Recent books published by the campus community include Wheeler Winston Dixon’s “Black and White Cinema: A Short History,” which is the first study to consider black-and-white film as an art form. Also featured is Steve Smith’s “Forever Red: More Confessions of a Cornhusker Fan.”
Black and White Cinema: A Short History, by Wheeler Winston Dixon, James Ryan Professor of Film (Rutgers University Press, 2015, 256 pages) — From the glossy monochrome of the classic Hollywood romance, to the gritty greyscale of the gangster picture, to film noir’s moody interplay of light and shadow, black-and-white cinematography has been used to create a remarkably wide array of tones. Yet today, with black-and-white film stock nearly impossible to find, these cinematographic techniques are virtually extinct, and filmgoers’ appreciation of them wanes. “Black and White Cinema” provides a comprehensive and global overview of the era when it flourished, from the 1900s to the 1960s. Dixon introduces readers to the masters of this art, discussing the signature styles and technical innovations of award-winning cinematographers like James Wong Howe, Gregg Toland, Freddie Francis and Sven Nykvist. Giving us a unique glimpse behind the scenes, Dixon also reveals the creative teams — from lighting technicians to matte painters — whose work profoundly shaped the look of black-and-white cinema. The book includes more than 40 on-the-set still photos.
Forever Red: More Confessions of a Cornhusker Fan, by Steve Smith, news director, University Communications (University of Nebraska Press, 2015, 256 pages) — A journey into an obsessed Nebraska fan’s soul, “Forever Red” immerses readers in the mad, mad world of Husker football fandom — where wearing the scarlet-and-cream Huskers gear has its own peculiar rules; where displaced followers act as the program’s ambassadors, finding Husker subculture beyond the pale; and where the team’s performance can barely keep pace with its followers’ expectations but sometimes exceeds their wildest dreams. Revised, updated and expanded from the 2005 edition, Smith’s story of 30-plus years following the team takes readers back to memorable game moments from 1980 up through the roller-coaster ride of recent years. Blending wit and insight, Smith offers a window on the world to the uninitiated and the fellow fanatic alike where fantasy and football meet, where dreams of glory and gritty gridiron realities forever join.
This regular UNL Today column publishes information about the recent publications of UNL faculty, staff and students. For more information about each publication, click the link within the related book. The campus community can submit recent publications news to tfedderson@unl.edu or call 402-472-8515.
