1/29/2011

Facts about Pride and Prejudice

Source: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pride/facts.html

Key Factsfull title · Pride and Prejudice

author · Jane Austen

type of work · Novel

genre · Comedy of manners

language · English

time and place written · England, between 1796 and 1813

date of first publication · 1813

publisher · Thomas Egerton of London

narrator · Third-person omniscient

climax · Mr. Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth (Volume III, Chapter XVI)

protagonist · Elizabeth Bennet

antagonist · Snobbish class-consciousness (epitomized by Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Miss Bingley)

setting (time) · Some point during the Napoleonic Wars (1797–1815)
setting (place) · Longbourn, in rural England
point of view · The novel is primarily told from Elizabeth Bennet’s point of view.
falling action · The two chapters of the novel after Darcy’s proposal
tense · Past tense
foreshadowing · The only notable example of foreshadowing occurs when Elizabeth visits Pemberley, Darcy’s estate, in Volume III, Chapter 1. Her appreciation of the estate foreshadows her eventual realization of her love for its owner.

tone · Comic—or, in Jane Austen’s own words, “light and bright, and sparkling”

themes · Love; Reputation; Class

motifs · Courtship; Journeys

symbols · The novel is light on symbolism, except on the visit to Pemberley, which is described as being “neither formal, nor falsely adorned,” and is clearly meant to symbolize the character of Mr. Darcy.

1/26/2011

mona lisa's smile and other stories

mona lisa's smile

the king's breakfast
 A Joke by Beethoven and Mona
Jan Vemeer
http://www.mightybook.com/art_and_music.html This is the site including all the above links. Wonderful site.

Electronic Books and Online Reading

http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/Links/esl_reading.htm
http://www.eduscapes.com/tap/topic93.htm
Electronic Books and Online Reading


http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/onlinestory.htm#talk

Online Talking Stories

http://www.learner.org/interactives/story/cinderella.html
Interactive elements in a story

邊緣系統（Limbic System)

我在美國才學到這些有關腦的課程 對某些中文譯名就不知道 特別是邊緣系統這個詞
我很意外是如此平凡的一個譯名

邊緣系統（Limbic System）à基底核（Basal Ganglia）à視丘、下視丘、海馬回（長期記憶à三歲前未發育成熟à不記得三歲前發生事情）、杏仁核（情緒à一出生就有功能à情緒記憶很小就發生）、殼核（程序記憶、小腦cerebellumà前運動皮質）、尾狀核（人類本能à記錄在基因上的記憶à前額葉知覺區）à邊緣系統à潛意識運作\

人類的大腦只是神經系統的一部份


整體神經系統（nervous system）可以分成中樞神經系統（central nervous system）和週邊神經系統（peripheral nervous system）；

而中樞神經系統又可以再細分成大腦和脊髓（spinal cord），

週邊神經系統可以再細分成身驅神經系統及自律神經系統。

大腦可分成左右兩半球：左邊主司理性處理歷程，這包含思考邏輯、理性分析的工作；右邊是負責較藝術創意的運作。

大腦皮質（cerebrum或cortex）可分四區：

  • 前額葉（frontal lobe或motor cortex）負責運動、語言表達、個人的時空概念，
  • 頂葉（parietal lobe或somatosensory cortex）是處理身體感官的訊息，這包含觸覺、溫度、等外在物理的剌激，
  • 枕葉（occipital lobe或visual cortex）則是接收並解釋視覺訊息，最後
  • 顳葉（temporal lobe或auditory cortex）是處理聽覺的訊息，也是與人類情緒及記憶的儲存有很大的關係。
  • 除了皮質，大腦內也有一些明顯不同的重要部位，且負責獨特的功能：
  •  1. 小腦cerebellum：身體平衡及姿勢、動作的順暢
  • 2. 視丘thalamus：處理進來的感覺訊息與外出運動訊息的傳輸及整合
  • 3. 下視丘hypothalamus：身體內的均衡、調節體內的溫度、新陳代謝、性行為等
  • 4.邊緣系統limbic system：情緒、動機、學習與記憶的功能，
  • 主要的兩個部位是
  • 杏仁核扁桃體amygdala（情緒記憶，攻擊性行為）及海馬迴hippocampus（空間記憶，短期及長期記憶）。

1/25/2011

小說創作技巧

小說創作技巧 費啟宇
我最近才對小說的研究和傳寫發生興趣
中文的資料竟然不少

關於「小說」一詞，或許每個人都有不同的見解，但整體而言小說是一種文學創作。
http://bassavg.com/lgpps7/topic.php?id=1362249020&mark=yes

如何寫好一篇小說




http://www.nightcats.net/html/yung/yung34.html?action=reload  
 臺灣現代小說的誕生─歷史源流篇
http://blog.xuite.net/ming1115/blog/11655153
 
http://www.videal.org/F.f/C-5.htm
 
寫作技巧期
 





 
 

浪漫主義的中文站

memoir writiing workshop

http://teacher.scholastic.com/writeit/memoir/index.htm
Step-by-step help on brainstorming, drafting, reviewing, revising, and polishing your writing!


http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/13-FE-AnnetteFix.html
Drawing From Your Life to Create
 
Excerpt:
Why Memoir?


With the continuing explosion of reality television, there is a good argument for the belief that audiences want to know about the emotions, experiences, and reactions of real people. This is what memoir delivers.

Naysayers may point their fingers at the me-me-me of memoir and brush it off as an egomaniacal romp into reverie and self-reflection. And some of the memoirs out there are exactly that. Just as some fiction is a forum for an author’s pseudoliterary pontification. Thankfully, that is not the case with all memoirs and novels. Good stories exist in both genres. Strive to be one of the good ones.

The “Who Cares” Question

"Who cares" is the most basic question every writer should ask before even writing a book—it's not relegated only to memoirs. It's about knowing your audience and having elements in your story that are universal.

The reader of a how-to guide, a cookbook, or a computer manual, is in search of useful information. The reader who chooses a novel or memoir wants to be entertained. Offer an interesting premise and deliver an entertaining story and you will have solved the “who cares” question.

“It’s about knowing your audience and having elements in your story that are universal.”

Begin at the Beginning

If you want to write a memoir and you don’t know where to start, begin by taking a look at your life. Ask yourself these basic questions to help find the direction of your story. Pull out a piece of paper (or open a blank document) and answer these questions.

•How did I get to where I am now?

•What experiences in my life have shaped my character?

•What do I believe from the core of my being? And why?

•If I could tell only one story about my life, what would it be?

The questions are designed to be broad enough to help you identify a throughline that can be used as the first step to discovering if you have a story you truly want to tell.

The next step is to go on a scavenger hunt for old photos, diaries, or the memory box full of trinkets, letters, and souvenirs from your past that you have tucked in a corner of the garage. Sort through these treasures, keeping a notebook and pen handy to jot down the memories and story ideas as they come to you.

Crafting a memoir doesn’t necessarily require you to dive into your past. You can begin your story with an incident that is still warm and recent. Mine the details of your lifestyle, career, culture, family life, or anything unique to your experience that can be used as the base for your memoir.

Did you grow up on a ranch in a rural area or a tiny apartment in a big city? Are you a police officer or the wife of one? Have you escaped from an abusive relationship? Are you languishing in an unfulfilled life? Is your family hug-me sweater dysfunctional or Norman Rockwell perfect? No matter what your situation is, past or present—there is something in your life that is story worthy.

Readers will be drawn to your story for different reasons: some may identify with you and your experiences; some will want to live vicariously through your story to see a way of life, culture, or career they’ve never experienced; some, like rubber-neckers at an accident, will want to see what happened in your train wreck of a life....

Excerpt: 'How to Write a Memoir'

Excerpt: 'How to Write a Memoir'
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5340618/

by William Zinsser

Most people embarking on a memoir are paralyzed by the size of the task. What to put in? What to leave out? Where to start? Where to stop? How to shape the story? The past looms over them in a thousand fragments, defying them to impose on it some kind of order. Because of that anxiety, many memoirs linger for years half written, or never get written at all.

What can be done?

You must make a series of reducing decisions. For example: in a family history, one big decision would be to write about only one branch of the family. Families are complex organisms, especially if you trace them back several generations. Decide to write about your mother's side of the family or your father's side, but not both. Return to the other one later and make it a separate project.

Remember that you are the protagonist in your own memoir, the tour guide. You must find a narrative trajectory for the story you want to tell and never relinquish control. This means leaving out of your memoir many people who don't need to be there. Like siblings.

****

My final reducing advice can be summed up in two words: think small. Don't rummage around in your past — or your family's past — to find episodes that you think are "important" enough to be worthy of including in your memoir. Look for small self-contained incidents that are still vivid in your memory. If you still remember them it's because they contain a universal truth that your readers will recognize from their own life.

That turned out to be the main lesson I learned by writing a book in 2004 called Writing About Your Life. It's a memoir of my own life, but it's also a teaching book — along the way I explain the reducing and organizing decisions I made. I never felt that my memoir had to include all the important things that ever happened to me — a common temptation when old people sit down to summarize their life journey. On the contrary, many of the chapters in my book are about small episodes that were not objectively "important" but that were important to me. Because they were important to me they also struck an emotional chord with readers, touching a universal truth that was important to them.

One chapter is about serving in the army in World War II. Like most men of my generation, I recall that war as the pivotal experience of my life. But in my memoir I don't write anything about the war itself. I just tell one story about one trip I took across North Africa after our troopship landed at Casablanca. My fellow GIs and I were put on a train consisting of decrepit wooden boxcars called "forty-and-eights," so named because they were first used by the French in World War I to transport forty men or eight horses. The words QUARANTE HOMMES OU HUIT CHEVAUX were still stenciled on them. For six days I sat in the open door of that boxcar with my feet hanging out over Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It was the most uncomfortable ride I ever took — and the best. I couldn't believe I was in North Africa. I was the sheltered son of Northeastern wasps; nobody in my upbringing or my education had ever mentioned the Arabs. Now, suddenly, I was in a landscape where everything was new — every sight and sound and smell.

The eight months I spent in that exotic land were the start of a romance that has never cooled. They would make me a lifelong traveler to Africa and Asia and other remote cultures and would forever change how I thought about the world. Remember: Your biggest stories will often have less to do with their subject than with their significance — not what you did in a certain situation, but how that situation affected you and shaped the person you became.

As for how to actually organize your memoir, my final advice is, again, think small. Tackle your life in easily manageable chunks. Don't visualize the finished product, the grand edifice you have vowed to construct. That will only make you anxious.

Here's what I suggest.

Go to your desk on Monday morning and write about some event that's still vivid in your memory. What you write doesn't have to be long — three pages, five pages — but it should have a beginning and an end. Put that episode in a folder and get on with your life. On Tuesday morning, do the same thing. Tuesday's episode doesn't have to be related to Monday's episode. Take whatever memory comes calling; your subconscious mind, having been put to work, will start delivering your past.

Keep this up for two months, or three months, or six months. Don't be impatient to start writing your "memoir," the one you had in mind before you began. Then, one day, take all your entries out of their folder and spread them on the floor. (The floor is often a writer's best friend.) Read them through and see what they tell you and what patterns emerge. They will tell you what your memoir is about and what it's not about. They will tell you what's primary and what's secondary, what's interesting and what's not, what's emotional, what's important, what's funny, what's unusual, what's worth pursing and expanding. You'll begin to glimpse your story's narrative shape and the road you want to take.

Then all you have to do is put the pieces together.

From The American Scholar, Volume 75, No. 2, Spring 2006. Copyright 2006 by William Zinsser. This essay is adapted from a new chapter for the forthcoming 30th-anniversary edition of On Writing Well.

What is a Memoir?

I am going to take a class about writing memoir, so I decide to write here very day  about my readings and thoughts. First is the definition of Memoir.

Source : http://www.suite101.com/content/what-is-a-memoir-a50315

What is a Memoir?

Memoir comes from the Latin word "memoria" meaning memory. A memoir is an evolution of the autobiography. An autobiography is a story written by yourself about your life. Your life story so far. A memoir, in the style which the publishing market are flooded with at the moment, tends to deal with a more specific period or theme in your life.

Read more at Suite101: What is a Memoir?: What This Autobiographical Genre of Literature is All About http://www.suite101.com/content/what-is-a-memoir-a50315#ixzz1C4drnAkc/

What Sort of Events are in a Memoir?

Anything and everything can be in a memoir and they can be in any emotional range however the most saleable style in 2007 and 2008 so far has been the inspirational memoir and the Mis Lit (Misery Literature) memoir, with memoirs of war survivors and adults who were abused as a child flying off the shelves.

Why Write a Memoir?

Some reasons to write a memoir are:

  • You feel you have an important story to tell. Maybe you are the sole survivor of a disaster or have been treated badly by a big company. Maybe you have been misrepresented in the press or worked for a famous recluse. Whatever the story if you feel that a particular part of your life is an interesting story then write it in a memoir.
  • For future generations. Maybe you are struggling through a divorce and want your children to understand in their adulthood what had happened. Maybe you want your grandchildren to know you better. Maybe you have emigrated and you want future generations to know what their heritage is. A memoir can be like a piece of you reaching out to your descendants long after you have gone.
  • To document your success. Your rags to riches struggle. Your journey from crackpot inventor to innovative millionaire. Your struggles as a freelance writer leading eventually to that one best seller. Both inspirational and interesting everyone likes to read how people triumph in the face of adversity.
  • To document how you handle an illness. Whether you have an illness which will reduce your mobility, sight or attention span or have been diagnosed with a degenerative disease a memoir can be a good way to document your illness and treatment for others in a similar situation to read or to help their relatives understand how they may be feeling.
  • As therapy. Writing or talking about your feelings and past events can be an excellent way to work through them in your head and find some peace or resolution.
  • To remember. Writing a memoir can help to unlock memories you had forgotten you had and as a result can help you to understand yourself better
Read more at Suite101: What is a Memoir?: What This Autobiographical Genre of Literature is All About http://www.suite101.com/content/what-is-a-memoir-a50315#ixzz1C4dWULtm/

1/13/2011

Romantism links

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A0858004.html
The Romantic Period

11/07/2010

Throwing a Jane Austen Party For Preteens

Throwing a Jane Austen Party For Preteens

Regency Crafts and Activities For Children

Feb 18, 2010 Laura Briggs


Jane Austen Children's Party - ppdigitalTips and suggestions for hosting a Jane Austen party for kids between eight and eleven years old.

Jane Austen’s stories about love, life, and marriage in the early 1800s have left an admirable literary legacy. The Regency era authoress has entertained generations of readers and developed a fan base that encompasses a wide age range. Even children who are too young to truly enjoy the books have come to appreciate Austen’s work through film adaptations as well as dolls, paper dolls, and handmade tributes to the famous writer. Fortunately, there are many activities and games that are perfect for a Jane Austen themed party for children.

Sea Shell Picture Frames

A simple but charming craft that Regency era girls enjoyed making is a sea shell picture frame. This project requires picture frames (wooden), craft glue, and mixed bags of sea shells. For a kid craft, it is probably best to buy frames that are 5” x 7” or smaller. The sea shells can be obtained online or from a craft store.

The glass needs to be removed from the frames before the craft begins in order to protect it from glue smears. When the kids are ready to start decorating, they should coat the underside of each shell with glue and place it against the frame. To help the shells stick, they will need to apply pressure to each one for several seconds. A nice finishing touch would be to add glitter.

Romances of Jane Austen-- Much loved, but hard to read. Check out Edmund Persuader. www.edmundpersuader.comParty at Dave & Busters Reserve a Party Room Today! Catering, Fun & Games for Any Event www.DaveandBusters.comDraw a Friend’s Silhouette

Another fun form of entertainment from Jane Austen’s time that kids can still enjoy today is silhouette drawing. The basic supplies are:

•Large sheets of white paper

•Pencils

•Lantern or desk lamp

•Scotch tape

•Black marker or black craft paint

Have the person whose silhouette is being drawn sit in a chair near the wall. Place the lamp or lantern so that it casts their shadow onto the wall. Now, have the artist tape a sheet of white paper onto the part of the wall where the shadow appears. The artist should then carefully trace the person’s profile with a pencil. When the profile has been completely outlined, the artist should remove the paper from the wall and fill in the shape with a black marker, or even some black craft paint.


The Art of Quilling

Quilling is a favorite craft from the Regency era that can be learned quickly in its most basic form. The process involves rolling thin strips of paper together to form flowers and other shapes. Necessary supplies are construction paper (ideally in pastel shades) glue, and scissors. Once the children have made several shapes, they can finish by gluing their quill artwork to a piece of construction paper or cardstock for a lovely greeting card.

Some Final Activities and Souvenirs

If there is time for a movie, consider viewing the 2007 Masterpiece Theater adaptation of Austen’s novel, Northanger Abby. The film is light hearted and adventurous and only 93 minutes long.
Also, a wonderful keepsake for the evening would be to have the children print off a free Regency paper doll. Make sure there is plenty of color ink for this activity. Of course, some of the children may prefer to print their doll in black and white and then color the details. Be sure to print the dolls on cardstock so they will be less likely to bend or tear.

How To Throw a Jane Austen Themed Birthday Party

How To Throw a Jane Austen Themed Birthday Party

Tips and Ideas For a Regency-Style Special Occasion

Dec 28, 2009 Laura Briggs


Jane Austen Birthday Party - personal photoEven without renting or making expensive costumes, it's still possible to throw a fun and creative Jane Austen and Regency themed birthday party.

Using basic supplies, one can easily put together a simple but fun occasion to please the Austen fan with a birthday. A little research on the internet will be necessary, as well as some light food preparation. The birthday girl and her guests are sure to appreciate the small but elegant gestures described below.

Make Special Party Invitations

Using a word program and card stock, create a stylish party invitation that guest’s will treasure for their scrapbooks. Look for a subtle paper color, such as cream or off white. Graceful, curvy fonts such as Edwardian and Blackadder would work well for the print.

Get creative and include an Austen quote at the bottom of the invitation. There are countless references to balls, dances, and parties in such books as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility,and Emma. Word searchable texts of Jane Austen's novels are available online.


Once again, use a word program and card stock to create some unique place cards. For a playful edge, consider using an Austen character’s name for the card, thus allowing guests to sit in their favorite heroine’s chair. It would be a nice touch to include a quote about the character beneath their name.

Play a Period Game

Jane Austen’s books are full of references to recreational activities, especially games. Some of the card games that come up again and again in her novels are:

Directions for most of these games can be found online. Devoted Austen fans will get a kick out of playing the same games that entertained such characters as Lizzie, Emma, and Elinor.

Read on

Regency Paint Colors, Fabrics, and Furniture

Regency Romance Fiction

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters Review

Make Regency Era Cakes

Small, individual cake treats from the regency era include such things as rout cakes, queen tea cakes, and lemon cheesecakes. For a large cake, one might consider making a delicious plum cake. One can research recipes online or simply make a modern version from one’s own cookbook collection. And, of course, there are also many Regency and Jane Austen themed cookbooks available in book stores and online.

Serve a Period Snack

It would be a wonderful touch to serve tea with the regency cake. But of course, not everyone has a proper tea set on hand for such an occasion. Still, one can always make period snacks to lend an Austen feel to the food arrangement.

Tea sandwiches and scones are two appropriate but simple recipes easily found online. Also, treats mentioned as a special delicacy in Austen’s Sense and Sensibility include olives, dried cherries, and sweet meats (sugar plums).

Play a Trivia Game or Quiz

Austen fans will enjoy showing off their knowledge and matching wits. Quizzes can be found online or simply made from scratch. Activities such as quote identification should prove both challenging and fun.

Finish the Evening With a Film Adaptation

There are many wonderfully made film adaptations of Austen’s novels. The Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice, though extremely accurate and well done, is much too long, clocking in at nearly six hours.


Much shorter but very enjoyable are Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility, Roger Michell’s Persuasion, and both the Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Beckinsale versions of Emma.

Recommended Reading

•Tea With Jane Austen by Kim Wilson, 2004.

•The Jane Austen Cookbook by Maggie Black, 2002.

5/14/2010

勇敢去出版

http://www.fearlessbooks.com/PublishingGuide.html
這是一個英文出版指南網站

 
我開始做手工書
但是另一方面
對電子出版
也寄予厚望

 
Electronic Publishing

  
Paper-free publishing is a rapidly evolving realm that does not yet have wide public acceptance, but may well be the wave of the future. If you need ink, paper, and binding for your work in order to feel like a real author, then this option is not for you — but there have been some notable commercial successes in this field. Some e-publishers also produce POD books, and some do not; some may be here today but gone tomorrow. Thus, make sure you have a thorough and up-to-date self-education in the field before committing your work to any particular firm.

 
 
Visit the following electronic publishers to get an education in this field:

 

3/13/2010

傲慢與偏見的教學資源

Unit Plan: Using Technology to Teach Pride & Prejudice


http://www.knowledge.state.va.us/cgi-bin/lesview.cgi?idl=554

Cliff's notes

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/Pride-and-Prejudice-Character-Analysis-Elizabeth-Bennet.id-147,pageNum-519.html

10/09/2009

再忙，也要開同學會

七月盛暑的一個週六傍晚，十幾個吱吱喳喳的四十幾歲女人，從我六樓的新家走出來，擠在電梯裡，按了一樓，有人突然說：頂樓還沒去看一看，大家就又從一樓坐到頂樓。奇怪！怎麼有兩個女孩在頂樓騎腳踏車？原來是我家女兒和朋友的女兒，我們大人談得太開心，把小孩都忘了。

這裡是北台灣淡水鎮的「理學苑」住家大樓。社區約有一百戶，只有七層樓高，位在淡水古蹟區，從頂樓就能看到淡水河景。而在美國定居了十六年的我，又怎麼會出現在那裡呢？

淡水是我的故鄉，今年決定在淡水築個小窩，每年寒暑假就可以回來度長假，因為新屋才完工，我索性就帶女兒回來住上半年，一方面可以佈置裝潢，另一方面可與親友團聚，第三方面可讓八歲的女兒學中文。

女人們、小孩們和兩個爸爸面帶微笑，仰望開闊的天空，清風徐徐吹來，淡水暮色真美好，觀音山和大屯山環繞，像慈母的手臂，還有各式摩天大樓爭艷。這一刻，沒有煩惱、比較、過去和未來，只有大學畢業二十四年後的喜相逢！

同學會在台灣似乎非常蓬勃，例如我的大姊就是個「同學會達人」。她剛從中學教職退休，我經常聽說她要去參加同學會，她也常留意適合開同學會的餐館，因為她可以建議地點，不用說，大台北區的大小雅緻餐館，她當然都吃遍了。

我雖然移居美國，也不落人後，每年仍然回台參加一次大學同學會。我朋友比較少，保持聯絡的，就只是住在台北的五六位大學同學，每次返台時，大家總會見見面，說是歡迎我，其實是她們平日太忙碌，雖然都住在台灣，一年也只能見這一次面。

因為離鄉背井，讓我特別珍惜老朋友，深體人生無常，必須即時把握。最近幾年，拜科技之賜，住在美國的我反而成了主辦人。當我快要回台前，我就會發出電郵通知大家，那些不用電郵的同學，就有勞台北的同學以電話通知，有時也會邀到外縣市的同學來參加。

今年停留的時間較長，當然更義不容辭挑起主辦的責任，還要有家人和朋友的團隊協助，有人要負責聯絡，有人要帶路，才能找到位在半山腰的寒舍。美酒佳餚更是不可少，正巧妹妹開了家韓國餐館，就在我家附近，我們包下餐廳全場，可以盡情喧嘩。餐後，大家到頗具建築特色的淡江中學ˋ真理大學漫步、拍照，再散步到寒舍，繼續第二回合的敘舊。

在客廳中，我為大家朗讀一篇報紙上的文章：「…一年又一年，許多人過了中年，開始懷念老友，開始想念故鄉，甚至開始回想起童年的一切，懷舊的心情，期盼老朋友各自安好，不管物換星移海枯石爛，大夥驀然回首之際，仍能相互問候：噢！你還在這裡！」多麼貼近我們的心情啊！文章標題叫「相見亦無事」，作者是王瓊慈。

「相見亦無事」是上句，我更喜歡下句：「不來常思君」，尤其是看到兩位闊別二十四年的老同學，共有的往事又浮現腦際，別後的生活經驗也是大家的借鏡。朋友見面，並不需要「有事」，但要有時間，在網路上看過一句話：「再忙，也要和你喝杯咖啡。」

你最近去喝咖啡了嗎？對我而言，再忙，也要開個同學會。

改寫于聖荷西二○○九年八月二十七日

Immorality and Art

CAN “IMMORAL” PEOPLE CREATE GREAT ART?

My answer is YES. I will analyze it from three different perspectives and explain why the artworks are great.

From a spiritual perspective, these great artworks were God’s work; these artists were just channels to express them. Why choose them? I don’t know. Their flaws or crimes committed are the living proof that we humans are imperfect. I guess Caravagio (1573-1610) killed someone in a spur of rage. Bernini physically disfigured his mistress out of jealousy. Jacques-Louis David acted according to his belief: “arts must …contribute forcefully to the education of the public,” and must be in the service of revolution. (p. 847 Gardner’s)

From a psychological perspective, I wonder if the moody unfriendly Michelangelo was the same great sculptor Michelangelo who created David. Was he happy when he was creating? Or was the furiously jealous Bernini the same Bernini who created the Saint Peter’s Cathedral? What I mean is people behave differently at different times of their lives and when interacting with different people. I have come to realize that we all have “multiple personalities”. During any given day, we can go through different thoughts, moods and feelings. I confess that sometimes I was very unkind to my own family.

Also, we don’t know if some of these artists suffered from bi-polar, depression or other mental or mood problems. Some studies show that genius and psychosis are just separately by a fine line. We know Van Gogh is a good example. It seems that the strong emotions combine with good art skills generate great artwork.

From the perspective of art technique and its influences, to reach mastery, each and every artist has to study and work hard.

In the case of Caravagio, his art style “injected a naturalism into both religion and the classics, reducing them to human dramas, played out the in the harsh and dingy settings of his time and place.” (p. 700, Gardener’s) This was a brand new style and influenced artists then and later greatly. How courageous and ingenious! His use of perspectives and chiaroscuro (contrast of light and dark) was especially significant.

Bernini was a great architect, sculptor, and painter in Baroque period. Until old age, he would work with his chisel for seven hours virtually without pause, throughout a long, hot day. According to the book Art: A New History by Paul Johnson, Bernini “believed that God had endowed him with unusual gifts and that, in return, he must make exemplary use of them to glorify his Maker and to make the world share his faith.” He was the creator of David, the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. He was more than just a violent lover.

Jacques-Louis David also studied past artwork very careful and was considered to be a great artist in neoclassical period. His artworks include The Death of Socrates (1787), Oath of the Horatii (1784), the Death of Marat (1793). The latter was most controversial because he depicted Marat as a martyr instead of a terrorist murderer in the French revolution. A naked man in a bathtub looked so innocent. However, the artwork itself was very convincingly real in a neoclassical style, and the composition was considered to draw reference to the Pieta by Michelangelo. Its value lies on that it is moving to the viewers and it shows us that a painting can be deceptive.

9/22/2009

三個大衛

你看過「米朗基羅」的「大衛像」嗎？你知道他非唯一雕塑過「大衛像」的大師嗎？

「大衛」(David)的故事典出舊約聖經的「撒母耳記上篇」，以色列人和非利士人交戰，以色列「大衛」自願與非利士巨人戰士「歌利亞」(Goliath)一博，「大衛」僅以簡單的投石器射出石頭，居然殺死了頭戴銅盔、身穿鎧甲的「歌利亞」。


我知道的三個「大衛像」全是義大利大師的作品，可見「大衛像」對於義大利有多麼特別的意義。

第一個「大衛」是「唐納鐵羅」(Donatello)的作品，完成的時間約在西元1420與 1450年間，屬於文藝復興早期的作品，號稱此期第一個獨立的裸體雕像。 的確，如果不是從中古時期崇尚宗教畫，進入闡揚人文精神的文藝復興時期，就不可能出現裸體雕像。

但是他也非全裸，頭戴寬邊帽，有人說是牧童常戴的帽子，腳穿華麗的靴子，少年「大衛」留著長長的捲髮，皮膚細緻，身材纖細，看起來有些女性化，青銅像高五呎二吋，約與真人相同高度。

這是義大利當時最有錢有勢的梅迪奇(Medici)家族私人收藏，聽說只供親友欣賞，因為形象「不雅」，宗教界一定會大搖其頭。

「唐納鐵羅」選擇以「大衛」在取得勝利後的情境來呈現，他腳踩在敵人的頭顱上，手上拿著敵人劍，以一種英文叫contrapposto的姿勢站立著。

對於contrapposto的意義，國立臺灣師範大學美術學系「楊永源」教授在「西方藝術中的裸體與裸露問題」有詳細的說明。
  • 「米開朗基羅的動勢乃是來自 “對比” (contrapposto) 的概念，這是從古代希臘藝術所主張的人體動勢美的理論。
  • 它以人體站姿重心置於單腳，通常是右腳，左腳尖著地，腳跟微提，此時右肩下垂，右腋下至腰際肌肉際擠縮，左側肋間至腰際以至大腿骨，則呈鬆弛拉長為向外微張的弧線，全身自頭顱至腳跟形成有動勢的優雅比例。
  • 以蜿曲線作為動勢之根源，是取自希臘時代柏拉圖將火焰閃動之形狀視為靈魂之源的延伸。」
事實上，除了美感的因素，我的教授指出，他曾經看到擔任繪畫的模特兒昏倒，就是因為長時間兩腳並立的站著，如果是換成以contrapposto的方式，兩腳分開，一腳微彎，就會比較放鬆，也就能避免「不幸」的發生。

第二個「大衛」是「米開朗基羅」(Michelangelo) 的作品，也是大多數人知道的大衛。完成的時間約在西元1501與 1504年間，屬於文藝復興盛期的作品。「米開朗基羅」深入研究人體解剖學，所以他的人物無不肌肉強健、血管浮現，「大衛」也不例外。

這個大理石巨像高達十七英尺，他看起來是個正當盛年的美男子。這是戰役之前的一景，他的頭轉向左邊，機警的等待來襲的敵人，他的全身肌肉緊繃，血管凸現，能量聚積一身，隨時一觸即發。

「大衛」似乎與一般人體的比例不同，他的頭與上半身的比例比下半身大，手也特別大，有一個解釋是，因為當初就準備放在很高的架上，當你從下向上看時，看起來比例就很正確。

第三個「大衛」是「貝尼尼」(Bernini) 的「大衛」，完成的時間約在西元1501與 1504年間，屬於強調動感和戲劇感的巴洛克時期的成品。

這個大理石像高五英呎七英吋，他看起來是個黝黑健壯的青年，除了腰際的一塊布，幾乎全裸，為了顯示他是牧童，「貝尼尼」讓他斜背著牧童常用的竹簍，他的腳邊有國王給他的鎧甲，還有他拿手的樂器豎琴。

「貝尼尼」選擇以交戰的當下為主題，來製造最大的戲劇張力，我們看到是：他用盡全身力量，眉頭深鎖，嘴巴緊閉，右手拿著投石器，左手彎到右手邊拿著石頭，正要用力一揮的煞那行動，更特別的是，你可以想像巨人「歌利亞」就站在離他不遠的地方，也是卯足全力衝刺過來，不禁令人要為他捏一把冷汗。

有一天，我希望能去世界各地看看藝術真跡，畢竟圖片與實際的作品是不同的，我在此許願，大衛，有一天我們會碰面的。

9/21/2009

哈利波特書架


你是哈利波特迷嗎？我家就有兩個瘋子，一個是八歲的女兒，一個是早過不惑之年的老公，女兒六歲時，他們開始共讀英文版的哈利波特。

這件事還都要怪我，誰叫我多事去買了全套的書呢？我一開始覺得還不錯，他們每天利用睡前朗讀半小時，對增加女兒的閱讀能力有助。

我還有另一隱藏的動機，如果女兒喜歡哈利波特，我以後可去圖書館借中文版讀給她聽，她可以中英文一起學，我心想這真是一箭雙雕，一石兩鳥的妙招，想不到中文版用字很艱深，她都聽不懂，我只好作罷。

父女倆似乎花了一年才讀完七大冊，但欲罷不能，重頭又要再讀一次，我馬上投反對票，他們也看電影版，每一集也都至少看過兩遍了，用掉不少寶貴時間。也許有人會覺得奇怪，喜歡看書有什麼關係呢？這是因為我希望她廣泛閱讀。

女兒今年八歲了，已經可以自己閱讀哈利波特了，她就在家中或車上或學校自由時間，天天抱著一本厚厚的書低頭閱讀，平裝書的裝訂似乎隨時可能解體。

最近，我突然很想畫個書架壁畫，在網上搜尋靈感時，無意中看到一個美國哈利波特迷的網站，叫「Leaky Cauldron」，我不知道那是什麼意思。

我的目標只是網上那個「哈利波特書架」的樣板，這個六層的書架上，除了或躺或坐，厚度不一的書本外，還有巫師帽、貓頭鷹、蠟燭、羽毛筆、酒精燈、水晶球、試管等神秘十足的東西，當然還有蜘蛛網和黑色燒鍋。

我是在有木框11x14英吋的畫布上，依樣描繪和上色。既然叫「哈利波特書架」，當然少不了要有哈利波特全集，我靈機一動，隨性把書脊寫上老子、莊子、我的作品集、奇蹟、快樂集等我喜歡的中英書名，我於是得到一種再創造的快感，我甚至覺得這真是魔法，我有了屬於我自己的神奇書架。

有一天，我們正好去了附近的一家兒童書店，我看到牆上有一只黑鍋圖片和「Leaky Cauldron」這兩個字，Cauldron是巫婆煮魔法湯的那種鍋子，但為何會漏水Leaky呢？

我趕快問我的隨行英文秘書兼老公，我這才恍然大悟，原來這是有典故的，語出哈利波特一書，乃一家巫師們聚會的酒吧。

我也查到中文譯名，就叫「破釜酒吧」，這是很簡潔有力的翻譯，但我總覺沒有譯出魔鍋的味道，你說是不是呢？

我終於覺得讀哈利波特還真有點用處。

延伸閱讀

貓王大跳芭蕾舞


刊載於美國世界日報

貓王跳芭蕾舞？有沒有搞錯？一開始我也很納悶，實在很難把艾維斯•普利斯萊（Elvis Presley）與芭蕾舞聯想在一起。

但是這是千真萬確的，我很幸運有機會到「聖荷西表演藝術中心」，欣賞到「藍色麂皮鞋」(Blue Suede Shoes)這齣芭蕾舞劇的表演。

其實這個芭蕾舞劇，並非有關貓王的一生，而是編舞者選用了三十首貓王的歌曲，像「藍色麂皮鞋」就是其中一首，來串聯整個芭蕾舞碼，舞者身穿芭蕾舞硬鞋和搖滾現代感的服裝，這大概就是所謂的現代芭蕾舞吧。

這是一齣在美國有些歷史的舞劇，經過不同的編舞者增減改編，故事主軸是敘述三個高中時代的好友，經過一連串的事件，終於蛻變成大人的過程。我所看的表演，由拿哈特 (Dennis Nahat) 編舞，聖荷西芭蕾舞團演出。

一開場，舞台上燈光耀眼，有十幾對衣著華麗的男女舞者，女生穿著緊身的上衣，蓬蓬的短裙，腰圍更顯得細小，男生是穿緊身衣和大喇叭褲，有鮮黃色、大橘紅色、寶藍色，五光十色，一起配合音樂「吉他手」(Guitar Man)和「藍色麂皮鞋」搖滾起來，少不了貓王的招牌動作，擺手、扭臀、搖腿，但又加上古典芭蕾的技巧，男生舉起女生、跳躍、旋轉，更顯得輕盈流暢。 我不禁也想隨之起舞，搖晃身體，腳打拍子。

全劇分成七幕，從高中生活、失戀、畢業、從軍、入獄，到老朋友重逢等。在高中生活這一幕，一群高中生站成一條線，很整齊的同步跳著排舞，充滿自由、快速、活潑的能量。當舞者很戲劇化的靜止在台上，你就知道舞蹈結束了，或要換幕了，是鼓掌的時間了。

為何拿哈特先生會把搖滾樂與芭蕾舞結合在一起呢？

他說：「在1955年，當我們第一次聽到他的音樂時，全部的美國人，就像是被大鐵鎚擊中腦部。」從那時開始，他就一直夢想有一天，要編寫出這部芭蕾舞劇。

劇中也穿插一些幽默，有一兩次一群男舞者，背對著觀眾，突然出奇不意，快速把褲子拉下，露出屁股幾秒鐘，博得觀眾大笑。主角之一是個長相平凡，個子矮小的男生，他卻愛上一個瘦高的長髮美女，當他們共舞時，畫面就顯得十分可笑，因為高度相差太多，女生反而成為帶舞者。

在「碎心酒店」(Heartbreak Hotel) 的音樂陪襯下，三位主角，分別坐在三張有背的塑膠椅子上，一位坐在舞台的右上方，一位坐在舞台的右上方，一個在舞台的左上方，排成三角形，他們同步穿衣、脫衣，脫衣、穿衣，表達他們在旅館房間的活動。原來，你不用做很大的動作，就可以表現出有趣的舞步。

在「木頭心」(Wooden Heart) 的音樂聲中，舞台背景有一個超大的咕咕鐘，左右有兩個門，舞者穿著有支架的圓裙，頭戴著皇冠，裝扮成時鐘裡的機械小娃娃，她們從一個門旋轉出來，再旋轉進去另一個門，僵硬的舉手提腿，有趣逼真的機械動作，有時還似乎要跌倒了，與前面輕快的舞蹈，形成強烈對比。

最後一幕，三個高中時代的好友又重逢了，他們重新穿上「藍色麂皮鞋」，歡歡喜喜的大跳特跳，年輕時候的樂觀和活力，全部又都回來了，觀眾也很滿意的回家了。

在美國，這似乎是很常演出的芭蕾舞劇，如果你留心一下藝文活動，說不定你也看得到。

延伸閱讀

  • 如果在網上搜尋 Blue Suede Shoes ballet，你可以看到You Tube有舞劇的片段影片。

介紹「魔法寫作課」

從寫書到教書:介紹「魔法寫作課」 

我在逛網路亞馬遜書店時，無意中發現這本英文版「魔法寫作課」(Writing Magic)，自己喜歡寫作，也一直想鼓勵女兒創作，就毫不猶豫買了這本書，以為是教小孩寫故事的書，但是我發現它更適合我，我便開始把它翻譯成中文！

作者 蓋爾‧卡森‧萊溫妮(Gail Carson Levine)是暢銷小說「魔法灰姑娘」(Ella Enchanted) 的作者，她的故事似乎都圍繞著仙女和公主為主題，卻能寫成一部部十分不同的有趣故事。

在第二章中，作者說明寫這本書的原因，當她能夠把寫作當成全職工作時，她決定在她住的小鎮，免費教一門創意寫作課，至今她已教了許多年，為了讓更多的人受惠，就寫成這本書，她說是把她的「幸運與大家分享」。

這本書從第一章，就很吸引我，聽一聽作者的這段話：「許多年以前，我以為當我長大後，我還會記得當小孩子的感覺，我以為我能夠隨時回到小時候的自己。 但是，我不能。 當你變成青少年時，你踏入一座橋上，你也許已經在橋上了，對岸就是成人的世界，童年已經在你的背後了，這是一座木橋，一旦你走過，它就燒掉了。 」

在我小時候，台灣的社會比較貧困，父母從未買過一本書給我，但是我對書本有一種天生的熱情。小學同學王敏的母親是小學老師，王敏總是帶來一套套的故事書借我們看，我印象最深刻的是：國語日報出版的外國翻譯少年小說。我到現在偶而還會想起王敏，很感謝她的善良，她說的故事生動又有趣，她今天會是從事什麼工作呢？還在說故事嗎？

一直到我考上高中，大姊要我選個禮物，我要求她買一套國語日報的少年文學，但是你知道嗎？我已經無法欣賞了，因為我已經長大了，回不去童年了。

想不到在美國當了媽媽後，居然又找回一些童趣，開始讀起童書，女兒現在讀長篇故事了，我也跟著長大，讀起同類的書來，當然，原本的赤子之心已經消失了，取而代之的是，對作者的技巧和想像力的讚嘆，還有陪女兒成長的滿足感。

書中介紹了很多技巧，如創意是如何產生的，使用問卷來開發人物性格描寫，如何向腦中批判的聲音說不，如何用五官來描述，如何製造幽默和雙關語等，她用當代青少年小說做例子，也用自己的生活為例，十分平易近人，一點也不單調，每章後面還附有寫作練習。

作者要我們不要輕易把任何作品扔掉，至少要保留十五年，她說：「如果你保存你所寫的東西，你仍然不能走回童年，但是，你還可以看到在那個失去的國度的自己，你還能夠向在大河對岸的自己招招手。不論你是否繼續寫作，你會很高興你保有自己生命早期的紀念品。」

我原來就喜歡幫女兒紀錄成長過程，看了這番話，我就更加肯定生活紀錄的重要，孩子長得真快啊！相信是許多父母共同的感嘆？！還是喜悅呢？

我童年最早也是唯一的照片，是我大約五歲的照片，我常在想，我以前到底長什麼樣子呢？學生時期的作文和週記，一篇也沒有保存下來，所以我讀到這裡，更是心有戚戚焉！

我相信喜歡寫作和閱讀的人，一定會喜歡上這本小書，有小孩的父母也可以讀讀它。

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