![]() ![]() The Chinese terms used for "jester" now seem vaguer than the European, most of them having a wider meaning of "actor" or "entertainer." In Chinese there is no direct translation of the English "jester," no single word that to the present-day Chinese conjures an image as vividly as "court jester," fou du roi, or Hofnarr would to a Westerner. The jester's quicksilver qualities are equally difficult to pin down, but nevertheless not beyond definition. He can be any of these, while the German word Narr is not so much a stem as the sturdy trunk of a tree efflorescent with fool vocabulary. The European words used to denote him can now seem as nebulous as they are numerous, reflecting the mercurial man behind them: fool, buffoon, clown, jongleur, jogleor, joculator, sot, stultor, scurra, fou, fol, truhan, mimus, histrio, morio. ![]() 179-117 B.C.), Rhapsody on the Shanglin Park Horace (65-8 B.C.), Satires, 2.3.158 Then come jesters, musicians and trained dwarfs,Īnd singing girls from the land of Ti-ti, (from Chapter 1: Facets of the Fool and Chapter 7: Stultorum Plena Sunt Omnia, or Fools Are Everywhere) Lee Siegel, author of Love in a Dead Language ![]() This is a fun book, bristling with pleasurable details." Undaunted by the vastness of her subject and its resources, she presents a dazzling and entertaining collection of quotes, anecdotes, epigraphs, jokes, and comic texts. "Sparkling with enthusiasm and wit, the text is sustained with Otto's love of her subject and informed by both her erudition and her very good sense of humor. In her richly detailed chapters (and an appendix listing 334 named fools in the historical record), Otto makes a vigorous case for the jester's ubiquityfrom the ancient Chinese court to the Elizabethan stage to the modern corporate suiteand for the consistency of his characteristics: attachment to a particular ruler physical or mental deformity (real or pretended) concern for the general welfare of the people and the freedom to alert isolated kings, emperors, sultans, even popes of their 'moral halitosis.'" " lively survey of the state-sponsored mischief maker and his irrepressible, life-giving spirit. Well worth a look by avid readers with an eye for an informative yet uncommon title." Through anecdotes, historical details, analyses, and commentary, Otto brilliantly delineates the court jester, and quotations and illustrations do much to enhance this eminently readable text. Otto's lively, well-researched text proves that there are centuries of other examples and that the jester has a rich tradition worldwide. These range from items associated with the history of the order itself to pieces related to the work of humorists from the past, including William Shakespeare."Mention a court jester, and one pictures a whimsical creature in a belled hat or, perhaps, the ill-fated character in King Lear. In addition to the brotherhood aspects of the organization, the International Royal Order of Jesters maintains a museum in Indiana where it showcases historical articles. All members, referred to as Jesters, join the organization only upon invitation, presuming good-standing membership in the Shriners. Later, at another meeting in 1917, the organization received its current framework, which consists of the Royal Director and 13 other titles that include the Royal Heavy Man, the Royal Serio Comic, the Royal Tragedian, the Royal Impresario, the Royal Light Comedian, the Royal Leading Lady, the Royal Soubrette, the Royal Property Man, and the Royal Constable. Wilhelmina after a Testimonial Banquet hosted by the ship's captain and officers. The meeting took place in the Captain's Office aboard the S.S. Ellison, the original members, known as a cast, consisted of 13 Shriners headed to Aloha Temple on a pilgrimage. When the founding members gathered in Hawaii on February 20, 1911, they chose the name of the Royal Order of Jesters to build upon this history and to set the tone for the organization. The organization exists for the encouragement of laughter and fun in leisure time, as evidenced by the motto “Mirth is King.” The Royal Order of Jesters draws its name from the licensed court fools in medieval times known as jesters, who not only amused the patrons whom they served, but also assisted in intellectual and cultural development. Founded in 1911, the Royal Order of Jesters functions in connection with Freemasonry and the Shriners. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |