To be rather stupid, dull, or dimwitted; to not have much common sense or basic intelligence. Watch the video
Writing teachers often begin with one simple instruction: “Show, don’t tell.” Plato and Aristotle explored the same concept, but used the terms “diegesis”—which equates to telling—and “mimesis,” a form of showing. In diegetic texts, the narrator explicitly relays action to the reader, while mimetic texts draw the reader into the characters’ world. Diegesis functions differently in films. The world that characters explore is considered diegetic. What aspects of films are deemed non-diegetic? Discuss
finial – The decorative knob on the top of a lamp, holding the shade on. More…
pendeloque – A pear-shaped glass (crystal) pendant on a lamp or chandelier. More…
lantern – Traces back to Greek lucerna, “lamp.” More…
match – First meant “wick of a candle or lamp” or “spout of a lamp” before it was the item used to light candles and lamps. More…
To make no progress at all; to be stuck or at an impasse. Watch the video
This experiment investigated whether psychotherapy combined with the psychoactive drug psilocybin, derived from hallucinogenic mushrooms, could help rehabilitate imprisoned criminals and keep them from recidivating upon regaining their freedom. A team of Harvard University researchers, led by experimental psychologist Timothy Leary, conducted the experiment from 1961 to 1963 at Massachusetts’s Concord State Prison, a maximum security prison for young offenders. What were the initial results? Discuss
mammock – A scrap, shred, or piece that is torn or broken off. More…
riffraff – Rif/riff, “spoil, strip,” and raf, “carry off,” combined as rif et raf in French, then went to English as riff and raff, “everything, every scrap,” and then riffraff. More…
scrip – Can be a scrap of paper with writing on it. More…
tatter – A scrap of cloth, from Old Norse totrar, “rags”; often used as tatters. More…
To be extremely poor; to have very little or no money to spend. Primarily heard in US. Watch the video