A Friday : bad friends, William Tell music, Fauvism, witch trials.
THINGS WE LEARNED, DISCUSSED, READ, DID, AND ARGUED ABOUT
Literature : In pace requiescat!
Edgar Allen Poe’s 1846 short story revenge masterpiece The Cask of Amontadillo. So a friend insults you. How do you respond? Ideally differently than Montresor treats Fortunato as he leads him through the catacombs to look at his new cask of amontillado (a type of sherry wine).
Montresor has bided his time, and it is the foreshadowing and light-hearted repartee, cut back and forth with the dank, damp, dark descriptions of the catacombs that lead us along the narrative to impending doom. There are few stories that better illustrate a disproportionate response - in other words, the motive in committing a horrific act of revenge and violence is vague; it’s simply known that at some point in the past there was an insult, perhaps against Montresor’s family; maybe it led to a loss of respect - but whatever the case, there will be no forgiveness, no redemption, only retribution.
It’s a story that keeps an imprint. Small in scope, yet covering a great deal of human motivation and relationship in a smattering of pages, leaving much unanswered amidst a variety of clues and symbolism, it is a terrifying, horrifying example of Poe masterclassing the short story.
May he rest in peace.
Music
Classical great, though lesser known giant Gioachino Rossini semi-retired for the last 40 years of his life after making bank earlier on with 39 operas, most notably with one of the most stirring, exciting, orchestral anthems ever: 1829’s William Tell Overture. Of course it’s been overplayed and overused. But I still love it, along with The Barber of Seville.
Performing Arts
I don’t really feel like doing this right now,
she told him.
It’s okay, he said enthusiastically,
we’ll just do it anyway. If we want, we can even change topics partway through while we’re filming.
What is the story about?
I asked.
It’s about, he said enthusiastically,
the Salem Witch trials. Do you have any old rags from the 1600s I could wear? Like what homeless people from the 1600s, or even 1900s might have worn?
Umm, I thought carefully,
but I thought too carefully and too long, and he disappeared with enthusiasm before I could finish thinking.
Art
“The Wild Beasts” Them Fauvists, the French avant-garde artistes who used masses of colors at the beginning of the 20th century. Think exploding colors and vibrant textures. Let your senses be led along by the cheery imaginations and unusual combinations of texture and paint.
Readings
Fables by Arnold Loebel (1981)
Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell (2011)
Playings
DUPLO. Not the kind with instructions. The kind where you dump every single block on the floor and start letting your fingers bring your ideas to life.
Cinematic Arts
At some point in the mid-afternoon, the Olders absconded into the field to shoot several scenes for their film. A black-and-white entitled The Witch. There’s a goat, and is inspired by certain happenings in Salem, Massachusetts in the 1600s.
Miscellaneous
Our 11-year old wanted to make a pickle sandwich for breakfast. I initially said No, eat what we’re all having. But then I gave him the option of writing me a one-page letter, using reasoning and logic, to possibly convince me. A short time later, he smirked at me, as pickle juice ran down his chin.
Cooking mud burgers with a 5-year old in an outdoor kitchen on a chilly sunny afternoon
A group effort in helping make (real) mini-pizzas for supper.
