The Secret History-Greek Theme

One of the main themes in The Secret History is the study of Ancient Greek. This includes the language, heriage, literature, and practices of the ancients. The class takes the subjects very seriously and is encouraged to explore every aspect of the culture by Proffesor Jullian Morrow. Professor Morrow is said to be the foremost authority of Ancient Greek studies on the east coast, and possibly further. His secretive methods almost turn the class into a type of cult. No one outside the class is permitted into Morrow's office or classroom.
There are a great number of Greek refreences, literature, chracters, and language throughout the book. One of the most important refrences to the practices of the ancients is the Bacchanal rite held at the country house. The ancients knew a great deal about various drugs, poisons and altered states and claimed to be able to use these things in order to achieve a highly-conscious state in which they could see and commune with Dionysus, Greek god of wine and inspirer of ritual madness.

A Secret History by Donna Tartt

Richard Papen, a vaguely unhappy young man from California, decides on a whim to apply for Hampden College in Vermont. When he arrives, he notices a group of five eccentric students, Classic majors, who seem completely separate from the rest of the college. Because he has studied Greek for two years already, Richard is tempted to join them. Although he is told by Jullian, the professor who is the head of the Classics department, selects his students by methods nobody can quite figure out. But Richard does end up joining the circle.
We are told in the prologue of The Secret History there has been a murder-a student named Edmund also known as Bunny is dead. We are told who is responsible for his death, so the who did it is never the mystery. But the mystery is why they did it; which is why The Secret History is unique in that the mystery is about the exact circumstances that led to the murder. Which is why I believe that The Secret History won't disappoint.

Now That My Father Lies Down Beside Me

Now That My Father Lies Down Beside Me collects 30 years of Stanley Plumlyy's poetuc art work drawn from a variety of backgrounds of inspiration. This collection of poems has been selected from each of the his six books. Plumly's work is a deeply moving series of poems. This latest collection, which includes many poems published in earlier collections, including the book's final poem, as well as some new ones, brings the father's presence into the book's title for the first time. Plumly, who has taught at the University of Houston and the University of Maryland, College Park, writes in an accessible style , rooted in reality.

Meadows Museum of Art

Instituted in 1967, this museum features more than 1,300 works of art from a variety of world cultures and traditions. The Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College of Louisiana was founded in 1975 on the occasion of the College's 150th anniversary. The Meadows Museum was made possible by a gift from Algur H Meadows, a Centenary alumnus, who had purchased a collection of works by French Academic artist, Jean Despujols, for his Alma mater in 1969. Since that time, the permanent collection has grown in a variety of media from cultures around world-wide.
Exhibits have included a photo documentary with actual survivors of Hurricane Katrina. In addition to rotating exhibits to rotating exhibits, there is a permanent collection upstairs that is not to be missed.
The Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College of Louisiana is an educational unit of the College charged with the collection, conservation, prevention and interpretation of the visual art works of museum quality from the permanent College Collection inclusive of the Indochina Collection.

Gothic Art

The Gothic period, ranging from the 12th century to the century is characterized by idealism and naturalism, for example in France the Gothic period shows a dynamic variety of pose, detail, and articulation. The term Gothic was originally used in the Renaissance as a disapproving word for medieval style. Typical of the Gothic period are the figures that are at the entrance of the cathedrals which were architectural phenomena at the time. The figures are usually graceful and natural, and the emphasis on dynamic lines demonstrates religious mysticism that dominated during this time. Gothic art was typically religious in nature, and is well known for its churches with arched designs, alongside the stained and illumination. Famous Gothic artists include Nicola Pisano, Giottino, and Herman Limbourg.

Bright Star

Bright Star, written and directed by Academy Award winner Jane Campion, is a riveting drama based on a three-year romance in the nineteenth century between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. Their romance was cut short by Keats' untimely death at age 25.
Bright Star takes place in Hampsted Village, London in 1848. Brawne is infactuated by Keats and reads his poetry. She also makes makes biscuits for Tom Keats who falls ill and later dies. Endimian is published shortly after Keats' death. Fanny believes that John's new book is perfect and beautiful, and attends many dinner parties that Keats is at. John Keats works with Mr. Charles Brown. John also spends Christmas with the Brawne's and teaches Fanny poetry although John confesses that he is confused by women, even by his mother. Brown and Keats spend the summer with the Brawne's in their summer house outside of London. Brown also asserts that poets wait for muses for inspiration. Fanny can't understand why Keats can't marry her. He can't because he is in debt and has no constant source of income. Keats and Fanny constantly write love letters back and forth; Keats gives Fanny his mother's ring. Shortly afterward Keats and Brawne get engaged . Due to illness, Keats' friends pay for him to spend the winter in Italy. Although, Keats dies of tuberculosis in Rome. Keats died at the age of 25 thinking himself a failure, although history remembers him as one of the best Romantic poets in history.
Campion uses relentless camera movements and off-center close ups and a variety of other camera shots. The film history in the present tense, and is full of color.

How Money Has Changed Art

Art has made a lot of shifts within the last forty years, but of all the things that have affected art, money seems to be the one that jarringly stood out. The arrival of money has had serious consequences to the art world.
Money has helped art in some ways, as artists need money to have more time to do art. This way they don't have to take up second jobs in order to pay the bills. Also museums need money to do adventurous shows they otherwise might not be able to do.
But money has had a lot of serious consequences to hurt art. Artists, especially young ones, can be tempted to do art they judge will sell, rather than what they would create if money were not in the equation. Many galleries seem to lack a vision other than what will produce a sell-out show. Museums need money and many have a blockbuster agenda-there is a merging of art and entertainment. Artists also watch the galleries and museums for what is popular- and saleable. Finally, students decide to become artists because of quick money and social mobility.

Dada: The Non-art Movement

Dada was, officially, not a movement, its artists not artists and its art not art. That sounds easy enough, doesn't it?
Dada was both a literary and artistic movement that started in Europe during a time when the world was overcome with the horrors of World War I. Due to the war, a number of artists, writers and intellectuals-notably of French and German nationality- left to neutral Switzerland. Far from merely relieved at their respective escapes, this bunch was angry that modern European society would allow the war to even happen. Their anger undertook the artistic tradition of protesting.
About the only thing these non-artists had in common were their ideals. They used an early form of Shock Art meaning that the Dadaists thrust mild obscenities, scatological humor, visual puns and everyday objects renamed as art into the public eye. Marcel Duchamp performed the most notable outrages by painting a mustache on a copy of the Mona Lisa and proudly displaying his sculpture entitled Fountain, which was actually a urinal.