Let's get the real important issue straight

These town hall meetings are getting pretty insane. I'm just happy to see people care about real issues like how awesome Arrested Development (the sitcom and show but not the medical term usage) is. I wonder what would happen if protests for pop culture justice starts occurring frequently, but now that I think about it, it does happen but not for political reasons.

The Lebanon, PA town hall meeting with Senator Spector about the health care reform stirred up a laughfest for myself. These people are a passionate bunch, but I'm not sure if they have a gasp of this deep issue (heck, even I don't know). Katy Abram was one of the people that asked a question to the Senator (she's the one who doesn't want this country turn into Russia, turning into a socialized country). I watched her talk, and through her sighs, I knew she really has no idea what going on. Her interviews after the meeting still more sighs with no actual meat on what she was saying. This dude in the photo most likely wouldn't sigh if he was interview about why protest on bringing back Arrested Development. He's as passionate as everyone in these town hall meetings, except he knows his issues. But seriously, let's get Arrested Development back.

An Eternal Snooze Fest

Earlier this year, a friend was telling about a new art group/organization at FAU -- The Miami Stuckists. She asked me if I've heard of Billy Childish (yes) and slightly told me what stuckism was. When I got home I did my research on it. The basic summary of stuckism:

Stuckism is a radical and controversial art group that was co-founded in 1999 by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish (who left in 2001) along with eleven other artists. The name was derived by Thomson from an insult to Childish from his ex-girlfriend, Brit artist Tracey Emin, who had told him that his art was 'Stuck'. Stuckists are pro-contemporary figurative painting with ideas and anti-conceptual art, mainly because of its lack of concepts. Stuckists have regularly demonstrated dressed as clowns against the Turner Prize. Several Stuckist Manifestos have been issued. One of them Remodernism inaugurates a renewal of spiritual values for art, culture and society to replace the emptiness of current Postmodernism.

I was completely annoyed that such a group exist, especially on campus. The idea of artists coming together is wonderful and I encourage that, but I thought this group will only segregate the art students at FAU. Why not start a radical art group that actually DOES something then make manifestos or protest something worth protesting about.

The Miami Stuckist's Manifesto (which is based on the original of who cares) is a bit of a laughing fest for me. Two points that made me questioned their beliefs:

1. Stuckism is the quest for authenticity. By removing the mask of cleverness and admitting where we are, the Stuckist allows him/herself uncensored expression.
PAINTING (JUST LIKE ALL OF THE VISUAL ARTS) IS A MIMESIS OF NATURE/REAL LIFE -- there's nothing authentic about it.

8. Painting is mysterious. It creates worlds within worlds, giving access to the unseen psychological realities that we inhabit. The results are radically different from the materials employed. An existing object (e.g. a dead sheep) blocks access to the inner world and can only remain part of the physical world it inhabits, be it moorland or gallery. Ready-made art is a polemic of materialism.
PAINT IS ALSO AN EXISTING OBJECT, CANVAS IS ALSO AN EXISTING OBJECT. HOW DOES A DEAD SHEEP BLOCKS ACCESS TO THE INNER WORLD? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!!!!?


What got me over the edge about the Miami Stuckists happened a few weeks ago when I found out one of their members has been plagiarizing a former classmate/friend's oeuvre. There are many concerns on this serious issue. This person could get a BFA degree from plagiarized work, and that should not be accepted.

Borrowing in art happens a lot (e.g. ready-made) and that's a part of what Stuckism believes to be not "true art." A walking, breathing contradiction Stuckism is. All forms of art is a representation of life. These forms already exist, and making a rendering of these forms is a conceptual idea. When you start to think what color paint you want to use, what subject matter you want to paint -- all of those thoughts are concepts.

CityLink/Metromix recently reported on the Miami Stuckists "conservative" group. I read the article while the way leaving to work this afternoon and I couldn't help myself but laugh out loud. Stuckism -- based on the English artworld (Turner prize, artworks made over a decade ago) is all the Miami Stuckists could talk about. Really? What about the local art communities? What about art that has been made the last 5 years?

Interesting enough the article only mentions "4" artists for their group exhibition debut. The last time I counted there was 5. The fifth being one who plagiarized. (Strikethough -- cleared up that misunderstanding) Now, I'm all for artists coming together, being creative, exhibiting works, but attacking other art forms and calling those artists "not artists" is rather Childish (huh Billy).

Sunday's Favorite Selection #36:

Slap Chop Rap

Side note: I didn't see this version on tv, but I saw another one that killed me in the morning.

Hate on Today

I'm still not sure why I continue to watch the Today show. It's a routine I do in order to wake up. My alarm goes off, I turn it off, I turn on the tv (which is always left on the pervious channel -- Conan, Jimmy) and I go back to sleep. The nonsense that the Today show reports on always wakes me up. Something I disagree on or something I wonder the importance of the news they are reporting always gets me up in a fury. 

But today's interview with Michelle Malkin was awkward for Matt Lauer and wtf? to the sane Americans watching. Why give a right wing racial a slot at 7am? Why start off the today with hate? Malkin rambled about how Obama is a "racial opportunist" and her lame theories in her new book Culture of Corruption.

Even though I felt the hate through the television, I couldn't help but feel sad for her. She must have a lot of self-hate.

Sunday's Favorite Selection #35:


Illdoctrine

Side notes: I read/saw this video via Sociological Images and was touched by it. Pretty much what I've been thinking about MJ's death/life. Gracefully said.

That's a quitter's way out

(late) Sunday's Favorite Selection #34:

Sarah Palin--Every breath you take

Side note: Recently while listening to a recorded conversation I had with a friend-I noticed all the words I constantly repeat, nervous ticks and my total awkwardness. Not fun.

Tina gets down

Sunday's Favorite Selection #33:


Rosie Perez's dance routine on the opening credits to Do The Right Thing

Side notes: One of my favorite, and in my opinion one of the best opening credit to any movie. It captures the energy of Do The Right Thing and Public Enemy's Fight the Power. If you feel nothing from seeing this dance routine, film or song then you're a soulless person. 

click click click

For the last few weeks, I been obsessed with the photo of Megan Fox denying the yellow flower from "Sweet Boy" at the London premier of Transformer : A waste of time, apparently.  I believe it's an iconic photograph, minus the fact that Megan Fox isn't that famous. She looks highly overwhelmed from all the people and the camera flashes; the 11 year boy aka "Sweet Boy" giving her a yellow flower-the symbol of our Western culture who embraces not that famous people (or better stated, people clocking their 15 minutes of fame).

It's so iconic that Kodak was offering $5,000 to the first person who can give reliable information on who this boy was. His facebook profile was found blah blah, the rest of the story isn't that interesting.

What is interesting is this photo. It's all real, but for some reason it seems so staged. I'm not doubting Sweet Boy's feeling/want/need to give Megan Fox that flower, and I'm not doubting the feeling of disarray in Megan Fox's face but all I can feel when I see this photo is that I'm being lied to. I'm still struggling to figure out why I feel this way. I know it has to do with the stature of celebrities and the reasons why we hold them with an importance.

Fight the forces of gravity!

A Dream Come True
"A few years ago, I began to notice the appearance of wrinkles in my cleavage area. No matter how much I used creams or exercised, the creases didn’t go away. So I began to research the cause and learned a lot. Because I sleep on my side – like millions of women do – I learned that gravity and the pressure of my breasts resting on top of each other while sleeping was the culprit. I consulted several physicians and found that there were no products available in the market that support a side-sleeping woman’s breasts, without the use of a bra, adhesives or restrictive clothing. My quest had begun.

The more that I learned, the more I was inspired to develop a product that would not only offer beauty benefits, but support the needs of side-sleeping women. While health care professionals recommend side-sleeping for proper spine alignment, a woman’s breasts often make sleeping in this position uncomfortable. And women everywhere can benefit from a good night’s sleep!

After researching, designing and carefully testing my product, I’m very pleased with the results – and I hope that you will be, too. Not only does Kush offer more natural rest for the breasts for a more comfortable sleep, it helps to prevent the appearance of cleavage lines and wrinkles. I sleep better at night and I feel better about my appearance during the day. Kush is a dream come true."

Sincerely,

Cathinka Chandler
CEO Kush

Uh what? Why? I mean, she had to have known what her product looks like and the colors she produced them in the beginning. The Kush Support website offers different colors, and is cheaper than originally advertised, but I'm still confused about this product.

oh Heeey

Sunday's Favorite Selection #32:


Jurassic Park-Hey!

Side note: I'm not sure why this is so funny, but it is.

I'll be grazing by your window, please come pat me on the head

Sunday's Favorite Selection #31:

Jeff the Brotherhood-BONE JAM

Side note: It's been some time and I think it's about time to start writing again. Maybe that's why I got a new journal to write on. There are somethings I don't want to forget. Like last night when this song came on in the car and I said "You know what beginning of this song reminds me of?" And dead on, as I finished my sentence the correct thought was said. Tons of giggles was going on afterwards. Aside from that, if I were ever to make a film (that uses popular music) Jeff the Brotherhood's BONE JAM would be in the beginning of the scene when the main character wakes up and gets ready.

Time out

I'm taking a break for a bit. My mind is going bananas lately and my mind could hardly think of something solid to write about. Blogger's block, maybe. I'll still be using my tumblr because it's pretty mindless to post there.

It's made out of bronze

Sunday's Favorite Selection #30:

Side note: Seriously I love Jerry Saltz. I can hear him talk about art forever, and his silly stories. Oh and Roberta Smith too.  I secretly wish I was their child.

Female characters written by Pedro Almodovar

Sunday's Favorite Selection #29:


Penelope Cruz in Volver

Side note: I'm still upset that the one time I did not watch the Academy Awards was the same time Penelope Cruz won an award. I really wanted her to win Best Actress two years ago for Volver, but I knew that Helen Mirren was going to win (no lie that was an amazing performance). Though Cruz's performance as the hardworking and flawed Raimunda showcases complete honesty. Ernesto Acevedo-Munoz describes this scene:

Raimunda's rendition of the song 'Volver' gives the characters access to their real feelings. Raimunda's eyes well up as the lyrics refer to the anxiety and desire to return to and be reconnected with that which we have loved.

I cry every time I see this part. 

Designers vs. consumers vs. marketing at PepsiCo

Battle #1: Tropicana Winner: Consumers

Tropicana is now going back to its old design. Woopdeedo. I preferred the new design, it was clean and simple. People argued that it was too "generic brand" for them. I say wow, because last time I checked we're in an economic crisis and everyone is trying to save a buck.

Clear loser: Designers. 

Battle #2: Obama team's drink choice

Winner: Coke

TIME reports that Obama's team drinks Coke even though Pepsi's redesign looks a lot alike Obama's logo.

Loser: Marketing. 

Blank walls+label everything+put a spotlight on it=SO IMPORTANT!

We Love Museums...Do Museums Love Us Back?

This is too funny, cute, and smart not to post.

"Nothing is allowed to get old or fall apart, which of course is impossible and goes against the law of nature. But museum people fight nature everyday with the latest technology in order to slow down the effects of time as much as possible."

I died a little when this was said. That and a museum is basically a box and stimulates time travel.

This makes me feel a little less of an asshole when I tell people that I believe in preserving art not conserving art.

Tapes for playing

Sunday's Favorite Selection #28:

Tapes for Listening (Tapes for Dancing). from Michaelkelly Kelly on Vimeo.

Side note: I stop buying albums on tape in 2000.

The Rookies do a lot of poopies

I see what you're trying to do. A super cute little girl uploading pictures to see how simple it is. I have 2 problems with this.

1. Have an elder do the same and record. The result-not the same. Children now easily adopt to technology. By the time I had the internet in my house (I was in high school) within 4 months I had 3 websites. I learned html pretty quickly. If Microsoft really want to stand the test on how easy it is to operate Windows Live Photo Gallery have an elder do it. I'm also on your game to have someone way younger than the Mac dude, to have our 'future' on these Rookies commercials. I wonder how much money these kids are getting. I also wonder about their future. It will be a mess, everyone knows that. Child stars later become hot tranny messes. Avoid this. Avoid selling your kids to say they are a PC.

2. Why is she sending photos to her mom and dad? Where is she? She's obviously in a house. This is making me worry.

Is this real life?

Sunday's Favorite Selection # 27:

Kittens Inspired by David after Dentist

Side note: Kittens inspired by kittens is hands down my favorite viral video of all time (even more than hamster on a piano-eating popcorn). I think I've watched it over 100 times this past week. Though I gleamed when I saw this video because last week I couldn't stop watch David after Dentist. Kids sure say the darndest things. I think of David as a philosopher with his deep questions regarding life, and Kitten girl is a lot like having a conversation with my 4 year niece. Best of all, my friend and I are making a book about his cats and told me yesterday he thinks he has this now famous Kittens book!

You're scum between my toes

A very special favorite selection #2:

News worth obsessing over

Aside from Madoff and the constant up to date report on the Rose Museum at Brandis University, I've found other news report to obsess over.

1. 

The Sun reports on a 13 year old boy and his 15 year old mum girlfriend having a child. So no that photo isn't a photo of a 20 something mum and her 8 year old son and her new baby. I don't even what to think further than this photo because it's the biggest WTF moment I had yesterday.

2.

The New York Times reports on the Artist Shepard Fairey (you know the OBEY dude) files a lawsuit against the AP. The AP is saying that it owns this image of his work of Obama and the word Hope underneath. Fairey had used the photo taken for the AP as template for his work. The LOL part of this story is that the freelance photographer who took this photo Mannie Garica says he owns the photo not the AP and he's happy that the photo he took was the source of this now infamous image of Obama. I just find it a little odd that there's a dispute over an image of Obama and who owns it. I thought Obama owns his own image, right?

3.

If you even a little bit of tv you've most likely have seen a commercial to Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow Fireplace. Once again The New York Times has an interesting article on it. When my brother and I first saw the commercial we were a bit confused so we pressed rewind to better understand how the Amish made this. If you're still confused read the article.

4.  There are few viral videos I'm obsessing over, but I'll post the ultimate for tomorrow's favorite.

Richard Halloran: Owns Home Computer

Newspaper on home computer? now that's the future.

I really do wonder though if the actual "newspaper" will actual die. It's dying yes, but will people just let it die? I don't think so well, at least in my life time. It has to slowly be forgotten, then die. It will make a comeback though either by a hipster being ironic or VH1's Remember When...

On a slight side note: Roger Ebert on blogging. 

edit: Not even 30 minutes later...on the Daily Show right now Jon is interview a guy named Walter Isaacson talking about how to save our newspapers. Jeeze I can tell the future just like this news report.

The textbook committee part 2. (decided to leave you out, not even mention)

Sunday's Favorite Selection #26:

LCD Soundsystem-Someone Great (directed by the great Doug Aitken-one of my favorite artists)

Side note: This song and video makes me feel so depressed, but I love it like no other. Over a year ago I made a mix for a friend who was leaving town. All the songs were about getting psyched, but the last two songs I couldn't help myself and get serious. I put Someone Great, and ended it with Guided By Voices' Smothered In Hugs. These songs at first didn't seem like they would fit well together, but not true. Both amazing songs, both about (well to me) people who you love/once loved leaving/left your life and/or you're planning to leave with them. Your memories of them will always remain with you until the end, even if everyone has forgotten them. I was so struck with these two songs together after I made the mix that I googled it and this came up:

There was a moment at an ACL afterparty when the DJ followed by Guided By Voices' Bee Thousand jam "Smothered In Hugs" with the Silver sounds of "Someone Great." Doesn't sound like it should flow, but somehow it was perfect, prompting us to say something intelligent like "this song's fucking awesome" to nobody in particular. But three kids around answered back and started a discussion in which all agreed -- "Someone Great" is something 'fucking awesome.'

-Stereogum

I wasn't the only person who had thought of these two songs together. Since then I'll slip one of these two songs to people who I will never forget in a mix. Even if I want to forget them now.

G with the P

I have a new daily route, which is put on the Today Show to fully wake up. This caught my ear:

President Obama knows about Jessica Simpson's weight "issue". I would love to know if our president not only gets foreign policy news updates 7 days a week, but also gets celebrity news. In this post modern western world it's equally as important. Or that's what we're suppose to know? But really Matt Lauer, Us magazine? I guess fluff is good for Super Bowl weekend. 

I do have to note-I hate the Today Show and I'm not sure why I tune to it every morning. It creeps me out. Good Morning Matt, Good Morning Meredith, and Good Morning to you America now for today's top stories. 

Those creepy stares to the camera from the people who about to get interview haunts me for the rest of the day.

While you're out being a hot tranny mess

Sunday's Favorite Selection #25:

Miller High Life's outtakes of their one second commercials.

Side note: Eels (you know the band) made a one second commercial for Super Bowl last year, but the NFL rejected it because 29 other advertisers had to fill in the spots for the typical 30 second ad. To buy a spot during Super Bowl is about $100,000 per second. The real genius here- Mark "E" Everett.