Musical Clichés and Riffs in Storytelling

A musical phrase often used in Western culture to represent Eastern/Southeast Asian ideas.

Another name for the Oriental Riff.

A derogatory term for the Oriental Riff, highlighting its stereotypical use.

A musical scale with five notes per octave.

Harmonizing notes played in fourths that sound East Asian.

A well-known musical phrase often associated with the Middle East.

A predictable or overused musical phrase or motif.

Using a musical motif to quickly establish a story's context/setting/mood.

A musical scale associated with calming, spiritual sounds often used in Middle Eastern and Arabic music.

A musical scale commonly used in music from various regions including the Middle East, India, and parts of Europe. It is known by different names in different cultures, and is particularly common in Arabic and Egyptian music.

Another name for the Hijaz Scale, used in music theory, highlighting its connection to other musical systems.

A prevalent melodic pattern found in Western music with roots in Ancient Greece. It is characterized by a specific sequence of notes, creating a distinctive sound.

The name for the sequence of notes that forms the basis of the Andalusian Cadence, traceable back to Ancient Greece.

Another term for "Diatonic Tetrachord" emphasizing its pattern of descending notes.

The Andalusian Cadence played a significant role in shaping the sound of surf rock music, particularly in the bass lines of many popular songs.

A famous surf rock song that utilized the bass structure of the Andalusian Cadence, demonstrating its influence on musical genres.

Spider-Man's personality has evolved over time, shifting from awkward and tender to cool and fun-loving.

'Love Story' is a song by Taylor Swift inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but with a happy ending featuring a marriage proposal.

In Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, the two main characters travel through time to gather historical figures for a school project.

Taylor Swift used the story of Romeo and Juliet as inspiration for her song 'Love Story.'

Taylor Swift's 'Love Story' features a key change after the bridge, adding a dramatic shift to the song.

Taylor Swift's 'Love Story' features various acoustic instruments like banjo, fiddle, and guitar, creating a country-pop sound.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a science fiction comedy film featuring time travel as a core element.

Bill and Ted's goal in the film is to gather historical figures for their high school presentation.

A painting by J.M.W. Turner depicting the final voyage of the warship Temeraire, towed to be scrapped. It contrasts the age of sail with the rise of steam power using a dramatic sunset.

A painting by Egon Schiele depicting a deserted town with clustered houses, representing the artist's vision of a fragile and desolate world.

Schiele used exaggerated forms and personal perspectives to express the emotional core of the human experience in his art.

A recurring theme in Schiele's work, representing a feeling of emptiness, decay, and the loss of life.

Schiele's paintings of towns and streets are typically devoid of human figures, highlighting a feeling of isolation and emptiness.

Despite a bleak vision, Schiele's final town paintings suggest a longing for a utopian future with artists leading a better world.

Schiele died young from the influenza pandemic, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the fragility of life and the challenges of his time.

This painting can be interpreted as a reflection of the artist's hopes for a new world after the war but also the somber reality of his own mortality.

The Constitution sets up the fundamental structures of the national government, outlining its branches and their powers.

The Constitution divides power among different branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and between the national and state governments.

The Constitution limits certain topics from being debated in ordinary politics, like establishing a national religion.

The Constitution aims to prevent impulsive or emotional decisions by requiring a deliberate process for lawmaking.

The Constitution makes it difficult to change laws or the Constitution itself, providing stability and predictability.

The Constitution creates laws that impact future generations, ensuring that certain freedoms and powers are preserved.

The Constitution promotes a system where laws govern everyone, not just individuals in power.

The Constitution provides for popular elections and participation in the government, ensuring citizen representation.

In 1996, Studio Ghibli made a deal with Disney to distribute their films in America. Disney would dub the films and release them in the US market.

Disney removed "Laputa" from the title, changed the music to an orchestra score, and shelved the film for several years before releasing it directly to DVD.

Hisaishi composed two soundtracks for Laputa: Castle in the Sky - one for the original Japanese version and another for the US release.

It's impossible to buy an official copy of the original Star Wars film released in 1978. George Lucas doesn't want viewers to see it.

Fans are recreating the original Star Wars film by removing the CGI and special effects added in later editions, calling it "despecializing."

George Lucas continuously updates his Star Wars films with CGI, sound effects, and new scenes, creating special editions that differ from the originals.

There's debate about whether a creator's edited version of a work should replace the original, and if it depends on the author's or audience's preference.

A despecializer named "Harmy" uses special sources to recreate the original Star Wars film, creating popular retro versions for fans.

A 1936 painting by Aaron Douglas depicting enslaved Africans bound for the Americas, with a hopeful gesture of freedom at left.

A cultural movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s centered in Harlem, New York City, celebrating African American culture and art.

A painting by Richard Wilson (1774) depicting a serene lake in North Wales, capturing the beauty of the natural landscape.

Artistic works that express a yearning for the past or explore its shortcomings.

Art that evokes a longing or fondness for the past, often idealizing it.

Art that examines and critiques the past, exposing its flaws and imperfections.

Artwork can simultaneously evoke nostalgia and be critical of the past, acknowledging its beauty and its flaws.

Art can depict both the hardships and the potential for liberation, even within a context of oppression.

A painting by Egon Schiele depicting a deserted town with clustered houses, representing the artist's vision of a fragile and desolate world.

The Constitution prevents certain topics from being discussed in ordinary politics, like establishing a national religion.

'Jambo Bwana' is a popular Kenyan song that features Swahili phrases and is often considered the unofficial Kenyan tourist song.

The Constitution's processes help prevent hasty or emotional decisions by requiring a deliberate process for lawmaking.

'Zilizopendwa' is a Swahili term that signifies a genre of urban East African music, meaning "those that were loved." It also represents freedom and emerged in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s after African independence.

The Constitution makes changing laws or the Constitution difficult, promoting stability and predictability.

'Zilizopendwa' holds significant cultural value in Kenya, so scholars have researched its history and its misrepresentation.

The Constitution creates laws that impact future generations, ensuring the preservation of certain freedoms and powers.

'Zilizopendwa' emerged after World War II, influenced by the spread of Western music styles and instruments, such as the guitar, which were introduced to Africa.

The Constitution promotes a system where laws govern everyone, not just individuals in power.

'Jambo Bwana' depicts Kenya as a welcoming place with no problems, but the lyrics actually mask issues like inequality and economic challenges faced by East Africa. The word 'bwana' can also imply colonial history and dominance.

The Constitution supports popular elections and citizen participation in government, ensuring representation.

Scholars study 'Zilizopendwa' to preserve its history, understand its influence on Kenyan society, and caution against misrepresentation.

The Constitution aims to make finding the law easier by putting it in writing.

Western music, particularly the introduction of instruments like the guitar, significantly influenced the sound and style of 'Zilizopendwa', creating a unique fusion of African and Western elements.

The Constitution aims to achieve positive outcomes for society, though it's a goal, not an automatic guarantee.

'Zilizopendwa' is a vital part of Kenyan culture, representing a fusion of traditional African music with Western influences, symbolizing freedom and reflecting the country's history and identity.

The song "The Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats was chosen as the main theme for John Ford's film "The Quiet Man".

Music can evoke feelings of longing for the past, often associated with a particular time, place, or culture.

This song by Quynh Anh expresses a Vietnamese person's longing for their homeland while living abroad.

A musical genre in East Africa characterized by nostalgia and love for the past.

A Togolese band that blends nostalgic sounds from the 1970s with traditional voodoo music.

Musicians can incorporate local traditions into global music scenes by blending traditional sounds with contemporary styles.

A diverse and interconnected network of music styles, musicians, and audiences from different parts of the world.

A Vaudoo Game song that exemplifies the blending of nostalgia with traditional music, prompting questions about the effectiveness of this approach.