Ceremonial Mask & More

Reviews

I BUY THIS AS A GIIFT FOR SOME ONE THEY LOVE IT PLUS THE SHIPIN WAS ON TIME AND WAS MOST HELP FULL VERY IMPRESS

Reviews

When I got these I thought they were going to be bigger but I also never really looked at the size of them when I placed my order. Other than that though, the masks are really cool! They look great in our living room, which is safari themed. The masks add a nice touch! =)

Reviews

I am not going to summarize or highlight this book. I say this because it is important that you read this book on your own terms and interpret Fanon's theories in your way and time. If you are even reading this book you are already aware of some of the theories that Fanon developed and lived. This awareness will guide you to your understanding and hopefully his writing will allow to truly see others and most importantly, see yourself.

This is and was a great book. Even though he discussed the effects of racism in regards to his native land of Martinique we Mr. Fanon has to say still resounds in today's so-called PC world. I do wish he had lived long enough to see Barack Obama elected President of the United States. I would have loved to hear his take on that. The only aspect I found missing from this book is his opinion on Black American ex-patriots living in France. James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Josephine Baker.... Did these African-Americans living in Paris not realize the effect of colonolism on all Africans in the Diaspora?, or were they treated as "Honorary Whites" in France. I truly wish Frantz Fanon had explored that entire subject.

"I am black; I am in total fusion with the world, in sympathetic affinity with the earth, losing my id in the heart of the cosmos... I am black, not because of a curse, but because my skin has been able to capture all the cosmic effluvia. I am truly a drop of sun under the earth." (p. 27)~ Thus Fanon reaches into the experience and meaning of the black man's alienation. This alienation strikes in an essential sense--it stems from the denial of the black man's very flesh: "The black man is attacked for his corporeality. It is his tangible personality that is lynched. It is his actual being that is dangerous..." (142). The white man, who has been obsessed with eradicating the body out of collective consciousness for millennia, now associates this abjected domain of the body with the black man, and constructs it as the essential evil Other. The white man does this because he is insecure--he does this out of hatred, a hatred that he works to cultivate, that consumes his time and energy. The white man is dehumanized. Projecting his fears onto the black man, the white man shirks his responsibility to acknowledge his guilt (83) in instrumentalizing the black man (206). Even though this work was written over 50 years ago in a literal colony of Europe, sadly it remains only too relevant in the United States today as a condition between people that allegedly have the same legal and human rights. This is largely made possible by the many ever-so-casual-racists (who vehemently deny they are racist)--people who, for example, complain about affirmative action as unfair to them personally (nevermind history and generations of enslavement and stolen opportunities). Fanon writes, "outside university circles there is an army of fools... Granted, these fools are the product of a psychological-economic substructure. But that does not get us anywhere" (18). An education for racial tolerance from which we are sadly very far removed is necessary for moving towards a world of love.

If you want to understand racial identity, you should read Fanon's approach. The most influential author on ethnicity and colonization in the twentieth century.

Frantz Fanon was a contemporary writer of the 1950's. Born in Martinique, he studied psychiatry and medicine in France as a young man after volunteering his services in World War II. He had an educational background in post colonial studies including racism and colonization. At the age of 27 he published "Black Skin, White Masks" which played a vital role in civil rights and Black consciousness movements throughout its time. Fanon's analysis of the Black psyche, "Black Skin, White Masks", was amazingly interesting and educational. It gave me a fresh perspective to what it means to live as the minority, as a person of color in a White world. This is a wonderful review of how the French of different backgrounds interacted with each other. There are also a few downfalls in understanding "Black Skin, White Masks". This book is hard to follow because it jumps around quite a bit, making various points throughout the same train of thought. There are many topics covered, one of the most thoroughly explored being romantic love between interracial couples. It also explores the use of language and the importance of knowing one's familial, racial, and cultural history. One of the topics Fanon concentrates on is the Black man and his goals in life. To understand what Black men go through, one has to first understand the history of the particular Black man he is talking about which is born in an island off of France then moves to France and faces the culture shock of entering a country where the language and customs are different. Here the Black man goes from being comfortable and part of a larger entity to being the minority. At this stage the Black man feels he is worthless because of the history of the relationship of Blacks and Whites, where the Black man has led a forced life of servitude and abuse which has caused him to believe that he is inferior to the White man. The White man's racism has created the White man's feeling of superiority which correlates with the Black man's feeling of inferiority. Because of this inferiority complex the Black man has an overpowering need to prove himself equal to the White man. Fanon goes on to argue that the Black man's goal is to prove to Whites, Blacks and himself that he is an intelligent, good, and worthy of pursuing happiness individual. One of the most detailed examples was how the Black man attempts to get closer to being White by having any relationship, be it friendship or romantic (preferably sexual), with a White person other than a master/slave association. As an example Fanon tells a story of a young mulatto woman who marries a White man and in a split second goes from being the slave to being the master. Yet there are other cases when the Black man succeeds and he is not only rejected by Whites, he is repudiated by Blacks. Another theme was that of language and what happens to a Black person when he arrives to France. The Black man has to learn how to speak French as it is spoken in France in order to become "whiter", for example, an educated Black man is no longer seen as Black because Blacks are savages while the intellectual is civilized. Yet there have been many cases where despite the success of the Black man, Whites refuse to accept them as equals and show it by speaking to them in pidgin or as children. There is also the struggle of remaining part of the Black community after assimilating into the White world. After learning to speak French, he returns home as white in the eyes of other Black people. The Black man must be able to code change in order to survive in both worlds. Antillean education is looked at carefully in this book. Fanon compares the children of France with those of Martinique. As French children learn about their culture and their ancestors, Martinique children learn of the ancestors of others. Fanon proposes that the Black Martinique children should learn about Black history as a separate section in order to build self esteem and confidence. Children need to learn that there have been others in similar situations that have pulled through and made it despite discrimination and hate. If the educational system increases the Martinique children's knowledge and understanding of their own heritage and history, they will be able to make connections with their own ancestors and their amazing accomplishments. This would thus curb ideas of inferiority. There was a contrast between Blacks and Whites that kept the world as it was. In order for there to be white, there has to be black. In order for there to be a slave there has to be a master. In order for one group of peoples to be superior another group has to be inferior, and this is the case with Whites and Blacks. As a result, whatever one group is the other is the opposite. Here arise a series of stereotypes that support how people think of these two groups. Whites are intelligent, progressive, civil people while Blacks are primitive savages in need of taming. Since Blacks are savages they cannot control their emotional and sexual needs hence in contrast Whites are not sexual and have the ability to suppress their emotions. From this Fanon argues that a subtle jealousy was born; the White man envied the Black man's sexual freedom. As I read this book I could not help but think of my students and how they embody many of the same believes as Black men in the 1950's. The children I teach Mathematics to are people of color, either Latino or Black. I spend much of my day listening to them speak among themselves about various topics and have picked up on certain ideas that reflect that of past colonized populations. Although there is this total rejection of anything and everything that is White, there is also an underlining want to be White (perhaps mainstream is a better word). For example, I have heard my students discuss accents and the implication that those who have one are in some way less intelligent than those who speak like Americans. Students have also expressed in happiness that they do not speak their parent's native tongue, typically Spanish, which is an indication that they are closer to being white than those who's first language is not English. Another disturbing behavior I have noticed is the animosity towards Whites. It seems my students have been programmed to be hostile towards White people, especially peers. They constantly refer to Whites in derogatory terms; for example, when one of my mentors (an older White woman) spend a period in my classroom the students were flustered and after she left referred to her as "the white b*$^%" as opposed to "the lady who was just here". At the same time they insult each other by using terms that are associated with being Black such as insulting the wideness of their nose and/or thickness of their lips. I find this to be an interesting contradiction and would like to explore it further in hopes of understanding the contemporary adolescent. As a teacher I found this book to be very helpful in understanding why our children of color behave the way they do and why they consistently fail in a system designed for children who are not exposed to the gruesome situations the students in the South Bronx (where I teach) go through on a daily basis. These children could very well have an inferiority complex which they will have to overcome before being able to succeed in this White man's world.

Reviews

Excellent book kept u at the edge of your seat.interesting not all just drugs and whores . the robberies were intense. good read

Mr. Elliott done a good job with this book, I like his style of writing and he keeps you wanting more. Taking a walk with Elliott in to the world of Seven I got to see just how he got down for his, showing you his highs and lows all while tring to make away for his son. I enjoyed it, it was on point and stayed there. 50 did it again!

I think it's really cool that 50 is getting into writing (or co-writing) street fiction. The story line was written well & was a smooth & easy read. I read this book in one sitting! I look forward to more G-Unit books. Right before reading this one, I picked up and finished the Death Before Dishonor. I was not disappointed by either. Although Death before Dishonor was a better read,I enjoyed the Ski Mask way as well. I think there should be a sequel! After reading this book, I may start reading books by K. Elliott from here on out.

I LOVE THIS BOOK 50 & K.ELLIOT KNOW HOW TO GET YOUR ATTENTION WITH THIS BOOK.......A PAGE TURNER IT IS...YOU MUST READ THIS YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.............ONE PAGE AND B4 YOU KNOW IT YOU FINISH I JUST HAD TO FINISH IT AND IT'S ALL THAT. SEVEN DOES THE DAYUM THING.......WANT TO KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING BOUT COP THE BOOK~

There are not alot of authors who are able to both inform and entertain. K. Elliott has been able to do both and do it better than most authors who have been on the literary scene long than he. They just keep getting better and better.

Reviews

Great overview of all African masks, with intelligent background and supportive material. Not just a picture book or rehash of oft-repeated images. Really a book to be used and absorbed.. It will be a great help.

I bought the hardcover version of this & it is well worth the additional expense because the photos are excellent in quality & number. The printing of the photos is of a very high quality. The book is well organized by region & tribes; since many tribes do not adhere to modern borders. I also bought THE TRIBAL ARTS OF AFRICA it is very good but the organization is poor (by region & country) and the descriptions for the smaller photos are not in the same order as the photos, so one has to really search to find out what one is looking at. Whereas the variety and great quality of the photos in AFRICAN MASKS enabled me to definitively identify a mask I acquired 30 years ago. If you collect or love viewing West African carvings I recommend investing in the hardcover version.

This is the best book I have found on the psychology and understanding of African masks. Just fantastic, worth the money. 80% color plates, brief outline of basic African mask types and their interpretation, grouped by region and by style.

This is the best book I have found on the psychology and understanding of African masks. Just fantastic, worth the money. 80% color plates, brief outline of basic African mask types and their interpretation, grouped by region and by style.

First-rate, high quality throughout, this volume does what a book of this type should do: packs in plenty of color plates of the masks, and shows them being worn (in black-and-white in situ photos) on the accompanying left-hand pages of the spreads. The collection is far-ranging and, though it cannot include every type of mask, it does manage to convey the incredible variety, richness and paradoxical sophistication of this art form. Highly recommended.

Reviews

This set is the 1966 first season of the T.V. series 'Rat Patrol' and is complete with all 32 episodes and no commercials. You know back when a season for a T.V. series was real and actors worked for their pay. For one of the first color series I was pleased to see how clear and vibrant the recordings were. I do not remember them looking this good. The 'Rat Patrol' is non-stop World War II action having a two jeep (four man) Long Range Recon Team facing off against the larger German Recon Team. The series flow and keeps your attention. This is for pure entertainment, especially for those who love the World War II time period for entertainment. But remember that it is a series and the two units would never have let some of what the other unit gets away with when caught and there was no U.S. Long Range Recon in the North African Theatre of War. So this is by no way historically accurate...but what this series is...entertaining!

I grew up watching The Rat Patrol, along with my other favorite shows(Combat!,Have Gun,Will Travel,Twilight Zone,Outer Limits, among others(in syndication), and I was happy to see The Rat Patrol was finally available on dvd-- I thought with only two seasons, it might not be released(Unfortunately it was on during the Vietnam war, and by the second seadon, I think people had had enough of the real war without tuning in to a filmed one). But it was released and they did a wonderful job- nice clean complete prints-- the only drawback was no real extras-Interview with Hans Gudegust,I mean Eric Braeden,Larry Casey,possibly some of the other cast and crew would have been great(like was done with the Combat! set),but seeing these shows was great. The show starred Christopher George,who was tv's equvilent of John Wayne-not much range but what he had was great,Garry Raymond, Larry Casey,Justin Tarr and Hans Gudegast(later known as Eric Braeden). Anyway,I reccommend this set if you like WW II dramas,are a fan of Christopher George(or Eric), or you just want to enjoy a well done series.

I bought this for my husband as a gift ... he used to watch this when he was a kid. He had made the remark that he would love to see the show again, so we surprised him with it. He was so excited! It's great to be able to buy old memories. Good video!

This is an 30+ year old television series so it is a little dated. However if you like WWII shows this is a good one.

I was greatly pleased at the quality of the new dvds sold by Amazon and the quickness of reception by super-saver shipping. Both sets of Rat Patrol were perfect, flawless and complete with uninterrupted themes. I had the option to go to individual episodes or let every episode run in sequence; giving a full length movie-like viewing experience! Recommended for history buffs and to youth. It is a no blood showing, suggested shootings only, pg13 type seried that is safely within good taste yet full of interpersonal drama and military strategy. I like to adventure to north Africa in WW2 and hear authentic languages: german, berber etc. An exciting series.

Reviews

The numerous videos in "African Masks" are all great on their own, but are even better when seen together. This film allows viewers to see masked performances in Burkina Faso from three different decades, and provides a great source of comparison. I especially like the fact that it generates discussion regarding change and continuity in African art, and highlights the diversity among different cultures. While the historical footage is fascinating, I really like the contemporary videos from various masking festivals in Burkina Faso. I would recommend this film to anyone who has an interest in the arts of Africa, especially because it captures important aspects that are normally overlooked in a museum setting, such as movement, music, and community participation.