All about the icons of pop culture. Including art, music, TV series, movies and fashion. Queer in nature, straight forward in its approach and classical in an unconventional manner. From review to preview, I'll talk about it, analyze it and celebrate it! Icon Art Marilyn loves pop culture.
An icon is someone who makes an effort. Art makes an effort. Therefore art is an icon. Marilyn Monroe was and is an icon and a work of art as well. Hence Marilyn Monroe and art have a nature in common. Icon - Art - Marilyn is iconic.
Okay, Mondays usually are devoted to the review of the latest episode of HBO's True Blood, yet I have not got the chance to see the episode, whereas I have to postpone the review till tomorrow. (Sadly). Yet I can give you an adequate topic of interest.
Picture form the labels website. Accessed 20.07.14.
As I have not reported on the latest trends in fashion etc. for a while its remed quite appropriate to give you all my thoughts on the designs of Marina Hoermanseder that were presented at this years Mercedes Benz fashion Week in Berlin. The label of Ms. Hoermanseder might not be a big name, however her designs shoe true talent incorporating absurdism and a certain historicism without loosing their wearability and futuristic appeal. A rare combination in the fashion industry and hard to keep up, as the juxtaposition between style extremes never was and never will be easy.
The collection clearly has found its influences in the idea of restraint and support of the body as well as the ideas of wearability versus artistic influences in fashion. Especially the detail of such a soft and intricate use of a material such a hard material as leather stuns the spectator while the grant for wearability is (nearly) always given. Yet the choice of color could have been different, yet the overall use of pastel tones and skin related colors gives credit to the connection between organic seeming shapes and restraining corsets. The whole connection was a huge reminder of orthopedic medicine as much as it was couture. The intricate split between cold medic, frightening alien, flawlessly beautiful and delicately feminine has been perfectly managed.
I as drawn into a fantasy land by the collection as the clothes reminded one of leather culture and SM culture, as well as the symbolic eating behind the material used. Leather, a durable and rough material, is of preconceived notion rather male. However the working of the material and its use in the collection connects ideas of masculinity and femininity in fashion and deconstructs these notions.
Yesterday you had the chance to read all about the winners and shaded peepz from movies and TV, and two days ago I worked my way through the music biz of 2013. Today I will give you the top and flops in 2013 art as well as the what to wear and what not in 2013 fashion.
In 2010 Marina Abramovic had
her biggest blast yet as she staged her three months retro-perspective at the
NYC MOMA and made the documentary, titled just like the three month long
performance piece of hers, called “The Artist is Present”. As this year hit she
started collecting funds to build the Abramovic Institute that is labeled as a
meeting place to communicate and experience and work on performing arts.
Definitely the female artist of 2013 as she still keeps it clear to her style
and pushed boundaries of what is performance art.
As the best-paid artist ever
Jeff Koons never has a bad year, and his kitsch pop culture ironic art never a
bad season. But this year he catapulted himself into the god league of pop
artists as he created a stunning statue for Lady Gaga’s “ARTPOP” album cover.
Very Warhol, very Gaga but 100% Koons and 100% brilliant. And outstanding
combination of performance and sculpture that he presented.
Best Performance Art 2013
– “The Abramovic Method” aka. Cleaning
The House by “Marina Abramovic”
“The Abramovic Method” is a
series of body experiences that focuses on using the sins to get their
perception back into our minds and to break a bridge between the individual and
the nature. As part of “Cleaning the House” workshop by Marina its focuses on
the experience as unpolluted by outer influences such as language and company,
even clothing.
Best Sculpture 2013 – “Couple
Under An Umbrella” by Ron Mueck
Rom Mueck is to be assorted
to the class of hyperrealists, as his sculptures look extremely real. On
pictures you definitely mistake them for real people. As one of his latest
works “Couple Under An Umbrella” depicts an elder couple in swimming clothes.
An everyday scene that gains momentum as the title does not make use of the age
of its “protagonists”, yet age is explained as a topic with this bold decision.
(Well, at least for me.) As well we can
definitely experience some sort of privacy, as the figures look so real that we
get the idea of a candid moment. Have a look for yourself!
Best Painting 2013 – “Antiquity
3” by Jeff Koons
This might already be super
boring, but this multi-layered painting by Jeff Koons just caught me in its
charm. We see a Bettie Paige model riding a fake dolphin while holding a fake
monkey, in the back we see Greek statues, a sunset and something is drawn over
it. Love it. For me it represents the Meta nature of pop culture work as it
proves to be self-referencing all the time.
Best Dressed Male 2013 – Josh
Hutcherson
He might not be the hunkiest
hunk of them all, but he definitely is the prettiest and best dressed of them
all! And yes, I have to say that his fashion choices, for me, represent a
modern day men that knows to wear something else then just a boring suit and
tie. He as well proved to have a hand for his hair as it always looks good, and
what is better then that?
Worst Dressed Male 2013 – LMFAO
(Both of them)
Red Foo and I don’t even
know what his name is both just look horrible. The style is not even ironic or
meant to look different. Its just plain dumb stuff that is supposed to be col
and edgy, but it just looks ridiculously stupid, immature and hilarious (But
not in the good way!)
I mean, that was pretty
obvious, was it? Best dressed is not only about how sexually attractive or
conventionally beautiful someone looks with me. Because that is boring. Lady
Gaga snatches the title here because she once more used fashion to give
statements, add to performances and even to fly. Remember “VOLANTIS”, the
flying dress? Because that is fashion, and not just to look as good as Beyoncé
after make up and hair in another normal dress. (Sorry Bey. Your beautiful, but
with me that is way not enough!)
Could someone please tell
her to stop high high high highlighting her big butt? I like a gorgeous butt,
but hers is just ridiculous and that constant booty boost does not really do
it. And that K-Mart whatever collection of skin tight, ill patterned,
sweatpants and hoodies she calls a fashion collection does not make it better.
Just a sell out, trying to label it as fashionable. Sorry, but not with me.
Designer of the Year – Karl
Lagerfeld
Say what you want about
Karl, he has stupid sides, but his Designs are freaking flawless. He is
freaking crazy and makes a crazy amount of work happen and still makes it to
include the newest trends and ideas into his several collections a year. Karl
has always been a mystery and will forever remain a bit of a mystery, as he is
mysterious in his thinking patter, work pattern and his behavior.
Label of the Year –
Versace
A few years ago Versace was
on the edge of going totally broke, but with Donatella taking over all possible
she turned the wheel around and re-oriented Versace back to its origins that
were truly Gianni Versace. With the “new” Versace DNA the label now spits out
highlight after highlight of high end fashion as it manifests its status as
bold and beautiful Italian but strong, fierce and aggressively dangerous like
the labels mythological figure: Medusa.
I am still shocked at how
good and bad Miss Cyrus is able to dress at some times. We get classic elegant
chick, sexy salty dominatrix and high fashion concept looks, as while we also
get cheap turnpike whore, gone wrong stripper and tweaking teddy with latex.
Definitely in need of a different stylist once but a head turner in
possibilities open. If this WTF honor is about the good or the bad is lastly up
to you folks!
After three books about Katniss Everdeen have taken the world by storm, even though there are several similarities in the general idea to "Battle Royale", Lionsgate has decided to film the books. After the first one, "The Hunger Games", fans were craving for more....
And now, finally, we got what we all were desperately waiting for: "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire". And let me tell you that the critics and the audiences have not fooled us, the movie is as good as its reputation. And they really let us have it! The promotional efforts have been rollig all over us in the last few months and the tease was constant. Here, on Icon Art Marilyn, I have dished about the fashion seen in the trailers and posters as soon as they were out and I was so pleased with wat the visuals provided.
Making Francis Lawrence, director of Lady Gaga's epic video for "Bad Romance" and Will Smith movie "I Am Legend", seemed the perfect choice right from the beginning, as he is known for his clear edge cutting visuals that incorporate this mad dark undertone and give a feeling of contaigion, supression, pain and lifelessness. The visuals are definitely more clear and very much darker then those of the first movie. Well, that should be the result of the up high budget and the buzz the first movie has created. Diving right into it, let me reassure you that the first third of the movie is depressing and re-creates absolutely the feeling of life in danger, a life in constant threat of beeing killed off. The second thirs shows the growing discompfort of Katniss with her situation as the third part shows the actual Quater Quell. Katniss is no longer the same girl. She is darker, broken and her expertise on life is a different one. The moment President Snow pays visit to the Victors Village of District 12 Katniss gets the idea that she never will be out the range of fire. Death is on her feet and just waits to jump up the ladder. During the Victors Tour Katniss and Peeta grow a little closer together, allthough there is no real fire in it... well from Peetas side there is. And constantly on Katniss is her good friend and kind of lover Gale.
As soon as the cameras are on they are trying their best and sadly they half fail as the Districts are very hard on them. But I dont want to spoil the stryline for the ones that havent read the book yet. But i can give you the following: The movie is very realistic and true to the book. What really gets me going is that the fashion is overwhelming, the character play is extraordinarily good, the sets are mindblowing and the dialgues are sharp, edgy and stay close to the characters we all love. Everything in this movie shows the Capitols desire for blood, their agression and their very excellence in the art of killing, their miss-valuation of life in general, their absolute disgust over individuality and the cold agression presented gives you shivers. Jennifer Lawrence gives us her all and we feel with her, her agony and her absolute devastation. We feela long Peeta and his real undying love for Katniss. We feel along Haymitch, starting to feel again, after drinking himself to death as a result to cope with him beeing a victor as well. And, my absolute favorite, Effie Trinket. We see her develope and questioning the reality of the world she lives in. She hesitates to reap her victors names as the reaping for the 75th Hunger Games is in process. She tries to fight for them, and she even tells them that they deserve way better. I like that they show that she has a developement.
Basically the movie has too much to talk about, and when the DVD is out I will probably give you a reading of all the things going on in this fantastic movie. But what really left the mark on me is that the movie gives us a clear understanding of what a dystopian, supressive, totalitarian and inhuman nation does to people, how violence affects peoples lives and their psychology, their longing for freedom and the perversion of life in such a system. I am very much impressed by how this was brought across the screen to us as viewers.
The only thing I regret is that we have to waint another year for the next movie, and two years to see the final movie. But, and you can believe me, I will still burn for this movie! Cause it is iconic!
Today has been the day that the reigning queen of pop, Lady Gaga, has released the music video for her first single off her third studio album ARTPOP. The single Applause was released early last week due to hackers and leaks, and has since been compared to Katy Perry's "Roar". But when Gaga entered Times Square in a black convertible with red leather seats to go onto Good Morning America it was clear that at this day Katy perry would play no role.
When Gaga entered the studio she wore a stunning white dress, short brown or brunette hair and metallic high heel boots. In an interview before the music video premier she declared that the video will feature many images of her, all versions of herself. She also stated that the video was paying homage to her obsession with transforming herself. The video is a mixture of Tim Burton meets Alice in Wonderland meets Circus meets vampires and angels meets fashion and disco. Tons of outfits, flashing lights and a dance routine that seeks out for competition. An absolute complex, stunning and amazing pop music video that says one thing: art. It really is a video about obsession, rage, love, dance and art in combination with pop. A true iconographic piece that will go down in music history, at least it should! But don't believe just me, go an check out my arguments below!
*Copyright mention: I do not own any of the pictures on display here. Just used for entertainment purpose. All pictures are courtesy of Interscope Records.*
For those of you who haven't seen the video yet, and can not watch it on Youtube due to Vevo, just head over to Ampya and watch it there! So I think we should get right to it, and analyze it in every frame! Lets dive in:
I absolutely love the writing! Can not wait to see more of it. What we can see of the scenery just gives me the chills. Very central, very power oriented and absolutely Metropolis meets horror. The stage is like a circus arena curtain that opens. I love it to death!
Gaga mattress. And her body is banging! I mean seriously there hasn't been anything that hot since the last supernova! Her shoes are a high-heeled killer boot that makes my hear for fashion go pitter-patter.
Gaga on a podium, with wings. Wait wings? Yes! Wings! And for me they look like the wings of death. She is flying over the podium and giving me further reasons to fangurrl!
See, I love beautiful things and since I am a big fan of strong women and a fan of outrageous fashion. So Lady Gaga combines outrageous fashion and fierce and strong womanhood in her Monster Ball Tour performance of "So Happy I Could Die".
Love the shoes: I mean they are Armani. What is better than that? The picture is very simple and static, but at the same time very warholian. Theses shoes are so outrageous and absurd that you have to love them. I mean they are unpractical and fierce. What is not to love about them? I just wanted to give a glimpse shot of a performance with a statical pop art aesthetic.
This episode of "I read it, so should you!" could also be an episode of "Passion for Fashion". On May 7th 2007 Isabella low, beloved eccentric fashion journalist, set an end to her life. With poison she set her life an end, and her husband Detmar Blow has, in co-work with Tom Sykes, written a biography of his wife.
Cover Copyright by Harper Collins.
Blow, who himself struggled much with depression, tell the story of his wife Isabella in a surprisingly un-kitschy way. But at the same time it is really moving. He starts off in Isabella's childhood and also sweeps back into the history of her family and her difficult childhood. Also he stalks about Isabella's relation to her father and the relation to her step-mother. Also he includes her her relation to old medieval ruins and the "palace" she grew up. Detmar involves Issie's early relationships and her proclivity to rebellion and non-conformativity. The biography also includes Issies first marriage, her moving to Texas, and her moving to New York City. Also included are her jobs at Vogue (where she became the assistant of Anna Wintour), at Tatler and meeting with Detmar.
From this point on he describes his life with her. In there he includes Issie discovering Alexander McQueen. He really goes into detail about describing their life until the time when Issie started to feel depressive. He really goes into detail about her self destructive mode, her suicide attempts and her fighting ovarian cancer. When he writes about her death the book is really at its best. Still its a tragic story but fascinating.
This is a definite read. And its not a light and soft read, it is really something one should read and think about while reading!
Like every year Anna Wintour and Vogue Magazine invited everyone with a name in the entertainment, music and fashion world to come and celebrate the MET Costume Institute exhibition. This years topic was punk revival.
In this episode of "Passion for Fashion" e will have a look at some of the outfits the stars wore on the red carpet. As a disclaimer I have to say that i do not own these pictures. They are just snapshots of websites. I will give the sources below the pictures.
Picture taken from Posugar. Original Li-
cense by Getty Images.
Photo from CocoPerez.
But lets dive right in with best dressed of the evening. This award goes out to 2 foxy ladies, because they both were extremely fierce! These two were Hunger Games star and Oscar winner: Jennifer Lawrence and No Doubt singer and fashion designer & icon: Gwen Stefani!
I'm not sure about the designer of Gwen's Dress, but i like that she put punk to a glamorous level. The combination of the black bow top and the white skirt bottom part is a nice contrast and her platinum hair befits the outfit.Its a little rebellion that is going on, but i´t is so glamorous! And Jennifers dress is clearly Dior. I mean its not punk but it is amazing! What is really nice is the hairnet she added a a headpiece! The shoes she choose are really simple and the dress really stads out. But her posing still need some more practice!Well done ladies! (Or thumbs up stylists!)
Right from the best dressed of the night to the absolutely worst dressed list, I mean that is what it is really all about. Here are the absolutely worst dressed on the red carpet.
#1 Miss Carter - Beyonce'
Picture from Beyonce's facebook page.
That dress might be fierce at first look, but definitly its fierce gone wrong. Very wrong. I mean B, have you took a look in the mirror before you left the house! The design looks like Givenchy. But the worst: The boots. i mean have you seen them? The cause eye cancer! Anyway! Sorry B, but this time its a #Fashion Fail!
#2 Teen Queen - Miley Cyrus
Picture from CocoPerez.
Sorry Miley! I like your haircut, but not in tis style! And the dress. I mean its nice.. on someone else! For that dress you need long hair! And please: The topic was pun, i know but that is no reason to look like this!
#3 Kim Kardashian
Picture by CocoPerez.
As Joan Rivers would probaby say: UGLY, UGLY, UGLY!
And now my favorites in different topics:
Best WOW Effect:
Anne Hathaway
Photo by Coco Perez
Just 3 words. Blone. Amazing. Fierce!
WORST Golden Fail:
Katy Perry
Picture by Coco Perez.
If you google "Too much" you will see Katy in this outfit!
UNDECIDED Category.
Madonna
Photo from Madonnas Facebook page.
I mean don't get me wrong, i love the ensemble, but it looks a lil weird on her. Also its a bit too young for her, but she still is Madonna. But: FIERCE!
WORST OUTFIT THAT BITCH COULD HAVE PICKED
Anna Wintour.
Picture by CocoPerez.
Here is the prove that fashions high priestess Anna Wintour does fashion mistakes, because this dress makes her look like an idiot, an like Kim Kardashian, which she hates. Ugly! (But is still like Wintour!)
In summary i have to say that there were tons of other great and also disastrous dresses this evening, but these were the ones that really stood out. Bt truth is: Fashion needs to turn away from ratchet patterns and this ratchet shit! And: the fashion world is in need for Lady Gaga to some back. Because she is one of the few people who actually can wear crazy dresses!
I have discovered a whole great new series of videos all on the channel The Stylish. And let me tell you it is such a great channel!
And what you will be seeing is one of my favourite Drag Divas: Willam Belli. The series is called Willam's Breakdown. Its just Willam atching 4 videos from youtube and judging them. I mean that is what Drag Queens do, i mean besides the rest they do. This videos just describe themselves best. So here is Episode 1. Enjoy!!!
Yesterday
we have taken a look at the couture of Effie Trinket in the new Hunger Games:
Catching Fire Trailer. Today it is all about what we have seen so far from our
heroine: Katniss Everdeen (portrayed by gorgeous and talented Jennifer
Lawrence).
Let’s dive right in and start with the promotional poster for her
character. There we can see her standing besides the chair, which is a pretty
simple one and probably represents her heritage in district 12. The other
character have chairs matching their district as well. So Katniss here wears a
flawless white gown, which pretty much could be her wedding gown, but it is
very much like the dress Effie wears in her promotional poster. And I guess it’s
also a design from Alexander McQueen. And I pretty much adore it! Also the
applications around her shoulders are pretty fucking fantastic! They probably
represent her as a symbol for the mockingjay, which is a symbol of the story.
Anyway: Katniss also holds a white rose in her hand, and if you have read the books
closely you know that this is a sign for President Snow. He wears this rose all
the time to cover up the blood smell of his breath. This outfit for me is the
representation of what the capital wants Katniss to be: their puppet and a part
of their reign.
In the
trailer we can see Katniss walking besides Effie, and like I already mentioned she
looks stunning ... and like Ke$ha. I like
that the look is very sexy but also so dark and red. It may symbolize the
danger and struggles she will have to go through, and in general the designs
are so sharp and modern that you really get an idea of the future and the
tension in which Katniss is. (And still I am overly in love with what Effie is wearing. I mean come on! This is amazing! And she is my favourite character!!)
The dress Katniss is wearing when she and Peeta
come out of the justice building with Effie in district 11 is very tight and
modern. Also the black color shows the dull situation and the details, although
they are pretty feminine seem very militant.
Fit’s the scenery. But actually I got no idea which designer this could
be.
And finally the dress she waers giving this speech. I think it looks very office like, and for me it represents the fact that t he capitol has made Katniss part of their supression mechanism, by frocing her to do the victory tour. But the fabrique and the color are amazing!
One thing is pretty much sure for me: The one responsible for wardrobe has really outdone him or herself! Because what i have seen till now is fucking amazing!!!! Id like to meet the personand hug him or her for that amazing costumes!!
Next up on our fashion of Hunger Games Catching Fire Tour will be.... the peacekeepers and President Snow!
Hey fellas! Lately my obsession for drag and Drag Queens has risen to an extensive amount of crazyness, Each morning, when I drive to work, I listen to songs by RuPaul, Sherry Vine, Sharon Needles and Willam Belli. As if that is not enough I raise the bar by adding rapper Cazwell and the worlds, probably most famopus, transsexual: Amanda Lepore!
Okay here is the thing: If you havent heared of one of them.. go and google the shit out of their names! I mean seriously! You gotta know their work because it is drag-nificient.But here is the real story. Whe i searched the web for new music for my car I came across the following song by Sharon Needles from her album PG 13: "I wish I were Amanda Lepore".
And you have to believe me: "I wish I were Amanda Lepore" is so my new favorite song in the car! Bravo Sharon! And then I came across that Miss Lepore had recorded a solo album and of course i did what any good obsessed follower of pup-culture would do: I bought the album and it is called I... Amanda Lepore! And let me tell you: It is worth it! Here is my absoloute favourite from the album, with in addition an even more amazing video. The song is called Marilyn. You can watch the video below. I just love the way the video deals with the whole Monroe story, it is such a good installation. And Amanda just looks like Monroe. And the song really alienates the video and elseround. Love it!So go and fresh up you knowledge on Grad and Trans and listen to that music! And before you judge just read what Amanda had to go through to become who she is today!
I nearly shit bricks when the new Hunger Games trailer was released, since i was overly excited to see what touch Francis Lawrence (Director of I am Legend and Lady Gagas Bad Romance video) would bring to the franchise. And really the trailer has exceeded beyond my expextations. It is darker and more sinister, and in my opinion it befits the book better (But i already loved the first movie). But take a look foor youself and I sear you will be excited:
So let me tell yoi i was soooo excited to see Effie Trinket wear an Alexander McQueen dress in the trailer. You will find the still below. Also in her character promoposter she rocks an Alexander McQueen design. Generally i really like the designs of Sarah Burton and the house McQueen, and it really seems as if Burton just created the clother for Effie since they fit her character so well. Moreover i am soo excited for her role to take (hopefully) a bigger part since she also had a bigger one in the book. The dress she waer has these niche metal applications and they look more fierce, so we get the feeling of a tension. I am really excited, this i can tell you!
Next up is what we have seen of Katniss clothes....
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