Take a Look at Motion Pictures

Otherwise known as a movie or a film, motion pictures were one of the most influential, and popular, forms of media throughout the 20th century, and are something that many tend used to take for granted. If you have ever wondered exactly how these motion pictures we know of today came about, read on to learn all about it.

What Exactly Is a Motion Picture?
By definition, a motion picture is a series of pictures that are projected onto a screen, which then creates the illusion of a moving picture. Photography, projection and motion had all been discovered by the 1800’s, but it was not until the 1890’s that these were finally put together, resulting in the motion picture.

Eadweard Muybridge
An English photographer who was known for his ground-breaking work in photographic studies of motion, Eadweard Muybridge are who many would accredit the birth of the motion picture to. Muybridge conducted a photography session where he set up 24 cameras that were linked to tripwires, so that he could take photographs of a horse galloping. After developing the images, he projected them onto a screen, creating the world’s very first motion picture, albeit only two seconds long.

An Industry is Born
Since technology was extremely limited in 1890, motion pictures that were produced at this time were all under a minute long, with no sound. However, this was still a huge breakthrough, signalling the birth of a new industry, which proceeded to grow to huge scales from here. Films began to consist of several different shots, making them longer and longer, while new cameras were introduced, and film studios built. Special effects were soon introduced, as was film continuity, meaning that action could now seamlessly move from one sequence to another. In 1905, The Nickelodeon Theatre in Pittsburgh became the first permanent theatre to show only films, and then, in 1910, actors began to receive screen credits for their roles, leading to the creation of movie stars.

The First Movies
For the first eleven years after the first motion picture was produced, motion pictures grew from consisting of one single shot to a number of different shots, created by large companies in purpose-built studios. However, it was only in the early 1900’s that the first official movies were created, meaning that they had a form of narrative, as well as basic editing techniques. A number of different techniques were then invented, with masters of the industry shining through. George Albert Smith is known for perfecting the close-up shot, while Edwin S. Porter was known for being hired by Thomas Edison to develop a new projection model.

Whether you are an avid film buff or only watch movies on occasion, there is no denying the importance they have had on the progression of modern day life. Movies enable people to do just about anything, from travelling the world to experiencing emotions, making it no surprise that they are considered to be one of the very best forms of entertainment that has ever been invented.

The Real Spanish Tapeo

Quintessentially Spanish, tapeo culture is at the heart of Spain’s heritage, and lively tapas bars can be found throughout the country. Rather than being a way of cooking, tapas is more about a way of eating, signifying socializing with friends and bonding with loved ones.

What is Tapas?
Tapas has made a name for itself all over the world, and is essentially a wide variety of small-portioned snacks that are traditionally served alongside alcoholic beverages. Tapas comes in all shapes and forms, from hot or cold to skewered or bubbling in clay pots to finger bites and sandwiches, and every region of Spain will have their own range of unique local tapas dishes.

The Best Time To Tapear
Tapas is such an important part of Spanish culture that there is even a verb, tapear, to describe the act of going for tapas. When it comes to the best time to tapear, this is usually in the early afternoon, between noon and 2pm, as this falls just before the Spanish lunchtime, and is when all of the local tapas bars compete with counters piled high with tempting fragrant bites. Each tapas bar will put their own unique spin on the dishes served, which is why visiting a few different tapas bars is always a popular activity in Spain.

Tapas Etiquette
Tapeo culture has its very own etiquette, and while a faux pas will not be frowned upon heavily, locals will appreciate your knowledge on this. It is usually customary for visitors to a tapas bar to not eat more than two tapas at one place, as the whole idea behind tapeo is it being a sort of gastronomic bar crawl. Since you are only going to be trying a couple of dishes at each place, you need to pay attention to how they complement each other, ordering dishes that work well together rather than those that feature opposing flavors. Tapas is usually eaten at the bar while standing, and, when it comes to paying the bill, Spaniards usually practice convida, which is where everybody pays for a round.

Popular Tapas Dishes
There are thousands of different tapas varieties out there, with the only limit being the chef’s imagination. Gambas are prawns that are sauteed in various sauces, from peppercorn to chopped chili peppers, while croquettes are a common fried dish that can be found in homes all across Spain. Patatas bravas are fried potato cubes that are usually served with a spicy salsa, and is another dish that is served up by the majority of tapas bars out there. Chorizo is another ingredient that is beautifully showcased in many tapas dishes, from chorizo al vino, in which it is slowly cooked in wine, to chorizo a la sidra, in which the chorizo is cooked in cider.

While tapas restaurants may be found all over the world, the only way to truly experience the tapeo culture is by visiting Spain. From the authenticity of the food served to the atmosphere of the bars, tapas culture is a Spanish tradition that is still thriving today.

Spain’s Influence on the World’s Fashion

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When thinking about the different countries that have shaped the world’s fashion over the years, places such as France and Italy immediately come to mind. However, what many do not realize is that Spain has actually had a significant influence over the way in which fashion as we know it today came about, and is now recognized as being a cutting-edge fashion destination.

Spanish Fashion in the 16th Century
It was in the 16th century that the world really began to take notice of Spanish fashion, and many styles popular in Spain at that time were considered to be at the height of fashion, making them designs sought after by women all over Western Europe. From heavy capes and corsets to bell-shaped hoop skirts structured with wire, it did not take long for Spanish fashion to dominate Europe. Even though many of these designs were extremely uncomfortable and took hours to put together when worn, they were still preferred over simpler styles, mostly due to the fact that they were considered to be the most fashionable designs out there.

Spain Holds on to the Past
Spain’s fashion influence held strong well into the 17th century, but it was around this time that people began looking for styles that were bolder and different from the norm. However, Spain did not want to let go of their national fashion identity, and traditional clothing was still largely preferred in the country. This led to fashionistas flocking to new European cities, such as Paris, for their fashion inspiration.

Spanish Designers
While Spain may have struggled at one point to remain as a country that was leading in the fashion industry, the numerous talented designers to come from Spain have brought new international recognition to many Spanish cities. From Paco Rabanne to Prada, these designers put themselves at the forefront of the industry, and, by making their name known all over the world, placed the spotlight on Spain.

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High Street Stores
Spain gave birth to stores such as Mango and Zara, both of which are recognized all over the world, and the latter of which is a brand that, after humble beginnings in Spain, now has 2000 stores worldwide. These stores made a name for themselves by putting forward a chic European style of dressing that many had never seen before, showing the world exactly how affordable fashion could still be incredibly stylish, as well as look expensive. Other brands that many do not realize are actually Spanish in origin are Desigual, Bershka, Camper, Massimo Dutti and Hoss Intropia, and, when you look at high streets around the world and see these names lining busy boulevards, you realize just how much of an influence Spain now has on the fashion industry.

While Spain may have almost given up their role as a leading fashion innovator in the past, there is nobody that doubts the huge influence that they have had in fashion. From filling the runways of major international fashion weeks, to lining the streets of cities all over the world, Spanish fashion can be seen just about everywhere, and shows no sign of slowing down.

The Seductive Power of Romance Languages

Latin is a language that has had a huge impact on the world as we know it today. In medieval times, it was a language that was only spoken by farmers and shopkeepers and limited to Rome and its surroundings. However, it soon spread throughout the Roman empire, and even after the empire had fallen, the language stood strong. Legends throughout history, such as Cleopatra in Ancient Egypt, were known to pick up a number of these languages, and could speak them all fluently. Between the sixth and ninth century, as Latin continued to spread throughout Europe, it began to evolve, giving birth to the Romance languages, which are still considered to be the most seductive and romantic languages in the world today.

French
While French is considered to be the most evolved of the Romance languages, it also thought to be the most romantic language in the world. Often referred to as the Language of Love, French culture has played a huge role in this perception, with part of this coming from the international prestige that surrounded the French language. French is also a language of accuracy and clarity, with a number of different romantic words and phrases that do not exist in other languages. An example of this is the word “retrouvaille”, which usually refers to long-distance relationships, and couples that have had to spend time apart but are now reunited with each other again.

Spanish
The official language of 21 countries, Spanish is widely spoken around the world and is another one of the Romance languages. The Spanish language gives its speakers a versatility and passion that they can use in their words, making the language seem extremely sensual and powerful. Spanish phrases also flow together well, with many words sounding much softer than their translations in other languages.

Italian
Many consider Italian to sound quite similar to Spanish, and many countries believe it to be the most romantic of languages. In terms of vocabulary, it is extremely close to Latin and is widely spoken across Europe, as well as in some parts of Africa. Italian is known to be the Language of Music, and this perhaps lends to its overall romantic appeal, especially as it soon began to spread through art, culture and the luxury consumer market.

Portuguese
Portuguese is the third most spoken European language in the world, and is often referred to as a “sweet and gracious language”. A number of great literary figures produced their work in Portuguese, and this has perhaps helped it to retain its seductive qualities.

While there are many more Romance dialects that have sprung from Latin over the years, the most widely spoken Romance languages are French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian, and these were stabilized with the invention of the printing press, which encouraged a greater uniformity between languages. While, technically, the Romance languages do not have anything to do with being romantic, the way in which they are spoken, and the words that are used, make them some of the most seductive and passionate languages spoken in the world today.

Fashion Week Nederland

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Fashion Week Nederland is held twice a year, in January and July. While the events have been hosted for over ten years now, they have only recently gained international recognition, and this is all thanks to the way in which the organization has managed to reposition itself in the marketplace. Rather than focusing on established international brands, Fashion Week Nederland puts an emphasis on true originality and exclusivity, with the majority of showcased designers being Dutch or Belgian. By doing this, Fashion Week Nederland serves as a platform for fashion talent for the new generation, bringing them a contemporary approach to luxury that is very much in demand.

Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Amsterdam
In order to really be able to bridge the gap between commerce and creativity, Fashion Week Nederlands has four different programs, with Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Amsterdam being one of the most highly anticipated ones. This is where you will find the hottest catwalk shows from both established and up and coming designers, attracting the attention of buyers and press from all over the world. For those of you who are hoping to catch some of the shows but do not think you will be able to make it to Amsterdam this July, Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Amsterdam makes use of the latest technology, with all of their shows available in real time via live streaming.

Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek Amsterdam Off Schedule
MBFWA Off Schedule is the side of Fashion Week Nederland that focuses on culture, merging this with fashion at a variety of venues around the city. From theater to dance to photography to history, different events are hosted all over the city over a period of ten days, making this an extremely exciting time to be visiting Amsterdam.

Fashion LAB
One of the missions of Fashion Week Nederland is to make a contribution to the fashion innovation that occurs within the country, and Fashion LAB is their way of doing this. In collaboration with Vodafone, Fashion LAB is a program that runs throughout the year, consisting of lectures, seminars, workshops and presentations to assist and encourage young designers. This all culminates every January and July with catwalk shows, giving the public the opportunity to see this inspiring raw talent for themselves.

Fashion in Business
Fashion in Business focuses on companies that are passionate about fashion, whether they are actually in the fashion industry or not. Fashion in Business aims to bring together professionals from a wide range of disciplines, but each with a shared interest in the fashion business, and does this by organizing a variety of events throughout the year. By creating this exclusive fashion business community, Fashion Week Nederland is able to introduce entrepreneurs to a network that could prove to be crucial in determining their ultimate success.

Fashion Week Nederland puts a huge emphasis on supporting the Dutch fashion industry, and has gained worldwide recognition for its efforts. From facilitating inter-disciplinary collaborations to showcasing the work of young talented designers, Fashion Week Nederland has succeeded in putting Amsterdam in the running for becoming one of the next big fashion capitals of the world.