Kings, Queens, Knights, & Jesters


Book Description

Instructions for making medieval costumes such as king, monk, knight, peasant, and minstrel, with facts about the medieval period.




Fools Are Everywhere


Book Description

In this lively work, Beatrice K. Otto takes us on a journey around the world in search of one of the most colorful characters in history—the court jester. Though not always clad in cap and bells, these witty, quirky characters crop up everywhere, from the courts of ancient China and the Mogul emperors of India to those of medieval Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. With a wealth of anecdotes, jokes, quotations, epigraphs, and illustrations (including flip art), Otto brings to light little-known jesters, highlighting their humanizing influence on people with power and position and placing otherwise remote historical figures in a more idiosyncratic, intimate light. Most of the work on the court jester has concentrated on Europe; Otto draws on previously untranslated classical Chinese writings and other sources to correct this bias and also looks at jesters in literature, mythology, and drama. Written with wit and humor, Fools Are Everywhere is the most comprehensive look at these roguish characters who risked their necks not only to mock and entertain but also to fulfill a deep and widespread human and social need.




Fools and Jesters in Literature, Art, and History


Book Description

Jesters and fools have existed as important and consistent figures in nearly all cultures. Sometimes referred to as clowns, they are typological characters who have conventional roles in the arts, often using nonsense to subvert existing order. But fools are also a part of social and religious history, and they frequently play key roles in the rituals that support and shape a society's system of beliefs. This reference book includes alphabetically arranged entries for approximately 60 fools and jesters from a wide range of cultures. Included are entries for performers from American popular culture, such as Woody Allen, Mae West, Charlie Chaplin, and the Marx Brothers; literary characters, such as Shakespeare's Falstaff, Rabelais' Gargantua and Pantagruel, and Singer's Gimpel; and cultural and mythological figures, such as India's Birbal, the American circus clown, the Native American Coyote, Taishu Engeki of Japan, Hephaestus, Loki the Norse fool, schlimiels and schlimazels, and the drag queen. The entries, written by expert contributors, are critical as well as informative. Each begins with a biographical, artistic, religious, or historical background section, which places the subject within a larger cultural and historical context. A description and analysis follow. This section may include a discussion of the fool's appearance, gender role, ethical and moral roles, social function, and relationship to such themes as nature, time, and mortality. The entry then discusses the critical reception of the subject and concludes with an extensive bibliography of general works.










The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester


Book Description

In the early 12th century, members of the Chinese royal court found themselves surrounded by advisors who mirrored only their own perspectives. Out of fear and complacency, few of these advisors challenged accepted wisdom, questioned the status quo, or voiced their concerns. Insightful leaders realized this denied them critical access to the reality about themselves and their organizations. Court jesters, however, free from conventional restraints and fears, began to supply truth in very clever ways, thereby opening up new perspectives, insights, ideas and options for those leaders they attended. Today, more than ever, individuals are searching for ways to positively contribute to organizational leadership, culture and behavior. To do that successfully, they need insight into organizational truth as well as strategies to reveal that truth to others in a way that does not cause defensiveness or resistance. Jesters are needed as much today just as they were in the courts of old. David Riveness, in his insightful and entertaining book The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester, reveals how to adopt and apply a ?jester's perspective.? The perspective and behaviors of a jester can be understood and adopted by anyone regardless of his or her organization, role or position. Those who apply what they learn from this book can wield significant influence and bring about remarkable positive change.David Riveness is the founder and CEO of Corporate Jester, an organization created to assist individuals and organizations learn, develop and apply strategies for success. As part of this role, he delivers personalized keynote addresses, learning sessions and coaching for companies, organizations, and individuals. Prior to founding Corporate Jester, David served as the Director of Global Facilitations for Eagle?s Flight, a worldwide innovator in the development and delivery of practical training programs for organizations. While at Eagle?s Flight, he facilitated and implemented training programs with such industry leaders as Warner Bros., NIKE, ESPN, Pfizer, The American Heart Association and Citibank on a variety of topics relating to organizational and individual effectiveness. David has hosted dynamic training workshops and speaking engagements ranging from small groups to large workshops with 3,500 attendees. He has worked as a facilitator and speaker around the world, including such diverse locations as India, China and Brazil




Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins--Jester Lavorre


Book Description

What's a nice tiefling like Jester doing in a party like the Mighty Nein? Jester Lavorre had an unconventional upbringing, even for one born in cosmopolitan Nicodranas. Daughter of the famed Ruby of the Sea, she had many opportunities for mischief as a small child, of which she took full advantage! Dive into the mystery of Jester's early years, her first meeting with the Traveler, and the fateful events that set her on a path to eventually join the Mighty Nein. Jester's story is brought to life by writer Sam Maggs (Captain Marvel; The Unstoppable Wasp) with art by Hunter Severn Bonyun, in direct consultation with Laura Bailey! It's available as a gorgeous hardcover, ready to take its place in your Critical Role library!




Tyll


Book Description

The New York Times Best Historical Fiction of 2020 The Guardian's Best Fiction of 2020 Thrillist's Best Books of the Year Daniel Kehlmann transports the medieval legend of the trickster Tyll Ulenspiegel to the seventeenth century in an enchanting work of magical realism, macabre humor, and rollicking adventure. Tyll is a scrawny boy growing up in a quiet village until his father, a miller with a forbidden interest in alchemy and magic, is found out by the church. After Tyll flees with the baker’s daughter, he falls in with a traveling performer who teaches him his trade. As a juggler and a jester, Tyll forges his own path through a world devastated by the Thirty Years’ War, evading witch-hunters, escaping a collapsed mine outside a besieged city, and entertaining the exiled King and Queen of Bohemia along the way. The result is both a riveting story and a moving tribute to the power of art in the face of the senseless brutality of history. Translated from the German by Ross Benjamin




Fools and Jesters at the English Court


Book Description

Fools have been a feature of virtually every recorded culture in the history of civilization, making significant contributions to the development of early theatre and literary drama. This book offers a reign by reign chronicle of English court fools.




Jester Leaps In


Book Description

Featuring Theophilos of the Fool's Guild.




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