some art.

by juan francisco casas


hey i can do that with photoshop. oh except it's made completely with a ballpoint pen.

some art.

by juan francisco casas


hey i can do that with photoshop. oh except it's made completely with a ballpoint pen.

i'm angry.

so the guardian, my all time favorite newspaper, published an article by Hadley Freeman in it's life & style section today about how fashion designers are portrayed in film. I thought it was a really interesting idea for an article, however it was poorly executed, just summarized rather than analyzed, and badly researched. This is the part that pissed me off:

The Incredibles

Who's the designer? Edna Mode, the sharply bobbed no-nonsense grande dame behind all the superheroes' costumes.

Hmm, sounds familiar, reminds me of ... Anna Wintour.

What are the designs like? What aren't they like? She can do bulletproof, she can do elasticated, she can do invisible, but there is one thing she won't do: "No capes!"

Best prima donna quote? "Milan, dahling, Milan, with the supermodels. Ha! Nothing super about them, puffy little stick insects who only think about themselves."

What, in this movie, does being a fashion designer represent? The highest pinnacle of human achievement. Without them the world would come to an end.

Credibility as a designer? With that hairstyle, we daren't voice any doubt.

Anna Wintour

Edna Mode

Edith Head


she's meant to be edith head! edith head is actually a costume designer, anna wintour is just a bitch!

i wanted to write a letter to the guardian but couldn't find an address to send it to . here is what it would have said:

I'm sure it boils down to more a matter of opinion, but i simply couldn't see the resemblance between Anna Wintour, who isn't even a designer, and Edna Mode of Incredibles fame as noted in a recent article by Hadley Freeman. If you look at a picture of Edith Head, you can immediately recognize the dark, round spectacles and blunt fringe also seen in the Pixar film. Head has been nominated for 34 academy awards in her lifetime, and is hardly a fashion obscurity that could be overlooked.

i'm angry.

so the guardian, my all time favorite newspaper, published an article by Hadley Freeman in it's life & style section today about how fashion designers are portrayed in film. I thought it was a really interesting idea for an article, however it was poorly executed, just summarized rather than analyzed, and badly researched. This is the part that pissed me off:

The Incredibles

Who's the designer? Edna Mode, the sharply bobbed no-nonsense grande dame behind all the superheroes' costumes.

Hmm, sounds familiar, reminds me of ... Anna Wintour.

What are the designs like? What aren't they like? She can do bulletproof, she can do elasticated, she can do invisible, but there is one thing she won't do: "No capes!"

Best prima donna quote? "Milan, dahling, Milan, with the supermodels. Ha! Nothing super about them, puffy little stick insects who only think about themselves."

What, in this movie, does being a fashion designer represent? The highest pinnacle of human achievement. Without them the world would come to an end.

Credibility as a designer? With that hairstyle, we daren't voice any doubt.

Anna Wintour

Edna Mode

Edith Head


she's meant to be edith head! edith head is actually a costume designer, anna wintour is just a bitch!

i wanted to write a letter to the guardian but couldn't find an address to send it to . here is what it would have said:

I'm sure it boils down to more a matter of opinion, but i simply couldn't see the resemblance between Anna Wintour, who isn't even a designer, and Edna Mode of Incredibles fame as noted in a recent article by Hadley Freeman. If you look at a picture of Edith Head, you can immediately recognize the dark, round spectacles and blunt fringe also seen in the Pixar film. Head has been nominated for 34 academy awards in her lifetime, and is hardly a fashion obscurity that could be overlooked.

Foreign Poster Atrocities #5

Yes, as promised, another trip down Embarrassment Lane with my main man Jeff.

Ready, dude? Good: lessgo....

-----


TGWD - The Dirty Dozen 2: The Down-Sizing.

JEFF - Sergeant Definitely-Does-Not Rock.

TGWD - The D-Minus Team.

JEFF - Man, military cutbacks should not be at the forefront of your action-packed war movie.

TGWD - Okay, the background is all apparently drawn but the 3 guys in the forefront are photos they slapped in there. Explain?

JEFF - Well, isn't it obvious? Ralph Bakshi directed it.

TGWD - Pseudonymously, to be sure.

JEFF - This is the same style he later perfected in his masterwork Cool World.

JEFF - A stream-of-consciousness neo-realist work of art if there ever was one.

TGWD - I can never tell if you're serious.

JEFF - Think about it: he slipped one over on an entire system of film-makers and producers by making a film that was as shallow and vapid as anything you'd see on Cartoon Network at 3-4 in the morning.

TGWD - And he still got Frank Sinatra Jr. in it.

JEFF - Genius.

TGWD - Anyway...why is someone shoving a rifle up Fred Williamson's nose?

JEFF - Not just someone. Look closer - that rifle is coming out of the back of an android that looks exactly like him!

TGWD - Aha, so it's a sci-fi Terminator-esque war movie!

JEFF - The best kind. The future government sent a RoboFred back into WWII era-germany to eliminate the real Fred.

TGWD - Not for any reason - it'd just be funny to see his face when an exact duplicate of himself points a gun up his nose from his back.

JEFF - Only problem: they never installed a camera in the android's back so they could get a picture of Fred's shocked face.

TGWD - D'oh!

TGWD - Wait, I just counted...there's 10 guys on the poster, also counting the ones painted in the background.

JEFF - Yeah...?

TGWD - So let's break this down: the ones being blown up along with the building are ostensensibly the enemy...the Fred Williamson android would almost have to be a villain since he's pointing a gun at Fred Williamson, for cryin' out loud...and the guy that RoboFred's strangle-holding is too pudgy and middle-aged to be anything but the Robert Webber part... and the other picture of Fred wouldn't need to be repeated elsewhere in the poster - you know, just to keep up verisimilitude - so that leaves only 6 of the Dirty 7 pictured in their big-deal fancy movie poster. So, mon ami, where's the seventh?

JEFF - Silly rabbit - he's up in one of the zeroes overhead - he infiltrated the Japanese army and commandeered a fighter plane to bomb the enemy unbeknownst to them, but knownst to us.

TGWD - Clever.

JEFF - Almost too clever.

TGWD - You wanna bet we just came up with a plot twist more interesting than this whole flick?

JEFF - Now there's a sucker bet, robots and all.

-----

Till next month! Dope out.

-TGWD

Whoops! 2008!

(stumbles into room)

Oh, hey! Wow, uh...hey, how ya doin'? I, uh...wow, is this the same place?!! Looks great - who called in the maid service? I, uh....

Okay, okay: it's now officially several days into the new year and I didn't even make a New Year's post or nothing. I've been busy - seriously! I may interest you to know that not only have I been co-starring in a two-person stage adaptation of the Stephen King book "Misery" (it went very well, thank you), but I am now co-directing our theater's next play, "Love, Sex and the I.R.S." (which should be very funny, thanks again). I also re-caught the writing bug, which means I am now writing a play which I'd like to direct sometime in the next year or two (along with directing "Agnes of God") and a few other irons in the fire that will be divulged at a later date.

But ya see - I've been busy, okay?! Not suicidally depressed as usual, but actually busy! What a rush!

I promise, though, that as late as the month is, I WILL get an edition of "Foreign Poster Atrocities" in before February comes and get back into writing movie reviews as well. In fact, I've got a doozy of one planned for next month - you'll appreciate it, promise!

And as far as the ever-elusive podcast goes - it's still there, spinning in the windmills of my mind. I'll get there, just let me settle into where I can think straight for a change, and it will come to fruition. Really! Why are you looking at me like that? It will!!

Anyway, for the time being, just to show you my good intentions, here's a video that has absolutely nothing to do with what I've just talked about. But if you like all-too-obvious movie ripoffs with Rula Lenska in them , then you'll enjoy this.



And thanks; it's good to be back in the ThunderDome.

Dope out.

-TGWD

whoa.

rembember this guy? before johnny depp was the go-to guy for middle-aged sexually deprived moms and winona ryder was best known for stealing some clothes and boning everybody in the music industry?

they are now doing an australian ballet version of tim burton's edward scissorhands. methinks we have a winner. actually it will probably be horrible, but I would just go see it because I never really thought (if I thought about it, which I haven't) that the words "ballet" and "tim burton" would be in the same sentence.

Here are a couple key clips from the article (from thewest.co.au, an Australian newspaper):

"Sending expectations through the roof is the creator of Edward Scissorhands, British choreographer Matthew Bourne, whose revolutionary Swan Lake featuring a rugby scrum of feathered hunks had audiences gasping when it played in Perth last year."

"Traditionalists, however, continued to turn up their noses at Bourne’s shameless populism and trademark blurring of the lines between ballet and theatre. He calls it musical theatre while cynics have dubbed his productions 'dansicals'."

I think I love dansicals! also, how much fun could the set people have making those awesome suburban houses and how much fun could the costume people have making those asymetrical haircuts for the housewives? hipster haircuts everywhere, be jealous.

whoa.

rembember this guy? before johnny depp was the go-to guy for middle-aged sexually deprived moms and winona ryder was best known for stealing some clothes and boning everybody in the music industry?

they are now doing an australian ballet version of tim burton's edward scissorhands. methinks we have a winner. actually it will probably be horrible, but I would just go see it because I never really thought (if I thought about it, which I haven't) that the words "ballet" and "tim burton" would be in the same sentence.

Here are a couple key clips from the article (from thewest.co.au, an Australian newspaper):

"Sending expectations through the roof is the creator of Edward Scissorhands, British choreographer Matthew Bourne, whose revolutionary Swan Lake featuring a rugby scrum of feathered hunks had audiences gasping when it played in Perth last year."

"Traditionalists, however, continued to turn up their noses at Bourne’s shameless populism and trademark blurring of the lines between ballet and theatre. He calls it musical theatre while cynics have dubbed his productions 'dansicals'."

I think I love dansicals! also, how much fun could the set people have making those awesome suburban houses and how much fun could the costume people have making those asymetrical haircuts for the housewives? hipster haircuts everywhere, be jealous.

The JANUARY-FEBRUARY soundtrack!

BEST TRACKS OF THE MONTH

• MARK BROWN feat. SARAH CRACKNELL "The Journey Continues"
• UNTIL JUNE "Sleepless"
• HOOVERPHONIC "Gentle Storm"
• CHROMATICS "I Want Your Love"
• PURESSENCE "Don't Know Any Better"
• ORSON "Gorgeous"
• CELINE DION "A Cause (radio remix edit)"
• PLUMB "In My Arms"
• BURIAL "Archangel"
• DJ TIESTO feat. CHARLOTTE MARTIN "Sweet Things"
• AGUA DE ANNIQUE "Lost And Found"
• SAGI-REI "Your Loving Arms"
• ISHTAR "Je N'Oublie Rien"
• FAIROUZ "Le Beirut"
• JESSICA FOLCKER "Snowflakes (Credheadz mix)"
• ΕΥΣΤΑΘΙΑ "Όλα Aλλάζουν"
• ΔΕΣΠΟΙΝΑ ΒΑΝΔΗ "Θέλω"
• ΑΛΚΗΣΤΙΣ ΠΡΩΤΟΨΑΛΤΗ "Στο Ωραιότερο Σημείο"
• ΠΩΛΙΝΑ "Sham-Sham"
• ΕΛΕΝΗ ΤΣΑΛΙΓΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ "Τι Είναι Το Ταξίδι"

BEST ALBUMS OF THE MONTH

• Sia "SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS" (alternative/indie)
• Goldfrapp "SEVENTH TREE" (electro/alternative)
• Morrissey "GREATEST HITS" (rock)
• Agua de Annique "AIR" (alternative rock)
• Tarja Turunen "MY WINTER STORM" (gothic/operatic)
• ATB "TRILOGY" (dance/club)
• DNA "BREAK OUT" (trance)
• Chromatics "NIGHT DRIVE" (indie pop/rock)
• Burial "UNTRUE" (experimental/ambient)
• Flunk "PERSONAL STEREO" (electro/alternative pop)
• Sarah Brightman "SYMPHONY" (popera)
• Madrugada "MADRUGADA" (rock)
• Various Artists "JUNO" (soundtrack)
• Sagi-Rei "EMOTIONAL SONGS PART 2" (easy-listening)
• Δημήτρης Κοργιαλάς "ΤΑ ΚΟΥΤΙΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΚΟΥΦΑ" (alternative pop)
• Emigre "ΕΙΜΑΣΤΕ ΕΝΑ" (electro/pop)
• Ελευθερία Αρβανιτάκη "ΔΥΝΑΤΑ 1986-2007" (έντεχνο)
• Γιώργος Γιαννιάς "ΕΝΑ ΤΑΞΙΔΙ ΑΚΟΜΑ" (pop)
• Πωλίνα "BACK TO THE 80s: THE VERY BEST OF POLINA" (retro/pop)
• Σάκης Ρουβάς "THIS IS MY LIVE" (pop)

Free Macy's Gift Card!

perhaps recently some of us with myspace accounts have been experiencing some problems with our accounts being hacked. yeah, getting 6 different messages about how i can get a free coach bag when i thought someone was sending me an important message (probably a comment saying 'poop') sucked a lot, but i think it's all payed off to be able to bask in the interweb glory of these gems:



a hacker was able to breech myspace's security and access all the 'private accounts'. 44,000 pictures were downloaded and posted as a bit torrent, which some of the people at somethingawful have since downloaded and began sorting through. enjoy.

Free Macy's Gift Card!

perhaps recently some of us with myspace accounts have been experiencing some problems with our accounts being hacked. yeah, getting 6 different messages about how i can get a free coach bag when i thought someone was sending me an important message (probably a comment saying 'poop') sucked a lot, but i think it's all payed off to be able to bask in the interweb glory of these gems:



a hacker was able to breech myspace's security and access all the 'private accounts'. 44,000 pictures were downloaded and posted as a bit torrent, which some of the people at somethingawful have since downloaded and began sorting through. enjoy.

headless wonders.

so there is a graffiti artist who bears the moniker 'the shoreditch slasher' and goes around my area removing the heads of people from posters on the street. observe:

headless wonders.

so there is a graffiti artist who bears the moniker 'the shoreditch slasher' and goes around my area removing the heads of people from posters on the street. observe:

titties!

i really want a british short hair kitten. they are so amazingly fuzzy.



OMG

titties!

i really want a british short hair kitten. they are so amazingly fuzzy.



OMG

You're beautiful, like a May fly

daaaaaaamn. ernest hemingway was a looker.

You're beautiful, like a May fly

daaaaaaamn. ernest hemingway was a looker.

sleeve face.

this is a community on flickr for record snobs who dabble in photography and want to show off their collection/ think it's witty to share yucks with their internet 'friends' by acting 'silly' by placing pictures of things that aren't their face, over their face. a niche group you might say, but there is a surprising ammount of them.



photos from sleeveface.

i can't do this because the only record i have in london is Grace Jones Island Life, and no single part of my anatomy looks like the entire body of a black amazon woman.

sleeve face.

this is a community on flickr for record snobs who dabble in photography and want to show off their collection/ think it's witty to share yucks with their internet 'friends' by acting 'silly' by placing pictures of things that aren't their face, over their face. a niche group you might say, but there is a surprising ammount of them.



photos from sleeveface.

i can't do this because the only record i have in london is Grace Jones Island Life, and no single part of my anatomy looks like the entire body of a black amazon woman.

why isn't this just called the dita von teese fanclub blog?

I <3 matching lipstick and dresses. If I had the money to get my dresses tailor-made or whatever (ew saying tailor-made makes me think of std-ridden new york and pussy fuck tailor made and how they have gross kisses), then I would totally match my lipstick to my dresses every day. here is dita going into the elie saab fashion show (and below she is going to the gaultier one -- where she walked the runway)

why isn't this just called the dita von teese fanclub blog?

I <3 matching lipstick and dresses. If I had the money to get my dresses tailor-made or whatever (ew saying tailor-made makes me think of std-ridden new york and pussy fuck tailor made and how they have gross kisses), then I would totally match my lipstick to my dresses every day. here is dita going into the elie saab fashion show (and below she is going to the gaultier one -- where she walked the runway)

i want someone to sprinkle glitter all over my life.

how do i feel about headbands? i'm not sure. if i saw some hipster working behind the bar in hoxton wearing one, i might laugh and say he was a douche, but luke wilson looks really fucking cool wearing one in the royal tenenbaums. true, he isn't a real person, but i think some guys could pull it off in real life...i've yet to see that happen, though.



anyone of the female persuasion has a way better of rocking it. and by anyone, i mean knomes, who showed up last night looking casual and cool in a big pullover and a glittery headband.


from stacy lapidus, but you could make them.

i think the reason femme bands > man bands is due purely to the sparkle factor. you don't run the risk of looking like a child molester or a fat kid at the gym in 1972.

i want someone to sprinkle glitter all over my life.

how do i feel about headbands? i'm not sure. if i saw some hipster working behind the bar in hoxton wearing one, i might laugh and say he was a douche, but luke wilson looks really fucking cool wearing one in the royal tenenbaums. true, he isn't a real person, but i think some guys could pull it off in real life...i've yet to see that happen, though.



anyone of the female persuasion has a way better of rocking it. and by anyone, i mean knomes, who showed up last night looking casual and cool in a big pullover and a glittery headband.


from stacy lapidus, but you could make them.

i think the reason femme bands > man bands is due purely to the sparkle factor. you don't run the risk of looking like a child molester or a fat kid at the gym in 1972.

I know it's early, but...

I randomly came across these two halloween costumes on an austin, tx fashion site, and I think they are really well-executed.

1) Jerry (aka the lovely amy sedaris) from Strangers w/ Candy



2) I forget the name of this painting (man in a bowler hat?) by Magritte (I think)

anyways, they are both totally sweet.

I know it's early, but...

I randomly came across these two halloween costumes on an austin, tx fashion site, and I think they are really well-executed.

1) Jerry (aka the lovely amy sedaris) from Strangers w/ Candy



2) I forget the name of this painting (man in a bowler hat?) by Magritte (I think)

anyways, they are both totally sweet.

the imaginarium of doctor parnassus

well, i don't really know what to say about heath ledger's death other than it's a shame.

but, i did just find out that before his death, ledger filmed a movie with the director of Time Bandits. For anyone unfamiliar with this classic, it's an amazing movie about midgets that are jumping around through time, treasure-hunting with the use of a map that they've stolen from god. Reread that last sentence; JUMPING THROUGH TIME WITH A TREASURE MAP STOLEN FROM GOD. Needless to say, Terry Gilliam's new film about "the leader of a traveling theater troupe who, through a deal with the Devil, takes audience members through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations," should be equally fantasy-tastic.


oh and lily cole is in it.

the imaginarium of doctor parnassus

well, i don't really know what to say about heath ledger's death other than it's a shame.

but, i did just find out that before his death, ledger filmed a movie with the director of Time Bandits. For anyone unfamiliar with this classic, it's an amazing movie about midgets that are jumping around through time, treasure-hunting with the use of a map that they've stolen from god. Reread that last sentence; JUMPING THROUGH TIME WITH A TREASURE MAP STOLEN FROM GOD. Needless to say, Terry Gilliam's new film about "the leader of a traveling theater troupe who, through a deal with the Devil, takes audience members through a magical mirror to explore their imaginations," should be equally fantasy-tastic.


oh and lily cole is in it.

oh johnny!

check out this gimp outfit by John Galliano for his fall men's wear 2008.



The whole collection isn't like this, though.




i'm hoping if by chance mr. fantasy does another editorial someof the S&M gear will be in the selection.

above: mr. fantasy, wonderland 2007