Posts Tagged ‘arts’

Birthstone Gemstones Are Filled With Symbolism

วันจันทร์, กุมภาพันธ์ 1st, 2010

The argument that we have a predestined fate, and that we make our destiny is an age old one, being the object of discussion in many a philosophical conversation. It is also an argument that can never have a proven conclusion, only believers in either, by choice as a result of experience. Birthstone gemstones are closely related to the astral powers that be, according to the believers.

Every sun sign has a birthstone gemstone associated with it, which is supposed to be lucky for the person born during that period. This is the simplest of explanations of birthstones. People use various stones hoping for various affects that the stone will have on their lives. At the same time, people avoid contact with certain stones that will bring them bad luck and misery. Although this may seem like something out of a fairy tale to westernized society, these things are practiced extravagantly in countries like India, where people go to the ‘learned man’ (probably a palm reader), who looks at the palm and foresees an event about to go wrong, and provides the means to avoid that event by wearing one gem stone, removing one, and things like that.

Some may laugh at the idea, while others follow their birthstone gemstones related issues with religious belief. Psychology says if you believe you are doing something to help solve a problem, that is half the battle won, call it psychology, call it faith, but if you wear a gemstone in the belief that it will help you, then it will! If you don’t wear a stone knowing well that you need to, you are probably going to make some mistakes! Anyway this was the original idea behind gemstones and why people wore them.

Today, many women choose birthstone gemstones as ornaments with jewel value, if nothing more. Many people wear their birthstone as a symbol of their identity. Whatever the reason, gemstones are very beautiful objects that ignite a spark in your emotions, and make you stare at them in awe.

Birthstone gemstones have various divisions like mystical stones, ayurvedic (Indian) stones, modern, traditional, astrological, planetary, talismanic and ancient cultural birthstones. Each category has a story and a reasoning behind it, each stone is believed to be special, and is great fun if nothing else, to hear why a stone is special and how it will help your life, and how it is meant specially for the particular individual in question.

In western society, gemstones and birthstones reached heights of popularity during the hippie days, when people began experimenting with eastern philosophies, and today offer a sweet reminder of those times to many a person who lived their youth during that period. Gemstones come in every imaginable color (including black by the way), which provide an opportunity to wear a stone with practically any color theme.

Birthstone gemstones come in a variety of sizes as well, and like any other jewelry, the bigger they are, the more rare , and thereby more expensive they are. As far as the fashion oriented use of gemstones and birthstone goes, smaller ones are used on rings and earrings and somewhat larger on necklaces and pendants. Gemstones vary in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars!

BBC Banned Music: Top Singles Banned By the BBC

วันจันทร์, กุมภาพันธ์ 1st, 2010

The British Broadcasting Corporation also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it allows itself to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. During the years, many singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or bear the potential for offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.

In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.

The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je TAime … Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you… me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.

The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime … Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.

Je TAime … Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.

Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the single’s explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.

Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.

Artists Biographies on Film: Top Movies about Visual Artists

วันจันทร์, กุมภาพันธ์ 1st, 2010

Visual artists biographies is a popular theme in the movie world. Moviemakers have always been fascinated by visual artists biographies, especially if it includes struggle with insanity, drug addiction or social conventions. In addition, it gives them an opportunity to depict original or resurrected artworks on the big screen.
Here you can read about some of the most interesting movies about visual artists biographies.
Lust for Life directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1952

Vincent Van Gogh biography had gained several cinematic adaptations. Lust for Life with Kirk Douglas as the struggling artist is one of the most notable. The movie is based on a best selling book by Irving Stone, who also authored The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo, which also had appeared on the silver screen.

If you are a fan of Van Gogh artwork, you would enjoy watching Last for Life, which features almost 200 of Van Goghs original paintings. However, if you are familiar with Kirk Douglas previous filmographic, seeing him as a tortured Dutch painter might take a little adjustment. Another recommended film about Van Gogh is Robert Altmans Vincent and Theo from 1990.

Surviving Picasso directed by James Ivory in 1996

Like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso image made him an iconic figure outside the artistic circles. While Van Gogh symbolizes the self destructive, manic depressive artist who achieves success only after his death, Picasso represents the misanthropic and womanizer artist. Picasso infamous relationship with women is the focus of this Merchant and Ivory film. The story is told from the eyes of Picasso mistress Francoise Gilot and features only reproductions of Picasso works. With Anthony Hopkins talent and his physical resemblance to Picasso, Surviving Picasso manages to create an unflattering portrait of an artist as a cruel, self centered genius.

Girl with Pearl Earring directed by Peter Webber in 2003

Comparing to Van Gogh and Picasso, Vermeers biography is less known and less controversial. Therefore Girl with Pearl Earring is much more restrained and delicate. The movie focuses on a short period in Vermeers life in which he was painting the portrait of his young low class maid. Although Girl with Pearl Earring does not avoid filmic conventions by over dramatizing Vermeers painting process, the movie is worth watching if only for its artistic design, which success in evoking Vermeers perception of light and color.

Basquiat directed by Julian Schnabel in 1996

The most common critique against movies that deals with visual arts is the way they depict the creation process. Therefore, there were big expectations from Basquiat, which was directed by the celebrated painter Julian Schnabel. Schnabel did well in depicting Jean Michelle Basquiat rise and fall story in less the predictable manner we have seen millions time before. However, the only reason to watch Basquiat is David Bowie plays the role of Andy Warhol.

Frida directed by Julie Taymor in 2002

Like most of the visual artists who had their life story appear on the silver screen, Frida Kahlo carried an unusual biography, which includes bus accident, problematic marriage, and an affair with Leon Trotsky. Like Van Gogh, Picasso and Jackson Pollock, who was the subject of a biopic from 2000, Frida Kahlo was an icon long before Frida was released, but the 123 minutes film did help to strength her position as a feminist idol and probably the most famous woman painter of the 20 century. Frida tries its best to integrate Frida Kahlo life story with her painting and the result is very colorful and pleasant, but still does not stay far enough from the conventions of depicting artists on film.