quarta-feira, 17 de maio de 2023

Paralelismo entre ficção e realidade

A quentura do Verão em Mascate

Em Agosto de 2016, quando visitei Mascate, a capital do Omã, quis ver com os meus próprios olhos a baía em forma de ferradura, as fortalezas de origem portuguesa e o local onde se situava a cidade antiga, ocupada pelos portugueses nos séculos XVI e XVII.

Visitei o Museu Nacional do Omã, deambulei pelas ruas estreitas e antes de passear pelo exótico mercado de Mutrah (Mutrah Souk) tive ainda tempo para almoçar mesmo ali ao lado, na esplanada retratada na foto. Passava pouco do meio-dia e tive de comer à pressa, porque, mesmo com o chapéu de sol a tapar-me o corpo, a minha pele ardia constantemente.

Sorri, pois lembrei-me do que já tinha escrito no meu romance histórico “O Oriente Místico de Chao Balós”, Cap. XIX:

“É terra de muita quentura nos meses do verão. O vento quente, que num rastro de areia sopra do interior do sertão para o Ponente de Mascate, somente a muito custo não nos faz ficar faltos de ar. No tempo das calmas quase nunca está coberto o sol, desde o seu raiar, até ser noite caída, e acontece isto vários meses de contínuo. O sol brilha tão fortemente, que os ofícios que cada um tem a seu cargo, e as cousas particulares, não sucedem a céu descoberto nas horas do meio dia, sob pena de causar muitos danos à saúde de cada um”.

quinta-feira, 11 de maio de 2023

Anniversary

Today we celebrate the eccentric artist who defined surrealism and shaped art history

Salvador Dali, the eccentric Spanish painter and surrealist artist, was born on May 11, 1904, in Figueres, Catalonia. Throughout his life, he was known for his vivid imagination, avant-garde artwork, and flamboyant personality. His contributions to the art world are immeasurable, and he remains one of the most influential and recognizable figures of the 20th century.

Dali's genius was apparent from a young age, and he attended the prestigious San Fernando Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid, where he honed his craft. He became fascinated with surrealism, a movement that aimed to explore the subconscious mind through art. Dali's paintings are known for their dreamlike quality, with melting clocks, distorted objects, and fantastical creatures featured heavily in his work.

Despite his undeniable talent, Dali was also a controversial figure, known for his attention-seeking behavior and outlandish statements. He once famously claimed he was "the only genius" in the art world, and his eccentricities often overshadowed his artistic accomplishments. Nevertheless, Dali's contributions to the surrealist movement were significant, and his influence can still be seen in the work of contemporary artists today.

As we mark the anniversary of Dali's birth, it's clear that his legacy continues to live on. His unique vision and ability to capture the surreal in his paintings have earned him a place in art history, and his impact on the world of art and culture is undeniable. Dali's genius will continue to inspire future generations of artists and art lovers, cementing his place as one of the greatest artists of all time.

Photo © Philippe Halsman

quarta-feira, 10 de maio de 2023

Momento Quora

(Más de 340,000 vistas en un mes) 👇👇👇

¿Por qué se llama Estambul?


La ciudad de Estambul, conocida anteriormente como Constantinopla, ha tenido varios nombres a lo largo de su historia. Pero, ¿por qué se llama Estambul? La respuesta es bastante interesante y se remonta a la época otomana.

Durante la época otomana, la ciudad era conocida como Estambul en turco otomano, que significa "en la ciudad" o "a la ciudad". La palabra Estambul se deriva de la frase griega "εἰς τὴν Πόλιν" (eis tin polin), que significa "a la ciudad". Los turcos otomanos adoptaron la frase y la transformaron en "İstanbul", que es la forma actual en turco.

Antes de su renombramiento como Estambul, la ciudad era conocida como Constantinopla, el nombre que le dio el emperador romano Constantino el Grande en el siglo IV. El nombre se mantuvo durante más de mil años, hasta que el Imperio Otomano conquistó la ciudad en 1453 y la convirtió en la capital del Imperio Otomano.

Durante la época otomana, el nombre de Estambul se convirtió en el nombre oficial de la ciudad, aunque Constantinopla todavía era utilizado por algunas personas. Después de la caída del Imperio Otomano y la creación de la República de Turquía en 1923, el nombre de la ciudad se cambió oficialmente a Estambul.

En resumen, el nombre Estambul se deriva de la frase griega "εἰς τὴν Πόλιν" y fue adoptado por los turcos otomanos durante su reinado. Aunque la ciudad había sido conocida anteriormente como Constantinopla, el nombre de Estambul se convirtió en el nombre oficial de la ciudad durante la época otomana y se mantuvo como tal después de la creación de la República de Turquía.

Mira la publicación en mi Quora: https://qr.ae/py1MzZ

Fotografía © Taryn Elliott

terça-feira, 9 de maio de 2023

My Quora

Should I start writing my book first before coming up with a title and subtitle?

One of the biggest questions writers often face when starting a new project is whether to come up with a title and subtitle first or start writing the book. While there is no one "right" answer to this question, there are some advantages to starting with the actual writing process before deciding on a title and subtitle.

First, starting with writing can help you get a better sense of the book's overall theme and direction. As you write, you may find that certain ideas or themes emerge that you had not considered before. These can then inform your decisions about the title and subtitle, allowing you to choose a more accurate and impactful title that reflects the content of the book.

Second, by starting with writing, you can avoid getting bogged down in the title/subtitle creation process. Coming up with a catchy or compelling title and subtitle can be a time-consuming and challenging task, and it can be easy to get stuck in this stage without making progress on the actual writing.

However, it's important to keep in mind that the title and subtitle are crucial components of your book's marketing and can greatly impact its success. So, while starting with writing can be helpful, it's important to keep potential titles and subtitles in mind as you go along.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to start with writing or title/subtitle creation first depends on your personal preference and process. Some writers may find it more helpful to have a clear title and subtitle in mind before starting to write, while others may prefer to let the writing process inform their decisions about these elements. Regardless of which approach you choose, remember that the title and subtitle are an important part of your book's success and should be given careful consideration.

Read it on Quora: https://qr.ae/pyI60m

Photo © Ylanite Koppens

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