tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post329571015033931587..comments2024-03-25T09:56:16.164+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: The Wow/Info Balance - Joan LennonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-26136440466689609192009-04-10T13:22:00.000+01:002009-04-10T13:22:00.000+01:00I can't resist throwing in this example of how NOT...I can't resist throwing in this example of how NOT to do it, from Sheridan's *The Critic*. It always makes me laugh:<BR/><BR/><BR/>_Enter_ SIR WALTER RALEIGH and SIR CHRISTOPHER HATTON.<BR/>_Sir Christ_. True, gallant Raleigh!<BR/><BR/>_Dang_. What, they had been talking before?<BR/>_Puff_. O yes; all the way as they came along.--[To the<BR/>actors.] I beg pardon, gentlemen, but these are particular<BR/>friends of mine, whose remarks may be of great service to us.--<BR/>[_To_ SNEER _and_ DANGLE.] Don't mind interrupting them<BR/>whenever anything strikes you.<BR/><BR/>_Sir Christ_.<BR/> True, gallant Raleigh<BR/> But oh, thou champion of thy country's fame,<BR/> There is a question which I yet must ask<BR/> A question which I never ask'd before--<BR/> What mean these mighty armaments?<BR/> This general muster? and this throng of chiefs?<BR/><BR/>_Sneer_. Pray, Mr. Puff, how came Sir Christopher Hatton never to ask that question before?<BR/>_Puff_. What before the play began?-how the plague could he?<BR/>_Dang_. That's true, i'faith!<BR/>_Puff_. But you will hear what he thinks of the matter.<BR/><BR/>_Sir Christ_.<BR/> Alas I my noble friend, when I behold<BR/> Yon tented plains in martial symmetry<BR/> Array'd; when I count o'er yon glittering lines<BR/> Of crested warriors, where the proud steeds' neigh,<BR/> And valour-breathing trumpet's shrill appeal,<BR/> Responsive vibrate on my listening ear;<BR/> When virgin majesty herself I view,<BR/> Like her protecting Pallas, veil'd in steel,<BR/> With graceful confidence exhort to arms!<BR/> When, briefly, all I hear or see bears stamp<BR/> Of martial vigilance and stern defence,<BR/> I cannot but surmise--forgive, my friend,<BR/> If the conjecture's rash--I cannot but<BR/> Surmise the state some danger apprehends!<BR/><BR/>_Sneer_. A very cautious conjecture that.<BR/>_Puff_. Yes, that's his character; not to give an opinion<BR/>but on secure grounds.--Now then.<BR/><BR/>_Sir Walt_.<BR/> O most accomplish'd Christopher!--<BR/><BR/>_Puff_. He calls him by his Christian name, to show that<BR/>they are on the most familiar terms.<BR/><BR/>_Sir Walt_. O most accomplish'd Christopher! I find<BR/> Thy staunch sagacity still tracks the future,<BR/> In the fresh print of the o'ertaken past.<BR/><BR/>_Puff_. Figurative!<BR/><BR/>_Sir Walt_. Thy fears are just.<BR/>_Sir Christ_. But where? whence? when? and what<BR/> The danger is,--methinks I fain would learn.<BR/>_Sir Walt_. You know, my friend, scarce two revolving suns,<BR/> And three revolving moons, have closed their course <BR/> Since haughty Philip, in despite of peace,<BR/> With hostile hand hath struck at England's trade.<BR/>_Sir Christ_. I know it well.<BR/>_Sir Walt_. Philip, you know, is proud Iberia's king!<BR/>_Sir Christ_. He is.<BR/>_Sir Walt_. His subjects in base bigotry <BR/> And Catholic oppression held;-while we,<BR/> You know, the Protestant persuasion hold.<BR/>_Sir Christ_. We do.<BR/>_Sir Walt_. You know, beside, his boasted armament,<BR/> The famed Armada, by the Pope baptized,<BR/> With purpose to invade these realms--<BR/>_Sir Christ_. Is sailed, Our last advices so report.<BR/>_Sir Walt_. While the Iberian admiral's chief hope,<BR/> His darling son--<BR/>_Sir Christ_. Ferolo Whiskerandos hight--<BR/>_Sir Walt_. The same--by chance a prisoner hath been ta'en,<BR/> And in this fort of Tilbury--<BR/>_Sir Christ_. Is now Confined--'tis true, and oft from yon<BR/>tall turret's top<BR/> I've mark'd the youthful Spaniard's haughty mien<BR/> Unconquer'd, though in chains.<BR/>_Sir Walt_. You also know--<BR/><BR/>Dang. Mr. Puff, as he knows all this, why does Sir Walter go on<BR/>telling him?<BR/>_Puff_. But the audience are not supposed to know any-thing<BR/>of the matter, are they?<BR/>Sneer. True; but I think you manage ill: for there certainly<BR/>appears no reason why Sir Walter should be so communicative.<BR/>_Puff_. 'Fore Gad, now, that is one of the most ungrateful observations I ever heard!--for the less inducement he has to tell all this, the more, I think, you ought to be obliged to him; for I am sure you'd know nothing of the matter without it.<BR/>_Dang_. That's very true, upon my word.<BR/>_Puff_. But you will find he was not going on.<BR/><BR/>_Sir Christ_. "Enough, enough--'tis plain--and I no more<BR/> Am in amazement lost!"--<BR/><BR/>_Puff_. Here, now you see, Sir Christopher did not in fact<BR/>ask any one question for his own information.<BR/>_Sneer_. No, indeed: his has been a most disinterested<BR/>curiosity!<BR/>_Dang_. Really, I find that we are very much obliged to them both.Cathy Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03838615971611193743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-17827109386988483252009-04-09T12:28:00.000+01:002009-04-09T12:28:00.000+01:00For a classic example of this, it's hard to beat t...For a classic example of this, it's hard to beat the opening of Peter Jackson's film of The Two Towers. The back story problem is expertly handled in the opening scene between Frodo and Sam.<BR/><BR/>Sam<BR/>Mordor. The one place in Middle-Earth we don't wanna see any closer. And it's the one place we are trying to get to. And it's just where we can't get. Let’s face it, Mister Frodo. We're lost. I don't think Gandalf meant for us to come this way.<BR/><BR/>Frodo<BR/>He didn't mean for a lot of things to happen Sam. But they did.<BR/>[Frodo falls down, panting.]<BR/><BR/>Sam<BR/>Mister Frodo? It's the Ring, isn't it?<BR/><BR/>Frodo<BR/>It's getting heavier.<BR/><BR/><BR/>There. That tells you almost all you need to know, in less than a minute. Brilliance!Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11307045090887391553noreply@blogger.com