Art super fan!!

Hi guys!!

Instead of commenting Cláudia's and DiOgo's posts, I'll do it in mine, ok?! So there you go!

DiOgo, I loved the idea of the Bonsai trees art. I never thought about them that way, but you are 100% right! I found this site on the web where you can see dozens of Bonsais with many different types, colours, and shapes. Check it out!!
www.bonsaibrasil.com.br/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=50
I bought a Bonsai once as a gift to my mohter-in-law. However, she didn't manage to master this skill of shaping it, and eventually it died. I, myself, would never have the serenity and discipline to grow one of my own. Hope to see yours someday.

Cláudia, I haven't watched this film yet, but it's already on my must-see list. I like this allegoric plots a lot, we see reality through fantasy. It is less painful but similarly striking.
As for your post about art, it inspired me with mine, since I love Bowie, as well, and one of my favourite movies from my younger years is his 'Labyrinth'.
Labyrinth is very diverse in terms of art, gathering music, dance, acting, scenery, make-up, and loads of imagination. As I've mentioned last class, Bowie is of vital importance in this film. The soundtrack was entirely composed, produced and recorded by him, except for one song, Chilly Down, which was recorded by David Alan Barclay, Karen Prell and Rob Mills.
You can have further information about the film, the cast, etc at this website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091369/
The two parts of the film I like best are the costumes ball and when Sarah, Jennifer Connely's character, solves the labyrinth, defeating Jareth, the goblin king, played by Bowie. Here are these videos.





I also found another part that is quite groovy and funny at YouTube. This is the link, if you fell like seeing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViftZTfRSt8&feature=related

Jennifer Connely reminds me of another film that won 4 Oscars, among other prizes, and absolutely love: A Beautiful Mind. She plays the role of Alicia Nash, the wife of John Nash (Russell Crowe), a schizophrenic math prodigy who managed to overcome his mental illness by rationalizing the inexistence of his imaginary friends. Although I always cry desperately in this film, I can prevent watching it every now and then.
You can see the cast and other info about it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268978/

Russell Crowe is present in many great Hollywood productions, for instance 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World', again with Paul Bettany, 'Proof of Life', with Meg Ryan, and 'Gladiator', with Joaquin Phoenix.

I consider the latter a masterpiece; no wonder it won 5 Oscars and earned $US34.82 million on its opening weekend, only in the US. Check out!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/

Still talking about films, I love 'Mary Shelley's Frankenstein'. Steph Lady and Frank Darabont masterfully adaptated Shelley's novel into this film. It was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also played the doctor, Victor Frankenstein. I am a great fan of Branagh, who is an expert in directing and acting in films adapted from literature classics, such as some Shakespearean plays and stories.
Besides Branagh, the cast still has names as De Niro, who excelled giving life to the Creature and Helena Bonham Carter, currently performing the Red Queen in Tim Burton's 'Alice In Wonderland'.
On top of it, we can also mention the settings and costumes carefully developed to take us back to the turn of the XIX century.
You can learn more about this film at this website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109836/fullcredits#writers
And you can also watch the trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTWbosQ-9gA

Taking one step back to the connection between films and music, I'd like to refer to a #1 band, which I mentioned last class, Pink Floyd. They have shot 'The Wall', which is a mix of creativity and hallucination. It is shocking, but sensitive and, to a certain extent, beautiful. Check a snnipet of it here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw

What brought Pink Floyd to our discussion last class was a performance of the band shot in Pompeii, in which the ruins of the city and the remains of the deads are shown, mainly the artistic paintings they had on their walls and the scultures. I'm adding this video so that you can have an idea of the whole film.



When I think about music, films and video clips, Michael Jackson pops up in my mind, for his great and pioneer contribution in this field. His 'Thriller' was a turning point in terms of video clips, followed by other video hits like 'Black or White' and 'Remember The Time'. Not only they very well executed but also they count on outstanding people, namely Macaulay Culkin, Tyra Banks, Eddie Murphy, Iman, and Magic Johnson.
If you fell like watching them, just use their respective links below!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe88N1sWpgs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqZnxvAPkL8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMSDgNtBD8o

Hope you enjoy the info, the pictures, and the videos I've posted.
See yah, Janine

This is my favorite peace of art: the Bonsai

Although people say that it came from Japan, actually it has been created in China in the third century B.C..In fact, the Japanese perfected the technique by including it in their art and culture as objects of worship and meditation.

This is not a specific plant, but a technique used on trees in order to "miniaturize" it by drawing on existing forms in nature. There isn`t Bonsai tree, but trees that become a Bonsai. In practice, it is the art of selecting and transforming trees that have the potential to look like a replica in nature.

The aesthetic aspects are fundamental in the execution of a Bonsai. The aesthetic importance is undoubtedly much greater than botany, though that is crucial. The aim of Bonsai art is to create an artistic composition using the nature of trees as raw material, transforming them into art through aesthetic harmony.

I've been cultivating Bonsai for three years and I can say it is an art that requires particular planned growth, nobility, style, commitment, perseverance, serenity, calm, concentration and seriousness.

Someday I'll post pictures of my "children" so you can see them.

Sorry for grammatical mistakes.

Cya

Film Review

District 9 was one of the movies nominated for Best Film in the last Oscar ceremony. When they made the announcement of the 10 movies in the category, I thought it was a little awkward because District 9 is a low-budget film and the Oscar usually only cares about the blockbusters.

But District 9 deserves to be among the best movies. It does you think without being too didactics. If you have never heard about segregation in South Africa, the Apartheid system, you probably will not understand one important side of the script, but OK, you can still have fun with the action sequences.

With the support of Peter “Lordoftherings” Jackson, the young director Neill Blomkamp created an allegory in which black people are substituted by aliens. With their space ship damaged they can’t get back home and are imprisoned in a ghetto, called District 9.

Oh yes! We don’t see a happy ending, but only a sign of hope. So, if you are aware of an adult movie, you will like it.

District 9 - Official Trailer [HD]

TALKING ABOUT ART

I’m not too much the musical type of person, but David Bowie is the best

One of the answers to the question “What is art?” might be: “What moves your heart”.

This song does this and also teaches about life. Check the lyrics:

Changes- David Bowie

I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't tell t hem to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Where's your shame
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time

Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace I'm going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon you're gonna get a little older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time

David Bowie - Changes (Olympia)