Kirjahaku

Fraser's diverse and wide-ranging book offers an examination of the work of four critically acclaimed novelists, Milan Kundera (The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Identity), Ian McEwan (Atonement and Saturday), Michel Houellebecq (Atomised and Platform) and J.M. Coetzee (Disgrace and Diary of a Bad Year), to aesthetically explore our understanding of identity. The analysis utilises frameworks from classical and contemporary political, philosophical and social theory to explore the notion of the aesthetic self within these texts. Fraser explores these ideas from within the Marxist aesthetic tradition, using theorists such as Friedrich Nietzsche, G. W. F. Hegel, E.P. Thompson, Julia Kristeva, Henri Lefebvre, Albert Camus, Thomas Aquinas and Theodor Adorno. Fraser therefore offers an innovative and unique approach that breaks new ground by developing a Marxist aesthetic account of identity through the medium of contemporary fiction.

This text introduces the concept of need as viewed by Hegel and Marx, and places it within the context of modern need theories and theorists. The book works through key texts, including Hegel's Philosophy of Right and Marx's Capital, and discusses the theory in relation to Soviet Communism and social democracy. * Covers key texts by Hegel and Marx studied by undergraduates on political theory courses * Looks at political implications for modern need theory * Accessible: author makes good use of textual evidence * Need theory is a major element of modern social theory

KING-BORN: A Story for Teenagers and adults of all ages. Few of us in the English-speaking world nowadays believe that a man is bound by destiny; but medieval Europeans had no doubt of it. A "lucky" man would be successful; an "ill-starred" man would fail. The gods were paramount. During the twelfth to fourteenth centuries, the story of Olaf the Strong was a favourite of the English minstrels. Olaf was born the son of Magnus, King of the Danes; but Magnus died of his wounds when his son was still too young to hold the throne. Magnus' brother Thorard was to guard the throne until Olaf reached manhood; but he was greedy and plotted to kill Olaf. However, by the will of the gods Olaf overcame all obstacles and eventually gained not only the throne of Denmark but the throne of England as well. The King-born may be an old English account of the Danish conquest of England in 1013; and it provides a fascinating glimpse of Northern Europe 1000 years ago as well as the excitement of following Olaf's adventures.

In a future Land, an anarchic adventure is taking place. When the Queen botches a magic spell, Beezle, a cheerful demon is dispatched from Hell to collect her soul. Instead he falls in love with her daughter. Beezle relinquishes his magical powers, disguises himself as a woman, and sets out to catch the Princess... "...a highly imaginative work with characterization that's definitely well above par, in a vein that evokes Tom Robbins' best work."

This is the definitive account of the Royal Bank of Scotland scandal. For a few brief months in 2007 and 2009, the Royal Bank of Scotland was the largest bank in the world. Then the Edinburgh-based giant - having rapidly grown its footprint to 55 countries and stretched its assets to £2.4 trillion under its hubristic and delinquent former boss Fred Goodwin - crashed to earth. In Shredded, Ian Fraser explores the series of cataclysmic misjudgments, the toxic internal culture and the 'light touch' regulatory regime that gave rise to RBS/NatWest's near-collapse. He also considers why it became the most expensive bank in the world to bail out and why a culture of impunity was allowed to develop in the banking sector. This new edition brings the story up to date, chronicling the string of scandals that have come to light since taxpayers rescued RBS and concluding with an evaluation of the attempts of the bank's post-crisis chief executives, Stephen Hester and Ross McEwan, to dismantle Goodwin's disastrous legacy and restore the damaged institutions to health. 'A gripping account - RBS was a rogue business, operating in what had become a rogue industry, with the connivance of government. Read it and weep' – Martin Woolf, Financial Times

The actions, images and stories within films can impact upon the political consciousness of viewers, enabling their audience to imagine ways of resisting the status quo, politically, economically and culturally. But what does political theory have to say about film? Should we explore film theory through a political lens? Why might individuals respond to the political within films? This book connects the work of eight radical political theorists to eight world-renowned films and shows how the political impact of film on the aesthetic self can lead to the possibility of political resistance. Each chapter considers the work of a core thinker on film, shows its relevance in terms of a specific case study film, then highlights how these films probe political issues in a way that invites viewers to think critically about them, both within the internal logic of the film and in how that might impact externally on the way they live their lives. Examining this dialogue enables Ian Fraser to demonstrate the possibility of a political impact of films on our own consciousness and identity, and that of others.

The actions, images and stories within films can impact upon the political consciousness of viewers, enabling their audience to imagine ways of resisting the status quo, politically, economically and culturally. But what does political theory have to say about film? Should we explore film theory through a political lens? Why might individuals respond to the political within films? This book connects the work of eight radical political theorists to eight world-renowned films and shows how the political impact of film on the aesthetic self can lead to the possibility of political resistance. Each chapter considers the work of a core thinker on film, shows its relevance in terms of a specific case study film, then highlights how these films probe political issues in a way that invites viewers to think critically about them, both within the internal logic of the film and in how that might impact externally on the way they live their lives. Examining this dialogue enables Ian Fraser to demonstrate the possibility of a political impact of films on our own consciousness and identity, and that of others.

Charles Taylor is a philosopher concerned with morality and the nature of the identity of individuals and groups in the West. This book offers an evaluation of Taylor's conception of self, and its moral and political possibilities.

Ian Fraser has been a prophet in our land - and far beyond - for the lifetimes of most of us. Now, nearing the end of his life journey, he offers A Storehouse of Kingdom Things: Resources for the Faith Journey. Ian writes: 'Wild Goose Publications guessed that I might be like the householder in the Bible who had a treasure store of things new and old which could be drawn upon.' In this rich and ranging book, Ian reflects on: the banking crisis and the world order, responding to God, getting rid of war, Israel and Palestine, the USA and Cuba, fundamentalism, proselytism and evangelism, hindrances to the full life of the church, church in the becoming, saints made and unmade, waiting watchfully, transcendence, otherness, purity, law and grace, prayer, the theology of fashion, the importance of food-sharing, sexuality and spirituality, atonement, success -