Street Artists paint amazing, playful optical illusions

To bring awareness to the worn out and abandoned buildings in the city of Saint-Étienne, French street artists Ella and Pitr have created a series of wonderful anamorphic murals. Whimsical and playful, each piece in this public art series typically features a gigantic illustrated picture frame that appears to be a portal to another world that is more colorful and fantastical than our own.

By strategically placing people—who are volunteers living in the city—in these picture frames, the artists are able to create surreal images where it is difficult to distinguish between the second and third dimensions. The vibrancy of the images captured within these painted frames also stands in stark contrast to their dilapidated surroundings, thus bringing attention to the sorry states of the buildings. View the rest of these incredible artworks below — or check out more of the talented artists’ work here. Source: http://lustik.tumblr.com/.

SW Picture of the Day: Leia goes to the beach

After defeating Jabba and escape from slavery, our heroine takes a good time on a beach far, far away with some friends and… her daddy???

Since Return of the Jedi debuted in theaters in 1983 geeks around the world have fallen in love with Princess Leia’s metal bikini, but we only saw her being pawed by Jabba the Hutt. Back to the 1980s we got to see a lot more of Leia in these vintage funny Star Wars photos published on Rolling Stone magazine’s August 1983 edition promoting the third Star Wars movie. I already had seeing one or two pictures but it’s the first time I found the complete series including an interview with Carrie Fisher. Behold the glory of Slave Leia frolicking on the beach. It’s great to see how much fun Carrie Fisher has in the costume because we already know she hated wearing it in the movie. And, oh my God, she is absolutely stunning.

Visual Guide to Lightsabers

“This was the formal weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. More skill than simple sight was required for its use. An elegant weapon. It was a symbol as well. Anyone can use a blaster or a fusioncutter—but to use a lightsaber well was a mark of someone a cut above the ordinary.” ― Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Designed as much for elegance in combat as for ceremony, the lightsaber, also referred to as the “laser sword” by those who were unfamiliar with it, was a distinctive weapon, the very image of which was inextricably bound with the mythos of the Jedi Order and their polar opposites, the Sith. The lightsaber also became synonymous with the Jedi Order’s values to uphold peace and justice throughout the galaxy. This perception endured, despite the many conflicts with lightsaber-wielding Sith and Dark Jedi.

“These weapons are not playthings. A lightsaber is a dangerous and destructive instrument, a powerful blade that can strike down an opponent—or a friend, if you’re not careful.”―Luke Skywalker to his students.

The weapon consisted of a blade of pure plasma emitted from the hilt and suspended in a force containment field. The field contained the immense heat of the plasma, protecting the wielder, and allowed the blade to keep its shape. The hilt was almost always self-fabricated by the wielder to match his or her specific needs, preferences and style. The hilt was also built similarly to his or her master’s lightsaber as a mark of respect. Due to the weightlessness of plasma and the strong gyroscopic effect generated by it, lightsabers required a great deal of strength and dexterity to wield, and it was extremely difficult—and dangerous—for the untrained to attempt using. However, in the hands of an expert of the Force, the lightsaber was a weapon to be greatly respected and feared. To wield a lightsaber was to demonstrate incredible skill and confidence, as well as masterful dexterity and attunement to the Force.

Physical and technical specifications:

Shape: Cylindrical
Size: Small, typically hand-held
Color(s): Various blade colors depending on crystal
Material(s): Various, usually metal
Length:
Hilt: Usually 24-30 centimeters
Blade: Usually 145 centimeters
Weight: 1 kg
Range: 130 cm

Source for text: Wookieepedia.

Middle-Earth Map featuring J.R.R. Tolkien’s annotations discovered

Map goes on sale in Oxford for £60,000 after being found inside novel belonging to illustrator Pauline Baynes

Source: The Guardian. Text: ScreenRant.

Blackwell’s Rare Books in Oxford, England is exactly the sort of place you would hope to find a piece of literary treasure. So it is fitting that a special map has recently been discovered within an old book here – a map that ties a fantasy place that we have seen envisioned in books and on screen, with reality.

J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle-earth is an intricate fantasy universe where his novels (The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy) take place. The discovery of this map is particularly significant because it has been annotated by the author himself, his edits giving an insight into his inspiration for these vast lands he described so vividly.

Tolkien’s Middle-earth novels were published between 1936 and 1955 and quickly came to be regarded as classics, appealing to both child and adult readers. Peter Jackson’s film adaptations of the books brought new life to the stories in this century, as advances in CGI allowed the range of fantasy creatures and epic locations to be created with justice on screen. It is the illustrated maps of Middle-earth featured within the novels that aid understanding of the geography described within the works – a vital guide to these stories about legendary journeys across continents.

Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in Jackson’s Middle-earth movies, has posted a pic of said annotated map online:

"Perhaps the finest piece of Tolkien ephemera to emerge in the last 20 years." bit.ly/1kzKLfH https://t.co/v7VxzmwuEW—
Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) October 26, 2015

The annotated map was discovered tucked into a copy of Lord Of The Rings that belonged to illustrator Pauline Baynes – who had been commissioned to create the map in color for an edition of the books to be published in 1970. Both Tolkien and Baynes have annotated the map and their notes reveal that some Middle-earth locations were in fact based on real places.

The notebooks reveal that Hobbiton is on the same latitude as Oxford, and imply that the Italian city of Ravenna could be the inspiration behind Minas Tirith. Photograph: Blackwell’s Rare Books. Source: The Guardian.

The Guardian has reported that ‘Hobbiton’ shares a latitude with Oxford (where Tolkien taught at the university). In addition, Jerusalem, Belgrade and Cyprus are referenced and it seems Ravenna, Italy inspired the Middle-earth city ‘Minas Tirith’. In addition to these details, the map conveys the exacting nature of Tolkien’s design and working process. Blackwell’s (which is exhibiting the map in Oxford) has been quoted, clarifying the implication of their discovery:

“Before going on display in the shop this week, this had only ever been in private hands. One of the points of interest is how much of a hand Tolkien had in the poster map; all of his suggestions, and there are many, are reflected in Baynes’s version……. The degree to which it is properly collaborative was not previously apparent, and couldn’t be without a document like this. Its importance is mostly to do with the insight it gives into that process.”

Check out a portion of the annotated map, below:

Tolkien’s extensive mythology indicates a mind that was as exacting as it was creative. The collaboration with Baynes (who also worked with Tolkien’s long-time friend and author C.S. Lewis) proved to be paramount in creating the iconic illustrations we all associate with the Middle-earth novels. This discovery is important from an academic point of view but also a marvelous gift to fans of both the books and the movies alike.

The map can be viewed through Blackwell’s if you are in the UK, or purchased… if you care to part with $92,118, that is.

New X-Files Promo Poster: Trust No One

At New York Comic-Con, the premiere of The X-Files revival series (which is set to take place this January) was met with a stellar reaction from fans and mixed reaction from critics. It can be said the biggest problem with the episode is that it basically exists to return the show to its status quo. But given that the series hasn’t been on TV for more than a decade, it makes sense for the show to come back with something akin to an introduction of the series.

The hope for the subsequent episodes is that once the foundation is re-laid, the show will be able to get back to doing what it does best, creeping people out in very creative ways. Luckily, based on the new promo that was just released this evening, the show seems to be doing just that.

 While this new promo doesn’t reveal much, the new footage on display is certainly convincing that this revival series might actually turn out to be okay. Seeing a return to form for two of TV’s best FBI agents is a welcome sight indeed.

But the promos weren’t the only X-Files related material to hit the web today, as the network also put out a brand new poster teasing the return of series favorite, The Cigarette Smoking Man:

In addition to this ad, three more brand new promos leaked onto the Internet. During the hour they were up, fans got a chance to see what else the show has cooking. From these short clips, it seem things will really be getting good once the premiere episode does its thing. Chris Carter and crew appear to have put a lot of effort into their new monster-of-the-week episodes (of which there will be four), and they may just be the most promising part of the show’s return.

The artfulness to the various pieces of X-Files marketing materials has also been something to enjoy about the campaign. It wasn’t too long ago the network graced viewers with an all-new animated promo that was equal parts adorable and creepy. So far, these have been terrific pieces of marketing that are really going to get the word out about the show, as we head into the thick of television’s fall season.

The X-Files returns January 24^th, 2016 after the NFC Championship Game on Fox. Watch the new X-Files Promo on YouTube:

Source: ScreenRant.Com.