Picture me giving a damn

Tricky's reworking of Public Enemy's Black Steel is one of the best covers ever and seems just as relevant now. I love how Martina's soft whispering vocals narrate a get-out-jail storey. A gender reworking. As much as an African-American is always a second-rate citizen, so does a female have to fight against society. The aggression of Public Enemy's is pumped into scratching guitars and Martina's breathy delivery seems to accentuate the political message. 

CAN - Vitamin C

RIP Liebezeit.

Now reading (and loving the hell out of it)

Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film

by Carol J. Clover 

Rocket Man

"All this science, I don't understand, it's just my job, five days a week." 

I wonder what Rocket Man does on his days off. Music (and art) is as much about what's in it as what's left out. What does Rocket Man do? He just drifts on the weekend? Do drugs? Can you actually snort cocaine in space? Wouldn't it float around in the space ship? 

L'etudiant de la vie

It took me years to realize politics affects my/our life. As a teenager, hearing the teacher explain the political system, it seemed removed from my life. Not having any influence on my life/thinking/relationships. It wasn't until I started reading (and listening to my husband, who studied political and social sciences at uni), that it affects everyone. Now of course you have to be blind to not see the negative impact it has on so many people. I'm grateful to have a husband who can teach our kids what politics does to us/them. It is our duty as a parent (and human being) to teach our kids. And as much as I see myself as a teacher (to our kids), I will always see myself as a student of life. Listening and learning.

I skipped the part about knowledge

There are different reasons for loving dEUS. One of them being a national pride might actually be the last in the row. We've never really embraced success. Always weary of being arrogant is one of our misplaced traits. Also, the fact they were local, meant I understood their outsider attitude. It reflects in the language used. The way the lyrics are at times not really (correct) English reminds me, the listener, I am not ever part of (the English/American) group.  

I think one of the main reasons I love the band as much as I do, is that they kickstarted a learning process. Much like Nirvana kickstarted a love for indie/obscure bands (and a scene), dEUS created a scene in our country but they were also never ashamed to namedrop. On the contrary, they wore their influences on their (record)sleeves. It wasn't merely covering/sampling other bands, from REM to Guided by Voices. The name itself was derived from a band, ie the Sugarcubes. In a way it felt like Hip Hop, in the way to inserted cultural references in their song. It created a familiarity and, when not, you could go out and discovered other bands. 

50 shades of nymphomania

After having watching 50 Shades of Grey over a dozen times and volume 1 of Nymphomania, I still haven't gotten the former really under my skin. Yes, I did watch it over a dozen of times. Mainly as I wanted to (dis)agree with the negative criticism. Juxtaposing it with Nymphomania, I can honestly say I love both though for different reasons.
Nymphomania seems to accentuate what 50 Shades of Grey doesn't/can't/isn't willing to offer. Hollywood can't show reality, namely explicit nude scenes (for commercial reasons). Pornography can and is a reminder that Hollywood can never disclose completely. As such 50 Shades of Grey is never really about sex, nor does it really delve into the power relations of Sadomasochism. The book also avoids to tackle this. It cheapens or brings forward the cliché that SM must be about tortured souls. Grey "heals" by going vanilla. Anastasia (nor Grey?) doesn't understand the sadomasochism's power relationship. As much as the dominant controls the submissive, the latter also has control over the relationship. If that isn't the case, it is (or can devolve into) an unhealthy relationship.
The choice of Anastasia seems apt: mousy and inexperienced. She has zero experience and is in turmoil about the whole "deal." A representation of the meek woman looking for a rich alpha male who controls and offers security. It seems to kill feminism in one single thrust. This is why I love Nymphomania: the main/female character chooses sex without romantic ties. (Of course you know she's making the wrong choice. Every fuck is closer to the abyss.)

Return to hazy thoughts

 

After a decade I felt an urge to return to blogging. A desire to pontificate. Although pontificate is illplaced. Always wondering in the greys, never black&white. Nothing is what it seems.