Author: Lainie Smith

Although we only touched on the ‘Book of Games’ briefly in class on Monday, it was one of the things I found most intriguing in class this week. Not only did it put into perspective the antiquity of some of the “classic” games we still play today, it also made me think that maybe we have not strayed that far from our ancestors even though so much time has passed. The act of playing games was clearly an essential human past-time, even at the time of the manuscript which dates to 1296. Can you imagine if the instruction manuals of our everyday boardgames looked as beautiful as an illuminated manuscript? I definitely would take the game far more seriously if a manual was adorned in a gorgeous glow. It would make me feel like I’m playing a game of worth with high stakes; an act not only of entertainment but importance. Maybe classic games should include a history section to enlighten players on the longevity of the simple game they are playing…

I found the video streaming in class on Wednesday, February 3rd on how to purchase a Book of Hours slightly conflicting, but interesting. Particularly, I thought that the video came off as a sales video for artifacts – historians have to make a commission somehow I suppose. Moreover, I think the video could be characterized as an advertisement under the guise of a “how-to” approach. I was conflicted in that I usually view historians and artists as individuals invested in the study for the love of the subject, and not the type of individuals to make a kind of advertisement for their  services. The video detailed the ways to purchase a Book of Hours (who to go to, what to look for, etc.), however, as we discussed in class, the prices were slightly inflated.

Looking at the video through a marketing perspective, it is a crafty way to attract buyers. If I had money to spend on a Book of Hours, I would do so, because the creators of the video chose two highly informed speakers who are very passionate about their field of study. Their passion for Books of Hours came through the video, and they heightened the worth and importance of Books of Hours for me from a more contemporary standpoint. I am torn between appreciating the video as a testament to Books of Hours, or depreciating it as a “sales” video. I suppose it’s a little of both.

After watching “The Secret of Kells”, it was definitely not what I expected. To be honest, I anticipated the film would be similar to the BBC documentary shown in class or some other sort of “real-life” drama. I was happily surprised that “The Secret of Kells” was an animation, and I would go as far as to say this was one of the most unique films I have seen for a class.

My favorite parts of the movie were the artistic filming techniques and elaborate settings, mirroring the illustration of a manuscript. For example, the landscapes contained geometric symbols and some of the movie frames featured borders with detailed designs. I liked how the idea of intricacy manifested throughout the film. Additionally, I enjoyed the Irish undertones. Not many children’s movies, or movies for that matter, employ bits of Irish culture.