Month: November 2020

manuscript

acephalous – A manuscript lacking a beginning could be called acephalous. More…

autograph – Comes from Greek, then Latin autographum, meaning “self-written”; it originally meant “author’s own manuscript.” More…

manuscript – Originally an adjective meaning “written by hand”; manuscript can refer to a handwritten piece of music. More…

palimpsest – Can describe a manuscript or writing surface that has been reused, erased, or altered while retaining traces of its earlier form—and, by extension, an object, place, or area that reflects its history. More…

Plebeian Games

The Roman leader Flaminius is thought to have instituted the Plebeian Games in 220 BCE. They originally may have been held in the Circus Flaminius, which he built. Later, they may have moved to the Circus Maximus, a huge open arena between the Palatine and Aventine hills. The Games were dedicated to Jupiter, one of whose feast days was November 13, and included horse and chariot races and contests that involved running, boxing and wrestling. The first nine days of the festival (November 4-12) were devoted to theatrical performances. Discuss

The Mie Pose

During particularly emotional moments in the performance of Japanese Kabuki theater, specifically the aragoto style of Kabuki, actors convey intensity and drama by freezing in any of a variety of powerful, distinctive poses and facial expressions. Each of these poses, called mie poses, has a name. Some of the poses are well known and are associated with particular characters in the theater. An actor is said to “cut” a mie when he performs it. What is the “heaven and earth” mie? Discuss

Sending the Winter Dress

This is the day on which the Chinese send winter clothes to their dead ancestors. They are not real items of clothing but paper replicas. People display the paper clothes in their homes before wrapping them up and addressing them. That done, families proceed to the graves of their departed ones and burn the packages. This is one of three annual occasions in remembrance of ancestors who have passed on; the other two are Chung Yeung and Qing Ming. Discuss

Demoparties

The demoscene is an international subculture of computer programmers who create non-interactive, real-time audio-visual computer presentations, or “demos,” for fun. The scene formed in the 1980s, and today, people from the demoscene gather at demoparties. Such events can last days, allowing time for competitions and demo-making as well as social interaction. Some large, well-known demoparties take place annually and can attract thousands of people from around the world. Where do attendees sleep? Discuss