Synopses & Reviews
From box office flop to one of the most successful cult films of all time,and#160;
The Big Lebowskiand#160;has spawned a multicity festival, college-level courses, and its own religion. Fans of the Coen brothers' masterful dark comedy (collectively calling themselves and#147;Achieversand#8221;and#151;and proud we are of all of them) gather in movie theaters and bowling alleys across the county to quote along with the film, imbibe white russians, and admire the Dudeand#8217;s rug (which really tied the room together).
Fan Phenomena: The Big Lebowskiand#160;examines how this quirky movie evolved from its underwhelming debut to attract a mass following on par with that ofand#160;The Rocky Horror Picture Show.and#160;Contributors take a close look at the filmand#8217;s phenomenal impact on popular culture and language and examine the scriptand#8217;s rich philosophical implications, whether it is the nihilism within the film itself or the Dudeism that Jeff Bridgesand#8217;s God-like character and#160;has bred (the and#147;Church of the Latter-Day Dudeand#8221; has attracted more than 70,000 official adherents through its online ordination process). Covering issues concerning gender and sexuality within the film, such as Maudeand#8217;s feminist art and Jackie Treehornand#8217;s Malibu garden party, the essays here also explore the gender divides the film has created in todayand#8217;s society, such as male versus female fandom rivalry at festivals. These gatheringsand#151;part costume contest, part bowling tournament, part trivia contest, part fan meet-upand#151;have, since their debut in Louisville, KY, in 2002, sprung up all around America and have even expanded globally, and the book takes an inside look at these events and includes interviews with Lebowski festival organizers and authors of other fan books and academic treatises.
In all, these essays are an essential companion for one of the greatest films ever made, in the parlance of our times.
Review
"The authors managed to score interviews with every major actor (and many of the minor ones), and they all have interesting stories to tell....Sure to be of interest to anyone who enjoys the film." Library Journal
Synopsis
The ultimate fan's guide to the Coen Brothers' cult classic, with an introduction by the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges.
To some The Big Lebowski is just a movie, to others it's THE MOVIE. Over the past several years the movie has developed a massive and passionate cult following, led by the creation of Lebowski Fest, a traveling festival celebrating all things Lebowski. Held in a bowling alley, it features bowling, costume and trivia contests, live music, a screening of the movie, White Russians, and what-have-you. Attendance has grown exponentially and the Fest has been featured in virtually every national media outlet, from NPR to the New York Times. The Associated Press called it "kind of a Star Trek convention, but without all the geeks." SPIN Magazine called it one of the "19 events you can't miss!" Now, at last, comes the book that the legion of Lebowski fans (aka Achievers) has been waiting for. I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski is a treasure trove of trivia and commentary, hilarious throughout and illustrated with photos from the film, including dozens taken on the set by Jeff Bridges. It includes interviews with virtually every major and minor cast member including John Goodman, Julianne Moore and John Turturro, as well as the real-life individuals who served as inspiration for the characters such as Jeff Dowd and John Milius. Fellow Achievers Patton Oswalt, Tony Hawk and Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCracken give their thoughts on the movie and the phenomenon that surrounds it. The book features a handy guide to speaking Achiever, tips on how to Dude-ify your car, office, and living space, Lebowski Fest highlights and so much more.
Synopsis
LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK
First released in 1998, the Coen brothers' "The Big Lebowski" flopped at the box office. But over the past nine years the movie has developed a massive and passionate cult following, led by the creation of Lebowski Fest, a traveling festival of all things Lebowski. Held in a bowling alley, it features bowling, costume and trivia contests, live music, a screening of the movie, White Russians, and what-haveyou. Attendance has grown exponentially and the Fest has been featured in virtually every national media outlet, from NPR to the New York Times. The Associated Press called it "kind of a 'Star Trek' convention, but without all the geeks." The Wall Street Journal simply intoned: "One hell of a party " Now, at last, comes the book that the legion of Lebowski fans (aka Achievers) has been waiting for.
"I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski "is a treasure trove of trivia and commentary, hilarious throughout and copiously illustrated, including stills from the film, as well as dozens of photos taken on the set by Jeff Bridges. It includes interviews with virtually every major and minor cast member, as well as the real-life individuals who served as inspiration for the characters in the movie. The book features a handy guide to speaking Achiever (example: in English you would say that a woman is "feminine, or ladylike"; an Achiever would call her "strongly vaginal"), tips on how to Dude-ify your car, office, and living space, Lebowski Fest highlights, and so much more.
Synopsis
The ultimate fans guide to the Coen Brothers cult classic The Big Lebowski, with a Foreword by the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges.
Synopsis
The ultimate fan's guide to the Coen Brothers' cult classic, with an introduction by the Dude himself, Jeff Bridges.
To some The Big Lebowski is just a movie, to others it's THE MOVIE. Over the past several years the movie has developed a massive and passionate cult following, led by the creation of Lebowski Fest, a traveling festival celebrating all things Lebowski. Held in a bowling alley, it features bowling, costume and trivia contests, live music, a screening of the movie, White Russians, and what-have-you. Attendance has grown exponentially and the Fest has been featured in virtually every national media outlet, from NPR to the New York Times. The Associated Press called it "kind of a 'Star Trek' convention, but without all the geeks." SPIN Magazine called it one of the "19 events you can't miss!" Now, at last, comes the book that the legion of Lebowski fans (aka Achievers) has been waiting for. I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski is a treasure trove of trivia and commentary, hilarious throughout and illustrated with photos from the film, including dozens taken on the set by Jeff Bridges. It includes interviews with virtually every major and minor cast member including John Goodman, Julianne Moore and John Turturro, as well as the real-life individuals who served as inspiration for the characters such as Jeff Dowd and John Milius. Fellow Achievers Patton Oswalt, Tony Hawk and Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCracken give their thoughts on the movie and the phenomenon that surrounds it. The book features a handy guide to speaking Achiever, tips on how to Dude-ify your car, office, and living space, Lebowski Fest highlights and so much more.
Synopsis
and#147;Look, let me explain something to you. I'm not Mr. Lebowski.
You're Mr. Lebowski. I'm the Dudeand#8221;
Fan Phenomena: The Big Lebowski takes a close look at the films phenomenal impact over the past century, and looks at the reasons behind the creation of Dudeism, with the and#145;Church of the Latter-Day Dudeand#8217; having attracted more than 70,000 official adherents through its online ordination process. The book looks at how the film is rich in philosophical implications, whether it is the nihilism within the film itself or the Dudeism the film has spawned. Covering issues raised concerning gender and sexuality within the film such as Maudeand#8217;s feminism and Jackie Treehornand#8217;s chauvinistic character, the book also explores the gender divides the film has created in todayand#8217;s society such as male vs female fandom rivalry at festivals. The Big Lebowski festivals have sprung up all around America and have even expanded globally, the book takes an in-side look at these events and includes interviews from Lebowski festival organisers and authors of other fan books and academic books.
About the Author
Zachary Ingle is a PhD student in film and media studies at the University of Kansas and has contributed to several Intellect books, including the World Film Locations volumes on Paris and Las Vegas, the Directory of World Cinema volumes on Sweden and Belgium, and Fan Phenomena:Star Wars.
Table of Contents
Introduction
and#160;and#160; Zachary Ingle
The Comforts and Pleasures of Repetitive Dialogue in The Big Lebowski
and#160;and#160; Jeff Jaeckle
Another Caucasian: Online Fan Response to Donny and the Stranger
and#160;and#160; Randall Clark
Fan Appreciation no.1: Interview with Will Russell: Co-founder of Lebowski Fest
and#8216;If You Will It, It Is No Dream:and#8217; Lebowski Fest and Cult Fandom
and#160;and#160; Jeremy Hehl
That Shirt Really Ties the Room Together: The Lebowski Legacy of Cultural Artefacts
and#160;and#160; Andrew Howe
Nihilistic Dudes: The Masculine Cult Figure in Fin de Siand#232;cle American Cinema
Fan Appreciation no.2: Interview with Adam Bertocci: Author of Two Gentlemen of Lebowski
The Bard, The Knave and Sir Walter: Adapting a Modern Cult Movie into a Neo-Shakespearean Stage Play
and#160;and#160; Paul Rogalus
Reimagining and Commodifying Gender, Genre and Sexuality in The Big Lebowski for Cult Fan Consumption
and#160;and#160; Sheri Chinen Biesen
The Dude Goes Digital: The Big Lebowski, New Media and Participatory Culture
and#160;and#160; Peter C. Kunze
Fan Appreciation no.3: Interview with Kim Barber: Executive Producer of The Achievers (2009)
Listening Deeply to Lebowski: One Fanand#8217;s Attempt to Draw a Musical Map Surrounding the Dude
and#160;and#160; Tom Zlabinger
Abiding Sublimely: From Eastern Philosophies to The Big Lebowski
and#160;and#160; Jz Long
Contributor Details
Image Credits