Lana Del Rey's "Ultraviolence" - The Question of Likability

Picture used under the intent of reviewing. Picture rights
remain with owner.

Lets be frankly honest: Tropico was one pretty much awesome, 30 minute long, metaphor for America, in the form of a film / Music video with super 8 optics. You know, the classical banning from paradise and redemption story. It felt like an end to the whole Born To Die thing. A worthy, and very over the top, typical Lana Del Rey, end. And Ultraviolence, as its follow up, opening her new creative endeavor, is kind of not what could have been expected from an artist of Lana's caliber. 

Sure you will have noticed by now that this album review is not an album review per se. I have attempted quite a few times to write a review about her new album with a mixed feeling of trashing it, loving it, hating her, loving her and emulating her sadness. However I found it quite difficult to review the album song by song, as my whole expectations and feelings towards her and Ultraviolence felt more of like a need for an overall comment. 

When I had a closer look at Tropico a while ago I described her as " Hollywood back in the days, and not big blockbuster L.A." (To read the whole analysis of Tropico and why Lana Del Rey is the most American thing since Coke, click right here!) And I stick with this for sure. However I start to doubt that Lana will ver be only one thing more then old Hollywood. And as well all know old Hollywood was practically doomed from the beginning. It was fake, for apart, alcoholic, drugged up, fake and depressed. The dream factory was woven from nightmarish strings. And I fear that Miss Del Rey is just that and nothing more. Kind of like a one trick pony.

But before you turn on me lat me say that the album has no song that really is not a good song, however I feel that lana has turned darker, and yes that is hard to imagine. The songs sound more chilly, more depressed and somewhat replaceable between each other. She is not able to pick up where she left and bring her best like she did on Summertime Sadness e.g. This vibes she may be giving with this LP might be James Bond like, 70's and 60's inspired, less hip hop influenced and more Curt Cobain goes pop. However I don't see a real development there. I mean I don't expect her to go all Beyonce' or whatever on us, cause that is not her, however the development she made is, for my taste too marginal. The album bares no landmarks for me as you listen trough it and nothing sticks. Maybe this is reasoned within the topics she sings about. Cause sad to say they have not changed since Born To Die: Paradise Edition.

On the other hand it seems good to know she stays true to herself and so indie. Yet again her absolutely no desire to be a pop princess thing and her low attitude now only translates into boring and to be honest, the album sometimes seems like recorded whilst still half asleep. Not to mentioned that some tracks remind me of these songs off her that are online and officially unreleased. 

And on another note, that I don't want to tickle too much, as I am not quite informed enough o speak eloquently, Lana's romanticization of death, her obsessions with club 27 and that "I don't think Feminism is an interesting concept." line don't shed her in such a good light. Okay I get it: club 27 and death re romantic topics and they are mystery covered all over, however there is a limit of overall sadness. And that feminism line. If its true or not, I don't know. However she is pretty stupid to say so, as her whole life is feminism influenced and basically funded. As without feminism she would be nowhere where she is now. 

In closure I can say that Lana's Ultraviolence still is a beautiful listen, yet a boring one in a sense. The facet of colors is not the biggest one and the variety of lyric topics is limited. Yet the whole thing is worth listening to. It is up to the listener what to make of it, but please Lana, don't be so stupid and deny feminism its interest or even its impact. Educate yourself goddammit! 

Alison Jackson & The Public Obsession With Celebrity Status

Famed photographer Alison Jackson has a special oeuvre that distinguishes her from the myriad of other photographers out there: she gives her spectators none other then the Queen of England on the throne aka. the toilet, reading a newspaper. You think it’s a fake? No it is not…

… however the originality of this picture rather points out the originality of the idea. Not that there actually are pictures of the queen on the “throne” rerading all about the latest developments in the Middle East or gossip. Alison Jackson has specialized in creating staged pictures that would make every paparazzo’s heart bounce and gossip fanatics unconscious out of sheer happiness. She takes celebrity lookalikes and doppelgangers, dresses them, and a scene, up and then takes their picture. Kind of paparazzo, kind of not. In some way kind of artsy already.

Picture courtesy of Alison Jackson, Retrieved from: http://www.alisonjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2014-06-07-at-10.04.02.png

One could ask why this seems to be a real thing, and by real I mean a quite successful thing, but Alison Jackson provides the answer with her pictures. These photographs have an almost symbolical function as they show one thing very clear (With a little blur to give paparazzo effects.): The, in our society common, human desire to see the human, flawed, normal and vulnerable, behind the fame. What we want are not the glam shots from the magazine covers, the perfect images from their websites or the beautifully airbrushed promo pictures from an album campaign. We want nasty pictures, imperfect one and derpy ugly faces. It is our inner most desire for decay that makes us love such pictures as they rest our own desire. The desire to be unattainably perfect, poised, trim and waxed to the nines. They destroy the celebrity’s notion of perfection and give us just the material to gossip and allege. And a good rest of our vain and expensive strive for airbrushed perfection.

Jackson’s pictures give us access to parts of these celebrities, or royals, that remain untouchable for us “normal” people. These pictures represent the photographed equivalent of a celebrity’s humanity. If there is one thing we think about a gigantic piece of work, as a celebrity career, it sure is: What is all behind all of this and what effort has been put into it? And as the actual celebs would never be up for such pictures Jackson makes them up. However they do not mock or ridicule the celebrity impersonated, just give him or her more depth then their public identity has. 

I guess what I am really to transgress over here is the simple fact that these pictures show our societies obsession with owning a piece of someone, even if this piece is just a mock photo. It triggers our inner voyeur and fulfils our wish to see exhibitionism all over. Even if no one really likes to admit to that fact. Yet, I cannot say that one of my many guilty pleasures wouldn’t be gossip magazines!

Make sure to pay Alison Jacksons website a visit right here, and go see her exhibition if it hits a town near you!

"Jesus Gonna Be Here" - True Blood Season 7 - Review

Okay, give me a minute to start this review of season sevens first episode “Jesus Gonna Be Here”, because even after watching it like three times it still is kind of… well different. And I am not sure in what way different.

The episode starts off with a recap of season six and the after HBO’s logo black and whites in goes straight to Sookie in the middle of the Hep-V vamps attacking the mixer at Bellefleurs. And boy, these vampires are the shit! They hungry for blood, as they are gonna die anyway. And for real, who can blame them? They basically got screwed over by the government, so why not go savage? However Holly, Arlene and Sam’s girlfriend get kidnapped amongst others while Olivia give some hot staking action saving Jason. Yet the scene has a major bummer as True Blood makes decided to let Tara be killed in the fight for her mothers safety. What a damn bummer! Seriously? We have been waiting to see more of her. That is kind of sad to kill her off after just about 15 seconds on screen time of the season. 

Anyways, as the vampires retreat after a whistle (Why did they retreat?) everyone thinks one thing while hiding in Bellefleur’s Bar and Grill: Its all Sookies fault. She is a vampire whore who, would she have kept her legs shut, would have not caused all this. And Sookie, the fae she is, hears these thoughts. Even Alcide thinks its kinda crazy that Sookie likes vamps. All I can say to that: Ya’ll in Bon temps overreact. As if it was her fault alone! (I’m looking at you Bill, Governor Bourell, Sarah Newlin, Vampire Authority, Lillith etc.)

As the people of Bon Temps start to get home protected by their assigned Vamps, Jessica protects Andy’s remaining fae daughter Adaline from a Hep-V vamp all night long, Adaline drinks her blood and invites Jessica in. Possible friendship ahead? Yes. Meanwhile Sam is exposed as a changer to his former opponent in the mayoral election, Bill and Andy search trough an old Slaughterhouse to see if the Hep-V’s are nesting there. In a confrontation with Sam’s former opponent in the election Andy saves Bills life, however reminding him he only did so cause they need him, and he really has done unspeakable to him and his daughters. Good for you Bill, and Andy, well at least you did the right thing. Bon Temps Sheriff seems to have been elected right. 

Meanwhile Jason and Olivia check out another possible nesting place, and once again are confronted with Sam’s former opponent. Tides get wobbly, Olivia gets cocky as fuck and Jason annoyed by her taking control all the time. On the way back home they fight, and Jason finally is allowed to fuck her. And his rant was apparently all she has been waiting for. Could this be a relationship that works out for once? I mean True Blood is not famous for happily ever after! 

Lafayette is brought home by Jessica’s vampire boyfriend James, they talk, smoke and the talks get quite intellectual. You know, about war, violence, peace, pity, loss and the feeling of it. Oh, there is mourning for Tara (?). Our beloved first bitch in charge , Pam, is seen in Morocco playing Russian roulette to get info about Eric’s where about. She looks broken and her monologue reveals her emotional crisis. I mean how else would one describe sentences as “You and my god can get together and have a circle jerk in a motel. Meanwhile ill be in hell having a threeway with the devil!” Seems like the woman has lost it all, as I don’t even see perfect eyeliner. I mean she even wore flawless make up in vamp camp last season. But thank god her swearing has not run down. (Lovely, aint she?) On another note: Tara’s mom goes nuts on vamp blood given to her by Willa to heal, as she sees Tara. Poor Letti-Mae (?). Willa now protects letti-Mae and the reverend, who offers her a place to stay, as she has no one left and does not feel she is up to go back to Fangtasia. (You know, with Taras stuff there and all!) She should have on the other hand, as that is where the Hep-V’s hold their abductees and nest. By the way: they kill them by their ability to scream. (And hello: that really s scary and savagely bestial if you give it a thought!). 

The episode ends by the morning after in church where Sookie can hear everyone’s thoughts that basically say: Get out of here you whore!” She then gives a “ I love you all, even though you hate me, I love Bon Temps etc talk”. Oh, by the way, she and Alcide made up. Good for her.

All in all: the episode was what was to be expected: unexpected. It felt a little long and dragged out, just like season six first episode, with good and bad pieces. However we might not fear, at least I think so, as last season got better as well. However the major disappointment of no Eric and Tara no more lays pretty crude. But thinking about all of it: Willa is the one that totally get screwed over: She really has no one left. For next week: Lets hope True Blood comes back from the dead and not finalize jumping the shark. On a scale of one to ten, well let’s give this episode a six and a half and since its True Blood and I am an optimist, make it seven.

True To The End - True Blood Time Tomorrow!

Trubies out there unite and get you fangs on! After what seemed an eternity of wait, tomorrow it finally is time to sit in front of your TV or Laptop and crave for blood, sex, lust and Bill saying "Soooookie"! Come on season seven let's get sucking!

And yes, its totally normal that we all might be wondering about three things: (1) Where the heck is Eric, (2) will Violet ever let Jason hit it and (3) what will we see Pam wearing? (Okay, maybe number two and three just happen to have me asking.) However, as a show the size and magnitude of True Blood we may very well expect the thing to go out with a bang, and no this was not a reference to the countless sex scenes. (However, according to Sam McNeil there will not be a shortage of male or female nudity in this season!)  And Certainly there will be drama between Sookie and Eric and Bill and Alcide, who, lets be hones, hopefully will have more lines then "I'm the pack master!". 

Well lets all just hope that the season con jour up a worthy end to our Bon Temps favorites. Cause otherwise fans will go nuts on twitter, and hunt I gotta keep my timeline clean!

Fierce Dark Eyes - Transformations - 2nd Cycle

Hey there again! This February Icon Art Marilyn ran the "Transfromations" project to celebrate its one year anniversary, and after a bit of a hiatus the project is back on its second cycle. Once more in combination with Dita Whip! 

This time the look we were going for was a dark eye, gorgeous red lips and a very light, white skin to counter the dark eye. The look started off with a light foundation and lots of highlighting. Afterwards contouring was added before the powder. For the eyes I uses Berry M's black glitter eyeshadow and some simple clown white blended in together. To finish the eyes of white was added to the water line and a visible black lower eyeliner. To finish off the look the lips were covered with dark red lipstick and a bit of glitter. Then Nena, my lovely volunteer, had fun with the pictures. And she is a stunning beauty rocking different wigs as well as my top hat with the signature "D". Give her some applause!

These two pictures give you a dark side as well as a golden twenties take on big hair with some ombre in it. Besides the dark energy the fist picture has its is very interesting how the shadow plays along. Same goes with the second picture. Both my favorites.

Trailer for True Blood Season 7 - #WaitingSucks

It is though that the last season of True Blood, season seven, will grace our screens this year, more specifically starting June 22nd. And with one sad eye and with smiling one I am looking foreword to this, hopefully bombastic, end of such a great series.

As HBO has released the first trailer for the season they gave audiences a little taste of what is to come, and it seems that it will pick up right where it has left off with Radioactive. televised insanity. And that is  what I expected. With the on rampage, Hep-V infected, vampires go mad at the town meeting at Merlotte's, or should I rather say Bellefleur's, this season supposedly starts with a big fight. the trailer shows us all sorts of vamps showing fangs, moving fast and attacking hardcore style. 

The general storyline seems to be that the Hep-V vamps are out for any human alive to drink. And it does not seem that the Bon Temps forks have any intention of taking it, and fighting back. No, apparently they leave and blame Sookie for what happened. Did Pam prove right about Sookie and her precious fairy vagina?  And after all, will we see Bill and her reunite, or will she stay with Alcide, who hopefully gets more lines then "I am the pack master!" tho season. Or will, please let it be like that, she reunite with yummy Eric Northman. What about Pam and Tara, and how about Olivia and Jason? Even more pressuring: Which one of our characters will die? (Please make it Bill!) And even more important: Will the series close all its questions or will it yet be another insufficient ending like so many other series had?

Besides all that the trailer sees a Tara with her mom, Jessica swearing to protect Andy's remaining fairy daughter and there appears to be no sight of Eric. And that definitely raises the expectations as no one wants their favorite sexy vamp to have taken his last bite.

In conclusion we might be very much looking forward to this, however, I hope that the series keeps in  touch with the ideas it has touched upon the first seasons. May the gender bending and LGBT allegories continue. And may the series please continue to show that vampires are more hum alike then they want to think and vice versa for humans. Lets all take a deep bite and enjoy! taste you later Truebies!

I'm back!

Welcome, Bienvenue, Bonjour, and Willkommen to Cabaret!.... back to Icon  Art Marilyn. 

I haven't been updating the blog for a while now as I fought some things called assignments and a dissertation to finish my BA degree. And as I have succeeded in this quest a couple of days ago, I figured it was about time to revive this project. So in the next couple of days there will be some new articles for you to enjoy, including a review of a little thing called "The Bangerz Tour" (Which I attended in Manchester), a review of the new Robyn music (Gosh, I love me some Robyn!) and eventually some bits and pieces of fiction aka. creative writing. So for now I will grab my cup of coffee, sit my sweet little ass down and get back to writing. Besides that I have an enormous amour of pop culture to catch up with. However, I'm still not keeping up with the Kardashians!

For today I may leave it with this, however, there is a chance I might have something for you later! So get into it!