Comparing martial arts films of the 1970s to the action blockbusters of 2009/10

Red Cliff, Ip Man and True Legend are already iconic of the early 21st century "martial arts films"-although many can argue they are more action spectacle than true "kung fu" films. The 1970s, on the other hand, didn't rely on eye-candy effects and were defined more by the true grit of its martial arts actors: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, the Five Venoms, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Jimmy Wong, and other real fighters trained in genuine kung fu, karate and other arts.

Martial Arts Becomes Mainstream But Evolves Into Spectacle

Cult classics such as Enter the Dragon helped change Hollywood. Its growing popularity forced filmmakers to adopt martial arts into the formula of the "action flick." Through the eighties and nineties, spectacle thrillers were expected to deliver "the fight moves", even if it was only a few basic moves supported by some stuntmen and wires. Action movies became spectacles that required equal blends of story, drama, pace, "kung fu", special effects and improbable plot twists.

In the 21st century, this became less "equal" with films relying first on special effects, then improbably plot twists (surprise is important, right?), followed by pace, martial arts skills, drama and-last and possibly least today-story. This trend extended even to the hot movies of the last few years, including Kung Fu Panda, Forbidden Kingdom, G.I. Joe and even the Transformers.

Asian Film Industry Threatens to Out-Spectacle Hollywood

With the full support and weight of China's cultural industries, Asian film has blossomed into mainstream spectacles in high demand, led by CGI treats such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers and other instant classics. Arguably, Asian film long ago surpassed Hollywood for imagination, with the western producers buying rights to several hugely successful Asian films. With the largest population demographic in the world, there can be no doubt that Chinese films are set to dominate the film industry in years to come.

Red Cliff and Ip Man are perhaps the best known of these new hit-classics, but the rumor mills and fansites are buzzing with all the latest "coming soon" gossip. The big buz movies in 2010 is True Legend (Su Qi Er), starring Zhao Wen-Zho as the historical Begger Su, the originator of drunken kung fu. Donnie Yen returns in both part 2 of the Ip Man saga and in the much anticipated 14 Blades. Chow Yun-Fat breaks the mold and surprises everyone in his role as Confucius.

Both Hollywood and Asia Rely on CGI and Special Effects

The growing spectacle and importance of the "action film" is both enjoyable to the escapist and annoying for the aficionado of the true martial arts. While the actors in many of the films-in particular Asian films-are genuine martial artists (for example, Donnie Yen, Jet Li and Chow Yun-Fat)-the over-dependence on CGI and elaborate choreography turns the adventure into comic book. With notable exceptions, such as Ip Man and Tony Jaa in Ong Bak (and to a lesser extent Ong Bak 2 and 3), most action films rely on the "wow" factor of dazzling camera angles and computer-aided "enhancements."

Ninja Assassin and the Cross-Over

There are, to be sure, cross-over films such as Ninja Assassin, where actor Rain trained 14 hours a day for months to perfect real martial arts moves (albeit only a handful of repeated moves), blended together with rather Matrix-like special effects. To some, the beauty of the realistic CGI takes away from the pleasure of watching well-choreographed real martial arts.

Ong Bak, on the other hand, led by genuine martial arts expert Tony Jaa, got by on solid martial arts and good choreography. No stuntmen, thank you. Tony Jaa was hailed as the "next Bruce Lee" for this reason, with much buzz and excitement in the martial arts community, and martial arts film fansites.

There's No Escaping Escapism

Action films are, by design, escapist entertainment. They have become somewhat comic-book (pardon me, graphic novel), but that's what most audiences do want. We want to forget reality.

Kill Bill and Kill Bill 2 probably came closest to the ideal mix for both the escapist fan and the martial arts practitioner-fan. While it wasn't "real" by any means, and contained a brilliant and zesty blend of satire, comic-book, spoof, and choreography, it never-the-less nostalgically hearkened back to the wondrous days of Enter the Dragon and the classic Japanese Samarai films of the 70s.

Japanese Film Stays True to Martial Arts Traditions?

Perhaps the film industry most aligned with the older traditions of martial arts film making is Japan. Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman, was a low-budget film, that became an instant cult classic. Zatoichi took movie audiences back to the classic real-sword skills of the old Samarai films of the earlier decades, and spawned video games and an entire industry.

Less is More? Where is the Real Martial Arts Skill?

Genuine martial arts actors still abound-led by superstars such as Donnie Yen and Jet Li-and most Chinese martial arts actors are proficient. In Hollywood, the film-makers opt for four-move choreography (two kicks, a block and a punch), multiple camera angles (particularly close ups when the skills of the martial artist are not genuine), pounding music, FX, and stuntmen. With the old hopefuls gone from the Hollywood big screen-Chuck Norris, Jean Claude Van Damme and the other promising real martial artists-there's now a world of difference between Asian film actors-who work in frigid cold, fourteen hours a day in often primitive conditions, hammering out genuinely complex martial arts moves for relatively paltry paychecks-and Hollywood films that now rely on computer and actor stand-ins.

Batman Now Does Kung Fu

Batman now does kung fu, and so does G.I. Joe, and even Hellboy. They're fun, but the martial artist fan misses the great luminaries of martial arts films who built their careers on the "real thing": Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, David Chiang, Sonny Chiba, Chen Kuan-tai, Tomisaburo Wkayama, Jimmy Wong Yu, Ti Lung and the Liu brothers.

Derek Armstrong is a journalist contributor to several TV news shows, magazines and newspapers. He has appeared as a reporter on HNN's Nancy Grace, the Larry King Show, MSNBC News, FOX News, Inside Edition, NBC's Dateline and the Dr. Phil Show. Armstrong is currently chief crime correspondent for Crime Report USA, and contributes to Films & Books Magazine, Advance Magazine, Canadian Money Magazine, Secure Net News, LINK World News Magazine, and EDI Weekly. Derek Armstrong is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ).

All readers or media who pick up this story agree that use of this information is solely their responsibility and its use is at your own risk. Nothing in this article is intended to advise. Refer to Blogertize News and Entertainment Zines at http://www.blogertize.com for our full information, subscription information, disclaimers and legal information on our publications.

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Fighting arts originated in East Asia more than 2,000 years ago. Since that time, an estimated 200 different methods have been created and are now being practiced by an estimated one hundred million all over the world. The popularity of arts drastically increased when emerged in the mainstream movie industry. The public's perception of martial arts has been shaped by movies starring such legends as Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Chuck Norris Steven Seagal, and Jean Claude Van Damme.

Jackie Chan is another movie legend. He is best known for such movies as 'Drunken Master,' and many movie buffs say it is one of his best films. Released in 1978, the film 'Drunken Master,' brought Jackie into the mainstream in Hong Kong. Combining comedy with his skills, this film's story is about a man who goes on a journey to learn the drunken master form to help save his teacher and his school. All of the martial arts movie legends made the art of martial arts exciting to watch and it has influenced people to take up the craft.

When you watch a fighting arts movie, you get caught up in the action, martial arts techniques, and exciting story line. About 30 years ago, fighting arts movie became popular in the West. Hollywood producers tapped into this genre and began making movies that focused on one character taking on a whole lot of bad guys. As well, in the 1980's the interest in martial arts increased when Hollywood released the movie, 'The Karate Kid.' which earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.

Fighting arts movies are a now a genre unto themselves. They can be serious, very violent, packed with action, emphasize justice and morals, and they can even be comical. The fighting scenes are a main attraction of these movies and movie producers tend to focus on making the fight scenes impressive and memorable which is why the genre has such a loyal following.

Bruce Lee, a legend of his time, delivered some of the best performances such as in the film "Enter the Dragon," Bruce Lee's performance is astounding with captivating fighting scenes. Today, Bruce Lee is considered the most influential fighting arts artist considered ahead of his time. Jet Li is another inspiring movie actor. His movies, Kiss of the Dragon, Fearless, and The Fist of Legend are legendary with incredible fight scenes. As well, Steven Seagal's movies made Aikido very popular. His Aikido skills are amazing and exciting to watch. Aikido, a Japanese martial art, is one of the most popular fighting arts forms and considered to be effective for self-defense.

Today, the Movie genre has influenced millions of people to attend schools. Students soon realize that it takes years to master the skill of fighting arts. Whether you take up martial arts or choose to watch exciting movies, it is always an exhilarating time.

Looking online for the best selection of Kung Fu Movies? Then be sure to visit Fightflicks.com - Watch Kung fu Movies and enjoy a massive selection of Karate Movies, Martial Arts Movies and Online Movies.

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INTRODUCTION

For the avoidance of doubt, the concept of the arts can be viewed from two perspectives. On the one hand, the arts could be understood to mean the subjects one can study at school or university which are not scientific, which do not employ scientific methods. Subjects such as history, languages, religion, literature, and so on, would be appropriate examples. On the other hand, it could be interpreted to encompass a wide range of creative activities bordering on the skillful and imaginative expression of ideas, feelings, actions or events. Music, literature, theatre, and art (in the sense of painting, drawing, sculpture, etc) are what make up the arts in this sense. For the purpose of this discussion, however, our focus is on the second understanding of arts as proffered above.

The arts can then be classified into literary arts (poetry, prose, and drama), performing arts (music, dance, theatre) and visual arts (encapsulating the entire creative activities covered in the field of fine and applied arts: drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, textile, etc).

WHY THE QUESTION OF RELEVANCE?

In developed economies of the world where the basic necessities of life seem to have been met, the question as to whether the arts are relevant or not to practical living is no longer an issue. Thousands of American citizens would troop down to the auditorium in Bard College to hear Chinua Achebe's reading of his Things Fall Apart, not minding that they have heard the same reading over and over again, not minding that the book is over fifty years old; the same way the English audience would cluster at The Royal Theatre in London to watch the presentation of Wole Soyinka's The Trials of Brother Jero or any of the plays of Shakespeare, not minding that Shakespeare wrote centuries ago. In the same vein, even though Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo are long dead and gone, Italians would pay their very last lira to watch an exhibition of their paintings.

In our own context, economic hardship and the search for basic necessities of life have meant that only a few have had the time to appreciate the arts for what they are worth. In other words, the problem is not whether the arts are relevant or not, for it is not in doubt that the arts are relevant to practical living as much as any profession, or even more so. The real problem lies in the fact that people are too hungry or too busy to see the real worth of the arts. A man who lives on a monthly salary of paltry ten thousand naira, with seven mouths to feed, and so many other family problems to solve may not easily pay five hundred naira just to watch a drama presentation; a Nigerian graduate who has walked the streets of Abuja, Lagos, or Port Harcourt in search of a job for three years without success would know what to do with money rather than spend it on a piece of landscape paintings; likewise, a young man who has had nothing to eat for days, and has no hope of where the next meal is coming from, would not possibly be coordinated enough to read, not to talk of appreciating, works of poetry. If arts cannot satisfy hunger or thirst, can they still be said to be relevant?

THE RELEVANCE OF THE ARTS

The word 'relevance' presupposes usefulness and value. So the right questions should be: are the arts useful in any way? And our answer: yes, they are. Do they have value? Our answer again: yes, they do. If the arts have use and value, and those are the things that relevance implies, then we can say that the arts are relevant. That conclusion raises another vital question: in what ways are the arts relevant? The relevance of arts can be found in the following areas.

Entertainment/Relaxation: The various forms of the arts mentioned above provide one form of entertainment, amusement and relaxation or the other. In Biblical times, when the spirit of God deserted King Saul and he was tormented by evil spirits, David was employed to play his harp. The sound of music produced by David's harp kept Saul's mind at peace, for whenever David was not around to play his harp, the evil spirits came back. In ancient Mali too, court poets/historians called Griots were known to entertain the audience during national festivals by reciting long narrative poems recounting the heroic achievements of their forebears. At a time in history, court jesters were employed to entertain the king or the queen and their visitors by telling funny stories and jokes (as can be seen in most of Shakespeare's plays). In traditional African societies, moonlight tales were a veritable source of both entertainment and relaxation for both old and young. Praise singers and dance groups entertained the crowd during communal ceremonies.

In modern times, in the not too distant past, the late Sani Abacha was alleged to have employed the famous comedian, Chief Zebrudaya, to provide entertainment for him and his cohorts through his funny jokes and stories. It was also reported that the former Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, is a great patron of stand-up comedy. Besides, at least one out of every three people in the world today find peace of mind in music; one out of every four Nigerians relax at home at the close of work to watch a home video; and one out of every five relax in bed with a literature book. Since the advent of stand-up comedy in Nigeria, even though hardship has continued unabated, a lot of Nigerians have begun to look at the lighter side of things. Mere listening to a single volume of 'Nite of A Thousand Laughs' would drive away sorrow in people's hearts. Since these developments began, I bet that had the medical practitioners started taking stock, they would have discovered that high blood pressure and other stress-related conditions have reduced by more than half over the past decade.

Financial Value: The arts are equally a very lucrative venture for serious-minded artists. All arts practitioners who are worth their salt make a living out of their practice. So many examples of such people could be found around us. The famous Osuofia (Nkem Owoh) is a living example. The majority of the practitioners in the movie industry today were not even originally artists. Their professions could not provide for them, and so they switched over to the arts. Besides, works of art, especially paintings, are considered very highly valuable intellectual property that can be accepted as collateral the same way that gold or diamond or buildings would be accepted.

Didactic: The arts are known to teach practical moral lessons. The old folklores about the tortoise and his craftiness always ended with one moral lesson or the other. The story of the feast in the sky where the tortoise claimed that his name was Mr. All of You, for example, ended with the lesson that greed always landed one in disaster, just as the story of the beautiful girl who refused to marry all the young men approved by her parents only to finally fall into the hands of a ghost taught that it was not good to disobey one's parents.

Exposing and Correcting Societal Ills: All aspects of the arts are deeply involved in the crusade against societal ills like corruption and bribery, ritual killing, etc. They have all been involved, for instance, in ridiculing the excesses of political and religious leaders as well as the gullibility of the followers who fall victims to the whims and manipulations of the tricksters. This they achieve through satire. By so doing, offenders who had earlier thought that their activities were unknown would begin to retrace their steps when they discover that their so-called secrets have been exposed. Intending offenders would think twice, while would-be victims whose eyes will have been opened by such exposition would come to terms with reality and become wiser. Cultism on our university campuses has been fought to a reduced rate through the instrumentality of the arts: music, drama, novels, etc. All these have made society a better place to live in.

Aesthetic Value: The arts have beauty and face value, in addition to their intrinsic qualities. We talk about the beauty of a poem, a play, a story, a piece of music, but this beauty applies more to the visual arts, the ones one can see and admire their physical outlook, like drawing, painting or sculpture. People go to art exhibitions to discover, behold and admire the beauty of art works. Those who can afford them buy them and use them for interior decoration. How wonderful it is to walk into a well furnished sitting room to behold art works exhibited on the walls! They equally serve as status symbol for those who can afford them.

Preservation of Culture: The arts serve to preserve a people's culture. Art itself is an integral part of culture, that is, culture in the sense of customs, beliefs, practices, art, way of life, and social organisation. So many aspects of Nigerian cultural practices, for instance, that would have been lost and forgotten are recaptured through the arts. Before the appearance of Things Fall Apart in the world literary scene, Western writers like Joseph Conrad and others had led the world into believing that the African continent was one long night of darkness and that Africans themselves were uncultured and barbaric monkeys who had tails and lived on tree tops, and who had no souls worthy of salvation. But Things Fall Apart and other works after it joined in the crusade and changed the world's perception of Africa by presenting the true picture from the inside. Africans, the world came to see, were after all a reasonable people with heart, body and soul, created by one and the same God. They had culture and a mode of worship guided by norms and regulated by the principles of human relations even before the advent of the Europeans. Continuously, African poems, novels, plays, music, paintings, and so on, as much as possible portray life in both traditional and modern African societies. The rest of the world has continually shown increasing interest in African arts and culture. Some of us with a sense of history would remember that during the early colonial period, some of Nigerian artifacts were stolen by the colonial masters and taken to the British National Museum. An example of such is the Benin bronze mask.

Fame: It is incontestable that the works of Chinua Achebe and the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, have brought more fame to Africa than the achievements of all the African political leaders put together. It could be argued that before the emergence of these men, the continent was only a dot on the map of the world. But their works and the works of others after them proved to the world that something good could after all come out of Nazareth.

THE CHALLENGES

The challenges facing Nigerian artists are multifaceted: lack of encouragement and patronage at both the home front and outside, disparaging comments about artists, the neglect of the arts by the government, among others. Many homes today discourage their children from going into the practical arts simply because they do not believe that a man can feed his family just writing literary works or just drawing and painting. Until recently musicians were seen as wayward people and children who opted to sing were disowned by their parents. People still see actors and actresses in the light of the roles they play in movies or stage plays. One particular actor was nearly mobbed at Aba in Abia State of Nigeria for his role in a movie: a wicked man who killed his brother.

For the literary artist, it is really a trying time. Reading culture is at its lowest ebb. Students of literature would rather watch a half-cooked film version of Shakespeare's Macbeth than read it in print. Many of them do not even know the recommended texts. So, for those who write, they face the lowest patronage. The books never get bought. Even when the books eventually find their way into the syllabus, pirates quickly swing into action. The same predicament faces movie makers and musicians. The government on its part does not help matters. The dilapidated state of the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, is a pointer to this fact. Since FESTAC '77, no concerted effort has been made towards the promotion of the arts or the encouragement of artists. Concerned citizens and corporate bodies have been crying out, but the government has turned deaf ears to all the yells.

In the face of all this, I still believe that arts practitioners in Nigeria could make a head way the moment we begin to look inwards. The sooner we begin to see the arts as a serious business, the better for us. Names like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ben Enweonwu, John Munonye, J. P. Clark, Niyi Osundare, Odia Ofeimun, Chimalum Nwankwo, Chimamanda Adichie, and so on became household names because they believed in the arts and in themselves and took the arts seriously. No one can save us but ourselves. At a time when Communist Russia faced one of its greatest trials, when the nation was far behind the West in technological advancement, Stalin rose to the challenge. 'We are more than fifty years behind the rest of the world', he told Russians. 'We have only ten years to catch up with them. We either do this or they will exterminate us'. Pious pronouncements were backed up with positive actions, and within the next ten years Russia was on the verge of being pronounced a world power.

In the same spirit, arts practitioners, both established and intending, should stand up to the challenge and not be discouraged because those who question the relevance of the arts are themselves among the greatest patrons of the arts, one way or another. They must hold their heads high, and hold their own against other professions. They must begin to think of who to replace the Achebes, the Soyinkas, and so on. They must always remember how esteemed above other professions they are because they are co-creators with God, who himself is the foremost artist. Until this is done, people will continue to question the relevance of arts to practical living.

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In 1934, when Walt Disney called for a meeting among his artists, a rumor had spread that he was going to shut the studio down and they would all be left unemployed during the great depression. Instead he personally told them in his own spellbinding way the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which he intended to make into his first feature length film. It was a risk unlike any other he had taken before. The film would cost a million and a half dollars at a time Disney was spending anywhere from ten to thirty thousand on his short cartoons. Doubts came from his wife Lillian and his brother and business partner Roy, who were sure they would be in debt for most of the rest of the lives. Also nervous was Walt's backer Bank of America, who at one point interrupted the production by cutting off his credit. Then there were the heads of the other studios like MGM, Universal and Warner Brothers. They would gather for their weekly poker games at the Hillcrest Country Club and speculate that Walt, who they called "the Mickey Mouse Man", would never succeed, no one would sit still for an hour and a half to watch a cartoon. And the press referred to Snow White as "Disney's Folly".

Despite the doubters and his own health problems (he suffered from a thyroid condition), Walt pressed forward relentlessly for three years. The key to the film, as far as Disney was concerned was the evil queen/peddler woman. Snow White was sympathetic, the dwarfs were humorous, but the villain had to be horrifying to keep the audience interested. The vocals were performed by a renowned stage actress named Lucille Laverne. Her haughty voice was a great fit as the queen, but her playing of the character after she transformed into the old crone had some at the studio worried. "Wait, I have an idea", she said. She left the recording room for a few minutes then returned. "I'm ready". She delivered her lines in a way that chilled and thrilled the Disney staff. After she finished there was applause and she was asked what she did when she left. She smiled and said," I took my teeth out!"

Walt's calculations were correct, Snow White and Seven Dwarfs was a hit throughout the entire world in 1938 and for many years beyond, keeping audiences riveted. The only down side for Walt was that maybe the peddler woman was a little too horrifying, he was disturbed by reports from Radio City Music Hall in New York where the film was setting box office records. It turned out that every few days the theater management had to replace seats. . . due to excessive wetness.

About The Author

Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of the audiobooks "Fascinating Walt Disney" and "Tales Of Hollywood". The Saint Louis Post Dispatch says," these two elaborate productions are exceptionally entertaining." Hear realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at www.hollywoodstories.com. orgofhlly@aol.com

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Andrei Konchalovsky's expansive television mini-series production of Homer's epic poem gets off to clumsy start as he tries to squeeze the Trojan War into a mere half hour, but once the arrogant but honorable Odysseus (strikingly played by Armand Assante) and his loyal crew begin their doomed voyage home, this film turns into a fantastical adventure. Integrating often-stunning special effects with inventive art design, Konchalovsky achieves a beautiful look on a limited budget as he follows the 10-year ordeal of Odysseus from his battles with the Cyclops and the magical Circe (Bernadette Peters) to his secret homecoming and his confrontation with the treacherous Eurymachus (Eric Roberts). Isabella Rossellini appears as his spiritual guide, the goddess Athena, with Greta Scacchi as Odysseus's faithful wife and Vanessa Williams as the seductive Calypso. The rest of the cast includes Geraldine Chaplin, Jeroen Krabbé, Christopher Lee, and Irene Papas. The production was shot on location in and around the Mediterranean, making for a lush, lovely visual experience. --Sean Axmaker

Price: $9.98

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Have you noticed all the entrainment polls that are cropping up lately? Maybe you have seen them on social media sites where people vote on hot celebrities. Maybe your friend has created one and sent it to you. Maybe you have noticed them on your favorite entertainment blogs. But they are everywhere and they are an unsung form of social media.

Polls aren't typically thought of as social media, especially not entertainment polls, but they definitely are. Social media is about letting users share their own voice to whoever they want. A poll is a great thing to share, even if it just means casting a vote for a few simple options. Whenever we cast a vote we are making a statement, whether it is for president or a favorite band.

Moreover, entertainment polls often have the same social media functions we are used to. They are easy shared with others, and doing so allows us to talk about our opinion. When a user puts their answer to a poll on their favorite book as a status message they are not just encouraging others to vote on the poll--they are inviting people to discuss their own choice.

Additionally, many come with comments enabled. That means when you vote on entertainment polls you can comment directly, allowing others to know what you think about the media or celebrity in question, or even if you thought it was an unfair poll. Comments are another way to voice an opinion. Combined with polling, that's twice as much power for a person's viewpoint than a normal site.

Entertainment polls are also valuable even if you can't answer them. If you see a poll about movies you have never seen and there are two clear stand-outs, you might be more likely to check out those movies--they are clearly popular! Likewise, if a friend of yours votes on or shares a poll with you, you can see what kind of things they are interested in and make recommendations to them. It gives you another way to connect with people in social network.

As you can see, polls are a great way to share you opinion, learn others, and find out new things. In short, they function like some of the best social media out there and since they are single function, they are a lot easier to use, share, and understand. Next time you're thinking of ways to add social media to your website, you might want to consider entertainment polls--they draw in users and give them a reason to stay.

Zoe Holmes is a New York-based Midwesterner. When she's not answering entertainment polls, she's out watching things explode in movies.

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Director Herbert Ross (The Turning Point) pulled a winning movie out of this almost self-consciously archetypal tale of teenage rock rebellion. Kevin Bacon stars as a hip city kid who ends up in a Bible-belt town after his parents divorce. An ill fit for a conservative community where rock is frowned upon and dancing is forbidden, Bacon's character rallies the kids and takes on the establishment. Between a good cast really embracing the drama of Dean Pitchford's screenplay, and Ross's imaginative, highly charged way of shooting the dance numbers, you can get lost in this all-ages confection, and you won't even mind Kenny Loggins's bubbly pop. Bonuses include one of John Lithgow's best performances (a bit reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart), and Christopher Penn (who sure doesn't look the same anymore) as a good-natured hick who learns to boogie. --Tom Keogh

Price: $12.98

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Now brewing beer for almost 250 years and served in some 150 countries, Guinness Stout was founded as a family-owned brewery in Dublin, Ireland by Arthur Guinness. Not only is Guinness a top beverage in its own country, but even down in Jamaica the dreads swear by it, serve it up, and sip it down; ice cold, or at room temperature. Lots of big business has come out of 'Sir Arthur's' product, which is known the world over, and spreading...

Truthfully, many affiliations between big business and the music industry have netted fruitful endeavors for all parties involved. And now, a university-level homework assignment: see if you can use a keen eye to find a few more examples of relationships between big business, government, or social organizations with the Rap community. Chances are, there's probably some right around you; you may not have even been aware of them before. Hint: Take a good look at those motion pictures hitting the big screen. Here's an interesting scenario for you to sink your teeth into...action!

Celebrity Will Smith laughed his way straight to the bank when many Rap fans wrote "DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince" off as lame. But before 'the show' was over, Smith got the starring role on TV sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," which debuted in 1990. The show had a long successful run, and continues running in syndication. Will Smith 'the rapper' performed the theme song, while Will Smith 'the actor' made sure his Rap music homey Jazzy Jeff was also cast in some shows; but Mr. Smith did not stop there. He went on to star in movies which earned him as much as $10 million a pop. There is no need to mention his list of credits; just go to Blockbuster Video or the Internet and type in the 'search.'

Finding a need to outdo 'himself,' Smith's fee went from $10 million to 20 big ones, then from 20 large to $25 million per, before he dived into the big 'M' and 'super-sized' his life by marrying Jada Pinkett. She paved her own way as an impressive actress on shows like "A Different World," "The Cosby Show," and in blockbuster films such as "Ali," "Jason's Lyric," "Menace To Society," "Woo," "Set It Off," the "Matrix" spinoffs, "The Nutty Professor," "Scream 2," "Collateral," and who knows what else by now. I heard a rumor that the pair might have to buy a continent to use as a tax shelter. Wow - that's big enough to get on the Oprah list! Combined, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith account for about two dozen top films of the 20th and now, 21st centuries. And these films usually came with hot music soundtracks, too. This is another example of the deepening relationship between Hollywood and the Rap/Hip-Hop world. For the purpose of fun, let's call their happy union "Holly-hood." Watch out--more fun's on the way!

But hold up and wait a minute: before we dig in any further, let's pull over at a local Asian restaurant for some grub--we'll need it for our next stop. My fingers tingle from all this typing action on the laptop, sitting here in the 'time out' corner of the classroom. Where's my Dragon voice recognition program when I need it? At home parked on the desktop computer - what a bummer!

Please note that things have changed with regards to technology, folks. Not only does my voice recognition program type as I talk into a microphone, it'll read it back to me, too. When my editorial consultant Ms. Melilli (also known as the infamous 'XoxoJean') sends e-mails to a friend with a text recognition program, it recognizes her name by saying "Socks-a-Jean." I'm just happy she likes my smoked turkeys. According to information obtained from my old friend B.Brown of Bar-Red Entertainment, my confidential Author Code Name is: 'Turkey Smoker of the Stars.' His mother Ms. Lydia works for the Atlanta Convention & Visitor's Bureau. Both she and Miss Jean can keep getting the big birds too, as long as their taste buds approve of the transaction.

Data: A new development has just occurred. I heard a growl; my tummy's empty from tapping into extra neurological cells to use a special, limited resource: my natural 'superior intellect.' I guess I owe my nephew Dez a fortune for this term--his invoice may be the death of me yet!

So what's your taste buds say? Anyone that knows me will tell you I get a little grumpy when I'm hungry. Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Thai, Vietnamese; whatever you want--it'll be on me. Plus, we're about to run into a whole bunch of people, and some of them may be hungry too. I'm not feeling like sharing plates today though, hence I'm buying with my per diem money. So go ahead and keep your 'cream' (dolla-dolla bills) in your pockets.

According to our itinerary, one colorful group that is listed as being capable of running circles around the proverbial 'viper's pit' has the letters "WTC" engraved in the minds of its constituents. This could mean trouble, 'cause the paperwork says they're some kinda 'clan.' But as long as there's no "K" up in the mix, I'm good. I wonder if they look alike; you know what some people can say without meeting someone first. Maybe we can all blend in and "just get along" if we're eating some food representing the region. We'll be having hot, buttered popcorn for desert, though. (You may see where I'm going with this in a minute - I'll remind you.) Both Asia and the Far East are known for their delectable dishes and many forms of cultural stimuli. On our next stop, you'll see that cultures from the Pacific Rim have plenty of interesting offerings with regards to the consumable entertainment they produce, too.

Similar to us westerners, Asian food and entertainment go well together, just like popcorn and movies. One American network calls it "Dinner And A Movie." Lots of popular flicks include what are known as 'action movies.' Many film buffs enjoy action movies about world destruction, extra-terrestrial invasions, espionage, crooked government officials, dirty cops, gun-slinging cliques, posses, gangsters and the mafia; in short, these subjects and characters make up good thematic content for stories about extinction-level events and the underworld. Film buffs take to action films that come loaded with explosions, chase scenes, aerial shots, fight sequences, hand-to-hand-combat, and cutting-edge weapons. I know I do. Speaking of cutting-edge weapons, New York's Wu Tang Clan uses one as a logo. What appears to be a rounded, sharply bladed, boomerang/disk is actually the "W" in Wu Tang. From looking at the weapon however, I don't think I'd be likely to wake up some morning with a notion of getting cut by one of those things. Ever.

There are those 'action movie heads' who would agree that some pretty exciting films feature martial arts. Back in the 70s, we called them "Kung Fu movies." After Carl Carlton busted out with the hit song "Kung Fu Fighting," I built myself a pair of chuck sticks. But after a few displaced pops to the back of the head, I retired them. Alas, my dreams of becoming a 'Samurai Ninja Martial Arts Fighter' were shattered; but that was better than having a self-inflicted busted cranium. I went on to other things; mainly, watching martial arts movies. By the way, that minute's 'bout up. If you know the deal, you can keep on reading. If you don't know, you might want to ask somebody, get a map, or keep on reading, too. Whatever's clever!

It's no secret that cultures like the Chinese have been known for their long-standing empires. They also developed a highly disciplined way to defend their 'valuable assets' that were stored in huge, heavily protected fortresses. Martial arts gave fighters an opportunity to go mano-a-mano in sometimes brutal displays of precision and brute strength. This Spanish term is also known as hand-to-hand, head-to-head, one-on-one, and single combat.

Historic teachings show that great forces were often referred to as being god-like. Some were also referenced through vicious man-killing beasts such as lions, tigers and bears. Oh my--did you know that ancient Chinese dynasties developed many institutions or schools of thought and defense? Some were based on a mystical creature known as the dragon. One group that acknowledged "the way of the dragon" broke ground by doing it all. Setting up a great and powerful Hip-Hop dynasty along the way, they've been long known for their tight embrace on the discipline of building rock-solid empires. Pioneering Hip-Hop supergroup Wu Tang Clan has built upon their image of being an invincible clan of talented MCs and producers. Chief knob-twister RZA orchestrated the rise of an original, three-man group; an entire planetary movement followed.

Originally synergized through a nucleus composed of RZA, GZA and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, the Wu Tang Clan produced sound recordings with themes based on Hong Kong's martial arts and Samurai movies. Along with references to the Five Percent Nation, strategic moves, chess and other thematic subject matter, the influence of ancient Chinese dynasties flowed through The Clan like a river.

Soon after the original members crunk up the machine, more warriors jumped on board. The Wu Tang Clan ended up with 9 MCS, to qualify for labeling as a Hip-Hop supergroup, just on G.P. (general principle). As a producer, RZA later got a bigger break by acting in, but more importantly, composing music for the soundtrack of Forrest Whitacker's "Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai" and "Kill Bill, Volume 1." (I wonder if he can hook me up with Lucy Liu and her friend from the Crazy 88's.) These movies have some great on-location scenes, and the fighting sequences are just what the doctor ordered. To kick off 2007, Spike TV offered up some new programming content. On New Year's Eve, they unveiled "Afro Samurai," featuring Samuel L. Jackson as a 'superior fighting intellect.' The great and powerful RZA popped up once again, doing the music. This concoction totally made sense to me, by this point. If you haven't seen these visual elixirs yet, what are you waiting for, a prescription?

Originating in the Far East, martial arts flicks somehow found a home in the world of American Rap music. It's no doubt that Bruce Lee is the #1 martial artist to affect the 70s film world. Americans like Chuck "Walker, Texas Ranger" Norris, John Saxon, and Karate-chop brother Jim "Black Belt Jones" Kelly became martial arts film stars; even basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got a piece of the action in Bruce Lee's personal project, "Game Of Death." When Lee got offered crazy money to star in the first Hollywood-backed martial arts film ("Enter The Dragon"), he did what any red-blooded entrepreneur would have done: he put the brakes on his project and began production on the new movie.

It became the biggest budget film in this genre's history, and featured a young Jackie Chan as a stuntman. Bruce Lee's untimely death, however, closed out an important chapter of martial art's epic rise to fame, but Rap artists like the Wu Tang Clan used samples from "Enter The Dragon" on their debut album, opening up a whole new episode. Both of Bruce Lee's final martial arts films went on to spread the word about this growing faction of the movie and music (more simply put: entertainment) industries. Rap artists listened and responded; they would 'holla back' in their own unique, urban way.

On TV, David Carradine starred in the long-running, "Kung Fu." From Belgium, Jean Claude Van Damme made his mark in 'the arts,' too. While Jackie Chan headed into a 'funny-bone' crushing direction with comedian Chris Tucker in "Rush Hour," Jet Li got serious with Aaliyah and DMX in "Romeo Must Die" (2000). Li also teamed up again with DMX in "Cradle to the Grave" (2003). A multi-dimensional Jet Li film called "The One" blended sci-fi with martial arts. This would not be the only flick with such a combustible mixture. There's a long-awaited 2007 film featuring Jet Li and Jackie Chan now being completed. All of these urban-based action movies featured lots of martial arts moves; more were on the way.

Send requests for the conclusion of this story to me anytime.

A valedictorian and contributing author to Bernard Percy's books during elementary school, L.A. finished high school in Brooklyn, then went to L.A.City College. He graduated in 1987 from Georgia State University in Atlanta. An internship led to 10 years with CBS Records/Sony Music, where L.A. worked with almost every act, implemented sales/marketing campaigns, received numerous gold/platinum albums, awards, and traveled throughout the U.S., Canada and Jamaica to events.

As a recording studio owner, AV technician and manager for a global audiovisual company (TAVS), L.A. owns MKM Multimedia Works. In 2001 he executive-produced the Million Mom March?s Atlanta Artists Against Gun Violence compilation CD, featuring top Atlanta acts. In 2002, L.A. secured a commercial with The GAP for Arrested Development?s Baba Oje. L.A. now initiates his ?6 books in 5 years? plan.

With a vision of where he's going, L.A. works towards a goal. A quote that L.A. picked up from mentor/author/educator BernardPercy.com is: "Everything turns out right in the end - if it isn't right, it isn't the end."

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What is art and entertainment?

Art and Entertainment is a medium which is liked by say by every person both are two sides of the same coin. The only difference it the materials for entertainment have a popular or mass appeal, it can be understood easily by commoners whereas art involves are fined sense of understanding. The, difference between Van Gogh's paintings and a James Bond movie. One is art the other is entertainment. But the purpose of both is relaxing the mind and generating a pleasurable feeling.

Difference between art and entertainment.

Art includes paintings, poems, sculptures, installations in studios and museums. Entertainment includes Hollywood movies, television serials, theaters, circuses.

Nowadays artists are trying to do more of interactive art so that there creation can reach to all, poems are taking the form of rap songs. Contemporary art is very much interfused with everyday issues, the problems or situations a person goes through. Aphrodite is a classical Greek art. Monalisa by Leonardo da Vinci is renaissance art done on poplar paper and oil paint. Pablo Picasso and Vincent Vangogh contribute to modern art. Postmodern art or contemporary art consists of Installations, Intermedia, Multimedia and Conceptual art. Brian Andreas, Allan Graham are artist of this age.

Postmodern Installations.

Installation art is a very new concept in postmodern art it is space specific three dimensional designed to transform the perception of space. Marcell Duchamp, Kurt Schwiters are father of installation arts. The Three dimensional affect of this art makes them unique from other art forms.

Passing phases of entertainment.

Man indulged in entertainment with stage plays the topics of Kings and queens, medieval dramas and folk songs. Entertainment resources shows the ways and nature of entertainment changed with time according to the changing demand of the public. Movies gain popularity with the invention of the camera. First was the silent era, only moving pictures without sound. The invention of sound recorder brought in the Talkies, movies with sound and dialogue. Latest technology is High Definition 3D movie Avatar. Entertainment is no longer limited to movies but have moved on to video gaming, internet gaming. Entertainment is an institution itself and has a business market of its own which is expanding rapidly.

Caren Grant is an expert on art and entertainment. If you are interested on art and entertainment, please consult entertainment blogs ( http://www.lightflames.com/ ) for more information.

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There are so many uses of art in our lives. In everything that we do, we incorporate it. It does not matter whether it is inspired by the many concepts of the past or if it has been altered by the ideas of today; still it does not fail to serve its many purposed in our lives. It is not even discriminating. The works of Van Gogh and Picasso are not the only statements of magnificence. It goes beyond formal and definite. Even the vague, the strange, the unique and the defaced can be an accepted work in this field.

If you want to see the many uses of art, check out below and see if they have serve the same way in your daily living.

Entertainment

Because of it, different genres of music, plays, movies and other forms of entertainment has been created. People have wider options in selecting their forms of amusement and divert their attention other than working their obligations and responsibilities. They can also take form of hobbies and even the ones who are not masters of it can become an artist themselves.

Beauty

It is no doubt that this has created places very pleasing to eyes. It has made a home out of a house. Plain looking walls have been given a new look as simple as using various decorative wall art. A simple car can turn out flashy and cool with the use of decals. An office can loose the dullness with the use of colors and unique furniture. Plain looking faces have become elegant and sophisticated. All of this is feasible because of its application.

Discipline

We do things in a certain way because we follow a structure. This structure was not done in a heartbeat rather it was well thought of with rationale and principles behind. The good thing about it is that we can deviate it and inject your own personal perspective. Just as long as it does not violate any rules or ethical guidelines, it is an acceptable practice. Soon enough if it is effective, it can be integrated to the guidelines of the activity and it will be standardized.

Job

Some people live their daily lives by making artworks. They automatically become entrepreneurs when they start selling their works. Of course, it is not an easy job as it can take a lot of time to get your self-renowned to the whole world. However, if you have good concepts and ideas, it is impossible that you will not be recognized. It does not matter if you are just an artist for making decorative wall art or pottery, when you have quality and wonderful goods to offer, people will come looking for you.

Could you imagine the world without art? Life could be so dull and boring. The sad and the gloomy become gloomier without colors. We can do our jobs but without it, we can become puppets of the structure established. Self-expression is hard without it. Emotions cannot be released other than speaking it out. Life could not be better without it.

This article was written by Alyssa Davis and provided by Metal-Wall-Art.com, a site featuring unique candle wall sconces and wall decoration.

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Art is an umbrella term that covers many different creative disciplines. No longer is the idea of art restricted to the canvas and oil paints of masters long past, but it is an integral part of our everyday lives. Art is a large part of graphic design, it is utilized in animation, for web design, in films for movie sets and even in photography and audio engineering.

Creative design logos that we see on everyday products are taken for granted by most consumers, yet it is thanks to artistic individuals that we are able to associate name brands with these products. Branding is big business in today's global market and a well recognised logo can make all the difference in the success or failure of a product.

Animation is moving art and takes great skill to accomplish. Artists spend thousands of hours creating not only the characters used in today's animated films, but they are also responsible for every detail visible in the individual frame. For every hour of animated movie, thousands of hours have been spent creating the visual feast that draws crowds to the cinemas.

Web design is a booming global industry as it is a method for businesses to effortlessly advertise their service or product. Talented web designers use all the artistic knowledge at their disposal in combination with vast technical expertise to create the perfect web page to deliver your message.

In the movie industry art and artists are used extensively to assist with set design, for the creation of everything from movie posters to the graphic designers and studio artists who work on creating props for the film sets. The creative industry is closely interwoven with the film industry and the work of talented creative people can be seen in every aspect of the creation process.

The work is also evident in the advertising industry in all media, from magazines to television advertisements. Another fantastic medium for showcasing the diversity of art is photography. Thanks to advancement in photographic technology, wonderful and interesting effects can be created with lighting effects and digital manipulation. Photography has become an art form in its own right, yet it can still be used to depict creative images with a unique flair.

Using color effects and tints and a range of innovative programs used to manipulate digital imagery has made photography a diverse creative medium. It is easily accessible by creative individuals who can range from housewives to business professionals to cover a wide range of media.

Whether your intent is to capture the memories of your child's birthday party or to create a powerful advertising campaign, photography is a wonderful medium for this purpose. The amateur photographer can easily hone their skills by attending photographic training classes that will teach a variety of interesting techniques for improving your skill with a camera.

No matter where you turn, you will find yourself exposed to the beauty that is art. Whether this is in the form of a beautiful painting, a cleverly put together television advertisement or an image in a glossy magazine, art is here to stay.

Ready to channel your inner creativity? Enroll in art schools for film studies or one of the many fine art schools in Canada. The career you dreamed of may be just around the corner.

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There are lots of means to integrate recycling with arts and crafts and have hours of entertainment and perhaps make a small number of holiday gifts.

One of my favorite crafts is to decoupage. The materials needed to do this are simply old magazines, a couple of scissors, some white glue and something to decorate. I've seen people use this art medium on every sort of article from wooden boxes up to queen bed head planks.

Once you've the item (or items) you need to decorate you can put them aside and begin flipping through the magazines for pictures and words that jump up at you or help convey something you would like to say. The fantastic thing about this craft is that there is no "wrong" way to do it. Some people will use an entire advertisement including the setting in the ad and others may cut out the individual or object from the background. The belief is to have an article of a page to be layered upon the object to be decorated.

After you have plenty pictures and words remove you can begin to decorate your object. The ideas and creative imagination, from this point on, are endless! Use all cut outs of flowers and birds to decorate your job, ready every picture of a dog and see how many you can discover and use all of them to decorate your recycled project!

Arrange your clippings onto the surface of whatever it is you're going to reuse or decorate and put a layer of glue over the total project. Using white glue or Mod Podge will provide you with a plain coating over your art and when that layer is dry, coat it again, and so on. The coatings of glue will protect your artwork and if you use a gloss-finish, it will have a nice shine to it, too.

I started making "Blessings Boxes" for the Christmas gifts I would give to my children's instructors. I would reuse an old shoe box, and cover the whole beyond it with remove pictures from magazines. The principle objective was to cover up the shoe brand on the outside the box with the pictures and words.

The belief behind the "Blessings Boxes" was that throughout the year, when there was a blessing in their life, maybe a ticket stub to a baseball game or a movie shared with a buddy, birthday cards, get better cards, etc. they were to place these blessings into the box. The best part is that, during that year, when they had each day where they would feel blue or needed a grin, they knew they may always open their "Blessings Box" to be reminded of the beautiful things that have happened in their life.

These gifts were the talk of the elementary school the first year I made them and I will say that at the very beginning of annually after, my children's instructors would let me know how gorgeous they thought my creations were and (wink, wink) they would not mind getting one for themselves!

The best part is that I never spent extra money making one of those gifts! It was an achievement all attributable to being recycled materials.

Find out more about the author in:
Pet Water Fountain
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If you ask a person what comes to mind when they think about Broadway theatre, they are likely to say is goes hand in hand with images of New York City and its Theater District. New York is certainly the mecca of all things Broadway. However, many major cities and metro regions across the United States have ornate play houses that host the hottest Broadway plays. It used to be that to see quality arts you had to be in New York City, but no more. Opera, ballet, musicals, productions and the works are seen across the country, making it more accessible to fans of Broadway... and their husbands.

Yes, that's right, their husbands. To be sure, not all husbands or men are fanatically against attending Broadway plays, in fact we all enjoy it equally. It does seem, however, that stubborn men, and especially husbands, protest the most when it comes to accompanying their wives to a musical of any sort. At least, this is the stereotype or stigma that goes along with a 'macho' man. So, ladies, how can you convince, bribe, encourage or drag your man to a play and help him actually enjoy himself? Here are a few tips:

Find Some Action: Choose a drama or action infused production or play. Les Miserables is a great play with some war scenes, fighting, explosions and the works. With such intense action, he may not mind the musical aspect and in fact, he may find it adds to the experience. Ask him to think of it as the soundtrack to his favorite war movie.



Surprise Him: Make all the arrangements and include arts, entertainment and food and surprise him for the evening. Plan dinner or even a weekend getaway.



Make A Deal: Offer to do something he enjoys or give him some space to enjoy the things he loves in return for taking you out so that he sees this is a give-and-take deal.



Make It An Event: If he likes going to dinner and dancing, then get dressed up an have dinner, see the Broadway play and go dancing. Combining the evening with things you both enjoy will draw out the fun for both of you.



The More The Merrier: Invite your couple friends to join you. Your man will be more comfortable around a group of guys he knows and your gal friends will be excited to get out too.



Give A Little: The best relationships are those with two-way streets - meaning, if you're asking him to give the arts a try, make an honest effort to enjoy things he does. Perhaps this means you don a football jersey and watch a game on Sunday, but who knows, you may get in to the spirit of the game and enjoy yourself. Showing him that you are meeting him in the middle will make him want to do the same for you.

These tips are geared towards the arts but can really be applied to anything you want to get your spouse interested in. The best way to encourage someone to enjoy the arts is to do just that - encourage them with positive reinforcement and never negative or nagging words. Encourage and discover with them which plays, productions or musicals they enjoy and what parts they love the most. Was it the music, the storyline, the special affects, set, props and wardrobe - all of these are magnificent when you are experiencing them from the audience of one of America's fabulous theatres.

To learn more about arts and entertainment visit us at: http://www.royaltymart.com/category/arts-entertainment

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During a recession, people tend to cut back on their arts and entertainment spending. But the arts are life-enriching, and entertainment is crucial during difficult financial times. Here are some inexpensive ideas for cultural pursuits.

Films look best on the big screen. If you crave a theatrical release when it's actually released, go to matinees. Seniors can get a big discount on tickets.

More tips:

-Single-screen theaters and theaters on the edge of cities tend to charge less for tickets.

-Check out your Park & Recreation Department during the summer. Many fund free outdoor movie nights.

-If you or someone you know has projection equipment, hold a movie night in your back yard. Throw a potluck dinner and borrow some classic films from the library.

If live theater is on your list, try volunteering as an on-call usher. Training is minimal and most ushers get to see the show for free. The longer you usher, the more likely you'll get your pick of shows.

More tips:

-Local repertory companies generally charge less than bigger theatrical productions.

-Matinees and week nights are less expensive than weekends.

-Look for local theater groups that perform for free in public parks.

-Check your neighborhood library for free children's programs that include puppet shows, storytelling, and musical performances.

Large museum shows can be pricey but most every museum offers corporate-sponsored free days at least once a month. Check Web sites and do some research-it's not always readily available information. You can always call and find out, then mark every free day in your calendar and plan accordingly. This goes for children's museums and science museums too.

More tips:

-Small galleries hold openings for new artists' work and group shows. Get on their email lists.

-Street fairs will have on average, at least two booths full of decent art, and free craft demonstrations, which are entertaining.

-Volunteer as a docent in your favorite gallery or museum. You'll learn about art, the local art scene, and possibly get invitations to museum events.

A final tip: Your local college or university offers affordable arts programs and gallery shows.

Daniel has personally found that spending some money on entertainment has been crucial to his sanity under the dour economic climate. But when he's not out with his family at the movies or other events, he's writing car tire reviews on his blog about the Goodyear assurance tripletred where you can find his latest review on the Goodyear assurance.

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There are times that due to our busy schedules and different careers in life, we tend to forget to spend some time with our family which is really bad. We must always remember that in order to get closer and have a better relationship with our dearest love ones, we must able to give some of our time to them. Lets all enjoy time together as long as we can still have it. It is very essential because we can never bring back the time that we've already lost so no matter how busy you are, you are still obliged to find ways on how you can let them feel your love for them. By simply meeting them and spend quality time doing activities together, you can able to make them happy. And one thing that you can do to make your time with your family the best ones is through arts and entertainment.

The most popular way of spending time with family is to stay at home and enjoy each and everyone's presence. You can choose some good movies and go with a movie marathon with your siblings. In this way, you can also check them out and ask them what's going onto their lives. You can open up with them while watching your favorite movies of all time. You can scream, be scared, laugh and be happy together. Just make sure that in choosing the movies go for those that everyone from the oldest to the youngest ones will surely enjoy. You can also ask your parents to make some delicious foods for a more exciting movie experience.

The next activity that you can try out is to sing and dance with your family. Do you still remember how happy it was when all of you used to sing and dance with your favorite song in the karaoke machine? Do you want to see your parents sing their favorite love song again? If yes, then making a simple and small song and dance party in the comfort of your own home is the best way to spend your free time. You can ask your siblings to sing and dance under Jason Derulo album songs and the one that will make the best performance will get a prize from you. You can also showcase your talents to them by singing your own favorite Jason Derulo songs and inspire them by letting them see your glamorous song and dance number.

If your family is a creative one, then maybe you can also pursue with some art crafts that you can all do together. Choose those that can be displayed in your house so all of you will always see that wonderful moments of spending time with your family. This activity will surely make the family even closer and will also help build and develop your skills and abilities in the line of arts. Just make sure that the young ones will be guided accordingly so we can avoid them from being hurt or from any accident that may happen.

Viola Landers is a music enthusiast who enjoys writing about Jason Derulo wallpaper and Jason Derulo albums as well as other related subjects.

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Add these cool accent lights to your party pad. Available in blue or red, these beacons emit a bright directional rotating light just like on police and emergency wehicles. Makes a cool effect for nearly any party. The light measures 7" and features a 5 f

Click here to buy from Amazon

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A career decision requires a lot of research and contemplation. You need to assess yourself and your interests in order to make the right decision, as there are many career options available today. However, if you are creative and you have a desire for a strong career option then you may give the entertainment industry a try. People have always amused themselves through various forms of entertainment and this industry has been growing exponentially. In the United States, this industry has been more about 'industry' and less about 'entertainment', as any project is a combined effort of a large number of people.

The entertainment industry holds opportunities for everyone. There are many career choices available in this industry, which offer an excellent chance to satisfy your creative urge and put your talent to optimum use. There are options for people who want to work behind the scene as well as those who want to be in the limelight. You can take part in creating good entertainment in any way you want, as there is place for all. The only factor you need to have is a creative bent of mind and a strong inclination towards art and entertainment.

Television And Movies: If you always dreamed of becoming popular and being in the limelight, then you can try for a career in this industry. If you have a penchant for acting, you can act in movies or television, or you can also work behind the scenes. You can become a part of the make up and costume department if you are interested in dress designing and make up. You can also work on building movie sets or writing scripts for movies and television.

Music: This industry can help you in making a promising career in this field. All you need is talent along with a passion for music. You can either work for distribution or production. On the production side, you can work as a music director, playback singer, songwriter and composer, musician or technician. Production is for those who want to be involved directly in making good music. You can also work for music stores and radio stations in the distribution of music.

Designing And Animation: A creative hand and interest in designing can open up a career option for you in the entertainment industry. So if you are interested in creating characters through animation, computer graphics and web designing then a good opportunity is waiting for you in this industry. A good knowledge of digital graphic packages like Flash and Photoshop may land you in an animation studio where you can make the most of your creativity.

Dance: Dance and music are inseparable part of entertainment. This field has a lot of appeal and importance in this industry. You can be a choreographer or a back up dancer for any music group. If you have an interest in making costumes and equipment related to dance, then you can also make a career out here.

Print Media And Books: The opportunities that are available in print media are diverse. You can aspire to be a publisher, writer, reviewer or editor. The process that is involved in this media ranges from writing to publishing to printing and reviewing. Each process needs people who are not only talented but people who are creative and can deliver their best.

So if you thought that the entertainment industry had a place just for people who are vying for the limelight then it is advisable that you give it a second thought. This industry not only provides you career options directly related to entertainment business, but also presents many indirect opportunities as well. You just need to have talent and dedication.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

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The very first comic book was born in the United States and is often said to have been officially launched by 'Famous Funnies' in 1934. What followed was mass production of a wide assortment of comic books that eventually led comic book historians to categorize them according to their birthday. They are either part of the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, or Modern Age.

Today, comic books are still very popular and their acclamation is due, in great part, to the talented artists who create them. The amazing imagery found in the pages of a book triggers the reader's imagination, where fantasy worlds exist.

How is a Comic Book Made?

Much detail is required to create a good comic book that will attract readers, especially in our modern world of movies, DVD's, televisions and computers.

Before any of the characters or imagery can be drawn, the artist must put his or her head together with the writer. The first thing on the agenda is to discuss and develop a story line that will captivate readers. Next, characters are created, situations are devised, and scenery is established, so on, so forth. The writer's script must be meticulously followed by the artist in order to please everyone involved.

The artist proceeds to draw a rough sketch in pencil of each comic book page, and uses these rough drafts as a guideline for his art work. At this stage of development, all the necessary elements, such as narrative, sound effects, and dialogue balloons, are included in a different shade from the main illustrations so that they are distinguishable.

At the time when the finished pencil art work is presented to the editor, it may be required that the artist make changes to the drawings to further ensure that the imagery matches the script. After the editor's final approval, the drawings are enlarged and sent to the inker, whose role is vital to comic book art.

The inker is responsible for introducing shadows, adding special effects, separating the foreground from the background, and carrying out several other tricky tasks. The final result will show the sound effects, dialogue, and narrative boxes as they should be, in their own unique fonts and style.

When the inker's work is done, the copy of the comic book is sent to the colorist whose job is to find the perfect shade of every color for every character, as well as every detail, in the comic book's imagery. A computer is used in order to save all the color data on file for future comic books of the same series. A proof copy of the finished product is printed and forwarded for final review.

Following approval, the comic book is sent to print. The pages are placed in the correct order, printed, cut, piled, folded, and stapled. Millions of copies can then be shipped out to stores all over the world!

Comic books have definitely made an enormous impact on popular culture in recent years. A significant number of characters have jumped from the page to the big screen. Prominent figures such as the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Transformers, Watchmen, G.I. Joe, Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, and other superheroes, whose mission is to save the world, have delighted movie-lovers, young and old alike.

Many films portraying comic book characters have been incredibly successful at the box office, but it is important to acknowledge the comic book artists who originally created these memorable characters. Without them, the super heroes that people have grown to love would never have existed.

Lucky for us, skillful artists are still hard at work producing new art that will entertain avid readers and movie-goers, who love to escape to an imaginary world.

Art Historian, Donovan Gauvreau lectures about art therapy with a focus on creativity development. He believes we can learn from the great masters in art to communicate ideas and feelings through painting. He provides content to Aaron Art Prints to educate and inspire people to take a glimpse into an artist's life to better understand the meaning behind their work.

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The very first comic book was born in the United States and is often said to have been officially launched by 'Famous Funnies' in 1934. What followed was mass production of a wide assortment of comic books that eventually led comic book historians to categorize them according to their birthday. They are either part of the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, or Modern Age.

Today, comic books are still very popular and their acclamation is due, in great part, to the talented artists who create them. The amazing imagery found in the pages of a book triggers the reader's imagination, where fantasy worlds exist.

How is a Comic Book Made?

Much detail is required to create a good comic book that will attract readers, especially in our modern world of movies, DVD's, televisions and computers.

Before any of the characters or imagery can be drawn, the artist must put his or her head together with the writer. The first thing on the agenda is to discuss and develop a story line that will captivate readers. Next, characters are created, situations are devised, and scenery is established, so on, so forth. The writer's script must be meticulously followed by the artist in order to please everyone involved.

The artist proceeds to draw a rough sketch in pencil of each comic book page, and uses these rough drafts as a guideline for his art work. At this stage of development, all the necessary elements, such as narrative, sound effects, and dialogue balloons, are included in a different shade from the main illustrations so that they are distinguishable.

At the time when the finished pencil art work is presented to the editor, it may be required that the artist make changes to the drawings to further ensure that the imagery matches the script. After the editor's final approval, the drawings are enlarged and sent to the inker, whose role is vital to comic book art.

The inker is responsible for introducing shadows, adding special effects, separating the foreground from the background, and carrying out several other tricky tasks. The final result will show the sound effects, dialogue, and narrative boxes as they should be, in their own unique fonts and style.

When the inker's work is done, the copy of the comic book is sent to the colorist whose job is to find the perfect shade of every color for every character, as well as every detail, in the comic book's imagery. A computer is used in order to save all the color data on file for future comic books of the same series. A proof copy of the finished product is printed and forwarded for final review.

Following approval, the comic book is sent to print. The pages are placed in the correct order, printed, cut, piled, folded, and stapled. Millions of copies can then be shipped out to stores all over the world!

Comic books have definitely made an enormous impact on popular culture in recent years. A significant number of characters have jumped from the page to the big screen. Prominent figures such as the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Transformers, Watchmen, G.I. Joe, Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, and other superheroes, whose mission is to save the world, have delighted movie-lovers, young and old alike.

Many films portraying comic book characters have been incredibly successful at the box office, but it is important to acknowledge the comic book artists who originally created these memorable characters. Without them, the super heroes that people have grown to love would never have existed.

Lucky for us, skillful artists are still hard at work producing new art that will entertain avid readers and movie-goers, who love to escape to an imaginary world.

Art Historian, Donovan Gauvreau lectures about art therapy with a focus on creativity development. He believes we can learn from the great masters in art to communicate ideas and feelings through painting. He provides content to Aaron Art Prints to educate and inspire people to take a glimpse into an artist's life to better understand the meaning behind their work.

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From its spectacular New Year's fireworks to its stunning harbour setting, Sydney is truly one of the world's most attractive cities and it's no wonder that Sydney has long been a popular destination for travellers in Australasia and beyond. Whether you're keen to enjoy the warm weather 'down under' when it's winter in the UK, or if you simply want to make a getaway during your summer holidays, Sydney offers a variety of arts, entertainment and sports events to cater for every tourist's taste.

As Australia's largest city, Sydney offers a wide range of cultural attractions. The most visited parts of the city are, of course, its most iconic landmarks: the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. However, Sydney holds an array of other popular attractions that should not be overlooked if you're visiting the city. Sydney Tower, for example, is the city's tallest free-standing structure at 305 metres high, and its observation deck offers visitors staggering views across the city.

Furthermore, Sydney has a dedicated artistic tradition; a range of Australia's best artistic companies hail from the city, including Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Dance Company and Sydney Theatre Company. Sydney is also famous for its distinct gay community, which centres on Oxford Street and plays host to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras every year.

In fact, the Mardi Gras is only one of Sydney's numerous annual festivals. Every January, the city stages the Sydney Festival, which has been Australia's largest and most popular cultural festival since its inception in 1976. Its annual programme includes over 50 free events which span across a range of genres: from classical and contemporary music to dance, drama, circus events and public lectures. Attracting around 1.5 million people every year, the Sydney Festival truly captures the spirit of what makes Sydney such a great city to visit.

Sydney is also home to the Sydney Film Festival; moreover, since the opening of Fox Studios in Sydney in 1998, the city has become steadily more prevalent on cinema screens around the world. Famous movies that have been filmed in the city include Mission Impossible II, The Matrix, Moulin Rouge and the last two instalments of the Star Wars franchise.

Travellers hoping to see something of Australia's history while in Sydney will not be disappointed with the variety of museums in the city. The biggest are the Australian Museum (a centre for natural history and anthropology), the Powerhouse Museum, which showcases exhibits on science, technology and design, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

If you live in Britain, you're sure to be able to find plenty of flights to Sydney on a daily basis throughout the year. So whether you're keen to enjoy the warm weather 'down under' when its winter in the UK, or simply want to take a break to the Emerald City during your summer holidays, you'll always be able to find a suitable way to travel to Sydney.

Martin McAllister is a freelance online journalist. He lives in Scotland.

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People from throughout the world favors entertainment, as the life gets busy and hectic, entertainment is required more for the change in mood and for the refreshing of mind. Entertainment is a part of life no matter what shapes it has to every individual. People have different taste of entertainment; it varies from games to music for all age groups.

A lot of places are meant for the entertainment purpose of the people, kids have different and adults have different. Entertainment mode is also changed; it is now served in the form of packages for different age groups. Many cities are famous for their outstanding entertainment. When it comes to Internet, there is a world of entertainment and the entertainment related topics. The online games, shopping, bars, club info, music and videos are great source of entertainment. Internet if not gives entertainment but serves a lot of information regarding any type of entertainment like that of vacation planning, clubs, theatres, movies, videos, amusement parks, sports, fashion, etc that all makes the mind clean of worries and stress.

The entertainment like food, dining outside, sports, tours and trips is also a fantastic way of entertainment for this the internet gets you the utmost knowledge you need or want to know of any place, thing or activity. The entertainment article reviews of many activities that inform a lot of any entertainment source. Many people give time to themselves in their holidays or leisure time and many want to spend it with their beloved ones and sometimes entertainment counts a lot with family and friends. The entertainment article not only gives knowledge of anything but it also guides how one can spend leisure time in best entertainment.

The entertainment articles are information giving and matters a lot to the interested one. The entertainment includes reading as well; a lot of reading stuff of famous authors for novels, dramas, facts and past historical stories are all found on Internet. The entertainment articles present new stories and experience counters of people of different regions. Many people tend to learn music and other specific creative jobs like arts, sports and other things in their leisure time, for this entertainment articles are best source for guidance. Entertainment articles are all about new offers and upcoming sources of different disciplines people love to know. Entertainment means a lot to all people and it is best available on Internet by giving full familiarity of sources to its readers.

I have a huge team of content writers, providing content writing services to various companies in the world. Our services including SEO, Content Writing,Website Designing and development.

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Flair bartending, just as the name suggests, is something that is wonderful to watch. When the handsome man or beautiful woman behind the bar mixes you a drink with amazing dexterity and flamboyance you will be truly entertained, and will possibly end up enjoying your drink and evening even more. The performance is a special attraction and these skilled barkeeps are engaged precisely for their unique bartending services.

Bartending with flair is an exclusive and specialized art form or service, whereby skilled bartenders entertain guests in the most imaginative and fascinating manner. This includes the handling of easily recognizable bar tools, such as cocktail shakers or liquor bottles, in a series of moves akin, in many ways, to those of a juggler. What's equally amazing is the quality of the drink and the speed with which it is created.

The term "flair bartending" became popular among bartenders during the mid 1990's, with the advent of such movies as Cocktail and Coyote Ugly, and can be described as any trick employed by a bartender to entertain guests, while mixing their drinks. The flipping or juggling of shakers, bottles etc. are but a few of the varied techniques used by professional flair bartenders.

Some practitioners are even capable of using flammable liquors, as well as trained to perform close-up magic tricks, commonly referred to as "bar magic." Ultimately, the main objective of this service is to entertain, in a unique manner, while mixing drinks, and thereby adding value to a patron's drinking or dining experience.

Flair bartending was introduced to the world by Jerry Thomas who was popularly known as "The Professor." The "Blue Blazer" was a cocktail created by Jerry by mixing hot water streams with Scotch whisky. This happened in the 1800's and become immensely popular in those days.

It was from this beginning that this type of bartending picked up recognition and popularity. The attraction of this special skill is such that today, these professional bartenders are hot favorites at all types of parties. Bars, hotels and similar institutions use their services to launch and advertise their premises, while new products also use this as a vehicle for advertising.

Many leading distilleries and hotels have organized special bartending events with flair bartenders, to gain mileage for their products or services. So popular has this profession become today that you can find special courses and diplomas offered on the subject.

If you're planning to stopover at a bar or pub this evening, then look for one that offers professional flair bartending. Yes, you do need that refreshing drink, don't you? If you have the time for a couple drinks and some entertainment, then why not enjoy some awesome, visual entertainment that flair bartenders offer. For free!!

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On recent trip to Fort Lauderdale a friend and I were really impressed with how the city has grown up. When we were younger we used to come down here for Spring Break and really enjoyed the area; an area that is now quite cultural but still fun.

We've always liked the Fort Lauderdale area because its tropical climate makes it warm in summer and the winters are so mild that many of our friends from up north come down for a visit too. The Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport is a great place for friends and family who are visiting South Florida to fly into and be conveniently picked up. One of the world's busiest cruise departure ports, Port Everglades, is just miles away from the airport. This is convenient for the four million cruise passengers that pass through each year to get to the ships that will take them all over the Caribbean, Europe and the rest of the world.

A great day trip if you're spending some time in the area is the Everglades National Park. The Everglades is pretty much a swamp that has many birds and animals living in it. Its really beautiful and a great place to take an air boat ride especially if you've never been on an air boat before.

My friend and I stayed in Fort Lauderdale and decided to go down to Las Olas Blvd to the Riverwalk area. This is the Art and Entertainment district and also where the Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located. We didn't want to see a play or modern dance recital but we did go to the Sunrise Cinemas. This is a great place to see a movie with a unique twist. After the latest blockbuster, or Indy film, you can go relax in the beer and wine bar in the lobby and discuss what you've just seen, which we did with some people whose table we asked to share, it was crowded, they were gracious and we made new friends.

The next day we went back to Riverwalk to catch a boat tour of the area. You see, Fort Lauderdale is known as the "Venice of America" because it's crisscrossed by 300 miles of navigable waterways. We went up and down the canals looking at all the magnificent architecture of the homes in the area and all the yachts. So to say that it's great area if you love the water is an understatement. If you own a yacht or any kind of boat, which many people here do, it's a perfect place to go sailing either on the intracoastal or, as we did, through the canals.

Every year, usually in the fall, Fort Lauderdale has this great boat show called the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. It's is the largest in water boat show in the world and shows off over three billion dollars worth of boats, yachts and super yachts as well as electronics, engines and thousands of boating accessories. The Boat Show occupies more than three million square feet of space, both on land and in water, but don't worry they provide a network of water taxis, riverboats and bus shuttles to help people get around. Maybe we'll came back for that, it sounds like fun.

The next day we decided to just relax and go to the beach. The Fort Lauderdale area has 23 miles of beautiful beaches so we knew we'd find one we liked.These are some of the ones we visited. Deerfield Beach is a cove beach and is great for a calm quiet day at the beach. Then there's Hillsboro Beach that has the Hillsboro Lighthouse. This is the perfect beach to sit on and watch all the yachts and other boats come in because it's right at the inlet. Pompano Beach was named for the Pompano fish found in the area, every year they host the Pompano Seafood festival and a Fishing Rodeo. There is a bend in the Gulf Stream here that makes this some of the warmest, clearest water in South Florida. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is one of the only places in Florida where the three-tier natural coral reef system is close enough to the beach for you to swim out and go snorkeling or diving which we did, it was spectacular.

Fort Lauderdale is a great place to start a cruise vacation or spend a few days as we did. You can enjoy the arts, the beaches or come down for a boat show or festival; shop or sight see and enjoy some of our fabulous Florida seafood. Fort Lauderdale has many options of things to do and warm sunny weather, almost always, to do them in.

Port Everglades is world's largest and embarks more cruise passengers than any other Florida cruise port. Cruising from Port Everglades will take you to more destinations in the Caribbean than ever. Fort Lauderdale is a destination in itself with miles of beaches and plenty of activities to keep you busy.

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Our Latest addition to the GrahamGannon Line of quality custom home entertainment products is the VibrantMedia "all in One" Portable Theater Projector with Built in DVD Player! Great for Families, as it's perfect for the home theater room or even better anywhere you wish to project to because you can take it with you nice and easy! No more bored kids as they will now be Thrilled while they watch their favorite movies or play their favorite games on the "big Screen" as you relax! As Always 2-5 day Express Delivery is provided free of charge through our manufacture, via DHL Express. Tracking numbers are always provided within 24 hours and we are always here for your support needs!

 

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Nearly everyone enjoys the different types of entertainment, and some people enjoy even more being entertainers. They want to become actors, comedians, dancers, singers. We used to go inside theatres after a hard day's work to relax and see our favorite plays. But only in the last hundred years have we been able to record sound and pictures and to broadcast them through air. These improvements have brought fun and entertainment to every corner of the world and into most of our homes.

Technology has indeed made it possible for us to see entertainment in a new light. For one, technology has made it also possible for us to store our memories. Actors and singers long dead seem to come to life again every time their films or records are played. We can store a seemingly countless number of these records and films in CDs, hard drives and other storing devices like our computer. This makes it possible for us to entertain ourselves almost anywhere- at home, at the office, at the park, the bus; as long as we bring our devices with us. One can actually live without TV these days as long as one has a computer device and internet connection.

The world of entertainment has grown tremendously, and it can teach us as well as entertain us. Today, broadcasting is the most important form of popular entertainment. But now it is challenged by still newer inventions. Video playback and recording equipments make it possible for home viewers to buy or record their favorite shows. Many classic movies are already available for home viewing. This new equipment may encourage many viewers to spend fewer hours watching network offerings of situation comedies and action dramas. And now, we can record, transfer, and produce our own videos using cellular phones.

At the same time, the internet has revolutionized viewing habits in another way. The internet provides information on a lot of sources for movies, music, and other forms of entertainment. With internet connection, people can bring programs directly into their computer by doing downloads and many of these downloads are offered for free. Not only does it provide entertainment but we can even do some transactions like when you want to buy stun guns online.

The internet offer entertainment on almost all particular interests- music, news, and special information such as stock markets, weather, and social networking. These sources are made available to us faster than ever, as fast as the stun gun effects. ?We can update on news even before they get broadcasted on TV through the different websites on the internet.

Never in recorded history have Entertainment and arts been so important in the lives of so many people. Modern inventions such as the internet have put nearly every person within reach of music and drama all day, every day, at home, and away from home. The internet has also made it possible for people not just become viewers but also the performers themselves as they are able to upload their own videos on different sites. The future of entertainment and arts is taking shape through technology and the people themselves.

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