History Deary not Dreary.

Advantages: Fun and informative
Disadvantages: none

...The section on eating like an Aztec is enough for children and adult's stomach's to turn inside out! How about lake scum made into cakes? This book gives an interesting insight. The book discusses the Maya and Aztecs, I really only learnt about the Mayan and Aztec civilisation through Art and this was certainly not in Primary School - this is a problem today with the school curriculum being forever squeezed tighter and tighter only a handful of history is taught to children in the Primary school but that is another debate because it is the Education Department who decides what history should be taught... so another reason to buy these wonderful books. The Stormin' Normans - Terry Deary This is another fun book full of facts about 'Big Bad Bill the Conqueror' The Battle of Hastings and the Crusades, full of quizzes and scary tales all set...

teacherofhooch 19.08.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Horrible Histories

Art and History in Portsmouth

Advantages: Strong on local history
Disadvantages: Not good for the disabled

...Having said in my recent review of the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester that I did not think I could see a work of art by a major artist in Portsmouth, it is now time to set the record straight. The Portsmouth City Museum and Records Office is barely a mile from where I live, so I decided one Sunday morning to see what sort of culture there was right on my doorstep. To my surprise, I discovered a small sculpture by Barbara Hepworth as well as a work by Victor Pasmore. I therefore stand corrected. An imposing red brick building, the museum is not purpose built but a former barracks. It is situated on Museum Road, very close to the university as well as Portsmouth Grammar School, and only about five minutes' walk from Gunwharf Quays. There is an area of lawn with one or two seats in front of the entrance. On entering you find...

denella 21.04.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Portsmouth City Museum and Records Office

American History X

Advantages: Great plot, superb characters and a theme that needed to be discussed
Disadvantages: violent

.... However, I would totally defend the film because to me it's actually a good piece of art. Rather than making a lovely dove semi violent movie, the director when for the honest and brutal truth about the Aryan gangs, the racial hatred in the world and what can happen in prison (if you bend down for the soap). Quick Info on the Director: Tony Kaye is actually an English Director born in London, 1952. Unfortunately American History X was his only feature film, which to me was a real shame is this film really bought out the best in the director, but he stuck around directing music videos and continued doing lower key documentaries and so on. But his biggest accolade was this film. Basic Plot Outline (Well its actually quite complicated) Ok well ill try my best to explain the general plot of the story, without having to give away too...

jaygami1986 08.02.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of American History X (DVD)

LEARN ABOUT HENRY VIII AND BE A MANAGING DIRECTOR

Advantages: see op
Disadvantages: see op

...When you hark back to your school days and recall your History lessons, you probably remember an ageing, eccentric, bespectacled, frizzy haired and shabbily clothed old bat who would be better suited playing Mrs Overall on Acorn Antiques than teaching a bunch of children the intricacies of history. You probably only ever learnt about how bad Hitler was or how Britain rose from nothing to create the Industrial Revolution. This probably put you off studying history. If it didn’t, and you persevered to A Level standard, you would have realised that studying History is both interesting, useful and utterly enjoyable. Now this isn’t an opinion on studying History at Nottingham University; unfortunately on Ciao they lump individual subjects into a particular University and do not stand alone. Instead I want to break down...

jambo5678 15.07.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of History & Art History

American History X

Advantages: Edward Norton; Dialogue; Tension; Story
Disadvantages: Propaganda

..."We're so hung up on this notion that we have some obligation to help the struggling black man, you know. Cut him some slack until he can overcome these historical injustices. It's crap. I mean, Christ, Lincoln freed the slaves, like, what? 130 years ago. How long does it take to get your act together?" --Derek Vinyard Edward Norton is one of those rare contemporary actors that you know whatever movie he's going to be in it's going to be good. American History X is by no means an exception, with Norton phenomenal in his performance as an ex-neo-Nazi attempting to prevent his brother from pursuing the path he did. Edward Furlong (Terminator 2) plays the young skinhead Danny Vinyard, criticised by his teacher (Avery Brooks) for turning in a paper on Mein Kampf. The black teacher then instructs Danny to create a report...

andycarrington 10.02.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of American History X (DVD)

History of the ashes sport dvd

Advantages: Read Opp
Disadvantages: Read Opp

...history of the ashes Back in eighteen eighty two a test match series between england and australia started a regular feature for cricket fans. The eighteen eighty two series provided a victory for england, and it was the australian's who got a request granted to play a fourth test match, and whilst they won, it was england who got to keep the famous ern where the ashes are kept. The series is played every two years, though only once every four years back here in England. this dvd lasts two hours eleven minutes, and it provides a historical platform in terms of cricketing. clips shown of great catches, supreme batting performances, and legendary bowlers of cricket's all time, hall of cricketing fame. The dvd also is interesting to see how world war one and two affected english cricket. the results of the ashes are mainly...

costas1234 25.04.2008 (19.06.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of History Of The Ashes (DVD)

The history of art in your pocket

Advantages: Informative, concise, neat images
Disadvantages: Small print

...Phaidon Press' compact 'The Art Book' is an easy to use and informative guide to 500 influential artists, from medieval to modern times. It is ordered alphabetically with each artist getting a single page, featuring a comment(about 170 words) and a colour image. 'The Art Book' is really handy for people with an active interest in art. It's small enough to fit in your pocket, so it's great to take to galleries. The pictures are only about 15cm tall, but they're sharp, all colour and printed on quite good paper. The comments are concise combinations of history and criticism (be warned if you need reading glasses, the print is very small). Another useful feature is that each artist's page has a footnote recommended similar artists, eg. BACON: see Bosch, Manzu, Soutine, Sutherland, Velazquez. 'The Art Book' manages to skim through...

eraserhead 23.12.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Art Book: Mini Edition - Phaidon Press

History at Keele

Advantages: Great scenery, fun lecturers, wide range of topics
Disadvantages: Disorganistion of admin

...I'm a current second year at Keele University studying American Studies and History. I love the place, it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere and that suits me to a t. History has always been a passion of mine and I love spending my spare time visiting museums and reading books, so a degree studying the subject seemed a good idea to me! The history department at Keele is pretty much like any other department in Keele - pretty disorganised but run by a fantastic bunch of people! The secretaries in the office are great and answer any queries quickly and the lecturers range from grumpy old sods to young "hip" PHD student lecturers. So there's a wide range of learning for all. *Year One* All first year history students study a set outline. In the first semester this involves 'Modern History', which is mostly taught through 10...

nutter_but_nice 04.04.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of History

Making History Enjoyable

Advantages: An intelligently crafted film
Disadvantages: Extras not worth watching repeatedly

...When I sat down over Christmas 2007 to watch a BBC showing of "The History Boys", I did so with no real expectations. I was aware it was written by Alan Bennett, who was someone I was aware of, but whose work had largely passed me by. I also knew that it had started life as a highly successful play, but that was about the extent of my knowledge. I thought it would make for acceptable enough background noise as I read my book, never thinking that not only would the book be forgotten that night, but that the DVD would soon go straight onto my Amazon Wishlist and soon become part of my collection. In 1980s Sheffield, eight students at Cutler's Grammar School have gained the best A-Level results the school has ever seen. Keen to go to either Oxford or Cambridge Universities, they return for an extra term to study for the entrance exams...

Soho_Black 25.05.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of The History Boys (DVD)

The Art of Death

Advantages: Good second half, some interesting details
Disadvantages: Clunky plot, a bit meandering

...halfway through it was much better. The main character is Adelia - "The Mistress of the Art of Death" - i.e a forensic pathologist. Her struggle to conceal her profession is quite prominent in the plot as female doctors were unusual in the twelfth century. She is helping Simon of Naples discover the killer through the clues left on the bodies of the victims. I found this quite interesting although I'm not sure how realistic it would be in the twelfth century. The plot does wander a bit as it is so concerned with Adelia and her origins and training. The character of Rowley (the King's so-called tax inspector) is ok but the romance seems to have been thrown in as a bit of an afterthought and didn't add anything to the story for me. Mansur and Gyltha offered some light relief as the servants as did Gyltha's grandson Ulf. Simon of Naples was...

mogdred1 27.01.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Mistress of the Art of Death - Ariana Franklin