| A Foreign Affair |
|
|
| 01:03am 05/09/2008 |
|
| |
I have commented very little on Project Runway this season - as, I have noticed, have all of you. (That's by no means a criticism, merely an observation. Are fewer people watching?)
But this challenge? The theme blew me away - Marlene Dietrich in a 1930s/40s spy film covering three continents? Beautiful. I want to see that film. (To be honest, I have seen very very few films filmed at that time, or films set in that time, but I love the aesthetic, if done with a certain romanticism, a certain drummed-up drama)
I so wanted to see Kenley shine here - this is, after all, precisely the kind of thing she seemingly lives for, what with her classic look; the bright red lipstick, dark hair very neatly and cleanly and simply put up, the feathers or brooches or hair accessories... I'll be the first to admit I have no formal knowledge of fashion history whatsoever, but her look, the stuff she wears every day on this show, screams to me that period.
Leeann did nail it, though. Suddenly, somehow, the boringest girl on the block has hit her stride and come up with some amazing looks. Her model looked like a younger, thinner Marlene Dietrich. The dress was right out of that time, and the jacket evoked the image of the fur shawl or coat or whatever it was that went with that dress in the classic image.
In terms of doing a new and radical twist on a classic look, I think Joe did a fantastic job. His execution was poor, and I can only assume that the unevenness on the skirt and waistband in the back was by accident (your design, that is to say your art, the creative product you drew on paper and then attempted to create in fabric, shouldn't be judged for accidents or mistakes in execution as if he intended to make a statement with that unevenness, as if it were part of the design). The Shanghai-inspired top was great; the hooded shawl a hot pink and black twist on the classic khaki-color shawls worn by Ingrid Bergman and Marlene Dietrich types in countless classic films.
And, to be honest, I rather liked Stella's look this time around. Not too grunge, not too rock, not too leather, but truly chic without even looking "tough" at all. I especially liked the collar and turtle (clasp) which showed obvious Oriental inspiration, even if the cloak/cape was not quite the right shape for the period.
... Note to self, seek out more from this period, this aesthetic. Films, whatever. |
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
| I suppose it's time for an update |
|
|
| 08:00am 04/09/2008 |
|
| |
*Had an interview at the Frick yesterday, for a three-month internship early next year, in coordination with the NY Historical Society. They're trying to put together a database of all archives/records everywhere referring to art dealers, collectors, etc. A very admirable goal; such a database would be quite useful to people in the business. And it sounds a very interesting project to do - I'd get to work in archives, dig up documents on various historical dealers, collectors, and others. Though, I do have to say, it seems like they're not so much compiling actual information as just creating a finding aid: a list of where to find which information.
The interview was amazingly short, which surprised me, and worries me a bit. I don't feel like it went poorly at all; they didn't seem to have a lot to ask me. Outside of the disadvantage of being seen as an Asian specialist, I do have a degree in history, I do have experience working in archives and collections records and such, and I have expressed a particular interest (and some knowledge) in the history of collecting. Besides, it seems a pretty simple set of tasks, that just about anyone could do, given a week or two to get acquainted with where everything is and how it all works. So, we'll just have to see. They said they'll get back to me by the end of the month.
*Went to a surprise 60th birthday party for my uncle on Tuesday. It was at a Moroccan restaurant, and he was thoroughly surprised. Surprised too that the same trick that got him to his surprise 50th party worked again. The food was pretty good, the belly-dancing was fun, if a bit embarrassing. But the key point is that I love going to these kinds of things with my aunt and uncle; it makes me feel like I'm really seeing and being part of ... how to phrase it... like real New York ''society''. Certainly, my aunt and uncle are not fabulously Central Park West wealthy, and neither are most of the people they associate with. This isn't quite "high society", but it's a very similar creature. But Uncle David's a reporter. And he knows other reporters, news anchors, local TV personalities, local radio news hosts, and politicians. And he's in on the politics of the city - it's his job.
This is one small part of why I dream of being a curator; working at the MFA made me feel a part of the city, a part of the city's institutions in a way that most jobs wouldn't, and I feel that working at the Met, or any major NYC museum, would make me feel like I had become truly connected to the city, and to its society. When I host or attend or help organize any sort of event at the Met, and the event appears in newspapers, in Time Out magazine, on blogs, as a "New York event".... or when I talk to people about where I work, I can feel like I'm not just working for X company at their NY headquarters, but at a place everyone has heard of, everyone associates with New York...
*In completely unrelated news, does this sound familiar to anyone?
|
|
| |
|
Read 7 - Post |
| |
| MONTHLY; 2008 / 08: |
|
|
| 12:00am 03/09/2008 |
|
| |
little dragon - 1 recommendation [toddla t remix]*
hypnotic brass ensemble - sankofa*
jimmy edgar - turn you inside out
dusty kid - america*
dj/rupture - strategy decay: timeblind, 3akel [acapella]: maga bo
juvelen - don't mess [krazy fiesta remix]*
three 6 mafia/dj unk/sébastien tellier - i'd rather [arthur king remix]
sarah lahey & om'mas keith - get over it
claude vonstroke - deepthroat [cates' no buckin fueno mix]
firefox ak vs. laid - once i was like you [boeoes kaelstigen's erwise remix]
my my - klatta
art of noise - moments in love [caspa remix]
fantasia - free yourself [remix] [from dj perempay's "funkin favourites" mix]*
matias aguayo - minimal [dj koze radio edit]*
drei farben house - modernism
young dot - ride or die [from "this is the beginning" mixtape]
black kids - hit the heartbreaks |
|
| |
|
Read 2 - Post |
| |
| Save the House where Superman was Born. |
|
|
| 05:35pm 02/09/2008 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Read 2 - Post |
| |
| Design Interns |
|
|
| 09:32am 02/09/2008 |
|
| |
Anyone interested in becoming a design intern at the advertising agency I work at?
Obviously, you must be skilled in designing and building websites.
Please let me know!!!
Thanks. |
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
| no subject |
|
|
| 05:57pm 01/09/2008 |
|
| |
uggghh.
looking for something that doesnt have an answer.
i guess ill take a shower and go work for beers at the bar. |
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
| Playing with Google Maps |
|
|
| 01:53pm 01/09/2008 |
|
| |
Search most anywhere with Google Maps and you'll find that no matter how far you zoom in, you're still seeing the buildings straight on from the top; you can't see the sides of the buildings at all.
Now search for "Empire State Building". How about that?
(I'm sure this is far from the only example of a place that does this, but, still...)
Try some other famous tall buildings. Fun to see from this angle. |
|
| |
|
Read 5 - Post |
| |
| Yasuko to Kenji |
|
|
| 02:31pm 31/08/2008 |
|
| |
I usually try to stick to one show at a time - got through Nodame Cantabile months ago, moved on to Honey & Clover, Frisky Dingo, Venture Bros... and now I find myself watching three shows at once.
Osen - a young lady named Osen runs a major ultra-traditional restaurant on the outskirts of Tokyo; our chief protagonist, a young man by the name of Yoshio (or Yocchan-san as Osen calls him) quits his city center job as a ninja waiter to work somewhere more traditional and ends up with her. A fun series, each episode focusing on a particular traditional food along with still decent plot and such; Japanese subtitles for the first four or five episodes are a plus, but I haven't yet moved on past those.
Bara no Nai Hanaya (No-Roses Flower Shop) - Starring none other than Katori Shingo of SMAP as a single dad and owner of a flower shop which sells no roses. He falls in love with a blind woman he meets one day, and, I haven't watched past episode one, so I don't know. Seems to be one of the big dramas of this just past season, very typical style and plot of J-dramas - melodramatic romantic drama, the loss or sadness of both his having lost his wife, and her being blind... the Japanese love these kinds of sad stories.
Yasuko to Kenji (Yasuko and Kenji) - Having just watched the first episode, I can't quite decide if it really stands out as a particularly fun/good drama, but the premise is to die for. Oki Kenji, former bosozoku (bike gang) leader, gave that up to become a responsible guardian for his sister, Yasuko, when their parents died ten years ago. Yasuko, our chief protagonist, is now in high school, and the gruff, tough, easily angered Kenji is writing shojo manga under a penname, both to pay for expenses and such, as a relatively respectable career as compared to being a bosozoku, and because, you know, he likes it and is good at it and all that.
Yasuko meets a boy at school (Tsubaki Jun, played by a member of Kanjani8, a product of the Johnny's Entertainment factory which continuously spits out new young male idols), who she quickly develops a crush on, special effect glitter stars around his face and all, and meets his sweet, kind, gentle sister Erika, who runs a flowershop. Erika is played by the stunningly cute Hirosue Ryoko, star of such films as Wasabi and Bubble he GO!, which is why I discovered this drama to begin with.
And then, things get wonky. I'm curious to see how this develops. |
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
| The Crisis of Core |
|
|
| 10:01am 30/08/2008 |
|
| |
I haven't played a video game in ages. Not since WoW I guess. Just finished FFVII: Crisis Core and am trying to assemble my reactions/thoughts on the matter.
( Some spoilers. )
Still, I did sympathize and identify with Aeris and Cloud; want to know more about what happened to Cissnei. The game was a fun trip, with some beautiful cutscene movies and lots of very nostalgic moments.
PS I really liked the ending theme, and was quite pleasantly surprised to find they hadn't translated (redubbed) it from Japanese. Playing the whole thing in English (I wonder what the Japanese voice actors sound like), hearing the Japanese was something of a shock.
PPS On a completely unrelated note, this looks neat. A manga about Jesus and Buddha living together in an apartment in Tokyo, and basically just hanging out, total lay-abouts. |
|
| |
|
Read 7 - Post |
| |
| Photos |
|
|
| 01:30am 30/08/2008 |
|
| |
I've finally purchased up to a normal Flickr account, and am starting to post my photos (actually, Matsumoto-sensei's photos) from this past year. I'm looking in particular for at least one really good picture of each person in the program. Embarrassing as it may be, I know for a fact that we will quickly start to forget people's names, and lots about each other, and about our year together. Time to preserve the memories.
Some things I've noticed in going through these pictures:
*Matsumoto-sensei is an excellent photographer. In addition to the excessive hundreds of photos he takes of just the group of us sitting around or whatever, the hundreds of duplicates, taken just seconds apart, he also takes some excellent detail shots of things I might not have ever thought to - focusing in on the thatching of a roof, the wood slats of a shoji door...
*Going through these photos is at times hilariously like watching a movie. Matsumoto-sensei really did just clickclickclick away, and there are points where you can totally see the motion.
*It's amazing how much people's personalities come through in these photos. A great way to remember one another; I'm glad I have these. Hannah's very polite, very Japanese way of covering her mouth when she laughs. Brigid's funny faces. Sarah's very cool, very mature/serious way that she had about her sometimes. I can practically hear Marshall's laugh right now.
*It's also kind of amazing how much our looks changed over the course of the year; mainly in the hair department. Looking at the welcome party photos, at how long Jeff's hair was, how short mine was (we sorta switched places); Amy as well. Lots of people grew out or cut or changed their hair over the year... helps to make it feel like we really did spend meaningful time together, really share something, really get to know one another. This wasn't a one year break from our lives - this was life. |
|
| |
|
Read 4 - Post |
| |
| Wasabi |
|
|
| 12:05am 30/08/2008 |
|
| |
I was going to write a short, dramatic summary of the plot, to help intrigue you and draw you in, so you'd want to see it. But I realize that just about anything I say will be major spoilers. Just see it.
I don't even remember how I heard about this film; probably downloaded it on a lark. Somehow I'd gotten the impression that it was a corny, cheesy 90s comedy film, or just a corny, cheesy failure at a non-comedy film, like American Yakuza.
But Wasabi was fantastic. A French action drama starring Jean Reno (played Bezu Fache in the Da Vinci Code, and Leon in The Professional, Natalie Portman's film debut; has probably had plenty of much more worthy roles if you watch French film, which I do not for the most part) and the extremely attractive Ryoko Hirosue, who I recently discovered in バブルへＧＯ！！ (Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust). Nice soundtrack too. |
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
| no subject |
|
|
| 08:12am 29/08/2008 |
|
| |
i always get inspired to write about 5 minutes before i have to go to work. damn it. |
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
| Repetition of past contemplations |
|
|
| 11:33pm 28/08/2008 |
|
| |
I've been thinking a lot about Yokohama lately. Picturing in my mind places I may never seen again, or at least will never see in the same context again.
Every time an image of the city comes to me, it is of a different place. I don't miss any one thing - I miss everything. And outside of the details - the food, the friends, etc - I miss the overall feeling, the overall atmosphere which as of the very first day I came home became like a dream, like a romanticized half-remembered memory. I remember the sunlight, the beautiful, warm, brightly lit, happiness filled atmosphere of the city, and I don't really remember it in any other way.
It seems almost mind boggling in a way that your life can change so completely. Japan might as well be a fantasy land, a place you need a magical portal to get to, for all the myriad ways in which everything is different. I will never see any of these places - IUC, Queen's Square, Motomachi, San'ya - in the same context ever again. This is something I should be used to by now, but I don't think I ever will be. It does hurt a lot less than the previous time around, however, the first time I left Japan and was mournful that I might never get to go again.
Most of these places I guess I don't have any one particular thought about. Nothing to express in words. Just images. Just a flash in my mind of feeling as though I am walking home late at night through Motomachi, having caught the last train from Shibuya. Walking through the shoutengai and feeling this is "my" local shopping street, that this is my life, my neighborhood. Riding my bike past Queens Square and Landmark Tower, past the Cosmo Clock and towards Pacifico seeing it all in a way few do - I am not a tourist. I am not a Tokyoite here for shopping, for the amusement park, for a fun day out. This is my regular commute.
Hanging out in Oodori Kouen late at night drinking and talking. Riding the trains. Riding my bike - oh the freedom, oh how I loved that bike. Cooking dinner for one another, and just countless aspects of life in that house. Hell, class. I miss class. The Center may have been a dull, boring place in terms of architecture, design, and decoration, but it was our dull and boring place.
I will never again eat at the kaiten-zushi place in World Porters as anything but a tourist or a visitor. I will never again shop at World Porters or Queens Square at all again except as a tourist or a visitor. ...
Popping into Lawson's for snacks; I miss Calpis, anman, and a half dozen other things. I miss CoCo Ichiban. I miss the idea - though I so rarely did it - the idea of sitting in Starbuck's to do homework, like I belong, like this is my local neighborhood.
I guess when it comes down to it, yes, I do miss a million things specific to Japan - food, attitudes, aesthetics - but I also miss the feeling of freedom, of living my own life, and I miss the feeling of living somewhere, belonging somewhere, being local to and familiar with somewhere exciting and different. I've gone far beyond the wacky crazy exotic foreign Japan stage; I love Japan's foreignness, exoticness, in a very different way. It makes me feel like my life is meaningful, like I am doing something special, something different, like I am challenging myself. Like I am part of something special.
...And I realize right now, as I'm typing, that I'm terrified of forgetting any of it. I have hundreds if not thousands of photos (including all those that Matsumoto-sensei took), but they are no substitute for the 3D feel of a place, the smells, the sounds, the just physical being.
I'm excited for this year in various ways, and excited for the future (starting a PhD program Fall 09 if I'm lucky), but as exciting as it may seem at times, as romantically as I may imagine it sometimes, New York will always feel real to me. Too real. I feel obligations and responsibilities and worries and concerns when I am here that cannot touch me when I'm in Japan. And maybe that has more to do with my life situation (living on my own, with friends, away from my father; being in school, not having to work, not having to worry about supporting myself) than it does the actual geography or culture, but even so it is what it is. Even when life in Japan is at its most routine, it is an adventure.
I miss all of you, all of my friends I made this past year, and I hope to stay in contact, and to see you all soon. |
|
| |
|
Read 1 - Post |
| |
| DUMPY: |
|
|
| 12:28am 27/08/2008 |
|
| |
austin was weird. kinda lonely. things aren't what they used to be. but how could i expect things to be the same ?
i'm always bitter when i leave.
i had my court date. it was pretty gay. i have another court date in november. why won't this shit just go away ? i want my license back.
school started. i'm taking philosophy, world civilizations, world religions, and algebra. i'm mildly excited. it's nothing special.
reflective,
chu
p.s. i just watched eastern promises. it was just below great. viggo's a stonecold hottie. it was a simple story, but a little too unbelievable. naomi watts's performance was lukewarm.
i also watched the blooming of maximo oliveros a.k.a. ang pagdadalaga ni maximo oliveros and it was a little cheap and simply forgettable. nathan lopez is a young cutie tho. |
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
| If you have AMEX, vote for ice cream. For a good cause. |
|
|
| 03:35pm 25/08/2008 |
|
| |
If ice cream or some other such treat has ever put a smile on your face, given you a break from a hard day, made you feel more in love, soothed your tears, or made a kid you know shriek with glee, please read on:
My friend Alexis and I opened Blue Marble Ice Cream in Brooklyn, NY less than a year ago. It went well, and now we have two locations.
We are kid-friendly, eco-friendly -- it's a special place (more details on our website http://www.bluemarbleicecream.com, or on our new Facebook page, check it out).
Now, for an expansion we never saw coming, WE NEED YOUR HELP. Blue Marble Ice Cream is launching its third location. Not in Soho, not in LA, not in Chicago. In Rwanda.
Encouraged by a friend in Rwanda yearning to bring joy and laughter to her community, we are launching a nonprofit to start a shop in this developing country where milk is a natural but relatively untapped resource.
NOW, to help this happen, we ARE NOT asking for money, we are asking for your VOTE.
American Express has launched an initiative called Members Project, which invites card members to post their dreams of change online for the chance of winning funding to help them come true. AmEx is devoting $2.5 million to the winners, so the stakes are high!
Our project is called "Sweet Dreams: The Power of Ice Cream." This project is still in early development, but it is building momentum and we promise to share more details with you very soon.
Here's what we need from you:
1) Click on this link to CAST YOUR VOTE FOR OUR DREAM. It is simple and takes all of 20 seconds. A minimal investment for such a worthwhile endeavor! :)
http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/FY1ZKE
2) Send this message to all YOUR loved ones, friends, friend of loved ones, friend of friends... This is all online, so LET'S GO INTERNATIONAL! TELL EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE!!!
3) Please, do this now. They are only accepting votes until September 1 -- this is all word-of-mouth, we have no other means of promotion, so PLEASE help us spread the word that may lead us to much needed funding for our very worthy project.
We only heard about this opportunity at the very last second and posted our project with no time to spare - other projects have had up to a month already to assemble votes. Please help us catch up!
As friends, as ice cream lovers, as compassionate members of a global community, let's bring some sweetness and joy to Rwanda!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jennie Dundas
Co-Proprietress
Blue Marble Ice Cream
420 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217 |
|
| |
|
Read 4 - Post |
| |
| no subject |
|
|
| 06:37pm 24/08/2008 |
|
| |
So Japan is fucking awesome, and I will be moving there as soon as I can.
Here is a short blog of my trip there.
http://letbloodrun.blogspot.com/ |
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
| Bara no Nai |
|
|
| 11:12am 23/08/2008 |
|
| |
誰かが「薔薇のない花屋」、見たことある？
僕は第一話を見たばかりで、類型的なドラマみたいなぁと思って。主人公は奥さんがなくなったままで娘と一緒に住んでて、花屋さんとして働いて、新しい恋愛対象キャラクターと突然出会うという話で、日本のドラマで言えば、すごく類型的なぁと思って。だけど、なぜか、次のエピソードを見てみようと思う。
----
そして、関係のあまりないのテレビクリップ。現実の日本に薔薇のない花屋はあるの？
|
|
| |
|
Post |
| |
|
|
|
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
_ten_'s Friends Page