Literature
WHAT IS: Arts and Crafts
In England, during the second half of the nineteenth century, painter, writer, textile designer and social activist William Morris (1834-1896) became the spiritual leader of a revival in arts and crafts that encompassed all the visual arts, including architecture and interiors.
FAVOURITE BOOKS: The Wilder Shores of Love by Lesley Blanch
The Wilder Shores of Love is a terrific tale about four women who were summoned by the eastern star. It is the exotic true-life stories of some of the key women in history Isabel Burton, Aimee Dubucq de Rivery, Jane Digby, and Isabelle Eberhardt. They all took great risks, whether their choice or not, and ended up either pursuing their passion for romance, or making the best of it.
Destiny, Fate and the Lady and Unicorn Tapestries
In the late medieval period of the fifteenth century the now famous millefleurs tapestries first appear characterized by their backgrounds made of hundreds of tiny flowers. The most well known in this style are known as La Dame รก la Licorne, or the Lady & the Unicorn. A group of six tapestries they are woven from a combination of woolen, silk and gold thread and have exercised an almost universal fascination on all those who have encountered them for hundreds of years.
The Harmony of Courtly Love
From the 11th to the 13th century in England and Europe expressing personal feelings in relation to the beauty and bountiful joys of women became the province of troubadours, who were both composers and performers of lyrical poetry set to romantic music. They roved about the countryside visiting castles and their communities to deliver the latest ditties going about in song. The themes they favoured the most were those of chivalry and courtly love.
Sherlock – Moriarty and More – The Game Continues
The Producers have announced that the modern update of Sherlock Holmes we reported on a few weeks ago will return to the BBC following the end of its initial three-episode run. It seems that the famous detective, who first appeared in print in 1887, seems to be in the public eye more now than ever before.
At the Beginnings of Art
Greek sculpture was the first, the only ancient art to break free from conceptual conventions, for that of representing men and animals. Artisans wanted to explore consciously how art might imitate nature, or even improve upon it. There was no conscious striving towards realism at first, especially until it was understood to be a possible and desirable goal. This began six centuries before the Christ event.
Romantics, Reformers & Revolutionaries 01
Monarchs, Middling People & Mozart
The era of romantics and revolutionaries is also all about the continuing themes from ancient Greece and Rome for that of liberty, religion and justice. It certainly must have been wonderful to be there when, on June 19th 1764 the remarkable child prodigy from Austria 8 year old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave a concert in London playing his own compositions on the harpsichord and organ.
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Sherlock – Shrewd, Sexy and New Age?
From England comes the news of an exciting new three part series (lets hope that expands) about one of the most popular characters in fiction, yes you have guessed it, its the world’s favourite detective Sherlock Holmes. The first episode on Sunday night in England apparently polled way ahead in the ratings against a great combination of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, starring with Hammond, May and Clarkson, on Top Gear. Now that’s really something in Britain where they love the boys with their toys. This new, exciting, hip and updated Sherlock is all about texting with his mobile fast and furiously while chasing villains on foot through the back lanes and alleys that lead off Baker Street very near to 221b, the home and haven he invites Watson to share.
Call to Action – Slay the Dragon but, Not for Profit
American Philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics in the Philosophy Department, Law School, and Divinity School at the University of Chicago. In her short and powerful new book called Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities she makes a passionate case for the importance of the liberal arts at all levels of education. She challenges us all to strive be truly human – ‘to remain childlike, to keep an open mind, to refine an ability to remain humble, to eschew pride and arrogance and to be reverent towards other people and towards the natural world’.
