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MBP Holiday Gift Guide, Part 2: The Pop Culture & Media Junkie
November 30, 2009
If you’re like most of the staff at MBP, you’re already a die-hard pop culture junkie. For the friends and family members who partake in a bit of pop cult fandom as well, we have a range of books that are sure to please (on any budget), from books on movie posters, to travel, to theme restaurants.
Under $15
Products for a Happy Life
by Jennifer McKnight-Trontz
$9.95
Seeks to “un-take” for granted some of the most elegant and most functional household goods: a hefty pair of scissors, a hammer with a hickory handle, a cotton T-shirt, reminding us to take joy in the simple things.
Madonna of the Toast
by Buzz Poole
$14.95
All over the world people cherish different beliefs. Regardless if these beliefs are rooted in religion or popular culture, a true believer cannot be swayed. So, when Mother Teresa surfaces on a cinnamon bun, the manifestation turns into an event that attracts global attention. “Madonna of the Toast” documents what happens when religious and secular icons appear on objects such as pancakes, potato chips and cows.
Traveler’s Advisory
By Jessica Lehrer, Rick Lightstone & Alice Murray
$14.95
“Traveler’s Advisory” is for anyone who has or will journey, anywhere, anytime; whether domestically or internationally; staying in 4-star hotels or fleabag hostels; going by plane, train or family clunker. Witty adages and man-on-the-street photography humorously identify the pitfalls and challenges that all travelers face, no matter the destination.
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From $15-$25
Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo
by La Carmina
$24.95
Even if you’ve been to Tokyo, you’ve never done a restaurant tour like the one endeavored by La Carmina in this book. Traditional dishes like sushi, rice balls and curry get tricked out thanks to theme restaurants inspired by everything from religions to animals. Waitresses dressed as maids slap you when you lose a food version of Russian roulette that concludes with an unbearable amount of wasabi; a drunken Buddhist monk imparts wisdom; boy-toys dote on female customers; ninjas bring menus and throw food.
Warning
By Nicole Recchia
$19.95
Designed with the intention of ensuring clarity, warning signs from around the world are frequently awkward, curious and comical. “Warning” is a collection of some 160 macabre warning labels from around the world, depicting the worst hazards imaginable. Be entertained, be amused, but most of all, be forewarned!
Imposters
By Jim Knoblauch & Shawna Kenney
$24.95
“Imposters” documents the out-of-work actors and vagrants who spend their days dressed up as characters like Superman, Spongebob Squarepants and Marilyn Monroe, filching a few bucks from out-of-towners. Photographer James Knoblauch befriended these people and photographed them at home, in their costumes. Coupled with interviews conducted by Knoblauch and writer Shawna Kenney, Imposters reveals the culture of celebrity’s humorous and revealing underbelly.
Arabic Tattoos
by Jon Udelson
$17.95
Although Islam prohibits tattooing, “Arabic Tattoos” documents the reasons why people from the United States and Europe get these tattoos, ranging from names converted from Latin alphabets to Arabic, to bold words like “infidel” emblazoned on US soldiers returning to Iraq.
In China, My Name is…
by Valerie Blanco & Ellen Feberwee
$19.95
“In China, My Name Is . . .” asks more than 200 Chinese people – young and old, from the cities and the provinces – their reasons for taking on their English nicknames. A young woman with a sweet tooth calls herself “Candy”; because he loves the movie, “Rainman’s” decision was an easy one. Clark, Merry, Shout Dogg, Ranger – their unique stories provide an intimate, Chinese perspective on the country’s development into a global force.
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$25 and Up
EdgyCute: From Neo-Pop to Low-Brow and Back Again
by Harry Saylor
$45.00
Forty-eight internationally acclaimed artists dwell in the nether regions of the imagination; their work has appeared in museums, marketing campaigns and our dreams.
Translating Hollywood
by Sam Sarowitz
$45.00
Culled from the collection of movie-poster aficionado Sam Sarowitz’s Posteritati Gallery, “Translating Hollywood” examines how the posters used to sell the same film in different countries speak volumes for how cultural tendencies are reflected in graphic design and how the differences are about much more than language.
