Since Johann Guttenberg invented the printing press, knowledge has become accessible to anyone. The Internet has made possible a search for virtually anything. The ways in which people are reading is gradually changing. The decline of traditional newspapers, for example, means people are accessing news in other ways. Books can now be read through electronic readers.

However, romantics will find it hard to let go of traditional printed books. Smelling paper, feeling the pages, having a book to hold – these are simple pleasures of a reader. On a book’s pages are windows to another world, a creation not only of the writer but also the reader. As English novelist Angela Carter said, “Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.”

Thousands of new books are printed every year. However, there will always be those that stand the test of time, books that have given its reader gratitude for the pleasure of their company.

The classical books are classics for a reason: they are timeless and its themes relevant even a hundred years on. The great playwright William Shakespeare is peerless in his talent for words and story-telling. His stories are still recreated today. Literary greats like Miguel de Cervantes, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jane Austen, Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Gustave Flaubert occupy their own spot in literature’s pantheon.

The works of Greek writers like Homer and Herodotus, and philosophers Aristotle and Plato have molded the minds of many thinkers.

Through the decades, writing has evolved and books have been classified according to a variety of genres. They may be fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, mystery/suspense, inspirational, young adults, and children. In recent years there have cropped up more niches, like chick lit (referring to light novels featuring the travails of modern women like Bridget Jones), travel memoir, and food writing.

Memorable books offer escape to a world, even if fantasy. JK Rowling’s phenomenally successful books on the wizard boy Harry Potter followed the footsteps of masters like JRR Tolkien. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series remains unmatched in its imagination of another world and in its mastery of language.

A good book convinces the reader of its reality. Some believe detective Sherlock Holmes exists, even if the character was only invented by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Indeed, different folks enjoy different books. Reading is not a solitary act, for a good book is like good company: time is well-spent, and memories will linger.

Literature has been together with mankind since history began. It has documented many events, which remain very particular for some. Important achievements were remembered because of the said literatures. For some, literatures and writings are very much helpful in expressing their feelings and emotions. Usually they express anger, happiness and delight through writing. Many emotion outbursts on how a person constructs his or her own literature.

There are different types of literatures. The most common among these are poems. Poems usually give in much emotion no matter how little or short it may seem. It is also easy to write. There may be some rules and guidelines as to writing such but the end product is a reading to die for. The most common heroes and personalities in the past are made known for their past contributions through poetry. For some, it is concise but very meaningful. One paragraph or stanza alone gives you a thrill and craving to read more. Again, rules may be present but a person is free to do his or her own work. A person is different and unique in his or her own way. You may consider such works as poetry as long as meaning is there.

Another popular literature type is short stories. This type usually encompasses experiences of writers. The goal of such is to share to the readers about such experiences so that they may be guided in life. Short stories in its own forte are also very touching. Short stories in a way can become novels and bring out delight and color to one’s reading. Ideas flow as one reads out such a piece of literature. It can embark on an adventure type, a love story even horror stories are possible depending on the writer. As mentioned earlier, a writer may write anything he or she wants and feels for his writing is freedom put into words. No one is compelled not to write something about anything in the world. All of us are equal. Therefore, anything is possible.

Some even write inspirational stories. These are usually good for elementary students to help them visualize of what life really is. It will help them pack up for their future ahead. It will also help them in situations and problems on how to solve and deal with them in the right manner. Inspirational stories usually bring out the color of life. These types of stories are the main attraction of life. These help us became who we are today. Life is complicated in a way that is why; these stories are somewhat outlined of how we should live life. It encompasses how we should live life and even how to give and take.

Movie reviews are also a part of literature. In case some may not know, literature has expanded its own through the internet. Simple opinions of some people about certain stuff are considered in its own way literature. Going back, movie reviews about how the movie goes, what are the positive and negative aspects of which are pure criticisms. However, when put into words these are part of literature that helps people decide. This is another way of expressing emotions and feelings. One’s feelings about how the actor portrayed his role can be done through criticism. Through this, one can distinguish the ups and downs of movies.

Literature, although complex gives in meaning. All of us have different perspectives in life. Therefore, we have our own writing styles. We have our own ideas of a certain topic. What may be true to you may not be true for me. Each of us gives in a unique blend to writing, which can satisfy not only our feelings but also the feelings of our co-dwellers. No matter how unique one can be, it simply distinguishes the feelings of one’s thinking. Through this, one can make someone happy just by writing. Article making has been done in newspaper companies and even on the internet. This is a chance of everybody to be heard writing on their own comforts. What are you waiting for, write and let your feelings be heard.

Serving as an introduction of all films is “Sunshine through the Rain.” This is the first division of the film. It talks about the cultural belief of native Japanese people of the past that a rainy sunny season is the parade wedding day of foxes. It is said also that whoever will witness the wedding procession of the foxes will get fatal consequences.

“The Peach Orchard” is played by the same young boy in “Sunshine through the Rain.” The desire of the child for peach trees has been emphasized in this story. The powerlessness of children to stop the adults from doing wrong is proven and supported true when the boy cried as he reminisces how the peach trees were cut down by his parents.

Four male mountaineers struggling in a driving strong wind of snow are the main characters of “The Blizzard”, the fourth short film in the movie.  These men are miraculously saved through spiritual intervention – with the representation of a woman.

A man in-charge of a platoon in the past is being haunted by his killed troop of men after passing through a dark tunnel in this short film called “The Tunnel.” The man confessed how much he wanted to die with his people than feeling the pain of regret and shame as he repeatedly reminisces how they died while that he survived.

“Crows” differs from other short films in this movie. It has touched a magical entry of an art student to a painting. The student’s life started to change when he searched for Vincent Van Gogh, a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter.

“Mount Fuji in Red” on which the title itself could speak of what the short film tries to explain. This is all about the meltdown of nuclear threatening a total devastation of the small country Japan. Here also, it is explained how men put a color to the different chemicals consisting of the nuclear weapon. It only makes people identify easier which kind of death they suffer when the nuclear meltdown happens.

“The Weeping Demon” is closely related with “Mount Fuji in Red.” It provokes men with the stupidity of mankind in making nuclear weapons. This is a short film which emphasizes men as they are called own builders of their own death. It views how much damage nuclear weapons cause to nature and humanity.

“Village of the Watermills” is a portrait of happiness among people of the village. The community in this scene is one with nature. With the unity, they show with nature, they are rewarded with happiness, good health and long life. The conclusion is a simple universal truth of people in remote village areas who are believed to be happier and well rewarded by nature over the people who search for power.

Overall, Akira Kurosawa is a genius director. The relationship and the association of the things in the past, present and the future are superbly organized. It makes us realize that we make our own destiny. The pictures in different scenes of the film are eye-friendly, especially for those who are very one with nature. Though there are some scenes, which seem to be unnecessary and slow-paced, but it’s perfectly a match of the masterpiece. The message of the film is straightforward that if you are one with nature you are blessed with the things you need in life.

He is considered to be the founder of Modern Chinese Literature. His literary works played a prominent role in China’s fight for revolution as it characterized a need for a transformation of the country’s culture. He believed that China had a backward society which led him eventually to realize the importance of literature and its power to change the life of his country.

Lu Xun spent his time in school with the support of his grandfather. In 1983, he lived with his mother’s family after his grandfather was imprisoned. He attended Jiangnan Naval Academy and later went onto School of Mines and Railways at the Jiangnan Military Academy wherein in both institutions served as his eye openers to the world of Western language. He had also known more about scientific learning in the same school.

In 1902, he traveled to Japan to study Japanese language. He later then took up medicine at Sendai Provincial Medical Academy in 1904. Being the first foreign student to enter the school, he acquired a good reputation there. He had built good relationships to his mentor Fujino Genkurou. With their closeness, he gave a respect to his mentor through an affectionate essay called “Mr. Fujino” which is found in Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk.

Years later, he dropped out from school as he realized his great drive for writing. With this desire, while staying in Tokyo, he was the editor of New Life. He had made essays to contribute to a Communist journal called Hanan. At times, he made some collaborative text work with his brother Zhou Zuoren.

He returned to China after staying in Japan for years. In 1909, he had been a teacher in Hangzhou and Shaoxing. He is a Chinese literature instructor in National Beijing University from 1920-1926. Also, he was a teacher in Xiamen (Amoy) University in 1926 and University of Canton in 1927.

It was in 1918 when he published his first story, story ‘K’uangjen jih-chi’, translated in English as ‘The Diary of a Madman’. This is inspired from a Gogol short story which criticizes metaphorically the outdated Chinese traditions and feudalism. This story became famous on its appearance in a popular journal for intellectual revolution called Hsin ch’ingnie.

Lu Xun had become an active member of leftist organizations such as China Freedom League, League for the Defense of Civil Rights and League of Left-Wing Writers. Being also one of the great influences in the May Fourth Movement, he fought for the rise of the modernists, socially critical movement. They then became the symbols of intellectual and artistic freedom.

The year 1936 had been hard for Lu Xung. He had tuberculosis, which had him weakened. On the same year after the first illness, he had bronchitis, asthma, and fever. He was punctured to drain 300 grams of fluid in his lungs as a part of treatment. His inconsistent recovery had somehow let him make essays, which tackle things associated with mortality. “Death” and “This Too Is Life”. On October 18, he had a difficulty in breathing. His life ended on the next day with his wife beside him throughout his struggle in pain. His remains were placed within Lu Xun Park in a mausoleum in Shanghai, China.