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3 Gothic Characters with a Secret (that You Don’t Know)

February 9, 2018

academia, children, criticism, economy, experience, Gothic, literature, time

Gothic works seem to be as undead as the characters parading through them. Individual… species might come and go – vampires were trendy couple of decades ago, then we had zombies – but the fact remains: Gothic and horror fiction* will remain relevant, reflecting inner human fears. Gothic characters are merely manifestations of our own fears, both personal and social.
*read my article on the differences between Gothic, horror and science fiction

In today’s article I’d like to show you a sample of just how many secrets Gothic characters might hide. Forgive my somewhat assuming title, but whereas many know of Count Dracula and some might know there is something odd (indeed queer) about his sexuality, how many could claim to know the secrets around, say, the character of Quincey Morris?

Without further delay, let’s begin our list. The Gothic characters I have picked are:

Margaret Saville, Frankenstein
Belle, A Christmas Carol
Quincey P. Morris, Dracula

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Why Are 80s Retro Items Expensive?

January 26, 2018

Society

change, comparing, economy, growing up, nostalgia, society

In my post about nostalgia I talked about the fact that we recollect not space or time, but feelings. Still, problems related to time (and space) can and do creep in. Have you notice how expensive retro items have become?

For instance, I couldn’t have imagined when I was a kid, growing up in the 80s, that items such as my Casio wristwatch, my Tomy water games, or my board games, would three decades later be worth 10 times their value. To some extent, this is something you can expect with retro or vintage items.

And yet, one would think that such should be the case with something that is either far older (say, a toy from the 1920s) or far more rare (say, a limited-edition camera). To see a simple plastic toy from the 80s, which was surely produced in substantial quantities, cost a hundred euros or more, is baffling. What could be the reason for that, why are some 80s retro items expensive?

retro items expensive — I had a similar watch in the 80s. Back then it cost peanuts. Nowadays, not exactly

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The Boiling Frog Problem

January 2, 2018

Society

action, change, economy, responsibility, science fiction, society

It is said that if you drop a frog into a pot with boiling water, it will naturally jump out, trying to escape. Conversely, if you place it in one with lukewarm water which you are heating gradually, the frog will remain there until it boils to death, oblivious of the situation. I don’t know if this is actually the case, but the boiling frog problem is a stunningly accurate metaphor for the state of affairs in the world today.

boiling frog — The Boiling Frog Problem: not Reacting to Subtle Changes

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