Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2012 January 25

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January 25

What makes a fictional work existential

Why people say that some fictional works - films and books - are existential? What has to happen in the work? Since many, or almost all, films and books could be a reflexion on our human life somehow, wouldn't the term existential be almost meaningless? 88.8.69.246 (talk) 00:52, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

A nice line from the intro of our article on Existentialism: "In existentialism, the individual's starting point is characterized by what has been called 'the existential attitude', or a sense of disorientation and confusion in the face of an apparently meaningless or absurd world." That's jibes with what I've usually associated with works existential fiction or film. There are plenty of works of art which do not fit into this category: they are about showing or glorifying order, or meaning, or success. Concrete examples: An existentialist war film, for example, would be about the meaningless or absurdity of war (think Catch-22 or Apocalypse Now). A non-existentialist war film, by contrast, would be about the glory of war, soldiers, or technology, or what have you (think Saving Private Ryan or Lawrence of Arabia (film)). Now you could say, there are plenty of glorifying war films that have absurdity in them; but it's not the entire point of them, it's not the conclusion of them. --Mr.98 (talk) 02:22, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Agreed. Existential works, on some level, get you to question your very existence, or the meaning of existence. Sometimes, it's a very direct and blatant, like how in Existenz or The Matrix, the characters are constantly talking about whether they're living in a simulation or not. But it can be very subtle, too, like how in Citizen Kane people wonder what Kane is really like ... and Kane himself wonders who he really is. --M@rēino 22:47, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Does India get its oil from the Strait of Hormuz?

Does India get some of its oil supply from the Strait of Hormuz? 99.245.83.28 (talk) 02:49, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

No, but it does from "Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, the UAE and Kuwait" via the Strait. Clarityfiend (talk) 03:24, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Also note that it wouldn't particularly matter, in that world oil prices would shoot up if Iran mined the Straight, so even those who get oil from other sources would be affected. StuRat (talk) 05:39, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Strait...--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:53, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Oops, I see I'm in Dire Straits, spelling-wise. And Hormuz isn't even a straight strait. I just hope our crooked politicians will straighten out this mess, not just tell Iran to get bent. StuRat (talk) 18:22, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

The oil prices will go up, by any real problem like mines or imaginary, like silly politicians from both sides talking about war. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.36.33.29 (talk) 17:48, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I would expect the prices to go up far more from mining than just talking about it, since then you have both the panic and the actual reduction of supply. It does make me wonder if oil companies pay off Iran to make such threats, so they can justify increasing prices, though. StuRat (talk) 18:24, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

You don't need oil companies to profit from Iranian threats. Just buy future options for oil. 88.8.69.246 (talk) 21:43, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

the 17th century equivalent of 'decor'

This is a question I posed at Language, which people had trouble answering - the consensus, finally, was 'furnishings' - I wonder if someone here might be able to find something different? It's possible there was no word for it until 'decor' was coined....

Here's the original question: Decor is a 19th Century term; was there some equivalent that was current in English or French in the 1650s? Our interior design article is very heavy on US designers - I was hoping for something earlier, obviously: I suppose 'interior design' must be a very recent phrase - I wonder what term it replaced...

Thanks Adambrowne666 (talk) 05:34, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

The words appoint and appointment(s) are now somewhat pretentious but have been used of furnishings in the 16th Century. The OED gives, for sense 15 of appoint, the quote "Their several Lodgings, which were as well appointed as such a season would permit." (1664). And for appointment, from a private letter from 1575, "Hiz honorz exquisit appointment of a beautifull garden." It seems from the other quotes that these words were more often used of clothes, but they certainly could apply to a room or a garden.--Rallette (talk) 07:42, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Here's a little from the OED that might be of use to you.

furniture:

"4. ... d. Hangings and ornamental drapery; also, the coverlets and linen for a bed. ...

1683 T. Tryon Way to Health 586 Most People take care that their Furnitures are daily brushed and rubbed."

"7. ... a. (The prevailing sense.) Movable articles, whether useful or ornamental, in a dwelling-house, place of business, or public building. Formerly including also the fittings. (†Occas. const. as pl.) ...

1637 Documents against Prynne (Camden) 99 My interest in the lease of Swanswick, and my hangings, pictures, and furniture there."

decoration:

"2. That which decorates or adorns; an ornament, embellishment; esp. an ornament temporarily put up on some special occasion; formerly used (after the French) of scenery on the stage.

a1678 A. Marvell Wks. (1875) II. 208 (R.) Our church did even then exceed the Romish in ceremonies and decorations."

household:

†3. The contents or appurtenances of a house considered collectively; household goods or furniture. Obs.

1621 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 167 Desiringe him‥he would bestowe some of my howsholde of my brother Nicke."

design [I think this one captures at least one meaning of our contemporary 'decor' particularly well):

"7. ... a. The combination of artistic details or architectural features which go to make up a picture, statue, building, etc.; the artistic idea as executed; a piece of decorative work, an artistic device.

1644 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 73, I was particularly desirous of seeing this palace, from the extravagance of the design.

1670 Sir S. Crow in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 15 Their ordnary designes [in tapestry]‥beeing deformed and mishapen."

--Atethnekos (Discussion, Contributions) 12:51, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Thanks, that does help Adambrowne666 (talk) 06:43, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

WWII pilot commemorative plush toy

I'm trying to find a Pappy the Black Sheep plush toy. It's a sheep wearing a black outfit. It's supposed to represent the Black Sheep Squadron. Where can I find such a plush toy? Anyone know?24.90.204.234 (talk) 07:37, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

• Here's one merchant. And here's another. However, I have never ordered from either one, so I don't know their reputations. --M@rēino 22:35, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Thank you so much.24.90.204.234 (talk) 05:11, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

David Stuart (Michigan politician) : cause of military career brutal end in 1863 ?

Hello Learned Humanitarians ! I translated into WP french "David Stuart (Michigan politician)", & am doing the same for Political general (& BTW a lot of thanks for the text !) .

It seems that before and during the Vicksburg Campaign D. Stuart has been faithfull to Sherman and Grant rather to McClernand. He resigned from the Union Army in April, 1863.

Are there any proofs that D. Stuart's nomination as brig.gen. was refused by the US Senate because John A. McClernand's friends vetoed against it ?

Thanks ++++ beforehand for your answers Arapaima (talk) 08:39, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Egg coddler

Where can I buy an egg coddler online in the UK?? Amisom (talk) 22:05, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

• Let me google that for you. http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=egg+coddler&hl=en&tbm=shop

--M@rēino 22:30, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

(EC) I'm from the UK, but I'd never heard of coddled eggs. I had to look it up. However, I have heard of poached eggs, which seem to be quite similar, and you can get egg poachers on almost any High Street. Argos have one, for instance. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 22:33, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

No they'e a bit different. If memory serves it's a little china cup (with a metal lid) that you break your egg into, stand it in boiling water and then eat it out of the cup when cooked. There are lots online; click on the Google search link above. Alansplodge (talk) 09:03, 26 January 2012 (UTC)