The French Revolution

The French Revolution (1788-1789) was a time of major upheaval in France and shaped the physical and social landscape of France today. It caused a change to the physical landscape of France in that many buildings were destroyed during the battles and many people fought for their country and, in the end, many died for it too. After the events of this revolution France would never be the same again.

Because of this revolution the ruling monarchy of France collapsed within three years and France epically transformed its social order and the principles of equality, citizenship and inalienable rights came into focus and shaped the landscapes of France we see today, not all of these landscapes of course were physical.

For more information on the French Revolution visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution

The French Revolution was a pivotal moment for France and, in fact, the rest of the world and this issue was drawn back into my attention due to the upcoming musical-movie I eagerly await entitled Les Miserables which is a movie based on the Musical based on the famous book by Victor Hugo (whose credits also include The Hunchback of Notre Dam and many other famous French classics).

I eagerly await this movie to be released in Australia on Boxing Day wheras others get to enjoy it on Christmas Day!!! It features many great actors, live singing (where the actors sing while filming rather than lip-syncing to a previously recorded track), AUSTRALIAN ACTORS, great sets and wide acclaim. I hope it lives up to its name and who knows, if I see it I may make a post about it. Merry Christmas everyone (for it is Christmas Eve) and I wish you a happy and safe festive season and New Year!

Visit the official Les Miserables websit for more information specific to where you are: http://www.lesmiserablesfilm.com

Merry Christmas

VIVA LA FRANCE

Divergent

In the lead up to Christmas when I am waiting for new books under the tree I often read over some older books that I found interesting. Somehow in this hectic time of year (Family Christmas of 19 people at our place this christmas and mum stresses at the best of time, lots of work!!! OCD Mother!) I have found time to do this while reading my school set texts (most likely these will appear on this blog at a later time) and while getting towards the end of the above book, Divergent by Veronica Roth, I found a section that reminded me of the focus of this scrapbook blog: The Imaginative Landscape.

For a synapsis of this book click the following link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent

The part I found was when Beatrice Prior, the protagonist of the series, is training to become a Dauntless and the final part of initiation is to get through what is called a Fear Landscape which is a simulation program via an injection in which the person experiences every one of their darkest fears and they must overcome it. This Fear Landscape reminded me of the Imaginative Landscape as it is a place created entirely in the person's mind and somehow the leaders of Dauntless who watch their progress can see what is going on. Don't ask me how, only the Erudite truly know. So this Fear Landscape can sort of be categorised as a psychological landscape but not entirely as the person is in a real room and people can see what is going on via a screen but in a way it is an Imaginative Landscape that a person wishing to become a true Dauntless member must go through and only those able to complete it in the fastest times will be allowed to call themselves Dauntless, the other become Factionless.

I remember referring to this text in my Exam response about Identity and Belonging as it is a great text you can find in any bookstore that is a great stocking filler.

A paper back version is now available on Amazon for just $10 (exludes P&H):

http://www.amazon.com/Divergent-Book-1-Veronica-Roth/dp/0062024035/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356238142&sr=8-1&keywords=Divergent

It only costs $7 for this book on eReaders so why not get it?

http://www.amazon.com/Divergent-ebook/dp/B004CFA9RS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356238142&sr=8-2&keywords=Divergent

The sequel, Insurgent, is now available as well on Amazon for very reasonable prices:

Paper-back: http://www.amazon.com/Insurgent-Collectors-Divergent-Veronica-Roth/dp/0062234935/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356238292&sr=8-1&keywords=Insurgent

eReader: http://www.amazon.com/Insurgent-Divergent-ebook/dp/B00655U3WE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356238314&sr=8-2&keywords=Insurgent

Why not just purchase the whole box set for that special someone? Now only $21 (excl. P&H)

http://www.amazon.com/Divergent-Series-Box-Veronica-Roth/dp/0062234927/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1356238314&sr=8-3&keywords=Insurgent

2012

December 21st 2012 was meant to be the end of the world yet I am still here creating this blog post. I know that blogspot shows I posted this on the 21st of December around 5pm this isn't the case. In Australia it is currently 12pm on the 22nd of December 2012. The world did not end despite the misinterpretation of the Mayan Calendar and the belief in a prophecy by Nostradamus. People created a psychological landscape in which they believed the world would end. The Mayan Calendar merely ran out of space and why should we trust the prophecies of a man living a long time ago before all the advances we glory in today?

Many people believed the world would end on the 21st of December 2012 and in their pyschological landscapes such a belief flourished and people were literally taking bets on how the world would end. Ideas ranged from a reasonable possibility of a solar flare while there were those near impossible beliefs of a Zombie Apocalypse. You would think people would have learnt from the Y2K incident to not buy into the mass hysteria of an Apocalypse that might happen. That was 12 years ago and already our psychological landscapes have blocked out this occurrence and replaced it with the hysteria of the end of the world.

So as I look out the window in my home in Australia and write this post on the 22nd of December 2012 I urge people to remember this false apocalypse next time people buy into Nostradamus or the Mayans. They lived in an entirely different time and maybe if our world had not developed there may have been an apocalypse but now there is not. Also, with all our technology in space and around the world be sure to know that when the end is coming you will know because technology would spot the signs before us. As always, look towards a brighter future and don't dwell on what might have been. Especially if what might have been was an Apocalypse.

Welcome to Luke's Holiday Scrapbook!

This Holiday Scrapbook was created as part of a holiday assignment for Year 9 2012 going into Year 10 2013 focusing on the Imaginative Landscape. In it we had to include at least 3 Texts and Films, 3 Historical and 3 Political entries. This could be a newspaper article or picture which needed to be accompanied by a short passage relating it to the Imaginative Landscape. I hope you enjoy my work and be sure to comment or follow if you have any queries or want to see more! Just log into blogger using your google account (incl. Youtube) or create your own and get started!