After raising criticisms from the Catholic League and members of the House of Representatives, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has removed a video from an exhibition called Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture, which explores, among other things, homosexuality. The video, called “Fire in My Belly,” was made by David Wojnarowicz in the 1980s and depicts a crucified victim with ants crawling over his body. Wojnarowicz died of AIDS in 1992. With Congress stepping in and the debate of how taxpayers money should be used to promote the arts rekindled, some think we’re back in the famed cultural wars of the 1980s. Here’s a quick refresher on past controversies; be sure to let us know what you think in the comments.
Read More »
Earlier this week Slate released their list of most influential octogenarians in America for 2010, highlighting men and women who are still culturally relevant in their 80s, 90s, and beyond (rock on, Wesley E. Brown). As with every year, there are plenty of “fresh old faces” (i.e. newly-qualified icons) as well as some veterans of the list. Assuming that most of you weren’t around for World War II, we’ve pulled together a cheat-sheet to Slate’s cultural relics in the arts — because while you might know who Maurice Sendak is, you probably didn’t realize that he was 4 months old when the stock market crashed in 1929.
Read More »
Last January workers in Berlin were digging a tunnel for a new subway when they found a bronze bust in the shovel of a front loader. It turns out that the bust was made by German sculptor Edwin Scharff, with an actress named Anni Mewes as its subject. The work was one of thousands labeled as “degenerate” art by Hitler’s regime and paraded around the country in 1937 and featured in a 1941 anti-Semitic propaganda film in an attempt to ridicule modern art. Several finds and ten months later, 11 terracotta and bronze works are now on display at Berlin’s Neues Museum. Click through for photos of the sculptures and the exhibit.
Read More »
As the holiday season approaches, you might find yourself with some free time on your hands. In the spirit of giving, consider putting your creative talents to good use at one of these deserving volunteer organizations. Some of these organizations provide opportunities to volunteer all over the country, while others are based in specific cities. Let the latter serve as inspiration for your own search for worthy organizations closer to you (Idealist.org is a great place to start). And if you know a worthy cause that artists can lend their talents to please feel free to add it in the comments below.
Read More »
Influenced by the film noir style of the 1930s and ’40s, Matteo Mezzetta puts a Hitchcock-inspired spin on DJ culture in his Noise series. Mezzetta, who is based in Milan, Italy, recreates photographs in his hyperrealistic style using only oil on canvas, so well in fact, that you have to look closely to spot the brushstrokes. Click through for more of his amazing work.
Read More »
Today at Flavorpill, we smiled at this grandma-turned-super hero. We were shocked to find out that 200 students at the University of Central Florida had cheated on midterm. We took a tour of ultra-tiny, ultra-efficient house in Japan built on a 30-square-meter plot of land. We watched a clip about Staff Sgt. Salcatore Giunta, winner of the Medal of Honor. We dug these posters encouraging real social interaction. We got some more advice from another Princess, this time Snow White. We giggled along with the cast of Harry Potter as they showed off their American accents. We met Ashrita Furman, the proud holder of the record for most Guinness World Records. We pondered a new hourglass design for stoplights. We were reminded of Myspace’s existence just long enough to learn they’ve “surrendered” to Facebook. And finally we wondered what Doors frontman Jim Morrison would think about a posthumous pardon.
Bristol Palin caused quite a stir by moving on to the finals in Dancing with the Stars, despite low scores from judges, potentially due to an outpouring of support from fans of her mom. Some folks were upset enough to take a shotgun to their TV. “This year has not been about the dancing,” one oddsmaker told Bloomberg. “This year is about popularity.” In light of the “scandal,” DWTS is changing their voting system to give the judges’ votes more weight. Of course, any time we see people succeed on TV contests, we may become jealous and start looking for foul play. Here are five cases where viewers really did have a reason to be suspicious.
Read More »
Barack Obama, leader of the free world and winner of a Nobel Peace Prize, can now add children’s book author to his resume: Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to my Daughters, a picture book penned by the President, hit bookstores yesterday. Written in 2008 after the election but before Obama took office, the book tells the story of 13 American heroes and heroines, including Albert Einstein, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller, and Martin Luther King, Jr. But he’s hardly the first celebrity who has delved into kiddie lit. Here are 15 more children’s book authors you might know from elsewhere.
Read More »
Andrew O’Neill, the British comedian behind the @English50cent Twitter account, has taken the next step in translating the rapper’s words into the Queen’s English. O’Neill has added subtitles in his hilariously-juxtaposed proper English vernacular to the music video of 50 Cent’s first hit, “In Da Club,” or rather, “In the Nightclub.” Check it out after the jump.
Read More »
New Yorkers will recognize the voice of Carolyn Hopkins, but they might have a hard time placing it. That’s because she has recorded many of the voiceovers used in New York’s subway system, alerting commuters about incoming trains and the like (you can hear a recording at the New York Times). As in real life, these voice actors often go unnamed and unappreciated. So, in honor of Mrs. Hopkins, we decided to look at 10 of the most memorable disembodied voices in film.
Read More »
