Clayface — Gotham's Malleable Menace Clayface Clayface is the name of several shapeshifting villains from DC Comics associated with Batman. Made of malleable clay or protoplasm, they can mimic appearances but often suffer trag…
Clifford the Big Red Dog Children's book character created by Norman Bridwell; a giant red dog whose stories teach friendship, responsibility and community. Expanded into television, films, and educational…
Climax (narrative moment) Climax The climax is the point of greatest tension in a story or film when the central conflict reaches its turning point, often producing a decisive reversal, revelation, or emotional pe…
Climax (Usher song) Climax (song) A 2012 single by Usher produced by Diplo; a sparse, electronic-tinged quiet storm slow jam about a relationship reaching its breaking point.
Clock King (DC Comics villain) Clock King DC Comics villain obsessed with time and punctuality; uses clock-themed gadgets or time devices. Notable incarnations include the comics' methodical criminal and Temple Fugate from…
Clockwork Angels — Rush's nineteenth and final studio album Clockwork Angels Clockwork Angels is the nineteenth and final studio album by Canadian rock trio Rush, released June 12, 2012. A concept album with steampunk imagery, it charted highly and won the…
Closer (Joy Division album) Closer is the second and final studio album by English post‑punk band Joy Division, released in July 1980 shortly after the death of lead singer Ian Curtis. It is noted for its spa…
Closing credits (end credits) in film and television Closing credits Explanation of closing (end) credits: what they list, typical order and presentation, historical development, contractual importance, and cultural uses like post‑credit scenes.
Club Ninja — Blue Öyster Cult's 1985 studio album Club Ninja Club Ninja is the tenth studio album by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released December 10, 1985 on Columbia Records. It marks a notable lineup change and reflects mid‑1980s…
Coaster (NOFX album) Coaster (album) Coaster is the tenth studio album by American punk band NOFX, released April 28, 2009. Produced by Bill Stevenson and issued on Fat Wreck Chords, it features the band's characteris…
Codex — the ancient book form Codex A codex is a book composed of individual pages bound together, replacing the scroll. This article explains its structure, materials, history, uses, and why codices mattered for pre…
Codex Huamantla: Otomi migration narrative and colonial-era manuscript Codex Huamantla A colonial pictorial manuscript recording Otomi migration, local history and involvement in the Spanish conquest; likely completed c.1592 and produced by two hands in Tlaxcala, Mex…
Coen brothers: an overview of Joel and Ethan Coen's filmmaking career Coen brothers Joel and Ethan Coen are American siblings who write, direct and produce distinctive films spanning comedy, crime and art-house cinema, known for stylistic variety and repeated coll…
Collected (Massive Attack compilation album) Collected Collected is a career-spanning compilation package by Bristol trip-hop collective Massive Attack, issued in multiple formats that pair audio selections with a DVD of promotional vi…
Collide with the Sky — Pierce the Veil’s third studio album Collide with the Sky Collide with the Sky is Pierce the Veil’s third studio album, released July 27, 2012 on Fearless Records. Notable singles include “King for a Day” (featuring Kellin Quinn) and “Bul…
Collier's Encyclopedia A United States general encyclopedia, once a leading reference work alongside Encyclopedia Americana and Encyclopædia Britannica, known for continuous revision, bibliographies, and…
Colour Me Free! — fourth studio album by Joss Stone Colour Me Free! Colour Me Free! is the fourth studio album by English soul singer Joss Stone, released 20 October 2009 on Virgin Records after multiple delays by her label; it blends retro soul, R…
Combot (Tekken character) Combot Combot is a humanoid combat robot introduced in the Tekken fighting series. It first appeared in Tekken 4 and is notable for its mimic-style design and customizable move set.
Come Home to Mama (album) Come Home to Mama Come Home to Mama is the third studio album by singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright, released October 15, 2012. It showcases her raw vocal delivery and intimate songs about family,…
Come On Over (debut album by Plain White T's) Come On Over Debut studio album by American rock band Plain White T's, showcasing early pop‑punk and acoustic songwriting and marking the band's first full-length release and local breakthrough…
Come Together (song) Come Together A concise encyclopedic article on The Beatles' song "Come Together": origins, musical features, recording and release on Abbey Road, legal issues, chart performance and cultural le…
Comeback (return to prominence and cultural uses) Comeback A comeback is a return to former status, popularity, or function. The term appears in arts, sports, business, medicine and everyday speech, and also as titles of songs, films, and…
Comic book A comic book is a storytelling medium that combines sequential art and text. This article covers formats, history, genres, creative roles, global traditions and the cultural impact…
Comic strip: format, history, and notable examples Comic strip A clear introduction to comic strips: what they are, how they’re made, their history and formats, cultural role, and well-known newspaper and webcomic examples.
Coming Up for Air — George Orwell Coming Up for Air A concise, balanced overview of George Orwell's 1939 novel Coming Up for Air: plot shape, themes of nostalgia and modernity, narrative style, historical context and its place in Or…
Compendium: concise collections of essential information Compendium A compendium is a concise, organized collection of facts or summaries on a subject, used as a quick-reference resource in print and digital forms, with a history rooted in classica…
Confessions Part II (Usher song) Confessions Part II A detailed overview of Usher’s R&B single “Confessions Part II”: origins, composition, reception, chart performance, credits, and cultural impact from the 2004 Confessions album.
Congressional Record (United States official proceedings) Congressional Record Official written record of proceedings and debates of the U.S. Congress, published daily when in session and bound into permanent volumes; used for reference, history, and legal in…
Contempt: emotion, legal meanings, and cultural references Contempt Contempt is a complex emotion of scorn or disdain, distinct from anger and disgust; it also names legal offenses and appears in art and popular culture.
Contesting the Future of Nuclear Power — a critical assessment Contesting the Future of Nuclear Power Overview and analysis of Benjamin K. Sovacool’s 2011 critique of nuclear energy, its arguments, scope, reception, and its place in debates over safety, economics, proliferation and…
Continuity: coherence in art, narrative, mathematics, and film Continuity A concise overview of continuity as a unifying concept across arts, storytelling, mathematics, and applied sciences, with characteristics, history, examples, and key distinctions.
Contra (1987 run-and-gun video game) Contra Contra is a seminal 1987 run-and-gun shooter by Konami, noted for cooperative play, varied stages, and a memorable difficulty. It spawned ports, sequels and the European Probotecto…
Control — Janet Jackson album Control (Janet Jackson album) Control is the 1986 breakthrough album by Janet Jackson, produced with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; it established her artistic independence and became a major commercial and cultura…
Conversation Peace (album) Conversation Peace Conversation Peace is a 1995 studio album by Stevie Wonder, released on Motown after an extended gestation. It marked his return after eight years with a mix of soul, contemporary…
Cop Killer (song) “Cop Killer” is a protest song by Body Count (fronted by Ice‑T) from their 1992 debut. Its violent first‑person lyrics and critique of police brutality sparked wide controversy, de…
Coppélia: Delibes’ comic ballet of dolls, mistaken identity, and pastoral charm Coppélia Coppélia is a best‑known comic ballet with music by Léo Delibes, choreographed by Arthur Saint‑Léon from an E. T. A. Hoffmann tale. Its cheerful score and dramatic mime made it a s…
Copy (duplicate, reproduction, and written material) Copy Overview of 'copy' as a reproduced object or as authored text, covering types, history, legal issues, and practical considerations for publishing, preservation and computing.
Core (Stone Temple Pilots album) Debut studio album by American rock band Stone Temple Pilots, released September 29, 1992 on Atlantic Records. A grunge-era, multi-platinum release featuring the singles "Plush", "…
Corinthians: inhabitants, New Testament letters, and the Brazilian club Corinthians Corinthians refers to people of ancient and modern Corinth, the New Testament letters to that church traditionally attributed to Paul, and Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, a major…
Cotswold Line — regional railway between Oxford and Hereford Cotswold Line Regional railway running approximately 86.5 miles between Oxford and Hereford via the Cotswolds, connecting market towns, providing local passenger services and scenic journeys thr…
Count Olaf (A Series of Unfortunate Events) Count Olaf Count Olaf is the principal antagonist in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, a theatrical, manipulative villain who repeatedly schemes to obtain the Baudelaire childr…
Countdown to Extinction (Megadeth album) Countdown to Extinction Countdown to Extinction is Megadeth's fifth studio album, released July 6, 1992. It became a commercial high point, earning a Grammy nomination and recognition for its title track'…
Counter-Strike Counter-Strike is a seminal team-based first-person shooter that began as a Half‑Life mod and evolved into a competitive multiplayer franchise with a persistent economy, objective-…
Cowboy Bebop — a jazz-infused space western anime series Cowboy Bebop Cowboy Bebop is a 1998–1999 Japanese anime blending noir, western and jazz influences; notable for style, music by Yoko Kanno, a 26-episode run and a continuing legacy of film, man…
Cowboys from Hell (Pantera album) Cowboys from Hell Cowboys from Hell is Pantera's 1990 breakthrough album that introduced their groove metal sound to a wide audience and became a landmark record in modern heavy metal.
Cracked Rear View Debut major-label album by Hootie & the Blowfish, released in 1994; a commercially massive pop-rock record notable for several hit singles and broad mainstream impact.
Crank That (Soulja Boy) — song, dance, and cultural impact Crank That (Soulja Boy) 2007 single by Soulja Boy that popularized a viral dance and new online self-promotion; topped US charts and reached top 10 in several countries, reshaping how artists used the int…
Crash (song) — Gwen Stefani track from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Crash (Gwen Stefani song) Album track from Gwen Stefani's 2004 solo debut Love. Angel. Music. Baby., co-written with Tony Kanal; a pop song using car metaphors to explore a volatile relationship and often c…
