Had the honor and the pleasure of contributing to this panel that took place today in Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Was fabulous
Also it's a good excuse to feature this video here (again)
Showing posts with label text. Show all posts
Showing posts with label text. Show all posts
LA LUPE
Here are two amazing TV performances by Cuban pop singer La Lupe. I don't know what she's saying but I'm sure her hand gestures are making atoms shake in a very unusual way. Sontag mentions her in a random list of "items which are part of the canon of Camp", featured in her wonderful 1964 classic, Notes on Camp.
Does Israel still need democracy? (this one is serious)
What's happening in Israel these days is starting to look like a really bad sci-fi-tragi-not-so-comic-more-like-horror movie. An extremely right wing nationalistic government is constantly passing new laws, aimed at restricting the supreme court, the free press and human rights organizations and hurt the status of non-jewish minority groups.
Professor Zeev Sternhell published this text in Haaretz daily newspaper, it is highly recommend if anyone is interested: Does Israel still need democracy? - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
Here are some random quotes from it:
Haaretz has also put up a special section covering these disturbing political moves under the title Black flag over Israel's Democracy, please check it out. I'm also talking to some activist friends trying to figure out what's the proper web action to be carried out.
And to conclude in a comic note, here's a PSA produced by the ministry of "Aliya" (the special term that designates much wanted and very much campaigned jewish immigration to Israel), starring my close friend, the beautiful Naama Schendar (she got a lot of money for it, that helped her continue her amazing project, a theater group with jewish and arab kids in Akko, so there is some justice there), aimed at convincing Israelis who live abroad and their families that they must come back ASAP.
The guy in the ad fails to understand his girlfriend's grief in Israel's memorial day, as instead of having sex with him (and here lies another, more hidden level of the racism in this video: the "gois" are all sex maniacs who want to violate our precious, luscious, innocent girls) she's shedding a tear in front of the computer.
The text that the responsible-but-yet-warm fatherly voice at the end says is "They will always remain Israelis. Their partners won't always understand what it means. Help them to come back home". Seriously, he says that.
I repeat, this is not a parody.
Professor Zeev Sternhell published this text in Haaretz daily newspaper, it is highly recommend if anyone is interested: Does Israel still need democracy? - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
Here are some random quotes from it:
The individual has ceased to be at the core of Israel’s democracy, with the right-wing majority aggressively pursuing legislation that turns the country’s non-Jews into second-class citizens. Anyone who allows this to happen will be complicit in the country’s fate.
Making non-Jews into second-class citizens is the objective aspired to by the right-wing majority in Israel. Acting on behalf of this movement are the ministers of justice and foreign affairs, who have the backing of the entire parliamentary elite of the right, except for the Speaker of the Knesset, Reuven Rivlin. Even when the activity is conducted within the framework of the law, it is stridently opposed to the foundations and spirit of democracy, and to the intellectual values of liberalism.
[...] the core of democracy’s existence is the assurance of human rights and individual freedoms. Majority rule is the means to that end, not a goal in itself. Majority rule came into the world as an alternative to rule of the individual or of the few, in order to prevent arbitrariness and to guarantee equality for all. Therefore, majority rule is limited by the purpose for which it was created: Rule of the majority loses its legitimacy the moment it harms human rights and denies universal norms of equality. Through majority rule, democracy can also terminate itself.
[...] the state is not conceived as a device to ensure the well-being of all its citizens, but as a framework that facilitates the enforcement of supremacy of the Jews over those who are not Jews. One should not misunderstand the intentions of the right. The seriousness of the current antidemocratic legislation derives from the fact that it is anchored in an inclusive outlook, that it serves a clear objective, and is nothing but the first stage in the major war to change the character of the state and society in Israel.
At this point, it seems proper that Israelis take stock of their situation. What would we say if the legislation now making its way through the Knesset were to be passed in one of the European countries? What would we be saying if documents were publicized there − akin to the statements and rulings of Israeli rabbis − demanding that apartments not be rented to non-Christians, or forbidding girls from dating non-Christians, even though the reference is to other citizens of that country? Without a doubt, a loud outcry would arise here: The monster is again raising its head. So it would be worthwhile to consider the fact that the monster is already walking, head held high, through the hallways of the Knesset, and proudly displaying its accomplishments.
Haaretz has also put up a special section covering these disturbing political moves under the title Black flag over Israel's Democracy, please check it out. I'm also talking to some activist friends trying to figure out what's the proper web action to be carried out.
And to conclude in a comic note, here's a PSA produced by the ministry of "Aliya" (the special term that designates much wanted and very much campaigned jewish immigration to Israel), starring my close friend, the beautiful Naama Schendar (she got a lot of money for it, that helped her continue her amazing project, a theater group with jewish and arab kids in Akko, so there is some justice there), aimed at convincing Israelis who live abroad and their families that they must come back ASAP.
The guy in the ad fails to understand his girlfriend's grief in Israel's memorial day, as instead of having sex with him (and here lies another, more hidden level of the racism in this video: the "gois" are all sex maniacs who want to violate our precious, luscious, innocent girls) she's shedding a tear in front of the computer.
The text that the responsible-but-yet-warm fatherly voice at the end says is "They will always remain Israelis. Their partners won't always understand what it means. Help them to come back home". Seriously, he says that.
I repeat, this is not a parody.
I would try it
This Is from the PETA blog, three years ago (Subi just showed it to me today, what can I do).
PETA Launches Victimless Nuggets | PETA.org
PETA Launches Victimless Nuggets | PETA.org
Haraway's Manifestos
I'm working on this beautiful text now by Donna Haraway called "the Companion Species Manifesto". Haraway, who in the 80's wrote the groundbreaking "Cyborg Manifesto", became at the turn of the millennium more and more interested in animals, and especially dogs. At some point she writes: "I tell stories about stories, all the way down. Woof."
Lunapark Berlin @ Spreepark
So many people are asking me how's it going with work and what it is exactly that I'm doing here these days. I will try to answer.
The main thing that Showcase is working on at the moment is the construction of a 6-8 meter high man that will be build gradually during three days by themselves and volunteers and then burned down on the end of the third day.
As part of this internship here, the HAU curator Stefanie Wenner introduced me to the Showcase guys and they suggested I go to one of the guided tours given in the place (it's the only way to legally get in there now) and see if I have any ideas to do something there. Below are some of the pix I took on that tour. So we went there - I'm not switching to the royal plural, nor I'm referring to the voices in my head, it's the good old annoying couple talk again - and came up with many ideas, most of which were of course way too expensive or dangerous; for example, to create a bumping cars ride with electric wheel chairs - this has to happen at some point!
So what we're left with are three main things, that we are now working on trying to see what it takes to get them to happen properly:
the Catastrophe Clock
The Catastrophe Clock is a sound installation Maya and me made, which was first presented at an outdoor exhibition in Holon's Center for Digital Art in 2007. It's actually very simple: once an hour, exactly on the hour, a soundsystem plays a recording of screaming people, when the number of the screams heard tells the time: at one o'clock one scream, at two two screams etc. When we did it it was quite cool because it gives a very basic service to the people around and at the same time disturbs them in a funny way. In the context of the luna park it can be even more relevant, as this is actually something that happens quite often when you attend an operating Luna park; these screams that appear every now and then from a scary attraction somewhere, so it can not only tell the time but also function as a little "ghosty" action, maybe reminding the audience how this place sounded like. The speakers will be located on one of the beautiful dis-functioning roller coasters (see pix below). That is, if the budget and limited technical options will allow us to do it...
a Silent Disco Party
The guys from showcase want to have a "silent disco", a party where people dance with personal headphones. It's gonna happen inside a tunnel in one of the old rides, but unlike the classic version of this event, the music will be Schubi and me DJing. Each person at audience will be able to switch between our two channels: heavy beats, hip hop classics and filthy pop (moi), or white trash, 80's rock, disco and filthy pop (the Schub). This wasn't our idea but a task we got from them and accepted happily. If everything will happen according to plan and Maya will make it here for the Lunapark, we'll also get a third channel for her, which for sure will be great.
Telekinesis courses
Those who know me well knows I'm very interested in supernatural shit like seances, Parapshychology, and other phenomena of similar problematic nature. When I was in the tour in the Spreepark I remembered a work by my friend and great artist Sofia Hulten, which made couple of videos where she's trying to move objects using Telekinesis techniques she learned from a tutorial book. Here you can see a still from one of these videos. Developing the idea further, Schubi and me decided to do Telekienises courses to the public at the Lunapark. We will explain Telekinesis, it's history and techniques, and then with the people we will form a "concentration camp" - a place in the park where people assemble to concentrate together - and try to make the big ferris wheel move using nothing but our minds. Considering the fact that the wheel tends to move when it's windy, I think this activity will be super nice.
the 1st Berlin Mud-Wrestling Championship
Last but not least, and continuing the line of creating opportunities for people to use the place and enjoy it, we are going to announce at the last day of the Lunapark happening the first Berlin Mud Wrestling championship, where friends, family, lovers or just strangers can get in the arena and feed each other mud! Here are some wonderful examples:
And here are some pix I took in the tour:
So what we're left with are three main things, that we are now working on trying to see what it takes to get them to happen properly:
the Catastrophe Clock
The Catastrophe Clock is a sound installation Maya and me made, which was first presented at an outdoor exhibition in Holon's Center for Digital Art in 2007. It's actually very simple: once an hour, exactly on the hour, a soundsystem plays a recording of screaming people, when the number of the screams heard tells the time: at one o'clock one scream, at two two screams etc. When we did it it was quite cool because it gives a very basic service to the people around and at the same time disturbs them in a funny way. In the context of the luna park it can be even more relevant, as this is actually something that happens quite often when you attend an operating Luna park; these screams that appear every now and then from a scary attraction somewhere, so it can not only tell the time but also function as a little "ghosty" action, maybe reminding the audience how this place sounded like. The speakers will be located on one of the beautiful dis-functioning roller coasters (see pix below). That is, if the budget and limited technical options will allow us to do it...
a Silent Disco Party
The guys from showcase want to have a "silent disco", a party where people dance with personal headphones. It's gonna happen inside a tunnel in one of the old rides, but unlike the classic version of this event, the music will be Schubi and me DJing. Each person at audience will be able to switch between our two channels: heavy beats, hip hop classics and filthy pop (moi), or white trash, 80's rock, disco and filthy pop (the Schub). This wasn't our idea but a task we got from them and accepted happily. If everything will happen according to plan and Maya will make it here for the Lunapark, we'll also get a third channel for her, which for sure will be great.
Telekinesis courses
Those who know me well knows I'm very interested in supernatural shit like seances, Parapshychology, and other phenomena of similar problematic nature. When I was in the tour in the Spreepark I remembered a work by my friend and great artist Sofia Hulten, which made couple of videos where she's trying to move objects using Telekinesis techniques she learned from a tutorial book. Here you can see a still from one of these videos. Developing the idea further, Schubi and me decided to do Telekienises courses to the public at the Lunapark. We will explain Telekinesis, it's history and techniques, and then with the people we will form a "concentration camp" - a place in the park where people assemble to concentrate together - and try to make the big ferris wheel move using nothing but our minds. Considering the fact that the wheel tends to move when it's windy, I think this activity will be super nice.
the 1st Berlin Mud-Wrestling Championship
Last but not least, and continuing the line of creating opportunities for people to use the place and enjoy it, we are going to announce at the last day of the Lunapark happening the first Berlin Mud Wrestling championship, where friends, family, lovers or just strangers can get in the arena and feed each other mud! Here are some wonderful examples:
And here are some pix I took in the tour:
 |
| the fabulous ferris wheel |
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| a lost dinosaur, there's quite a few of them wondering around the park |
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| rusty cart in one of the dried water rides |
 | |
|
 |
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| the elephant is drowning and the swans do nothing to help |
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| the Schub (right, big head in fur hat) looking at the wheel |
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| kitsch, but the wheel is so photogenic! |
Impressions from a movement (and a movie) in the making
The plot against art, pt. 1
An amazing article I found in the incredible Occidental Observer (dedicated to "white identity, interest and culture"). The mysterious Dr. Lasha Darkmoon discusses the ways in which organized Jewry destroyed art. Magnificent.
First time
I wonder if every day there's some first time happening.
Today was the first time I experienced gay-related discrimination. Schubi and I went hand-in-hand in one of the crappy cheap doner/pizza places in our street to get some fast pizza and remarkably enough the guy there was out of spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese. Kinda funny but also not cool.
Today was the first time I experienced gay-related discrimination. Schubi and I went hand-in-hand in one of the crappy cheap doner/pizza places in our street to get some fast pizza and remarkably enough the guy there was out of spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese. Kinda funny but also not cool.
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