Showing posts with label literature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label literature. Show all posts

Monday, October 28, 2013

WORD OF THE DAY! 10/28/13!

picaresque [pik-uh-resk]
adjective
1. Of or pertaining to the characteristics of a form or subgenre of prose fiction, originally developed in 16th Century Spain and flourishing throughout Europe, depicting, sometimes in satire and sometimes in a realistic fashion, in humorous detail the adventures of a roguish hero taking part in a series of episodes depicting the often over the top parody of the every day life of the common people.
2. Or of pertaining to rogues.

EX.  Wes Anderson is one of my favorite filmmakers; his uniquely quaint but fanciful, subtle but over-the-top, and blunt but whimsical works are masterfully crafted by the use of sets and costumes constructed out of picture books and old photographs into a mural of styles that somehow seem timeless and simultaneously tied to various times and places of the 20th Century. His cinematography, with sweeping single shot cuts of the scenery and characters to well-narrated vignettes meant to quickly and humorously characterize a moment or feeling, cast always brilliantly with quirky and loveable actors, creates a picaresque ride for the audience that leaves them with a sense of joy in the hero's muffled triumph and a sense of ennui that one's life is often separated from the romantic adventures that Anderson's heroes embark upon.

It's not for everyone, but I love his films like I love a yellow-papered hardback given to me by an elderly professor that bonded with me over a discussion on Early Modern European spy networks and the inner life of Thomas More's contemporaries. 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

WORD OF THE DAY! 4/19/11.

Lovecraftian horror [luhv-kraft-ee-uhn-hor-or]
noun
1. A sub-genre of horror fiction which emphasizes the cosmic horror of the unknown (and in some cases, unknowable) over gore or other elements of shock , though these elements may still be present.

Lovecraftian [luhv-kraft-ee-uhn]
adjective
1.  Anything pertaining or related to the genre of Lovecraftian horror or H.P. Lovecraft.

EX. Lovecraftian horror has a special place in the world of literature, using arguably both more refined and effective methods of horror over gore and fluff, and also has a special place in video games. In particular, Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2011) clawed its way screaming and crying to being one of the sleeper hits of last year and made itself one of the scariest titles of all time. The game involved little action, save running, and focused primarily on creating an atmosphere that would lead anyone into a paranoid frenzy.

You can pick up the title for about $20 or, if you use Steam, you can probably get it for less. Just make sure not to run into the dark or- What was that? My lantern went out? What the- no! NO! GET AWAY! GET AWAY! MRMEREGTMHYMR$HYUME$HYME##$MW@!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Word of the Day. 10/21/11


monkey wrench [munhg-kee-rench]
noun
1. a wrench with an adjustable jaw permitting it to grasp nuts or the like of different sizes.
2. something that interferes with functioning.
3. an obstacle


EX. In J. K. Rowling's best-selling Harry Potter series they introduced a time travel device in the the third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Despite the fact that this object has the quality to allow its user to go back as far as they can turn back the device, one hour per turn, they gave it to Hermione Granger so she could take multiple classes at once. They very vaguely imply some sort of danger the device can cause but, according to the evidence presented in the book, it is practically fool proof. Therefore, we can only assume that J. K. Rowling allowed it to fade into the background as to not become a monkey wrench in the gears and cogs that move the well-timed machine that is the Harry Potter Universe and timeline.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Word of the Day. 9/7/11

Word of the Day

Two-For-One Special from the Simpsons.

In "Lisa the Iconoclast" (Feb. 18, 1996), two of the most well-known Simpsons-centric words were introduced, when legendary Jebediah Springfield is quoted as saying, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man," and another teacher reassures Mrs. Krabappel that embiggen is a "perfectly cromulent word."



Cromulent (adj.)- 1.Used in an ironic sense to mean legitimate but, in actuality is not legitimate.
2. Used to describe a dubious or made-up word, term or phrase that is plausible because it fits the conventions of existing language.

Example. 1.The trickle-down system is a perfectly cromulent economic mechanism of modern America.
2. Bigfeet is a perfectly cromulent word to describe the plural of bigfoot.











Embiggen (verb)-1. To make or become bigger.

Example. 1. A noble spirit embiggens the common man.
More words.