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Loki is a god in Norse mythology. In some versions of the myths, he is a god of fire. In other versions, he is a giant instead of a god. In others, he is the personification of evil. However, in most of the stories in which he appears, Loki is a trickster. He deceives others by changing his appearance, including his gender and shape. Loki is a member of the Aesir, the main group of deities in Norse myths. Other members include Odin, the head of the Aesir; Odin’s wife Frigg; the god of war Tyr; and the god of thunder, Thor.

Njord (also spelled Njordr) is a deity from Norse mythology. He is the god of the wind and the waves. Njord is one of three sea gods in this culture. He represents the mild sea along the coast. He is calmer and gentler than Aegir, the ruler of the ocean depths, or Mimir, the god of the primordial sea. Njord calms waves, blows gentle winds, and helps ships lost at sea. Humans have called on him during hunting and boating expeditions. He also has been called upon to help attain riches from the sea.

Nanna is a goddess from Norse mythology. Also known as Nanna Nepsdóttir, she is the wife of Balder (also spelled Baldr or Baldur). He is the son of Odin, the head of the Aesir, which is the name for the gathering of Norse gods. They live in Asgard, which is comparable to Mount Olympus, the dwelling of the ancient Greek gods. She lives with her husband in a hall called Breidablik.

Vertigo (1958) is a celebrated film by renowned British director Alfred Hitchcock. He created a number of classic movies, including Notorious (1946), Strangers on a Train (1951), North by Northwest (1959), and Psycho (1960). Born in Great Britain in 1899, Hitchcock directed more than 50 films during the course of his storied career. Known as the Master of Suspense, he often worked in the mystery, thriller, and horror genres. Most of his movies are marked by exciting action and heightened suspense. Several of his favorite themes are on display in the psychological thriller Vertigo, including voyeurism and romantic obsession. The film is considered to be one of his more personal, artistic films. The story of Vertigo is based on a French novel by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac entitled D’entre les Morts (From Among the Dead). The screenplay was written by Alec Coppel and Samuel A. Taylor.

Persephone is a deity from ancient Greek mythology, who is also known as Kore. She is the wife of Hades, the king of the underworld, and she serves as the queen. Persephone became one of the rulers of the underworld when Hades abducted her and brought her to his home. Due to a series of circumstances, she lived there with him for part of the year and above ground the remaining time.

Eros is a god from ancient Greek mythology. He is the personification of romantic love, including passion and sexual desire. He also is related to fertility and procreation. Typically, his tools are a bow and arrow, and he uses them make people fall in love. His chooses a target and shoots an arrow into his or her heart. Instantly, the person falls in love with whoever is close at hand. The sensation of desire is beyond the person’s control. In some myths, Eros uses a flaming torch in place of an arrow to light a heart afire. Often, he is portrayed as mischievous, careless, or unsympathetic, causing frenzy with his arrows without a care for the consequences.

Significance: Alison Redford is a Canadian lawyer who served as the fourteenth premier of the province of Alberta in Canada. She was in office from October 7, 2011, to March 23, 2014.

The Searchers (1956) is a historical film by American director John Ford. Ford was an acclaimed filmmaker who won four Academy Awards in the category of Best Director during his long career. No other director has as many wins. He was known for making movies in the western genre, including The Searchers. Some of his other films include Stagecoach (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Ford’s films tend to feature long shots of natural terrain and mythic characters, and they focus on American masculinity.

Woodstock is a documentary film about a famous music festival held in 1969. The movie was produced by Bob Maurice and directed by Michael Wadleigh. Also known as Michael Wadley, he spent most of his career as a cinematographer. Woodstock is one of two films he created as a director, and it is considered to be one of the greatest documentaries ever made. For many critics, the film represents the counterculture and hippie movement of the 1960s. The young people who came of age during this period sometimes are referred to as the "Woodstock generation."

Eraserhead (1977) is an independently made movie by American filmmaker David Lynch. It is his first feature-length movie. He wrote the screenplay and produced and directed it. He also edited the film and created the score. Lynch is known for his experimental, nontraditional style. Some of his later movies are Blue Velvet (1986) , Wild at Heart (1990), Lost Highway (1997), and Mulholland Drive (2001). They all feature nightmarish images, dark themes, violence, and surrealism.

Halloween (1978) is a classic horror film directed by American filmmaker John Carpenter, who is also known for Escape from New York (1981) and The Thing (1982). Halloween was an early, noteworthy film in the slasher genre, and it became a model for many later horror movies in addition to spawning its own franchise with multiple sequels and content in other media. Halloween is an original story whose screenplay is credited to Carpenter and his producer Debra Hill. Carpenter not only wrote and directed the film, but also composed the score.

Lawrence of Arabia is an historical film by renowned British director David Lean. He created a number of classic movies, including Brief Encounter (1945), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and Doctor Zhivago (1965). Born in Great Britain in 1908, Lean had a film industry career that spanned more than five decades. He worked as a producer, screenwriter, and editor in addition to being a director. Some of his most important films are epics, meaning they have a sweeping scope and a great deal of spectacle. Epic films often focus on major events from history or span a number of years. Lawrence of Arabia is one example of a film in this genre and is considered by many critics to be Lean’s masterpiece. The film is based on the life of T.E. Lawrence, who was a British diplomat and military officer. Loosely based on Lawrence’s autobiography, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the screenplay focuses on his experiences in the Middle East during World War I. Lawrence of Arabia was produced by Lean and his long-time collaborator Sam Spiegel and was shot to be compatible with 70mm projection.

Significance: Anne Murray is a Canadian singer and musician who sold more than fifty million albums around the world. She has recorded music in the pop, country, adult contemporary, and gospel genres.