Suggested Read: "Banksy: Wall and Piece"

The graffiti artist known only as Banksy, has become world renowned for his satirical stencils across the city. Sometimes he adds on to what is already there, sometimes he creates an image from scratch, but he always has something to say.

Banksy: Wall and Piece, is the best kind of coffee table book there is. Not only is it easy to flip through the pages, almost entirely made of pictures, but it forces you to think. There is nothing subtle about Banksy's work. Each image, weather it's painted on the street or hanging in a gallery, is bold and questioning of the viewer.

This book is a new addition to the Fogelson library. I would suggest you take a glance at Banksy: Wall and Piece next time you need a break from your research. Or maybe check it out, take it back to your dorm, soak it in, and let it inspire you in your own work.

For more information about Banksy's work I've compiled a few links:

Banksy's official website:
http://www.banksy.co.uk/

A British television show does a peice on Banksy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e0IJSOq0xg

A Flickr account with over 7,000 Bansky images:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/banksy/

Suggested Watch: The Motorcycle Diaries

The 2004 film, The Motorcycle Diaries, is based on the memoirs of Ernesto "Che" Guevara of the same title. It follows Che along with his friend Alberto Granada as the travel across South America in search of adventure. Ultimately, the journey transforms Guevara and he finds his calling to help the impoverished peoples of Latin America.

Watching this film is a fantastic way to learn about the beginnings of one of the most famous revolutionaries in the world as well as see stunningly beautiful footage from all over Latin America. It is hard not to be moved watching Guevera swim across the Amazon to celebrate his birthday with the excluded leprosy patients on the other side or give his last $15 to a couple forced into migrancy because of their communist beliefs. Nor, is it hard to fall in love with the beauty of South America when you are watching it sail by you from the back of a motorcycle.

The Motorcycle Diaries is available at the Fogelson Library right now. You can check it out any time!

Official trailer for The Motorcycle Diaries:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u0U3dbVMHk

An article about Che from Time Magazine's 100 Most Important People of the Century list:
http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/guevara01.html

Che's collective works:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/index.htm

IMDB pages for the two new movies about Che staring Benicio Del Toro to come out later this year: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892255/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374569/

Suggested Read: The Watchmen

One of the most widely respected graphic novels in the world is coming to a theatre near you this spring. But, before you see the film, I suggest you read the book (the only graphic novel to make Time Magazine's "All Time 100 Novels" list of the greatest novels since 1923).
The Watchmen is the story of an alternative 1985 where the U.S. in on the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union and superheros have been banned from fighting crime. Former masked avengers are being murdered one by one forcing The Watchmen---a former superhero team---back into action.
The Watchmen is a story unlike any you've read before and it changed the face of graphic novels and superheroes forever. This is a dark novel filled with social commentary and political satire. The characters are gritty and realistic.
If you enjoyed V for Vendetta, the film or the superior graphic novel (also written by Alan Moore), then you will appreciate The Watchmen as well. Even if you never got into comic books as a kid, you should consider looking into graphic novels as a legitimate art form, and The Watchmen is a fantastic place to start.

You can find out more about the upcoming film here, at the official website:
http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/

If you want some annotations on the books while you're reading to enhance the experience look here: http://www.capnwacky.com/rj/watchmen/chapter1.html

For more information about the graphic novel the wikipedia page is very extensive:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen

Last but not least, Alan Moore's fan page:
http://www.alanmoorefansite.com/

Suggested Watch: This Film Is Not Yet Rated

It is easy to believe that censorship of the media is a thing of the past in the United States. But that is far from the truth. There is an organization of people who decide if films contain "objectionable" material and ultimately determine who can see them, where films can be sold and viewed, and force filmmakers re-edited their films to suit their desires and get the rating the studio wants. These people are the MPAA raters and all we know about them is that they are "average american parents" and they have a monopoly on the ratings system. That is until now. In the documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated, director Kirby Dick not only hires a private investigator to find the identities of the raters, but unveils the unsettling truth about the MPAA's unethical practices and their control on the media. This film is fascinating, funny, and truly frightening. It is my opinion that everyone should watch it before the next time they go to the movies. This Film Is Not Yet Rated is available here at the Fogelson Library (I just re-shelved it today), so take a brisk 5 minute walk from your dorm and go pick it up! Even the deleted scenes are funny and intersting.

You can watch the trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTL3XMDwY0c

And preview the first 10 minutes of the film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjJ56BUPnSw

Information on film censorship from the National Colatition Against Censorship:
http://www.ncac.org/action_issues/Film.cfm

Some interesting and current news about the MPAA rating system:
http://www.ncac.org/entertainment/20070130~USA~MPAA_Weighs_Ratings_Reform.cfm