tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857609408770528732024-03-13T06:02:13.406-07:00Surreal Musical Performance Art, Photography, VisualsElegant Surrealism inspired by Illuminated manuscripts, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Calligraphy, Fashion Design, Classic Film, & Medieval ArtDainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-43082881060506889232014-03-14T19:57:00.003-07:002024-02-15T08:52:24.558-08:00Fond Memories of Franklin Rosemont by a Lithuanian Surrealist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been involved with the Chicago Surrealist Group since 1997. I had attended the last lecture he had given, yet, thanks to a chronically tardy friend, we had missed his entire speech. Both Penelope and Franklin had left right after their lecture and had gone home. little did I know that this would be Franklin's last public appearance. It wasn't until about a month later that I read on the Chicago Surrealist Group's website, <a href="http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/">http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/</a>, that I read with shock that Franklin had passed. The memorial was held at the Newberry Library in Chicago.<br />
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Here are some photos of the memorial service and dinner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoJ8F-VnMrk/UyO_g2u_oBI/AAAAAAAAAzc/htGoEPanhg8/s1600/Penelope+Rosmont.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoJ8F-VnMrk/UyO_g2u_oBI/AAAAAAAAAzc/htGoEPanhg8/s1600/Penelope+Rosmont.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penelope Rosemont and Daina Almario-Kopp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franklin Rosemont's brother & Daina Almario-Kopp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamara Smith before she moved to NYC. I miss her.<br />
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Here is a video I made of Ron Sakolsky. He spoke at Loyola University in winter 2008.<br />
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Penelope and Franklin were kind to me and I remember Franklin fondly. I met Penelope and Franklin at the Printer's Row Book Fair in Chicago. The books on such irresistible titles like "Surrealist Women: an Anthology" and "Beware of Ice and Other Poems" drew me in to their table. After chatting with them, I realized I had found my place without even knowing I was searching! And for that, I thank them.<br />
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The Rosemonts published an Exquiste Corpse which I had worked on along with <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; text-align: -webkit-center;">Christina Sornito, Jennifer Bean, and Anne Olson. It is in their book, Surrealist Subversions: Rants, Writings & Images by the Surrealist Movement in the United States <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Surrealist-Subversions-Writings-Images-Movement/dp/1570271224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394854869&sr=8-1&keywords=surrealist+subversion">on Amazon</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; text-align: -webkit-center;">and on this link </span><br />
<a href="http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/pages/time.html">http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/pages/time.html</a><br />
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I get much of my creative inspiration from dreams: I've been a lucid dreamer since childhood. I have my step-grandfather to thank for getting me in the habit of recalling my dreams for him every morning. As a teen, I was inspired to create my medieval illuminated dream manuscript. Inspired by Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts which pre-dated Guttenberg's printed Bibles, this work is meditative in its undertaking. I received a lovely fountain pen as a Christmas present. That, in turn, inspired me to experiment with a wide spectrum of calligraphic styles. I decided to use Gothic Blackletter calligraphy (12th c. forward) throughout much of the book.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s0wPDdBlXFM/UyPDhRzLJTI/AAAAAAAAA0U/TnbLS81znoU/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s0wPDdBlXFM/UyPDhRzLJTI/AAAAAAAAA0U/TnbLS81znoU/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">This example contains illustrations and letterheads of my designs. Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman's illustrator of "Sandman" drew the anthropomorthic human face (lower right center), and Neil Gaiman signed above it. The Alice in Wonderland illustration is enlarged and coloured in pencil by me.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HYDMtVpyKIw/UyPDjx5PrJI/AAAAAAAAA0c/MBd28_QaLeU/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HYDMtVpyKIw/UyPDjx5PrJI/AAAAAAAAA0c/MBd28_QaLeU/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. <span style="text-align: justify;">I play a literal personification of a Time Ghost (Zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing in styles from those eras. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this. </span>Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. </span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages! </span><br />
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This is my spontaneous 1920s Flapper dance with my actor friend, Jacob on the Portage Theater stage. Timeywimey for my fellow Dr Who fans. ;) </div>
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Here is the uncanny syncing up of Chaplin "City Lights" with unknown Goth song at Late Bar, Chicago which I recorded.</div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-89474461139617842652013-06-23T18:52:00.000-07:002024-02-15T12:37:53.120-08:00Sherlock and the Case of the Stolen Skateboard: True Story, with Help from the Baker Street Irregulars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the Baker Street Irregulars, along with the recovered skateboard. A couple of the Irregulars aren't pictured here.</td></tr>
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It was during a pleasantly brisk evening in September of 2010 that I returned home from a long day of classes. I was in a good mood and hummed a tune as I walked toward my house, while my block basked in the dark tones of the setting sun. I had no idea of the drama that awaited me as I unlocked my front door. As I made my way up the stairs, I was told that my daughter had left one of my skateboards in the front yard of her friend's house and that it was missing when she returned. Needless to say, my mood quickly changed to anger. I stopped to assess the situation: my neighbours have CCTV and the culprit may very likely have been caught in the act. I went with my girl to said neighbour's home in order to view the video footage. We were joined by three children between the ages of six and thirteen. I was only allowed to watch the footage once, thus I committed all the details of the suspect's (and the two who accompanied him) physical features, height, body language, and clothing to memory. That proved to work out well since I was denied a request to watch the footage a second time. The reason for the denial was given as, "the thief is a gang member, therefore we are afraid of negative consequences if you confront him." The adults were frightened that any investigation on my part would result in the escalation of gang activity in the neighbourhood, possibly placing innocent people as targets of retaliation crimes.<br />
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The assumption that the thief was a gang member was echoed by many of the adults on my block when I asked for any assistance from them. I deduced that he was NOT a gang member. When I tried to reason with the adults they persisted in their irrational and unfounded fear of gang violence being stirred on by my investigation of the case. They let feelings obscure their judgement of the situation. Some begged me to stop and simply "drop it." No adult, not even my skateboarding neighbour on the next block, would help me in any way; he just said, "oh well, your skateboard is gone and you'll never find it again."<br />
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Why was I so sure this wasn't gang related activity? Well, this is what I noticed on the film footage. First off, he had a Justin Bieber hair-do. No gang members in Chicago would have hair longer than a crew-cut. The most common hair for gangs would be either fully shaved or extremely short. Secondly, he did not dress as a gang member. His pants actually fit, unlike the saggy pants usually found in gangs. Thirdly, his body language and mannerisms did not fit with those displayed by gangs (for example, the characteristic gang limp was lacking, he didn't have the mannerism of someone who feels they "own" the neighbourhood; the air of superiority was missing). His body language betrayed that he was an opportunistic thief, meaning that he stole because he saw a chance to steal. His height was easily measured in relation to the gates in front of the house. The fact that his two companions were of about the same height and age (teenagers) coupled with the fact that the crime took place right after school let out (around 3pm) told me that they were students at a local high school. Judging from the direction they were walking, (west to east) I surmised that they were students from the only high school which was within walking distance in that direction.<br />
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Translated into Logic<br />
Law of Modus Tollens (MT)<br />
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P -> Q If he is gang member then he would display characteristics of a gang member (body language, mannerisms, hairstyle, clothing style)<br />
~ Q He doesn't display gang member characteristics <br />
: ~P Therefore, he's not a gang member<br />
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The police didn't help any either. They stated that since the skateboard was valued below $300, it wasn't worth their time to investigate it. Again, the adults were of absolutely no help. Dead end.<br />
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<b><u>The Next Day...</u></b><br />
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The next day I had printed out fliers with a picture of my skateboard describing the suspect and stating the the timeframe of the crime. I handed out one of these fliers to my local skateboard shop, knowing that this would be the most likely place the suspect would go to get work on the deck done. They know me and my boards there, if someone popped up w/ my deck, they would notice.<br />
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I made a trip to the high school and met with the principle of that school. I described the suspect and asked if he knew someone of that description. He said no. He also told me students don't bring skateboards to the school because skateboards are not allowed on school grounds. I left him my flier but I knew that this was another dead end.<br />
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<b><u>Setting the Trap...</u></b><br />
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I had reason to believe that the criminal would return to the scene of the crime. If they were students of the nearest high school, I expected that at least one of the three individuals caught on film live in the vicinity, therefore, one of them would pass by that same location in the near future. I spoke to all the kids in the area to help me out. They had a different mindset than the frightened and indifferent adults: the kids saw this as an adventure, a crime mystery which they wanted to help solve. I gathered the eager kids around and told them the plan: some would pretend to be playing on the sidewalk, others would stake out corners and nooks between buildings. The kids had a secret password which was their cue between themselves that they spotted someone. Any characters who fit the description were to be carefully observed and I was to be updated via text on any developments. I made it clear that once any of these characters were spotted I was to be the person confronting them. Keeping in mind the fact that most skateboarders are male, statistically speaking, the suspect would assume that he stole the board from a male. That is why I set the female kids out in plain view. Not only do people overlook children, but people overlook the fact that there are female skateboarders as well. The suspect would (wrongfully) assume that he stole the deck from a male and would therefore keep a watchful lookout for males.<br />
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The kids were indispensable and could "go everywhere, see everything, overhear everyone" (as Sherlock Holmes said about the Baker Street Irregulars in <i>The Sign of Four</i>). And, same as Sherlock, "I expected to hear before evening that they had spotted" him."In the meanwhile, all I can do is await results." As Cumberbatch's Sherlock puts it: "my eyes and ears all over the city" (BBC's <i>Sherlock </i>in <i>The Great Game</i>). My Irregulars aren't all over the city, but they are where they're needed!<br />
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I got a text from the eldest kid telling me that one of the companions of the suspect showed up. When I left the house to confront him, the eldest kid told me that she had already confronted him and that he was on his way to the house where the suspect had stached the skateboard for safe-keeping. He had promised to return with the deck in 20 minutes! It wasn't ideal that the eldest hadn't waited for me to do the confronting, afterall, as the adult and it being <i>my</i> skateboard, I didn't want to have the kids in any potentially difficult situation. As it turned out, everything went well and I had my skateboard in my hands within 24 hours of it being stolen!<br />
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After the companion returned with the skateboard, he told me that he had spoken with the suspect and that that he, the suspect, had agreed to come to apologize for the theft. During the course of this conversation, I noticed the body language of my neighbours who had earlier expressed their trepidations and were now standing across the street with worried looks on their faces. One of my neighbours had taken me to the side as I stepped outside of the house and started walking toward the companion, and tried to convince me to "not cause any waves" due to concern over the gangs. I reassured them that this was not an issue of concern.<br />
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Less than an hour later, the suspect approached me and apologized. During this time he varified that he was a student at the high school I had visited. I had a stern word with him and did my part to set him on a better path.<br />
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Translated into Logic<br />
Law of Modus Ponens (MP)<br />
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P -> Q If he is a teenager and is walking west to east shortly after 3 pm on a weekday, then he is a student at said high school<br />
P He is a teen and did walk in that direction at that time<br />
: Q Therefore he is a student at said school<br />
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A huge thank you to my Baker Street Irregulars! You know who you are and I am eternally grateful!<br />
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I am currently reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mastermind-Think-Like-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/0670026573/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372050751&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+think+like+sherlock+holmes">Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes</a> by <a href="http://www.mariakonnikova.com/">Marina Konnikova</a> (contributor to <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/">Scientific American</a> (magazine) and <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammind/">Scientific American Mind</a> (magazine). Her book describes how to utilize creativity and the scientific method in order to improve memory and deductive/inductive reasoning skills. While reading her book I was inspired to post this story.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ2QI9HUYEBVCAkJiFDTue7ROwnbQDhwtgxjdmj7NT0_pZnxtJm35kLNaMLR9ZzOHud3mi4WvR7c2moALYWFBPbVc0Xz-fOivkJFoXknK-fAFxg3IGWk0xI6ZWO-mkjGpDvT67XSU9n3olW6ZbCBbvkUhRH4JpvJcMLpbqw94M0uLMdLaxgIY1JixqxUd/s2000/mastermind%20Sherlock%20Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1487" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ2QI9HUYEBVCAkJiFDTue7ROwnbQDhwtgxjdmj7NT0_pZnxtJm35kLNaMLR9ZzOHud3mi4WvR7c2moALYWFBPbVc0Xz-fOivkJFoXknK-fAFxg3IGWk0xI6ZWO-mkjGpDvT67XSU9n3olW6ZbCBbvkUhRH4JpvJcMLpbqw94M0uLMdLaxgIY1JixqxUd/s320/mastermind%20Sherlock%20Book.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><div><br />
<br /><br />For the record, my favourite Sherlocks are Benedict Cumberbatch, Vasili Livanov (Russian, also played Gena in Cheburashka), and Jeremy Brett.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cumberbatch</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LRYT2uOHnc/UcfnGEYN47I/AAAAAAAAAtw/AZoi9oZ6EDw/s1600/Sherloc-livanov-Reichenbach-fall.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LRYT2uOHnc/UcfnGEYN47I/AAAAAAAAAtw/AZoi9oZ6EDw/s320/Sherloc-livanov-Reichenbach-fall.jpg" width="141" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6hGr3Slrxcc/UcfnD-vx-sI/AAAAAAAAAto/cnMh6WkC_ak/s1600/Sherlock-How-he-sees-the-world.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3awP2aRNRI0/UcfnBp1ZTnI/AAAAAAAAAtg/5NXt45v_BRQ/s1600/Sherlock-Livanov_Scarlet_chess.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3awP2aRNRI0/UcfnBp1ZTnI/AAAAAAAAAtg/5NXt45v_BRQ/s320/Sherlock-Livanov_Scarlet_chess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Vasili Livanov<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MgksUa8tg4g/Ucfn8Ovu2kI/AAAAAAAAAuA/7bAzOUotA64/s1600/Sherlock-J-Brett2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MgksUa8tg4g/Ucfn8Ovu2kI/AAAAAAAAAuA/7bAzOUotA64/s320/Sherlock-J-Brett2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd3kAXk2RBc/Ucfn4ZZ3GnI/AAAAAAAAAt4/T1m2f0qeu0w/s1600/Sherlock-J-Brett.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kd3kAXk2RBc/Ucfn4ZZ3GnI/AAAAAAAAAt4/T1m2f0qeu0w/s320/Sherlock-J-Brett.jpg" width="172" /></a></div>
Jeremy Brett<br />
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<span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: blue; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span><span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">: My Vaudeville, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going </span><span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: blue; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">VIRAL</span><span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"> on Youtube. </span><span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">I play a literal personification of a Time Ghost (Zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet of the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing in styles from those eras. Film in background is<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Georges Milies'</span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i style="background-color: white;">Trip to the Moon </i><span style="background-color: white;">(1902) silent classic</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this. </span></span><br />
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<---- br="" here.="" video="" view="" youtube="">On FACEBOOK @ <span style="color: blue;">HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM</span><!--------><!--------><!--------></----><br />
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For Sherlock and Dr Who fans: see my other Sherlock blog entries<br />
<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/03/benedict-cumberbatch-as-next-doctor-who.html?view=magazine">benedict-cumberbatch-as-next-doctor-who</a><br />
<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/03/surrealist-game-to-cast-doctor-who.html?view=magazine">surrealist-game-to-cast-doctor-who</a><br />
<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/04/serlokas-sherlock-pirmoji-serija-ant.html?view=magazine">serlokas-sherlock-pirmoji-serija (Sherlock in Lithuanian)</a><br />
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<br /></div>DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-21410815578504530122013-05-29T21:27:00.000-07:002013-06-24T11:23:02.080-07:00Events at Portage Theater, Chicago, 1920 -2013...Depp, Dave McKean, Elegance of Masculine Beauty photographs, Flapper Dance, etc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Webdings; font-size: 12pt;">¯</span>"I read the news today, oh boy. The Portage Theater has just closed it's doors" <span style="font-family: Webdings; font-size: 12pt;">¯ </span>to paraphrase The Beatles "A Day in the Life." The Portage was built in 1920 and received preliminary landmark status in 2012. Chaplin's <i>The Great Dictato</i>r was deemed too controversial, thus premiered at only 2 theaters in Chicago, the Music Box and Portage in 1940. In 2008, a scene from <i>Public Enemies</i> (released 2009)<i> </i>with Johnny Depp was filmed here in lieu of the Biograph Theater (Depp played gangster John Dillenger who was gunned down after watching <i>Manhattan Melodrama</i> 1934). </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My feet with original tile floors from 1920</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxzIPK08dPM/UabN0y2tmOI/AAAAAAAAAqs/4Me-h-rbbg0/s1600/Fr+Ro.McKean+192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxzIPK08dPM/UabN0y2tmOI/AAAAAAAAAqs/4Me-h-rbbg0/s320/Fr+Ro.McKean+192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Magnificent Portage Grande Cinema Organ</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9eSRnk9CE0/UabMFA8syPI/AAAAAAAAAok/vaEFC_swE8Q/s1600/Fr+Ro.McKean+157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9eSRnk9CE0/UabMFA8syPI/AAAAAAAAAok/vaEFC_swE8Q/s320/Fr+Ro.McKean+157.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The Portage was almost sold to a mega church (summer 2012) but to grassroots activism in the community saved it! This video of surrealist Time Lord flapper dance was to celebrate the fact that the Portage wasn't sold back then. Now, sadly, it is under new ownership which has shut it's doors and gives no public statement as to what it plans to do with the building.</div>
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Dave McKean, illustrator for Neil Gaiman's <i>Sandman </i>and numerous other graphic novels, came to the Portage Theater to screen his short films and his full length film <i>Mirrormask</i>, written by Gaiman. Also on exhibit were McKean's paintings inspired by German expressionistic films from the Weimar Republic (1919 - 1933) produced by the Ufa film company in Berlin. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave McKean painting inspired by<i> M</i> (dir Fritz Lang, 1931)</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZwJoHK9N2Y/UabNQUfYDOI/AAAAAAAAAqE/dttyoQNHHso/s1600/Fr+Ro.McKean+170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZwJoHK9N2Y/UabNQUfYDOI/AAAAAAAAAqE/dttyoQNHHso/s320/Fr+Ro.McKean+170.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Dave McKean signing his books</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlWoq6HrD_s/UabMuhD2NMI/AAAAAAAAApU/cIy1soCbPco/s1600/Fr+Ro.McKean+163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlWoq6HrD_s/UabMuhD2NMI/AAAAAAAAApU/cIy1soCbPco/s320/Fr+Ro.McKean+163.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium;">Cabinet of Dr Caligari</i><span style="font-size: small;"> by Dave McKean</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZYjsr6P0Cs/UabNHJkx2QI/AAAAAAAAAp0/anNKizWqybc/s1600/Fr+Ro.McKean+168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZYjsr6P0Cs/UabNHJkx2QI/AAAAAAAAAp0/anNKizWqybc/s320/Fr+Ro.McKean+168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i> </i>Inpromtu flapper dance film (below) filmed by Chicago Surrealist Group member, DainaSurrealism & actor/model, Jacob. Portage Theater, built 1920. View VIRAL Chaplin dance w/ my band, "Hypnagogic Telegram." http://youtu.be/wtLGzLsvhiI (Georges Melies film "Trip to the Moon" 1902) backdrop. Electronica inspired by Dreams, fleeting aspects of time, Lewis Carroll, Dr Who (Trock), & Fortean Phenomena. This was filmed after screening of "The Artist" when film's theme song played on loop (Chicago). Any excuse for a surrealist to play dress-up</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RXflJxxHXxM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
(Song: The Artist Theme Song - George Valentin ( Ludovic Bource )Film "The Artist" by Michel Hazanavicius, French director of Lithuanian origin (Lietuvis). Lietuvaite soka kaip Flapper! Vasario 16 Gimnazija studente Cikagoje. Lithuanian surreal artist. Labas!)<br />
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I took the first location shots for my <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-elegance-of-masculine-beauty.html?view=magazine">Elegance of Masculine Beauty</a> project.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BicDM-9736g/UabXtbJ_E6I/AAAAAAAAArc/xuUlwcyZMJo/s1600/Daina.portrait.portage.20s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BicDM-9736g/UabXtbJ_E6I/AAAAAAAAArc/xuUlwcyZMJo/s320/Daina.portrait.portage.20s.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERv1yAI7ADs/UabXrbjsD3I/AAAAAAAAArU/YuiLKC2z1OQ/s1600/Daina.portrait.portage.dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERv1yAI7ADs/UabXrbjsD3I/AAAAAAAAArU/YuiLKC2z1OQ/s320/Daina.portrait.portage.dance.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Silent and classic film is a major inspiration for my project. See picks of beautiful men from the history of Hollywood in my <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/05/elegance-of-masculine-beauty-hollywood.html?view=magazine">Elegance of Masculine Beauty: Hollywood Inspiration</a> (Valentino, James Dean, Roger Moore, Depp, Cumberbatch, et al) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.picsdrive.com/contentimages/rudolph-valentino/rudolph-valentino-picture-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://www.picsdrive.com/contentimages/rudolph-valentino/rudolph-valentino-picture-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rudolph Valentino</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Dean</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roger Moore as <i>The Saint</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://male-extravaganza.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Johnny-Depp-Hairstyle-Long-Male-Extravaganza-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://male-extravaganza.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Johnny-Depp-Hairstyle-Long-Male-Extravaganza-31.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johnny Depp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benedict Cumberbatch</td></tr>
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A propo silent film, the Portage held an annual <a href="http://www.silentfilmchicago.com/">Silent Film Fest Chicago</a> every summer. That has now moved to Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, IL.</div>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">The Black Pirate (1926)</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #3366ff;">Sunday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.<br />Pickwick Theatre<br />5 South Prospect Ave, Park Ridge, IL</span></div>
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Other Portage Theater events will have new venues. Find updates on these sites.</div>
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<a href="http://www.northwestchicagofilmsociety.org/">Northwest Chicago Film Society</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/terrorintheaisles">Terror in the Aisles</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PortageMonsterShows">Portage Monster Shows</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Expressionist film posters (<i>Cocaine, Totentanz, Marmorhaus, Opium</i>)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">: My Vaudeville, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">VIRAL</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"> on Youtube. </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">I play a literal personification of a Time Ghost (Zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet of the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing in styles from those eras. Film in background is<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Georges Milies'</span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i style="background-color: white;">Trip to the Moon </i><span style="background-color: white;">(1902) silent classic</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this. </span></span><br />
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<---- br="" here.="" video="" view="" youtube="">On FACEBOOK @ <span style="color: blue;">HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM</span><!--------><!--------><!--------><!--------><!--------></----></div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0Chicago, IL, USA41.8781136 -87.62979819999998241.497477599999996 -88.277991699999987 42.2587496 -86.981604699999977tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-86738104109399869282013-05-20T17:29:00.001-07:002024-02-15T08:49:48.801-08:00Vasario 16-osios gimnazijos istorija: Mokykla Rūke: siurrealistes Fotografijos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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V16-osios gimnazijos istoria nuotraukose siurrealistes Dainos (Cikagos siurrealistisu grupes nare, lietuve siurrealiste). Pries kelis metusas aplaunkiau Lampertheim-Huettenfeld. As atsibudau viena ryta: miestelis mane pasitiko paskendes ruke. As pasiemiau savo fotoaperata ir isejau pasivaikscioti dviem valandom. Ka as pamaciau kai nuejau i mokyklos teritorija, mane suzavejo. Bokstas kuris yra lietuviu bendruomenes ikona, buvo apsiaustas balto debesies.<br />
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History in Photos by Lithuanian Surrealist Daina Almario-Kopp (member of Chicago Surrealist Group, Lietuviska surrealiste).<br />
I visited Lampertheim-Huettenfeld a few years back. I woke one morning to find the town thick with fog. I grabbed my camera and went for a two hour walk. What I saw once I got to the school's campus was mesmerizing. The tower, which is an icon in the Lithuanian community, was cloaked in white. The fog symbolizes how memory clouds our recollections of the past. As an ex-student of the school, I feel the first photo best represents my memories of living there. Time is strange and ephemeral; so is the sliver in time we call photography. <br />
Privates Litauisches Gymnasium im Nebel.<br />
I have not named the people in these pictures unless I have their permission to do so.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQ5x5tCQjF0/UZq9q5UEuhI/AAAAAAAAAi0/YZJH4XTFyO8/s1600/V16+pic2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQ5x5tCQjF0/UZq9q5UEuhI/AAAAAAAAAi0/YZJH4XTFyO8/s320/V16+pic2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wm6z_kxbdV0/UZq9hGX-6lI/AAAAAAAAAis/pER2u2cIHvU/s1600/V16+pic1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wm6z_kxbdV0/UZq9hGX-6lI/AAAAAAAAAis/pER2u2cIHvU/s320/V16+pic1.JPG" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"As the Fog Lifted..."<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee9E1jqPn58/UZwi1zy29MI/AAAAAAAAAlc/SUNJk6iaoyc/s1600/V16+e.+1970s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee9E1jqPn58/UZwi1zy29MI/AAAAAAAAAlc/SUNJk6iaoyc/s320/V16+e.+1970s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Vasario 16 Gimnazija, early 1970s (above..</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I didn't take t</span><span style="font-size: small;">his photo)</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hzLGLQ3G55g/UZwi3yS_L5I/AAAAAAAAAlk/pqz8DwKZ1eI/s1600/Atomization.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hzLGLQ3G55g/UZwi3yS_L5I/AAAAAAAAAlk/pqz8DwKZ1eI/s320/Atomization.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Vasario 16 Gimnazija, late 1980s with carved wooden cross (above)</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4JmnGQOAZq0/UZwi61iZvkI/AAAAAAAAAls/ZhVoQKkT2KA/s1600/Atomization_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4JmnGQOAZq0/UZwi61iZvkI/AAAAAAAAAls/ZhVoQKkT2KA/s320/Atomization_0002.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The chaos after the boy's dormitory burned down</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">in the middle of the night; firepeople in the background, rubble in the foreground. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Someone woke us up our room at night yelling "Feuer!" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">That was how I learned the German word for "fire." No one was hurt, thankfully.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It ended up on the German news. That entire day we were in shock (<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/04/serlokas-sherlock-pirmoji-serija-ant.html?view=magazine">Šerlokas Holmsas - Benedict Cumberbatch - BBC</a>, give us your blanket!). </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzXCHk-jPVU/UZwy2w62PLI/AAAAAAAAAnU/XF7LrrguRY4/s1600/Atomization_0010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzXCHk-jPVU/UZwy2w62PLI/AAAAAAAAAnU/XF7LrrguRY4/s320/Atomization_0010.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Twelve students, myself included, went on a school trip to Rome. This was on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the death of Saint Kazimir <span style="font-family: inherit;">(St <span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Kazimieras; 1458-1484), the patron saint of Lithuania. The students and a handful of Lithuanians had a private audience with Pope John Paul II later that week, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">on 4 March, 1984.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"When the soviets closed the Cathedral of Vilnius in 1948 the coffin with the body of St. Casimir was moved to the church of St apostles Peter and Paul. After the political change, the coffin was brought back to the Cathedral in a big and solemn procession and celebration on March 4, 1989." Quoted from <a href="http://www.lcn.lt/en/bl/sventieji/kazimieras/">http://www.lcn.lt/en/bl/sventieji/kazimieras/</a></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddynTHg7br0/UZwjCJBT1WI/AAAAAAAAAl8/I9h3wqf7rbk/s1600/Atomization_0005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddynTHg7br0/UZwjCJBT1WI/AAAAAAAAAl8/I9h3wqf7rbk/s320/Atomization_0005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">After the fire, the school built this building to hold classes in while the boys</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> slept in the actual old school building.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I had originally cut out the background so the pic would fit in my photo album.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Fortunately, I had saved it. This is it reattached.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QF_x6kRQoHY/UZwpCndj3wI/AAAAAAAAAm0/yhdANO7S6hw/s1600/Atomization_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QF_x6kRQoHY/UZwpCndj3wI/AAAAAAAAAm0/yhdANO7S6hw/s320/Atomization_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm on the left. On the left is where original school building where the boys</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">slept in while the burned building was restored. In the back is the girl's dormitory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This was before they built an adjacent co-ed dormitory to the girl's dorm. Summer, 1984.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tf1a-UkJ4Os/UZwi8BYBZRI/AAAAAAAAAl0/XrHNKmI1NFM/s1600/Atomization_0003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tf1a-UkJ4Os/UZwi8BYBZRI/AAAAAAAAAl0/XrHNKmI1NFM/s320/Atomization_0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">This is the school building from a view showing the teachers'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">apartments on the left.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zgQtNBNKD8o/UZwrI1056oI/AAAAAAAAAnE/2Ax4UUSQak4/s1600/Julija+V16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zgQtNBNKD8o/UZwrI1056oI/AAAAAAAAAnE/2Ax4UUSQak4/s320/Julija+V16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Outside the shop the students, across the street from my favourite hangout, the Bruno's Pizza in Huttenfeld.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Remember the Spagetti Eis? Yum. 1986</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXIaSMj0vj8/UZwjG6pafcI/AAAAAAAAAmY/l1qcAFuCAuY/s1600/Atomization_0007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXIaSMj0vj8/UZwjG6pafcI/AAAAAAAAAmY/l1qcAFuCAuY/s320/Atomization_0007.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Just visiting.; seeing off friends going on a school trip. At the entrance gate, 1986.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e1X-gg62dVQ/UZwzYKKsspI/AAAAAAAAAnc/eyG7whaDNFM/s1600/Daina.Berlin.Wall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e1X-gg62dVQ/UZwzYKKsspI/AAAAAAAAAnc/eyG7whaDNFM/s320/Daina.Berlin.Wall.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Me visiting a friend from V16 who lived in Berlin, 1987.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Berlin Wall was still up then.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdSElwmFn94/UZw-uPe6W-I/AAAAAAAAAns/CbDr-gdFNKU/s1600/wall+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdSElwmFn94/UZw-uPe6W-I/AAAAAAAAAns/CbDr-gdFNKU/s320/wall+1.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Checkpoint Charlie, West Berlin, 1987.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wTDhqzMYIr8/UZw_N3JqAJI/AAAAAAAAAn0/RhGKHVz-b2c/s1600/wall+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wTDhqzMYIr8/UZw_N3JqAJI/AAAAAAAAAn0/RhGKHVz-b2c/s320/wall+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Me at the west-east crossing point of Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, 1987.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1s9QQw_GSU/UZq9WqTmwhI/AAAAAAAAAic/tWjDZqgP-UA/s1600/V16+pic3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1s9QQw_GSU/UZq9WqTmwhI/AAAAAAAAAic/tWjDZqgP-UA/s320/V16+pic3.JPG" width="236" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I love using reflections in photography. See my <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2012/07/experimental-surrealist-self-portraits.html?view=magazine">surrealist experimental self-portraits </a></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJoZ2MQGBlQ/UZrG9xUaUcI/AAAAAAAAAjE/YHsFjco52Y0/s1600/V16+pic5.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJoZ2MQGBlQ/UZrG9xUaUcI/AAAAAAAAAjE/YHsFjco52Y0/s320/V16+pic5.JPG" width="236" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ocJnD_zDiVU/UZq9dc0-K5I/AAAAAAAAAik/iiyuxMRiKzU/s1600/V16+pic4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ocJnD_zDiVU/UZq9dc0-K5I/AAAAAAAAAik/iiyuxMRiKzU/s320/V16+pic4.JPG" width="236" /></a></div>
V16 in the early 2000s<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWKWdxArxfo/UZrHEsmQ_BI/AAAAAAAAAjU/fccrE3_Vmbk/s1600/V16+pic7.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWKWdxArxfo/UZrHEsmQ_BI/AAAAAAAAAjU/fccrE3_Vmbk/s320/V16+pic7.JPG" width="236" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZclxyTDvVRo/UZrHBXNtFbI/AAAAAAAAAjM/_Br8QkmxxEI/s1600/V16+pic6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZclxyTDvVRo/UZrHBXNtFbI/AAAAAAAAAjM/_Br8QkmxxEI/s320/V16+pic6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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To view my art, check out </div>
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<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-illuminated-dream-manuscript.html?view=magazine">my illuminated dream manuscript</a>, </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvWgCb6MYgw/UaPzYXNpi2I/AAAAAAAAAoE/JMTIW21b-I4/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+019.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvWgCb6MYgw/UaPzYXNpi2I/AAAAAAAAAoE/JMTIW21b-I4/s320/Daina.surreal.art+019.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBbSipBVqL8/UZr6HFIq-AI/AAAAAAAAAj0/DemiirgsgvI/s1600/art+pic8.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBbSipBVqL8/UZr6HFIq-AI/AAAAAAAAAj0/DemiirgsgvI/s320/art+pic8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2012/07/experimental-surrealist-self-portraits.html?view=magazine">experimental surrealist self portraits</a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-74tlbUvct1o/UZsbbTi7x9I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/_ynFPRmlLeA/s1600/hypna-Sci-Art+084.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-74tlbUvct1o/UZsbbTi7x9I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/_ynFPRmlLeA/s320/hypna-Sci-Art+084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2012/12/fashion-design-and-costuming-fantasy.html?view=magazine">fashion design and period/character costuming</a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Vaudeville inspired band, Hypnagogic Telegram, is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Check out my Lithuanian song, Svejotoje, below. Viral Chaplin dance below that.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sf3y2abSwp0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Songs in German, Lithuanian, French & English.<br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtLGzLsvhiI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com1Hüttenfeld, Germany49.599381 8.588047999999957949.5787975 8.5477074999999587 49.6199645 8.6283884999999572tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-71085338230681518712013-05-20T01:50:00.000-07:002024-02-15T08:51:14.413-08:00Benedict Cumberbatch and Ryan Matthew Cohn look alike from Certain Angles<span style="font-size: large;">An Artist's Perspective</span><br />
I am currently working on my <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-elegance-of-masculine-beauty.html?view=magazine">Elegance of Masculine Beauty</a> project; photographing and illustrating elegant masculine figures; paying minute attention to details of male bone structure, muscle tone, and angular aspects of the face. I have concentrated on figure drawing since I was a child and attended art schools in both Germany (Berlin University of the Arts) and the United States (Columbia College, Chicago), pursuing a degree in Fashion Design while continuing to work with artist models in order to fine-tune my rendering skills. My speciality is costuming, particulary period and character costumes. I am a member of the Chicago Surrealist Group and incorporate the human figure into <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2012/05/daina-elegant-surrealist-art.html?view=magazine">my surrealist art</a>. Check out my blog on <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/05/how-to-remember-your-dreams-tap-into.html?view=magazine">How to Remember your Dreams & Tap into Creativity</a><br />
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I am concurrently completing my second degree, which is in Women and Gender Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago. I plan to go on to grad school with a special concentration on gender dynamics (such as psychological and anthropological aspects of male, female, and gender non-conformist behaviour, communication, and societal perceptions, especially in pair-bond relationships). Sherlock fans would enjoy my other blog <a href="http://scienceofhumansexuality.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-science-of-sexuality-in-sherlock.html">the Science of Sexuality in "Sherlock," Missed Clues on Irene Adler, and a Pheneylethylamine Float</a><br />
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In my studies of the masculine physique, I couldn't help but notice that Benedict Cumberbatch and Ryan Matthew Cohn look similar from certain angles. Cohn is affiliated with "Obscura," a Fortean curiosities shop in New York City which specializes in medical anomalies. Cohn and Cumberbatch aren't identical, but both have similar facial proportions and structures; smooth, square hairline: a straight, narrow nose: slim face tapering off at the chin: tall, slim build and lean muscle tone.<br />
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Frontal pose (head tilted slight forward)<br />
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<a href="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31800000/Benedict-Cumberbatch-benedict-cumberbatch-31816609-899-1348.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31800000/Benedict-Cumberbatch-benedict-cumberbatch-31816609-899-1348.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwq4qt1KnO1qzvs1zo1_500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwq4qt1KnO1qzvs1zo1_500.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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The lighting creates similar shading patterns. The most obvious difference between the two of them is the eyes. Cumberbatch's eyes are shaped like parallelograms, whereas Cohn's are more elliptical. Likewise, Cumberbatch's eyebrows have a sharper angle toward the sides, and Cohn's are straighter. Both have similar curvature of the jawline. Cunberbatch's shoulders slop at slightly more of an angle than Cohn's, but that may also be due to the padding in the jackets.</div>
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The hair looks similar, but looks can be deceiving. The natural hair colour of Cumberbatch is a ginger/light auburn, although a lighter auburn than Diana Rigg's hair in "The Avengers" (1965 - 1968). His hair is also curlier than that of Cohn's. Lighter hair colour creates the appearance of smoothing out facial features (i.e. make them seem less angular), lighter hair also makes a man look a tad bit younger.</div>
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Frontal pose (head tilted down at a side angle)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GPvA-dlWUvc/TgsV6i7Z2ZI/AAAAAAAAACA/XGqahYOLx_Q/s1600/RYforDisc2SM.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GPvA-dlWUvc/TgsV6i7Z2ZI/AAAAAAAAACA/XGqahYOLx_Q/s320/RYforDisc2SM.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://static.tumblr.com/6e5cd5ea68af8b984ab9dbb32310aea0/pitk6tc/Gczmlm5ay/tumblr_static_benedict_cumberbatch_at_the_london_premiere_of_tinker_tailor_soldier_spy__3_.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://static.tumblr.com/6e5cd5ea68af8b984ab9dbb32310aea0/pitk6tc/Gczmlm5ay/tumblr_static_benedict_cumberbatch_at_the_london_premiere_of_tinker_tailor_soldier_spy__3_.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Cohn and Cumberbatch are both rather stylish men whose elegance make them well suited to be artist models. Their poses have a classic charm and do a good job of capturing masculine elegance. Although I am not normally a fan of men in suits (my designs for men are more diverse), I do appreciate a well tailored suit on someone who wears it well.</div>
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I find it appropriate that Cohn's work is on articulating human (and other specie's) skulls, since much of my artwork focuses on studying the human figure (skeletal, musculature, movement, and function). I don't have a real human skull in my collection of surrealist oddities, but I do have a few bird skulls. I utilize a life size replica of the human skull as well as a life size anatomical head with musculature. These items are invaluable for a figure drawing artist.</div>
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3/4 angle facing down</div>
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<a href="http://us.cdn002.fansshare.com/photos/benedictcumberbatch/benedict-cumberbatch-benedict-cumberbatch-123668032.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://us.cdn002.fansshare.com/photos/benedictcumberbatch/benedict-cumberbatch-benedict-cumberbatch-123668032.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6an01wcni1r3bu5w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6an01wcni1r3bu5w.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Not exactly the same angle, but it is visible that the general outline of the the head is very similar: neither of them has a prominent brow ridge, thus smoothing out the forehead: shape of their zygomatic arch (i.e. cheekbone) are close in form and position. Cohn's nose is more angular and his facial muscles are relaxed. Cumberbatch is slightly tensing his brow and eyes. The fact that the light source is coming from a slightly different direction in each photo creates a varied play on shadow.</div>
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Cohn and Cumberbatch make great artist models. This has only been a general comparison. There are more differences than the ones I mentioned. I find this will assist me in my further studies of male facial features and angles, as well as work on light and shadow. These kind of camparative studies help to fine-tune spotting the minute differences which make each face unique.</div>
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To view my art, check out </div>
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<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-illuminated-dream-manuscript.html?view=magazine">my illuminated dream manuscript</a>, </div>
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<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2012/05/daina-elegant-surrealist-art.html?view=magazine">elegant surrealist art</a>,</div>
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<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2012/07/experimental-surrealist-self-portraits.html?view=magazine">experimental surrealist self portraits</a></div>
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and <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2012/12/fashion-design-and-costuming-fantasy.html?view=magazine">fashion design and period/character costuming</a> </div>
DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-60000242942351391202013-05-20T01:47:00.000-07:002013-06-02T21:16:29.000-07:00The Elegance of Masculine Beauty: Photography & FilmMy long-term project of rendering the male figure in photography & illustration. The Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond as my inspiration (<a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/05/elegance-of-masculine-beauty-hollywood.html?view=magazine">Valentino to James Dean, onto Depp and Cumberbatch</a>).<br />
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These photos were taken at the Portage Theater in Chicago. Built in 1920, it is an architectural landmark. Charlie Chaplin's "Great Dictator" premiered there in 1942. "Public Enemies" used the theater in lieu of the Biograph Theater for the interior scenes with Johnny Depp playing Dillenger.<br />
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Here are the period photos I made inside the theater. Followed by other photos with my artist models.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEKTMtxaNCs/UZniG-SyYgI/AAAAAAAAAg4/1OwofGqcNMI/s1600/Daina.portrait.portage.dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEKTMtxaNCs/UZniG-SyYgI/AAAAAAAAAg4/1OwofGqcNMI/s320/Daina.portrait.portage.dance.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing on stage at the Portage Theater to the tune of "The Artist" (film directed by Hazanavicius) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the foyer of Portage Theater.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipj15yPYlWk/UZqtEyB2qmI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/hIX9tMW2P64/s1600/October+2011+Occupy+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipj15yPYlWk/UZqtEyB2qmI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/hIX9tMW2P64/s320/October+2011+Occupy+(2).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">A fellow 99% Protester. Socially conscious with a sense of "young Depp" style. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acTyn0xZ3wc/UZquWbnlJOI/AAAAAAAAAhs/W9mpdAlmHOA/s1600/December+2011+Fred+Motorbike+parade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-acTyn0xZ3wc/UZquWbnlJOI/AAAAAAAAAhs/W9mpdAlmHOA/s320/December+2011+Fred+Motorbike+parade.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Surrealist short film of flapper dance on stage @ Portage Theater (built 1920)</span></td></tr>
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Stay tuned...many more photos coming throughout the Summer.DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-80107091389397517962013-05-20T00:58:00.000-07:002015-01-04T16:58:29.097-08:00The Elegance of Masculine Beauty: Hollywood Inspiration for My Photography/Illustration Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My new art project, <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-elegance-of-masculine-beauty.html?view=magazine">The Elegance of Masculine Beauty</a>, focuses on photographing and illustrating elegant masculine figures. My inspiration comes from the Silent Era, Golden Age of Hollywood, and the history of menswear design which focuses the unique characteristics of the masculine physique, all contribute to my vision of the beauty of the masculine form.</div>
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Let's start with sex symbol, Rudolph Valentino. He was known as the "Latin Lover" of early film. His features are smooth features and sultry looks all wonderfully captured in these black and white photographs.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wefbrvTuiA8/VKnP8IiMSNI/AAAAAAAAA2c/UWoGawvLSDY/s1600/valentino%2Bstanding%2Bin%2Bwindow%2Bsuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wefbrvTuiA8/VKnP8IiMSNI/AAAAAAAAA2c/UWoGawvLSDY/s1600/valentino%2Bstanding%2Bin%2Bwindow%2Bsuit.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sultry publicity shot for "Son of the Sheik" (1926). Pre-code Hollywood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This facial angle would repeat itself for male actors throughout the 20th century and beyond; it utilizes the male brow ridge in order to emphasize shading of the eyes, thus creating a trompe l'oeil of deeper eyes. Quite a dramatic effect. See below for pics of Johnny Depp, River Pheonix, DiCaprio, and others.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Rudoph Valentino <span style="text-align: start;">(1895 - 1926)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">James Dean </span></div>
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I want to go back in time and have James Dean be my artist model. Look at this exquisite poses! The distinctive blond hair, the slender and elegant figure, the dramatic angles. An artist's dream to get such character in a pose.</div>
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<a href="http://www.photographersgallery.com/i/full/dean_alley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.photographersgallery.com/i/full/dean_alley.jpg" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://pleasurephoto.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/james-dean-rebel-without-a-cause_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://pleasurephoto.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/james-dean-rebel-without-a-cause_01.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.robwillreview.com/wp-content/themes/thesis_151/images/sal_mineo_james_dean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.robwillreview.com/wp-content/themes/thesis_151/images/sal_mineo_james_dean.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-veOTN19il1A/VKnXYMrPXoI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/9TLxYFv9jVE/s1600/James%2BDean%2BRebel%2Bopening%2Bscene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-veOTN19il1A/VKnXYMrPXoI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/9TLxYFv9jVE/s1600/James%2BDean%2BRebel%2Bopening%2Bscene.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/66/ff/98/66ff986040c2c648f8355a8c1c948d2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/66/ff/98/66ff986040c2c648f8355a8c1c948d2a.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://theaterlife.com/files/theaterlife/images-2/JDeanMotorcyclePStern.img_assist_custom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://theaterlife.com/files/theaterlife/images-2/JDeanMotorcyclePStern.img_assist_custom.jpg" height="320" width="182" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2140468e7589e8971facbdbeb6f0be13/tumblr_mi2cjs3Y4i1r1x7iho1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2140468e7589e8971facbdbeb6f0be13/tumblr_mi2cjs3Y4i1r1x7iho1_500.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.picsdrive.com/contentimages/rudolph-valentino/rudolph-valentino-picture-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Rare James Dean Footage (including pool game & car racing)</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/a2FKX9RRHS0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<a href="http://www.picsdrive.com/contentimages/rudolph-valentino/rudolph-valentino-picture-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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Below: lounging on a sofa, first in color, then in b/w. One of my favourite pics of Dean; such a beautiful pose. What visual artist could resist sketching these?</div>
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<a href="http://www.daleelak.tv/uploads/photos/36/Rebel-Without-a-Cause_James-Dean-jeans-sofa.bmp-11_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.daleelak.tv/uploads/photos/36/Rebel-Without-a-Cause_James-Dean-jeans-sofa.bmp-11_.jpg" height="138" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/5-awesomepeoplereading-James-Dean.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/5-awesomepeoplereading-James-Dean.png" height="320" width="254" /></a><a href="http://dirksphotoshop.smugmug.com/Random/Black-and-White-oldies/i-NxGXmvm/0/L/4855610645_eb469cc4c7_b-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://dirksphotoshop.smugmug.com/Random/Black-and-White-oldies/i-NxGXmvm/0/L/4855610645_eb469cc4c7_b-L.jpg" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1iLFomXHupc/TExdy_zFgHI/AAAAAAAAAGM/sae7Tp93MHQ/s1600/james_dean_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1iLFomXHupc/TExdy_zFgHI/AAAAAAAAAGM/sae7Tp93MHQ/s320/james_dean_01.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Little known fact, James Dean left us plenty of his work on TV (theatrical dramas and </span>commercials), and is best remembered for his three films. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 17px;"><em>Rebel Without a Cause</em> as Jim Stark</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 17px;"><em>East of Eden</em> as Cal Trask</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 17px;"><em>Giant</em> as Jett Rink</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 17px;">(1931 - 1955)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Roger Moore</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.cinemaretro.com/uploads/SAINTHALO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.cinemaretro.com/uploads/SAINTHALO.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://acertaincinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/roger-moore-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://acertaincinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/roger-moore-56.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cwI8loNO-30/VKnTf_Vl9MI/AAAAAAAAA2w/Pmhp0YrZDWE/s1600/Roger%2BMoore%2Bas%2BSherlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cwI8loNO-30/VKnTf_Vl9MI/AAAAAAAAA2w/Pmhp0YrZDWE/s1600/Roger%2BMoore%2Bas%2BSherlock.jpg" height="134" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARz-HCvOkAY/VKnTnQZaKsI/AAAAAAAAA24/wboYFlB6gpY/s1600/Roger%2BMoore%2Bas%2BSherlock1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARz-HCvOkAY/VKnTnQZaKsI/AAAAAAAAA24/wboYFlB6gpY/s1600/Roger%2BMoore%2Bas%2BSherlock1.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPt3Jgi52TE/VKnT45aw-kI/AAAAAAAAA3A/Ip9WNXncTTI/s1600/Roger%2BMoore%2Bas%2BSherlock%2Bcolour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPt3Jgi52TE/VKnT45aw-kI/AAAAAAAAA3A/Ip9WNXncTTI/s1600/Roger%2BMoore%2Bas%2BSherlock%2Bcolour.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.6799993515015px;">Roger Moore as Sherlock Holmes...classic!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztTDNfTwR7w/UabpP-QLbcI/AAAAAAAAAsA/DNmN7RAtH0k/s1600/Roger+Moore+drinking+bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztTDNfTwR7w/UabpP-QLbcI/AAAAAAAAAsA/DNmN7RAtH0k/s200/Roger+Moore+drinking+bw.jpg" height="200" width="196" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Johnny Depp</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ivid.it/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2615&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1252013111" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ivid.it/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2615&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1252013111" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Johnny-Depp-e1352412344580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Johnny-Depp-e1352412344580.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://us.cdn002.fansshare.com/celebrity/johnnydepp/johnny-depp-wallpaper-139603085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://us.cdn002.fansshare.com/celebrity/johnnydepp/johnny-depp-wallpaper-139603085.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://loveisnotaboutgender.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/desktop-pictures-johnny-depp-wallpapers-hd-photos-johnny-depp-wallpaper-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://loveisnotaboutgender.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/desktop-pictures-johnny-depp-wallpapers-hd-photos-johnny-depp-wallpaper-22.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p3oEk8kIki4/TDd3Dnd9PzI/AAAAAAAAAgw/Sx6_CQ6H2r8/s1600/johnny-depp-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p3oEk8kIki4/TDd3Dnd9PzI/AAAAAAAAAgw/Sx6_CQ6H2r8/s320/johnny-depp-23.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://images.boomsbeat.com/data/images/full/23592/johnny-depp-1-jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.boomsbeat.com/data/images/full/23592/johnny-depp-1-jpg.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://mad.tv/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Johnny-Depp-Nepotism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://mad.tv/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Johnny-Depp-Nepotism.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff489/jensspacee/Dream%20Reads/johnnydepp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff489/jensspacee/Dream%20Reads/johnnydepp.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ryan Matthew and Benedict Cumberbatch look alike from certain angles</span><br />
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwq4qt1KnO1qzvs1zo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwq4qt1KnO1qzvs1zo1_500.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><a href="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31800000/Benedict-Cumberbatch-benedict-cumberbatch-31816609-899-1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31800000/Benedict-Cumberbatch-benedict-cumberbatch-31816609-899-1348.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/dc0c2f36683e42127b02e4e4e96b7e50/tumblr_mf58reeyHA1rsv2xlo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/dc0c2f36683e42127b02e4e4e96b7e50/tumblr_mf58reeyHA1rsv2xlo1_1280.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Benedict_Cumberbatch_at_the_London_premiere_of_Tinker_Tailor_Soldier_Spy_(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Benedict_Cumberbatch_at_the_London_premiere_of_Tinker_Tailor_Soldier_Spy_(3).png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/656bbb23ba94f4c9006a3778ce2d8c18/tumblr_mn56nn9k6U1rdo67to1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/656bbb23ba94f4c9006a3778ce2d8c18/tumblr_mn56nn9k6U1rdo67to1_500.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://cdn02.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cumberbatch-sherlock10/benedict-cumberbatch-sherlock-set-with-martin-freeman-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn02.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cumberbatch-sherlock10/benedict-cumberbatch-sherlock-set-with-martin-freeman-06.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://us.cdn002.fansshare.com/photos/benedictcumberbatch/benedict-cumberbatch-benedict-cumberbatch-795500401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://us.cdn002.fansshare.com/photos/benedictcumberbatch/benedict-cumberbatch-benedict-cumberbatch-795500401.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/benedict-cumberbatch-star-trek-2-role__oPt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/benedict-cumberbatch-star-trek-2-role__oPt.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.radiotimes.com/namedimage/Benedict_Cumberbatch__My_mum_says_I_m_like_Sherlock.jpg?quality=85&mode=crop&width=620&height=374&404=tv&url=/uploads/images/original/29481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.radiotimes.com/namedimage/Benedict_Cumberbatch__My_mum_says_I_m_like_Sherlock.jpg?quality=85&mode=crop&width=620&height=374&404=tv&url=/uploads/images/original/29481.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a><a href="http://latimesherocomplex.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/benedict.jpg?w=412" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://latimesherocomplex.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/benedict.jpg?w=412" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gdQitFmnL0/UyO2w-ms8WI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/n_EW3CEyQV8/s1600/cucumber+hair+survey+updated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gdQitFmnL0/UyO2w-ms8WI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/n_EW3CEyQV8/s1600/cucumber+hair+survey+updated.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Please vote on my Cumberbhair Survey. It's anonymous, and you get to see statistics when you're done! </div>
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Create your free online surveys with <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/">SurveyMonkey</a> , the world's leading questionnaire tool.</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. <span style="text-align: justify;">I play a literal personification of a Time Ghost (Zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing in styles from those eras. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtLGzLsvhiI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-30230142089724357122013-05-13T21:51:00.001-07:002024-02-15T09:19:48.068-08:00How to Remember your Dreams & Tap into Creativity: Tips from a Lithuanian SurrealistDreams are a bottomless well of inspiration. We surrealists have tapped into this well for nearly a hundred years, ever since <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Breton">André Breton</a> founded the Bureau of Surrealist Enquiries (<i style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">Centrale Surréaliste) </i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">in 1924 in order to "gather all the information possible related to forms that might express the unconscious activity of the mind". On October 15, 1924, Breton published the first <i>Surrealist Manifesto t</i></span><span style="line-height: 19.184px;">hus founding the basis for the surrealist movement, which continues to thrive internationally through various Surrealist groups such as, Prague Surrealist Group, Paris Surrealist group, <a href="http://www.londonsurrealistgroup.co.uk/">London Surrealist Group</a>, and the <a href="http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/index.html">Chicago Surrealist Group</a>. Prominent members include: author, activist & doyenne of American Surrealist Movement, Penelope Rosemont (Chicago); filmmaker <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0840905/?ref_=sr_1">Jan Svankmajer</a> (Prague); filmmaker <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0840906/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1">Václav Svankmajer</a> (Prague); zoologist, author, painter, <a href="http://www.desmond-morris.com/">Desmond Morris</a> (Oxford), and many others.</span></span><br />
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<span face="'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><u>If you ever wondered what it's like down the rabbit-hole of your subconscious, </u></span></h3>
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<span face="'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><u>this is a step-by-step guide on how to get there.</u></span></h3>
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Work inspired by my dreams "Pandora's Stage" and Medieval illuminated manuscript style dream book<div><br /></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4urgy36fvpI4V12iDqFSMwsbtrB2nJ5EyV77Y3zKBgTfOIRpHh-cZ6_X_ziceNBceTB0OKiEOzG_byQq1dWzq3pc6D2IPHqsMmBl1hdigCSe_2yuAc4KXNR_TIQ-XTfm0NqMSdmj0XtBbGeZ_8pmn51ZrFC3BLDVSpdCmEac31BwYibnyl_BLXQ9zIaXU/s1471/Pandora's%20Stage400_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4urgy36fvpI4V12iDqFSMwsbtrB2nJ5EyV77Y3zKBgTfOIRpHh-cZ6_X_ziceNBceTB0OKiEOzG_byQq1dWzq3pc6D2IPHqsMmBl1hdigCSe_2yuAc4KXNR_TIQ-XTfm0NqMSdmj0XtBbGeZ_8pmn51ZrFC3BLDVSpdCmEac31BwYibnyl_BLXQ9zIaXU/s320/Pandora's%20Stage400_edited.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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I've been a lucid dreamer since childhood. I have my step-grandfather to thank for getting me in the habit of recalling my dreams for him every morning. As a teen, I was inspired to create <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-illuminated-dream-manuscript.html?view=magazine">my medieval illuminated dream manuscript</a>. <span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Inspired by Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts which pre-dated Guttenberg's printed Bibles, this work is meditative in its undertaking. I received a lovely fountain pen as a Christmas present. That, in turn, inspired me to experiment with a wide spectrum of calligraphic styles. I decided to use Gothic Blackletter calligraphy (12th c. forward) throughout much of the book.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqpKr9pwh0s/UZGrA39DaAI/AAAAAAAAAgA/qRYhYf6eOus/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+019.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqpKr9pwh0s/UZGrA39DaAI/AAAAAAAAAgA/qRYhYf6eOus/s400/Daina.surreal.art+019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">This example contains illustrations and letterheads of my designs. Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman's illustrator of "Sandman" drew the anthropomorthic human face (lower right center), and Neil Gaiman signed above it. The Alice in Wonderland illustration is enlarged and coloured in pencil by me.</span><br />
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<b><u>How to remember Dreams:</u></b><br />
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What you will need:<br />
1. eyemask<br />
2. earplugs<br />
3. handheld digital recorder<br />
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An eyemask blocks out light as you wake up. This is important because the hypnopompic state, which is the transitional stage of consciousness leading out of sleep (as opposed to the hypnagogic state, which is the transition into sleep), is very sensitive and propels you into wakefulness if you don't buffer reality. Therefore, it's best to block as much out as possible (sound, sight, etc).<br />
<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">(The hypnagogic state is </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Rationality">rational</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waking" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Waking">waking</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognition" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Cognition">cognition</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> trying to make sense of non-linear images and associations; the hypnopompic state is </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Emotion">emotional</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> and credulous </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Dream">dreaming</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;"> cognition trying to make sense of real world </span><a class="extiw" href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stolidity" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #663366; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="wikt:stolidity">stolidity</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">.) </span><br />
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<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">What to do:</span><br />
<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">1. Don't set a sound alarm. Instead, set something, like a phone, to vibrate you into wakefulness. Sound will only erode a dream.</span><br />
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<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">2. Practice being mindful of the exact moment when you awaken. Once you are concious of the fact that you just woke up, <b>don't move</b>. Stay in place. You may be tempted to roll over, get up to go to the bathroom, etc. <b>Don't move at all.</b></span><br />
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<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">3. Recall one small detail of your dream. Remembering anything, no matter how minor, will help you "grasp the tail of your dream." Dreams are like a creature trying to run away from you. Grab one detail and don't let it go. Focus on that one detail. Practice concentrating on that one aspect and you will notice that, over time, everything else surrounding that detail will come into focus. From that point, you will recall whole chunks, then the entire dream. This process takes time and practice. It may be weeks before you can pull an entire dream up from your subconscious.</span><br />
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<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">4. Think of your dream as a film which you can rewind and play over. Once you have the details, you can go back to the earliest memory you have of it and press "play." This part I call "recapping." During this stage, you can speak out what you remember. Saying it out load will enhance your memory of it. Pay extremely close attention to the surroundings and details in the dream. Think of yourself as Sherlock Holmes. Leave no detail out (describe colours, sensations, smells, tastes, sounds, feelings, texture of fabrics, layout of rooms, etc).</span><br />
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<span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">5. Once you're done recapping, grab your handheld digital recorder, press "record" and recap out load again. You can always feel free to add details at the end which you overlooked/forgot. Remember what the King in "Alice in Wonderland" says, "Begin at the beginning, and go on until you come to the end; then stop."</span><br />
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I have been a member of the Chicago Surrealist Group since 1998. I met Penelope and Franklin Rosemont at the Printer's Row Book Fair that year. I attended various group meetings and had too much fun playing surrealist games such as An <a href="http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/pages/exquisite03.html">Exquisite Corpse</a>, and <a href="http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/pages/time.html">Time Traveler's Potlatch</a> (both of which are on the Chicago Surrealist Group website and published in the book <a href="http://www.akpress.org/surrealistsubversions.html">Surrealist Subversions: Rants, Writings & Images by the Surrealist Movement in the United States</a>.<br />
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I do illustration, experimental self-portraits (think Claude Cahun, but with lots of reflections), Zeitgeist Costuming, and music (singling in English, Russian, German, Lithaunian, and French). See my youtube: DainaSurrealism (see video below).<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. <span style="text-align: justify;">I play a literal personification of a Time Ghost (Zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing in styles from those eras. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this. </span>Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. </span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
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</div>DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-55984137299872545692013-04-19T01:46:00.003-07:002015-01-04T15:24:55.734-08:00„Šerlokas“ (Benedict Cumberbatch "Sherlock" BBC) pirmoji serija ant LRT Televizija Lietuvoje, ir Rusiškas Šerlokas Holmsas (Vasily Livanov)<a href="http://pramogos.delfi.lt/eteris/geriausias-musu-laiku-detektyvas-serlokas-sekmadienio-vakarais-per-lrt.d?id=59887509">http://pramogos.delfi.lt/eteris/geriausias-musu-laiku-detektyvas-serlokas-sekmadienio-vakarais-per-lrt.d?id=59887509</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Ekscentrikas Šerlokas Holmsas (Benedict Cumberbatch) suo </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Džonu Votsonu (Martin Freeman) ant </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 16px;">Lietuviska Televizija</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">Arthuro Conano Doyle‘o knyga darba suo technologija ir internetuo. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">Misis Hadson, Meifroftas, Moriartis, ir visi kiti.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">Suo Benedict Cumberbatch ("</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Benedictas Cumberbatchas" in Lithuanian)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">, Martin Freeman (Martinas Freemanas), Mark Gatiss (Markis Gatiss...his last name already sounds Lithuanian, LOL), et al.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Season one 2009 season 10 2010 </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">UK produced, won dozens of awards, 9 million viewers in the UK</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">DVD sold in 180 countries worldwide,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">yet still virtually unknown in America. Aired on PBS (Public Broadcasting Station) in the United States.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">blog by DainaSurrealsm, Lithuanian surrealist artist, musician, performance artist in Chicago</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Benedict Cumberbatch was now #1 on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/?ref_=sr_1">IMDb top actor list</a> during run of Star Trek Into Darkness.</span></span><br />
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Please vote on my Cumberhair survey. It's anonymous, and you get to view statistics after you're done! </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">In this new adaptation of the classic, the Sherlock character is transposed from Victorian England to the modern era. He uses the modern technology of our time, such as the Internet and cell phones, in order to solve crime mysteries. Stephen Moffat (best known as main writer of "Dr. who") co-created "Sherlock" with Mark Gatiss (writer of "Dr. Who," and plays Lazarus in "Dr Who: the Lazarus Experiment") did a commendable job of storytelling in this novel concept of a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Benedict Cumberbatch is an impeccable actor regardless which role he plays, and he is especially talented as Sherlock. Susanna White, director of Parade's End" (BBC drama), called Cumberbatch "one of the finest actors of his generation." He does a brilliant job of portraying the genius of Sherlock who is socially awkward with an abrasive, yet, comical and witty character.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">The tension and excitement is highly entertaining in each of the six episodes. The humour is dry with a heavy dose of classic British absurdity reminiscent of "Harry Potter." This sort of absurdist humour has a history that spans from Lewis Carroll's classic book "Alice in Wonderland" to Edward Lear's limericks, to "Monty Python" and "Black Adder." It's like to keep a straight face of this kind of silliness going on!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">An example of the classic absurdist British humor, Sherlock's wits, and his unconventional methods of deduction skills can be witnessed in the scene when he comes home to find intruders that have broken in and all holding his landlady, Mrs. Hudson, hostage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sherlock and Watson (played wonderfully by Martin Freeman) have a love-hate relationship going on with each other. Sherlock insults Watson calling him and others around him simpleminded because they fail to see what is "so obvious" to Sherlock. Watson alternates between amazment of Sherlock's mental abilities and annoyance of his blatant disregard for manners and social conventions.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This series is unusual in another way as well: each episode is 90 minutes long, each season has three episodes, thus making the individual episodes feel more like a film than the TV show.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Season 3 is currently in production, with the first episode "the Empty Hearse" having just completed film on 15th of April.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The show combines ingenious and seamless editing and creative camera angles which to April job of showing the world shall lot eyes which was not present, to the best of my knowledge, on previous incarnations of Sherlock on film.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Innovative camera techniques, such as the introduction of the show being shot in "Tilt Shift" also known as "Tiny Town" technique which was developed by a German filmmaker in Berlin. This method, which utilizes a focus on the centre of the frame whilst leaving the rest of the objects in frame slightly out of focus, creates the effect of making the London cityscape looked like toy model city with mechanical moving parts (trains, cars, people, etc). Here is the intro...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And this is the way Berlin looks using the same technique....</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Note that the camera technique utilized in "Sherlock" Vatican Cameos scene was using Phantom cameras (by <a href="http://www.visionresearch.com/">Vision Research Cameras</a>). These super high speed cameras are a cinematographer's dream. They shoot at four different speeds:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">554 frames per second at 2000 p Resolution</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">1050 FPS at 1080 p</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">1500 FPS at 720 p</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">2351 FPS at 480 p</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">They used this in the "Vatican Cameos" scene in "A Scandal in Belgravia" (season 2 episode 1), which is shown below...</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here is wonderful example of how this camera captures slow motion w/ actor Alan Rickman at normal speed (11 seconds) and slow motion (7 mins). Amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sherlockology.com/news/2012/8/23/vatican-phantom-23082012">sherlockology.com vatican cameos</a> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By the way, <a href="http://www.sherlockology.com/">http://www.sherlockology.com/</a> (the Ultimate Guide for any Sherlock fan) is a splendid site for all things Sherlock, from info on clothes, props, episodes, shopping, behind-the-scenes, news, downloads, etc.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74HOVhm_Xig/UX3uT6WkxNI/AAAAAAAAAeE/g1y_TNsftSk/s1600/sherlock1_dvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-74HOVhm_Xig/UX3uT6WkxNI/AAAAAAAAAeE/g1y_TNsftSk/s320/sherlock1_dvd.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a> </div>
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Season 3 hints from the creators of "Sherlock" <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/S4WPWLj7pE8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/17200000/How-he-sees-the-world-sherlock-on-bbc-one-17276677-1440-900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/17200000/How-he-sees-the-world-sherlock-on-bbc-one-17276677-1440-900.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">"Sherlock" in 5 languages: English, Italian, Russian, Spanish, French (below)</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jNzeuzYPiLc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">"Sherlock" blanket rants in 4 languages: English, French, Russian, Spanish (below)</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5s8V-RqBxEQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">"Sherlock" in 6 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish (below)</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9mKQ3EI35cg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">Nice review of Lithuanian "Sherlock" in Lithuanian</span><br />
<a href="http://www.pinigukarta.lt/apzvalgos/tv-serialai/serlokas">http://www.pinigukarta.lt/apzvalgos/tv-serialai/serlokas</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Guinese Book of world records states that Sherlock Holmes is the most often played iconic character in film. 211 films and 75 actors who played him. The first portrayal on film being back in 1900.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Guinesso rekordų knyga tai padarė už mus – Šerlokas Holmsas yra labiausiai ekranizuotas personažas, 211 filmų jį vaidino 75 aktoriai, o pirmasis pasirodymas įvyko jau 1900 metais.</span><br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Found a lovely Tumblr on Lithuanian "Sherlock" and how it's received in Lithuania (below). This ties in well with my <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-its-really-like-knowing-someone.html?view=magazine">"What its-Really like Knowing Someone Famous" blog</a>, which apologizes about excessive and obsessive fandom, as opposed to viewing fandom from a different perspective.<br />
<a href="http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/%C5%A0erlokas">http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/%C5%A0erlokas</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">„Šerloko Holmso nuotykiai“ (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) w/Jeremy Brett on Lithuanian TV</span></h2>
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Rusiškas Šerlokas Holmsas švenčia jubiliejų (suoVasili Livanov) <a href="http://zebra.15min.lt/lt/mokslas_it/mokslas/rusiskas-serlokas-holmsas-svencia-jubilieju-207314.html#gallery">http://zebra.15min.lt/lt/mokslas_it/mokslas/rusiskas-serlokas-holmsas-svencia-jubilieju-207314.html#gallery</a> </h4>
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Lithuanian wikipedia entry on Sherlock Holmes (the character) "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 16px;">Šerlokas Holmsas"</span><br />
<a href="http://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0erlokas_Holmsas">http://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0erlokas_Holmsas</a><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play literal personification of a ZeitGeist (TimeGhost) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing in various languages (Lithuanian. French, German, Russian, English) . If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-85682439383404220782013-04-18T20:49:00.001-07:002024-02-15T09:21:09.146-08:00What it's Really like Knowing Someone Famous: Strange ObservationsThere are various assumptions, projections, and stereotypes about the famous. I'm writing in order to dispel these myths which float about in our celebrity culture. Someone once told me, "You don't get fangasms because you worked in the film industry." "No," I replied, "it goes back further than that." I grew up around prominent individuals; some are friends, schoolmates, family, peers; others are professors, doctors, mentors, and even enemies. Some of them live in the US, some in other countries. Some of them inspire me, some repel me, and some lie somewhere in between.<br />
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It was a famous critic who inspired me to start a blog to begin with. I took an honours class which he taught and we were to post our homework assignments on a blog. That made me post my art on here, and the rest is history. For this, I thank him.<br />
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This is how I view fame...<br />
People are strange when it comes to famous individuals, I've noticed that ever since my childhood. My first exposure to someone famous was with my godfather, who, as my daughter so simply puts it "got famous for jumping off a boat." He didn't jump off just <i>any</i> boat, he jumped off a Soviet vessel, landed on an American ship and begged for political asylum, thus making him a defector during the Cold War. When the American government decided to return him to the Russian authorities it became an international scandal. Hollywood produced a film about him. In my house we didn't have a television, but then one day my mum came home and exclaimed, "They made a film about your godfather, so I'm buying a TV so you can know his life story."<span id="goog_373874646"></span><span id="goog_373874647"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
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<b><u>And Exactly How <i>Strange</i> is Fame?</u></b></div>
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But this is not a blog about him, it's about how strange things get when you know someone in the public eye. It took me many years to finally find the words to describe how this feels. There is an episode of "Doctor Who" called "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1205436/">Turn Left</a>" in which the Doctor's companion, Donna, is told she has something on her back. She spends the rest of the episode trying to see what that something is but to no avail, for it is invisible. It turns out that some people can see it, while others are completely oblivious to its presence. Those few who see it freak out upon sight of it. Only toward the end of the show do we find out that this is a massive insect-like creature which has made her back its home.<br />
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To me fame is <i>exactly</i> that: some strange creature that has landed on the shoulders of some people I know. No matter how long and hard I look at these individuals, I can never see the creature that elicits such strange and abrupt reactions from people around them. Many times these reactions seem over-the-top and irrational. I've had to live with this as a constant in my life since I was a child. When I think about it, I can't help but wonder if these experiences and observations have somehow contributed to me becoming a surrealist. Every time I witnessed one of these strange reactions, I felt like I was Alice after she fell down the rabbit hole because everything got turned upside down and nonsense reigned supreme. Nothing made sense anymore: the fangasms, the "oh my God"s, the obsessions, they just left me confused because I still couldn't see that creature which they made such a fuss about. There were also ironic moments, when I would be at the home of someone in the public eye: two such friends, a continent and decades apart, broke down and cried telling me how lonely they felt. The first time it happened I was shocked. I was a teenager at boarding school with a famous schoolmate. The second time it happened, I wasn't surprised, I was expecting it.<br />
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<b><u>How can Someone Famous Feel Lonely?</u></b></div>
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How, you ask? The same way someone popular can feel lonely. Fame is nothing more than a more exaggerated form of popularity, anyway. It's all a mathematical calculation. Popularity is a set of digits of how many people know someone and fame is just a set of higher digits (Google someone famous & observe the numbers). One recurring comment from such friends and family members is, "people look at me and they only see one thing: they don't see all the other sides of who I am." They may be surrounded by a lot of people, and be known by a lot of people, but it doesn't mean that they are <i>close</i> to a lot of people. The fact remains that most of the people in <i>anyone's</i> life are superficial, and that is a universal no matter how popular/famous one is. So, therefore, in the case of famous people, that would only be exponential. It's not how many people know you or that you know, it's how near and dear those relationships are that count. Quality versus quantity.<br />
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<b><u>How Exposure to the Famous has Changed the Way I View Everyone</u></b></div>
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Maybe the fact that I grew up observing these prominent people made me realize exactly how multi-sided they were as individuals. That taught me how, no matter what others see, an individual is a multi-faceted gem which one can view from a plethora of different angles. I can't ever look at <i>any</i> person and only see one aspect of who they are, that to me is impossible. Not one single soul: not my professors, not my neighbours, not even my enemies. People are amazed at how I can calmly say positive things about my worst enemies. I can do so because I understand that they, too, are complex human beings. I may not like their behaviour, but I do admit when they have talent, intelligence, or are simply wearing a nice scarf. I look at famous people I <i>don'</i>t know and ask myself: what languages do they speak, what books do they enjoy reading, what other talents do they have which only <i>their </i>friends know about? And so it goes full circle.<br />
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<b><u>What Prompted me to Write this Article</u></b></div>
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Now onto my dying friend. He is a prominent artist with a wealth of knowledge from his numerous travels and life adventures. I love his philosophical side. He understands the deeper meaning in life and has always taken the time to share his experiences and hopes with those around him. The stories of his life which he shared with us will echo long after he has shaken this mortal coil. I will walk away with lessons from my years of knowing him. The walls of the places he's lived in were covered from floor to ceiling with frames containing illustrations and photographs representing the spectrum of the human race: everyone from the famous to the homeless are rendered in his work. That inspired me to take down some of my posters (designed by others) and put up more of my own artwork and photography. It's such a no-brainer for an artist to reserve whole walls for their artwork, yet, for some strange reason, I didn't think of doing it until I met him.<br />
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I told him about how I moved to Europe in my teens (without my parents, mind you) and of my adventures there. In turns out that those stories inspired him because he wrote this on a gift he gave me.<br />
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<b><u>How Someone's Fame Presents Difficulties for Those Close to Them</u></b></div>
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Sometimes you are able to chat with these prominent individuals for as long as you are outside a building, but once you both go in, they get whisked away at the door and are constantly surrounded by people who want this, that, and the other from them. You spend hours observing the crowd surrounding them. It's hard to approach them, even as their friend. And why would you <i>want</i> to wiggle your way through the chaos, when you know that you can save that conversation for later, when you can sit at their dinner table, enjoy a nice cup of tea and chat leisurely for hours? I miss those kind of conversations with my artist friend. I had visited him at his last home, before he moved to his current location, and spent the entire afternoon chatting with him one-on-one. Grant it, a couple of people dropped in for brief moments, but we had most of the afternoon to ourselves. He had given me a massive spider plant, which I still have now. The offshoots of his plant remind me of the cycle of life. He is dying of cancer, but his plant grows and has new life with new potential in its offshoots. His plant will still be with me when he's gone. I know that would make him happy.<br />
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I so long to have one last face-to-face chat with him: I wish to say my farewell and give him another long hug. The last time I saw him was at the opening of his photography exhibit. The place was so full, that people were going outside into the frigid Chicago winter just for a breath of air. The flow of people wanting to chat with him was constant, I hardly had a chance to exchange a few sentences. Another prominent friend of mine had called me that afternoon to tell me she was coming to town, so we met at the exhibit. I hadn't seen her in years; we used to work at a bank together. That was before she had her singing career with hits songs in a few countries, before she embarked on tours. She lived out-of-town and that was a rare chance to see her. The connection on the phone was choppy, so I didn't understand her when she mentioned something about dialysis. Once I saw her I realized exactly how serious her condition was. She has kidney failure and had almost died. It was incredibly hard for me to be with two people who were so close to death. I couldn't help but think about how superficially society views the famous, but for me it was painfully obvious how human they really are. How much more human can you get when your body is failing you? I stood between them both as our photo was taken. I wished the crowd wasn't there so I could chat with both of them. I felt that I couldn't do enough as their friend that evening, I longed to connect with them on a deeper level than the situation allowed. I chatted with them for as long as I could. I closed my eyes as I hugged him and held on for a while, knowing it may be my last chance to do so. I was late for my following obligation that evening, which I couldn't get out of, but I didn't care. I only cared about the two of them. The crowd reminded me of how fame can sometimes be an obstacle.<br />
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His presence seems to follow me, and his fame only amplifies it. Even while I was on campus, I saw two newspapers with his face on the cover. He was interviewed on the radio. Those are bitter reminders of how hard it is for me to see him in person. How Murphy's Law prevents me from arranging a visit between my school schedule and his busy life. I see him, but I can't <i>really</i> see him. It's hard to describe how that feels. This is when knowing someone famous is painful.<br />
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I know a fellow who isn't famous himself, but comes from a famous family. His father, uncle, and grandfather are household names in the country in which he resides. Many cities in this country have streets named after his family members. He had an addiction problem. His friends were naive as to <i>why </i>he turned to alcohol and drugs; but I had seen this before. The fame of the family was weighing on him. It could have been that the family themselves put pressure on him <i>(why can't you be like your father</i>), or that others recognized his last name (<i>you're one of the ___ family...so, what do </i>you <i>do?)</i>, or that he internalized the pressure <i>(what hav</i>e I <i>done?)</i>, or a combination thereof. For a while, it seemed uncertain if he would ever get off the addiction. I am happy to say that the last time I saw him he was staying sober and on the right track.<br />
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<b><u>Does Fame Change a Person?</u></b></div>
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I have grown to hate the terms which describe such people in my life: <i>famous</i>, <i>celebrity</i>, and most dreadful of all, <i>star. </i>A star is a distant sun, not a human being. These words only seem to create a false separation, a kind of distance between <i>us</i> and <i>them</i>. I always felt that such words dehumanize. I try to find other ways to express these terms in my post, but find it challenging to think of alternatives. I never saw them as being different. They just happen to be people who had that invisible creature land on their shoulder. I like to envision a parallel universe in which they never became famous. They would still be the same people. Fame doesn't really change a person. Some people think it does, but it really doesn't. At times I find myself debating this with people who say, "____ is like that because they're famous." Fame may amplify something which is already there (such as an addictive personality,or anger issues, for example), but that seed existed before the arrival of the weird creature. I've witnessed enough people transition into fame to know better. The stresses of fame take their toll, but it's all how that person copes with stress that determines the outcome. It reminds me of the scene from "Star Wars" in which Luke Skywalker stands outside the cave on Dagobah and asks Yoda, "what's in there?" To which Yoda replies, "whatever you take with you."<br />
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<b><u>How do such Individuals Feel about their own Fame?</u></b></div>
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I believe the experience of living with my schoolmate has shaped my perspective of fame. Her creature landed on her during the time we spent at school. I stood behind her when the photograph that made her famous was taken. The ensuing crowd that formed around her always made her turn to me and say, "why don't they just leave me alone?" I never could find an answer for her question. She despised her fame, she never asked for it. She reminds me of the main character Tony Curtis played in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055270/">The Outsider</a>; a Native American soldier stationed in Iwo Jima who became famous after a photograph taken of him and other soldiers hoisting the American flag was taken. You know the picture, it's iconic. He, too, hated the attention fame brought him. I still visit her and our kids play together. She is very clever about her fame; she knows to live in a country where she is anonymous. I knew she was highly intelligent the day I met her, and by flying under the radar like that, she demonstrates precisely how clever she truly is.<br />
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Others I know have varying degree of comfort levels. One of them, a prominent musician, amazes me because he continues to live in the country where he is well-known. He speaks six languages and holds European citizenship, thus enabling him to make any place he lays his hat his home. Yet he stays where the paparazzi hound him and his family. He is currently in the middle of a media frenzy in his country solely based on racist comments made toward him by the public and the press. In many ways, he is the polar opposite of the previous example. I don't understand how he can even tolerate such an environment, but I let him know that, no matter what, I support him in this time of crisis. I've moved out of countries over less than that, but this seems to be his comfort level and I respect his choice.<br />
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Another individual I know uses his prominent status to promote the field in which he is an expert. For years, he wrote weekly articles for a prominent newspaper. He often puts his name out there in order to bring attention to the topic which he feels so passionate about. He is outspoken in this area, yet I sometimes worry that he extends himself too much without thinking of the possible consequences of doing so. As his friend, I support his cause, while at the same time trying to keep him from harming himself in the process. This is easier said than done. Thus, despite him seeing it as a comfort level, I see it as potentially excessive.<br />
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<b><u>The Fame Triangle: The Famous, Their Relationship with Fame, and My Relationship with Their Fame</u></b></div>
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These prominent people have their own unique relationships in regard to social media. There are a couple of prominent people I know who are on everything; Facebook, twitter, have their own websites, their own blogs, and don't mind the exposure. They are happy to take part in these activities and have plenty of fans on those sites. Others choose to limit their exposure. At least one of these people I know chooses not to be on any social media. Whereas most of the rest fall somewhere in between. It's almost like seasoning a soup; everybody has their own unique taste.<br />
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Over time I've learned to adapt to the relationship that these people have with their fame. Are they comfortable having photos of them being taken/posted? What is their relationship with the media? What is common knowledge about them and what isn't? As their friend, it's important to understand this. Some are at ease with tons of pictures online, others have virtually none. Every individual is different and sometimes I find these differences quite surprising. I know one famous individual, for example, who is bound to ask me why I <i>didn't</i> mention his name here, simply because he often uses his name recognition as a platform to promote the field in which he is an expert. That, despite the fact that I am respectfully vague in order to protect the privacy of these individuals.<br />
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<b><u>How Fans and Others see Their Fame: Obsessions</u></b></div>
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This is the part where things get <i>really insane and twisted</i>. It's when people start projecting their hopes, wishes, and desires onto human beings who aren't projection screens. Delusion sets in like a foggy day and hovers thickly in the air. So take a seat at the table and allow me to pour you some tea while the backwards running clock takes you back in time. Enter Mad Hatter stage left...</div>
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To your right sits an obsessive groupie and this is the peculiar story of how we met. In my teens, I was an admirer of a world-famous band. I had all their albums and attended numerous concerts where they played. One day, I met up with three other fans of said band. One of them started bragging about how she knew <i>precisely</i> which hotel the songwriter stayed at when visiting NYC. She spoke of how she would wait for hours in order to catch a glimpse of him as he came in and out of the main entrance. All this time I was hoping her parents were mindful enough to get her some therapy. One of the girls asked the three of us, "which one of the band members would you want to have sex with?" Each one of the three named a different member, with the stalker naming her stalkee. My turn came up, "None of them," I retorted. What a dazed look came upon their faces! "What's wrong with you?" and "How can you call yourself a fan?" were their responses. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with me. I can be somebody's fan and not want to have sex with them." I might as well have been speaking Jabberwockese because this was a foreign concept to them!</div>
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Up until that gathering, I had thought that obsessive fans were just a stereotype made up by the media to make teens look bad. Imagine my surprise having met one of these people face-to-face! I felt like Alice after she met the Unicorn in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Annotated-Alice-Adventures-Wonderland-Through/dp/0517189208/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364507874&sr=1-2&keywords=annotated+alice">Through the Looking Glass</a>, in which she says, " I always thought Unicorns were fabulous monsters. I never saw one alive before!" Those type of fans struck me as mythological characters that couldn't <i>possibly</i> exist in reality because they simply didn't make sense!<br />
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Oh wait! This story only gets weirder...About a month later, I met the fellow she was stalking. He and the rest of the band were at a club in which I was a regular. My best friend started talking with him and introduced us. I chatted with him for over an hour. This was luckily before the days of cell phones, so celebrities in public didn't get swarmed as quickly as they do now (cell phones may be great inventions but I'm sure there are plenty of celebrities who hate their existence). He and I both had a passion for Berlin. We exchanged recommendations on our favourite hangouts there. I was surprised to hear him tell me that he no longer lived in Berlin. I, on the other hand, had just bought a ticket to Germany (I moved to Berlin just a few months after this encounter). So in that way, we were like the changing of the guards. He leaves Berlin, but not before giving me tips for my stay there. Life is funny like that. </div>
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During our conversation, I never once mentioned his music. I didn't let on that I was a fan. It's a philosophy of mine to approach famous people from a different angle in order to see the other sides of who they are. I don't acknowledge their fame because it would make me feel as if I am joining the chorus of voices who echo around them. The thought that he had multiple stalkers in the world was in the back of my head. I felt empathy for him and, having seen his demeanor, felt that something like that would make him rather ill at ease.</div>
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What I noticed about his fame, was that he was uncomfortable being in the limelight. He never danced on stage or in his videos. His body language on both film and stage was always that of discomfort. During interviews he spoke with a shaky voice. Yet, when I met him, he was the most comfortable I'd ever seen him. He was even dancing! I attribute that to the setting we were in and the fact that, at that moment, he wasn't the center of attention, thus enabling him to be carefree. His band is still prominent today. Watching him on film now, I see he has shed some of his stage fright, but the limelight is still not his cup of tea.</div>
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Back to the groupies: I continued to hang out with the girl who introduced me to the stalker. I didn't tell her about meeting the band. After some time, she started behaving cruelly toward me. It turns out, she heard through the grapevine about my encounter with said band. She became jealous and terminated our friendship. To terminate a friendship over something this trivial? Who does that? It only goes to show exactly how irrational she was.</div>
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Although I was never friends with this songwriter, I only hung out with him that one time, I feel this story is still very poignant. It demonstrates how fandom can go too far, how harmful it is to treat obsessive behaviour as if it was normal, and that no matter how long someone is in the public eye, they may never feel fully comfortable in that environment. Hanging out with some (but not all, to be fair) of the fans freaked me out, yet hanging out with the actual celebrity seemed quite normal to me. Life and its ironies!<br />
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To your left is one of the highest ranking Chess players in America. He once told me about the time he had to take a stalker to court! Yes, even famous Chess players get stalking groupies! He had to get a restraining order on her. Crazy, huh?! If that's not weird enough, there was a bunny involved.<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><u>How Fans and Others see Their Fame: False Projections and Misrepresentations in the Media</u></b><br />
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To your left sits a fan of the fellow in jail I mentioned previously. She thinks she's in love with him, despite the fact that his attraction to women only exists on film and not in reality. She finds him "dreamy" and went so far as to cross-stitch his face onto a pillow cover that she keeps on her bed. This is somebody who has never met him, she bases her beliefs on what she saw in a film. And she's not the only one. I've come across quite a few fans of his and at times it seemed like it was an irrationality contest for "Who can believe the most nonsense about him?" Of all the famous people I know, to me he's the <i>least</i> attractive. His personality is shallow, and he constantly hides behind stage persona. Even those who visit him in jail say that he puts on a performance depending on what he thinks somebody wishes to see. I know there is a human being in there somewhere, yet he has hidden behind that mask for so long that one wonders whether that mask will <i>ever</i> come off. He clings to this stage persona despite the fact the final curtain came down on that act nearly 20 years ago.</div>
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At various times during his imprisonment, some of his fans were circulating a petition for his early parole. I refuse to sign it. They would ask, "but you know him, why would you not sign it?" I said, "that is precisely <i>why</i> I won't sign it because I <i>do</i> know him." His lack of remorse disgusted me. He was like that long before that creature sat on his shoulder and despite all the talk of famous people changing, he never did change. I'm still torn whether I should write to him or not.<br />
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Another example of misrepresentation in the media involves my godfather. The film which Hollywood made about his life was also inaccurate. The actress who played my godmother was blonde and slim, whereas my <i>actual </i>godmother was a heavyset brunette. America: a country with, at that time, 250 million people and they couldn't find a brunette actress? That is why I take any "based on a true story" films with a grain of salt.<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><u>How Fans and Others see Their Fame: Hypocrasies</u></b></div>
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The prominent musician I mentioned earlier has strange fans as well. He is biracial, his father being African, yet some of his diehard fans are white supremacists! On one hand, they want Jews, foreigners, and people of colour to leave the country, yet on the other hand, they are down with him and his music. How exactly does that work?! I sometimes worry about his safety in that kind of environment.</div>
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Now, I'm not saying that all fans of everybody famous are crazy. I'm a fan of many people myself, but is it too much to ask for a little bit of rationality in all this? It certainly doesn't help that the media glamorizes fame and turns it into such a desirable commodity. The media makes celebrities look like deities that live on Mount Olympus! There are positive sides to fame, yes, but nobody talks about the downside. Observing those who don't have anonymity makes me appreciate my own anonymity more. I enjoy what other people take for granted. I treasure the luxury of being alone with my thoughts in a public place, such as on a train or on long walks. Some of my famous friends can't do that. These are the little things in life but they are important.</div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><u>How Fans and Others see Their Fame: The "</u></b><b><u>Rich and Famous" Assumption</u></b><br />
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I know an artist who belonged to the same youth group of which I was a member. I used to visit him at his artist studio and admired his imagination and creativity. Years later, a prominent director made a documentary film about him which propelled said artist into fame. At this point his landlord approached him and said, "well, now since you're rich and famous, you can afford to pay three times as much rent." The fact is that he did not become rich, he continued to live on disability, but that didn't stop the landlord from the oft false assumption of fame going hand-in-hand with wealth. This forced the artist to move: he now lives in a much smaller studio.<br />
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Another example of the same fallacy of logic, is that of a fellow I know who was on TV once a week. I once attended a question-and-answer session he had with an audience in a theatre. He was asked, "what's it like being rich and famous?" To which he responded, "I may be famous but I'm not rich." He was asked this question not once but <i>twice</i>! I've often had to explain to people that "not all the rich people I know are famous, and not all the famous people I know are rich." I've had to repeat this so many times that I think it's best they just read my blog instead!<br />
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<b><u>The High Price of Fame</u></b></div>
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Every prominent person I know paid a price for their fame. Some gave up their privacy to the media, some gave up the chance to have a spouse and kids, and others gave up their anonymity in public surroundings. Those who became famous in their youth, gave up the opportunity to attend university. It's not impossible for a famous person to attend classes on campus, but you can imagine the resulting challenges facing them. Media, fans, etc. Sometimes fame can be a nuisance. Even though I did hear of a case of a clever famous person going incognito in a wig under an assumed name in order to take classes. Good for her, I thought!<br />
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There are much higher prices for fame. I knew someone back in New York City who was a well-known artist. We hung out in the same circles and knew the same people. He had an addiction problem and I never saw him sober. He was one of the most superficial people I ever met. That is why we never got along with each other. He made it out to a few parties here in Chicago, but I refused to say "hi" to him. Then one day I found out he was arrested for murder. It was a scandalous case that made the national headlines. I watched TV interviews in which he showed little remorse, and it sickened me. Watching him in front of the cameras gave me flashbacks of Norma Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson), the main character in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043014/?ref_=sr_1">Sunset Boulevard</a>. He posed for the cameras thinking that this was his big break, ignoring the reality that this had nothing to do with his talent and everything to do with murder.<br />
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A book was written about him, then a Hollywood movie; except with this film I wasn't proud of the main character, I was appalled by him. It shamed me that I even knew someone who showed so little conscience for taking the life of another person. I watched the film with trepidation; the depictions of the creative scene we were in filed me with sentimentality and melancholy. The actor who portrayed him did an impeccable job of capturing the essence of his character. As someone who knows the real-life character, I observed the actor have all the same mannerisms, facial expressions, and attitude as him. I couldn't help but think that the actor must have met him in jail in order to prepare for the role by studying him. But as Hollywood goes, there are always some inaccuracies: for one thing, the script made him out to be bisexual. None of us who know him really believe that. He was gay. I believe the scriptwriters took creative license to made him bisexual just for dramatic effect. I heard it said that Hollywood stereotypes bisexuals as homicidal maniacs. In this case, I agree. As an old high school friend of mine who knows him once said, "don't take it personally when he's so rude: he's just one of those gay guys who doesn't like women, even as friends." He longed for fame, he courted it; scrambling for the cameras in the scene, hoping to "see and be seen." It's been said, "be careful what you wish for, for it may be granted you." There are different types of fame, and he landed the negative end of it, by being notorious. He is now serving 20 years behind bars.<br />
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Sometimes fame can be unspeakably cruel and heartless. The person I knew who paid the highest price for his fame was a doctor of mine. He didn't have a receptionist, he just run his office alone, picking up the phone, doing the paperwork. That was so unusual in the age of medical assistants, nurses, etc. That old-school charm, which I loved so much, was in the end, his own undoing. I used to drop by his office just to chat. He told me he attended the University of Heidelberg in Germany, which was just a few towns over from my old school. Small world indeed, I thought. When I told him how much I love German scientific terminology, he promised to lend me his German chemistry book. But alas, that never happened, because he became the victim of a famous murder case. I won't go into details, I can't. The suspect fled America to beg asylum in French territory, stating that the death penalty would await him if they sent him back. The extradition negotiations went as high up as the presidents of both France and the United States. This happened six years ago, and, as with many extradition cases around the world, it is a long, arduous process, and, in this case, never-ending. We are still awaiting closure. He never wanted fame, yet he paid for it with his life. All he wanted was to retire in a few years. That wish was never granted him.<br />
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I remember him fondly and on occasion, I imagine him in that parallel universe where fame never touched him. I visualize him smiling in the sunlight enjoying his retirement with his wife and children. This is the only thought that brings me consolation.<br />
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<u><b>Conclusion</b></u></div>
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In closing, I would just like to reiterate that everybody is different, and that you can't use blanket terms like "all of famous people are ___." Some celebrities I know are rather boring people, no matter how pretty they look in front of the cameras. With some I have a love/hate relationship because they can be difficult at times. Others have been an inspiration to me and played tremendously important roles in my life. They were role models to me, and I can't thank them enough for being pillars of light in my life when I most needed them. They know who they are.<br />
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As I'm writing these lines, Stephen Colbert is on TV talking about how he can't walk around NYC without someone recognizing him. He is popping on a waste basket on his head with an Ipod displaying his face in a distorted manner. I've often thought how celebrities could disguise themselves: after all, it's only the face that is recognizable. Those famous individuals who ride motorbikes have the advantage of not being recognized while in transit. If they put on a wig, or learn to apply some prosthetic makeup, maybe they could be anonymous again. Just a random thought.<br />
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It goes without saying that I am a fan of certain celebrities (actors, musicians, authors, artists, scientists, etc) both of by-gone eras and modern times, yet I view fandom differently. Some famous people, such as Charlie Chaplin, Lewis Carroll (aka Charles Dodgson), Claude Cohun, Michael Ende make me wish I had a TARDIS so I could travel back in time and have tea with them. I bring up these four people because of their complexity and creativity. I bet we would have interesting conversations! I find it hard to have a crush on a famous person but, I have to admit, I wouldn't mind being friends with some of them.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-14227177706589500282013-04-17T21:09:00.001-07:002013-05-21T09:19:28.964-07:00My Illuminated Dream ManuscriptI've been a lucid dreamer since childhood. My Russian step-grandfather got me into the habit of recalling my dreams for him in the morning. I started this Illuminated Dream Manuscript years ago. It was just an elaborate sketchbook; that is, until Penelope and Franklin Rosemont, the founding members of the Chicago Surrealist Group took a look at it. Imagine my astonishment when they asked if I would want to publish it! Inspired by Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts which pre-dated Guttenberg's printed Bibles, this work is meditative in its undertaking. I received a lovely fountain pen as a Christmas present. That, in turn, inspired me to experiment with a wide spectrum of calligraphic styles. I decided to use Gothic Blackletter calligraphy (12th c. forward) throughout much of the book.<br />
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This example contains illustrations and letterheads of my designs. Dave McKean, Neil Gaiman's illustrator of "Sandman" drew the anthropomorthic human face (lower right center), and Neil Gaiman signed above it. The Alice in Wonderland illustration is enlarged and coloured in pencil by me.<br />
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The above was a dream I had on a transatlantic flight from Hamburg to New York.<br />
I have thousands of dreams recorded; first in scribble form on paper, then on mini tapes, now in digital formats.<br />
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More pics forthcoming.<br />
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I started this project 20 years ago. It wasn't until two years ago that I heard of Carl Jung's Red Book (aka Liber Novis, Latin for New Book), which wasn't published till 2009. Carl Jung (1875 - 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist who was closely associated with Sigmund Freud until they disagreed and parted ways in 19 <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.1875px;">Historian </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonu_Shamdasani" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Sonu Shamdasani">Sonu Shamdasani</a> </span>convinced one of Carl Jung's heirs to allow him to publish the work.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Th</span>e Red Book is an extraordinarily illustrated volume containing his dreams and visions which he experienced starting in 1913. It contains 205 pages of his experiments with calligraphy, letterheads, and singular artwork. His book is the only other example I know of which combines illustrations, dreams, and visions with attention tremendous attention to detail in a hand written work.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Red-Book-C-Jung/dp/0393065677/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366420433&sr=8-1&keywords=carl+jung+red+book">http://www.amazon.com/The-Red-Book-C-Jung/dp/0393065677/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366420433&sr=8-1&keywords=carl+jung+red+book</a><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtLGzLsvhiI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-87277284882238099822013-03-26T21:26:00.000-07:002015-01-04T15:35:37.977-08:00Surrealist Game to Cast Doctor Who using Time Travel. Who would you choose?<br />
Emerging from an hypnopompic state, the transition phase between sleep and wakefulness, the following thought entered my mind: "what kind of surrealist are you if you don't go back in time and cast actors from the history of filmmaking in the role of Doctor Who?" I woke up thinking, "what a brilliantly mad idea!"<br />
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So here I am, in a semi-drowsy state (for I do not drink coffee and therefore transition slowly from dream to reality) asking you to expand your imagination and play this surrealist game with me.<br />
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Any actor from the history of filmmaking, including the silent era, from within the English-speaking world. This includes male, female, gender non-conformist, intersex actors. Capt. Jack Harkness said it best, "You people and your quaint little categories."<br />
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This is my subconscious doing a variation of the surrealist game "Time Travelers' Potlatch," Which is described as follows on the Chicago Surrealist Group website.<br />
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"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">In Time-Travelers' Potlatch, each player indicates the </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">gift</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> that she/he would present to various historical, mythical, or fictional figures on the occasion of their meeting. The game introduces the</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> object</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> into an imaginary relationship that otherwise tends to be </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">defined too superficially by an arbitrary and abstract subjectivity. The object—the</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> gift</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">—functions symbolically between the giver (the player, who lives in the present) and the receiver (who dwells in the past, or on another plane of existence). Altering the relationship between the two, the imagined gift constitutes a third term: a catalyst of the future in the form of a crystallization of </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">desire.</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Thus the game opens a new approach, from an unanticipated angle, to all the old and unresolved problems of projection, identification, idealization, fixation, obsession, etc." <a href="http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/pages/time.html">http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/pages/time.html</a> *</span><br />
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You are invited to leave comments as to which actors from the past you would wish to cast. Imagine if you will, that you have a TARDIS and can go back to any era in film history and pick the actors of your choice. Envision a parallel universe, converging timelines, etc. You can transport these actors to our time or cast them in their own era.<br />
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I will start by casting my characters.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dF5Er8B78gU/VKnOOD6JgKI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/K3q3kDWUXHc/s1600/Emma-and-The-Doctor-doctor-who.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dF5Er8B78gU/VKnOOD6JgKI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/K3q3kDWUXHc/s1600/Emma-and-The-Doctor-doctor-who.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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My first vote is for Emma Peel in a parallel universe where she is a real-life person instead of character in a fictional show ("The Avengers"). Or perhaps a crossover between "The Avengers" and "Doctor Who" in which Emma Peel stands between John Steed and Tara King on the sidewalk just outside Steed's flat. She takes her leave from him by saying, "I must be off: I am being summoned back to Gallifrey." She gives him a kiss on the cheek and tells Tara, "he likes his tea stirred counterclockwise," as she raises her right hand to twirl her index finger in an imaginary teacup. "Be seeing you," she says, and makes her characteristically graceful 180° turn as her thigh length Mod coat mushrooms up around her. She then walks briskly toward the police box on the corner across the street and to the right of Steed's front door. She unlocks the door, steps inside, peeking out one last time to wave goodbye. Seconds later the door closes: Steed and Tara give each other a puzzled look as the TARDIS disappears. He turns to Tara and asks, "champagne?" to which she replies, "I'd love some." He opens his front door and with a bow gestures his arm, "Ladies first," he says with a smile. Fade shot. This is how Emma Peel returns to her life as a Timelord. To be continued?<br />
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Who's next? Patrick McGoohan is a fine candidate. His anarchic quality combined with his ability to stare down any foe would make him an excellent choice for the role of the Doctor. His defiance would be formidable. Imagine him confronting a Dalek: you could cut the tension with a knife!<br />
McGoohan is sadly no longer with us, having died in 2009, but he left us the legacy of his work. He played many roles in many memorable films, from "Ice Station Zebra" (1968) to "Braveheart" (1995). He worked in both film and television, his most memorable role being that of Number Six in the iconic, anti-authoritarian TV series "The Prisoner" (1967 - 68). He turned down the role of James Bond in order to produce, star and direct this most brilliant, original and outstanding production in the history of television. And for that we think him. See my review of "The Prisoner" <a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2011/05/ground-breaking-cult-television-shows.html">http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2011/05/ground-breaking-cult-television-shows.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KTJWhtuRLac/SW4zPR2AZ9I/AAAAAAAAHJk/HS7YCcCk9vE/s400/patrick_mcgoohan_simpsons-pic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KTJWhtuRLac/SW4zPR2AZ9I/AAAAAAAAHJk/HS7YCcCk9vE/s320/patrick_mcgoohan_simpsons-pic4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Like many Dr Who fans, I've been thinking lately about the fact that Matt Smith has been playing the Doctor for 3 years now and he may leave soon. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the title character in BBCs "Sherlock," has been voted by fans as a candidate for the next Doctor. <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/4856594/Benedict-Cumberbatch-wins-Sun-poll-for-new-Doctor-Who.html">Benedict-Cumberbatch-wins-Sun-poll-for-new-Doctor-Who</a><br />
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More characters to be added later. Who knows, they may come to me in a dream...<br />
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Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.99715805053711px;">I had a dream that Mark Gatiss (script writer to Doctor Who and Sherlock) bought me a lovely fountain pen. My subconscious is telling me to write more. Dream, March, 22, 2013</span><br />
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* <a href="http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/pages/time.html">http://www.surrealistmovement-usa.org/pages/time.html</a> This link also has an Exquisite Corpse game which I collaborated on with other Surrealists. Both games are published in the book<br />
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<span id="btAsinTitle" style="font-size: large;">"Surrealist Subversions: Rants, Writings & Images by the Surrealist Movement in the United States"</span></h1>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Surrealist-Subversions-Writings-Movement-Autonomedia/dp/1570271224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364355724&sr=8-1&keywords=surrealist+subversions">http://www.amazon.com/Surrealist-Subversions-Writings-Movement-Autonomedia/dp/1570271224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364355724&sr=8-1&keywords=surrealist+subversions</a><br />
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STRANGE INTERLUDE: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going VIRAL on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a spirit that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<br />DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-16495366059263636222012-12-11T17:00:00.000-08:002024-02-15T09:21:44.002-08:00Fashion Design and Costuming (Fantasy, Period, Ancient, Character, Eccentric, SciFi, etc)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEiNoFlB1Eo/UMfZ6d5sKdI/AAAAAAAAAT8/tkTr9w1SibQ/s1600/Daina.portrait.tapestry.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEiNoFlB1Eo/UMfZ6d5sKdI/AAAAAAAAAT8/tkTr9w1SibQ/s1600/Daina.portrait.tapestry.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEiNoFlB1Eo/UMfZ6d5sKdI/AAAAAAAAAT8/tkTr9w1SibQ/s320/Daina.portrait.tapestry.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qu982dvJtKU/T_R38qJx_5I/AAAAAAAAAG0/CnOMSWxPlGI/s1600/039.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; height: 356px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 236px;"><strong>I've studied Fashion Design in New York, Berlin, and Chicago. I specialize in period wardrobe for men & women. I've created everything from Ancient Egyptian, through Medieval, Victorian, 1920s Flapper, to 1980s New Wave. Men's & Women's wear. As a veteren NYC Underground Club-kid (a la Michael Alig /Tunnel scene). I indulge in eccentric unique,one-of-a-kind designs which capture both the Surrealist spirit and by-gone Zeitgeists.</strong></a>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
Strange Interlude: SURREALIST NEWS: <span style="color: #0b5394;">HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM</span> (my band) is <span style="color: #cc0000;">GOING</span> <span style="color: #990000;">VIRAL</span> w/ Chaplin dance. New album out soon. New videos, incl How to Remember Dreams (surrealist tips) & songs soon on YOUTUBE. Johnny Depp inspired Character Morphing w/ every song. Here is us doing CHAPLIN DANCE to backdrop of George Melies 1902 film <i>Trip to the Moon </i>(as seen in <i>Hugo </i>film). "Like" us on FACEBOOK<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lewis Carroll, Dr Who, Dream, & Fortean inpired tunes. Multi-lingual (English, German, Russian, Lithuanian) tunes. Silent film inspired dances. Trock. Member of Chicago Surrealist Group, Lewis Carroll Society of North America. Lietuvaite soka kaip Chaplin.<br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpNxdC8-qKg/UMfIF2nPyUI/AAAAAAAAARc/BMWuq5AzZ48/s1600/Daina.portrait.sepia.stpk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpNxdC8-qKg/UMfIF2nPyUI/AAAAAAAAARc/BMWuq5AzZ48/s320/Daina.portrait.sepia.stpk.jpg" width="320" /></a>Steampunk Invasion @ Bristol RenFair</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ytWGNCYutk/UMfIKTB7_kI/AAAAAAAAARk/RY1nAmnJk0E/s1600/Daina.portrait.portage.dance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ytWGNCYutk/UMfIKTB7_kI/AAAAAAAAARk/RY1nAmnJk0E/s320/Daina.portrait.portage.dance.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDf0golPgkE/UMfIXrAr7rI/AAAAAAAAARs/YDMqeCS4wTk/s1600/Daina.portrait.portage.20s.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jDf0golPgkE/UMfIXrAr7rI/AAAAAAAAARs/YDMqeCS4wTk/s320/Daina.portrait.portage.20s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Portage Theater (built 1920). For screening of "The Artist" I came as a Flapper & danced w/ the ever-stylish Jacob on stage as theme song of film played 20 min loop!</div>
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With "Time Crash" doctor Who tribute band Dave Kitsberg & his "GuiTardis." The scarf I knit myself.<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pLWv8fTXrA/UMfMw7haAkI/AAAAAAAAASM/7oABUx4IoYw/s1600/Daina.portrait.madame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pLWv8fTXrA/UMfMw7haAkI/AAAAAAAAASM/7oABUx4IoYw/s320/Daina.portrait.madame.jpg" width="240" /></a>Madame de Pompadour for Halloween 2008</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rU74i9ZASjk/UMfTWlkvo1I/AAAAAAAAASk/B1X5XwF9I10/s1600/Daina.portrait.50s.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rU74i9ZASjk/UMfTWlkvo1I/AAAAAAAAASk/B1X5XwF9I10/s320/Daina.portrait.50s.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OPjoLm9AAps/UMfTYf79MhI/AAAAAAAAASs/p_0zFrcgCag/s1600/Daina.portrait.50s.2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OPjoLm9AAps/UMfTYf79MhI/AAAAAAAAASs/p_0zFrcgCag/s320/Daina.portrait.50s.2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Looking like a granny from the 50s. The hat, coat, bracelet, and earrings are vintage from that era.<br />
Look inspired by Edith Head designs in classic films of the 50s. Hat, umbrella, coat, & shoes are vintage from that era.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s320/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5hnykLyqXk/UMfTsX-wrcI/AAAAAAAAATU/0MZCNK9V1v8/s1600/Daina.portrait.victorian.phone.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5hnykLyqXk/UMfTsX-wrcI/AAAAAAAAATU/0MZCNK9V1v8/s320/Daina.portrait.victorian.phone.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">In turn-of-the-century store. Reminded me of silent films w/ Buster Keaton & Fatty Arbuckle.</span></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XsIE0dyJ3SY/UMfTdxpLeII/AAAAAAAAAS0/M3Lx_bMQyl4/s1600/Daina.portrait.Keaton.store.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;">Calling my great-great-grandmother...<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>She didn't pick up. I'll call again later.</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3gMavCdClI/UMfTg4-c0RI/AAAAAAAAAS8/ie-MAFzo6MQ/s1600/Daina.portrait.latina.updo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3gMavCdClI/UMfTg4-c0RI/AAAAAAAAAS8/ie-MAFzo6MQ/s320/Daina.portrait.latina.updo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJxQYfRxTqQ/UMfTktn0G_I/AAAAAAAAATE/OEmrk2zVcPQ/s1600/Daina.portrait.scarf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJxQYfRxTqQ/UMfTktn0G_I/AAAAAAAAATE/OEmrk2zVcPQ/s320/Daina.portrait.scarf.jpg" width="240" /></a>This scarf is my design. I constructed it from various silk, satin, and velvet ribbons in a diagonal weave design.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fv4505oSAM/UMfToVJoonI/AAAAAAAAATM/w2IeVDmiXKA/s1600/Daina.portrait.RenFair.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fv4505oSAM/UMfToVJoonI/AAAAAAAAATM/w2IeVDmiXKA/s320/Daina.portrait.RenFair.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQF_490ce5o/UMfT03C7wII/AAAAAAAAATc/24kfQPb5_jg/s1600/Daina.portrait.steampunk.sk82.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bQF_490ce5o/UMfT03C7wII/AAAAAAAAATc/24kfQPb5_jg/s320/Daina.portrait.steampunk.sk82.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_CtfRitMog/UMfT3mQDdKI/AAAAAAAAATk/k6p9PDD2_Gg/s1600/Daina.portrait.tapestry.green.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_CtfRitMog/UMfT3mQDdKI/AAAAAAAAATk/k6p9PDD2_Gg/s320/Daina.portrait.tapestry.green.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-46543634145151351432012-09-02T12:45:00.000-07:002013-05-28T00:56:05.673-07:00Going VIRAL on YOUTUBE! "Hypnagogic Telegram" TARDIS Zeitgeist Performance Art<i>Hypnagogic state: The border state between drowsiness and sleep. In this phase, one is likely to experience visual/audio hallucinations, dream-like images, closed-eye visualizations (CEV), and other anomalous phenomena.</i><br />
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<i>Hypnagogic Telegram</i> is Chicago-based electronica band inspired by Dreams and other Fortean Phenomena. DainaSurrealism has been a lucid dreamer since childhood, thus enabling her to convert the visuals of dreams into atmospheric <i>brouillardesque</i> lyrics. Sung in an assortment of languages (English, German, French, Lithuanian) these singular tunes span both culture and time. She draws inspiration from her days as a New York Underground Club-Kid from the Michael Alig scene, merging eclectic themes with imaginative wardrobe, props, and diverse dance styles. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.<br />
<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM</div>
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<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wtLGzLsvhiI?version=3&hl=en_US"></param>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Capturing the spirit of Kate Bush (Brit Fortean), X-Mal Deutschland (German Goth), Cocteau Twins (atmospheric), Zazie (French socially conscious Rock), and the performance art of Mathieu Chedid, aka M (French Funk guitarist extraordinaire), and Linda (Russian experimental performance artist), </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Hypnagogic Telegram</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> ventures into a kaleidoscope of dance beats and surrealism. The historical spectrum of music from by-gone eras (classic jazz, chansons, Neue Deutsche Welle, et al) and current sounds (club mixes, effects, etc) entwin. </span><br />
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~~Dance 2:44 inspired by Charlie Chaplin<br />
~~Performance art inspired by Mathieu Chedid, aka M<br />
~~Fashion inspired by Albert Robida, "Le Vingtième Siècle" 1890 (SciFi author)<br />
~~Shoes inspired by "Series of Unfortunate Events" film (2004) Colleen Atwood (designer), worn by Emily Browning<br />
~~Backdrop film by George Melies, "Trip to the Moon" (1902)<br />
~~Time travel inspired by Doctor Who<br />
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Mickey Smith: "What's a Horse doing on a spaceship?"<br />
Doctor Who: "Mickey, what's Pre-Revolutionary France doing on a spaceship? Get a little perspective!"<br />
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from "The Girl in the Fireplace", season 2, episode 4 (2006)<br />
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<br />DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-54910250545173618692012-07-04T19:16:00.002-07:002013-04-23T17:38:34.348-07:00Diana Rigg to be on Doctor Who<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rc71D8OB_gE/T_W8oaXk6kI/AAAAAAAAAPo/K32w1aW98UI/s1600/Diana-Rigg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rc71D8OB_gE/T_W8oaXk6kI/AAAAAAAAAPo/K32w1aW98UI/s320/Diana-Rigg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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Dame Diana Rigg, known as Emma Peel to "The Avengers" (60s) fans, is to appear on an episode of "Doctor Who" alongside her daughter, Rachael Stirling. According to BBC news, this is the first time mother and daughter have worked with each other in a production. The episode is due to air sometime in 2013. Rachael Stirling played Caroline Crale in an episode of the impeccably brilliant series "Poirot" ("Five Little Pigs"). She also starred as Nan Astley in "Tipping the Velvet." As a "Dr Who" & "Avengers" fan, I can't contain my joy! Diana Rigg is one of my all time favourite actresses, so I can't wait to witness the "madness" (as Diana Rigg called it).<br />
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"Dame Diana Rigg, Rachael Stirling and a Mark Gatiss script - a combination of
talents you could only get in Doctor Who! Frankly, I'm terrified already!" ~Steven Moffat<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news</a><br />
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<img alt="Picture shows Rachael Stirling as Nan Astley in Tipping the Velvet (2002) " height="299" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61303000/jpg/_61303606_rachael.jpg" width="224" /> </div>
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Rachael Stirling <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span></div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-62574114733459512002012-07-04T09:45:00.001-07:002013-05-29T23:02:19.280-07:00Experimental Surrealist Self-Portraits: Reflections and Memories<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1VePldTSa7Y/T_SFzKmqQcI/AAAAAAAAAOI/bGprQeqkGSs/s1600/photos+june+2008+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1VePldTSa7Y/T_SFzKmqQcI/AAAAAAAAAOI/bGprQeqkGSs/s320/photos+june+2008+081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original turn-of-the-century wall & ceiling from old vaudeville theatre in Racine, Wisconsin.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H_QhcngrJYw/T9JVL6sS1VI/AAAAAAAAAGk/TkZ73dxecqo/s1600/Daina.mirror.experimental.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Reflections, both visual and philosophical, make their appearences in peculiar locations, before odd backdrops, and with Fortean uncanniness. Zeitgeists of by-gone eras are channelled in my work, as if through a seance. Statues speak, movie palaces flicker, vaudeville audiences echo in my ears, and memories come alive again. Antiquated buildings around me represent my unusual relationship with time (after all, I am the Mad Hattress!). Dissheveled hair, which has a personality all its own, decides for itself whether it wants cutting...or not. Round windsor frames evoke the whimsical spirit of Groucho Marx, as well as the classic era of those who wore them (c 1880 - 1930s).</div>
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"I think you might do something better with the time than wasting it in asking riddles that have no answers," said Alice.</div>
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"If you knew Time as well as I do, you wouldn't talk about wasting <em>it. </em>It's <em>him,</em>" said the </div>
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Mad Hatter. "I dare say you never even spoke to Time! If you only kept on good terms with him, he'd do anything you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose it were nine o'clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons: you'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!"</div>
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~"Alice in Wonderland," Lewis Carroll, 1865</div>
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That was, of course, before the Mad Hatter had a falling-out with Time. Which is another story the Mad Hatter discusses during the Tea Party. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in Mirror), named after <br />
the exquisite corpse book by Michael Ende<br />
illustrated by his surrealist father, Edgar Ende. M. Ende wrote<br />
"Never-ending Story," and "Momo." You can read my<br />
review of "Momo"(both the book & the film) in my blog.</td></tr>
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Original floor tiles inside Portage Theater in Chicago, IL. Built in</div>
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1920, it is now in threat of being bought & converted to a church.</div>
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Help save the Portage <a href="http://www.portagetheater.org/">http://www.portagetheater.org/</a></div>
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Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" premiered here in 1940. The film</div>
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was considered too controversial for wide release. The Music Box</div>
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was the only other Chicago theater to premiere it.</div>
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Johnny Depp came here to film the scene of Dillinger at the flickers</div>
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for "Public Enemies," in 2009.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflections</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflections in drag</td></tr>
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Strange Interlude: SURREALIST NEWS: <span style="color: #0b5394;">HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM</span> (my band) is <span style="color: #cc0000;">GOING</span> <span style="color: #990000;">VIRAL</span> w/ Chaplin dance. New album out soon. New videos, incl How to Remember Dreams (surrealist tips) & songs soon on YOUTUBE. Johnny Depp inspired Character Morphing w/ every song! Here is us doing CHAPLIN DANCE to backdrop of George Melies 1902 film <i>Trip to the Moon </i>(as seen in <i>Hugo </i>film). "Like" us on FACEBOOK<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 32px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wtLGzLsvhiI" width="420"></iframe> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lewis Carroll, Dr Who, Dream, & Fortean inpired tunes. Multi-lingual tunes (English, German, French, Lithuanian, Russian). Silent film inspired dances. Johnny Depp inspired Character Morphing. Trock. Lietuvaite soka kaip Chaplin.<br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLHvNrgpYaM/T_R-al2OsLI/AAAAAAAAAJc/IMgVebivQNs/s1600/Indiana+visit+Aug+09+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLHvNrgpYaM/T_R-al2OsLI/AAAAAAAAAJc/IMgVebivQNs/s320/Indiana+visit+Aug+09+079.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6ISZ2EAUWE/T9JU8RP93NI/AAAAAAAAAGc/DHk1SIytjQI/s1600/Daina.experimental.portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6ISZ2EAUWE/T9JU8RP93NI/AAAAAAAAAGc/DHk1SIytjQI/s320/Daina.experimental.portrait.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curl of Light</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day of research at the Kinsey Institute, Indiana University</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fyT0cZFXo2s/T_R_JTW9iVI/AAAAAAAAAJs/w55SKpfrjc0/s1600/Indiana+visit+Aug+09+177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fyT0cZFXo2s/T_R_JTW9iVI/AAAAAAAAAJs/w55SKpfrjc0/s320/Indiana+visit+Aug+09+177.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Research at Indiana University, Kinsey Institute</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_-8pYePNoo/T_R_OdX4K1I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/HZk7IBOwUGc/s1600/Jan+2008+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_-8pYePNoo/T_R_OdX4K1I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/HZk7IBOwUGc/s320/Jan+2008+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wish you were there to hear what this statue had to say!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflections</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zL4PeMgHV2k/T_R_pDz2MWI/AAAAAAAAAKI/cf-uk86miu8/s1600/Jan+to+Mar+2011+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zL4PeMgHV2k/T_R_pDz2MWI/AAAAAAAAAKI/cf-uk86miu8/s320/Jan+to+Mar+2011+101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More jellyfish than in SpongeBob's closet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gaXrv6ouvvQ/T_SAWEoMfrI/AAAAAAAAAKo/N1cnzaL0-Vw/s1600/Jan+2008+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gaXrv6ouvvQ/T_SAWEoMfrI/AAAAAAAAAKo/N1cnzaL0-Vw/s320/Jan+2008+049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which way is up?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7UtFYp7hN8/T_R_tK5Q2SI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/YLQh32SYmng/s1600/Canada+Trip+2007+169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7UtFYp7hN8/T_R_tK5Q2SI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/YLQh32SYmng/s320/Canada+Trip+2007+169.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty colours over Montreal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1p-hhrM1qGI/T_R_82vFBrI/AAAAAAAAAKY/Bz9gC9Acjyk/s1600/Jan+to+Mar+2011+206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1p-hhrM1qGI/T_R_82vFBrI/AAAAAAAAAKY/Bz9gC9Acjyk/s320/Jan+to+Mar+2011+206.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">95 floors over Chicago and a frozen Lake Michigan (Hancock Center)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4fJBG_MA-NM/T_SARS9cb5I/AAAAAAAAAKg/7UyeI_1q_rs/s1600/Jan+to+Mar+2011+212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4fJBG_MA-NM/T_SARS9cb5I/AAAAAAAAAKg/7UyeI_1q_rs/s320/Jan+to+Mar+2011+212.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louise Brooks (1908 - 1985), famous flapper actress</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrCakls3A4I/T_SAsIQpZyI/AAAAAAAAAK0/axT_ku_wEgQ/s1600/June+July+2011+135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VrCakls3A4I/T_SAsIQpZyI/AAAAAAAAAK0/axT_ku_wEgQ/s320/June+July+2011+135.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two girls on a skateboard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtdzFVTKcww/T_SA7lV5nNI/AAAAAAAAAK8/rguIBvVgkKI/s1600/Birthday!!+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtdzFVTKcww/T_SA7lV5nNI/AAAAAAAAAK8/rguIBvVgkKI/s200/Birthday!!+026.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">103 floors over Chicago (Sear's Tower)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jH5XqiRl2_0/T_SBmGE8LTI/AAAAAAAAALQ/3hqa094yGMs/s1600/last+opne+for+fb+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jH5XqiRl2_0/T_SBmGE8LTI/AAAAAAAAALQ/3hqa094yGMs/s200/last+opne+for+fb+016.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardens near Art Institute, Chicago</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OUr8uCR20GI/T_SBylDHihI/AAAAAAAAALY/VLq_dosYybI/s1600/last+opne+for+fb+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OUr8uCR20GI/T_SBylDHihI/AAAAAAAAALY/VLq_dosYybI/s320/last+opne+for+fb+065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Institute, Chicago</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3hlYDitZP8/T_SCDymi0LI/AAAAAAAAALg/DCWWR1tUokk/s1600/last+opne+for+fb+124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3hlYDitZP8/T_SCDymi0LI/AAAAAAAAALg/DCWWR1tUokk/s320/last+opne+for+fb+124.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">University of Chicago campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BdcNiHng0AE/T_SCWCaFgCI/AAAAAAAAALo/D5t7UNmA_a4/s1600/last+opne+for+fb+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BdcNiHng0AE/T_SCWCaFgCI/AAAAAAAAALo/D5t7UNmA_a4/s320/last+opne+for+fb+142.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">University of Chicago campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g3oDHPG7dGE/T_SCqOE4zCI/AAAAAAAAAL0/GEIQhLShct4/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g3oDHPG7dGE/T_SCqOE4zCI/AAAAAAAAAL0/GEIQhLShct4/s320/NYC+Aug+09+184.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiral objet d'art reflection, NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N9BgAHaNs6E/T_SC8pD__iI/AAAAAAAAAL8/wu5pgZHB8Ks/s1600/last+opne+for+fb+143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N9BgAHaNs6E/T_SC8pD__iI/AAAAAAAAAL8/wu5pgZHB8Ks/s320/last+opne+for+fb+143.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken pot pie, yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRA0p9fkXbQ/T_SDO_asafI/AAAAAAAAAME/60AzPmxi9Ns/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRA0p9fkXbQ/T_SDO_asafI/AAAAAAAAAME/60AzPmxi9Ns/s320/NYC+Aug+09+144.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A somber moment in front of Liberty Studios, NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P-QJ1NPPln4/T_SDhT8PN8I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/arP4AuiwiYI/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P-QJ1NPPln4/T_SDhT8PN8I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/arP4AuiwiYI/s320/NYC+Aug+09+145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used to work at Liberty Studios, NYC. I was saddened to see a "for sale" sign in front.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tvbt0ni849A/T_SD1k3IGXI/AAAAAAAAAMY/z9ALZ1nBn6E/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tvbt0ni849A/T_SD1k3IGXI/AAAAAAAAAMY/z9ALZ1nBn6E/s320/NYC+Aug+09+218.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">24th St, NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePUKmLvHZDQ/T_SEIXsrWvI/AAAAAAAAAMg/aceqZhFRXMY/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePUKmLvHZDQ/T_SEIXsrWvI/AAAAAAAAAMg/aceqZhFRXMY/s320/NYC+Aug+09+255.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">23rd St station, NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uRwqvNZbSkA/T_SEas9qpMI/AAAAAAAAAMs/BULqHrE7PgA/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uRwqvNZbSkA/T_SEas9qpMI/AAAAAAAAAMs/BULqHrE7PgA/s320/NYC+Aug+09+178.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random wandering, NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKlpuT35FVQ/T_SEs5ce2LI/AAAAAAAAAM0/n9e8xrF39OY/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKlpuT35FVQ/T_SEs5ce2LI/AAAAAAAAAM0/n9e8xrF39OY/s320/NYC+Aug+09+186.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Odd objet d'art in window, NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWUcGmlRsvU/T_SE_rT6NNI/AAAAAAAAAM8/qa0XUjvTtRo/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWUcGmlRsvU/T_SE_rT6NNI/AAAAAAAAAM8/qa0XUjvTtRo/s320/NYC+Aug+09+260.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">23rd St station, middle tracks for express trains, NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEhIrJ6yeF4/T_SFTT0KgaI/AAAAAAAAANI/szyjyBxWNTU/s1600/NYC+Aug+09+268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEhIrJ6yeF4/T_SFTT0KgaI/AAAAAAAAANI/szyjyBxWNTU/s320/NYC+Aug+09+268.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relection from random wandering, NYC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HxaUYHW357o/T_SFWhR2-BI/AAAAAAAAANQ/luEaG606kYs/s1600/Photos+1+747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HxaUYHW357o/T_SFWhR2-BI/AAAAAAAAANQ/luEaG606kYs/s320/Photos+1+747.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silhouette looking out over Paris courtyard, 16th arrondissement</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RrJUWicN8W0/T_SFeHFqI1I/AAAAAAAAANg/yRZZ1IZWNEU/s1600/photos+june+2008+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RrJUWicN8W0/T_SFeHFqI1I/AAAAAAAAANg/yRZZ1IZWNEU/s320/photos+june+2008+007.JPG" width="320" /></a><img height="231" src="http://vcataup.files.wordpress.com/2099/05/cahun.jpg" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirrow on ceiling, 2008 (this was way before I knew of Claude Cahun's photograph). Cahun (1894 -1954) pioneered surrealist self-portraits. Her photo was taken in 1915. I find these two photographs to be quite uncanny.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"If Walls Could Talk" Old vaudeville theatre in Racine, Wisconson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oa7faG9l_BE/T_SHQEzzqfI/AAAAAAAAAO0/qauf5ka0jKc/s1600/Fr+Ro.McKean+199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oa7faG9l_BE/T_SHQEzzqfI/AAAAAAAAAO0/qauf5ka0jKc/s320/Fr+Ro.McKean+199.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portage Theater, Chicago. Save the Portage theater from being converted<br />
to a church. <a href="http://www.portagetheater.org/">http://www.portagetheater.org/</a> I witnessed too many movie<br />
palaces close or turn into churches on Flatbush Ave<br />
in Brooklyn. I want to see this one saved.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marche Restaurant, Chicago (alas, it is no more)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BFl-XQmTeYA/T_SGWIhEIFI/AAAAAAAAAOc/I2ZANwl78vk/s1600/Daina.mushrooms.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BFl-XQmTeYA/T_SGWIhEIFI/AAAAAAAAAOc/I2ZANwl78vk/s320/Daina.mushrooms.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Lithuanian during mushroom season.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yqylq3zRMwY/T_SGqiTzyAI/AAAAAAAAAOk/LAkoa_Dg7GI/s1600/June+July+2011+257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yqylq3zRMwY/T_SGqiTzyAI/AAAAAAAAAOk/LAkoa_Dg7GI/s320/June+July+2011+257.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Iki Dugno!" Lithuanian for "bottoms up!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cGe8f4vQWTM/T_SG8HSPkUI/AAAAAAAAAOs/II6h8SWCrcQ/s1600/Fr+Ro.McKean+197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cGe8f4vQWTM/T_SG8HSPkUI/AAAAAAAAAOs/II6h8SWCrcQ/s320/Fr+Ro.McKean+197.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior shot of Poratge Theater. Save the Portage, join the noble cause.<br />
<a href="http://www.portagetheater.org/">http://www.portagetheater.org/</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portage Theater, Chicago</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-brrc7hoDuas/T_SIBI9qV-I/AAAAAAAAAPI/UHf9SAZtpM8/s1600/June+July+2011+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-brrc7hoDuas/T_SIBI9qV-I/AAAAAAAAAPI/UHf9SAZtpM8/s320/June+July+2011+067.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Suzuki Savage 650</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv5kZIz3Ljw/T_SIVMwQqfI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/O1q9c23qeYY/s1600/Indiana+visit+Aug+09+271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv5kZIz3Ljw/T_SIVMwQqfI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/O1q9c23qeYY/s320/Indiana+visit+Aug+09+271.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old street car from the 1933 World's Fair</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-29963746216589742402012-05-30T12:38:00.002-07:002024-02-15T09:22:09.306-08:00Daina Elegant Surrealist Art (Chicago Surrealist Group member)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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Elegant Surrealism inspired by Illuminated Manuscripts, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Calligraphy, Fashion Design, and Medieval Art. Lithuanian Surreal artist. Labas!<br />
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"Pandora's Stage" Pen & ink, mixed media, 2022<br />
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Inspired by a dream in which I walked through doorways draped in velvet curtains. A few of the characters are inspired by the animated Disney "Alice in Wonderland" from 1951, in which classic vaudeville & Ziegfeld Follies comedian, Ed Wynn, starred as the Mad Hatter. He also played Uncle Albert in "Mary Poppins," starred 2x in" Twilight Zone", and was offered the title role in "The Wizard of Oz"...he turned it down).<br />
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<br /><br /><div>"Oeuvre d'euf" Wooden Russian Egg, clay, mixed media, 2008<br />
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Inspired by twisted logic within "Alice in Wonderland"<br />
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~~What do you think happens to an egg after it eats itself? Please give me your interpretation in the comments section.<br />
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<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"Sappho's Fragments" Calligraphic, gel, and metallic 3-D pens; collage on parchment paper</div><div>
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The calligraphy is in ancient Greek with English translations. This is inspired by the book "If Not, Winter: Sappho's Fragments." <br />
She was one of the first lyric poets of antiquity. Sappho lived in ancient Greece c 630 - 570 BCE.<br />
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"The Seance" Fountain pen, fine pint pen, 1993<br />
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Inspired by 1920s flappers and the interest in seances to summon Houdini's spirit after his death in 1926. Houdini and his wife, Bess, had an agreement that the first to die would contact the survivor via code. After many unsuccessful seances, Bess held the "Final Houdini Seance" in the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood, CA in 1936. It was recorded onto vinyl with her sadly concluding "I now, reverently, turn out the light."<br />
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One of my favs, Tony Curtis, played the title role in "Houdini" 1953.<br />
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Hear the final seance here...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvWgCb6MYgw/UaPzYXNpi2I/AAAAAAAAAoE/JMTIW21b-I4/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+019.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QvWgCb6MYgw/UaPzYXNpi2I/AAAAAAAAAoE/JMTIW21b-I4/s400/Daina.surreal.art+019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">I created </span><a href="http://dainasurrealism.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-illuminated-dream-manuscript.html?view=magazine" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; background-color: white; color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-family: "Helvetica Neue Light", HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; outline-style: none; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;">my medieval illuminated dream manuscript</a> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">which is </span><span face="'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">Inspired by Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts which pre-dated Guttenberg's printed Bibles, this work is meditative in its undertaking. Early pages utilized a lovely fountain pen, then moved on to calligraphic & quill pens. That, in turn, inspired me to experiment with a wide spectrum of calligraphic styles. I decided to use Gothic Blackletter calligraphy (12th c. forward) throughout much of the book.</span></td></tr>
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Strange Interlude: CHICAGO SURREALIST NEWS: HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM (my band) is GOING <span style="color: #990000;">VIRAL</span> w/ Chaplin dance. More music & tips on how to remember dreams (for creativity & life) to be posted soon. Here is us doing CHAPLIN DANCE to backdrop of George Melies 1902 film <i>Trip to the Moon </i>(as seen in <i>Hugo </i>film)<br />
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Lewis Carroll, Dr Who, Dream, & Fortean inpired tunes. Multi-lingual. Silent film inspired Dances. Trock.Timelord Rock. Johnny Depp inspired Character Morphing. Lietuvaite soka kaip Chaplin.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RBU9735v30/T8ZuijIG_yI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/k8Yx5tkx27A/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+007.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RBU9735v30/T8ZuijIG_yI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/k8Yx5tkx27A/s320/Daina.surreal.art+007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"Hand of a Mannerist," acrylic paint, glow-in-the-dark paint, markers, 2008<br />
<br />
~~Inspired by my love of Mannerism, an obscure short-lived twisted art-form from the Italian High-Renaissance (1520 -1580). Exaggerated human figures were part of the Mannerist style. It was eventually suppressed by the Catholic Church as a form a heresy. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSGobToRqHs/T8Zt_KK8B-I/AAAAAAAAAFI/AH6QDaLl1s0/s1600/Daina.surreal.art+006.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSGobToRqHs/T8Zt_KK8B-I/AAAAAAAAAFI/AH6QDaLl1s0/s320/Daina.surreal.art+006.JPG" width="240" /></a> "L'esprit d'escalier" aka "Logic of the Stairs" Wood, wire and markers, 2008 ~~Inspired by the term, l'esprit d'escalier" which refers to the instant you think of the right comeback, yet it's too late (as you're on the stairs leaving). Eye inspired by staircase in the Gustave Moreau Museum in Paris. <a href="http://www.whattoseeinparis.com/gustave-moreau-museum/">http://www.whattoseeinparis.com/gustave-moreau-museum/</a> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8MW-ApIj20/T8ZvtqxHm-I/AAAAAAAAAFk/ONhYD2qycEM/s1600/weirdness.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8MW-ApIj20/T8ZvtqxHm-I/AAAAAAAAAFk/ONhYD2qycEM/s320/weirdness.jpg" width="205" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mePyRSJ3mlk/T8ZvOhbo0VI/AAAAAAAAAFY/BOlptMxuVhk/s1600/sanity+light.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mePyRSJ3mlk/T8ZvOhbo0VI/AAAAAAAAAFY/BOlptMxuVhk/s320/sanity+light.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-1608461539858612732012-01-03T19:46:00.000-08:002013-04-23T17:37:18.618-07:00THE AVENGERS (Ground-breaking cult TV of the 60s pt 2)“The Avengers” is an outstanding ABC* spy-fi (spy fiction with elements of science fiction) adventure series starring Patrick Macnee (1922 – present) as the impeccably stylish secret agent John Steed, and Dame Diana Rigg (1938 – present) as the fearless and independent-minded Emma Peel. The show ran from 1961 – 1969 and was filmed in black and white until 1967, when colour was introduced to marvelous effect. Rigg played Peel from 1965 – 1968, after Honor Blackman, who played Catherine Gale, left the show.<br />
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Peel is the epitome of femininity; intelligent, elegant, and beautiful, all while fighting off enemy spies so she can complete a friendly game of chess with Steed. Her classic Lotus Elan sports car and leather cat suits embody the ideal of an emancipated modern woman.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-qxj_MgMmU/TwPJlnI_GBI/AAAAAAAAADM/o1WvEVP0hVk/s1600/avengers.lotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-qxj_MgMmU/TwPJlnI_GBI/AAAAAAAAADM/o1WvEVP0hVk/s320/avengers.lotus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Steed is the quintessential British upper-class gentleman-spy: he wears a smart suit (designed by Pierre Cardin), carries a concealed sword in his umbrella, and has a custom metal bowler hat (for fighting, of course). Suave, sophisticated, full of gadgets and witty one-liners, Steed is televisions version of James Bond, minus the regular visits to the STD clinic. Steed and Peel never kiss but occasionally flirt. They complement each other perfectly as they fight international espionage plots and still have time left over to pop open a vintage bottle of champagne at the end of each episode.<br />
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The playful Mod clothing and extraordinary set design establish the unique visual character of the series. Framed photographs of eyes on walls, round-shaped brightly coloured furniture, and big-buttoned A-line jackets blend with walking bass lines and beatnik drums to create a collage of the swinging 60s. Peels dynamic and bold-coloured Mod garb was designed by Alun Hughes.<br />
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The titles of the episodes are as whimsical as the show, spoofing titles of films and television shows. For example: “The Girl from AUNTIE” spoofs of spy-fi show, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “Mission Highly Improbable” lampoons secret agent show “Mission Impossible,” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station” parody’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” 1966 film comedy with Buster Keaton in his last film appearance).<br />
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<br />
“The Joker” (season 5 episode 15, 1967)<br />
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In which Steed trumps an ace –<br />
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And Emma plays a lone card<br />
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Pendergast, a criminal whom Peel had sent to jail, has devised a scheme to lure her to an isolated mansion in the countryside. She arrives at the Victorian-Gothic style manor expecting to spend the weekend playing bridge, but instead finds Ola, a menacing young woman who tells her that the host has been delayed and will arrive later. The mansion is reminiscent of those found in Hammer horror films (a la Vincent Price) with its wood paneling, antique furniture, and candelabras. The eight-foot tall playing cards throughout the dinning room and one as a revolving door on top of the staircase break the horror film spell and become absurdist. After Ola leaves to “care for a sick friend,” Peel can tell she isn’t alone in the house when the card door keeps revolving.<br />
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Far be it for Peel to be intimidated. A stranger appears at the door asking to use the phone instead he takes his knife out and asks, “How would you like me to tuck you in (to bed)?” She twists his arm and says, “How would you like me to break your arm?” as she kicks him out the door.<br />
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The attention to detail in the application of colour in this episode is dazzling. Peels Chinese red silk pajamas make her shoulder-length auburn hair radiate. The tablecloth and the wall paper in the dinning room are the same shade of red as hearts on the cards and the roses Pentergast leaves around the house for Peel to find. Ola wears a sweater which is the identical blue to that of the candles and the clothing on the cards.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aP2q3qfEZ1k/TwPKuGAs_QI/AAAAAAAAADk/Js0fsYNXXA4/s1600/AVENGERS.emma.p.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aP2q3qfEZ1k/TwPKuGAs_QI/AAAAAAAAADk/Js0fsYNXXA4/s320/AVENGERS.emma.p.jpg" width="224" /></a>The gramophone record which Pentergast plays repeatedly in order to taunt Peel is a German song called, “Mein Liebling, Mein Rose.” The producers could have gone through the trouble to find someone who could sing it with proper German grammar and without the fake accent. The correct title should have been, “Mein Liebing, Meine Rose.” There were a few parts in the song which had flawed grammar.<br />
<br />
“The Avengers” has classic wit and charisma which makes it addictive. The chemistry between Steed and Peel clicks perfectly. Peel pioneered the role of strong female characters. In the mid-sixties, it was unprecedented to have a woman who could fight (and win) her own battles. Female roles were weak and mousy; they often were victims who would get kidnapped by just grabbing their wrists and walking away. We didn’t get another tough and robust female role like that until 1977 with Princess Leia from “Star Wars.” After Leia, it took at least another decade for resilient females to become visible. The proliferation of these women, such as Trinity from “The Matrix” (1999), can be traced back to the immaculate Emma Peel.<br />
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These are three influential shows from the sixties, each different, yet similar. Their similarity lies in what they utilized and contributed to the future of film and television.<br />
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“The Avengers” gives us Emma Peel, who rebels against the accepted norm of female behaviour. She thinks for herself and does for herself; she is her own person. The Art Direction is one-of-a-kind: vibrantly coloured sets, absurd props with absurd plots (like Peel being tied to the mini railroad track as the train approaches) seem cartoon-like (in a good way).<br />
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The shows use of lighting, camera effects and odd props generates a feeling that this can’t be real. Is it all a dream?<br />
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*ABC (Associated British Corporation) Television Films Limited<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 32px; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 32px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wtLGzLsvhiI" width="420"></iframe> </span></span>DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-87367355946081032362011-05-10T10:28:00.001-07:002024-02-15T09:26:16.279-08:00Ground-breaking Cult Television Shows of the 1960s (The Prisoner, The Avengers, Ernie Kovacs)The 1960s was a time of questioning the status quo and exploring new forms of creative expression. Three shows from this era stand out for their innovative visual effects, controversial main characters, and absurdist plots; “The Prisoner,” “The Avengers,’ and “The Ernie Kovacs Show.” They continue to influence film and television to this day.<br />
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“I am not a Number, I am a Free Man” ~~The Prisoner<br />
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The legendary BBC mini-series, “The Prisoner” (1967) stars Patrick McGoohan (1928 – 2009) as Number Six, a kidnapped ex-spy who is relocated to a beautiful yet mysterious village where the inhabitants are known not by their names, but by their assigned numbers. McGoohan (King Edward I in “Braveheart” 1995) was the brilliantly creative mind behind the show; having written, produced, and directed it.<br />
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The intro to the show sets the stage superbly, thus making each of the seventeen episodes non-linear. To the sound of thunder, Number Six storms into his Bose’s office with a letter of resignation. A menacingly large black car follows him home, looking as if it will eat his small Lotus sports car with him in it. He hurriedly packs his suitcase, only to be gassed through a keyhole. Disoriented, he wakes up and stumbles to a window to find he is in an apartment in the Village.<br />
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Number 6 asks: “Where am I?”/ Number 2: “In the Village.”/ “What do you want?”/ “We want information.”/ “Whose side are you on?”/ “That would be telling. We want information.”/ “You won’t get it!”/ “By hook or by crook, we will!”/ “Who are you?”/ “The new Number 2.” / “Who is Number 1?” / “You are Number 6.” / “I am not a Number, I am a Free Man!” / Number 2 laughs heartily (fade)<br />
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What is the reason why Number 6 resigned in such a fury? What is the nature of the information which Number 2 is obsessed with obtaining? Where is this Village? The answer is: there is no answer. That is the exquisiteness of the show; it is purposefully left open to the interpretation of its viewers. This is no mindless sit-com with canned laughter tracks signaling viewers where to giggle; it is a thinking persons program full of symbolism, social criticism, and double entendres. <br />
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McGoohan’s vision of a Kafkaesque society where untold numbers of people are blackmailed to report on the activity of others is hauntingly familiar to that of the Stasi (Secret Police) apparatus in East Germany which indoctrinated one quarter of the population to spy on their friends, family, and neighbours. The show is timeless and produces striking images which permanently etch themselves into the minds of viewers. <br />
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Like putting together a 200 piece puzzle of M.C. Escher’s staircase, the plot unfolds to reveal its splendid complexity. The colourful clothing of the townspeople is in stark contrast to their drab personalities and strict adherence to rules of conformity enforced by the establishment. Upon deeper inspection, the wardrobe, towels, and umbrellas of the townsfolk are in primary colours; blue, red, green, yellow, the same shades recur with no variation. Number Six has a distinctly different outfit: gray pants, dark blue turtleneck, and black dress jacket with white trim. Nobody looks like him, and nobody dares act like him. He is the embodiment of non-conformity: he questions the rules of the authorities, and tries to escape every chance he gets.<br />
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The location of the exterior shots is a visual odyssey in its own right. The village is cluster of breath-taking classically inspired buildings surrounded on three sides by mountains and a beach by the sea on the forth. The location was carefully kept secret during production, finally revealed in the closing credits of the last episode, “Fall Out.” Portmeirion, a small resort town in North Wales, has an enchanting quality about it. A vanity project by Welsh architect, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, it was deigned and constructed between 1925 and 1975 in the style of a southern Italian town. Lovely sunny days, lush gardens, and palm trees make this town idyllic, but it is a gilded cage for Number 6.<br />
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The art Director, Jack Shampan, created the atmospheric Bond-like feel to the mechanical devices and interiors of Number Two’s chamber and dome control room. Rover is huge remote control white bouncing balloon which incapacities insubordinates and escapes. When it moves through the village, people become motionless; a surreal sight.<br />
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“The Prisoner” is experimental in theme, characters, and setting. Like the work of Lewis Carroll, it combines symbolism, strange characters, and unusual scenarios to weave together a story which represents different things for different people. McGoohan was offered the role of Bond before Roger Moore, but he reclined. He chose instead to take the spy genre to heretofore unexplored psychological and sociological territory and for that we are grateful.<br />
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“Mrs. Peel - We’re Needed”<br />
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“The Avengers” is an outstanding BBC spy-fi (spy fiction with elements of science fiction) adventure series starring Patrick Macnee (1922 – present) as the impeccably stylish secret agent John Steed, and Dame Diana Rigg (1938 – present) as the fearless and independent-minded Emma Peel. The show ran from 1961 – 1969 and was filmed in black and white until 1967, when colour was introduced to marvelous effect. Rigg played Peel from 1965 – 1968, after Honor Blackman, who played Catherine Gale, left the show.<br />
<br />
Peel is the epitome of femininity; intelligent, elegant, and beautiful, all while fighting off enemy spies so she can complete a friendly game of chess with Steed. Her classic Lotus Elan sports car and leather cat suits embody the ideal of an emancipated modern woman. How I would love to have that car in my garage and those clothes in my closet. Forget diamonds, I want those girls toys!<br />
<br />
Steed is the quintessential British upper-class gentleman-spy: he wears a smart suit (designed by Pierre Cardin), carries a concealed sword in his umbrella, and has a custom metal bowler hat (for fighting, of course). Suave, sophisticated, full of gadgets and witty one-liners, Steed is televisions version of James Bond, minus the regular visits to the STD clinic. Steed and Peel never kiss but occasionally flirt. They complement each other perfectly as they fight international espionage plots and still have time left over to pop open a vintage bottle of champagne at the end of each episode.<br />
<br />
The playful Mod clothing and extraordinary set design establish the unique visual character of the series. Framed photographs of eyes on walls, round-shaped brightly coloured furniture, and big-buttoned A-line jackets blend with walking bass lines and beatnik drums to create a collage of the swinging 60s. Peels dynamic and bold-coloured Mod garb was designed by Alun Hughes.<br />
<br />
The titles of the episodes are as whimsical as the show, spoofing titles of films and television shows. For example: “The Girl from AUNTIE” spoofs of spy-fi show, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “Mission Highly Improbable” lampoons secret agent show “Mission Impossible,” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station” parody’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” 1966 film comedy with Buster Keaton in his last film appearance).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“The Joker” (season 5 episode 15, 1967)<br />
<br />
In which Steed trumps an ace –<br />
<br />
And Emma plays a lone card<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pendergast, a criminal whom Peel had sent to jail, has devised a scheme to lure her to an isolated mansion in the countryside. She arrives at the Victorian-Gothic style manor expecting to spend the weekend playing bridge, but instead finds Ola, a menacing young woman who tells her that the host has been delayed and will arrive later. The mansion is reminiscent of those found in Hammer horror films (a la Vincent Price) with its wood paneling, antique furniture, and candelabras. The eight-foot tall playing cards throughout the dinning room and one as a revolving door on top of the staircase break the horror film spell and become absurdist. After Ola leaves to “care for a sick friend,” Peel can tell she isn’t alone in the house when the card door keeps revolving.<br />
<br />
Far be it for Peel to be intimidated. A stranger appears at the door asking to use the phone instead he takes his knife out and asks, “How would you like me to tuck you in (to bed)?” She twists his arm and says, “How would you like me to break your arm?” as she kicks him out the door.<br />
<br />
The attention to detail in the application of colour in this episode is dazzling. Peels Chinese red silk pajamas make her shoulder-length auburn hair radiate. The tablecloth and the wall paper in the dinning room are the same shade of red as hearts on the cards and the roses Pentergast leaves around the house for Peel to find. Ola wears a sweater which is the identical blue to that of the candles and the clothing on the cards.<br />
<br />
The gramophone record which Pentergast plays repeatedly in order to taunt Peel is a German song called, “Mein Liebling, Mein Rose.” The producers could have gone through the trouble to find someone who could sing it with proper German grammar and without the fake accent. The correct title should have been, “Mein Liebing, Meine Rose.” There were a few parts in the song which had flawed grammar.<br />
<br />
“The Avengers” has classic wit and charisma which makes it addictive. The chemistry between Steed and Peel clicks perfectly. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Absurdist World of Ernie Kovacs<br />
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Ernie Kovacs was a clever pioneer of camera techniques in the toddler days of television. He was the first to use a tilting set, produced the first sketch comedy show on television, and he broke down the forth wall when he filmed skits inside the studio control room, amongst other innovations. He also hosted the first nationally syndicated morning show called, “Three to Get Ready.” The networks didn’t think it would last because they thought that no one would watch TV so early. <br />
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Kovacs was a spontaneous comedian with a charmingly twisted sense of humour. He is best remembered for his “Nairobi Trio” in which three actors in monkey suits move like wind-up toys to the tune of Robert Maxwell’s “Solfeggio.” They take turns hitting each other and making goofy faces. He created many memorable characters such as Percy Dovetonsils, a boozy and flamboyant gay poet. Yes, the first gay character on network TV and this was in the late 50s/early 60s!<br />
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Dovetonsils reads poems to the audience as he drinks his martini. One skit had him reciting a poem he wrote to the bookworm living in his library, entitled,<br />
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Ode to a Bookworm <br />
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“Oh hail to thee thou streamlined fellow, / You go through my books like / <br />
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A fork goes through Jell-O. /When I open a book and / Look back at the binding, / <br />
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Little crumbs from your lunch / Always I'm finding.”<br />
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After a few more stanzas it concludes…<br />
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“Today is your birthday, may you live good and long, / So the night will be filled with your nibbling song. / Now you can eat my presents from the back to the front / <br />
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For today I've enrolled you in the "Book of the Month.”<br />
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Which may have been inspired by Charlie Chaplin's "Ode to a Worm" act in "Limelight" (1952)<br />
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Kovacs used his fingers and found objects around the set to create a trippy black & white kaleidoscope set to classical music. An early Microsoft Media Player. He was psychedelic before the rest of us know the word. Sadly, Kovacs died in a car accident in January 1962. He was only 42. He would have loved the 60s with the coming of colour television, lava lamps, and new directions in filmmaking. To imagine him in the 60s is to see an artist experimenting in his element. Perhaps there is a parallel universe out there where he made it home safe that rainy night in Los Angeles. That universe would watch the various hilarious incarnations of “The Ernie Kovacs Show” throughout the 60s. One day, in that otherworld, he would explode onto the screen in astounding colour. As for us here, we can just mourn the loss of a creative master who vanished before he reached his full potential. <br />
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Commonalities<br />
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“The Prisoner,” “The Avengers,” and “The Ernie Kovacs Show” had a profound impact on television in a myriad of ways. Each show had unique characters which weren’t depicted on television before. <br />
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“The Avengers” gave us the emancipated Emma Peel. That opened the floodgates for independent and courageous female characters to follow. She is the Amelia Earhardt of television. Peel pioneered the role of strong female characters. In the mid-sixties, it was unprecedented to have a woman who could fight (and win) her own battles. Female roles were weak and mousy; they often were victims who would get kidnapped by just grabbing their wrists and walking away. We didn’t get another tough and robust female role like that until 1977 with Princess Leia from “Star Wars.” After Leia, it took at least another decade for resilient females to become visible. The proliferation of these women, such as Trinity from “The Matrix” (1999), can be traced back to the immaculate Emma Peel.<br />
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“The Prisoner” presented a rebellious individual who single-mindedly fights the system which oppresses him. This isn’t James Dean without a cause. Number Six is dehumanized and stripped of his identity. This makes revolutionary television, literally.<br />
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Ernie Kovacs revealed the first flaming gay character. Dovetonsils inspired later characters such as the “Men on Film” skit from “In Living Color.” Shadows of Kovacs are seen in “Saturday Night Live” with “Daily Affirmations with Steward Smally.” Kovacs’theater of the absurd humour and visual pranks wiggled their way into the drag acts and nonsensical news segments in “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” Kovac’s skit “Hungarian Chef” has been reworked by Jim Henson in “The Muppets” with “The Swedish Chef,” minus the alcoholism.<br />
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As constant sources of inspiration, these classics never grow old.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-40193988207041461412011-05-10T08:33:00.001-07:002011-05-10T08:33:26.031-07:00What Distinguishes a Good Critic? How does He or She Review the Arts?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">A good critic has a passion for the subject matter and has a healthy curiosity to which enables them to continue learning about their chosen field. Passion brings enthusiasm and knowledge brings deeper understanding. Good critique interprets the work which is being critiqued. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “The critic occupies the same relation to the work of art that he criticizes as the artist does to the visible world of colour, or the unseen world of passion and of thought” (“The Critic as Artist”).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Every artist must be his or her own critic; supervising their work to ensure that they don’t bite off the style of other artists. Artists are not artists unless they are original. It’s one thing to rework a piece in your own way; it’s something else for your work to become indistinguishable from that of another. Plagiarism takes many forms besides the written variety. So too must the critic develop his or her own flavour without copying that of their peers.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>It is central for a skillful critic to be aware of who the audience is for the work they review. The quality and style of a given band or book is determined, to some extent, by what kind of individuals attend the concert or buy the book. Most teenagers wouldn’t care for classical music and most drunken frat-boys won’t understand Shakespeare. John Berger discusses this topic at length in his book, <i>Ways of Seeing</i> (Penguin Books, 1990). He speaks of the “spectator-owner,” a wealthy male who commissioned an artist to create a painting which exhibits the prosperity and possessions of that individual. Prosperity and possessions take the form of vast tracts of land, an elegant manor, the luxurious décor within the home, or a portrait of his wife; since women have been seen as possessions since antiquity. Berger says that if a painting has a nude woman and her lover, “the spectator-owner will in fantasy oust the other man, or else identify with him.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Paintings were used as a form of bragging by the affluent. There is no denying that it was obnoxious and pretentious to hang paintings of your assets on your wall, and that it was dehumanizing for a woman to be the “property” of your husband. The only redeeming factor is that the art was of high quality and masterfully rendered. Now-a-days any idiot with some extra cash could brag by hogging up the road with his extra-wide, super-dumb Hummer. To paraphrase the Beatles, “Money Can’t Buy You Style.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>A respectable critic would tell the truth about their opinion. That is easier said than done in a society with multi-million dollar corporations owning huge segments of the film, book, and music industries. The Hollywood junket industry tries to buy positive reviews from critics by paying for their hotel rooms and tossing gift bags at them. All that for some lame formulaic film? It takes a critic with some strong self-respect and unshakable convictions to stand up and speak out against these companies which stripe talented actors and filmmakers of their uniqueness and torment the intelligent portions of the film-going public with over-blown budgets and tired mediocre plots.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Another attribute a good critic should have is an open mind. If he or she goes to a concert or gallery anticipating it to be a bad experience that might just come to pass. It is important to be receptive to the innovative and different. “After all, every writer wants to have s many unusual experiences as possible,” Lester Bangs proclaimed in <i>Let it Blurt </i>by Jim DeRogatis (Broadway Books, New York, 2000). Lester may have been referring to a disturbing party thrown by the Hell’s Angels, but heck, not everyone has the misfortune of being invited to such events. Disturbing events aside, it’s always exhilarating to experience the scope of human creativity through various art-forms.<span> </span>Colourful and charismatic people, experimental sights and sounds, wonderful stage sets; all enable the writer to come into contact with the diversity of the creative community. Unique experiences are the spice of life.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>An open mind should also be applied to the subject matter at hand. Religious fanatics give the Harry Potter books a bad review based on the fact that the evangelical community in America views the books as promoting witchcraft. That is pure bias. They dislike the subject before they read the book, if they even bother to read the book at all. The best advice is to leave your bias at the door.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span><i>Janet Fitch’s 10 rules for writers </i>recommends that writers “pick a better verb. Most people use twenty verbs to describe from a run in their stocking to the explosion of an atomic bomb. Sew yourself a custom suit.” Finding new verbs helps the writer expand their vocabulary and also helps the reader <i>feel</i> what they are reading. A critic with a broad and vivid vocabulary can express himself or herself more efficiently.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>A critic’s work is not easy, and if your goal in life is to have everybody like you, than perhaps you ought to consider running a flower shop instead. But it offers exposure to art in its many forms and the eccentric characters that create it. The wide array of creative work is out there waiting to be revealed. So go forth and write!</div>DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-86998415926601376122011-05-03T10:40:00.001-07:002024-02-15T09:51:26.534-08:00THE PRISONER w/ Patrick McGoohan (Ground-breaking Cult Television Shows of the 1960s pt 1)The 1960s was a time of questioning the status quo and exploring new forms of creative expression. Three shows from this era stand out for their innovative visual effects, controversial main characters, and absurdist plots; “The Prisoner,” “The Avengers,’ and “The Ernie Kovacs Show.” They continue to influence film and television to this day. <br />
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<u><b>“I am not a Number, I am a Free Man”</b></u><br />
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The legendary British mini-series, “The Prisoner” (1967) stars Patrick McGoohan (1928 – 2009) as Number Six, a kidnapped ex-spy who is relocated to a beautiful yet mysterious village where the inhabitants are known not by their names, but by their assigned numbers. McGoohan (King Edward I in “Braveheart” 1995) was the brilliantly creative mind behind the show; having written, produced, and directed it.<br />
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The intro to the show sets the stage superbly, thus making each of the seventeen episodes non-linear. To the sound of thunder, Number Six storms into his Bose’s office with a letter of resignation. A menacingly large black car follows him home, looking as if it will eat his small Lotus sports car with him in it. He hurriedly packs his suitcase, only to be gassed through a keyhole. Disoriented, he wakes up and stumbles to a window to find he is in an apartment in the Village.<br />
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Number 6 asks: “Where am I?”/ Number 2: “In the Village.”/ “What do you want?”/ “We want information.”/ “Whose side are you on?”/ “That would be telling. We want information.”/ “You won’t get it!”/ “By hook or by crook, we will!”/ “Who are you?”/ “The new Number 2.” / “Who is Number 1?” / “You are Number 6.” / “I am not a Number, I am a Free Man!” / Number 2 laughs heartily (fade)<br />
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What is the reason why Number 6 resigned in such a fury? What is the nature of the information which Number 2 is obsessed with obtaining? Where is this Village? The answer is: there is no answer. That is the exquisiteness of the show; it is purposefully left open to the interpretation of its viewers. This is no mindless sit-com with canned laughter tracks signaling viewers where to giggle; it is a thinking persons program full of symbolism, social criticism, and double entendres. <br />
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McGoohan’s vision of a Kafkaesque society where untold numbers of people are blackmailed to report on the activity of others is hauntingly familiar to that of the Stasi (Secret Police) apparatus in East Germany which indoctrinated one quarter of the population to spy on their friends, family, and neighbours. The show is timeless and produces striking images which permanently etch themselves into the minds of viewers. <br />
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Like putting together a 200 piece puzzle of M.C. Escher’s staircase, the plot unfolds to reveal its splendid complexity. The colourful clothing of the townspeople is in stark contrast to their drab personalities and strict adherence to rules of conformity enforced by the establishment. Upon deeper inspection, the wardrobe, towels, and umbrellas of the townsfolk are in primary colours; blue, red, green, yellow, the same shades recur with no variation. Number Six has a distinctly different outfit: gray pants, dark blue turtleneck, and black dress jacket with white trim. Nobody looks like him, and nobody dares act like him. He is the embodiment of non-conformity: he questions the rules of the authorities, and tries to escape every chance he gets.<br />
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The location of the exterior shots is a visual odyssey in its own right. The village is cluster of breath-taking classically inspired buildings surrounded on three sides by mountains and a beach by the sea on the forth. The location was carefully kept secret during production, finally revealed in the closing credits of the last episode, “Fall Out.” Portmeirion, a small resort town in North Wales, has an enchanting quality about it. A vanity project by Welsh architect, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, it was deigned and constructed between 1925 and 1975 in the style of a southern Italian town. Lovely sunny days, lush gardens, and palm trees make this town idyllic, but it is a gilded cage for Number 6.<br />
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The art Director, Jack Shampan, created the atmospheric Bond-like feel to the mechanical devices and interiors of Number 2s chamber and dome control room. Rover is huge remote control white bouncing balloon which incapacitates in-subordinates and escapes. When it moves through the village, people become motionless; a surreal sight.<br />
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“The Prisoner” is experimental in theme, characters, and setting. Like the work of Lewis Carroll, it combines symbolism, strange characters, and unusual scenarios to weave together a story which represents different things for different people. McGoohan was offered the role of Bond before Roger Moore, but he reclined on the grounds that he wished his character to use his mind instead of a gun (just like Doctor Who). He chose instead to take the spy genre to heretofore unexplored psychological and sociological territory and for that we are forever grateful.<br />
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“The Prisoner” presented us with an absurdist existence in a mysterious village. The villagers are absurdist in their dress, anti-individual stance, and blind devotion to an invisible authority. Number Six is a stranger in a strange place, but in a deeper philosophical sense. The show played with bizarre camera angles and unusual visuals to convey such effects as disorientation, psychedelic drugs, confusion, and dream-states. The main character is novel to television: a militant non-conformist who openly questions societal rules and refuses to “fit in.<br />
The time has come to stand up as individuals against social injustices. The 99% movement, Occupy Wall St, and global protests embody the spirit of McGoohans legacy, which is both profound and timely. Doctor Who, Number 6, V (V for Vendetta) and now we proclaim that you can't kill an idea.<br />
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"I am not a number, I am a free man" speech from The Prisoner...Relevant more now than ever!<br />
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Wonderful homage to Patrick McGoohan (part 1 of 3)<br />
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“Mrs. Peel - We’re Needed”<br />
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“The Avengers” is an outstanding BBC spy-fi (spy fiction with elements of science fiction) adventure series starring Patrick Macnee (1922 – present) as the impeccably stylish secret agent John Steed, and Dame Diana Rigg (1938 – present) as the fearless and independent-minded Emma Peel. The show ran from 1961 – 1969 and was filmed in black and white until 1967, when colour was introduced to marvelous effect. Rigg played Peel from 1965 – 1968, after Honor Blackman, who played Catherine Gale, left the show.<br />
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Peel is the epitome of femininity; intelligent, elegant, and beautiful, all while fighting off enemy spies so she can complete a friendly game of chess with Steed. Her classic Lotus Elan sports car and leather cat suits embody the ideal of an emancipated modern woman. <br />
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Steed is the quintessential British upper-class gentleman-spy: he wears a smart suit (designed by Pierre Cardin), carries a concealed sword in his umbrella, and has a custom metal bowler hat (for fighting, of course). Suave, sophisticated, full of gadgets and witty one-liners, Steed is televisions version of James Bond, minus the regular visits to the STD clinic. Steed and Peel never kiss but occasionally flirt. They complement each other perfectly as they fight international espionage plots and still have time left over to pop open a vintage bottle of champagne at the end of each episode.<br />
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The playful Mod clothing and extraordinary set design establish the unique visual character of the series. Framed photographs of eyes on walls, round-shaped brightly coloured furniture, and big-buttoned A-line jackets blend with walking bass lines and beatnik drums to create a collage of the swinging 60s. Peels dynamic and bold-coloured Mod garb was designed by Alun Hughes.<br />
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The titles of the episodes are as whimsical as the show, spoofing titles of films and television shows. For example: “The Girl from AUNTIE” spoofs of spy-fi show, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “Mission Highly Improbable” lampoons secret agent show “Mission Impossible,” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station” parody’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” 1966 film comedy with Buster Keaton in his last film appearance).<br />
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“The Joker” (season 5 episode 15, 1967)<br />
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In which Steed trumps an ace –<br />
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And Emma plays a lone card<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OSTCTai7Ies" width="320" youtube-src-id="OSTCTai7Ies"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br />
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Pendergast, a criminal whom Peel had sent to jail, has devised a scheme to lure her to an isolated mansion in the countryside. She arrives at the Victorian-Gothic style manor expecting to spend the weekend playing bridge, but instead finds Ola, a menacing young woman who tells her that the host has been delayed and will arrive later. The mansion is reminiscent of those found in Hammer horror films (a la Vincent Price) with its wood paneling, antique furniture, and candelabras. The eight-foot tall playing cards throughout the dinning room and one as a revolving door on top of the staircase break the horror film spell and become absurdist. After Ola leaves to “care for a sick friend,” Peel can tell she isn’t alone in the house when the card door keeps revolving.<br />
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Far be it for Peel to be intimidated. A stranger appears at the door asking to use the phone instead he takes his knife out and asks, “How would you like me to tuck you in (to bed)?” She twists his arm and says, “How would you like me to break your arm?” as she kicks him out the door.<br />
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The attention to detail in the application of colour in this episode is dazzling. Peels Chinese red silk pajamas make her shoulder-length auburn hair radiate. The tablecloth and the wall paper in the dinning room are the same shade of red as hearts on the cards and the roses Pentergast leaves around the house for Peel to find. Ola wears a sweater which is the identical blue to that of the candles and the clothing on the cards.<br />
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The gramophone record which Pentergast plays repeatedly in order to taunt Peel is a German song called, “Mein Liebling, Mein Rose.” The producers could have gone through the trouble to find someone who could sing it with proper German grammar and without the fake accent. The correct title should have been, “Mein Liebing, Meine Rose.” There were a few parts in the song which had flawed grammar.<br />
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“The Avengers” has classic wit and charisma which makes it addictive. The chemistry between Steed and Peel clicks perfectly. Peel pioneered the role of strong female characters. In the mid-sixties, it was unprecedented to have a woman who could fight (and win) her own battles. Female roles were weak and mousy; they often were victims who would get kidnapped by just grabbing their wrists and walking away. We didn’t get another tough and robust female role like that until 1977 with Princess Leia from “Star Wars.” After Leia, it took at least another decade for resilient females to become visible. The proliferation of these women, such as Trinity from “The Matrix” (1999), can be traced back to the immaculate Emma Peel.<br />
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The Absurdist World of Ernie Kovacs<br />
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What Emerges from Three Peas in a Pod<br />
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These are three influential shows from the sixties, each different, yet similar. Their similarity lies in what they utilized and contributed to the future of film and television.<br />
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“The Avengers” gives us Emma Peel, who rebels against the accepted norm of female behaviour. She thinks for herself and does for herself; she is her own person. The Art Direction is one-of-a-kind: vibrantly coloured sets, absurd props with absurd plots (like Peel being tied to the mini railroad track as the train approaches) seem cartoon-like (in a good way)..<br />
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The shows use of lighting, camera effects and odd props generates a feeling that this can’t be real. Is it all a dream?<br />
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<br />
<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4EXKMJ4LMKA" width="320" youtube-src-id="4EXKMJ4LMKA"></iframe></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BKp_yxloCn4" width="320" youtube-src-id="BKp_yxloCn4"></iframe></div><br />DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-47688179893225746962011-04-19T12:03:00.001-07:002012-07-04T09:04:22.907-07:00The Weird and Wonderful Shows of Early TelevisionIt’s hard to select three great shows from first decades of TV. There is certainly a wide selection: “The Burns and Allen Show,” “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Doctor Who,” “The Saint” and “Twilight Zone.” Experimental shows such as “The Prisoner,” “The Avengers,” and “The Ernie Kovacs Show” are outstanding examples of experimentation and creative vision. Their influences are seen in books, films, and tv shows to this day (to be discussed further in body of essay).<br />
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“The Prisoner” is a spy fiction cult show which ran for 17 episodes from 1967 – 1968. Its mysterious setting, a small town in Wales with lovely yet unusual architecture, and the Kafkaesque struggle of the main character, Number 6, provides the setting for a psychological thriller with surreal and countercultural themes.<br />
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“The Avengers” (1961 – 1969) presents us with two secret agents, Emma Peel, and John Steed, a boiler wearing gentleman who’s always ready for a fight (as long as it’s dignified). The show is visually striking with superbly colourful art direction. The British tongue-in-cheek humour makes the chemistry between Peel and Steed sparkle. There is a comic-book quality to the plots. Strange villains and a sprinkle of silliness create a unique tv experience.<br />
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“The Ernie Kovacs Show” (1952 – 1956) features the eccentric ad-lib comedy and innovative video effects of Kovacs (1919 – 1962). His characters and visual gags influenced Monty Python, David Letterman, and various comedians on “Saturday Night Live.” “The Ernie Kovacs Collection,” a six DVD box-set of his various TV shows has just been released April 19.DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-57184456240971829342011-04-12T10:47:00.000-07:002024-02-15T09:53:46.080-08:00Animaniacs: Mashup of Warner Brothers and Marx Brothers<i>Animaniacs</i> is a Warner Brothers animated series which ran for five seasons from 1993 – 1998. MAJOR NEWS: Classic episodes of <i>Animaniacs</i> is now being shown on <i>The Hub </i>Mon - Thurs<i> </i>7pm EST, 4pm PST! Executive producer Steven Spielberg and senior producer/writer Tom Ruegger present us with a mad-cap comedy in classic <i>Looney Toons</i> style with running gags, visual puns, side-splitting lyrics, spoofs of films and TV shows, and parodies of celebrities, politicians, and historical figures. Homages to classic films and cameos of celebrities, especially from the Golden Age of Hollywood, are to be found around every bend. The main characters are the Warner brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and their sister, Dot. They have cat-like tails, black fur; wear white gloves, have white feet and white faces. One of the recurrent gags is that none of the other characters can figure out what species they are. They in turn revel at keeping everyone guessing.<br />
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Strange Interlude: SURREALIST NEWS: <span style="color: #0b5394;">HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM</span> (my band) is <span style="color: #cc0000;">GOING</span> <span style="color: #990000;">VIRAL</span> w/ Chaplin dance. New album out soon. New videos, incl How to Remember Dreams (surrealist tips) & songs soon on YOUTUBE. Here is us doing CHAPLIN DANCE to backdrop of George Melies 1902 film <i>Trip to the Moon </i>(as seen in <i>Hugo </i>film)<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtLGzLsvhiI" width="320" youtube-src-id="wtLGzLsvhiI"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EMROEljd6F4" width="320" youtube-src-id="EMROEljd6F4"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>
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Lewis Carroll, Dr Who, Dream, & Fortean inpired tunes. Multi-lingual. Silent film inspired dances. Trock. Lietuvaite soka kaip Chaplin.<br />
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The first episode opens with the back-story in black & white with Yakko’s, Wakko’s and Dot’s red noses being the only colour in the sequence. It starts with a four-way split screen of the Phantom of the Opera, Harold Lloyd hanging from a clock, Buster Keaton chashed by a train, and Charlie Chaplin eating his shoe. “Newsreel of the Stars, dateline: Hollywood, 1930,” the announcer proclaims. He informs us how the Warner Brothers Animation Studio created the siblings not knowing what they got themselves into. Yakko, Wakko and Dot caused havoc on the set and their films made no sense making the studio execs cringe. As a consequence, their films were locked away in the studio vault and the siblings were locked away in the studio water tower “never to be released.” They broke out of their confinement, and that’s the way the adventures begin.<br />
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Supporting characters include Pinky, a thin dim-witted lab mouse with an Australian accent, and Brain, the megalomaniacal evil genius whose plans to “take over the world” are foiled by Pinky’s blundering. Slappy Squirrel is grumpy and cheeky old former cartoon star “from the god old days” with hilarious one-liners. In “Woodstock Slappy” (Season 1, episode 281), Slappy and her nephew, Skippy, go to the country for some relaxation only to wake up and find that their tree is in the middle of the audience to Woodstock. They jump up on an amp and do a witty homage to Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First.” Slappy asks Skippy, “What’s the name of the group playing on stage?” <br />
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Skippy: “Who,” <br />
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Slappy: “They name of the group on stage.” <br />
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Skippy:“Who”<br />
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Slappy: “Who is on stage?” <br />
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Skippy: “Yes”<br />
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Slappy: “So the name of the band is Yes?”<br />
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Skippy: “No, Yes isn’t even at this concert. Who is on stage.”<br />
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Slappy: “What are you asking me for?”<br />
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This continues for about another minute until Slappy is completely confused.<br />
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“Meatballs or Consequences” (Season 1, episode 19) is a bizarre and comical parody of Igmar Bergman’s films. Wakko enters meatball eating contest in Sweden. When he eats one too many, the Grim Reaper appears and tells Wakko, in a Swedish accent, that he is “living impaired” and places a “kuputt” sticker on his forehead. Yakko and Dot protest and insist that they can not be parted because “we’re like civil war chess pieces from the Franklin Mint.” The Reaper agrees to play a game of checkers with Yakko and Dot with Wakko as the prize. In a monotone voice Yakko says, “All is strange and vague.” Dot responds, “Are we dead?” “Or is this Ohio?” Yakko cuts in. The Reaper pops “kaputt” stickers on Yakko and Dot with plans to take them to the netherworld. He soon changes his mind when they harass and annoy him. The Reaper releases them and retorts, “I proclaim you alive…until I return. Which won’t be for a very long time,” and runs away. Brilliant!<br />
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“King Yakko” (Season 1, episode 10) is an uproarious homage to the Marx Brother’s “Duck Soup.” Yakko inherits the throne to Anvilania and endures the boring national anthem sung by the wonderfully named Perry Coma. He starts an argument with the neighbouring country’s leader by mocking his costume. He replies, “This is the uniform of a great man!” In true Marx Brothers fashion, Yakko says “Does he know you’re wearing it?” The siblings break into song with a few bars of “So It’s War” and the mayhem begins. The Marx Brothers live on in cartoon form in this episode and thus are exposed to a younger generation.<br />
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“Animaniacs” is clever, sharp, and insanely humourous. The educational episodes, such songs as “Yakko Universe” (Season 1, episode 50) and “US Presidents,” along with various references to Einstein, Beethoven, and The Beatles, et al, makes this show enlightening, wildly silly and imaginative. Long live “Animaniacs!”<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.<br />
On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span><br />
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</div>DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-59890961409831378662011-04-11T21:35:00.000-07:002013-05-31T18:05:32.606-07:00Albert Robida's 1883 Illustrations Predicted the Internet, Skype,and Youtube! Review of his art in Le Vingtième Siècle (The Twentieth Century)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: cyan;"> </span><b><u>Albert Robida; Grandfather of Science Fiction Illustration</u></b><br />
Born in 1848, Albert Robida, <span style="font-family: Calibri;">a French illustrator, etcher, lithographer, caricaturist, and early science fiction author, contemporary of Jules Verne, envisioned a world which was interconnected via an astonishingly prophetic device called a </span><i style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 47.999996185302734px;">Téléphonoscope</i><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">.</span><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 47.999996185302734px;"> It has a small phonographesque speaker/microphone and is oval in most illustrations, rectangular in the Sahara Battle image. It transmits live performances and news broadcasts from around the world, brings the classroom to the student (distance learning), connects with loved ones live (Skype), and distance voyeurism. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">He is best known for his trilogy of futuristic novels; in the first book, </span><i style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">Le Vingtième Siècle (The Twentieth Century, 1883),</i><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;"> his readers were introduced to the </span><i style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 47.999996185302734px;">Téléphonoscope</i><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">.</span><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 47.999996185302734px;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZRRa-NHV70/UalCzFFAf2I/AAAAAAAAAsU/Eq83EMhTono/s1600/Robida_Skype2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZRRa-NHV70/UalCzFFAf2I/AAAAAAAAAsU/Eq83EMhTono/s320/Robida_Skype2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skype predicted in 1883 by Albert Robida, grandfather of scifi illustration</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.telephonoscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/robida-telephonoscope-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.telephonoscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/robida-telephonoscope-21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1883 Vision of the future: (1) Watch live news from around the world<br />
(2) observe performance on screen at home (Youtube prophesy)<br />
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<a href="http://www.gloubik.info/livres/robida/images/robida-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://www.gloubik.info/livres/robida/images/robida-06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sfgw.at/_BILDERSEITEN/albert%20robida18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://www.sfgw.at/_BILDERSEITEN/albert%20robida18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em style="font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 47.999996185302734px;">Courses via Telephonoscope<br />(Distance learning/online classes prophesy)</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">The sequels of</span><i style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;"> </i><i style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">Le Vingtième Siècle</i><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">, are</span><i style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;"> Guerre au Vingtième Siècle (War in the Twentieth Century, 1887), </i><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">and </span><i style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">La Vie Électronique (Electronic Life, 1890). </i><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">All three of these books he illustrated himself. He stands apart from Verne because Robida imagined how </span><i style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;">everyday</i><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 200%;"> life would be with inventions of the future, whereas Verne wrote mainly about mad scientists and their inventions.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnO_qDDlja0/TaC0swrqzrI/AAAAAAAAABw/s_w9Gr5BYp4/s1600/RobidaCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnO_qDDlja0/TaC0swrqzrI/AAAAAAAAABw/s_w9Gr5BYp4/s400/RobidaCover.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;">The Twentieth Century</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;"> (<place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Middletown</city>, <state w:st="on">CT</state></place>: Wesleyan University Press, 2004) is illustrated in a classically beautiful pen and ink style, common in the 1800s. Robida expertly cross-hatches and shades with an eye for perspective and proportion which compensates for the lack of colour. The English cover presents a rotating house on top of a framework metal structure. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The book </span>transports us to <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Paris</place></city> in 1952: dirigibles, flying taxis, and personal aircraft fill the sky. The dirigibles resemble flying fish, creating a dream-like quality to the scene. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;"> The French cover (p VIII in English edition) portrays characters and events from the book. One of the main characters in the book, Hélène, is seen dressed as a lawyer on the lower right-hand side. Above her, we see Notre Dame with a restaurant and dirigible depot attached. On the lower left side, we have two people conversing on what Robida called a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Téléphonoscope</i>, what we call the internet today. The central figure is that of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Femme Moderne</i>, she is an emancipated woman of the new century. Her dress is short, revealing her pants and tights underneath, yet much of her wardrobe still has very classic Victorian elements to it (corseted waist, elegant top hat, long umbrella, lace and bowtie decorations, long gloves, etc). Robida elegantly portrays the flowing of fabric with a keen eye for individual style of dress for each character. She, in combination with the two figures at her feet, comprises a triangular composition, similar to paintings from the Renaissance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;">Robida’s art is highly stylized: curves, ovals and hour-glass shaped women populate his illustrations. His female characters are realistically rendered whereas many of the males look like caricatures; rounded noses, eccentric mustaches and beards. </span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.precinemahistory.net/images/robida_telephonoscope1883.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" r6="true" src="http://www.precinemahistory.net/images/robida_telephonoscope1883.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><em>Witnessing a battle in the Sahara </em> p 182</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.telephonoscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/robida-telephonoscope-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.telephonoscope.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/robida-telephonoscope-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying theatre in the home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="182" id="il_fi" src="http://workliveplay.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/telephonoscope2-300x274.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Possible Indiscretions </em>p 65</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;">Robida was a product of his time, and envisioned the future through the eyes of a man of his era. Although his art portrays the future, it is still highly stylized in the Victorian taste. There are many elegant curves and intricate ironwork that are reminiscent of the design used on the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Eiffel</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Tower</placetype></place>, which was completed in 1889. The fashion design is a variation on a Victorian theme. These illustrations were produced when <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">France</country-region></place> was well into the Industrial Age and demonstrate the possible the progression of Industrialization. Although his interpretation of the future in this book appears optimistic, his next book, <i>La Guerre au Vingtième Siècle (War in the Twentieth Century)</i>, portrays the future of war, with new weapons of destruction: airship weapons, submarine warfare, tanks, and women soldiers. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggIIlr2nnMA/TaENjYf5E5I/AAAAAAAAACA/05JCDfyTZ-c/s1600/RobidaSiecle6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggIIlr2nnMA/TaENjYf5E5I/AAAAAAAAACA/05JCDfyTZ-c/s320/RobidaSiecle6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Paris</em> p 8</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udtXe0phCIY/TaENA8kED5I/AAAAAAAAAB8/9JReUD3nw1E/s1600/RobidaSiecle4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udtXe0phCIY/TaENA8kED5I/AAAAAAAAAB8/9JReUD3nw1E/s320/RobidaSiecle4.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Trilingual Theater</em> p 103</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;"><em>Paris</em> presents us with a saturation of advertisements: billboards, signs, and dirigibles flood our view selling everything from clothes and banks to apartments and newspapers. This is comparable to Piccadilly Circus or Times Square today. Although<em> Trilingual Theater</em> represents a live performance of one play shown simultaneously on three levels, each in a differnet language, it conjures up modern-day DVD technology, where the language changes at a touch of a button. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: #0048;">Robida’s illustrations depict few nature scenes and are primarily of urban settings and the individuals who live there, although, some of his panoramic views of the urban landscape show plumes of smoke and soot coming from the stalks of factories and chimneys (Robida, p. 69). He was well aware of the polluting aspect of Industrialization. <em>Paris by Night</em> stands out amoung his illustrations as one of a handful of watercolours in this book. It depicts a couple in a private flying machine crusing over the city on a lovely night. They share the sky with larger dirigibles shining headlights evocative of fisheyes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><em>Franco-English Tube</em> is Robida's concept for our current Chunnel. <em>Mrs. de Saint-Panachard attacked</em> has two women dueling. Both illustrations use diagonal lines to create a dramatic effect. Robida's female characters are emancipated: many are lawyers, doctors, and politicians. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Robida is the father of science fiction illustration, having inspired science fiction artists and writers who followed him. Many of his visions of the future came to pass.</span> His books and art are well known in France and have influenced many comic book (<em>Bande-desinee) </em>writers and artists such as Herge's Professor Calculus from <em>Tintin</em> from Belgium and, more recently, Brian Talbot's <em>Grandville</em> graphic novel from England. Robida's vision is amazing and unforgettable.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Paris by Night</em> p 84</td></tr>
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ALBER ROBIDA NEWS: HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM, my band, performed a CHAPLIN dance in ROBERT ROBIDA dress w/ 1902 George Melies film <i>Trip to the Moon </i>aka<i> Voyage dans la Lune </i>as backdrop (as seen in Johnny Depp produced <i>Hugo</i> film). More costume time travel Doctor Who inspired vaudeville songs to be posted. Youtube channel DAINASURREALISM</div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885760940877052873.post-56006683917745770722011-03-15T09:58:00.000-07:002015-01-14T16:41:38.904-08:00Review of Momo by Michael Ende (Doubleday, 1985)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><u>“Never Forget to Stop and Smell the Flowers”</u></strong> by Chicago Surrealist Group member, and Lithuanian performance artist, DainaSurrealism<br />
Although categorized as a children’s book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Momo</i> (also known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Gray Gentlemen </i>or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Men in Gray</i>), may appeal to a wide spectrum of adults with its thought-provoking social criticism . Michael Ende (1929 – 1995) published <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Momo</i> in German in 1973 (translated into English in 1985). Ende is best known for his book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neverending Story</i> (German version, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Die Unendliche Geschichte</i>, 1979: English translation, 1983). <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EjR5mABpP_Y/TXZG-vYmKqI/AAAAAAAAABQ/r__19BkINog/s1600/Momo.bk.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EjR5mABpP_Y/TXZG-vYmKqI/AAAAAAAAABQ/r__19BkINog/s320/Momo.bk.cover.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> (Con't) </span>Ende’s writing style was influenced by his father, the famous surrealist painter, Edgar Ende. The surrealist ideals of rebellion against conformity and fighting society’s numbing of the spirit of imagination is evident throughout his work, but nowhere more so than in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Momo</i>. The main characters in Ende’s books are misfits who resolve to be themselves despite external pressures. The protagonist, a young girl called Momo, is the epitome of non-conformity: she wears old clothes, has raggedy, unkempt hair, and lives in a small room under the ruins of an ancient amphitheater; she is a run-away from an orphanage and refuses to wear shoes. Since the amphitheater is on the outskirts of an unnamed city, the story could take place anywhere in southern <place w:st="on">Europe</place> and anytime, giving it a fairytale quality. <br />
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Strange Interlude: MOMO NEWS: HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM (my cabaret band) in rehearsal with our MOMO song "Walking Backwards Thru Time" (below).<br />
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GOING VIRAL w/ Chaplin dance. (below)<br />
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The CHAPLIN DANCE has backdrop of George Melies 1902 film <i>Trip to the Moon </i>(as seen in <i>Hugo </i>film), Zazie song "Dans la Lune."<br />
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Lewis Carroll, Dr Who, Dream, & Fortean inpired tunes. Multi-lingual. Silent film inspired dances. Trock. Lietuvaite soka kaip Chaplin.<br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Momo and her friends lead a leisurely existence until the appearance of the ghostly Men in Gray, who coerce the populace into “saving their time” in the “Timesaving Bank,” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>then disappear without a trace, leaving the individuals unaware of their existence and convinced that timesaving was their own idea. Soon Momo’s friends grow irritable, rush about compulsively saying, “I have no time,” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and obsess over money, in the process sacrificing their <i>joie de vivre </i>(joy of living). In this book, Ende illustrates the importance of a life of quality over a life of quantity.</div>
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Billboards appear declaring, </div>
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“THE FUTURE BELONGS TO TIMESAVERS” </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“MAKE MORE OF YOUR LIFE, SAVE TIME” </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qbODwX_87Ug/TGA2xCb3SaI/AAAAAAAAAZs/DjuJEUw2U04/s1600/Momo+VS+los+hombres+de+gris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qbODwX_87Ug/TGA2xCb3SaI/AAAAAAAAAZs/DjuJEUw2U04/s320/Momo+VS+los+hombres+de+gris.jpg" height="320" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="246" /></a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The book takes a radical turn when Momo organizes a demonstration of children neglected by their “time-saving” parents (quite revolutionary for a “children’s book” to teach kids how to organize a protest, no wonder this book isn’t widely available in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>!). The Barbie-like dolls and expensive toys which the Grays try to bribe the children with reveal the distracting and superficial nature of materialism. A tortoise named Cassiopeia helps Momo escape the Grays by traveling to a mysterious part of town where time runs backwards in order to meet the Professor Secundus Minutus Hora, who helps fight the Grays. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ende impressively constructs rich symbolism in his characters: Momo’s extraordinary skills at being a good listener represent the importance of introspection and connecting with others; Guido, the local story-teller, who spins engrossing tales inspired by his muse (Momo), encapsulates the power of imagination; the Grays, who all look identical <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(with gray skin, gray suits and such unemotional voices that they even<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“sound gray” ), symbolize the stifling conformity and manipulative nature of capitalism; Cassiopeia, named after a bold human queen who dared to challenge the Gods in Greek mythology, embodies independence and defiance; Professor Hora, residing in Never House and wearing omni-vision glasses, personifies the inexplicable vagueness of time. </div>
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<img src="http://th04.deviantart.net/fs13/150/i/2007/046/4/a/Momo_Pocket_by_verreaux.jpg" height="150" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="115" /> <img src="http://www.aleki.uni-koeln.de/lesebar/bilder/gr/momo.jpeg" height="320" id="il_fi" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="222" /> </div>
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Fan art (left) and Ende's illustration for German cover (right)</div>
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Ende has Nowhere House swimming in surrealism. Cassiopeia, who can see thirty minutes into the future, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">slowly</i> leads Momo in order to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">quickly</i> escape the Grays, while the Grays dash about only to find that they are standing still. This is a brilliantly creative re-working of the scene from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Through the Looking-Glass</i> in which Alice and the Red Queen run as fast as they can just to stay in place. When Momo asks Professor Hora what the Grays are, he replies, “Strictly speaking, they’re nothing. They exist only because people give them the opportunity to do so.” </div>
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Ende’s skill as a social commentator is akin to Rod Serling’s in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Twilight Zone </i>since Ende skillfully uses fantasy and the bizarre as a means of thinly-veiled social criticism. Ende’s illustrations for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Momo</i> show inanimate objects and the back of Cassiopeia, purposely leaving the characters up to the imagination. <i>Momo</i> is a classic which reads swiftly despite its provocative insightfulness. Ende was a visionary; recognizing forty years ago which direction society was taking with consumerism and hidden interest groups, thus making <i>Momo </i>ring truer than ever in our modern society.</div>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ChuyeOUN-us/TXZrqvQT1VI/AAAAAAAAABc/JWWN4QCcAkg/s1600/MomoDVD2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ChuyeOUN-us/TXZrqvQT1VI/AAAAAAAAABc/JWWN4QCcAkg/s200/MomoDVD2.gif" width="138" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UiSAfHUaVsM/TXZrxBNkCFI/AAAAAAAAABg/75OHFSO1qU8/s1600/Momo_alla_conquista_del_tempo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UiSAfHUaVsM/TXZrxBNkCFI/AAAAAAAAABg/75OHFSO1qU8/s320/Momo_alla_conquista_del_tempo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> film (top) cartoon (below)</span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span> In the 1980s, big budget movie versions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Neverending Story</i> (dir. by Wolfgang Petersen, 1984) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Momo</i> (dir. Johannes Schaaf, 1986, John Huston playing Professor Hora) were produced in <place w:st="on">Europe</place>. Perhaps not surprisingly, Europeans generally respond more favorably to social criticism and political activism than Americans, thus making Ende’s books well-known through-out <place w:st="on">Europe</place> while obscure in the States. Although the films lack the depth and details of the books, they are worth viewing for their creativity and visual lavishness.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Michael Ende and friend<br />
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MOMO NEWS: HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM (my band) is writing a MOMO song. I will dress as MOMO for performance art with band with scenes from MOMO film as backdrop and post on YOUTUBE. Here is us doing CHAPLIN DANCE to backdrop of George Melies 1902 film <i>Trip to the Moon </i>(as seen in <i>Hugo </i>film) on YOUTUBE.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">STRANGE INTERLUDE</span>: My Dream, Time-Travel inspired band, "Hypnagogic Telegram" is going <span style="color: blue;">VIRAL</span> on Youtube. Timelord Rock.<span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Trock. I play a timeghost (zeitgeist) that inhabits the wardrobe closet in the TARDIS. I come out in costumes from various eras to dance & sing. If Doctor Who would have a band, it might sound like this.</span><br />
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<---- View YOUTUBE VIDEO here.</div>
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On FACEBOOK @ HYPNAGOGIC TELEGRAM</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Check out my Time Travel, Dream, surreal artwork, performance art, costuming & photography on the other blog pages!</span></div>
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DainaTravelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01990440258979537990noreply@blogger.com2