This is the glossary for our production. Please use this information as needed in your artistic endeavors. It is in ascending alphabetical order.
Annabel Lee- A poem written by Edgar Allen Poe about Annabel Lee and her
lover that lived by the sea. Later, Poe writes that Annabel Lee is stolen away from
her lover by the jealous heavenly angels. Her lover, whose name is never revealed
in the poem, mourns his loss and buries Annabel Lee in the ocean, but never stops
loving Annabel Lee. Many literary experts think that Annabel Lee represents Poe's
actual wife who passed on after twelve years of marriage. Since Annabel Lee loved
the seaside and was buried in the ocean, and Annabel Lee in Still Life with Iris emerges
from the sea, Steven Dietz could have chosen her as a chracter name because both
Annabel Lee (in Poe's poem) and Annabel Lee (in Still Life with Iris) are searching
for their "love" through the use of the ocean. Read Edgar Allen Poe's poem here.
The Flower Iris- Irises come in many different colors, with the most popular being a beautiful deep
blue. The primary meanings of the flower are hope, faith, wisdom, courage, and admiration. In
ancient Greece, purple irises were placed at the graves of women so the goddess Iris could guide
the women to their journey after death and middle-age France used this flower as a symbol royalty
and a symbol of France. The character Iris in Still Life with Iris always is looked up to by her peers
and she has courage to stand up to Gretta and Grotto Good as she helps defeats them.
Green, Samantha. "History and Meaning of Iris." Flower Guide, 24 August, 2012.
web. 2 February, 2013. http://www.proflowers.com/guide/history-and-meaning of-iris
Iris- the Greek goddess of rainbows and a messenger for the Olympian gods. She is the daughter
of Elektra, a cloud nymph, and Thaumas, a marine-god. Iris holds the title "virgin handmaiden" of
Hera who is the beautiful wife of Zeus and Olympian goddess of women, marriage, starry heavens
and the sky. In Greek myths, Iris personifies the rainbow as a way for the Greek gods "join" and
"conciliate" with the earthly beings as she quickly appears and vanishes. It is possible that Steven
Dietz may have used the character name "Iris" because she connects Nocturno and the Land of
the Goods with poise. Also a possible reason why Dietz chose mythological stories and people is because Nocturno and the Land of the Goods is a mystical and made up place.
Atsma, Aaron J. "Iris." Theoi Project, 2010-2012. web. 2 February, 2013.
http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Iris.html
The Flower Rose- Roses have been mentioned throughout ancient and
modern history. As a symbol of beauty, wealth and love, the flower was used by
Cleopatra to allure Marc Antony. People used to use rose petals for medicines and
remedies to cure illnesses; today, society uses roses in teas. Roses also used to be
used as legal tendure in France. Steven Dietz could have used the name "rose"
to protray Iris' mother because she is very simple and loving throughout the play to
all of the characters (i.e. caring for Iris even when her memory is modified). For more information on the rose, click here.
Ladybugs- Part of the beetle family, ladybugs are also known as ladybirds or
lady beetles. They help farmers by eating other bugs that harm crops as well as
ward off other bugs with their specifice black spotted red shells. This defense
mechanism is vivid, reminding other bugs that ladybugs taste bad and to stay away.
When Elmer and Hazel loose the spots for the ladybugs in the play, it is bad because
food supplies will be affected and ladybugs will die. To read the whole article about ladybugs from National Geographic, click here.
Memory- Science has been able to explain memory much better in recent years,
compared to other years because of brain scans and theories. Memories are neurons
in the brain, housed in the frontal lobe, and can be enhanced by the 5 senses. This
idea that people can loose memories with age is not actually true. In fact, the frontal
lobe (which house memories) shrinks in size so it is just harder to find the memory,
but the memory never disappears. Along with imagination, Dietz maybe chose to delve
into memory in this play because there is so much more to discover about subjects in
memory, both in a psychiatric way and a psychological realm. Dietz could be explaining
his views about memory (like how thoughts form and then leave) through his play. Listen
here to a quick NPR podcast about memory.
Mozart- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one the most famous Austrian composer's
of all time. He wrote classical symphonies, concertos, sonatas, masses, and opera.
Classical music juxtaposed the gallant style of Baroque music and used contrapuntal
complexities in music compositions. In easier terms, Mozart used clarity, balance and
transparency in his compositions. Mozart began performing original works when he
was only six years old and is considered a genius of music. Dying poor, Mozart passed
on at age 35 from what doctors of the time called "Miliary fever." All in all, Mozart wrote
41 symphonies, 45 concertos, 71 sonatas,17 masses, and 23 operas. Since Mozart was
a child prodigy and is very well known for his genius imagination in music, it is possible
that Dietz chose to put Mozart in his story to remind his audience that people seem to think
"the best" lie in physical items, rather than the people that create said things. It is also possible that Dietz wanted to remind his audience that child-like creativity and innocence can be simply genius if people give it a chance. For a thorough
insight about Mozart, click here and explore a whole website
.
Listen to "Serenade in 'G' : Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DSTqp bqFQ
Listen to "12 piano variations in 'C'"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS7yiD6cz8A
of all time. He wrote classical symphonies, concertos, sonatas, masses, and opera.
Classical music juxtaposed the gallant style of Baroque music and used contrapuntal
complexities in music compositions. In easier terms, Mozart used clarity, balance and
transparency in his compositions. Mozart began performing original works when he
was only six years old and is considered a genius of music. Dying poor, Mozart passed
on at age 35 from what doctors of the time called "Miliary fever." All in all, Mozart wrote
41 symphonies, 45 concertos, 71 sonatas,17 masses, and 23 operas. Since Mozart was
a child prodigy and is very well known for his genius imagination in music, it is possible
that Dietz chose to put Mozart in his story to remind his audience that people seem to think
"the best" lie in physical items, rather than the people that create said things. It is also possible that Dietz wanted to remind his audience that child-like creativity and innocence can be simply genius if people give it a chance. For a thorough
insight about Mozart, click here and explore a whole website
.
Listen to "Serenade in 'G' : Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DSTqp bqFQ
Listen to "12 piano variations in 'C'"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS7yiD6cz8A
Nocturno- In spanish, the word 'nocturna' means 'night.' It also entitles a form
of romantic symphony composed by Chopin. In these pieces of music that depict
night, Chopin used simple, dreamy melodies that express a range of emotions. It
is possible that the playwright chose to entitle Iris' home "nocturno" because it is
a simple world that comes to life at night (just like the music). Listen here for
Chopin's most famous nocturno works.
Panopticon Prison Experiment- In the late 1700's, Jeremy Bentham, a british Hedonist, designed a prison that was more humane than other prisons of the era. In his prison, the layout was a circle that the individual prison cell lined around and a guard survalence tower in the middle. Interestingly, prisoners could not see into the guard tower. This caused the prisoners to behave appropriately at all times because they did not know when a guard was actually watching them or not. This made prisoners adjust their moral behaviors and adapt themselves to societal standards. This phonomenon of how humans react when they are watched, or think that they might be being watched, interects with the land of the goods and the "ordinary" people who take care of it in Still Life with Iris. For more information on this psychological experiment, please click here.
Still Life painting/ artwork- Still Life artwork usually captures a stationary object
that is in a structured environment. Typically, the artwork includes an unanimated object like a flower or fruit bowl, that rest on a simple table. However, this is not the only kind
of Still Life. This kind of artwork is ages old, but it was most popular in the Baroque
period in Northers Europe (1600-1800 a.c.e.).
Artist chose to make Still Life art for a variety of reasons such as:
* to communicate a subtle message
* to show great beauty in simple objects
* to give symbolic meanings
* to explore the questions of appearance and reality
It is possible that Steven Dietz used still life artwork as the center point of his play because he wanted to convey a message that shows the importance of "being home" as well as the uniquity of a person background/home. Dietz uses this idea of still life artwork in the button's picture that Iris carries. Another way Dietz uses the idea of still life artwork is through the title of the show. By conjoining the phrase "still life" with the character "Iris" gives the life events of Iris the hidden message of "beauty and peace only comes with living life symplicitically."
For more information on famous Still Life artwork and its artist, click here.
that is in a structured environment. Typically, the artwork includes an unanimated object like a flower or fruit bowl, that rest on a simple table. However, this is not the only kind
of Still Life. This kind of artwork is ages old, but it was most popular in the Baroque
period in Northers Europe (1600-1800 a.c.e.).
Artist chose to make Still Life art for a variety of reasons such as:
* to communicate a subtle message
* to show great beauty in simple objects
* to give symbolic meanings
* to explore the questions of appearance and reality
It is possible that Steven Dietz used still life artwork as the center point of his play because he wanted to convey a message that shows the importance of "being home" as well as the uniquity of a person background/home. Dietz uses this idea of still life artwork in the button's picture that Iris carries. Another way Dietz uses the idea of still life artwork is through the title of the show. By conjoining the phrase "still life" with the character "Iris" gives the life events of Iris the hidden message of "beauty and peace only comes with living life symplicitically."
For more information on famous Still Life artwork and its artist, click here.
Superstitions with Eclipses- Historically, most cultures recognize the specialness
of the celestial powers of eclipses and exercise some kind of caution when eclipses
occur. There are three types of lunar eclipse: Penumbral, partial and total. In the first
two kinds, the moon is only partially blocked from the sun by the earth, causing the
moon to be viewed as blood red. In a total eclipse, the earth blocks the moon
completely from the sun and disappears from sight. The following superstitions
and beliefs are from certain popular cultures:
* Ancient Greeks believed the moon was bewitched and lunar eclipses happened
when the gods were angry because of a disaster.
* Ancient China believed that a dragon swallows the moon during lunar eclipses
* In the Jewish tradition, lunar eclipses are a sign of trouble for Israel (the physical nation).
* In Japan, some people cover wells to protect water supplies from the moon's poison.
It is possible that Steven Dietz used a lunar eclipse in his play when Iris' dad disappears because there are so many wordly myths about strange things happening when lunar eclipses occur.
To see a full list of other beliefs, superstitions, and pictures, please click here.
of the celestial powers of eclipses and exercise some kind of caution when eclipses
occur. There are three types of lunar eclipse: Penumbral, partial and total. In the first
two kinds, the moon is only partially blocked from the sun by the earth, causing the
moon to be viewed as blood red. In a total eclipse, the earth blocks the moon
completely from the sun and disappears from sight. The following superstitions
and beliefs are from certain popular cultures:
* Ancient Greeks believed the moon was bewitched and lunar eclipses happened
when the gods were angry because of a disaster.
* Ancient China believed that a dragon swallows the moon during lunar eclipses
* In the Jewish tradition, lunar eclipses are a sign of trouble for Israel (the physical nation).
* In Japan, some people cover wells to protect water supplies from the moon's poison.
It is possible that Steven Dietz used a lunar eclipse in his play when Iris' dad disappears because there are so many wordly myths about strange things happening when lunar eclipses occur.
To see a full list of other beliefs, superstitions, and pictures, please click here.
(photo by Patrick Kelley from National Geographic)
Weather-
To continue the idea that everything seen or heard on the earth is made in Nocturno, Dietz may have added weather into the play because it is a universal phonomenon that most people experience as well as the fact that it is a naturally occuring process.
Wind- Wind is air that moves due to high and low pressure in the atmosphere. Whistling of the wind can occur for a variety of reasons. Two reasons why wind whistles are because of objects cutting the wind (i.e. tree branches) and when a lot of air is filtered through a small space (i.e. funnel). For more information, click here.
Lightning- During a storm, there is a lot of static electricity built up in the atmosphere and clouds. This electricity occurs with the positive and negatively charged energy in the clouds, with the negative being closer to space and positive being closer to the earth. Positive and negative charges naturally attract one another and make a connection (this is lightning). Sometimes lightning branches out to earth because it is much more postively charged than clouds. For more information, click here.
Thunder- Thunder is lightning's byproduct. Lighting holds a lot of heat and gives off heat to the air around it. As the air quickly cools, it gives off a loud noise (hence thunder). For more information, click here.
To continue the idea that everything seen or heard on the earth is made in Nocturno, Dietz may have added weather into the play because it is a universal phonomenon that most people experience as well as the fact that it is a naturally occuring process.
Wind- Wind is air that moves due to high and low pressure in the atmosphere. Whistling of the wind can occur for a variety of reasons. Two reasons why wind whistles are because of objects cutting the wind (i.e. tree branches) and when a lot of air is filtered through a small space (i.e. funnel). For more information, click here.
Lightning- During a storm, there is a lot of static electricity built up in the atmosphere and clouds. This electricity occurs with the positive and negatively charged energy in the clouds, with the negative being closer to space and positive being closer to the earth. Positive and negative charges naturally attract one another and make a connection (this is lightning). Sometimes lightning branches out to earth because it is much more postively charged than clouds. For more information, click here.
Thunder- Thunder is lightning's byproduct. Lighting holds a lot of heat and gives off heat to the air around it. As the air quickly cools, it gives off a loud noise (hence thunder). For more information, click here.