They Called Her Styrene, Etc. (Hardcover)

~ Ed Ruscha (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Assembled in the form of a thick block, this book reproduces approximately 600 "word" drawings, paintings and works on paper by the Los Angeles-based American artist Edward Ruscha (b. 1937). The result is a sort of novel without an obvious plot, a series of words with no narrative. Ruscha began making prints and drawings consisting of one word on an often monochromatic, abstract background in the late 1950s and has continued to explore the language-based imagery that has become a hallmark of his work. Pulling elements from the visual language of advertising and commercial art, he has made hundreds of "word" prints, drawings, and paintings that exhibit an interplay between bold letters and shaded backgrounds. Some of the works consist of only one word - "great", "mud", "trust"; others of short combinations or phrases - "Indeed I do", "She sure knew her devotionals" and "They called her Styrene".

Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (January 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714840114
• ISBN-13: 978-0714840116
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #219,136 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for all Ruscha fans/influencees, October 31, 2001

By	D. E. Prentiss (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Funny, but it seems as though every time a new Ed Ruscha book gets released, it then becomes the standard "must-have" edition. In my opinion, this is an excellent book for the price, even if only for a single viewing. What I mean is this: it's more like an object than a book, due to its small area (but thick volume), and lack of publisher information distraction - the absolute first page blatently plunges you into the art immediately. It will take the average art fan a good two hours alone viewing each plate at a contemplative pace. I have had two art shows myself, and Ed's work is by far my closest influence, so I am heavily biased. This book lacks the token interview with the artist, and also his other forms of work (notably the parking lot photography series, which is a sheer delight in its own right), but for the sake of the design, perhaps the book as it is says all it has to say (no pun intended, if you're familiar with his works). Part of the fun, though, with viewing these kinds of Ed's works, is reading his titles and materials used, as they are equally insightful; yes, I miss that. But the average or novice art buff wouldn't even notice it missing. All things considered, this is a great little form of entertainment all contemporary art lovers should own.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Little Book, March 3, 2002

By	Luis G. P. Davidson "guime" (barueri, sp Brazil) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I gave this one to a friend who never heard of Ruscha before. He loved it. It's a little unpretentious experience through Ruscha's world. It's not that kind of 7-colour-printed-on-coated-expensive-paper, but works very well as good entertainment and a valid introduction to west coast fine artists. Worth its price.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very nice, December 2, 2000

By	Brett Sutton (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My adventures with They Called Her Styrene began on a subway ride in Boston earlier this month. I saw an older woman flipping through a book, each page containting a picture with a few words written on it. I started looking with her as as she flipped through it. She flipped through it for about 20 minutes, and then my stop was next. I was worried I would never know the title of this book, and, being too shy to ask, would leave the train and be unsatisfied. Luckily, just as the train stopped, she closed the book and I saw the title.

I bought it shortly afterwards.

I already described it- it's a book of pictures with words across them. I enjoy it very much. As you sit and thumb through all of the pages, each word or group of words, combined with the colors on the background, conjur all sorts of thought and feelings inside you.

For me, it serves very well to just sit and thumb through it, looking at all the pictures and letting my mind wander as the book prescribes.

Its wonderful.