Silent films are by definition not character-driven but rely on the power of image alone.
In 1922, when computer-generated imagery and bluescreens were terms still undefined, German director F. W. Murnau created the first vampire movie based on Bram Stoker's "Dracula" novel. His main tool to upset the audience's stomachs; modulation between shadow and light.
"Nosferatu" is a creature lurking in the dark, making people fear that for the sudden appearance of his imposing shadow alone.
Nowadays, given that you have seen horror movies like "The Exorcist" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street", Nosferatu will probably leave you apathetic with respect to your nightmares. But, you cannot at least gasp that the sight of a terrible blood-thirsty walking dead coming out of his coffin.
"The Lady of Shalott", is a famous poem written by Lord Alfred Tennyson in 1842.The poem tells us the story of the Lady of Shalott,who lives in an island castle in a river which flows to Camelot.She has been cursed to endlessly weave a magic web and she can not look outside,directly at the world.
She can only see the world reflected through a mirror;she can only see it's shadows.
One day she sees Sir Lanchelot through the mirror and she stops weaving.She leaves the castle,gets to a boat,where she writes her name and floats to Camelot.
She dies before getting in the palace and when Lancelot sees her dead,he praizes her beauty.
There has been much analysis of the poem.It shows the contradiction between art and life;the Lady is the artist that weaves her art and is isolated by the world,which is believed is what Tennyson thought of himself.
It can also be interpreted as the rebellion of a girl who is locked in a tower , protected from real life.
Or we can even see ourselves today,waching the world through internet or tv,not facing what is real.
"Lord Arthur Saville's Crime", is a short mystery story written by Oscar Wilde(1854-1900). It's the story of Lord Arthur Saville, who gets his hand read by a chiromanist, who tells him that he will commit murder in the future. Lord Arthur, takes this profecy seriously and decides to postpone his soon to be marriage and commit murder... It's a brilliant,strange, ironic story with Wilde playing a game of fate.
From Da Vinci to Andy Warhol, famous artists all over the world have portrayed food either as still life or as part of rich dinning scenes and turned them into masterpieces.
For food can be an art of its own.
Leonardo Da Vinci, "The Last Supper"
Frans Snyders, "The Pantry"
Paul Cezanne, "Still Life with Plate of Cherries"
Abraham van Beyeren, "Stillleben mit Geflugel und Fruchten"
Pierre-August Renoir, "Luncheon of the Boating Party"
1928, horror writer W.F. Harvey creates the evil creature with the five fingernails in his book "The Beast with Five Fingers" (Project Gutenberg free copy: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15143/15143-h/15143-h.htm#Beast).
Since then it has made numerous appearances in film.
