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College Course on Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel-Avengers

Ladies and gentlemen of the books, check your course listings, for instead of Chemistry you could be earning credit for studying the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Right now you have to be a student at the University of Baltimore, but if you are look for “Media Genres: Media Marvels” at registration, you and your fellow classmates will soon be exploring Marvel’s modern movie legacy together. The course is believed to be the first of its kind in the country.

According to the press release for the course, “you will scrutinize the intricately plotted world of Marvel films—the Iron Man, Thor and Captain America series, characters from the Avengers, and now the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, which is widely expected to be the highest grossing film of 2014 [and] examine how Marvel’s series of interconnected films and television shows, plus related media and comic book sources and Joseph Campbell’s monomyth of the “hero’s journey,” offer important insights into modern culture.”

“One thing we’ll do is dive into the impact of the Guardians of the Galaxy film, which proved two things: Mainstream movie audiences are not remotely tired of superhero movies; and Marvel Studios can now release a sci-fi adventure that actually features talking trees and raccoons,” said course instructor Arnold T. Blumberg, D.C.D. ’04, an adjunct faculty member in UB’s Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s not that they’re getting away with it—they’ve created a universe in which fans completely accept these developments, and they’re ready for even more.”
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Kerry Washington, the mermaid?

Kerry Washington and the entire Scandal cast are in full promotional mode, going on every talk show possible to promote the Season 4 premiere of the show, on September 25th at 9pm. She was recently on The Tonight Show and was asked if she has ever… Read More »Kerry Washington, the mermaid?

Agents of SHIELD S2-E1 Recap: Shadows

“Shadows” sets up what has become the new normal for Coulson and his team since the fallout of last season and sets the trajectory for this new season. In 1945, Peggy Carter and the Howling Commandos have infiltrated and destroyed what they think is the… Read More »Agents of SHIELD S2-E1 Recap: Shadows

Shanghai Disneyland Update

Enchanted Storybook Castle - Shanghai Disneyland - Final Model V

Shanghai Disneyland construction is well underway and working fast to open to the public. In August it appointed Philippe Gas, previously of Disneyland Paris, as General Manager and has been building up a corp group of cast members by sending them to Walt Disney World for training in the parks.

The park itself is already attracted awards. The innovative technology behind the Enchanted Storybook Castle has won the International Architecture award from the American Institute of Architects. Walt Disney Imagineering was recognized for its successful implementation of Building Information Modeling, the process of generating and managing digital representations of structures and facilities.

“As construction of the Shanghai Disney Resort continues on its theme park and associated facility development, we’re constantly defining and redefining themed entertainment with innovation, and we do that not just in the technology behind our attractions, but also in the way we design and develop them,” said Howard Brown, Senior Vice President and Project Development Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai. “The Enchanted Storybook Castle is designed with retail, dining, operations and theatrical spaces, and a ride system running through it which marries traditional architectural detailing with modern building technology. It would be hard to imagine designing and building such a complex structure without having one integrated, central, smart model like Building Information Modeling.”

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Million Dollar Arm Swings Onto Blu-Ray and DVD

Perhaps I had low expectations, but I left the theater feeling impressed with the “inspired by a true story” movie “Million Dollar Arm.” Not only were the performances good, the story wasn’t cookie cutter, and the emotions all one note. The movie will be available… Read More »Million Dollar Arm Swings Onto Blu-Ray and DVD

Disney has a Times Square Problem

When you think of Disney in Times Square, NYC. the company wants you to think of this

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and this

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and this

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But what a large portion of the 1.4 million tourists that pass through Times Square see every week is this

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and this

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It’s not a good situation. A half-decade or so ago in New York, there was just an occasional Mickey Mouse hanging out near the ABC studios trying not to look bored, a few years ago Elmo joined in the fun, but now there’s dozens of these costumed characters (often many duplicates of the same characters) just hanging out hoping that someone will give them a tip after posing for a picture with them.

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“Black-ish” Premieres tonight on ABC

It’s premiere week, so I’m here to give you “speedy reviews” of all the new ABC shows premiering this week. Next up, Black-ish. Starring: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne Plot: Andre (Anderson) thinks his middle class African-American family is ignoring their culture and… Read More »“Black-ish” Premieres tonight on ABC

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic returns for fifth year

If you want to experience culinary magic during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, but don’t want to pay an admission fee to only later spend big bucks sampling wine and small bites around the World Showcase, then you should know about the EPCOT Resort… Read More »Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic returns for fifth year