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A Companion to the Medieval Theatre
by Ronald W. VinceVince has provided a useful and, for the most part, usable reference work. His introduction should be required reading for anyone approaching medieval theater. ChoiceScholars increasingly see medieval theatre as a complex and vital performance medium related more closely to political, religious, and social life than to literature as we know it. Reflecting the current interest in performance, A Companion to the Medieval Theatre presents 250 alphabetically arranged entries offering a panoramic view of European and British theatrical productions between the years 900 and 1550. The volume features 30 essays contributed by an international group of specialists and includes many shorter entries as well as systematic cross-referencing, a chronology, a bibliography, and a full complement of indexes.Major entries focus on the theatres of the principal linguistic areas (the British Isles, France, Germany, Iberia, Italy, Scandinavia, the Low Countries, and Eastern Europe), and on dramatic forms and genres such as liturgical drama, Passion and saint plays, morality plays, folk drama, and Humanist drama. Other articles examine costume, acting, pageantry, and music, and explore the theatrical dimension of courtly entertainment, the dance, and the tournament. Short entries supply information on over one hundred playwrights, directors, actors and antiquarians whose contributions to the theatre have been documented. This informative guide brings new depth to our appreciation of the richness and color of medieval public entertainments and the symbolism and pageantry that were a part of daily life in the Middle Ages. Designed to appeal to general reader, this volume is also an attractive choice for libraries serving students and scholars of theatre history, English and European literatures, medieval history, cultural history, drama, and performance.
Women's Equality in America: Examining the Facts (Contemporary Debates)
by Nancy HendricksWritten in vivid prose and with a keen eye for detail, Women's Equality in America is a valuable resource for understanding the issues and trends that dominate public discourse in discussions of women's rights and gender equality in America.Since its inception, the women's equality movement in America has been criticized for moving too slowly, moving too quickly, being too demanding, or not being demanding enough. Some of its goals have aroused passionate opposition in those who believed women's equality contradicted not only basic human biology, but also the word of God. Meanwhile, Americans voice starkly different opinions about where women stand in their quest for equality in American workplaces, classrooms, boardrooms, and homes.Women's Equality in America: Examining the Facts presents sensibly organized and accurate summaries of the relevant facts concerning all of these claims and counterclaims. But while the volume is primarily concerned with providing an accurate picture of the state of women's equality in the 21st century, it also provides vital contextual coverage of major historical turning points and important historical figures, from leaders of the Seneca Falls women's rights convention in 1848 to the organizers of the #MeToo movement.
Family Violence and Abuse [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Trends, Issues, and Solutions [2 volumes]
by Sonia SalariThis two-volume encyclopedia surveys all aspects of violence and abuse in domestic/family environments, including specific types of abuse, laws and legal issues, and the impacts of abuse.Wide-ranging and authoritative, this resource provides extensive coverage of widely recognized forms of violence and abuse in family settings, including physical, verbal, and emotional abuse of spouses and intimate partners (both female and male) as well as children. In addition, the encyclopedia scrutinizes less recognized types of violence and abuse in households, such as abuse of siblings by other siblings and abuse of parents or grandparents by children and grandchildren (both minor and adult).Family Violence and Abuse is a valuable resource for readers seeking a better understanding of the true scope and impact of these various forms of violence and abuse; important factors that contribute to incidence of family violence and abuse; and the various laws, programs, and therapy alternatives that have been created to help victims of abuse and rehabilitate offenders.
Rape and Sexual Assault: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)
by Alison E. HatchThis authoritative one-stop resource helps readers understand the problem of sexual assault in the United States, including societal factors, notorious cases, laws and practices, victim advocacy and reform efforts, and keys to recovery. It discusses who is being victimized, who is perpetrating the offenses, and what can be done (and is being done) to reduce rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment in homes and communities across America. The volume also explores the role that investigative shortcomings and rape culture have played in facilitating sexual assault and abuse, and how shifts in attitude and policy could combat this devastating crime.
Income Inequality in America: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)
by Stacey M. Jones Robert S. RycroftThis book provides a one-stop resource for understanding the full dimensions of income inequality in the United States, including chief socioeconomic drivers of inequality and proposals to reduce the widening gap between rich and poor in America.Carefully researched and scrupulously nonpartisan, this resource examines the history and current state of income inequality in the United States, with a particular focus on key issues, events, and political/economic philosophies relevant to the enduring divide between rich and poor in America. One of the most valuable aspects of the book is that it surveys the complex history of income inequality in an easy-to-understand fashion that helps readers identify and assess the ways in which income inequality shapes many aspects of modern American society. The book is even-handed in its treatment of the academic and policy debates over the causes, consequences, and appropriate response to today's growing inequality.In addition, this resource provides insights into the financial underpinnings of debt and wealth and capitalism and how all of those factors perpetuate themselves. It also examines problems and challenges related to child care, education, transportation, housing, and saving for retirement that hamper so many poor people in their efforts to lift their households out of poverty.
Human Trafficking: Examining the Facts (Contemporary Debates)
by Laura J. LedererDeeply researched and scrupulously even-handed, this work provides readers with a clear and accurate understanding of human trafficking and related issues related to socioeconomic inequality, human rights, and international law. In doing so, it exposes falsehoods, half-truths, and distortions about trafficking that have gained traction in America's political and cultural discourse. When warranted, it also confirms the veracity of other claims about the nature and infrastructure of trafficking networks and the harrowing experiences of women, men, and children trapped in those dehumanizing systems.Special areas of focus include chapters devoted to quantifying the scope and reach of human trafficking around the world; prosecution and prevention strategies; the experiences of trafficking survivors and the important role they play in anti-trafficking efforts; and the successes and failures of anti-trafficking initiatives carried out by governments and law enforcement agencies around the world.
Women and Sexuality: Global Lives in Focus (Women and Society around the World)
by Kelly Campbell M. L. ParkerThis important volume offers readers an in-depth understanding of women's sexuality around the world, bringing to light a history that is often suppressed.What is reproductive health like for women in other countries of the world? How are marriage and love viewed in other cultures? This volume examines aspects of women and sexuality across the globe.Each chapter in this volume focuses on a different world region, including North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and East Asia, South and Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The topics covered in each chapter include sexual attitudes and practices, the influence of religion on sexuality, sexual violence, reproductive health, love and marriage, and the media and sexuality.Specific country and cultural examples are interwoven such that readers come away with an understanding of the beliefs, practices, traditions, and customs that are common in each world region. Readers will be able to make cross-cultural comparisons, learning how the sexuality of women varies and yet is also the same from culture to culture. This volume is written in clear, jargon-free language, making it appropriate and useful for students and general readers.
American Women's History on Film (Hollywood History)
by Rosanne Welch Peg A. LamphierBy exploring a range of films about American women, this book offers readers an opportunity to engage in both history and film in a new way, embracing representation, diversity, and historical context.Throughout film history, stories of women achieving in American history appear few and far between compared to the many epic tales of male achievement. This book focuses largely on films written by women and about women who tackled the humanist issues of their day and mostly won.Films about women are important for all viewers of all genders because they remind us that the American Experience is not just male and white. This book examines 10 films, featuring diverse depictions of women and women's history, and encourages readers to discern how and where these films deviate from historical accuracy. Covering films from the 1950s all the way to the 2010s, this text is invaluable for students and general readers who wish to interrogate the way women's history appears on the big screen.
Exploring World History through Geography: From the Cradle of Civilization to a Globalized World
by Julie Crea DunbarExploring World History through Geography: From the Cradle of Civilization to a Globalized World takes readers on a fascinating and unique journey through time from many of the earliest world civilizations right into the 21st century.From the early civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia to our present-day globalized society, readers will learn how humans interacted-and still interact-with the environment around them, as well as the environment's role in not only shaping the society's world view but enabling the building of socially stratified and successful civilizations. Not your run-of-the-mill world history tome, this book examines world history through the closely related discipline of geography.The civilizations and events represented in the book, while not exhaustive, were selected to highlight geographic themes and areas of study. Upon completing the book, readers should have a firm understanding of the expansive, cross-curricular study of geography-from the study of world cultures and history to politics to the environment and Earth's physical processes. In addition, they will have a new understanding of the relevance of geography to not only human history but contemporary events, as well as their day-to-day lives. By presenting this history from a slightly different, geographic point of view, Exploring World History through Geography will inspire fresh curiosity in the world, both past and present.
They Believed That?: A Cultural Encyclopedia of Superstitions and the Supernatural around the World
by William E. BurnsThis encyclopedia is the perfect guide to the weird, magical, superstitious, and supernatural beliefs of people from all over the world.This book is devoted to those human beliefs that fall in the "gray zone" between science, religion, and everyday life-call them superstitious, supernatural, magical, or just wrong. In an often incomprehensible world where lightning or plague could end life quickly or drought could condemn a poor family to agonizing death, superstitious beliefs gave people a feeling of understanding or even control. They have continued to shape societies and cultures ever since.This book covers a range of superstitious, supernatural, and otherwise unusual beliefs from the ancient world to the early 19th century. More than 100 entries explain beliefs, discuss historical evidence, and explain how each belief differs across cultures. This book is a perfect gateway for anyone curious about superstitious and magical beliefs, with topics ranging from the everyday, such as dogs and iron, to legendary figures, such as Hermes Trismegistus and the Yellow Emperor.
The Women's Rights Movement since 1945: A Reference Guide (Guides to Historic Events in America)
by Christina G. LaroccoDocumenting the history of the American women's rights movement from 1945 through the 2016 election, this reference offers a crucial and objective look at the changing strategies, goals, and challenges of American feminists.Many aspects of women's lives in the mid-twentieth century—including legal subjugation to their husbands, limitations in education and employment, and restrictions on sexual and reproductive autonomy—are unthinkable today. Women's lives improved only through the concerted action of several generations of activists, whose work lies at the center of this volume. This book traces women's changing relationships to family, work, education, government, and sexuality from 1945 through the 2016 election.The book begins with an overview essay that places the women's rights movement in its historical context. This is followed by a chronology offering concise profiles of key events. A series of chapters then discusses the history of the women's rights movement since 1945 and what the movement has accomplished. Biographical entries profile key figures involved in the movement, and a selection of primary source documents gives first-hand accounts of the movement. An annotated bibliography directs readers to additional sources of information.
Dystopian States of America: Apocalyptic Visions and Warnings in Literature and Film
by Matthew B. HillDystopian States of America is a crucial resource that studies the impact of dystopian works on American society-including ways in which they reflect our deep and persistent fears about environmental calamities, authoritarian governments, invasive technologies, and human weakness.Dystopian States of America provides students and researchers with an illuminating resource for understanding the impact and relevance of dystopian and apocalyptic works in contemporary American culture. Through its wide survey of dystopian works in numerous forms and genres, the book encourages readers to connect with these works of fiction and understand how the catastrophically grim or disquieting worlds they portray offer insights into our own current situation.In addition to providing more than 150 encyclopedia articles on a large and representative sample of dystopian/apocalyptic narratives in fiction, film, television, and video games (including popular works that often escape critical inquiry), Dystopian States of America features a suite of critical essays on five themes-war, pandemics, totalitarianism, environmental calamity, and technological overreach-that serve as the foundation for most dystopian worlds of the imagination. These offerings complement one another, enabling readers to explore dystopian conceptions of America and the world from multiple perspectives and vantage points.
Women in Popular Culture [2 volumes]: The Evolution of Women's Roles in American Entertainment [2 volumes]
by Laura L. FinleyIncluding more than 300 alphabetically listed entries, this 2-volume set presents a timely and detailed overview of some of the most significant contributions women have made to American popular culture from the silent film era to the present day.The lives and accomplishments of women from various aspects of popular culture are examined, including women from film, television, music, fashion, and literature. In addition to profiles, the encyclopedia also includes chapters that provide a historical review of gender, domesticity, marriage, work, and inclusivity in popular culture as well as a chronology of key achievements.This reference work is an ideal introduction to the roles women have played, both in the spotlight and behind it, throughout the history of popular culture in America. From the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age to the chart toppers of the 2020s, author Laura L. Finley documents how attitudes towards these icons have evolved and how their influence has shifted throughout time. The entries and essays also address such timely topics as feminism, the #MeToo movement, and the gender pay gap.
Voices of American Women's History from Reconstruction to the Present: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life (Voices of an Era)
by Kristine Ashton GunnellThis collection of historical and contemporary writing by women argues that, in addition to gender, identity markers such as race, class, religion, citizenship, sexuality, and marital status have influenced women's lives in the United States for more than 200 years.Voices of American Women's History illustrates that gender alone has never defined women's experiences in America. Women from diverse backgrounds are represented in media and documents that include pamphlets, book excerpts, personal narratives, photographs, advertisements, congressional testimonies, and Supreme Court rulings. Such issues as abortion, marriage equality, domestic violence, and gender parity are shown from historical and contemporary angles, as this collection of primary sources allows readers and students to easily trace how women's lives and histories have and continue to intersect. With a historical context for each selection, the book also features structured activities to help teachers with class discussion and exams, including suggestions for further reading, document analysis, essay questions, and manageable research assignments.
Modern Nigeria (Understanding Modern Nations)
by Alex Egodotaye Asakitikpi Aretha Oluwakemi AsakitikpiDiscover Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, in this thematic encyclopedia that covers everything from geography and economics to etiquette and pop culture.Part of Bloomsbury's Understanding Modern Nations series, this volume takes readers on a tour of contemporary Nigeria, helping them better understand the country and the many cultures, religions, and ethnicities that call it home. Chapters are organized thematically, examining a variety of topics, including geography, history, government, economics, religion, ethnic and social groups, gender, education, language, etiquette, food, literature and the arts, and pop culture. Each chapter begins with an overview essay, followed by a selection of encyclopedic entries that provide a more nuanced look at that facet of modern Nigeria. The main text is supplemented with sidebars that highlight additional high-interest topics. A collection of appendices rounds out the volume, offering short vignettes of daily life in the country, a glossary of key terms, statistical data, and a list of state holidays.Once a pawn of British colonialism, today Nigeria is a sovereign nation and key player on the world stage. Its vast oil resources have made it an international powerhouse and the wealthiest country on the African continent, yet political unrest and corruption, and ethnic and religious violence continue to threaten this prosperity. Nigeria is equally rich culturally, a nation where time-honored traditions mix with contemporary influences. Explore the diversity of modern Nigeria in this concise and accessible volume.
Martin Luther King Jr.: A Life in American History (Black History Lives)
by Jamie J. WilsonThis accessible, up-to-date, and timely biography of Martin Luther King Jr. offers readers a fresh approach to King's life, achievements,and lasting contributions to civil rights, social justice, and American history. Jamie J. Wilson's richly informed narrative follows King's early life as the son of a noted Baptist preacher in Atlanta, to his adulthood as the most visible, influential, and controversial leader of the civil rights movement in the United States during the 1960s. Going beyond the typical cradle-to-the-grave biography, Wilson situates King within and alongside the major events that King helped define, including the push for desegregation, equal rights for Black Americans, and the antiwar movement. Chapters are organized chronologically, and a supplementary chapter, "Why Martin Luther King Jr. Matters," takes up King's ongoing cultural and historical significance. Additionally, carefully chosen "Cultural Connections" are placed throughout the text to help students draw lines between King's life and the social, political, and intellectual currents with which King was and remains synonymous.
Marriage and Divorce in America: Issues, Trends, and Controversies
by Jaimee L. Hartenstein, EditorThis wide-ranging resource will help readers understand the history and current state of marriage and divorce in the United States, including their many cultural, economic, political, legal, and religious facets. Coverage includes information and insights on broad trends in relationships that are changing the landscape of American society, such as childcare, delayed marriages, blended families, and prevalence of marriage and divorce among various socioeconomic groups. In addition, the encyclopedia features in-depth entries covering high-interest issues that are shaping the character of marriage, divorce, relationships, and family life in the 21st century, including economic/legal topics (child support, prenups, divisions of assets in divorce, the wedding industry, no-fault divorce, legal representation in divorce, and economic independence as a factor in separations/divorce); other divorce factors (infidelity, parenthood, illness, domestic abuse, and child abuse); and a host of other legal/cultural issues, factors, and phenomena, both current and historical.
Human Migration and the Refugee Crisis: Origins and Global Impact (Flashpoints: Global Crisis and Conflict)
by Eliot DickinsonDiscover the origins and consequences of human movement over time, from the 16th-century Age of Discovery to 21st-century immigration politics.This book examines the complex forces behind international migration and the enormous impact it is having on our globalized world. Chapters cover both the challenges and opportunities associated with migration in a broad selection of countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. Readers will find in-depth analysis of such recent events as the Ukrainian refugee crisis, violence against immigrants in South Africa, support for right-wing political parties in Germany, Australia's use of offshore detention centers, and the Trump administration's efforts to curb immigration. Readers will also uncover the historical antecedents to the modern landscape of human migration, including the push for colonization and the exploitation and horrors of the slave trade. The book also investigates the profound impact that climate change will have on patterns of human migration in the coming years. Taken together, the chapters offer candid and compelling coverage of a dynamic subject that affects millions of people worldwide. For readers wishing to delve even deeper into this multifaceted and often contentious subject, a comprehensive list of recommended readings serves as a gateway to further exploration.
Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History
by Victoria SherrowThis popular volume on the culture of hair through human history and around the globe has been updated and revised to include even more entries and current information.How we style our hair has the ability to shape the way others perceive us. For example, in 2017, the singer Macklemore denounced his hipster undercut hairstyle, a style that is associated with Hitler Youth and alt-right men, and in 2015, actress Rose McGowan shaved her head in order to take a stance against the traditional Hollywood sex symbol stereotype.This volume examines how hair-or lack thereof-can be an important symbol of gender, class, and culture around the world and through history. Hairstyles have come to represent cultural heritage and memory, and even political leanings, social beliefs, and identity. This second edition builds upon the original volume, updating all entries that have evolved over the last decade, such as by discussing hipster culture in the entries on beards and mustaches and recent medical breakthroughs in hair loss. New entries have been added that look at specific world regions, hair coverings, political symbolism behind certain styles, and other topics.
Global Dishes: Favorite Meals from around the World
by Caryn E. Neumann Lori L. Parks Joel G. ParksThrough an interdisciplinary approach that shows how food can reflect a culture and time, this book whets the appetite of students for further research into history, anthropology, geography, sociology, and literature.Food is a great unifier. It is used to mark milestones or rites of passage. It is integral to the way we celebrate, connecting a familial and cultural past to the present through tradition. It bolsters the ill and soothes those in mourning. The dishes in this text are those that have come to be known within a part of the world and culture, but also have moved beyond those borders and are accessible and enjoyed by many in our ever-smaller and more-interconnected world.Featuring more than 100 recipes and detailed discussions of dishes from across the globe, Global Dishes: Favorite Meals from around the World explores the history and cultural context surrounding some of the best-known and favorite foods. The book covers national dishes from more than 100 countries, including large nations like Mexico and small countries like Macao. There is also coverage of foods beloved by Indigenous peoples, such as the Sami of Scandinavia. Traditional favorites are offered as well as newer dishes.
From Rage to Reason: Why We Need Sex Crime Laws Based on Facts, Not Fear
by Emily HorowitzAnalyzing sex-offense laws and false claims, this book shows that laws based on vengeance rather than justice or evidence create new forms of harm while failing to address the real and pervasive problem of sexual violence.In this timely and extensively researched book, sociologist Emily Horowitz shows how current sex-offense policies in the United States create new forms of harm and prevent those who have caused harm from the process of constructive repentance or contributing to society after punishment. Horowitz also illustrates the failure of criminal justice responses to social problems. Sharing detailed narratives from the experiences of those on registries and their loved ones, Horowitz reveals the social impact and cycle of violence that results from dehumanizing and banishing those who have already been held accountable.From Rage to Reason offers a new perspective on how and why false claims about sex offenses became so pervasive and how these myths fostered ineffective policies that have little to do with the reality of most sexual abuse. It argues that to truly prevent sexual abuse, we must unearth the sources of these misunderstandings, debunk these claims in a systematic way, and have frank and genuine discussions about the limits of legal responses to complex social problems.
Food Insecurity: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)
by William D. Schanbacher Whitney Fung UyThis comprehensive and authoritative one-stop resource examines the issue of food insecurity in the United States, including the various economic, social, political, and cultural factors that drive the problem.Social welfare agencies, schools, food banks, and other organizations have all put forth efforts to combat food insecurity, but it remains a serious risk for millions of poor Americans today. Food Insecurity: A Reference Handbook examines the reasons why food insecurity remains such a longstanding problem in American society.Beginning with a history of food insecurity from the country's origins to the present day, the book also delves into the problems and controversies related to food insecurity, such as urban food deserts, substance abuse impacts, nutrition education, and income inequality. One of the most valuable aspects of the book is that it surveys the history of food insecurity in a manner that helps the reader identify key issues in an easy-to-understand fashion. The book's Perspectives chapter presents a broad range of voices on various facets of food insecurity, providing crucial, diverse perspectives to round out the coverage and expertise of the authors.
Europe [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Culture and Society [2 volumes]
by Thomas M. WilsonThis two-volume encyclopedia profiles the contemporary culture and society of every country in Europe. Each country receives a chapter encompassing such topics as religion, lifestyle and leisure, standard of living, cuisine, gender roles, relationships, dress, music, visual arts, and architecture.This authoritative and comprehensive encyclopedia provides readers with richly detailed entries on the 45 nations that comprise modern Europe. Each country profile looks at elements of contemporary life related to family and work, including popular pastimes, customs, beliefs, and attitudes. Students can make cross-cultural comparisons-for instance, a student could compare social customs in Denmark with those in Norway, compare Greece's cuisine with that of Italy, and contrast the architecture of Paris with Amsterdam and Barcelona. Culture and society are changing in each region and nation of Europe due to many political and economic forces, both inside and outside of each nation's borders. This encyclopedia considers many of the transformations connected to globalization, as well as traditions that still hold strong, to provide a complete assessment of the processes that make European societies and cultures distinctive.
Creating a Person-Centered Library: Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons
by Elizabeth A. Wahler Sarah C. JohnsonCreating a Person-Centered Library provides a comprehensive overview of various services, programs, and collaborations to help libraries serve high-needs patrons as well as strategies for supporting staff working with these individuals.While public libraries are struggling to address growing numbers of high-needs patrons experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, mental health problems, substance abuse, and poverty-related needs, this book will help librarians build or contribute to library services that will best address patrons' psychosocial needs.The authors, experienced in both library and social work, begin by providing an overview of patrons' psychosocial needs, structural and societal reasons for the shift in these needs, and how these changes impact libraries and library staff. Chapters focus on best practices for libraries providing person-centered services and share lessons learned, including information about special considerations for certain patron populations that might be served by individual libraries. The book concludes with information about how library organizations can support public library staff.Librarians and library students who are concerned about both patrons and library staff will find the practical advice in this book invaluable.
Corruption and Scandal in American Sports: Causes and Consequences
by Jimmy SandersonScandals about cheating and corruption have dogged amateur and professional sports in the United States since the nation's earliest days. This work examines the most infamous and consequential of these controversies and scandals both on and off the field.Authoritative Individual essays tackle notorious events in popular American sports ranging from the 1919 Black Sox scandal to revelations of sign stealing by the Houston Astros throughout their 2020 championship season, with stops in between to survey horrific sex abuse scandals at Penn State, Baylor, and Michigan State; steroid and drug scandals that brought down once-admired athletes like Mark McGwire and Lance Armstrong; and cheating/betting controversies that tainted individual players (Pete Rose), teams (Boston College, New England Patriots), and entire leagues (including the Little League World Series in 2001). But this work does more than just recount these events; it will also examine the cultural and economic pressures and forces that contributed to these events, as well as the lessons learned and steps taken (if any) to enact reform and help the sport recover.