Did you know that some language and anthropology scholars believe that poetry predates literacy? Poetry is one of the world’s oldest and most venerated art forms. As storytellers, there’s simply a ton of value in learning more about what makes poetry so special, as well as what makes it so historically important. We’re going to break down the history of poetry by looking at some examples from William Shakespeare and Langston Hughes. By the end, you’ll know how poetry started, what different types of poems there are, and how you can become a master of the craft -- but first,…
Bards rejoice, it’s time to get lyrical -- everybody else, we’re here to review the mystery of iambic pentameter. At one point or another, we’ve all asked the question: what is iambic pentameter? If you’ve found the answer to be elusive, that’s because iambic pentameter is a relic of rhythm’s past… or is it?We’re going to break down iambic pentameter, with examples from Shakespeare, The Meyerowitz Stories, and some of hip-hop’s most iconic artists, so that you can apply different writing “foots” to your cinema dialogue in new, and exciting ways. But before we jump into some iambic pentameter examples,…
What is black comedy? Have you ever watched a movie or TV show and wondered how the characters could joke about violence, disease, or war? That’s what we refer to as black comedy.It goes by many names. Dark humor. Gallows humor. Dark comedy. It all means the same thing. And in this blog, you’ll learn the history of black humor and see some examples, so you can see if you want to incorporate these kinds of jokes into your next project. Let’s dive in.Continue reading What is Black Comedy — Definition and Examples for Filmmakers
When looking at some of cinema and literature’s most iconic characters, it's easy to find ones that are non-human. Animals, androids, and other non-human characters, however, have somehow won our hearts over in countless tales. This is largely due to the fact that these non-human characters are given human traits, otherwise known as anthropomorphism. What is anthropomorphism used for? Let’s define anthropomorphism and its function in the world of storytelling. Continue reading What is Anthropomorphism — Definition, Examples & Uses
Tired of scrolling through Netflix? Feeling lonely? Searching for 'the one'? No matter what prompted you to Google "best romantic comedies," by the time you leave, two things are certain: you’ll be inspired to make your own list of favorites and you’ll open up that ice cream tub and turn on the TV. So, without further ado, here are the best romantic comedies of all time.Continue reading Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, Ranked for Romantics
Music plays an integral role in how a movie communicates tone. When thinking about a movie, we often recall back to a moment when the soundtrack swelled at the perfect moment, how it transported us to other worlds, or interweaved popular culture into the narrative. We can learn a lot from how filmmakers use music in their films, so without further ado, here’s our list of the best movie soundtracks of all time.Note on criteria: No orchestral scores appear on this list. Although we’re huge fans of composers like Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Joe Hisaishi, and Ennio Morricone, we thought…
You probably have heard of the terms ethos, pathos, and logos before. You may even understand what each is. However, you may not know them as rhetorical appeals. What are rhetorical appeals and how is each one a cornerstone of rhetoric? In this article, we’ll take a look at the components of the rhetorical appeals, how they are effective, and which one Aristotle thought was the most important in creating persuasive arguments. Continue reading What are Rhetorical Appeals — The Art of Persuasion Explained
Metaphors in and of themselves are a powerful tool to communicating ideas and concepts efficiently to a reader. However, when multiple metaphors are used in conjunction with each other they can become confusing. This is a common reason why many advise writers to avoid mixed metaphors. However, in this article we’re going to dive into some of the uses of the mixed metaphors that writers overlook. What is a mixed metaphor? This is specifically relevant in the world of storytelling and screenwriting. Continue reading What is a Mixed Metaphor: Definition & Examples
Unique descriptions, whether internal or external, are key to creating memorable and meaningful characters. And regardless of medium, character traits are critical considerations for any literary work. However, while they are typically noted in a character introduction, your chosen character traits should be noticeable throughout your characters’ presence on the page, and therefore, should be thoughtfully chosen and applied. Below, we’ll unpack character trait definitions and examples to help you gain a deeper understanding and how to implement them properly. Continue reading What are Character Traits — Examples & How to Write Them
Cowboys, outlaws, deserts, shanty towns, and gunslinging. These are familiar elements seen in the genre known as the Western, in both literature and cinema. But for many genre fans, it specifically refers to Spaghetti Westerns, a genre that emerged during the 1960s. Traditional Westerns they weren’t, as they were often low budget, featured violence and questionable morals, on top of technically being foreign films. So, what is a Spaghetti Western, why is it called a Spaghetti Western, how did they become so popular, and create such an enduring legacy? Let's find out.Continue reading What is a Spaghetti Western — History…
