Saturday, June 29, 2013

Happy 4th of July Historical and Patriotism Blog!


~2013 4th of July 20 Artist/Designer Feature & Historical Blog~







Time for our once in a year-time 4th of July Blog. Last year we were a standard blog, this year, its about the history!

We have chosen 20 Zazzle artists to be featured in each sectional for this blog, make sure to share with your friends, especially if you are a Zazzler, pin to Pinterest for your treasuries or browse a wide selection of products by tag at the NEW improved Zazzle. Please bare with them as changes are made!

Enjoy!


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~History of 4th of July and the Revolutionary War~




Americans almost celebrated 4th of July on July 2nd, which was the predicted day according to John Adams that the Revolutionary War would end and was written and publicized on the Declaration of Independence  the actual date the resolution of Independence was improves and closed in Congress. Historians have disputed, too, whether the Congress signed the Declaration of the 4th of the 2nd.  In fact, they later disputed that the Declaration was signed a month later.

Since, by remarkable coincidence, both John Adams & Jefferson died on July 4th which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. So it was already set in stone by the time another founding father died on July 4th, so it being apparent that the disputed day remain July 4th!



Revolutionary war pic, click pic for website ref.



As you already know, the Revolution the the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain with the 2nd Continental Congress voted to approve Independence that had been proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. 

The British had insisted, as well as in France and during the Indian wars, and other countries during England's world war of power, to TAX colonists to finance the colonies' military defense. The people spoke and declared taxation without representation was illegal.





Well through to the Boston Tea Party incident in 1773, the locals were not happy with British rules and taxation. The came the Congress of declared traitors by royal decree, responding with a blow to declare Independence from England. 

France, Spain the Dutch extended help and ships to General George Washington and because of Jamestown and France ships blocking England from getting home for supplies, the American and French fleets drove the English. This war lasted more than a decade and influenced Quebec, French and Spain revolutionists.




Battle of Quebec  - Revolutionary war

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States) for ref


So there's some needed history! Now here's 5 fabulous Revolutionary products from awesome designers displaying their Historical patriotism of July 4th, 1776!










1776 Eagle Shirt
1776 Eagle Shirt by dstryker
Create custom made t-shirts online at zazzle.com






American Revolution Research Binder
American Revolution Research Binder by arklights
Find other American revolution Binders at zazzle.com














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~4th of July and Patriotic Celebrations~



Actually, they started in New England on the night before 4th of July,  towns would gather together, assembled from hogsheads and barrels and casks. The most celebrated was in Salem Massachusetts with massive bonfires, very Pagan like rituals ensued. The custom flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries and is still practiced in many towns in New England. 





Can you imagine singing during fireworks every time they go off? 

Well in the old days, 4th of July firework celebrations were accompanied with national Patriotic songs such as "America the Beautiful" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and in the south "Dixie".  Overtime into the 40's, 4th of July televised celebrations, cook outs, block parties and gatherings for fireworks have become an everyday thing in the USA.


http://www.july4thbristolri.com/ for ref.




The Oldest known celebration was first held in 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island and continues to be the oldest celebration dedicated to Independence Day and is named "America's most Patriotic town", giving an annual parade, contest and celebration.






Now for some awesome Historical 4th of July products from 5 awesome designers! Make sure to share this blog with your friends, cool info and history, not to mention, you are being featured! Enjoy!
























Vintage Patriotic Bear Keychain
Vintage Patriotic Bear Keychain by Vintage_Gifts
Look at Template Keychains online at Zazzle.com






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~Fireworks Historical & Patriotic~


Fireworks Over the Port by Ferdinand Du Puigaudeau 1864-1930



Fireworks were first used for different events, in fact, in China in the 7th Century. They were used to accompany many festivals and quickly spread to other parts of China including the Spring Festival (Chinese New year) and Mid Autumn Festival.
When did fireworks become a big part of our 4th of July celebration, though? 

In 1778, General George Washington started it off with a bang with thirteen gunshots once in the morning and once at night and later became 13 speeches, prayers, music and parades to represent the 13 joined colonies. It wasn't until 1789 during Washington's inauguration that a full fireworks display was held during 4th of July celebrations. 

Fireworks were not a new thing to the Americas though, the earliest settlers brought their fascination with fireworks along the journey to America and were throwing fireworks celebrations long before the revolutionary war.


That's some history and facts about fireworks! Now for 5 FAB fireworks for 4th of July inspired products from fantastic Zazzle designers. Enjoy!

























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~The Many Flags of America~


Instead of giving you History on the American flag, why not delve into Early Americans and the flag waving trend!



US 13 Star Flag Preserved from War.


In 1777, the first "Flag Act" was passed to resolve that for the 13 states, there be thirteen alternating stripes with a union of 13 stars in a field of blue. There were debates over the number 15 because of Vermont & Kentucky adding to the Union, but remained as of 1818, 13 stars and stripes for the original 13 Colonies and was official as of 4th of July. 

Then, as of the 1950's, Eisenhower appointed that the flag be redesigned to accept the 50 states and appointed Robert G. Heft to design the new flag we see today. He was only 17 years old at the time and it was treated as a school project. 




34 Star Flag of the US.


Eventually the flag incorporated 34, then 45, 47 & 48 & 50 and finally 52 as of our last two states. There have been many designs made and some specially flown in our Navy for the last 2 centuries.


For centuries up until then, and still today, there were specific rules on how it was to be hung and represented by commercial and residential buildings and flag makers and retailers had to have their designs meet specific guide lines before distributions. 

The first Distribution of flags, though were between the North and the South during the Civil War to get people on either side and were made at home by their wives. From then, till today, we still revere the 50 star, 13 striped flag as the Official United States flag!


Now for these designers to show off their American Flag price! Here's 5 awesome products to enjoy! 







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That's it for this year! We want you all to have a SAFE and wonderful 4th of July! Thank you for coming out and showing support for Zazzle and make sure to share this blog to your friends. Have a wonderful picnic, gathering, celebration and....


Don't forget to Zazzle!




~Renee~


Thursday, April 25, 2013

Science Fiction History & Culture Featuring 20 Zazzle Artists!

Science Fiction Historical & Cultural Blog
Including Zazzle Promotions 



Thank you all for coming out! All artists that come out here, thank you and subscribe for future blogs. We tend to run into quite a few again and again! 





This blog is not only about art but History, Culture & different variations of Sci-fi Fan-lore.


 Through out each sectional we have scattered various Zazzle artists related to information. Make sure to visit the references and share to Science Fiction fans! Enjoy!





Jules Verne





Jules Verne (1828-1905), noted French scientific author wrote Around the World in Eighty Days (1873), Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1869); So was he the one who created the Sci-Fi concept? 


Nope! Here's a little history I copied and pasted for you below, with reference of course!


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History of Science Fiction  


The term "science fiction" was used first in 1851 (in Chapter 10 of William Wilson's A Little Earnest Book upon a Great Old Subject): "Science-Fiction, in which the revealed truths of Science may be given interwoven with a pleasing story which may itself be poetical and true."


So who created science Fiction?

I guess that would depend on the more modernized term. Lets go back in history, shall we? 


First lets introduce 5 outstanding artists that were also influenced by the History of Science Fiction as well as some speculative evidence! Who knows, some fiction might be fact! 





UFOS ARE REAL TEE SHIRT
UFOS ARE REAL TEE SHIRT by SimonwDesigns
Look at other Ufos T-Shirts at zazzle.com






Lord Vishnu - Card, Greeting, Invite
Lord Vishnu - Card, Greeting, Invite by GRAPHICSITE
Check out Lord Invitations online at zazzle






Alien Archeology Square Magnet
Alien Archeology Square Magnet by geo_barr
View more Science fiction Magnets at zazzle.com














Ancient Aliens





Science fiction has a long prehistory! The epics of early Greek civilization, for example, feature superhuman beings such as the residents of Mount Olympus and include a marvelous voyage to far distant worlds (way out in the Mediterranean) inhabited by one-eyed giants, a six-headed monster, a creature that swallows passing ships, and a woman who chemically transforms people into animals.






Indian Sanskrit  - describe flying machines called Vimanas (Egyptian Megaliths)

Infact the culture still lives on today, although its not fiction to some of them, they certainly do look rather simliar to what we image UFOs to portray, or spaceships for that manner.








There were even ancient paintings on Ancient Egyptian, Mayan, Hopi, Zuni scrolls, caves, tombs and better yet, there were Ancient Egyptian hyroglphs that depict hybrid creatures that were both creature and man, and so did the Ancient Indian Sanskrit texts that dipict the same. 

Not to mention crystal skulls that were believed to have ancient Alien detector systems when they are out all together! Really, Science Fiction goes way back, to caveman drawings of giants and flying creatures, they were the first to spot a UFO! Can we say its Fiction though? Either way, these truths inspire so many Science Fiction writers today and Historically.

So who brought all those concepts into the first movie?


Before this question is answered give a hand to these 5 outstanding artists on their Alien & Alien World works at Zazzle! Just a gorgeous selection, couldn't settle for just 5! So, don't stop there! Hit the tags and visit more artists at Zazzle and don't forget to tell your friends!




Beguiled Dreams Print
Beguiled Dreams Print by WindWave
Shop for Posters & Prints online at Zazzle.com






Gate To Nowhere Calendar 2014
Gate To Nowhere Calendar 2014 by inganielsen
Create a unique custom calendar online at zazzle.com



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Metropolis




Metropolis is a 1927 German expressionist science-fiction film directed by Fritz Lang. The film was written by Lang and his wife Thea Von Harbou, and starred Brigitte Helm, Gustav Fröhlich, Alfred Abel and Rudolf Klein-Rogge. A silent film, it was produced in the Babelsberg Studios by UFA. Made in Germany during the Weimar Period, Metropolis is set in a futuristic urban dystopia, and follows the attempts of Freder, the wealthy son of the city's ruler, and Maria, whose background is not fully explained in the film, to overcome the vast gulf separating the classist nature of their city.


This movie is amazing with the 80's music. Really captures that all Sci-Fi vibe! This was probably the only movie of its time to opened the door to "people talking to you through screens" and a "huge electrical city fueled by under-grown slaves" with a powerful "executive" controlling it all. The Robot, in film, that was a first. However, it was not the FIRST concepts of robots!




So who came up with that wild crazy idea? You must think the mad scientists and crazy girl who wanted a pet girlfriend, right?

NOPE! Heres alittle History ;)



Robots


First controlled experiement with a robot in 1921











http://inventors.about.com/od/roboticsrobots/a/RoboTimeline.htm ref

~270BC an ancient Greek engineer named Ctesibus made organs and water clocks with movable figures.

1818 - Mary Shelley wrote "Frankenstein" which was about a frightening artificial lifeform created by Dr. Frankenstein.

1921 - The term "robot" was first used in a play called "R.U.R." or "Rossum's Universal Robots" by the Czech writer Karel Capek. The plot was simple: man makes robot then robot kills man!

1941 - Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov first used the word "robotics" to describe the technology of robots and predicted the rise of a powerful robot industry.





Also Leonardo Da Vinci Designed the very first in 1445! It Had actual mechanical parts!


There's a bunch more but you will have to visit the ref. for more!


Its time for some more Robotic creations from fellow Zazzle Artists, amazing as always, make sure to share!




Alpha Seven Skateboard
Alpha Seven Skateboard by bryandrinkscoffee
Shop for Artsprojekt Skateboards online at Zazzle.com










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Gatherings/Conventions/Character Creation

So who were the first to gather and dress and talk about "Science Fiction"?.




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction_convention#History_of_science_fiction_conventions ref
The precise time and place of the first science fiction convention is a matter of some dispute. Sometime in 1936, a group of British fans made plans to have an organized gathering, with a planned program of events, in a public venue, in early 1937. On October 22, 1936, however, a group of six or seven fans from New York City, including David Kyle and Frederik Pohl, traveled by train to Philadelphia, PA, where they visited for several hours with a similar number of local fans at the house of Milton A. Rothman, declaring that event the first "science fiction convention."





There are tons going on now a days, special movies and series, television shows make Sci-Fi not just a concept, but a lifestyle. 


But the first group, inst. to walk, talk, dress like a Science Fiction character? 

Star Trek? Think again!




Actually the first Star Trek convention was held in the late 1960s!


Well that actually started with a few books! Fans would first name themselves through "Fandom" communicating, basically Fan clubs. This started as early as the 1930's. "Fanzines" would inspire gatherings and then later costume events. There has been no "Fandom" ever than Science Fiction, that influenced costume wearing events, Sherlock Holmes, another inspiration of "Fandom" inspired very few if any costume gatherings. 



1939 Furrest Jackerman in Futuristic Garb (FIRST Worldcon Convention)

The most well known Scifi conventions started with Star Trek and Star Wars, but the first was inspired by an author named Hugo Gernsback's Amazing Stories , inspired by Vernes and creators before him, making the first Science Fiction costume wearing Convention being in 1939 in New York City through Worldcon, who also later embraced many diverse Science Fiction Fandom!


Bob Johnson author of Fanzine "ORB" 1941 Worldcon Convention

Since then, Worldcon held a yearly convention in New York City. It grew in popularity over the next 50 years. Now there are MANY conventions, ones that are organized by the fans, the authors and more. 


List of fanzines http://fanac.org/fanzines/NYcon/NYcon1pb-00.html
Pics from Worldcon conventions http://fanac.org/worldcon



Lets not leave those artists out now! These 5 outstanding artists have created their own characters and thanks to the geeks from the pasts, they have opened a wave of some of the best comic artists & 3D simulation I have seen at Zazzle! Great job guys!






QUE POSTER
QUE POSTER by bellcomics
See additional Poster templates & designs online at Zazzle.com




Wrath of the Archangels XBox 360 skin
Wrath of the Archangels XBox 360 skin by StudioTyn
Check out more Robot Skins at Zazzle




Sci-Fi Anime Girl Sleeves For iPads
Sci-Fi Anime Girl Sleeves For iPads by OrganicMetal
Check out Gamer iPad Sleeves online at zazzle







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Thank you all for coming out for our Historical Blog and feature! Make sure to share with your friends, great info, most ref and there, some you will have to click on some pictures. All Historical pictures are curtesy of their associated links! 

Live LONG and prosper and........






Don't Forget to Zazzle!

~Renee~

Shop for a personalized gift at Zazzle.