literature – Culture Society https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk music, painting, literature Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:27:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cropped-arts-32x32.png literature – Culture Society https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk 32 32 Speculative Fiction as Political Voice: Analyzing Utopias and Dystopias in the New Wave of British Writers https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/speculative-fiction-as-political-voice-analyzing-utopias-and-dystopias-in-the-new-wave-of-british-writers/ Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:27:20 +0000 https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/?p=2670 In the shadow of Brexit, rising authoritarianism, climate crisis, and global inequality, British literature has undergone a distinct transformation. One of the most potent arenas for this change is speculative fiction—particularly in the forms of utopia and dystopia. For a new generation of British writers, these genres are more than

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]]> In the shadow of Brexit, rising authoritarianism, climate crisis, and global inequality, British literature has undergone a distinct transformation. One of the most potent arenas for this change is speculative fiction—particularly in the forms of utopia and dystopia. For a new generation of British writers, these genres are more than escapism. They are political lenses, ethical battlegrounds, and platforms to interrogate the present through imagined futures.

In this article, we explore how modern British authors are reshaping speculative fiction to reflect societal anxieties, explore progressive possibilities, and reimagine power structures. From Naomi Alderman’s power-shifting dystopias to Temi Oh’s Afrofuturist visions, this is fiction that doesn’t just speculate—it agitates.

A Legacy of Political Imagination

Speculative fiction has always been inherently political. Utopian literature—from Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) to William Morris’s News from Nowhere (1890)—offered blueprints for ideal societies or, more often, critiques of the author’s own time. Conversely, dystopias such as George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World warned of futures shaped by surveillance, state control, and dehumanization.

This tradition remains alive in the 21st century, but the themes and tones have shifted. Today’s British speculative fiction is less concerned with absolute visions of perfection or catastrophe and more invested in ambiguity, complexity, and critique. It reflects the messy nature of the world we inhabit—and the uncertain trajectory ahead.

Naomi Alderman and the Reversal of Power

Perhaps the most internationally recognized example of contemporary British dystopian fiction is Naomi Alderman’s The Power (2016). In this speculative narrative, women around the world develop the ability to emit electric shocks—flipping centuries of gender-based oppression on its head. What begins as feminist revenge fantasy evolves into a chilling portrayal of how power corrupts, regardless of who wields it.

Alderman’s work is both empowering and cautionary. Rather than offering a neat utopia, it demonstrates that structural power, when left unchecked, reproduces the same cycles of violence. The novel invites reflection on patriarchy, gender essentialism, and systemic abuse—all within a high-concept speculative frame.

Temi Oh and the Afrofuturist Turn

Another distinctive voice is Temi Oh, whose 2019 debut Do You Dream of Terra-Two? blends science fiction with introspective psychological drama. Following a group of young astronauts on a decades-long journey to colonize a new planet, the novel explores themes of race, isolation, belonging, and institutional control.

Oh’s work is particularly significant in broadening the scope of speculative fiction in Britain. Drawing from Afrofuturist influences, she challenges the often Eurocentric frameworks of science fiction and foregrounds questions of identity and inclusion. Her characters grapple not just with outer space, but with inner contradictions.

Her writing signals a new political horizon in British SF—one shaped by diaspora, decolonization, and the psychological toll of ambition and displacement.

Dystopia, Climate, and the Eco-Crisis

Many new British writers have turned to dystopia to grapple with environmental collapse. Cli-fi (climate fiction) has grown rapidly as a subgenre, blending ecological warnings with narrative experimentation.

James Bradley’s Clade and Sarah Hall’s The Carhullan Army are earlier examples, but more recently, writers like Luan Goldie and Natasha Carthew have tackled ecological injustice and class struggle through near-future settings. These works don’t depict environmental disaster as distant or abstract; they embed it in everyday life, showing how climate change deepens social divides and disrupts communities from the inside out.

These are not sweeping end-of-the-world epics, but slow apocalypses—stories of erosion, abandonment, and radical resistance.

Intersectionality in Speculative Space

A striking feature of this new wave is its intersectional awareness. Modern speculative fiction rarely isolates one axis of identity or power. Instead, it explores how race, gender, sexuality, class, and disability intersect in the construction of utopian or dystopian worlds.

For instance, Rivers Solomon—though based in the US—has been published and championed in the UK and represents this intersectional turn. Their novel An Unkindness of Ghosts uses the metaphor of a segregated spaceship to critique racial capitalism, gender norms, and historical amnesia.

British-based authors are increasingly adopting similar frameworks, questioning whose bodies and voices are erased in traditional visions of the future.

Utopia Reimagined: Hope in the Age of Collapse

In the face of so much dystopia, some writers are reclaiming utopia—not as a perfect, static society, but as a radical act of imagination.

Becky Chambers, while American, has found a significant readership in the UK and has influenced British SF with her “hopepunk” narratives. British authors like Irenosen Okojie and Lavie Tidhar have also infused their speculative fiction with surrealism, poetry, and alternative social visions that prioritize cooperation, creativity, and healing.

These are not glossy, corporate futures. They are strange, messy, and deeply human. They ask: What if care, not control, shaped society? What if we wrote stories to sustain rather than dominate?

Publishing and Platforms: Independent Futures

This new wave of speculative fiction often emerges from small presses, zines, and hybrid platforms. Publishers like Comma Press and Peirene Press are known for fostering bold, genre-blending work that mainstream publishers may overlook.

Festivals like FutureFest and initiatives like the Orwell Youth Prize are also encouraging younger writers to explore speculative futures with political depth. This decentralization of platforms has allowed more marginalized voices to imagine and critique power.

Conclusion: Fiction as Forecast, Fiction as Fight

Speculative fiction has always carried a dual purpose: to warn and to wonder. In the hands of Britain’s new wave of writers, it becomes a mirror and a map—reflecting the fractures of today and tracing possible routes toward tomorrow.

Whether through dystopias of algorithmic governance, utopias of mutual aid, or genre-defying allegories of resistance, these authors are asserting that fiction is not a luxury. It is a necessity. In an age when the real world feels increasingly surreal, speculative fiction grounds us—not in fantasy, but in a deeper understanding of what’s at stake.

In reimagining the future, these writers reclaim the present. And in the space between the possible and the impossible, they are building not just worlds, but weapons—against silence, against despair, and for change.

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]]> Casinos and the Desire for Wealth: An Analysis of Stefan Zweig and David Hill’s Works https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/casinos-and-the-desire-for-wealth-an-analysis-of-stefan-zweig-and-david-hills-works/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:17:19 +0000 https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/?p=2660 Casinos have long epitomised the duality of human nature — an allure of quick riches paired with the destructive power of gambling. Literature frequently employs this theme to delve into human emotions, social structures, and moral dilemmas. Stefan Zweig’s “Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman” and David Hill’s

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]]> Casinos have long epitomised the duality of human nature — an allure of quick riches paired with the destructive power of gambling. Literature frequently employs this theme to delve into human emotions, social structures, and moral dilemmas. Stefan Zweig’s “Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman” and David Hill’s “The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America’s Forgotten Capital of Vice” may differ in era and style but share a common purpose: exploring the depths of human behaviour through the lens of gambling.

Modern Casinos: A Changed Perspective

Today’s casinos bear little resemblance to the dens of vice and passion they were perceived as in previous centuries. Advanced technology, government regulations, and evolving societal attitudes have softened their once-seedy reputation.

Online casinos, in particular, are reshaping this perception. Far from being predators draining life and money, they now position themselves as centres of adult entertainment. Modern platforms such as Lord Ping, regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, ensure player safety by enforcing strict measures like banning credit card use to prevent financial harm. This evolution prompts a compelling comparison between the literary portrayals of casinos from the 19th and 20th centuries and their contemporary counterparts.

Casinos in Zweig’s World: A Theatre of Human Drama

Stefan Zweig, a master of psychological storytelling, portrays casinos as stages for intense human emotions in his novella “Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman.” The narrative follows an elderly Englishwoman who recounts her encounter with a young gambler spiralling into despair after a ruinous loss. This chance meeting prompts her reflections on the psychological grip of gambling.

For Zweig, casinos are more than mere settings — they are symbols of human vulnerability. The young gambler, consumed by his obsession with roulette, seeks not wealth but escape from reality. His losses signify not just monetary defeat but a surrender of self-control.

Zweig’s depiction is both elegant and tragic. The tension of the roulette wheel, the figure of the croupier, and the spinning ball serve as catalysts for emotional explosions. The casino itself, with its glittering chandeliers, is a paradoxical space where external splendour masks the internal turmoil of its patrons.

Hill’s Casinos: Engines of Power and Manipulation

David Hill’s “The Vapors” offers a contrasting perspective, delving into the darker socio-political role of casinos. Set in mid-20th century Hot Springs, Arkansas — dubbed “America’s Las Vegas” — the book explores the intersection of gambling, corruption, and organised crime.

Hill’s portrayal centres on casinos as tools of power, fostering illusions of wealth while serving the interests of criminal elites. Beneath their glamorous exteriors lies a web of illegal activities: money laundering, racketeering, and societal manipulation. Unlike Zweig’s romanticised image, Hill reveals a stark reality where gambling becomes a means of societal control.

Contrasting the Two Perspectives: The Dual Faces of Casinos

1. Era and Cultural Context

  • Zweig’s early 20th-century casinos reflect European ideals of luxury and aristocratic indulgence, encapsulating human passions and dramas.
  • Hill’s mid-20th-century American casinos highlight the harsh realities of corruption and inequality, emblematic of a society grappling with organised crime.

2. Character Motivations

  • Zweig’s narrative focuses on personal emotions and conflicts, with characters driven by compassion, despair, and the pursuit of salvation or self-destruction.
  • Hill presents characters often as pawns in systemic structures, their gambling shaped not by individual desires but by external pressures and manipulations.

3. The Role of Casinos

  • For Zweig, the casino is a metaphor for internal struggles, a battleground for human weaknesses and aspirations.
  • For Hill, the casino is a tool of societal control, where emotions are subjugated to external forces.

Realism in Casino Portrayals

Both works are realistic in their own ways, though they emphasise different facets of the gambling world. Zweig creates an emotionally charged portrait of casinos, seen through the lens of human psychology. Hill focuses on the socio-economic mechanisms underpinning their operations, uncovering the realities behind the glamour.

In reality, casinos often embody elements of both portrayals. They can be stages for personal dramas, where lives change overnight, as well as part of broader systems of economic and social influence, especially in major gaming hubs like Las Vegas or Macau.

The Literary Symbolism of Casinos

In literature, casinos are potent metaphors for human desires and weaknesses. Zweig uses them to symbolise irrationality, where the pursuit of wealth eclipses reason. Hill employs them as instruments of power, exploiting the desire for riches to maintain control.

Ultimately, both authors reveal that casinos are more than mere entertainment venues. They are spaces where human destinies, ambitions, and vulnerabilities collide. Whether in Zweig’s romantic drama or Hill’s documentary-style narrative, literature helps us understand the complex realities behind the glitz and noise of the gambling world.

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]]> Indigenous Literature’s Influence on Modern Narratives https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/indigenous-literatures-influence-on-modern-narratives/ Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:32:51 +0000 https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/?p=2645 Indigenous literature is a rich and diverse tapestry of storytelling that has significantly influenced modern narratives. From novels and poetry to film and theater, the voices and perspectives of Indigenous authors have played a vital role in shaping contemporary literature and storytelling. In this article, we will explore how Indigenous

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]]> Indigenous literature is a rich and diverse tapestry of storytelling that has significantly influenced modern narratives. From novels and poetry to film and theater, the voices and perspectives of Indigenous authors have played a vital role in shaping contemporary literature and storytelling. In this article, we will explore how Indigenous literature has left an indelible mark on modern narratives, offering unique insights, cultural perspectives, and compelling stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.

1. Preservation of Culture and Identity

Indigenous Narratives: Indigenous literature often serves as a means of preserving cultural heritage and identity. Many Indigenous authors draw from their ancestral stories, oral traditions, and historical experiences to create works that reflect their cultural roots.

Modern Narratives: In contemporary literature, the influence of Indigenous narratives can be seen in the portrayal of characters, settings, and themes that reflect Indigenous cultures and experiences. These narratives introduce readers to diverse worldviews and perspectives that enrich the tapestry of modern storytelling.

2. Oral Tradition and Storytelling

Indigenous Narratives: Many Indigenous cultures have a strong tradition of oral storytelling, passing down tales from generation to generation. These stories often carry important lessons, cultural values, and spiritual teachings.

Modern Narratives: Contemporary authors and storytellers, inspired by Indigenous oral traditions, incorporate the art of storytelling into their works. They use narrative techniques that engage readers and listeners on a deep, emotional level, similar to the way traditional Indigenous stories captivate audiences.

3. Diverse Perspectives and Themes

Indigenous Narratives: Indigenous literature explores a wide range of themes, including the connection to the land, spirituality, colonialism, and the challenges faced by Indigenous communities. These themes are woven into narratives that offer a unique Indigenous perspective.

Modern Narratives: Modern narratives increasingly incorporate Indigenous themes and perspectives. Authors and filmmakers address issues such as land rights, cultural appropriation, and reconciliation, reflecting the growing awareness of Indigenous struggles and the importance of Indigenous voices in contemporary discussions.

4. Bilingual Storytelling

Indigеnous Nаrrаtivеs: Mаny Indigеnous аuthors incorporаte thеir nаtive lаnguаgеs intо thеir literаry works. This bilinguаl аpproасh not оnly рreserves endаngered lаnguаgеs but аlso аdds depth аnd аuthеnticity tо thе stоriеs. Mоdern Nаrrаtivеs: Mоdern nаrrаtives, especiаlly in countries with Indigеnous populаtions, аrе increаsingly embrаcing bilinguаl stоrytelling. This prасtiсe not оnly honors Indigеnous lаnguаgеs but аlso prоmоtes linguistiс diversity аnd сulturаl understаnding.

5. Glоbаl Impаct оf Indigеnous Literаture Indigеnous Nаrrаtivеs: Indigеnous literаture hаs а rich histоry in vаrious pаrts оf thе world, from thе stоrytelling trаditions оf Nаtive Americаn tribes tо thе orаl histоriеs оf Austrаliа’s Aboriginаl pеoplеs. Mоdern Nаrrаtivеs: Indigеnous literаture’s globаl impаct cаn be seen in thе аppreciаtion аnd recognition оf Indigеnous vоices on а wоrldwide scаle. Indigеnous аuthors hаve reсeived рrestigious literаry аwаrds аnd internаtionаl аcclаim, bringing thеir stоriеs tо а broаder аudience.

6. Indigеnous Authors аs Literаry Trаilblаzers Indigеnous Nаrrаtivеs: Indigеnous аuthors hаve broken new ground in literаture, chаllenging stereotypes аnd misconceptions аbout Indigеnous pеoplеs. Thеy hаve оften been pioneers in bringing Indigеnous perspeсtives tо thе forеfront оf thе literаry world. Mоdern Nаrrаtivеs: Indigеnous аuthors continuе tо be literаry trаilblаzers, insрiring othеr writеrs аnd creаtоrs tо exрlore Indigеnous thеmes аnd stоriеs. Their influеncе extends beyond literаture аnd intо film, thеаter, аnd visuаl аrts.

7. Collаborаtive Stоrytelling Indigеnous Nаrrаtivеs: Collаborаtive stоrytelling is а cоmmоn prасtiсe in mаny Indigеnous culturеs, where stоriеs аrе creаted collectively. Еlders, community mеmbеrs, аnd stоrytellers contribute tо thе dеvеlopmеnt оf nаrrаtives. Mоdern Nаrrаtivеs: In mоdern stоrytelling, collаborаtive еfforts аrе increаsingly vаlued, with writеrs, filmmаkers, аnd аrtists seeking thе input аnd guidаnce оf Indigеnous cоmmunities tо ensure аccurаte аnd respectful portrаyаls оf thеir culturеs аnd stоriеs.

8. The Heаling Pоwer оf Stоrytelling Indigеnous Nаrrаtivеs: Indigеnous literаture оften cаrries а messаge оf resilienсe аnd heаling, аddressing thе histоricаl trаumа аnd injustiсes fаced by Indigеnous cоmmunities. It provides а plаtform for еxprеssing pаin аnd resilienсe. Mоdern Nаrrаtivеs: Mоdern nаrrаtives influеncеd by Indigеnous literаture аlso embrаce thе heаling рower оf stоrytelling. Thеy tаckle issues оf reconciliаtion, intergenerаtionаl trаumа, аnd thе importаnce оf аcknowledging histоricаl injustiсes аnd wоrking tоwаrd а more just аnd equitаble future.

Conсlusion: A Legаcy оf Culturаl Enrichment

Indigеnous literаture’s prоfound influеncе on mоdern nаrrаtives is а testаment tо thе enduring рower оf stоrytelling. It hаs introduced thе world tо а divеrsе rаnge оf vоices, perspeсtives, аnd сulturаl trаditions, enriсhing contemporаry literаture with thеmes оf resilienсe, identity, аnd sociаl justice. As Indigеnous аuthors continuе tо shаrе thеir stоriеs аnd сulturаl insights, thеir contributions will shаpe thе nаrrаtives оf tоmorrow, fostering greаter understаnding аnd аppreciаtion оf Indigеnous culturеs аnd exрeriences wоrldwide.

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]]> Cultural Events for VIP-Gamers Online Casino: Enhancing the Gaming Experience https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/cultural-events-for-vip-gamers-online-casino-enhancing-the-gaming-experience/ Sat, 15 Jul 2023 12:38:56 +0000 https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/?p=2642 In the fast-paced world of online casinos, VIP gamers seek more than just entertainment. They crave exclusive experiences that go beyond the thrill of traditional gameplay. One such avenue that has gained immense popularity in recent years is the integration of cultural events within online casino platforms. These events cater

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]]> In the fast-paced world of online casinos, VIP gamers seek more than just entertainment. They crave exclusive experiences that go beyond the thrill of traditional gameplay. One such avenue that has gained immense popularity in recent years is the integration of cultural events within online casino platforms. These events cater to the interests of VIP gamers, providing them with unique opportunities to indulge in their passions while enjoying their favorite casino games.

Cultural events encompass a wide range of activities that celebrate various aspects of our global heritage, such as music, art, holidays, and festivals. In the context of online casinos, these events are meticulously curated to engage VIP gamers, who are often looking for a more immersive and personalized experience. By infusing cultural elements into the gaming environment, online casinos can elevate the overall player experience, fostering a sense of community and excitement.

The Appeal of Cultural Events for VIP Gamers

Cultural events hold significant appeal for VIP gamers, as they add an extra layer of excitement and engagement to their gaming endeavors. These events create a unique atmosphere, where players can explore and enjoy different cultural aspects while indulging in their favorite casino games. By participating in these events, VIP gamers can forge connections with like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared experiences.

Types of Cultural Events in Online Casinos

Online casinos offer a wide array of cultural events to cater to the diverse interests of their VIP gamers. Music-themed events provide a platform for gamers to enjoy live performances by renowned artists, enhancing their gaming sessions with vibrant melodies and beats. Holiday celebrations bring the festive spirit to the virtual casino, allowing gamers to immerse themselves in seasonal joy and excitement.

Virtual cultural festivals take center stage in the online gaming realm, providing VIP gamers with a digital platform to experience the richness of different cultures. These festivals often showcase traditional cuisines, music, dance performances, and other cultural activities. Additionally, cosplay competitions enable gamers to showcase their creativity and passion for pop culture by dressing up as their favorite characters from movies, video games, or anime.

Live Casinos and their Connection to Cultural Events

Live casinos have revolutionized the online gaming landscape, bridging the gap between virtual and physical experiences. By incorporating real-time video streaming and interactive features, live casinos allow VIP gamers to enjoy the authentic atmosphere of a brick-and-mortar casino from the comfort of their homes. The integration of cultural events within live casinos further enhances the gaming experience, making it more immersive and engaging.

One popular live casino option that stands out is Plinko Casino, a dynamic platform that combines the excitement of casino games with the thrill of a classic Plinko board. Plinko Casino offers VIP gamers a unique and entertaining gameplay experience, with the added advantage of winning real rewards. By incorporating cultural events, such as themed Plinko boards inspired by different cultures and traditions, players can enjoy a personalized and culturally diverse gaming adventure.

Benefits of Participating in Cultural Events at Online Casinos

Participating in cultural events at online casinos offers numerous benefits for VIP gamers. Apart from the sheer enjoyment of immersing oneself in diverse cultural experiences, players can also gain access to exclusive promotions and bonuses. These rewards may include bonus spins, cashback offers, or even VIP-exclusive giveaways. Additionally, cultural events provide opportunities for networking with other VIP gamers, fostering connections and friendships within the online gaming community.

How to Get Involved in Cultural Events for VIP Gamers

Getting involved in cultural events within the online casino community is easier than ever. VIP gamers can join online casino communities, where they can interact with fellow players and stay updated on upcoming events. Following the social media channels and subscribing to newsletters of online casinos also provide timely information about cultural events and exclusive promotions. Furthermore, participating in tournaments and competitions themed around cultural events is an excellent way to showcase gaming skills and win attractive rewards.

Conclusion

Cultural events have become an integral part of the online casino experience for VIP gamers. By infusing gaming platforms with diverse cultural elements, online casinos create an immersive and engaging environment that appeals to gamers seeking more than just traditional gameplay. From music-themed events to virtual cultural festivals, these events provide VIP gamers with exclusive opportunities to celebrate diversity, forge connections, and enjoy an enhanced gaming experience.

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]]> Painting and Literature. https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/painting-and-literature/ Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:30:41 +0000 https://demo.wphoot.com/magazine-hoot/?p=1104 "Painting is poetry seen and poetry is painting heard" - Leonardo da Vinci.

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]]> “Painting is poetry seen and poetry is painting heard” – Leonardo da Vinci. Art is a form of social consciousness, an integral part of human culture. It is the process and outcome of the meaningful expression of feelings in an image. Literature and painting are among the main art forms. They are historically formed stable forms of creative activity, in which the artist realizes the content of life Each art form has a specific arsenal of graphic and expressive means. The primary forms of art are 1) Fine Art, 2) Literature, 3) Music, 4) Architecture, and Applied Art. Literature (Latin lit(t)eratura, literally – written, from lit(t)era – letter) – in a broad sense, the totality of any verbal texts. Literature works with the word – its main difference from other arts. The word is the basic element of literature, the link between the material and the spiritual. The representativeness is transmitted in fiction indirectly, with the help of words. Visual culture is the one that can be perceived visually. Painting belongs to this culture. Painting is the art of depicting objects on the surface with paints, with the aim to make an impression on the viewer, similar to what he would get from the real objects of nature, also by the nature of the depicted objects to cause in the viewer a certain mood or express any artistic idea. As we see, the main difference between painting and literature is the difference in the means of human exposure.

At different periods of cultural development of mankind literature was given a different place among the other arts – from the leading to one of the last. This can be explained by the predominance of one or another trend in literature, as well as the degree of development of technical civilization. For example, ancient thinkers, artists of the Renaissance and classicists were convinced of the advantages of sculpture and painting over literature. The Romanticists put poetry and music in the first place among all the arts. However, already in XVIII century in the European aesthetics there was a different tendency – promotion of literature in the first place. Lessing, who saw the advantages of literature over sculpture and painting, laid its foundation. Subsequently, Hegel and Belinsky paid tribute to this trend.

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]]> Notre Dame de Paris by Riccardo Cocciante https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/notre-dame-de-paris-by-riccardo-cocciante/ Sun, 16 May 2021 03:39:44 +0000 https://demo.wphoot.com/magazine-news-byte/?p=1857 Victor Hugo was convinced that his novel Notre Dame de Paris would be ideal for an opera. Later our compatriot, the composer Alexander Dargomyzhsky, wrote the opera Esmeralda on his own libretto.

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]]> Victor Hugo was convinced that his novel Notre Dame de Paris would be ideal for an opera. Later our compatriot, the composer Alexander Dargomyzhsky, wrote the opera Esmeralda on his own libretto. It was staged at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1847, but was not a success. The same could not be said for the great musical, which appeared a century and a half later and for which music was composed by the French master songwriter Riccardo Cocciante.

After the resounding success of Notre Dame, the composer tried his hand at musical theater again, writing several theatrical shows, including The Little Prince and Juliet and Romeo, but they could not beat the success of the “big brother”. “Notre Dame” made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the most successful musical project in history. And today it’s hard to find someone who has never heard the song Belle, in which Quasimodo, Frollo, and Phebe confess their love for Esmeralda in a heartbreaking trio.

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]]> Sympathy for the Devil by Mick Jagger https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/sympathy-for-the-devil-by-mick-jagger/ Fri, 30 Apr 2021 03:39:54 +0000 https://demo.wphoot.com/magazine-news-byte/?p=1858 Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote this song in 1968, and the Rolling Stones opened the album Beggars Banquet with the same track.

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]]> Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote this song in 1968, and the Rolling Stones opened the album Beggars Banquet with the same track. It is as if Jagger becomes the devil (the narrative is written in the first person) and confesses to the numerous atrocities he has committed on earth. This list includes, for example, the trial and execution of Jesus Christ and the execution of the royal family. Jagger’s character demands not so much sympathy as respect for himself – indirectly pointing out that the blame for what he did lies with the song’s listeners, too.

It is no secret that the main source of inspiration for this hit was the book “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov, which had just appeared in the West in English translation and was given to Mick by his girlfriend Marianne Faithfull. After “Sympathy for the Devil”, the musicians of the band were suspected of propaganda of Satanism, recalling the album Their Satanic Majesties Request, released a year before this release.

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]]> Dante Sonata by Franz Liszt https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/dante-sonata-by-franz-liszt/ Thu, 22 Apr 2021 08:05:42 +0000 https://demo.wphoot.com/magazine-hoot/?p=1113 The most daring and emotional interpretations of literary subjects have only been made by romantic composers.

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]]> The most daring and emotional interpretations of literary subjects have only been made by romantic composers. Franz Liszt, who wrote around six hundred works for piano, certainly stands out in this list. It is above all due to his virtuoso talent as a pianist, which stunned his contemporaries and is still considered unsurpassed today.

The romantic impulsiveness, the deep sensuality, the otherworldly, almost diabolical magic of his talent were embodied in works based on the great works of Goethe, Hugo and Dante. The pianist dedicated his astonishing fantasy sonata to the latter, which he calls In Reading Dante. In the sonata, Liszt uses one single motif and creates the most contrasting images on this material: the gates of hell, the anguish of suffering souls and the great love of Francesca, for whom Liszt, unlike Dante, feels compassion, forcing us to feel her grief.

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]]> The influence of paintings on works of fiction https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/the-influence-of-paintings-on-works-of-fiction/ Sat, 23 Jan 2021 14:05:14 +0000 https://demo.wphoot.com/unos/?p=1346 In ancient times there was a unity of word and image: the image was the word and the word was the image. The language of images for many centuries remained the most important.

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]]> In ancient times there was a unity of word and image: the image was the word and the word was the image. The language of images for many centuries remained the most important.

Artists strove to achieve the expressive possibilities of the word in their paintings. There is a certain narrative quality to early painting that shows the rivalry between artists and writers.

At the same time, writers tried not to yield to painters in describing the appearance of people and nature. Nowadays, the problem of the interaction of different types of art is still relevant.

Literature is always part of the writer’s soul. It allows you to feel the unity of man and the world. Literature lessons develop moral culture and ennoble the human soul. Such types of art as painting and literature have long been closely related.

Painting and literature are inextricably linked by many threads. These types of art complement each other.

Nowadays, the image is no longer the only way to express human thought. The word can convey more subtle shades of feelings and emotions.

We also conclude that painting has always influenced fiction. Many writers have been inspired by the work of famous artists, creating their own brilliant works. We cannot deny that literature also has a strong influence on painting, because many paintings with historical and mythological subjects are written according to works of fiction.

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]]> Interaction between the visual arts and literature https://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/interaction-between-the-visual-arts-and-literature/ Fri, 11 Dec 2020 13:54:56 +0000 https://demo.wphoot.com/chromatic/?p=77 Philosophers emphasize that art is most fully realized "precisely in its cultural function." The cultural function of the art history course as a subject of syncretic influence has its own specificity: leaving the area of plastic arts dominating, it can present the artistic and cultural process comprehensively and holistically - as "artistic picture of the world"

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]]> Philosophers emphasize that art is most fully realized “precisely in its cultural function.” The cultural function of the art history course as a subject of syncretic influence has its own specificity: leaving the area of plastic arts dominating, it can present the artistic and cultural process comprehensively and holistically – as “artistic picture of the world”.

In recreating the “artistic picture of the world” should reveal the essence of the relationship between different types of arts. “Interrelation of arts” defines the connections (cultural, spatial, plastic, coloristic, semiotic, etc.) of the types of arts. In the context of this work “interrelation” is understood as a process of convergence and connection of “related” types of arts – painting and literature based on the commonality and specificity of their image and semantic structures, which can have in their totality a complex aesthetic impact and generate emotional and artistic factors of human perception, to communicate perception of sensual integrity and emotional richness.

Literature is one of the types of art, the most universal, “the first among equals,” which stands out in the overall structure of artistic culture. Even Hegel noted this unique feature of literature. Literature aesthetically develops the world in the artistic word, through the expressive means of language. Moreover, if the word “language” to all other art forms is applied in the figurative sense, in literature, the means of expression is language in the literal sense. Literary and artistic language is distinguished by a variety of forms of allegory, various kinds of tropes that enhance the verbal imagery. In addition, language, covering the fullness of human life in all its diversity, gives literature almost unlimited opportunities for the artistic reproduction of human life, makes literature – the art of words – the most inclusive kind of art, makes it possible to bring literature closer to other arts.

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