Mondrian was a Dutch painter whose work foreshadowed the rise of abstract art in the 1940s and 1950s. He went to Paris in 1910 where he developed his geometric, nonobjective style, which he called neoplasticism. It is characterized by the elimination of sensuality from artwork and the restriction of pictorial language to its most basic elements—the straight line, primary colors, and the neutrals of black, white, and gray. Along with Theo van Doesburg, Mondrian was a leader of what art movement? Discuss
Month: March 2024
I shudder to think
It is too worrying or unpleasant for me to think about something that might happen or might have happened. Watch the video
Chekhov's Gun
Chekhov’s gun is a literary technique in which a seemingly insignificant element is introduced early in a story and later becomes crucial to the plot. It is named for famed Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov, who felt strongly that any object introduced in a story must be used, or it should not be featured in the first place. The technique has remained popular and is widely used in modern literature, film, and television. What popular fantasy novels frequently feature this plot device? Discuss
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Nasir Khusraw Embarks on Seven-Year Middle East Journey (1046)
Khusraw, a Persian poet, philosopher, scholar, and traveler, is considered one of the great writers of Persian literature. His most famous work is the Safarnama, an account of his seven-year journey through the Islamic world, during which time he made pilgrimages to the holy shrines of Mecca and Medina and visited many cities, including Jerusalem and Cairo. The work stands out as the most authentic account of the Islamic world at that time. He traversed what distance in those seven years? Discuss
Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac (1619)
Cyrano de Bergerac was a French writer and freethinker who satirized the customs and beliefs of his time. He wrote two romances about visits to the moon that are classics of early modern science fiction and inspired later writers such as Jonathan Swift. His swaggering personality, evinced by the many duels he fought over insults to his unusually large nose, was romanticized by Edmond Rostand in the verse drama Cyrano de Bergerac. How much of the play is an accurate reflection of his life? Discuss
not have all day
To be in a rush; to not have much or any time to spare. Usually used in the present tense. Watch the video
Space Food
The weightlessness experienced by humans in space poses a number of challenges in the performance of day-to-day tasks. Early experts feared that weightless conditions would make food difficult to swallow, allowing it to collect dangerously in the throat. Scientists began developing bite-sized cubes, freeze-dried powders, and semiliquid space foods for astronaut use, but the space travelers found the foods unappetizing, difficult to rehydrate, and messy. How have these concerns been addressed? Discuss
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Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" Speech (1946)
The phrase “Iron Curtain” refers to the political, military, and ideological barrier erected by the USSR after WWII to seal itself and its dependent eastern European allies off from contact with the West. Churchill’s use of the phrase in a 1946 speech at a US college, though initially perceived as antagonistic, popularized the term. The Iron Curtain largely ceased to exist in 1990, when the communists of eastern Europe finally abandoned one-party rule. What are some earlier uses of the phrase? Discuss