Bit Of Stop Motion Animation
Definition of stop motion animation: animation technique where physical objects are manipulated - using numerous and sequential camera shots - to make the physical objects look as if they are moving.
How long has stop motion animation being around? Since the very beginning of motion picture.
Materials used for stop motion animation characters / settings: Clay, plasticine, Cut-out figures / graphical figures in general.
Basic requirements for a stop motion animation production: (in the words of Nick Park - creator of Wallace and Gromit: "a camera, an Angle poise lamp and a table."
For an introduction to stop motion animation / stop motion animation for beginners / general resource for stop motion animation here is a good resource.
The amount of time it took Nick Park to make one of his Wallace and Gromit animations: 7 years (completing it, more-a-less, single handidly).
Here is a short clip from documentary on Nick Park working on the Creature Comfort characters in his studio:
Wallace and Gromit
Jason and The Argonauts
Mr Woo's Robots
The Best Bookshop In The World ?
The best bookshop in the world. Firstly. What (and where) is the best bookshop you have ever been to? And why is it the best?- What would you do to give it that something extra?
I have been to so many interesting bookshops in different parts of the world that I find this quite difficult to answer. And there are many bookshops that I have visited that I cannot remember the names of: bookshops in London and in the UK, in general, in Dublin, Madrid, Italy, Amsterdam, France and elsewhere (probably one of these would be better contenders for 'best bookshop in the world'). And I am certain that there must be thousands of fascinating bookshops elsewhere. In New York, the USA in general; in some remote, old colonial town in Peru; in Vietnam, Moscow, Tibet, wherever. Who knows.
But if I had to name some contenders, they would be Kenny's Book Shop in Galway, Ireland (the old shop might have gone by now - was last there a few years ago), Foyles in London, and the renowned 'Shakespeare & Company' bookshop in Paris.
- There would be a bar connected to the place (part of the bookshop). Where, first and foremost, browsers could come and enjoy each other's company (books just an excuse for this ..)
- There would be a small art gallery attached to (part of the bookshop). As well as a cafe / eating room where you could order things such as muscles and oysters and hot seafood chowder
- A quiet area with sofas, stools and chairs where people could just come to relax and unwind (and get into their books), and soak in the atmosphere, with a fireplace, and of course, sleeping cat.
- Once a week there would be a reading session / talk by a writer
- A cramped room, with wooden wall panelings, where creative writing courses could take place
- There would be a bursary offered to up-and-coming writers and poets every year
- There would have to be interesting artefacts (from different parts of the world), oil paintings, water colours and photographs (with a black and white photograph of a big fishing boat in the midst of a stormy sea - and beside it a photograph of a fisherman with a thick Aran sweater and beard, with stories to tell about being a fisherman) dotted about here and there
- Big, tall, old, wooden bookshelves against walls (and in some rooms, bookshelves in middle of room
- Big, tall open windows looking out onto street at front. Small windows looking onto street at back
- Different sized / shaped rooms throughout the bookshop - should be a bit labyrinthine. Big, open rooms and small cramped rooms. Lots of passageways: some big and straight, others small and windy
- Eclectic mix of offerings (some in dusty old shelves at the top of bookshelf, accessible by ladder, perhaps), as well as good regular stuff, well displayed (fiction, biography, creative writing, philosophy, poetry, children's, travel, astronomy, history, art history, photography, and so on)
- Peeling paint, slightly worn carpets, squeaky floor boards are all good (unclean, smelly toilet: bad). In a street with slightly dilapidated look about it ..
What is Creativity?
Being Creative As Opposed To Being Creative-minded.
I think that all human creative activity, in general, can be divided into two main categories (with a large overlapping category in between): being creative and being creative-minded.
Being creative in its raw essence is imagination and applying that imagination to creating something out of nothing.
Being creative-minded in its rawest sense is about using lateral-minded techniques to arrive at a solution where a problem exists and must be solved.
Being creative isn't about arriving at a solution (in a utilitarian sense). It is about creating something just for the sake of creating something. For creating something beautiful or inspirational.
Being creative-minded is about fixing problems or about creating something new (product, idea, system) that has some utilitarian benefit.
So being creative is actually, I think, a rather nebulous subject. I certainly think that lots and lots of people are creative. But much less people have the physical acumen and abilities to make something of their creativity from, say, a career point-of-view (i.e being a musician, artist, sculptor and so on). And then there are a large proportion of people who have the physical acumen and abilities to do something interesting with their creativity but not enough to make a career out of them.
Being Creative-minded
I actually think that being creative-minded is much less of a nebulous subject than being creative. Being creative-minded involves, to a very important degree, research and rational thought. There is a lot of speculation at the moment regarding the issue of gravity, and why gravity is so much weaker than the other natural forces (weak and strong nuclear, and electromagnetic) - a subject that is leading scientists into some extraordinary and spectacular theories about the nature of the universe: in particular, string theory. String theory proposes (as far as I believe, I am not a scientist / physicist / cosmologist) that there are more than three dimensions. That there could be several. But scientists aren't sure. The important thing though is that these theories are based, to an important degree, on observation and rational-thinking. Not just gut instinct / intuition. But at some point, even, scientists have to make a leap of faith. They have to use the power of imagination in order to plug the gaps / make sense of things / discover something new. This is exactly what Einstein did when he arrived at his theory of relativity (as well as general theory of relativity, later on). And it is not surprising that Einstein said (one of his most famous quotes): 'imagination is more important than knowledge.' So creative-thinking is heavily dependent on rational-thinking. It is not about blind-chance. But at some point the creative-thinker has to take a chance. Has to imagine a way of arriving at a solution where rational thinking won't get him / her any further. The imagination the creative-thinker uses isn't necessarily about looking at something in a beautiful or inspirational way. But it is a sort of imagination that has a more utilitarian purpose. An imagination that allows the creative-thinker to look at situations from different angles. Thinking-out of the box as the old cliché goes. Creative-thinking is an activity that can, to an important degree be learned (to a much more effective degree, I think, that creativity can). I don't just think this. This is what the experts say, too. In particular, Edward de Bono, who is considered the authority on creative-thinking - it was de Bono who famously coined the phrase 'lateral-thinking' - a phrase that is almost synonymous now with creative-thinking.
Finally, How Important Is Creativity Overall ?
Pretty important, I think! It can help us to understand how others see things / how others live. As a result we have more empathy as well as being more interesting! It helps us get through and enjoy the day better, than always having to do what seems obvious / routine. It can help us do useful things around the house. How to fix problems in general that we face on a daily basis. And of course, it has a direct impact on all sorts of different creative jobs and professions from the arts to business and marketing to science.
Art Quotes
"Art is merely the refuge which the ingenious have invented, when they were supplied with food and women, to escape the tediousness of life".
- W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965)
"Works of art, in my opinion, are the only objects in the material universe to possess internal order, and that is why, though I don't believe that only art matters, I do believe in Art for Art's sake."
E. M. Forster (1879 - 1970)
"I want to thank anyone who spends part of their day creating, I don't care if it's a book, a film, a painting, a dance, a piece of theater, a piece of music--anybody who spends part of their day sharing their experience with us--I think this world would be unlivable without art and I thank you."
Steve Soderbergh
Alfred Whitehead (1861 - 1947)
"I suppose no matter what I'm drawing, there will always be some sort of question in my mind about it. A work of art (even cartoon art)is never really finished; it is abandoned."
Brooke McEldowney
"Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."
Amy Lowell (1874 - 1925)
"Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible."
Paul Klee (1879 - 1940)
"The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity."
Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)
"If you were in a burning house and there was a cat and a Rembrandt, what would you save? The cat...you would save the cat, because the cat is alive. The art is dead. It's just paint on a canvas, ink on a page. To live for art is to deny life. It's just to destroy life."
Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider
"Illusions are art, for the feeling person, and it is by art that you live, if you do."
Elizabeth Bowen (1899 - 1973)
"Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere."
G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)
" To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."
Joseph Pearce
"Art is on the side of the oppressed. Think before you shudder at the simplistic dictum and its heretical definition of the freedom of art. For if art is freedom of the spirit, how can it exist within the oppressors?"
Edith Wharton (1862 - 1937)
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
Scott Adams
"Creative work is play. It is free speculation using materials of one's chosen form."
Stephen Nachmanovitch
"What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough."
Eugene Delacroix
"The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel".
Piet Mondrian (1872 - 1944)
"Art forms of the past were really considered elitist. Bach did not compose for the masses, neither did Beethoven. It was always for patrons, aristocrats, and royalty. Now we have a sort of democratic version of that, which is to say that the audience is so splintered in its interests."
David Cronenberg
"What is one to think of those fools who tell one that the artist is always subordinate to nature? Art is a harmony parallel with nature."
Paul Cézanne
"You're confusing product with process. Most people, when they criticize, whether they like it or hate it, they're talking about product. That's not art, that's the result of art. Art, to whatever degree we can get a handle on (I'm not sure that we really can) is a process. It begins in the heart and the mind with the eyes and hands."
Jeff Melvoin
The Animation Art Gallery, London
The Animation Art Gallery - located within The Moviuem of London, County Hall (near Waterloo tube) - offers an eclectic range of animation / art pieces (for sale). The gallery has a fantastic website where you can, also, view what's on offer - the following is just a flavour (there's lots more):
Kid's Art: Peppa Pig (above), Tea with Ivor, Autumn Leaves and more.
TV Art, Film Art, Pop Art, Brit Art
Comic Art: Batman over San Prospero, Meow!, Spiderman canvas, Batman DaVinci by Bob Kane, The Hulk, Captain America, and more .. Anime Art, Future Art, Music Art. Besides selling animation / art pieces, they, also offer framing, the opportunity to pay for purchases over a period of time, classes in drawing / animation, and more.
The Animation Art Gallery Website: click here
The Animation Art Gallery c/o The Movieum of London 1st Floor County Hall, London SE1 7PBt 020 7633 0071
London Art Galleries
London is home to some of the best art collections in the world.
The National Gallery has a comprehensive collection of art dating from the beginning of the medieval period to the end of the 19th century - representing all the major places and most of the renowned artists of the important art movements (Italian and Dutch/Flemish Renaissance art, French impressionism, and so on).
Tate Modern (focusing on modern art) and Tate Britain (focusing on British art) are, like the National Gallery, internationally renowned.
1. The BarbicanAbout. The Barbican is the largest multi-arts centre in Europe.
Nearest tube: Barbican.
Address: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Contact: 020 7638 4141
2. The County Hall - Dali Exhibition
About. Located in the vibrant South Bank, near the London Eye, and looking onto The Houses of Parliament across the river. Includes a permanent Dali collection and other works of arts and features.
Nearest tube: Waterloo, Westminster
Address: Dalí Universe, County Hall Gallery, Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB
Contact: 0870 744 7485
3. The Courtauld Gallery
About. The Courtauld Gallery is part of the Courtauld Institute of Art – a world renowned centre for the study of the history and conservation of art and architecture. Although small, the gallery has a wonderful collection of art from the Renaissance into the 20th century. It is particularly well-known for its collection of Impressionist and post impressionist paintings.
Nearest tube: Temple, Embankment, Charring Cross
Address: The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN
Contact: 020 7848 2526
4. Guildhall GalleryAbout. The gallery has over 250 works, including views of London life over the last 400 years, and more. The remains of a Roman amphitheatre (unearthed around 20 years ago) can, also, be viewed during the visit to the gallery.
Nearest tube: Bank, Moorgate, St Paul’s, Mansion House
Address: Guildhall Art Gallery & Roman London’s Amphitheatre, Guildhall Yard, Off Gresham Street, London EC2V 5AE
Contact: 020 7332 3700
5. Hayward Gallery
About. The gallery hosts several exhibitions each year (doesn’t hold a permanent collection). Nearest tube: Waterloo, Embankment
Address: Hayward Gallery, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London, SE18XX
Contact: 020 7960 5226
6. ICA
About. The ICA is a general arts centre, focusing on contemporary art from Britain and around the world, as well as hosting various educational events, and more.
Nearest tube: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus
Address: The ICA, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH
Contact: 020 7930 0493
7. The National GalleryAbout: The National Gallery, London is a world famous gallery with paintings from the early Renaissance to the beginning of the 20th century. Some of the artists with a large / important collection of work include: Rembrandt, Monet, Pissarro, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Manet, Della Francesca and Raphael (the gallery, also, contains works by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, amongst others).
Nearest tube: Leicester Square, Charring Cross
Address: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
Contact: 020 7747 2885
8. The National Portrait Gallery
About. An extensive collection of portraits of famous British people both historical and contemporary – paintings, photographs, caricatures, drawings and sculptors.
Nearest tube: Leicester Square, Charring Cross
Address: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London WC2H 0HE
Contact: BT Type Talk 18001
9. Photographers' Gallery
About. The Photographers' Gallery is the leading gallery in London dedicated to photography – with works by famous photographers both past and present. Nearest tube: Leicester SquareAddress: The Photographers’ Gallery, 5 & 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7HYContact: 020 7831 1772 ext 201
Queen's GalleryAbout. The Queen’s Gallery (at Buckingham Palace) exhibits art and antiques that are part of the Royal collection.
Nearest tube: St James Park, Victoria
Address: The Official Residences of The Queen, London SW1A 1AA
Contact: 020 7766 7301
10. Royal Academy of ArtAbout. The Royal Academy of Arts was established by artists nearly 250 years ago with the purpose to promote art and architecture in general in this country – and the same purpose still continues today (with the academy still being governed by artists). The academy has a private a collection (including many works of past academy members) as well as exhibitions throughout the year.
Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus, Green Park
Address: Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD
Contact: 020 7300 8000
11. The Royal Albert Hall
About. The Royal Albert Hall does, from to-time-time, host various kinds of visual exhibitions.
Nearest tube: Knightsbridge, High Street Kensington, South Kensington
Address: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Contact: 020 7589 3203
12. The Saatchi Gallery
About. The Saatchi Gallery was set up by Charles Saatchi over 20 years in order to exhibit his private collection of contemporary art – a collection that has had an important impact on the contemporary art world in general.
Visitors: As of date of publication of this article (June 2008) the gallery is being moved to a new location so please check website for details).
13. Serpentine GalleryAbout. A popular gallery for modern and contemporary art.
Nearest tube: Lancaster Gate
Address: Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA
Contact: 020 7298 1515
14. Somerset House
About. Somerset House is the location for the Courtauld Gallery as well as being the location for other art displays.
Nearest tube: Temple, Embankment, Charring Cross
Address: Somerset House Trust, South Building, Somerset House, Strand, LondonWC2R 1L
Contact: 020 7845 4600
15. Tate Britain
About. Tate Britain is the gallery with the most comprehensive selection of British works of art, from 1500 to the present, in the world. Some of the leading artists represented in the gallery include: William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, J.MW. Turner, Francis Bacon, Joshua Reynolds, Henry Moore, David Hockey and more.
Nearest tube: Pimlico, Westminster
Address: Tate Modern, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
Contact: 020 7887 8888
16. Tate ModernAbout. Tate modern is the country’s leading gallery for international modern art. Tate Modern is located in an impressive building that was, until, as recently as 1981, a power station.
Nearest tube: Southwark, Blackfriars
Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Contact: 020 7887 8888
17. The Victoria and Albert Museum
About: The Victoria and Albert Museum houses the largest and best collection of decorate art and design objects in the world.
Nearest tube: South Kensington
Address: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Contact: 020 7942 2000
18. Wallace Collection
About: The Wallace Collections includes works by many of the leading painters from the 15th to the 19th century. Some of the painters represented here include: Rembrandt, Titian, Rubens, Canaletto, Murillo, Velasquez, and more.
Nearest tube: Bond St, Baker St, Oxford Circus
Address: The Wallace Collection , Hertford House, Manchester Square, London WIU 3BN
Contact: 0207 563 9500
Whitechapel Gallery
About. Well-known for its exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.
Nearest tube: Aldgate East
Address: Whitechapel, Angel Alley Entrance, 80 - 82 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7QX
Contact: 020 7522 7888
History of Advertising
CONTENTS
- Advertising: 19th century to the 1960's
- Advertising - 1960's to the 1990's
- Advertising- 1990's to the present
- The future of advertising
- Videos on history of advertising
ADVERTISING: 19th CENTURY TO THE 1960's
Advertising has been around as long as people, in particular, those in commerce have have been communicating the existence of their business, service or product through communication methods other than direct oral communication. So it's been around for a very long time.The origins of modern advertising - i.e where some sort of system was developed to enhance the procedure of 'of communicating the existence of .. business, service or product .. other than word of mouth' - lie in the 19th century with the introduction of paid advertisements in newspapers. By the beginning of the 20th century advertising consisted of professionals putting-together content, as well as brokering space for, advertisements.
The 1920's marked an important decade in the next phase of advertising: advertisement slots in electronic media: firstly, in radio, and later on, in television.
ADVERTISING - 1960's TO THE 1990's
The 1960's mark the second really big phase in the history of modern advertising. It was at this time that advertising legends such as David Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, and Bill Bernbach (arguably the the three greats in the history of advertising overall) and others, were perfecting/working with/ introducing new ideas/business models that would transform advertising into a recognizable industry (thanks, to an important degree, to the new opportunities offered by TV). Ideas / business models such as:The creative advertising agency
The creative advertising agency wasn't something new but it became better organized and, generally, bigger than before.
The creative team
Creatives (copywriters and art directors) had existed before but the art director was made an equal of the art director, and the two were united together to work in teams of two.
Planners / strategists
No longer did account managers have to take responsibility (or sole responsibility) for matters relating to the research, marketing and strategy sides of clients' campaigns. Account planners were introduced to assist (or take over from) the account manager, leaving the account manager to focus more on developing relations with clients.
The big idea
The marketing strategy behind a campaign must have a 'big idea' (marketing idea) on which the whole creative concept and the campaign in general rests. A 'big idea' that will engage the audience in an important way.
Really engaging the customer
The focus now is much more: talk to, not talk at, the customer. Research your customer. Know your customer. Engage your customer.
Engage your customers by talking their language.
Benefit to the customer. Another way of engaging customers is to offer something that the they will regard as a benefit to them.
Brand personality. And another way of engaging customers is to create brands that have personality - brands that stand out of the crowd in some unique, interesting way.
ADVERTISING - 1990's TO PRESENT
The 1990's mark the third really big phase in the history of advertising, due mainly to the pivotal role of the internet in all aspects of modern life. The advertising industry now is remarkably different in the following ways:
Technology approach
Digital media requires people in advertising, in general, to have a certain amount of knowledge about the how the technology functions overall (so as to be better able to manipulate the technology for the purposes of increased and more effective communication).
Audience approach
Audiences are now more disparate and harder to locate than they were in previous decades (one reason being that the new media platforms allow people to do a host of many different different kinds of activities). People in advertising, now, have to be a lot smarter in how they go about understanding who their audience is and what it it doing.
And it is now, increasingly, harder to grab and hold onto the attention of audiences - due, mainly, to increased competition for audience attention.
Marketing approach
Myriad of ideas. It's not enough, anymore, to have just one big marketing idea like before (in general, at least). Now it's necessary to have a host of different ideas (underlined by an over-riding theme) in order to meet the new pressures of audience diversity and the increase in competition for audience attention.
Marketing mix. In order to meet these new demands, the marketing strategy will often involve a wide range of communication approaches and channels, for example, ad campaigns backed up, perhaps, with PR, publicity events, brand sponsorship and so on.
THE FUTURE OF ADVERTISING
Certainly, advertising is still in the midst of some important changes. There is much uncertainty about how things are going to pan out, for example, some people in advertising see advertising as going down a utilitarian route (offering a useful service to the audience) and others that it will carry on being about entertainment. Most people in advertising think that it will involve both (utilitarian and entertainment elements) but the real question is the form in which these will take.
One thing is certain, though: there are certain skills / abilities that people, in the advertising industry in general will have to have in order to do well.
Firstly, to have a good general understanding of the advertising industry in general, and to keep up-to-date with the latest advancements.
And, econdly, to be flexible (and adaptable): in particular, the ability to consider a wide range of different communication channels and approaches, and to work with a wide range of people with different skills and expertise in the business; and more.
VIDEO ON THE HISTORY OF ADVERTISING
Copywriter, Art Director and Advertising Creative Careers - UK and London
Favourite Humorous Book ?
In my effort to get back into reading (where I used to read, like many people, about a couple of books a week - now I am lucky if I read a couple of pages ..) as mentioned in earlier post, I have compiled a list of my top 10 humorous (fiction) books - please add to or delete if you so wish / interested - it would be good to get some suggestions for some new books.
1. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole 13 and 3/4
Sue Townsend This is ripping laugh-out-loud stuff, as well as being warm and endearing. Adrian has everything going against him: he is a spotty, red-faced teenager who lives in a very ordinary neighbourhood, with very ordinary friends, and with a very ordinary and dysfunctional family to boot. And, yet, he is a romantic of sorts: he hopes one day to be a great writer. For all his pretensions, dirty habits, spots and teenage hormones, we are rooting for him.
2. The Van - Roddy Doyle.
Roddy Doyle: you could easily include some of his other books, as well, that are just as funny: 'Paddy Clarke, Ha, Ha, Ha', 'The Commitments' and more. This is wise-crack, working-class, Dublin wit at its best.
3. The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde
From Dublin himself, but a toff (of sorts) from across the river to where the working class characters of Roddy Doyle live, Oscar Wilde is the wit supreme. Although 'The Importance of Being Earnest' might sound highbrow, it is not. Supremely witty / amusing stuff.
A few famous quotes from play:- "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."- "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.""Oh, I don't think I would care to catch a sensible man. I shouldn't know what to talk to him about."
4. Borstal Boy - Brendan Behan
Borstal Boy is an autobiography - in fictional form - of Behan himself when he was locked up in a boys prison in the UK for being involved in Republican activity. Being locked up isn't funny, but even so, there are lots of wise-crack and warm passages throughout.
5. Rumpole of The Baily - John Mortimer
The claret-swilling, jovial, 'Old Bailey hack', Rumpole spends his life, good-naturedly, pricking the pomposity of the judges and barristers (his colleagues) of London's most famous courthouse, The Old Bailey, whilst avoiding his sharped-tongued wife 'She Who Must Be Obeyed', as well as having to deal with his daily dose of hardened and unpredictable criminals in the courthouse. You would have to have a sense of humour to get through all of that.
6. Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
Not sure that Huckleberry Finn could be categorized as a humorous book but I, at least, find it 5-star humorous. Huck, free of the shackles of (or the worst aspects of) the contemporary, modern world around him, is just enthralling to follow as he escapes down the Mississippi with Jim. Innocent, warm humour.
7. Pickwick Papers - Charles Dickens
I include this mainly because of the wise-crack, good-natured cotney - Sam Weller. "Vell," said Mr. Weller, "Now I s'pose he'll want to call some witnesses to speak to his character, or p'raps to prove a alleybi. I've been a turnin' the bis'ness over in my mind, and he may make his-self easy, Sammy. I've got some friends as'll do either for him, but my adwice 'ud be this here--never mind the character, and stick to the alleybi. Nothing like a alleybi, Sammy, nothing."
There are lots of other great Dickens comic characters one could include here, too, i.e Mr Micawber (David Copperfield), Pumblechook (David Copperfield), Scrooge, and others.
8. All Creatures Great and Small - James Herriot
Adventures of a young vet in the harsh but spectacular-looking countryside of the Yorkshire Dales around the time of the Second World War. This isn't really laugh-out-loud, more gentle chuckle. Really good-natured, good-humoured stuff. If this story had taken place now as opposed to 70 or so odd years ago, then it might have been a bit twee but it took place at a time when life was harsh (even for vets), and in particular for the many small-holding farmers living on the remote farms of the Yorkshire Dales at that time.
9. Just William - Richmal Crompton
Children's book. But it still makes me laugh and guffaw (to use a favourite-Dickens word) like I did when I was a kid. William is the eternal good-natured but naughty kid who within 5 minutes, without fail, will manage to get a starched-white shirt covered, perfectly, in mud or dirt.
10. Mr Sponge's Sporting Tour - Surtees
The impoverished English aristocrat / gentleman who manages to live the good life thanks to the generosity (sponging off) others. 19th century, British classic (around time of Charles Dickens).
Any obvious ones missing? Jeeves and Wooster (P.G Wodehouse), for example. I left Jeeves and Wooster out because Jeeves and Wooster is almost an institution now (and would just overshadow all the others - don't you think?)
National Gallery London - The Top 50 Works of Art / Artists
This ranking ("the top 50 works of art / artists in the National Gallery) is a bit of fun, as well as being, hopefully, interesting, and educational in terms of displaying a comprehensive range of art from the early Renaissance to the 20th century.
1. Rembrandt (17th century, Netherlands)Rembrandt comes in at number 1 because of the volume and quality of his works in the National Gallery. My favourites include: 'A woman bathing in a stream' (delicate, and the water just so realistic), the warts 'n all self portrait, and 'Anna and the blind Tobit (I don't think this painting is that famous but I just love the way Rembrandt captures that light, and contrasts the light with the darkness in the room, and the colour / treatment of the little fire in the corner etc ).
2. Monet (19th century, France)
For lovers of Monet, the National Gallery, London, is the place to come. Too many great works to mention here. My favourite, for example, include: 'Water Lilies,' 'Poplars,' The Grand Canal Venice,' 'The Water Lily Pond,' 'Lavacourt Under Snow,' 'Poplars on the Epte' - oh, too many, loads more. Monet is brilliant. But I just think that Rembrandt has the edge!
Video on Monet (part of documentary):
3. Pissarro Pissarro is great. He just has a colourful, positive touch about him that I admire / enjoy. In particular: 'Portrait of Cezanne', 'Fox Hill, Upper Norwood', 'The Boulevard Montmartre at Night'.
4. Cezanne (19th / 20th century, France)
Cezanne is very well represented in the National Gallery. Love 'The Stove in the Studio' (the sort of thing that you see in popular contemporary art) and 'The Painter's Father' (although made to look squat and ordinary/common, his father is, at the same time, is portrayed with dignity).
Paintings of Cezanne in general:
There are a few Van Gogh classics here in the National Gallery
Vincent Van Gogh documentary:
6. Manet (19th century, France)There are lots of well-known Manets in the National Gallery.
7. Corot (19th century, France)I shouldn't really be including Corot in the top 10 (some might not even include him in the top 50). But I just love his little oil paintings of rural life / landscapes. Monet wrote of Corot: 'There is only one master here—Corot. We are nothing compared to him, nothing.'
I include this mainly because of 'Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples.' The composition is wonderfully balanced. There is a story / drama going on in the painting. The light / fire is brilliantly depicted. And the central figure of Christ is portrayed in a very human / down-to-earth way.
9. Della Francesca (15th century, Italian)I love della Francesca. In particular, 'The Baptism of Christ.' Just has a delicate touch to everything that he does.
Raphael is quite well represented in the National Gallery - my favourite being 'The Mond Crucifixion' (love the delicate composition and use of colour).
11. Degas (18th / 19th century, France) Degas is well represented in the National Gallery. My favourite (although not that famous) is his caricature / portrait of 'Carlo Pellegrini' (just the sort of thing fun painting I would want hanging in my wall).Degas of paintings in general:
12. Vermeer (17th century, Netherlands)
Painter of the 'Girl with Pearl Earring' (as made famous by the book and film). Although his famous painting is not housed in the National Gallery, there are still other great works by Vermeer to be found in the gallery, in particular, 'A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal', and more.
13. Velasquez (17th century, Spain)
Velasquez is a genius in everything he does except (painting) horses (there aren't any horses by Velasquez in the National Gallery, as far as I believe). Two Velasquez favourites of mine in the gallery are: his self portrait, and also 'Saint John' (the face is quite extraordinary).
Just brilliant!
Video on Caravagio's technique:
15. Da Vinci (15th / 16th century)
'The Virgin of the Rocks': awesome (in the literal sense of the word).
16. Jones (18th / 19th century, Britain)Jones is not as famous as any of the other artists on this page (er, what is he doing below da Vinci you might think). Nor is his work as valuable. And, indeed, Jone's 'A Wall in Naples' is (I believe) the smallest painting in the gallery, yet, I still love it. It's just charming.
17. Bellini (15th century, Italian)
Italian Renaissance painter, very well represented in the National Gallery.
18. Mantegna (15th / 16th century)
'The Agony in the Garden' is often compared to Bellini's 'Agony in the Garden', normally positioned alongside it in the gallery.
19. Picasso (20th century, Spain)
20. Turner (19th century, Britain)
Turner, surely, has to be the best British artist ever? Although Constable is great, I always find his work a little bit too cosy, a little bit too British. But Turner is much more universal. And it is the combination of boldness (not forgetting that he painted in the 19th century) and imagination in his work that makes him a really great artist, and not just a really great British artist.
21. Holbein (15th / 16th century, German)
Great colours and composition. I particularly like A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling'. Don't miss 'The Ambassadors' which is world famous.
22. Uccello (14th / 15th century, Italian)
Uccello is best known in the national gallery for 'The Battle of San Romano'. This panel marked a landmark in the development of perspective during the Renaissance. And for lovers of Merchant and Ivory films, this is the painting that appears in 'A Room with a View' when Cecil discusses, with the Emersons, the possibility of the Emersons renting a country cottage belonging to Sir Harry Otway.
23. Michelangelo (15th / 16th century, Italian)
24. Botticelli (15th century, Italian)
25. Goya (19th century, Spain) Although Goya has to be one of the greatest artists ever (his style is romantic - and yet his approach can be in your-face realistic - his style is quite unique, as well as being ahead of its time - I also like him because he was forced, more-a-less, to paint the royal family which he did with disguised humour - and, as well as being humorous, his work is also very moving as well as imaginative) Goya is not that well represented in the National Gallery (compared to, say, the Prado in Madrid). But, nevertheless, compared to other famous galleries, the National Gallery does have some fine Goya paintings, in particular, in my view: 'Dona Isabel de Porcel.'
26. Gauguin (19th / 20 century, France).There are a few really good works by Gauguin in the National Gallery. In particular, in my view, 'The Guitar Player,' and 'The Harvest' (there is something about the dog that is captivating for some reason). Gauguin began life as a Conservative-type stock broker. But suddenly left to become a painter(Somerset Maugham wrote a fascinating book based on Gauguin and the manner in which he became a painter called 'The Moon and the Sixpence). He befriended Van Gogh in southern France (where they had, as painters, quite a tempestuous relationship) before heading off, at a later point, to Tahiti to live and paint in simplicity.
27. Rousseau (19th century, France)Just love 'Surprised' (the tiger) - raw, wild nature.
28. El Greco (16th / 17th century Cretan /Spain)Can't work out whether I really like El Greco or not. He is, without doubt, one of the most extraordinary painters of all time. His style is quite unique and a style that was way ahead of its time (some people say he painted in the way he did because of some defect in his eye). El Greco was a Crete who ended up painting in Spain during its time as the leading power in Europe. If ever you happen to be in Madrid, it is worth visiting the Moorish / medieval town of Toledo where El Greco lived and worked.
29. Giotto (13th / 14th century, Italian).
Renaissance art begins with Giotto. Giotto made the substantial innovation of making art look more real (as opposed to previous artists who were more concerned about what their art represented). But Giotto isn't just a technician. His colours and composition are quite beautiful. There is only one Giotto (Pentecost) in the National Gallery.
30. Fra Angelico (15th century, Italian). Fra Angelico's pinks, blue and gold are something. Fra Angelico isn't best represented in the National Gallery but, still, not bad.
Paintings of Fra Angelico (in general):
31. Duccio (14th century, Italian)Similar to the great Fra Angelico
32. Murillo (17th century, Spain)
I think that 'Portrait of Don Justino de Neve' is one of the best portraits in the National Gallery.
33. Zurbaran (17th century, Spain)
34. Durer (15th / 16th century, German)
35. Canaletto (18th century, Italy).Just who wouldn't want a Canaletto hanging on a wall in their livingroom?
36. Klimt (18th / 19th century, Austria)
37. Hogarth (18th century, Britain)
Hogarth, surely, has to be the second best British artist ever (after Turner). Hogarth just didn't care. He painted what he wanted to paint and that was it - his work being full of satire, story and humour.
38. Gainsborough (18th century, Britain)
In particular, 'Mr and Mrs Andrews.'
39. Stubbs (18th century, Britain)
40. Bernini (16th / 17th century, Italy)
41. Bosch (15th / 16th century, Netherlands)
42. Van der Weyden (15th century, Netherlands)
43. Van Eyck (15th century, Netherlands)
44. Cuyp (17th century, Netherlands)
45. Seurat (19th century, France)
46. Constable (19th century, Britain)
47. Rubens (16th / 17th century, Flemish)
48. Titian (16th century, Italy)
49. Bruegel (16th century, Netherlands)
50. Delacroix (18th / 19 century)
About the National Gallery - History of the National Gallery
The National Gallery, London was founded over 150 years ago, and houses more than 2,300 workds of art dating from around the 13th century to 1900. The gallery began when the government bought a set of paintings from a banker in the city of London. Two-thirds of the collection is the result of private donations. Although smaller in size to many of the other important national galleries of Europe, it very comprehensive in what it displays. The pressure for the creation of a national gallery came from those who believed that English painters needed more masters on display who they could learn from and be inspired by (as well as just to offer a public, national gallery as other major European countries were doing). The money for the national gallery originated from the Austrian government as part of a war debt to Britain. The original National Gallery was located at 100 Pall Mall. The construction of, and the transfer to, the new gallery (to its current location in Trafalgar Square) took placed in the 1830s. The National Gallery was closed during World War II. The director of the gallery, then, tried to ship all the works of art, for safety, to Canada. But Churchill intervened to say that no paintings were leaving the country. The paintings, instead, were transferred to Wales. Since World War II some important building works and extensions have been made on the National Gallery (including the Blake Building, the Sainsbury Wing and more).
Please be aware that the National Gallery depends on the generous donations / gifts of visitors. Please give generously!
The gallery, also, has a gift shop with art books, momentoes of the gallery, gifts and so on. As well as an excellent cafe and restaurant.
The Art of Travel (1/2)
Lucky Luke
I don't know if many people out there remember or are aware of Lucky Luke (although Lucky Luke is well-known in countries like France and Belgium).
The central figure in the comic is Lucky Luke, a cowboy who is able to 'shoot faster than his shadow' and rides Jolly Jumper, 'the smartest horse in the world.'
Lucky Luke's adversaries are the Dalton brothers - four in all, and each one being taller and more stupid than the other. He finds himself encountering many of the real-life outlaws of the American west. At the end of each story Lucky Luke rides off into the sunset with the line 'I'm a poor lonesome cowboy, and a long way from home.' Brilliant stuff!
The world of Lucky Luke was created by cartoonist Morris. Morris collaborated with Rene Goscinny (author, of course, of Asertix and Obelix) on some of the best stories in the Lucky Luke series.
I think that Lucky Luke is as good as if not better than both Asterix and Obelix, and Tintin - and they are pretty hard to beat by anyone's standards.
Here are a set of great animation stills (with original Lucky Luke 'Lonesome Cowboy tune'):And there are, also, various Lucky Luke cartoon animation versions as well (here's one of the older ones):
What is Creative Thinking?
'Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school' - Albert Einstein
Of course, this was just a provocative quip on the part of Einstein. We need education (knowledge and how to think rationally). But the point Einstein was really making, I think, is that we need more than just rational-thinking and knowledge in so many different kinds of human endeavours - including, science, itself - a discipline that on the surface seems to be entirely rational in approach. School and further education are so often about learning facts as well as learning how to develop a rational argument - and these are, of course, good. But somewhere along the line it is possible to lose this thing we call 'creative-thinking'. Something, that in some ways, appears to be almost the opposite to rational-thinking but in some way is just as important as rational-thinking in many different types of human endeavours (science, the arts, advertising, marketing, branding, business, and so on).
'Imagination is more important than knowledge' - Albert Einstein
Like many other human endeavours science isn't entirely rational in approach, either. At certain points in Einstein's work he had to conjecture (putting forward various hypotheses) and imagine scenarios (for some reason the brain loves images - and Einstein loved using images in his work) and take risks (about where to focus time and energy) in situations where pure maths on its own wasn't enough to move a theory forward.
Who knows whether an apple really did land on Newton's head? But it is an image that reminds us that factors other than purely rational ones can help us develop ideas. And scientists will try anything to help them 'think out of the box' so as to get to the next stage where they can then use a more rational approach - or a rational approach in conjunction with a non-rational approach - in particular, the approach of creative-thinking.
So what exactly is creative-thinking?
No-one really knows (from a biological point-of-view, at least) - just that it involves looking at, and making sense of, patterns, as opposed to rational-thinking which is more linear / sequential in its approach.
'Lateral thinking is concerned not with playing with the existing pieces but with seeking to change those very pieces. It is concerned with the perception part of thinking. This is where we organise the external world into the pieces we can then ‘process’' - Edward de Bono
The person who is the real expert on this subject - from the point-of-view of making studies of it - is Edward de Bono - and who famously coined the phrase 'lateral-thinking' (synonymous, almost, of creative-thinking). An important part of de Bono's approach is that we are often hindered by 'traditional judgement based thinking'. Something, perhaps, that develops in school as well as in the general environment in which we live:
'Complacency with our traditional judgement based thinking methods is not enough. Our existing thinking habits are excellent just as the rear wheel of a motor car is excellent but not enough. We need to put far more emphasis on creative and design thinking. Judgement and analysis are not enough'
Having worked as an advertising account planner (the person who comes up with the marketing idea for an advertising campaign), as a researcher and developer of TV documentaries, as well as having had a go at writing, painting and more, creative thinking is something that I am intrigued by.
I have made a habit out of studying and trying out the best ways for getting into creative-thinking mode. These include:
- Not always trying to be right (being right all the time doesn't open one up to even better ideas)
- Brainstorming (allowing ideas to flow, and withholding judgement about the ideas until they are all written out on paper)
- Being provocative (coming up with ideas that, at first might seem silly or absurd, but after a while can develop into interesting ideas, or at least break a line of thinking that is stuck in a ruck)
- Use images to try and break the rational-minded thought processes as well to inspire ideas (that might develop into others)
- Try and have fun during the creative-thinking process. For some reason the brain loves fun (perhaps fun or play produces creative chemicals in the brain - who knows) but certainly ideas often flow much more easy after having fun (or getting a way from a routine and doing something different).
- Take a risk. At some point in the creative-thinking process you have to take risks (i.e about exploring an idea that might seem silly at first, and so on).
Lastly, some videos on creative-thinking:
(introduction to creative-thinking by Edward de Bono)
Media Jobs - London
Firstly, anyone looking for media jobs in London needs to have paid off all their (student) debts and come, preferably, with some savings (as a bare minimum). London is very expensive. And entry jobs in the media industry are notoriusly badly paid (in general) compared to other industries.
On the other hand, London is one of the most important cities in the world for media. The opportunities in the media sector in London are extensive. London is a good place to do work placments and gain experience, as well as good place to network (as a way of finding jobs, and for other reasons).
What is media?
With the morphing of various advertising, marketing and media disciplines into each other (for example a new media agency might well be involved in copywriting, branding and producing entertainment content) so the definition of media is becoming more varied. For the purpose of clarity: by media, I mean traditonal media (TV, radio, film, music, cinema, animation, publishing, newspapers and more). For advertising jobs in London please go to here.
* The following media companies are just a selection of the companies available in media in London, overall.
TV Companies / Broadcasters - London
BBC, ITV, Cartoon Network, Central TV, Chanel 4, Chanel 5, CNN London, Discovery, Disney Channel, Granada, GMTV, Sky
TV Production - London
Endemol UK, Hat Trick Productions, Maverick Television, Mentorn, Pathe Pictures, Picture House Television, Talkback Thames, Tiger Aspect
Radio - London
BBC Radio, Capital FM, Classic FM, Heart 106.2, Kiss FM, Magic, Smooth FM, Virgin, XFM
Record Companies - London
Sync-Music, 4AD, Ark 21 Records, Chrysalis Records, Decca UK, Island Records, Keystone Records, Polydor Ltd, Sony Music Entertainment, Virgin Records, Warner Music UK
Film Production - London
Kudos, Scion Films, Ruby Films, Odyssey Entertainment, Working Title Films,
Advertising Jobs - London
Cons
London is expensive. And the advertising industry doesn't offer the biggest salaries (at the beginning of one's advertising career, at least). Therefore, anyone looking for jobs in advertising in London, really needs to have all of their (student) debts paid off, and have some money spare before arriving in the city.
Pros
London is one of the leading cities in the world for advertising. Advertising in the sense of traditional creative advertising, direct marketing, digital advertising, media agency advertising, and all the industries related to advertising (TV, film, cinema, radio, music, animation, publishing, newspaper, and so on).
There are, generally, just far more opportunities in London than elsewhere in the country. Opportunities in the sense of jobs, but, also, in the sense of work placements and networking opportunities (both of which play an important role in people finding jobs in advertising, in general, as well as advertising jobs that they like).
What is the difference between traditional creative advertising agencies, direct marketing agencies, digital agencies, and media agencies, and the difference between the types of jobs that they offer?
There is an important cross-over between traditional creative advertising agencies and direct marketing agencies. Not just in terms of jobs (account planner, account handler, copywriter, art director, and so on). But, also, in the type of work carried out in these agencies. The traditional creative advertising agencies, however, tend to work with bigger clients, with bigger campaigns , and on bigger media platforms (i.e TV and cinema).
Digital agencies, also, have people with similar job descriptions as in traditional advertising agencies. But people in digital focus more on the benefits of technology, as well as explore a greater range of marketing techniques, in their overall approach to advertising. Media agencies focus on how best to buy and sell advertising slots / opportunities for clients. Buying and selling, however is, also, performed in traditional and digital agencies.
Lastly, the terms 'traditional advertising agency, direct marketing agency, digital agency' are being replaced, more and more, by 'integrated agency' and 'interactive agency.' However, it is still useful to use the old terms in order to understand the background approach of these agencies to advertising, overall.
* The following advertising agencies are just a selection of the agencies available in advertising in London, overall.
Traditional Creative Advertising Agencies - London
All, or most of, the world's leading advertising agencies are represented or have their headquarters in London. Some of the leading agencies include:
AMV BBDO, Bartle Bogle Hegarty, CHI and Partners, DDB London, Euro RSCG London, DLKW, Fallon London, Grey London, United London, JWT, Leo Burnett, Lowe London, Ogilvy & Mather Group UK, M & C Saatchi, McCann-Erickson, Mother, Publicis London, Saatchi & Saatchi, TBWA \ London, WCRS, Wieden & Kennedy.
Direct Marketing Agencies - London
Some of the biggest direct marketing agencies in London include:
141 Worldwide, Arc Integrated Marketing, Archibald Ingall Stretton, Carat, Carlson Marketing, Cascaid Marketing, Chemistry Communications Group, Claydon Heeley, Craik Jones Watson Mitchell Voelkel, Digital & Direct Communications, Elvis, Euro RSCG KLP , Gyro International, Haygarth, Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, LIDA, Mediaedge:CIA, Meteorite, MRM Worldwide, OgilvyOne Worldwide, Partners Andrews Aldridge, Proximity London, Publicis Dialog, Rapier, SOUK, Start Creative Limited, STEEL, Syzygy UK Limited, The Marketing Store, Tullo Marshall Warren, Wunderman UK , WWAV Rapp Collins, Zed Media Ltd.
Digital Agencies - London
AQKA, Avenue A/Razorfish, Blue Barracuda, Conchango, Dare, Glue London, Grand Union, LBi, Publicis Dialog, Profero, TBG London, Web Liquid
Media Agencies - London
All Response Media, Carat, Initiative Media, MediaCom, OMD UK, Mindshare UK, Starcom UK, Total Media Group, Walker Media, Vizeum, Zenith Optimedia
Finding Advertising Jobs In London
Job boards, recruitment agencies, trade magazines and journals - they normally expect candidates to have some previous experience in advertising.
Work experience - work placements can greatly benefit you chances of finding full-time employment (opportunity to learn invaluable industry skills; good way of networking that can help, greatly, when looking for jobs in the future; work placement might lead to full-time job; looks good on CV).
Networking. Networking can lead to part-time / full-time job opportunities. Visit the bars and areas of London, in general, where advertising / media people hang out (in particular, Soho / Soho Square, Tottenham Court Road, and so on).
Social networking (in particular LinkedIn) is becoming a popular way of finding jobs in general (need to plan, carefully, how you go about this, otherwise you could be wasting a lot of time).
Sending in eye-catching CV (in particular, for creative / account planning jobs). Make sure your CV really is eye-catching, interesting, and relevant, otherwise it will just get chucked into the bin. Make sure that you send it to the relevant person (i.e the head of the department - and address that person by their name - not 'Sir' / 'Madam') and follow up! Need to do to this properly otherwise you could be wasting your time.
Tribute to Tuco
For many, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, is one of the great films of all time. Quentin Tarantino went so far as to describe it as the best-directed film of all time.Who was responsible for Tuco? Credit has to be given, of course, to the screen writer. Some credit has to be given to Ennio Morricone, the composer (Sergio Leone would play Morricone’s music whilst filming so as to get the characters into the distinct moods of the film - and one of the reasons given for the notoriously poor dubbing in the film was that the actors were too busy listening to Morricone’s music to get their lines out clearly). And, of course, credit has to be given to Sergio Leone who wanted to get away from the stereotypical, Western character-portrayals, and also, because he had a particularly warm friendship with Wallach, on and off set – and so able to bring the best out of the actor (who, apparently, enjoyed the off-set camaraderie, as much as his on-set portrayal of Tuco). But in his portrayal of Tuco, Eli Wallach doesn’t just go beyond the stereotype of a character in a typical western but becomes something fairly unique in the history of Western films up until that time: Tuco is neither the goody nor the bady but something in between, and far more interesting and engaging than Blondie or Angel Eyes. Leone had always wanted Eli Wallach to play an important role in the film. But as the film progressed Wallach's portrayal of Tuco took off. Even during the making of the film, Clint Eastwood remarked that he was being outshone by Wallach's performance. And because we know that Tuco was always meant to be only a secondary character, not a central character, so we know that it was Eli Wallach that developed Tuco into the character that he was to become. In fact it is not just a case of Eli Wallach having great acting ability, but more of a case that he was born to play the role of Tuco.
Play and Creativity
The problem that I have, and I am sure many of you have come across, is that people sometimes impose their fun or sense of fun on others. Fun in this sense isn’t fun. This isn’t the same as saying people at work shouldn’t have fun. But rather that we just need to be a bit careful about not imposing our sense of 'fun' on others.
Anyway, fun is very important in the world of creative-thinking and creativity in general. The child in the adult seeks fun - and there are strong connections between children and fun, and between fun and the imagination. When children play, they go off into their own make-believe worlds where rational thinking is suspended.
Richard Branson is someone who uses the word fun a lot. Fun brings out the child in us – the imagination – ideas. And the child in us forgets about the limits that the adult world puts on us. Adults have been harmed. They know pain. And they will try and avoid pain. Adults will try and avoid pain and risk; more so than children. But with no pain there is no gain. Fun doesn’t just seem to be about increasing the imaginative process but also in opening us up to new possibilities. And to have the optimism to carry them out. Branson says that the times when he is at his most creative, in terms of business ideas, is when he is having fun (and it is certainly not hard to spot the child in Branson, even though he is a high-powered entrepreneur.
And many other entrepreneurs, like Branson, take fun very seriously. The founders of Ben and Jerry’s (Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield) based an important part of their work model on fun. Fun not just for their customers, but fun for themselves and their employees too.
And a similar appreciation of fun can also be found in other areas of life – with people in the arts, science, education, health, and so on, as well as, of course, just ordinary people in our ordinary lives.
