Dr. Sean What Is Close Reading? Close reading is a method of analyzing a text by paying meticulous attention to details such as language, structure, and themes. It is a crucial tool in literary and media studies for understanding the nuances and complexities of a text. Definition of Parody Parody is a form of satire that imitates … 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
Confessions of a Hallway Hustler is a retelling of Brian De Palma’s Scarface (1983) in the style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The protagonist Tony Montana is a 12-year-old lovable scoundrel who gets kicked out of his elite boarding school in the imaginary European country of Luxland for breaking one too many rules. In … 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
This week I’ve been working on the second draft of an early chapter of the The Kingdom of Fief where Aliyah jousts with Skippy at Merrymount Middle School’s annual Med Faire. This is when Aliyah snaps — meaning she becomes, in her mind, a knight-errant. “Prrrfffft,” the trumpets screeched once more.Aliyah and Skippy ducked under … Read more
I got this idea for a little side project — a Wimpy Kid-style retelling of Oliver Stone & Brian De Palma’s version of Scarface (1983). One of the constraints I’ll be putting on myself is to see if I can finish a rough draft in a weekend — this weekend. So to prepare, last weekend … Read more
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