Dr. Sean

Introduction Aristophanes, an ancient Greek playwright, is renowned for his comedic works that often serve as biting social and political commentaries. This article aims to explore Aristophanes’ significant contributions to the genre of parody and his enduring influence on the Western literary canon. Historical Context Life and Times Aristophanes was born around 446 BCE in … Read more

Bakhtin, Mikhail. “Rabelais and His World.” Indiana University Press, 1984.Bakhtin, Mikhail. The Dialogic Imagination: Four Essays. Edited by Michael Holquist, translated by Caryl Emerson and Michael Holquist, University of Texas Press, 1981.Caponi, Gena Dagel. Signifyin(g), Sanctifyin’, & Slam Dunking: A Reader in African American Expressive Culture. University of Massachusetts Press, 1999.Dentith, Simon. “Parody.” Routledge, 2000.Double, … Read more

1. Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. (1994) Court: U.S. Supreme Court Who Won: 2 Live Crew (Campbell)Who Lost: Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.Main Arguments:Acuff-Rose argued that 2 Live Crew’s parody of “Oh, Pretty Woman” infringed on their copyright.2 Live Crew argued that their version was a parody and therefore fair use.Ruling and Reasoning: The Court ruled in … Read more

Introduction “The Princess Bride” is a 1987 fantasy adventure film directed by Rob Reiner, based on a 1973 novel of the same name by William Goldman. The movie is a blend of romance, adventure, and comedy. It tells the story of Westley, a young man who sets out to rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, … Read more

Introduction “Tropic Thunder” is a comedy film released in 2008, directed by Ben Stiller. The movie falls under the genre of action-comedy and satire. It tells the story of a group of actors who are shooting a war movie in Southeast Asia. Due to a series of mishaps, they find themselves in a real-life conflict … Read more

Definition of Pastiche Pastiche is a literary and artistic technique where a work imitates the style or character of another work, genre, or author. Unlike parody, pastiche is generally created as a form of homage rather than criticism. It can be a collection of various elements or a single imitation. Etymology and Brief History The … Read more

Definition of Verisimilitude Verisimilitude is a literary term that refers to the believability or the appearance of truth in a work of fiction. It is the quality that makes a story seem real, even if the events and characters are made up. The term is often used to evaluate how well a work of fiction … Read more