COMIC BOOK

Comic book is a gender of literature characterized for a narrative artwork, virtually accompanied by dialogs and usually including brief descriptive prose. This specific gender is also called funny book, com

ic paper or comic magazine, however, it do not means that has to be necessarily wrote in a hilarious

mode. In United States the super-hero genre dominates the market, even though others genders also exists.

This kind of

literature is characterized for a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest.

Their extraordinary powers and abilities usually require of advance equipment or special weapons, however, some superheroes do not have special powers but have mastered skill such as martial arts and forensi

c sciences but all of they have a sense of responsibility, a personal vendetta against criminals and strong believes in justice.

The first comic book appeared in United States in 1934 with the publication of Famou

s Funnies that reprinted the earlier newspaper comic strips. The U.S. marketing is directed to young adults readers but also produce titles for young children as well as catering to adult audience.

Cultural historians divide the history of this gender in four categories: the Golden Age, the Silver Age, Bronze Age and Modern Age. The Golden Age begin with the introduction of Superman in 1938 by Joe Shuster and extend this period until early 1950. During this term comic book acquire big popularity and their designs become depended of paint and art.

The Silver Age is generally considered from the first successful revival of the dormant superhero form: the debut of Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantine (two writers and editors) with the figure of “Flash” and a new hero called Spider-Man designed by Marvel Comics Inc in August 1962.

Nevertheless, do not exist a consensus in the difference between the Bronze and

Modern ages. Some editors consider that the Bronze age began with the published of Green Lantern and Green Arrow number 76 in April of 1970, but for others writers it start with the advertised of Gil Kane: “Amazing Spider Man” in May 1971.

The Modern Age or Iron Age has even more potential starting points, but it is usually related with the publication of Frank Miller “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” in June 1986.

Other point of discussion is the difference between man and women in comics. For the Magazine “Visual Narrative”, the representation of genders between the early funnies and nowadays differ considerably. According with the magazine, young women look beautiful, men looks at best grotesque but

this tendency changes towards the middle of twenty century: funny looking men being co

mbined with funny looking women or realistic looking women with realistic looking man.

Apparently, the social changes affect the way who the characters looks likes and their powers. Is common observed superheroes related with atomic powers after the II World War or women with the same powers and capacities as a man after the eighties, however, superheroes still be a good form of entertainment for the society when can express their feelings and ideas about a more justice society or at least in the ideally.

LINKS

Here are some links about the music of Editus!!

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqcu1yH_rHg&feature=PlayList&p=A2CE35D62832B085&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=34

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egz1Q0omWC8

3. http://www.myspace.com/editus

Editus is the name of a famous Costa Rican group of music who has formed in 1991. It is compose for a trio and together they blend different styles of jazz, instrumental music and new age with the folkloric sounds of Costa Rica. The tree members are: Ricardo Ramirez (on the violin and keyboards), Edin Solis (guitar) and Carlos Vargas (percussion and keyboard).

The name Editus comes from a Latin term that means “high” and “sublime” and their objective is to show at the rest of the world the textures of the jazz, folklore, pop, new age and afro Caribbean music together.

Editus has been playing in around 30 countries around the world specially in North America, Europe and Latin America, also, they had appear in places like The New York’s Cargenie Hall, United Nations in New York, The Kennedy’s Center Washington DC, the Olympia in Paris, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and many others.

In 2000 they won one Grammy Awards for the “Best Latin Pop Presentation” for the son

g called “Tiempos” (Times) , also they got the Award in 2003 for the “Best World Music Album” and “Best Tropical Contemporary Album” for the Album “Mundo” (World).

They also has received domestic prizes, for example, one from the most important Newspaper of Costa Rica called “La Nacion” (The Nation), although the National Association of Authors and Musician Compositor privileged them as “The group with Best International Projection” as well as other important distinguishes.

They had a good career in United States specially in different colleges around the country. Editus is played and also teaches in distinguished universities, for example Berkley University, University of Wisconsin, Bowling Green University, University of Florida, Northeastern University, as many others.

Some of the most recognized Albums that they had make are “Ilusiones” 1994 (Illusions); “Ineditos” 1996 (Inedited), “Calle del Viento” 1998 (Wind street); “Poetica” 2002 (Poetic); “New Age” 2004 and “Editus Clasico” 2005 (Classic Editus).

In 2008 Editus make a tour in Asia when got great successful, otherwise, this group has a music school in Costa Rica for the most prominent children that wants to be musician and the last year they was selected like the personality of the year in the Light Festival in Costa Rica.

Carmen Lyra

Carmen Lyra:

Maria Isabel Carvajal was a Costa Rican writer who was born in 1888 and died on May 13, 1949. One famous writer called her the “Daughter of the Love” because her mother was single, aspect unprecedented in the XIX century. She wrote under the name of “Carmen Lyra”, this pseudonym comes from the name of two important streets in Chile, where she lived for a couple years.

When she finished her studies in education, she worked in a rural Kindergarten called “El Monte” (The Mountain) then in 1906, she worked in a famous hospital in Costa Rica.

In 1914 during the First World War, she assumed leadership of a Journal when published politic articles and short stories for kids. In 1919 she helped organize women schoolteachers to burn down the building of the official newspaper and to overthrow the dictatorship of Federico Tinoco.

Her first publication was the novel “En una silla de ruedas” (In a wheelchair), 1918. It is characterized for a poetic version and a sentimental Costumbrismo (name of a literacy’s genre based in local everyday life, mannerisms, and customs.)

In 1920 Carmen Lyra wrote her most famous books in a collection called “Cuentos de mi tia Panchita” (Story of my aunt Panchita) in 1920. This short stories are very famous in the children and even nowadays are been using in the Costa Rican schools.

In 1920’s Carmen traveled to Europe and learned about the new educational system, after that, she works for different kindergartens in the country. However, she felt that needed some different and fight for the social ideas that she believes. For this reason, she

translated the Communism Manifiesto into Spanish in 1920 and become a member of the Communism party of Costa Rica.

In 1934 Carvajal went on to take a leading role in the babana workers strike. Duri

ng this time wrote “Hombres y Bananos” (Bananas and Men). In 1948 after the Costa Rica Civil War, she was exiled in Mexico when she died in 1949.

In 1976, the Congress of Costa Rica declared her “Meritorious of the homeland” for her contribution to the literature and the social justice.

Maria Isabel Carvajal or Carmen Lyra becomes one of the most famous writers and a teachers in Costa Rica. Personally I really admire all her contribution for my country especially in the 1940’s but also I have the conviction that she is part of my ancestors because she had the same last name and her first kindergarten was in the little town when I grew up, also when I look her picture is like seeing my grandmother’s picture, but in any case, she is part of my family for her liberal ideas.