Posted December 4, 2009 at 1:00am
Posted December 3, 2009 at 10:32pm
France, 1393. Charles VI was king, Isabeau of Bavaria his consort. Charles ordered a wedding ball at court for one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting. The king had just experienced his first of many psychotic episodes (he was plagued with mental illness his whole life), and his doctors recommended courtly amusements to improve his condition. Because it was the lady’s third marriage, custom dictated that there be a charivari, or a mock serenade with noisy instruments, and sometimes with costumes. A courtier suggested that the king and five friends dress up as ‘savages’ for a little healthy fun. The six men came to the party in head-to-toe costumes of linen, flax and feathers, held together with a sort of resin (the same flammable semi-liquid used during medieval warfare, poured from fortified walls onto invading soldiers to scald them). No one knew who they were, but the king had supposedly ordered that torches be kept away from their obviously flammable outfits. Five of the men were chained together, the king the only independent one. You see where this is going. The party was in full swing, the ‘savages’ dancing and chatting with the other guests — though still concealing their identities — when the king’s brother, the duc d’Orléans, showed up after an evening at a tavern. Curious to learn who the costumed men were, he shone his torch on them, but got too close, and the costumes quickly caught flame. (There is also some speculation that it was an assassination attempt — definitely a compelling conspiracy theory, what with an insane king during an era of political tumult) Luckily, the king had been standing with his young aunt, the 14-year-old duchesse de Berry, who quickly suffocated his flames with her dress, saving his life (visible in Images 1 and 3). The others were not so lucky. Though one managed to unchain himself and jump into a bucket of water to save himself (visible in all images), the others all died of their injuries in the next few days. (via Dance of the Burning Men: A Medieval Costume Tragedy Retrospect | Apartment Therapy New York
)
Posted December 3, 2009 at 2:12pm
FREE MONEY ALERT
One of the grant proposals was approved! Now I, along with my very qualified collaborator Shannon, get to take on this very exciting project!
Here is the project for those interested:
womanHOOD
As a reaction to archetypes in cultural fairytales and a discourse in the gender politics of the uniform, this project will engage the imagery of Little Red Riding Hood to create an open edition of garments. By using the Red Riding Hood as a battleground for restoring the power of femininity to women, and the garment as a public space, this piece functions as both wearable art and social research. The garments will be sent out to a broad range of female artists, writers, musicians, cyclists, community leaders, and activists both nationally and internationally as a form of collaboration. The recipients will be encouraged to modify, personalize, and alter their garment in any way they see fit. The participants are then asked to send the garment back, or are allowed to keep the garment in exchange for a self-portrait wearing their piece. This act of making a wearable and customizable garment acts as a form of collaboration and dialogue about perspectives on the mythos of the Red Riding Hood.
Rebecca Henderson, Sculpture + Extended Media (major) and Painting and Printmaking (minor)
Shannon Le Corre, Women’s Studies
Award: $1,100
Faculty Mentor: Kristin Caskey, Fashion Design & Merchandising
(via )
SEAN PAUL. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
Here is my attempted translation of the chorus
I don’t really care what people say I don’t really watch wa dem wha dooouh Still I gotta stick to my girls like glue, and I’m a nubbly numba two All I know is timisa gettin jahh Need alotta cheese up in my ass Ah da datta det to run my bet run dat beyahhhhh
Posted December 2, 2009 at 10:44pm
Posted December 2, 2009 at 10:13pm
(via )
(via )
Posted December 2, 2009 at 9:00pm
ITS FIVE TWENTY AM I AM SO FUCKING TIRED
Posted December 2, 2009 at 5:21am
