Man, it has been an intense couple of weeks so far at my internship, but it’s been a lot of fun.

I have new stuff to talk about, in spite of the fact of how tired I am.

Get ready for awesomeness…

Anselm Keifer awesomeness that is!.

so so good.

This is from his “… Narrow are the Vessels” instillation at my museum. This specific one is titled.” Let the Earth Be Opened and Send Forth a Savior”( referencing the resurrection of christ in Isaiah 45:8). His art conveys a lot of religious, themes. This is due to his own involvement as a post-war german (literally born a couple days after the third reich). This painting shows, hope and renewal with the flowers, in an otherwise landscape full of doom. The mere size of this piece alone is more then enough to leave you awestruck (9 by 25 feet) Highly recommend checking this out.

This will be weird but watch what happens next.

Yea, I’m surprised too. But really when i see Keifer’s work, I immediately think of the massive shot of all the bodies lined up. Obviously with the flowers this would be he aftermath. Death always means renewal, to some extent at least. There is one landscape Keifer does that is just the doom and gloom of the war, that I see the shot even more clearly, (the difference being, Keifer’s landscape encapsulates the horrors and the view of the warfield.

The song that makes me think of these battles??

 
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME Ants of the Sky P.1

right, I know this is of guitar hero, but its a much much better quality, don’t you agree?

especially during the “victorious riff” (1:30-1:50) you will hear it) , I feel that the battle is raging on but there is a moment of hope. ( I hear this riff and I think of a couple guys climbing over bodies and holding their flags high over head. I probably alienated the hell out of some listeners of the indie things I normally do, but I just am focusing on the most convincing war elements I have seen/ heard… ( without talking about a certain band I cannot talk about {see earlier posts})

Oh yeah, and ants of the sky, is a pretty sweet name too,

Sorry it was awhile but I am actualy being productive this summer. So I shall see what else shall come from this… But keep the fight alive! (assuming you’re actually fighting something)    

I’m not gonna lie i’m pretty sure I alienated some people with Between the buried and me, but think about it.  I have yet to really find an indie band that really nails down what it ounds like in a battle, (let’s just imagine for  half a second an Architecture in Helsinki, song about victorious battles and marching through the dead bodies… Hilarious) oh well… anyway

Lastly….

Yes it’s a book that everyone has read. I know that, again though middle ground.

I keep thinking about Mary Anne and her necklace of human tongues. That image, has probably forever warped me. But that’s okay. I imagine war as a horrible, disgusting, unfathomable tragedy, and so far, this is what I believe has been the best example in Lit of war that is cohesive with my beliefs on it, (granted Im in a much more movie watching state and desperately need to catch up on my readings. ) Mary Anne goes into Nam a relatively normal girl and then we see this is how she comes back. Powerful powerful stuff.

( for the one person that reads this Christina, I have probably disappointed you… and I apologize for doing so)

and so it goes…

Jordan

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Ah, depression.

How long have we known each other? I feel like by highlighting my favorite depressing art, that I could move that much further away from you.

Ok, enough personification let’s get down to business. There is a certain kind of depression that I can accept, more than likely this is due to the fact that there is a huge sense of closure that comes with this depression; to elaborate, I’m left with nothing, and I want nothing to comfort me.

A nearly perfect embodiment of this kind of depression is…

my god… the horror.

First off, being that this movie is teamed with an unbelievably depressing string accompaniment by The Kronos Quartet, shout-outs are in order… woot!

Aside from that though, the movie is a gripping, and necessary view of addiction in a lot of its forms and the downfalls that come from that. Aronofsky, perfects this distance you feel with all the characters by utilizing many of the technical tricks he has up his sleeves like the uber quick jump cuts, used to dehumanize the characters, and his wonderful work with split-screen to show that all though Harry and Marion, appear physically entwined, there is clearly something between them. Check out my favorite review of this movie from Ain’t it cool news here.

Like I said, although the Kronos Quarter is AMAZING with this soundtrack, it is not my favorite, ” left with nothing wanting nothing to comfort me” music goes to…

Devics.

Hands down one of the most depressing cds goes to My beautiful Sinking Ship.

This is easily one of the most cinematic bands I have heard. This entire, cd is so delicate and fragile, that if it were handled by the wrong person, could easily be lead to suicidal tendencies.

“Five seconds to hold you”, sounds like a melodramatic montage that goes on for just the right amount of time. It keeps you focused on interested, and clinging on to their every chord, hoping for a way out of this misery, (again in the good way).

” Lost at Sea” feels like a sinking ship. It takes you down and plunges you into the deep, it paints a picture of a dying moment beautifully.

“Behind the Sun” sounds like the end of The Bicycle Thief, it leaves you wanting the resolution that you never quite get.

….and the “left with nothing wanting nothing to comfort” for lit goes to The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair.

Tells the anti-American dream, or what Sincalir saw as the American reality, thanks to capitalism. The heart-ripping-out-of-your-chest-and-stomping-on-the-ground story of a family and their attempts at the American life during post the huge European diaspora of the early 20th century. You think it will get better but every chapter will KICK YOUR ASS. As a reader you develop some hope for the family every chapter, but ultimately as you flip the pages, you realize that’s it’s pretty much a never-ending curb stomp. It’s rough.

So readers, I urge you to every now and again go out and necessarily get depressed. Do this because you want too, not because you have to.

Also, I’d love to see what you all think is total “leave you with nothing, and wanting nothing to comfort” movies, books, and songs, – as long as they are not Mr. Big’s “To Be With You.”

Depressingly yours,

Jordan

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Sometimes everything in life just goes in a downward spiral straight to hell. For some, this is rare, but for some poor bastards, this is every time they wake up. In honor of some of these bastards, I feel like stringing together some of my favorite dystopian art.

First off, let’s look at a sculpture…

Kumi Yamashita’s Shadow Works

breath-taking work.

Kumi, (to me at least) is making a statement about humanity. When I look at this and think of the whole “god made man out of his own image” thing that’s been forced down our throats for I don’t even know how long, I just laugh. It forces us to take a look at humanity, and question what are we really comprised of?

-onward to more depressing/intriguing subject matter-

When I think of Dystopian film, I easily think of Brazil.

- Another one to mention with high honor is Gattaca, but for the purpose of the depression inherent with all these dystopian arts, I can’t tie in a movie that ends on a high note now can i?

Brazil is out of the crazy mind of Terry Gilliam, who is of former “Patsy” fame in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Man where do you even start with this? Okay, take a breath.

Loosly based off another dystopian fav 1984, Sam Lowry is essentially trying to get a girl he dreams about, while being trapped in a monotonous 9-5 lifestyle. This movie mainly is a dystopian black comedy that parodies capitalism and escapism. This also features Robert De Niro as Harry Tuttle, a renegade heating engineer that tries to help Sam achieve his dreams. Confused? You should be. Now watch the damn movie. With all the crazy art design that helps this film be recognized as one of the best sci-fi movies ever, you will be left with your mouth agape, trying to formulate the words “What the fuck just happened?” but you won’t be able to.

Alright now onward to music.

sigh.. It was bound to happen because i’m pretty sure everyone with a music blog, at least at some point and time has wrote about the Arcade Fire. Don’t get me wrong these guys are on rotation for me ad nauseum, and I love them, I’m just sick of myself talking about them. ( and, Sarah Neufeld is tied in a threeway with Giada De Laurentis and Christina Ricci for hottest woman ever)

vs… vs…. WHO WILL WIN???

But you’ll see, it all ties together so nicely.

“Intervention”~ Neon Bible

Easily my favorite song on this cd. When you hear the explosion of that organ with that first demonic chord, cling on to your favorite blanky because it’s going to be a frightening ride. I’m getting fucking chills just typing this. (Ridiculous, right?)

with lines such as. ” Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home” and “Hear the solider groan, “We’ll go at it alone”"

Win literally gives you what this soldier, (and perhaps many other soldiers) are thinking. Then especially “Working for the church while your family dies.” Is beautiful and chilling in it’s irony.

One of the reasons for my fascination with this song, is how uncomfortable it makes you. You cringe, you get paranoid, nervous and afraid, just due to this song. Oh, and The Arcade Fire covers the theme song to Gilliam’s Brazil. Good luck finding it!

If there is anyone ever within the music blog realm that hasn’t heard of these guys or this song. Then I Beg you listen to Intervention and tell me what you think!

Finally, my favorite Dystopian prose… Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut.

A parody of communism mainly, you can see Vonnegut’s undercutting already with the infamous opening line. “The year was 2081 and everybody was finally equal.” <– Added empahsis, ooo they so sensitive. –> {I sincerely apologize to anyone offended by that Kanye reference.}

Anyway, hilarity ensues in a future where everyone is forced to be equal. If they have great vision, they are handicapped with glasses that make their vision worse, so that everyone is on an equal playing field.

In spite of how funny it is, it is also a very sad and poignant story especially with the parent and son thing going on through out.

mandatory reading for everyone!

Either way, guys it’s been a fun long blog, and if you actually read all of it. Kudos to you.. (seriously, I can see your IP address and I will send you the candy Kudos)

Sorry for length, and seemingly random hottest girl contest.

Candy coming regardless if you want it or not,

Jordan

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