As a rule I am suspect of art that has a political agenda. Though when it is executed as finely as Roger Shimomura’s paintings are, I tend to pay attention. And then I suppose I am all the more impressed.
The series I am linking to illustrates racist incidents from a variety of sources, including Shimomura’s own experiences, using methods that draw from both historical and modern Japanese imagery. Americana from WWII era cartoons, and surprising imagery from our modern “enlightened” times are also used as source material. Using flat colourful compositions his paintings blend the visual reverences much like his life as a Japanese American has blended his heritage.
From the website:
Several years ago, Roger had a conversation with an art history colleague who was writing a textbook on the history of art. She informed Roger that she had included his name and painting in the chapter on contemporary American art. She also said she could not promise that his name would survive the editing process due to a difference of opinion with her editor, who felt that Roger would be better defined as a contemporary Japanese painter than a contemporary American painter.
Found via Geisha.
Napoleon Dynamite
Things for my cat that I cannot afford. (Sorry Buick)
And at the risk of turning into a trendy mp3 blog (this is the second song I have posted after all) here is a song I can’t get enough of: Take Your Mama Out All Night by the Scissor Sisters.
Anyone who has peeked in on this page for any amount of time knows I have had more than my share of headaches getting it to display correctly in Internet Explorer. Today I have accomplished what I thought was impossible. Although it still looks better in Opera or Firefox on the PC (or better yet, Safari on a Mac, if you can swing it) I am at least happy enough with the look of this thing to not wonder why I even bother with it.
I have ieCapture to thank for this accomplishment. It is a little page that lets you see what a webpage looks like in a variety of environments. There is a version for PC users too, called iCapture.
Yup, I got nothing to write about. Busy doing Izzum, but I manage to spend enough time out as well. I guess I am living a healthy sort of life really… I’m social, and getting things done. Nice.
Anyways, here is a little quiz, which was found by Joe, that figures out what Peanuts character you are, it is my favorite of these types so far.
Here’s my result.
You are Woodstock!
Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
I know my “blog” is little more than a fun diversion for myself, but it does pass the time. There is a blog Hot Or Not set up, so you can rate how well I pass your time.
Show me some love.
So I was going through my stats page looking at where people come from in order to get here, most often it is from the many places on Eric’s page that he has linked to me or in my comments on his page. Every once in awhile there are ones that take me by surprise though.
There was a link posted in an online forum called “Porno and Torrents Freaks” which as far as I can tell is self-explanatory. (Torrents, for those of you not in the know, are a way to transfer large files, like movies, quickly)
So I registered with the forum so I could check out what was going on. This website is linked along with many others in a post with the title, “VEEL LINKS (ONGECONTROLEERD)” in english that translates to “MUCH LEFT (UNCONTROLLED)” or, I sort of think that Babelfish has messed up the translation, and it actually is “MANY LINKS (UNCONTROLLED)” who knows.
What is really funny is the company I keep there. Most of the urls are links to porn sites and very un-PC humor sites. What my boring blog has to do with these I have no idea but there you go, someone out in Holland thinks I am “UNCONTROLLED” It is nice to have fans. In case you are wondering, the link is from before I posted the link to the eel video.
What has me worried is that this might be some sort of black-hat hacker post and that by “Uncontrolled” it means “Unsecured” and I have some sort of vulnerability. In that case, someone please let me know.
A few people have been scarred by the eel video that I indirectly linked to two posts ago. I feel very sorry for that. I feel it is my duty to reclaim nudity as a viable form of entertainment. Please click here. It does involve nudity, but it will make you laugh, rather than vomit.
I always considered Julian Schnabel‘s decision to cast Gary Oldman as himself in Basquiat to be absolutely geniant. Because they look nothing like each other, you know that it was purely an ego thing. I can hear him now, “The only person dope enough the play the Shnabler could be Gary-Fucking-Oldman, MAN.”
But you know, I would do the same. If I were to make a movie with myself in it, or if one were made about me, a very charasmitic actor like him would be needed for the part. Mainly to prevent the audience from being bored to tears. (can you imagine watching Oldman blog and karaoke for two hours? now THAT sounds hot!) In this photo the resemblance to me is more than just passing I must say…
although he does look a bit like Kevin Rodgers as well. Hmm…
For years I was getting people telling me that I looked like Bruce McCullough from Kids In The Hall. I am not sure what I think about that, but hey, he is a pretty funny guy. I no longer get that since I stopped shaving on a regular basis and started drinking heavily… er, well I always did but suddenly the effects of it became visible
There are others that have been short listed for the part and they are in the poll question. You may vote for your favorite, as well as let me know (by way of the comments) who would play you in my movie. Remember that the same sort of chemistry that exists between the two of us (or lack thereof) should probably exist between your choice of actors. Oh, and neither the age of the actor nor whether they are live or dead matters. All that matters is how Rad they would look doing the things I do, or will do, or what the mythology will say I did once I die.
It’s a fun game!
You said.