Poetry Sleeps in the Summer

As the days shorten I've noticed that many of the poets (not all) who were quiet throughout late summer have started to write more.  The decline in light perhaps triggers a creative urge?  Ineluctable I would bet.

Madrugada – Hands up I Love you

This song works because of the melody and the simple single note lead.  It could be remixed into many contexts sped up slowed down, lyrics turned to nonsense and it would still work.  Melody is king. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtbubciUHDU

Hank 3: The Nature of the Artist

Hank Williams III in an interview shows the nature of a true artist, finding his own way irrespective of outcome.  The true artists, one could say, have outcome independence;  they don't despise fame or accolades as that is part of human nature but they only welcome it if arrives as result of their faithful expression …

Try to Keep a Straight Face

This is performance art, really.  It's performance art because they say so.  The central actor is off stage.  One other thought why isn't anyone reading Jean Genet in French.

Admire the Art Ignore the Man

Here is a good example of what happens when we love the art and try to follow that admiration back to the man.  We are sure to be disappointed.

Art as Challenge to Orthodoxy

Over the years artistic expression has been celebrated for its challenge of various orthodoxies whether those were, religious, gender based, sexual or long standing cultural norms.  Who can forget the artist Andre Serarano's photograph Piss Christ where the artist submerged a crucifix in a jar of his own urine all with US taxpayer money.  It …

Amateur Pursuits

A great blog post on the importance of creative pursuits as their own end (h/t the shape of everything).  She states the following: There are plenty of reasons to engage in creative activity that has no possibility of being professionalized and won't receive external validation. We paint because it’s therapeutic. We paint because it gives …

Formatting Text Messages in Fiction

I stumbled on this recommendation which is terrible.  No one should use underlining for anything in typography.  A designer friend explained that the underline is a holdover from the days of manual typewriters where you simply can't change fonts.  It no longer makes sense to use  underlining. In keeping with that recommendation if one were …

Media Whores and the Cult of Personality

Have you ever wondered what percentage of musicians and actors began practicing their craft because they wanted to meet members of the opposite sex or they craved fame and adulation?  One is probably safe in saying that it exceeds 60%.  For the last twenty-five years and perhaps longer artists try to be bigger than their …

Chloe Chante Fashion Photo Blog

I really like this photo blog.  I think it captures a femininity that is nearly impossible for a man.  I was looking at one of the most followed fashion photo blogs (a man) although the composition of many pictures were great it lacked the subtle details found in Chloe Chante. The blog goes into the …