Call on me?

Recently, with the media telling me I am either a fat slob or an obsessive fitness freak to the point of an eating disorder. I decided I, probably falling in the middle, had better pick a team. I weighed up my options and picked B, the fitness freak. Well, perhaps freak is a tad extreme. This resulted in me going to step aerobics twice a week at my local lesuire centre.

It struck me last night, as I stood lunging and watching the collection of other exasperated women, all stood in front of a huge mirror- what I can only assume to be some sort of sick joke. The symmetry however, was inspiring. Not wanting to be the only odd bobbing head was even motivational. I am not suprised this inspired the idelogical images of exersise featured in such videos as Eric Prydz 'Call on me'.

This however, was not my reality. I had been duped by the media. Sold the advertisers ideal. Something as a designer . I should be more aware of.

The Princess Bride

The 1987 Princess Bride directed by Ron Reiner, staring Cady Elwes, Mandy Patinkin and Chirs Sarandon is truly a feel good film. The plot is simple and deliberately clique. It begins with a Grandfather reading to his grandson, the book…’The Princess Bride’. A tale of love and adventure where our damsel in distress, Buttercup is kidnapped and forced to marry the villain Prince Humperdink. There is only one hope for out Buttercup. Westley, her childhood love, who Buttercup assumes dead, captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts.

A twist comes however a predictable one, when Westley returns under the guise of the Dread Pirate Roberts. As Westley begins his quest to save his one true love he meets a brilliant swords man and a giant. These characters we could not be without in any fairytale. As presumed these foes become companions and the trio form a firm friendship.

Clearly not a modern film, the special effects are poor, quick sand and fire breathing rats being my particular favourite. However I feel this adds to its charm, a film where the effects are secondary to the witty writing and loveable characters. The Princess Bride is clique to the point of satire and evokes a sense of humour while still giving the fuzzy feeling that every fairy tale should. This extends so far as the protagonists riding away, yes, into the sunset on white horses. The characters are humorous and developed well, with added catch phrases “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

You must watch this watch this film with a pinch of salt, expect the standard fairy tale scenarios and, of course a happy ending. But this is the beauty of the film, it would be wonderful if life was actually like this, and with so many harsh gritty films out there now, intended to shock and appal. It is truly a pleasure to relax into this happy world, though watch for the deeper levels of humour. "He's not completley dead, only mostly dead. And we can save someone who is only mostly dead".

Throx!

Three of the same socks, one packet. You have to loose to two to have an odd one…Genius. For someone who often wears odd socks this seems like an excellent idea. And if you are the type of secretly rebellious person who likes to wear odd socks to feel a personal victory over the conventions of society. Well there’s an option for you too… but two packs and match the odd ones…you win again. And the marketing is brilliant…
3 socks for when you lose one
3 socks for the price of two
3 socks last longer than two
This is brilliant, so logical…how can you argue?

Obama...a joke?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/05/obama-as-joker-poster

Posters of Obama with the jokers face (form Batman), in particular Heath Ledgers latest creepiest version have recently been plastered around Los Angeles and other parts of America. Using street art as their medium the widely unknown ‘artists’ have chosen to attack Barrack Obama. This is a wise use of the medium and directly conflicts with the street art by Shepard Fairey which was widely popular during Obama’s election campaign. This, no matter what the agenda of the people who created this, is a striking image. This is because of the juxtaposing images places directly on top of each other. Firstly Obama, whose images, mainly due to his election campaign represent something strong, powerful, reliable and safe. Secondly, the joker’s face, associated with menace, chaos and fear. By superimposing one on top of another we are asked to question each image, for what we really know of it, in this case Obama. Though this image does not seem strong enough to combat the iconic status that Fairey’s image has propelled Obama to, and the general public of America still on the whole idolise their new president.

The guardian, accuses this image of being racist, minstrel like, though in reverse. And though I can see the connection in the visual styles I feel this is more of a political attack, through a cleverly used medium, though perhaps with a rather crude image.

The Suits

Very recently I have become a member of the working world (I’m currently on a months work placement). On the way to work I have noticed that I have become one of the faceless masses, driving or walking to work. Shirts and ties and smartness, everybody avoiding eye contact, seemingly robotic. This, I admit intimidated me greatly for a couple of days, all these suits, people who must be powerful and important and far more knowledgeable than me. Though this changed on my third day as I gradually noticed the more endearing and human qualities of ‘the suits’, firstly, they all carry a packed lunch. Whether in bags or briefcases or in a plastic bag which barley hides the distinctive shape of a Tupperware box (these people are my favourite,) they openly show what the rest of us are hiding. That we made our lunches, and that we planned our day around the food we shall eat, sometimes we get excited. Sometimes if it’s Friday, we will bring a treat. The basic human need for food reminded me of the human in all the suits, maybe I do not have the knowledge yet, or perhaps never will. But the slim sign that everyone takes in their Tupperware, their banana and a sandwich, whatever. It gives me hope.

Pepsi RAW

Pepsi has recently launched the latest of its products Pepsi RAW. Named so as Pepsi claims it to be “natural born cola”, a concept which is alien to me as I can’t wrap my head around cola being natural, is the whole point of it not to be artificial, to be sweet, to be fizzy and to be fun. Not to be natural, water is natural, water is boring. Pepsi is neither natural nor boring. Though a “sparkling cola drink with natural plane extracts” edges towards a more mature market, a business man at his desk, not the usual teen playing football. Pepsi is perhaps venturing into this market with the RAW range being its first new product in 10 years. The advertising is certainly aimed at a more mature audience with distinct sexual undertones, a obvious link to the ‘raw’ and ‘natural’ key themes of the product.

The packaging harks back to a simpler time for cola, a sleek glass bottle, a simple logo. It is classic and elegant; the six packs come in almost brown paper. I really like this packaging, it is touchable it is wholesome, I wanted to buy it. Even though, dare I say it, my preference for Coca Cola.

Do you believe in unicorns?

An article in the Guardian recently caught my imagination, though it was about Britain’s first atheist camp, the religious or non religious nature did not concern me. I was far more interested in how children were encouraged to think about the possibilities of the world. They were asked to prove that a unicorn didn’t exist, though given the conditions that you couldn’t see hear touch or smell these creatures and that they don’t leave any trace behind them… Not surprisingly no one has managed to disprove the existence of these mythical creatures.

Some people argue that the “meaning” behind unicorns which were woven into 15th Century tapestries has been lost. But I say does that matter? The eternal reinvention by imagination means that unicorns could be one of a million things, but this is surely the excitement. Some people like to live in the present, in the realms of what they can see and touch.

“Is it not enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom?” – The God Delusion

Interestingly enough another atheist source, but I say no, its not enough. Every body can see the garden, many can appreciate how beautiful it is but few can believe that there are fairies at the bottom. This imagination is what makes the world exciting, it what makes us strive to prove that unicorns exist. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/28/atheist-camp-quest