First alcoholic beverage
- conveys official feeling of maturity
- rite of passage among peers
- start of a lifetime of lubricated internal conflict
next: quintessential salty snack
Potato Chips
- many brands
- everyone has had them
- very cheap and available at parties
- “bet you can’t eat just one!”
- many varieties
Next up:
Quintessential web site
This one http://www.bristol.ac.uk/ (The University of Bristol)
- it has content
- the content is related to an organization or institution
- it has many links to other pages with yet more information
- the information is without a doubt potentially useful to someone, just not to you and I
Quintessential automobile race
Indy 500
- Known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”
- Crowds of over 400,000 come to see the event
- Winners drink milk after the race – that’s wholesome
- Infield crowd known for their rambunctiousness.
Next: Quintessential interstate roadway
I-75
- runs from Canada to Florida(continues on into Canada, but I forget the name there)
- an absolutely essential north-south pipeline for many
- The way tons of people get to vacation in Florida
- as scenic as any other long route(tons to see)
- not really a hugely famous or iconic one, just a very quintessential example of one
Next up:
Quintessential non-college-requiring career
Mechanic
- this profession ultimately rules over all others, because everybody needs their method of transportation fixed at some time or another
- uses power tools and symbolizes virility
- greasemonkey may be soiled in appearance, but is not reviled or considered unsavory
next: Quintessential beard
The Van Dyke
- Dates back to 17th century Europe
- Gives men a bearded look but the cheeks are shaven so it’s not too scruffy
- Upper lip and chin area are typically first to grow facial hair so it’s a “first beard” for many young men
- Can be worn by heroes (Tony Stark), villains (Ming the Merciless) and just about any other character type
Next: Quintessential tattoo
An anchor on one’s right bicep
- was common long long before day care providers, librarians, and comptrollers started getting tattoos
- was intended for the world to see and conveyed some sort of obvious information to the world (namely, that individual is or was probably at some time a sailor)
- Popeye had an anchor tattoo
Quintessential American Civil War battle
Gettysburg
- everyone in the USA with an elementary education can name it
- many deaths on both sides
- Lincoln’s speech made it sealed in memory
- a huge (tragic) moment in American history
- one of the bloodiest losses of life in US history
- probably the most famous US battle of all wars
Next up:
Quintessential Hero’s Journey(monomyth) story
The Lord of the Rings
- one of the earlier “modern” examples of the epic journey format from which many authors in fantasy genre and otherwise have borrowed themes
- inspiration for countless fantasy stories, tabletop RPG’s, computer RPG’s, board games, etc.
- growth of protagonist from light-hearted, naive, and untrained to worldly-wise and adept
- death of protagonist’s mentor (even if he comes back in a more powerful form later, but the protagonist doesn’t find out until the end)
- protagonist sacrifices a significant part of themselves for the world
- supporting characters also grow in their own way, and through the efforts of all involved, the world is changed for the better, though no one survives unscathed
- loyal sidekick, without whom protagonist would have surley failed
- antagonist who isn’t so much evil as tragically corrupted by events
- other antagonist who embodies all evil in the world
- epic battles employing magic and weaponry and tactics
- doomed relationships
Quintessential Buddy Cop movie
48 Hrs.
- First modern era buddy cop movie
- After its debut in 1982, more followed like the Lethal Weapon franchise, the Rush Hour movies, Training Day, and the movies that paired cops with dogs like Turner & Hooch & K-9
- Eddie Murphy’s breakout movie role
-next: Quintessential gunfight movie
The Matrix
- guns all over the place
- lobby shooting spree one of the iconic gun shooting scenes
- several gun fights with cool stuff in them
- “we need guns, lots of guns”
Next up:
Quintessential “misunderstood fact or situation”
“No, honey, you don’t understand…we’re just friends.”
- happens in real life almost as often as on tv sitcoms
- it’s the situation most often driven by jealousy.
Quintessential 19th century invention
The steam engine
- ignited the industrial revolution
- driving force behind westward expansion
- powered locomotives
next: Quintessential guitar
Gibson Les Paul
– Versatile instrument used in a wide range of music genres
– Used by famous guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Paige, Peter Frampton, Billy Gibbons, Paul McCartney, Mark Knopfler, and (of course) Les Paul
– Sounds great playing Stairway to Heaven
Next: Quintessential Mexican food dish
Taco
- everyone who has tried Mexican food has likely had one
- anyone who hasn’t had one knows what it is
- taco Tuesday around here is common and I live in Michigan
- one of the most common Mexican foods for non-Mexican people to make
Next up:
Quintessential post-2010 video game
Minecraft
- second best-selling video game of all time, behind Tetris
- inspired merchandise such as toys, collectibles, clothing and Lego sets
- won numerous awards and spawned conventions
next: Quintessential wine
Merlot
- widely available
- a wine most people can name
- many varieties
Next up:
Quintessential overly-priced item/service
Bottled Water
-Water is available for free almost everywhere
-Bottled water is not healthier than the faucet type
-$5 for a bottle of water vs. $1 for twice the amount of club soda?
-All those bottles are an environmental nightmare
-More plastic for the landfills
Next up: Quintessential stage musical
Phantom of the Opera
- longest-running musical of all time
- numerous literature, film, and TV adaptations
- still showing in London and New York after 30 years
- nominated for all 10 award Tony categories in 1988 and won 7, including Best Musical
next: Quintessential figure of legend whose existence has not been proven