Concept in Definition ABC

If we pay attention to its etymology, this word comes from the Latin miscellanea and this from the verb miscere, which means to mix or combine. It is used in those contexts in which different or unrelated things are presented in the same area.

A type of business establishment in Colombia and Mexico

Some shops sell a wide variety of products and there is no connection between them. In the speech of Colombians and Mexicans these businesses are known as miscellaneous. Typical examples in this sense are grocery stores, tobacconists or stationery stores.

The historical origin of these establishments is related to the pre-Hispanic cultures of Latin America, since by then the commercial activity was carried out in popular markets in which there were establishments dedicated to very varied. From the vision of consumerThese stores are interesting because in them it is possible to buy a wide range of products.

In the written press

In the media communication written there are all kinds of fixed sections, like the

editorial, local, international news, events, sports, etc. In the miscellaneous section the reader finds a mixture of information: curiosities, articles about daily life, interesting facts about a subject, jokes, hobbies, etc.

A literary genre that is considered the precedent of the essay

In the Renaissance the figure of the humanist acquired its true and full meaning. The humanist was a scholar interested in all kinds of subjects (philosophy, science, medicine, art...). His intellectual restlessness towards all kinds of areas ended up becoming a gender specific literary. In the miscellany books there was no thematic defined, but a mixture of different knowledge was presented. The purpose of these publications was primarily educational.

Marco Polo's stories about his travels to the East are a clear example of this narrative genre. In them the author explains the route he followed to complete his commercial activity, but also the cultural traditions of the territories visited or their personal assessments of the different forms of lifetime. East Format Narrative caught the attention of European readers and for this reason the miscellaneous genre became fashionable.

Multidisciplinary spaces

Certain cultural centers avoid specialization and promote highly diverse creative activities. Some libraries do not limit themselves to the classic book loan activities, but also organize talks, workshops, exhibitions or conferences.

This approach is a miscellany, since different dimensions or aspects end up having a common space.

Photo: Fotolia - Ruslan

Topics in Miscellaneous