Archive for the ‘Arts & Humanities’ Category
How poverty is a challenge to democracy
There are many challenges that any democracy will face, and there are many obstacles that need to be overcome to form a stable democracy. There is a reason why democracy was a forgotten form of government, lying in obscurity from the fall of Greece, to the founding of the American nation. Sure, England tried democracy, but it was either just a limited monarchy, or in the case of Cromwell, something that lasted for a mere few years.
One of the biggest reasons most democracies fail is that the will of the people simply cannot be heard due to lack of resources invested by the state, or by its citizens. On the state side, there could be cases where there simply is Read the rest of this entry »
No CommentsEvolution: words and phrases
Ahhh…words. Those magical things we use to communicate our feelings, thoughts, and general information. But how do you do this very simplistic thing when the meanings of words change so much over the generations. So, let’s do a little experiment shall we? What would you think if someone, let’s say your grandmother for sake of argument, said to you “You should wash your puss everyday.” Well, of course it sounds vulgar, especially coming from your grandmother, but to her “puss” means your face, so sit down and quit being disgusted.
I would like to review a short list of words and phrases that have changed meaning over the years and try not to get Read the rest of this entry »
No CommentsCitizen journalism and the use of the thesaurus
Who could do without a dictionary and a thesaurus, that handy little book that shows the relatedness of words and their shades of meaning that veer off slightly from the others, is a must for the citizen journalist. It is a true ’storehouse’ of knowledge for the writer. The word thesaurus actually is Greek for storehouse.
Writers when describing actions will need to know the precise verb or adverb to describe what is taking place. A man is seen going down the street just minutes before an ambulance arrived on the scene. An alert journalist will not only observe that a man was walking away from the house but how he was walking:
Was he sauntering, strolling, ambling, marching, Read the rest of this entry »
No CommentsDoes the best poetry come from the heart or from the mind?
Think of a poem that is demonstrative of being written only with the mind. I cannot recall a single one. Even poetry that is written about historical events involve passion – events that stirred the hearts of the poets. The beatnik poets of the sixties wrote about things that they were passionate about, whether or not the general populace could make sense of the poetry or agree with them.
A children’s poet who wrote about American history and lifestyle was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He wrote about the midnight ride of Paul Revere and about the village blacksmith. These poems were positively loaded with facts about the British headed for Boston and the tools and occupation of the local blacksmith, yet Read the rest of this entry »
No CommentsUsing your own life as inspiration for comedic writing
DISNEY WORLD BY STORM!
The week after the 9/11 attacks, my husband then, (we’re divorced now) and I had reservations at a hotel down at Disney World in Fla. We called to make sure they were still open due to the horrible events the week before. They were and I was excited! This was my first trip to Disney World and I was so excited!
First off, let me explain how my then husband and I were. We were that couple that could NOT stand to be together for more than three days at a time. After that, someone had to go to work or go some where. I loved him but by God, Read the rest of this entry »
No CommentsStoring oil paint tubes
At the advent of oil painting, in the early 1400’s, artists had to make their own oil paints. There were not tubes for storing the paints although at one point they were storing them in animal bladders. Regardless, it took some time, until the mid-1800’s, for tubes to be created for oil paint which would change the face of oil painting forever. Artists could finally take the paint elsewhere, out of the studio and directly into nature to capture the most intense images they were ever able to recreate.
Even before thinking about storing the tubes of paint, many artists are concerned with paint left on a palette when they are finished Read the rest of this entry »
No CommentsHow to write an effective movie review – Part 2
Writing an effective movie review can be difficult, and your personal likes and dislikes of particular genres, actors, or directors can influence your review. Before beginning to send others to or away from a movie, remember that although you may not have been particularly fond of the selection, that does not necessarily make the movie bad. Cast your personal bias aside, and address the major aspects that can effect the quality of a film. These characteristics include the story, the acting, the style/special effects, and the directing.
The plot(s) of the film is very important because it is the central idea that drives the film forward. The clarity and continuity of the storyline should be considered because they make the movie Read the rest of this entry »
No CommentsHow to write an effective movie review
An effective movie review is one that arouses the reader’s curiosity – to try the movie, irrespective of the reader’s usual taste in movies; it arouses interest in the narrative without answering all questions about the conclusion; it compares characters’/actors’ strengths and weaknesses; it acknowledges the skills of the movie makers with particular reference to highlights; it is honest without being blatantly harsh or syrupy sweet.
1. The opening statement should be arresting. What makes this movie unique? A famous movie star in an unexpected role? A challenging issue?
2. Some background on the movie lends comparative substance to the review. Where was it shot? The director’s/producer’s other movies?
3. A brief overview of the narrative threads of the movie plot and Read the rest of this entry »
Is graffiti art?
Passing by the New York City subway or the boxcars of an idle train in Los Angeles, a citizen may encounter graffiti art and either judges it as immoral and trashy or a form of self-expression. It’s present on the majority of trains, underpasses, bridges, trash cans, and other forms of public transportation. Graffiti has been criticized as damaging to the environment, especially in urban cities and their local attractions. At first glance, it’s been thought of as degrading, unappealing, and downright ugly. However, to say graffiti is a damaging aspect to the environment directly disciplines those create it. It is also believed to be a form of personal art, a form of self-expression. To denounce this form of expression Read the rest of this entry »
No CommentsWhat to know as an adult taking your first dance lessons
Those of you who have taken dance lessons, long or short-term might find this article of feasible interest and I do appreciate your indulgence. For those who could care less and are lucky to make it across the dance floor at all with the help of some “liquid courage” or, so-called “coping mechanism,” I respect your disinterest as well. Dancing is not for everyone.
Before you set foot into a dance studio, research the nearest studios, type of dances, prices and scheduling to fit your agenda. You are a working person on a budget; hence, want the most for your dollars where possible. Speak to the studio director via telephone, determine if there’s an introductory package which usually consists Read the rest of this entry »
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