Books, Music

Different Perspectives in Books…and Music!

 

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“There are no facts, only interpretations.” So said the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Each person sees the world from a slightly (or extremely) different point of view, so every time you read a story (or listen to music for that matter) it’s like you’re walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.  Continue reading “Different Perspectives in Books…and Music!”

Books

If The Great Gatsby Characters Had Favorite Colors

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I mean, surely they had favorite colors, but we’re never told what they are (as far as I can remember). Since people seem to believe that our favorite colors say something about us, I thought I’d try to enter into some characters’ minds and imagine what theirs might be… Continue reading “If The Great Gatsby Characters Had Favorite Colors”

Books, Music

How to Understand SuRprises in Classical Music

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When the Cheshire Cat fades to just a smile in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the reader is more or less nonplussed. Weird, abnormal stuff has been happening for the entire book, so a cat disappearing is accepted as part of the established universe of the book. But if you were Continue reading “How to Understand SuRprises in Classical Music”

Books

What If Books Used “Easter Eggs?”

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What if books had hidden “Easter eggs” like in the movies?

Sometimes in movies the viewer will find hidden or bonus information that only someone who has seen all of the other related movies would understand. For example, in Disney’s Aladdin, when Jasmine’s father is Continue reading “What If Books Used “Easter Eggs?””

Books, Music

Clair de Lune in Two Popular Movies (What’s Up With That?)

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I find it fascinating that the classical piano piece “Clair de Lune” is used so much in movies. I mean, what is it about that specific piece that makes it so popular and meaningful? And how does using it in different movies give a new, nuanced meaning to either the movie scene and/or the music itself? Continue reading “Clair de Lune in Two Popular Movies (What’s Up With That?)”

Books

Which Cat Would Make a Better Pet: Crookshanks or Dinah?

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I never really thought about it until I started writing this post, but there don’t seem to be a whole lot of pets in literature or YA books. (Maybe because the characters are off on crazy adventures so having a pet just doesn’t fit in the story?) Be that as it may, Crookshanks (Hermione’s cat in Harry Potter) and Dinah (Alice’s cat in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) are two pretty great felines. Continue reading “Which Cat Would Make a Better Pet: Crookshanks or Dinah?”

Books

Literature’s Most Awkward Moments…

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Characters are often awkward, plain and simple. That’s why we love them, right?! Well, sometimes the “awkwardness” goes a little too far and things get a bit…interesting. So this post is an homage to some of the most incredibly “awkward” moments in literature. Continue reading “Literature’s Most Awkward Moments…”

Books

Top 5 Inspiring Book Characters for the New Year

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It’s that time of year again when everyone makes resolutions to exercise, spend more time with family, or try something new. So in the spirit of New Year’s, here are five fictional literary characters to draw inspiration from for the new year: Continue reading “Top 5 Inspiring Book Characters for the New Year”

Books

Classic Literature: Winter Style

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Creating Classic Literature: Ghost Style (inspired by a Quirk Books Twitter prompt) was so much fun and people enjoyed it so much that I decided to make another one. So, in honor of this wintry season (and in slightly terrified expectation of what the weather will be like when I return to Chicago from South Carolina), here’s a list of classic literary titles with a wintry mix (pun intended)…

Hamlet It Snow (William Shakespeare) Continue reading “Classic Literature: Winter Style”

Books

Classic Literature That Would Make Great Video Games

literature-video-games-2Lately I’ve been considering buying some sort of video game console in order to take fun breaks from Ph.D. music theory reading. I can be bad at taking breaks, but I only have classes on 3 days of the week this coming quarter so I’m not Continue reading “Classic Literature That Would Make Great Video Games”