The Power of Words

Cool site

2008-07-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a nice site that loves words. It offers you the chance to write a few words about...yeah you guessed it...words!

One word will pop up and there's a time limit. Type what comes to mind a voila!

http://oneword.com/index.html

Forever

2008-07-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

Forever is one of my favourite words. Why? Firstly, it's very powerful and second it means so much to me. It means that things you believe in will never die. That your thoughts, your wishes and your dreams will remain one thing despite the sinister face of adversity. That one thing is "constant".

If you believe in forever, "I once dreamed a dream and know that dream has been taken from me", will never be a quote that never affects your outlook on life. You will remain strong and resilient to the end in the face of it. Your hopes, dreams and wishes will be more than words, they will become an idea and ideas are something that are 'bulletproof' to a world were dogs eat dogs and were hurt and pain can cause irreparable suffrage to one and to many.

Be positive, but never forget in what you believed in, because what you believe in and if you believe in it forever, that belief matters and makes a worthwhile contribution to the most important person on this planet. You.

V for Vendetta

2008-07-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

The opening dialogue of this movie between Evey and V is memorable and one of the best. I've attached his part of the dialogue, it's a treat to read. V commands the English language as though he was conducting a symphony orchestra and has many 'verbal crescendos' throughout the film. In the face of tyranny, oppression and sadness we all need to make a stand for what we believe in and who we are. I've attached my favourites.

V: I can assure you I mean you no harm.

Evey: Who are you?

V: Who? Who is but the form following the function of what, and what I am is a man in a mask.

Evey: Well, I can see that.

V: Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation, I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.

Evey: Oh. Right.

V: But on this most auspicious of nights permit me then in lieu of the more commonplace sobriquet to suggest the character of this dramatis persona.

"Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! [slashes a "V" into a Norsefire poster] The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. [giggles] Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me "V".Sometimes strong words can be more than mere words, they can be perspectives. In a totalitarian future, V for Vendetta is a movie about the power of choice. That choice is ultimately decided by the choice to speak out with the use of words. The second video says is all."

Deus Ex Machina

2008-07-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Deus ex Machina is a contrivance used in literary and film pieces as a unforseen twist in the plot line to often solve a problem that has been introduced. Deus ex Machina normally comes in the form of a character, device or event.

The Latin phrase "Deus ex machina" originates in the conventions of Greek tragedy. It refers to situations in which a mechane (crane) was used to lower actors playing a god or gods onto the stage. Though the phrase is accurately translated as "God from a machine," in literary criticism, it is often translated to "God on a machine." The machine referred to in the phrase is the crane employed in the task.

Now that you know, look for the Deus ex Machina plot in the next movie you watch or book you read.

Transformers

2008-07-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

A favourite of kids born in the 80's, Transformers the movie came alive and sure lived up to the hype of the classic plot of good against evil. The original voice of Optimus Prime returned to fill only the shoes he could and delivered excellent voiceovers for the opening and closing sequence.

Superman Returns

2008-07-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

There's nothing greater than powerful words from a screenplay supported by a visually appealing cinematic sequence and good audio production to support it. I think these pieces can evoke in all of us the will to do more than what life has dealt us. To strive and dig deep for what we want.

Powerful words and good audio production can do so much for someone with little faith in themselves. It can inspire and bring hope to those who did not have their own inner will power to do what they must.

Here is the spine tingling opening of Superman Returns and a teaser trailer. Listen and feel.

DOW -A bond between us

2008-07-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

The following is one of my favourite pieces. In a world where huge chemical manufacturers are seen as only being concerned about the bottom line, DOW's creative campaign used a series of television commercials utilising emotive copy and imagery to communicate that DOWs products and services are very similar to the very people they sell it to. (The Human Element)

It was a very effective piece in that it is doing what it's suppose to do- distract from the obvious, clear and undeniable truth of behind all multinational corporations.

Wendy's Fpoon Commercial

2008-07-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a good commercial example of the concept of a portmanteau word.

What is a Copywriter?

2008-07-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

A lot of people that I have met have no idea who or what a Copywriter does. Most of the times they believe a Copywriter to be the person who helps someone acquire the right to copy something; as in the legal creative rights to a logo, concept, music, etc.

For that purpose the correct word is "Copyright".

A Copywriter is a creative professional who works at an Advertising Agency. He/she is responsible for creating the initial concepts for advertising campaigns and writing the actual copy (text) to support those concepts.

A Copywriter must be a highly creative and imaginative person who must use effective creative concepts and words to sell a client's products and services throughout the different forms of media.

True Romance-Sicilian Talk scene

2008-07-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

The following is a scene from one of my favourite movies- True Romance. It's also written by my favourite writers, Quentin Tarantino, who has brought simple yet effective dialogue to the movies he works on.

In this scene Dennis Hopper's character (retired Police Officer) squares off with Christopher Walken's character (Sicilian Mafioso) via witty back and forth dialogue about the truth of his (Walken's) origins. Even though Hopper's fate is obvious in the presence of Walken's grim character, Hopper makes sure he wins the debate and goes out with a (literal) bang.

Portmanteau word

2008-07-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

A portmanteau word is a starting point for a lot of creativity. You can blend two words to actually create something new. Your imagination is your limit and virtually nothing is out of bounds. Use your creativity and...create.

Here are some examples of portmanteaus:

Bash

bang + smash

Bleep

blankout + beep

Because

by + cause

Blotch

blot + botch

Bit

binary + digit

Blurt

blow + spurt

Cellophane

cellulose + diaphane

Dumfound

dumb + found

Emoticon

emotion + icon

Goodbye

God + be (with) + ye

Motel

motor + hotel

Muppet

marionette + puppet

O' clock

of + (the) + clock

Prissy

prim + sissy

Workaholic

work + alcoholic

What is a word?

2008-07-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

According to (one of my favourite sites) Wikipedia:

A word is a unit of language that carries meaning and consists of one or more morphemes which are linked more or less tightly together, and has a phonetical value. Typically a word will consist of a root or stem and zero or more affixes. Words can be combined to create phrases, clauses, and sentences. A word consisting of two or more stems joined together to form a compound. A word combined with another word or part of a word form a portmanteau.