Romeo Alaeff: Blog
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Exploring the Work of 10 Mostly Misunderstood Artists
November 16, 2011
Exploring the Work of 10 Mostly Misunderstood Artists
Today would have been Georgia O’Keeffe’s 124th birthday.
As one of the first women to break into the male dominated scene, her contributions to 20th century art history are unquestionable. She mesmerized with her gorgeously surreal New Mexico landscapes and stark New York cityscapes, but, somehow, her name has become synonymous with vaginal flowers. This they were not. How unfortunate. To celebrate the misunderstood artist and her woes, we’ve rounded up a few incidents of misinterpretation from the lives of famed big shots, elder greats, and new, spunky contemporaries. Find out what Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers truly mean, why Francis Bacon really thrust a syringe into his subject’s arm, and why people who don’t get James Franco are “morons.”
Balzac died from too much coffee (maybe starbucks should issue a warning)
September 30, 2011
Pic I took of a dark humored take on Starbucks in Berlin 2011.
HONORE DE BALZAC
Born: May 20, 1799
Died: Aug. 17, 1850
Cause of Death: Diseased heart
Physician's Notes: Considered by some critics as the greatest novelist who ever lived, Balzac put his excellent health to the test by constant strain until, in 1834, he suffered a slight "brain congestion" and dizzy spells. These recurred two years later and were diagnosed as arachnoiditis, an inflammation of one of the three brain covers. He drank huge amounts of thick, black coffee, which caused stomach cramps and contributed to his high blood pressure, which resulted in hypertrophy (abnormal enlargement) of the left ventricle of his heart. His body became flabby, his skin sallow, and he developed nervous twitches in his face. In 1840 he had a bout with hepatitis and suffered acute lethargy, more facial twitchings, and headaches. Working by candlelight ruined his eyes. In Russia, in 1847, he developed bronchitis, and when he returned to Paris exhausted three years later, his eyesight was completely gone. When he arrived home, the novelist found his faithful servant had suffered a mental breakdown. Balzac remarked, "What an omen! I shall never leave this house alive." He never did. Within a few months, his overworked heart quit. His masterpiece, La Comedie Humaine, was never finished. As he lay delirious on his deathbed, he called out, "Send for Bianchon [the famous doctor of La Comedie Humaine]. He'll save me."
From TriviaLibrary.com
Apprently you can die from–but who really except for Balzac konws:
63.49 cups of brewed coffee
68.25 shots of espresso
65 Starbucks Grande Americanos
10 Fantastic Banned Books That Talk About Sex
September 29, 2011
“Upwards of 11,000 books have been challenged in American libraries and schools since Banned Books Week was born in the last week of September back in 1982.
We wanted to draw some attention to books that have been censored over the years, so we got in touch with Sarah Murphy, a school librarian and co-founder (with Maria Falgoust) of The Desk Set, a “social and philanthropic group for librarians and bibliophiles.” Sarah writes, “Those who attempt to ban books are probably afraid of whatever is inside. So, what are they most afraid of? Judging from the dangers cited this year, it’s sex.” She continues, “If you read about sex, you might get the idea to have some. Or think that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. You might start to believe that you’re not the only person in the world to like it, hate it, want it, or be confused by it. Let’s celebrate our freedom to read by checking out the books that got the would-be book banners’ totally chaste knickers in a knot. Here are ten suggested titles; some are new to the list, others have been challenged for decades. All have been accused of being too darn hot.” So read on, dear readers, and let us know what racy books you hid from your parents and teachers when you were young and precocious.”
10 Cult Filmmakers Everyone Should Know
September 14, 2011
When the news broke earlier this week that l0w-budget film legend George Kuchar had died, we were surprised at how many people we knew hadn’t heard of him. In case you’re not familiar, Kuchar and his twin brother Mike are known for campy,
so-bad-they’re-good flicks with names like Hold Me While I’m Naked and I Was a Teenage Rumpot that have gained a vocal following among trash-cinema fans.
Of course, it isn’t often that our greatest cult filmmakers get the recognition they deserve. Take, for instance, PopMatters’ recent list of “The 100 Essential Directors” – the staff’s picks are mostly solid, but they only deign to include a few directors who could legitimately be described as “cult.” In an attempt to remedy the oversight, we’ve compiled a list of 10 cult filmmakers everyone should know. They may not be the “best” (and that isn’t even a useful benchmark for a genre where the term would be so hard to define), but they’re among the most influential, and each serves as a great gateway to legions of lesser-known directors.