to say that just last summer the thief of the famous "Woman's Head" - by tragic coincidence the painting stolen from the Gallery is titled "Woman's Head" - that was stolen from a San Francisco gallery was arrested.

It should be noted that the perpetrator who was released after his arrest posted bail 5 millions of dollars without anyone ever questioning their origin! Equally paradoxical was the attempt made to disassociate the name of the robber in question from an international network of art smugglers.

Two years before the San Francisco robbery there had also been a major robbery at the Picasso Museum, noon day, by two armed robbers. The robbers had then escaped with two large ones, expensive and valuable Picasso works under dispute, the: “The painter and the model” (1963) and “Minotaur, drinker and women” (1933) as well as a pad with drawings by the Spanish painter. Suffice it to note that the Picasso Museum is located in the bustling Marais area of ​​Paris, in narrow and difficult alleys - which are not suitable for such escapes.

However, the biggest heist of Picasso's works, had noted the 1993 from the Stockholm Museum of Modern Art,  where they had, among others, eight are stolen (;) works by Picasso and one by the French cubist Georges Braque, value 40 million dollars. Some of them were found, some others remain unclaimed, like so many others bearing the signature of the famous Spanish artist. Be that as it may, in times of crisis, Picasso's name remains high on the international art market, and it is natural that it is at the center of experienced - and not only - art robbers.

The scenarios that the Police are considering

From their side, the security police have come up with two possible scenarios for what really happened in the early hours of yesterday at the National Gallery. Given that the perpetrators "struck" in just seven minutes, they knew details and possibly even had insider information about the big job, these lead to the conclusion that they are professional burglars who have been planning the trick for a long time.

Absolutely valid information states that the first scenario wants:

–    The perpetrators are members of an international ring, "bad works of art", who after stealing the paintings, they dump them on the black market. After all, all over the world and especially in Russia, China and America there are avid collectors who would pay a lot of money to acquire a Picasso, even through underground black market connections.

"We have already informed the international security authorities about this particular one and the other two that took flight", stresses to protothema.gr a ​​police officer dealing with the case and adds: “Indeed, we are trying through informants to find out if there is specific information on the specific paintings in the black markets of art".

–    The theft was made to order. That is, a collector made a deal with mice for a large sum to enter the National Gallery and disappear the works. In this case, the work of the Police is more difficult, as the three stolen paintings and especially the only Picasso that existed in Greece will not go under the hammer.

Either scenario is ultimately verified, The work of the Police is particularly difficult, as the perpetrators left little traces behind them…

Source : protothema.gr

The most expensive photo in the world

Reading this title, you would definitely expect to see something impressive and original (ate famous nude). And yet things are a little different…
You will tell me, what everyone considers art and point of view is completely subjective and vague. However, it is a bit difficult to digest how -and officially- moreexpensive photo of all time is just a beautiful and well-balanced photo of the river Rhine.
Yes, his photoAndreas Gursky with Title "Rhine II”Was sold by Christie’s auction house in New York for $4,3 millions or to be exact against$4,338,500 (the previous photo record had cost $3,9 million).The owner who bought it, if nothing else serene, The work of art is from Germany and for obvious reasons remained anonymous. The impressions are yours.
By Aris Vourvoulias
Source : pkool.gr

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