The article Popular [Mis]conceptions of Medieval Warfare by Peter Burkholder argues that social stereotypes of medieval warfare result in common misconceptions of what took place during the Middle Ages. Burkholder explains that the entertainment industry perpetuates misconceptions about medieval warfare through inaccurate portrayals in various media. This thesis is further developed in the article through a variety of observations about the correlation between entertainment industries and historical values. The point of the reading is to expose readers to how the entertainment industry misconstrues accounts of medieval warfare by sensationalizing the details of entertainment values. In the article Crusading Warfare and Its Adaptation to Eastern …show more content…
Conditions in the Twelfth Century the author discusses how countries during the twelfth century, specifically in the Middle East and Europe developed their warfare and military tactics. The author also proposes ideas on why the countries developed as they did. This piece was written to inform readers about how crusading countries functioned during wartime and providing a more thorough understanding of war tactics during the twelfth century. This can be seen through different detailed paragraphs comparing differing ‘military cultures’ that also explain the various military tactics employed by each country, and the role these tactics played in crusading warfare. An examination of the article Popular [Mis]conceptions of Medieval Warfare reveals that the author Peter Burkholder wrote this piece as a scholarly monograph. Burkholder is an assistant history professor at Fairleigh Dickson University in Madison, New Jersey. The genre of this article can be seen with how the article is drafted. The piece is composed of a serious of questions and answers that illustrate the correlation between entertainment industries and historical warfare by using primary sources. The article can be considered a scholarly monograph as it offers a short bibliography and section of acknowledgement of the viewers. It is also assumed in the article that the reader has prior knowledge on the topic as the text offers little explanation on medieval warfare. He approaches this article from a social history perspective. He uses primary sources, such as the song of Roland, to help readers understand how historical entertainment “often conflict with historical reality”. In particular he uses this approach to depict how entertainment industries are using history for “mass entertainment like films and video games – and perhaps [how they] should – serve a valuable role in educating the general public about medieval warfare”. This approach can benefit a reader by giving them a general idea of how social factors can conflict with reality. The article uses primary sources as a benefit to backup the presented argument. This style of approach can also disadvantage readers by narrowing down one specific issue, without offering readers a different point of view on the given topic. An analysis of the article Crusading Warfare and Its Adaptation to Eastern Conditions in the Twelfth Century reveals that this piece of historical writing is considered an academic journal. The author of the article, John France, is a Medieval history professor at the University Of Whales Swansea in the UK. It is assumed that the reader possesses a comprehensive knowledge of the crusades during the twelfth century. This is illustrated through his text. This genre is expressed in the piece through in-depth analysis of the warfare used in the twelfth century crusades. This level of detail presumes that the reader already has working background knowledge of this era. France writes from the dual perspective military history and economic history where he discusses warfare in both perspectives. The author uses a military approach when analyzing different military tactics that were used in twelfth century combat. He also compares the types of crusaders, infantry, and cavalry, and examines their use of technology in medieval warfare. His economic approach focuses more on the cost of warfare and how economics impacted the expansion of land during this time. His military and economic approaches could be beneficial for readers as they suggest more then one implication of how twelfth century warfare was constructed. France’s academic genre may not be effective for readers, in that he presumes readers have background information, limiting the audience to those who have prior knowledge of the topic. The article Popular [Mis]conceptions of Medieval Warfare by Peter Burkholder is a resourceful article that can be cited in the development of a paper topic.
This article uses the technique of scholarly questions and answers to help readers understand the context of the article. One question raised in relation to the primary source the song of Roland is, “But are such pieces of literature – medieval though they are- reliable for their military history’? This question is asked after examining the primary source. The question asked was then explained by recalling “basic methodology pertaining to the primary source”. By the article raising questions it allows the reader to think deeper into the topic by allowing them to relate prior knowledge to what is being asked, making a correlation between given information, and prior understanding of the topic. Burkholder’s also uses primary sources, which could help develop a research paper. The use of primary sources in the article strengthens the author’s arguments. Some primary sources used are the song of Roland, Paul Davis’s 100 Decisive Battles, and De Re Militari. For each primary source Burkholder breaks down particular quotes and makes arguments with relevance to the thesis. This helps readers to check the reliability of the article, and use the primary sources to better understand how the information relates to the over all thesis. Additionally, the author cites with using primary sources specific movies such as King Authur (2004) and Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers (2002), deconstructing how the two films relate directly to history and how accurate specific scenes in the movie are. One interesting technique used by the author is a critical analysis of how the entertainment industry is beneficial for history, and how it’s non-beneficial. In one interesting example Burkhodler provide three compelling reasons to illustrate how films are beneficial to an accurate appreciation of historical events. These points of view
give readers a chance to make an argument either agreeing with his points, or refuting them. For the article to be a more reliable resource in the development of a research paper Burkholder might have added in illustrations to give readers a visual context for analyses. For example the movie cover for King Arthur might have been included as a comparison to the accuracy of warfare during the time the movie takes place. Visuals would allow readers to see how movie covers either butcher or benefit the historical relevance real events taking place during the time depicted in the film. The second article Crusading Warfare and Its adaptation to Eastern Conditions in the Twelfth Century by John France, could be used as a relevant source to help develop a paper topic. This article could serve as a credible source for a paper topic as it begins by giving the readers a brief abstract of what is going to be explained further into the reading. This is beneficial because it can assist the reader to better understand the topic of the paper and can allow room to compose questions. The layout of the article could also help a reader develop a paper topic. The article is separated into subheadings such as, The Western Style of War, and Style of Warfare in the Middle East. Below each subheading is an explanation allowing readers to take this information and develop these topics into different paragraphs. A primary topic of the article is the comparison of the different styles of war, infantry and cavalry. France goes into detail on the difference between the two styles of war, and asserts that both were beneficial and also a disadvantage in twelfth century warfare. By giving the reader different perspectives to consider within the article itself, it provides balanced information from which one can make compelling arguments. Different from John France’s article Popular [Mis]conceptions of Medieval Warfare by Peter Burkholder, provides a more depth of an analysis on the warfare of that time. Both articles offer a comprehensive analysis of Calvary, and infantry warfare. Although the article assumes the reader has background information on the topic, it attempts to go deeper into reasoning and explanations on warfare. Another main topic that the article focuses on is the use of technology in medieval warfare. A component that would help develop a paper topic with this article would be if it used primary sources. If primary sources were directly included in the piece it would contribute to stronger evidence when backing up an argument. It could also give readers a better understanding of the information provided by allowing them to rely on a source of information other then the authors.
It will be the contention of this paper that much of Tolkien's unique vision was directly shaped by recurring images in the Catholic culture which shaped JRRT, and which are not shared by non-Catholics generally. The expression of these images in Lord of the Rings will then concern us.
Many people who read the poem Beowulf would probably find it hard to find similarities between the poem and life in modern America. How could one compare an ancient Anglo-Saxon culture with the sophisticated world that we are living in today? But, if we look closely, we may be able to pinpoint some parallel between the two societies. This essay will discuss the topics of warrior life, the “bad guy,” and social similarities. One might wonder how a warrior culture might be similar to our own? But if we consider American culture, we are actually still very war-like. We have a strong military system built to protect our country and the people that make it up. We are also known for going to the aid of other countries that aren’t able to defend themselves. This is very similar to the mentality of the warriors in Beowulf. Beowulf comes to the aid of Hrothgar’s falling kingdom.
Benjamin Banneker was a primarily self-educated child of a former slave who became a prominent African American renaissance man and activist during the 18th century. In 1791, Banneker wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, the aim of which was to challenge Jefferson on the topics of slavery and racism, and hopefully get him to change his opinions and eventually take further action. He called upon tone, alluding to historical events, and juxtaposing the difference between Jefferson’s own writings and actions in order to drive his point home.
with the intent of widespread entertainment, elements of comedy and other aspects of entertaining film can, at times, cloud the message and content of the documentary. An anti-war advocate, Terry Jones’ presentation of matter so closely related to strong personal sentiments can also introduce a degree of bias in the presentation and approach taken to analyzing the events detailed in the series. However, the documentary incorporates the input and analysis of several highly-regarded medieval historians, including Jonathan Riley-Smith, Suheil Zakkar, Fikret Isiltan, David Lazenby, and Christopher Tyerman. This group of historians, all highly esteemed individuals in the field, are able to offer a balanced and likely unbiased account of what they believe to be true about the
Hicks, Patrick. "War, Literature and the Arts." War, Literature and the Arts. An International Journal of the Humanitie, n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. .
In Hedges' first chapter of the book titled, "The Myth of War," he talks about how the press often shows and romanticizes certain aspects of war. In war there is a mythic reality and a sensory reality. In sensory reality, we see events for what they are. In mythic reality, we see defeats as "signposts on the road to ultimate victory" (21), Chris Hedges brings up an intriguing point that the war we are most used to seeing and hearing about (mythic war )is a war completely different than the war the soldiers and journalists experience ( sensory war), a war that hides nothing. He states, "The myth of war is essential to justify the horrible sacrifices required in war, the destruction and death of innocents. It can be formed only by denying the reality of war, by turning the lies, the manipulation, the inhumanness of war into the heroic ideal" (26). Chris Hedges tries to get the point across that in war nothing is as it seems. Through his own experiences we are a...
Film and literature are two media forms that are so closely related, that we often forget there is a distinction between them. We often just view the movie as an extension of the book because most movies are based on novels or short stories. Because we are accustomed to this sequence of production, first the novel, then the motion picture, we often find ourselves making value judgments about a movie, based upon our feelings on the novel. It is this overlapping of the creative processes that prevents us from seeing movies as distinct and separate art forms from the novels they are based on.
In this essay, I will uncover the countless insights that can be learned about the characters in Beowulf, as well as the society as a whole, based on the weapons the characters choose to use in battle. During the Anglo-Saxon time, roughly between 400 and 1066, swords were considered the most precious weapon someone could own. Although it is not certain who wrote Beowulf, and when, many people believe it was composed in the middle to end of the Anglo-Saxon period. Analyzing the different weapons, and significance of each, in Beowulf, and comparing them to the weaponry at the time, provides the readers with a great deal of insight into the society during this period. The use of weapons in Beowulf not only provides the readers with insight into
Sinclair Lewis’s novel, Babbitt, details the life of the titular character, Babbitt, who finds discontent with his life but is unable to change it. Lewis uses this character to satirize 1920s the American lifestyle by highlighting the hypocrisy and hollowness of Babbitt’s life.
...ctual roles, or adding in exciting events that revise the storyline. These changes are beneficial to producers because they engage a large audience and generate massive profits. In contrast, they do not always have a positive effect on viewers. Although they are entertaining which is an important aspect of theatre culture, they also are often misguiding. Many spectators take movies at face value, without considering that they may not exactly qualify as primary source material. Even when an historical event is fabricated to teach or enhance a moral message, it still doesn’t compensate for bending the truth. Moviegoer’s may have a positive experience and gain some skewed historical perspective, perhaps better than what they knew before the movie, but they loose out on the truth and therefore, a genuine understanding of the historical event, and its significance.
Thompson, Kristin. The Frodo franchise: The Lord of the rings and modern Hollywood. Berkeley: University of California P, 2007.
Charles Bukowski’s writing was influenced by the social, cultural, and economic ambience of the city of Los Angeles. As a result of his rough social and physical upbringing Bukowski is able to capture the reality of life by drawing on personal experience and uses themes of sex, alcohol and violence in his raw style of writing. His work speaks volumes on the ordinary lives of poor Americans, the act of writing itself, alcohol, relationships with women, and daily grind of work. While Bukowski did end up having an FBI kept a file on him as a result of his column, Notes of a Dirty Old Man, in the LA underground newspaper Open City, and his possible draft evasion, he also wrote countless poems, short stories, six novels and would eventually publish over sixty book, I have decided to focus on a single piece of his work, Love is a Dog From Hell, and three poems entitled The 6 Foot Goddess, Sandra, You and Pacific Telephone. In these poems we can see the sexual tendencies that Bukowski is known for, while also revealing his inner machismo. It is by using this poem that I will show that Charles Bukowski may have been an extremely talented writer, but he was also a very sexually oriented person that had a constant obsession with women that could never be quenched, only abated through his writing.
The legend of King Arthur has intrigued generations for over a thousand years. Over these years, this tapestry has been handed down through the hands of many gifted storytellers. Bits and pieces were taken out and replaced by new strands woven in to fabricate a slight variation of the original that’s suitable for the audience or perhaps the storyteller himself. These modifications are evident in the 1981 film of Excalibur and Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur” published in 1485. The film incorporates magical acts while religious allusions are portrayed in the text. There are several characters that appeared in one but not the other. The two versions have the same essential elements, but with some alterations. The main changes in the story plot are the events leading to the battle and the battle itself. The two versions have the same essential elements, but with some alterations.
Murray, Roxane Farrell. "The Lord of the Rings as Myth." Unpublished thesis. The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 1974.
On the surface, the poem Beowulf seems to be a simple tale of a brave hero who triumphs over three monsters and who engages in several other battles in order to preserve what is just and right. A more thorough reading, however, reveals that the epic poem is filled with events that symbolize historical and social conditions that prevailed during the European reign of the Scandinavians in the seventh century to around the ninth century, following the Danish invasion of England (Sisson 1996).