Books About Art

This assortment of study guides focuses on the arts, from cinema to cuisine. Read on to explore Aristotle’s Poetics, which analyzes the nature and uses of poetry; An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski, a manual for actors based on the author’s work and teachings at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia; and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, which chronicles the art of fine dining.

Sonnet 18

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1609

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Love, Beauty, Environment

Tags Romance, Arts & Culture, Elizabethan Era

William Shakespeare is the best-known author of the English Renaissance—also known as the Early Modern Period and the Elizabethan Age. Though readers’ attention tends to be more riveted toward his plays, Shakespeare published 154 sonnets during his exceptionally prolific career, in addition to the longer-form poems Venus and Adonis (1593), The Rape of Lucrece (1594), and The Phoenix and the Turtle (1601). Fifteen editions of Venus and Adonis—a poem in the form of 199 six-line... Read Sonnet 18 Summary

Sparks Like Stars

by Nadia Hashimi

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, War, Grief, Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Guilt, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Colonialism, Globalization, Immigration

Tags Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Arts & Culture

... Read Sparks Like Stars Summary

Spunk

by Zora Neale Hurston

Publication year 1925

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Loyalty & Betrayal, Revenge

Tags Harlem Renaissance, Women`s Studies, American Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, US History, Arts & Culture, Black Lives Matter, African American Literature

“Spunk” is a short story by Zora Neale Hurston published in 1925. Set in the rural Southern United States, “Spunk” follows the conflict that ensues when one man pursues another man’s wife. The story’s publication helped establish Hurston as a significant literary voice during the Harlem Renaissance. In 1989, George C. Wolfe adapted the story, along with content from two others by Hurston, into a play by the same name. Citations in this guide correspond... Read Spunk Summary

Story

by Robert McKee

Publication year 1997

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, Appearance & Reality, Language

Tags Arts & Culture, Business & Economics

... Read Story Summary

Stung

by Bethany Wiggins

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Perseverance, Friendship

Tags Science Fiction, Romance, Arts & Culture, Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Stung is a 2013 work of young adult fiction by Bethany Wiggins. The setting is a near-future dystopia in which honeybees are extinct, resulting in famine and a breakdown of societal infrastructures. As 17-year-old Fiona Tarsis battles both beasts and humans in an effort to stay alive and learn the truth, the novel explores themes of humanity and violence through the lens of gender dynamics. Stung earned a Starred Review from Kirkus; a sequel, Cured... Read Stung Summary

Sugar

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Family, Friendship, Social Class, Equality, Race

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Diversity, Race & Racism, US History, Reconstruction Era, Children`s Literature, World History, Arts & Culture

... Read Sugar Summary

Sweet Tooth

by Ian McEwan

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Nation, Literature

Tags Historical Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Relationships, Arts & Culture, European History, Politics & Government, British Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, World History, Romance

Sweet Tooth is a 2012 novel by Ian McEwan. Set in the 1970s, it tells the story of one woman’s involvement with MI5 and the world of literature. Themes include the balance of power, navigating lies and deceit, and conditional versus unconditional acceptance.Plot SummarySerena Frome grows up in a small, uninteresting English city. In the 1960s, her mother encourages her to study mathematics at Cambridge University even though Serena (a keen reader) would rather study... Read Sweet Tooth Summary

Swing Time

by Zadie Smith

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Shame & Pride, Femininity, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Mothers, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Art, Beauty, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Music, Realistic Fiction, British Literature, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Finance, Gender & Feminism, History: African , European History, Love & Sexuality, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction

Swing Time (2016) is renowned author Zadie Smith’s fifth novel. Inspired by classic movie musicals and Smith’s childhood passion for musical theater, Swing Time is a story about women, how forms of privilege warp our worldviews, and the ways in which history informs our present. The novel is divided into seven parts, each narrated by the same unnamed protagonist sometimes as a child and sometimes as an adult.One of the most respected literary voices of... Read Swing Time Summary

Sylvia And Aki

by Winifred Conkling

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Education, Race, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Family, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Social Class, Community, Equality, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, World War II, Children`s Literature, Military & War, World History, Arts & Culture

... Read Sylvia And Aki Summary

Tartuffe

by Molière

Publication year 1664

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Trust & Doubt, Religion & Spirituality, Family

Tags Comedy & Satire, Relationships, Arts & Culture, French Literature, Education, Education, Humor, Classic Fiction

Tartuffe, also known as The Imposter or The Hypocrite, is a Neoclassical comedy written by French playwright, actor, writer, and director Molière, born as Jean-Baptiste Poquelin. It was first produced in 1664 in France. While King Louis XIV and the public enjoyed the play, religious groups, including the Catholic Church and members of the upper class, condemned it for its display of a seemingly religious character who preys on those around on him for his... Read Tartuffe Summary

Taste

by Stanley Tucci

Publication year 2021

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Fame, Beauty, Memory, Love

Tags Food, European History, Arts & Culture

... Read Taste Summary

Tasting the Sky

by Ibtisam Barakat

Publication year 2007

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Coming of Age, War, Gender Identity, Childhood & Youth, Language, Literature, Family

Tags Middle Eastern History, Military & War, Education, Education, World History, Arts & Culture, Biography

In her memoir, Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood (2007), Palestinian-American author and poet Ibtisam Barakat describes her early childhood in Palestine during the Six-Day War of 1967 and the life-changing effects that follow this pivotal event. Combining richly descriptive prose and free-verse poetry, Ibtisam shares often painful memories of childhood losses, from her home and sense of security to her childhood innocence. Writing from a child’s perspective, Ibtisam transcends politics to poignantly highlight how... Read Tasting the Sky Summary

Technopoly

by Neil Postman

Publication year 1992

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology

Tags Technology, Sociology, Education, Education, Science & Nature, World History, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Arts & Culture, Politics & Government

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology is a 1992 nonfiction book by Neil Postman, a professor of education and communication. The book examines the influence of technology in society, particularly its rapid spread, far-reaching effects, and unquestioned acceptance. The last point is significant: Postman is not unequivocally opposed to technology but worries that it is not sufficiently scrutinized.The author begins with an overview of technology and how it works culturally. He reviews the history... Read Technopoly Summary

Thank You, M'am

by Langston Hughes

Publication year 1958

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Tags Harlem Renaissance, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Arts & Culture, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

A “large woman with a large purse that ha[s] everything in it but hammer and nails” is walking home late at night when a teenage boy runs up to her and tries to steal her purse (Paragraph 1). He loses his balance and falls, and the woman “kick[s] him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter” before hauling him to his feet (Paragraph 1). She questions why he tried to rob her before remarking that his... Read Thank You, M'am Summary