I've been gushing (fner) over the Brooklyn Bridge Waterfalls ever since they were announced, and now that the installation is complete they're even cooler than I'd imagined! This video does a nice job of capturing their dreamy matter-of-factness, as if they utterly belong in that landscape.
The New York City Waterfalls
Olafur Eliasson
New York, NY 2008
1:21
Here's an amusing article from the New York Times about New York City's other waterfalls, including the "explicit" cascade at Trump Tower and a brief shower from a high-powered facade washer in the Bronx. My second favorite waterfall in Manhattan was similarly ephemeral: while wading through Union Square Station one summer during a thunderstorm, I had to leap over a torrent of water flowing from beneath a locked maintenance door. The Brooklyn Bridge installation captures something of that incongruous NYC magic.
Other of his pieces are similarly impressive. Here we visit the Tate Modern during his "Weather Project" installation, a Ballardish (Ballardian?) nightmare of heat and light.
The Weather Project
Olafur Eliasson
Tate Modern, London, 2006
:45
And this elegant, astronomy-flavored light sculpture reminds me a bit of the Roden Crater.
Round Rainbow
Olafur Eliasson
Hirschorn Museum, Washington DC, 2007
1:08
If other artists would start plagiarizing this sort of simple, resonant installation, instead of trying to be John Curren or Elizabeth Peyton, the art world would be a much more interesting place. In that spirit, enjoy a slide show of land art grandaddy Robert Smithson's Hobbit-sized, waterborne Central Park being tugged around the island of Manhattan. Perhaps inevitably, it's pursued by a tiny rendition of Christo's Gates.
Floating Island
Robert Smithson
2006
[chased by] Gates
The Bruce High Quality Foundation
2006
2:01
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Beetles
If you tire of Muppets, you tire of life. The Beatles, on the other hand, can become very tedious, particularly once you've dated a John Lennon impersonator. How delightful, then, to find these overly familiar songs lightened by the Henson touch.
Here, the most dire song on Sgt. Pepper is turned into a bizarre Temple of Doomish scenario featuring Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. The design is a faint foreshadowing of 1982's Dark Crystal.
With a Little Help From My Friends
Muppet Show episode 419
1980
2:58
Floyd performs a short but surprisingly faithful version of the melancholy George Harrison single.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Muppet Show episode 419
1980
1:23
In this clip from Vincent Price's episode, two spirits serenade an elusive lady ghost in a brusque British timbre that so works.
I'm Looking Through You
Muppet Show episode 119
1976
2:23
The lyrics don't leave much room for surprises, so it's the little things that make this video worthwhile: Kermit's bathing cap is fetching, the flatfish chasing Animal is wonderfully designed, and Robin the Frog's voice should instantly render you 8 years old again.
Octopus's Garden
Muppet Show episode 313
1978
2:43
I don't think this song has a lot of fans, but it's vastly improved by Gonzo's treatment, and the mirror gag is done with great panache.
Act Naturally
Muppet Show episode 405 (UK version)
1979
2:00
Here, the most dire song on Sgt. Pepper is turned into a bizarre Temple of Doomish scenario featuring Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. The design is a faint foreshadowing of 1982's Dark Crystal.
With a Little Help From My Friends
Muppet Show episode 419
1980
2:58
Floyd performs a short but surprisingly faithful version of the melancholy George Harrison single.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Muppet Show episode 419
1980
1:23
In this clip from Vincent Price's episode, two spirits serenade an elusive lady ghost in a brusque British timbre that so works.
I'm Looking Through You
Muppet Show episode 119
1976
2:23
The lyrics don't leave much room for surprises, so it's the little things that make this video worthwhile: Kermit's bathing cap is fetching, the flatfish chasing Animal is wonderfully designed, and Robin the Frog's voice should instantly render you 8 years old again.
Octopus's Garden
Muppet Show episode 313
1978
2:43
I don't think this song has a lot of fans, but it's vastly improved by Gonzo's treatment, and the mirror gag is done with great panache.
Act Naturally
Muppet Show episode 405 (UK version)
1979
2:00
hello from far away
This one goes out to my boy back home, who I'm missing enormously today.
Let's Get Together (In Our Minds)
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
3:20
Let's Get Together (In Our Minds)
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
3:20
John Carradine sings! Bluebeard slays! Lush ages poorly!
Before he was eclipsed by his kungfuing spawn, John Carradine was a triple threat: acting, singing, and looking craggy. His career encompassed enviable highs (the Oscar-winning Grapes of Wrath) and risible lows. Naturally, it's the latter that interest us here. Arguably the worst movie ever done by MST3K, Night Train to Mundo Fine, aka Red Zone Cuba, lurches around for 89 agonizing, incomprehensible, Cherokee Jack-filled minutes before wandering off into oblivion. John Carradine, older than dirt, offers a prologue to the movie and belts out the memorable theme song (the fun starts at 6:50):
watch this clip on YouTube
Red Zone Cuba, MST3K episode 619 (part 2/9)
1966/1994
10:05
Carradine also plays the tormented, almost sorta sexy protagonist of Bluebeard. In a well-nigh Shakespearean embed, we are treated early in the film to a marionette version of the opera Faust, in which he sings the part of Mephisto. This film also has the distinction of featuring the least-French French characters I've ever seen. (The puppeteering is about 5 minutes in, but it's well worth a full screening.)
Bluebeard
1944
70 mins
Speaking of Bluebeard, here's a frothy silent version from the ever-delightful Melies studio.
Le Barbe-Bleu (Bluebeard)
Georges Melies
1901
9:08
In a slightly more modern take on the Bluebeard legend, Charlie Chaplin played the titular Monsieur Verdoux, in the role that contributed to his ostracism in the US. Based on an idea from (ie scrawled on a bar napkin by) Orson Welles, its thesis is that the cruelty of capitalism both leads to and absolves murder. It's not hard to understand why American audiences didn't take a shine to this effete, self-righteous lady killer, but it's a fascinating film. Also, after "Bluebeard," this film has the second-least-French French characters ever.
Monsieur Verdoux
Charlie Chaplin
1947
123 mins
and to complete the theme, here's Lush's best single, "Ladykillers," and its alarmingly dated video:
Ladykillers
Lush
1996
3:20
watch this clip on YouTube
Red Zone Cuba, MST3K episode 619 (part 2/9)
1966/1994
10:05
Carradine also plays the tormented, almost sorta sexy protagonist of Bluebeard. In a well-nigh Shakespearean embed, we are treated early in the film to a marionette version of the opera Faust, in which he sings the part of Mephisto. This film also has the distinction of featuring the least-French French characters I've ever seen. (The puppeteering is about 5 minutes in, but it's well worth a full screening.)
Bluebeard
1944
70 mins
Speaking of Bluebeard, here's a frothy silent version from the ever-delightful Melies studio.
Le Barbe-Bleu (Bluebeard)
Georges Melies
1901
9:08
In a slightly more modern take on the Bluebeard legend, Charlie Chaplin played the titular Monsieur Verdoux, in the role that contributed to his ostracism in the US. Based on an idea from (ie scrawled on a bar napkin by) Orson Welles, its thesis is that the cruelty of capitalism both leads to and absolves murder. It's not hard to understand why American audiences didn't take a shine to this effete, self-righteous lady killer, but it's a fascinating film. Also, after "Bluebeard," this film has the second-least-French French characters ever.
Monsieur Verdoux
Charlie Chaplin
1947
123 mins
and to complete the theme, here's Lush's best single, "Ladykillers," and its alarmingly dated video:
Ladykillers
Lush
1996
3:20
Atari Commercials
Youtube features not only run-throughs of classic Atari games but also the commercials that shilled them. It's hard to know, 30 years on, just how effective these ads were - they just don't seem that persuasive. The ad makers struggle to define the appeal of video games and their niche in the world: are they for children or families? Should they alienate or connect? Do they simulate the experience of playing tennis or driving a car, or do they represent a past-time independent of external referents?
Many of the ads stress the companionship of playing a video game with someone else, as if it's merely a different kind of board game. This sickeningly family-friendly ad featuring Mr. Hooper of Sesame Street fame is indicative of that strain:
Atari 2600 Commercial
n.d.
:33
but a few, like this Quik crossover, hint at our otaku future.
Nestle Quik/Atari cross-promotion
1983
:32
This endearingly shouty spot featuring Phil Hartman contrasts strikingly with the flattening of affect we usually associate with playing video games:
Activision Ice Hockey promo featuring Phil Hartman
1980
:30
And a few are absolutely manic, like this assaultive Pole Position spot:
Pole Position Commercial
n.d.
1:31
The first video raises another issue: the graphics. The little boy patiently explains to his Pacman noob grandpa, "those are supposed to be the ghosts!" I would have expected the ads to downplay the games themselves - because, well, look at them - but all of the spots I watched prominently featured the actual game play, which leads me to believe that the graphics were enough of an advance to genuinely impress. This Laserblast promo amusingly asserts the superiority of its gameplay to another, seemingly indistinguishable, title.
Laserblast commercial
n.d.
:30
Although the ads aren't above a little jiggery pokery to make the games look more exciting, as in this actually pretty neat Tunnel Runner ad.
Tunnel Runner TV Spot
n.d.
:30
But the majority of them, apart from looking obviously dated, mostly seem uncool. They feature incongruously old characters, have problems with tone and message, and seem to lash around for an effective strategy, emphasizing just how new this whole video game thing was. If there's anyone who was in their target audience reading this, I'd love to hear just how the ads affected you. Here is the most hilariously awkward ad of all, not for Atari but for their blood rivals Intellivision, who engineered quite a coup by securing Henry Thomas and...George Plimpton??
Intellivision Commercial featuring Night Stalker and Lock N Chase
1982
:33
PS. Here are my favorite Atari legends:
1. There are thousands of cartridges of the Atari ET game buried in a pit in the California desert, like victims of a mafia hit. Having "played" the game, I entirely believe it. "Hm, so I'm wandering around in a circle. Wandering around in a circle. Game over?? Take this one out back and shoot it."
2. There was a game called "Polybius" which was test-marketed in the Portland OR area, which was actually a CIA experiment in amnesia and hypnosis. Those who played it still wake up screaming, and have difficulty doing much besides get stoned.
Sounds like every resident of Portland Oregon was privy to this game.
Many of the ads stress the companionship of playing a video game with someone else, as if it's merely a different kind of board game. This sickeningly family-friendly ad featuring Mr. Hooper of Sesame Street fame is indicative of that strain:
Atari 2600 Commercial
n.d.
:33
but a few, like this Quik crossover, hint at our otaku future.
Nestle Quik/Atari cross-promotion
1983
:32
This endearingly shouty spot featuring Phil Hartman contrasts strikingly with the flattening of affect we usually associate with playing video games:
Activision Ice Hockey promo featuring Phil Hartman
1980
:30
And a few are absolutely manic, like this assaultive Pole Position spot:
Pole Position Commercial
n.d.
1:31
The first video raises another issue: the graphics. The little boy patiently explains to his Pacman noob grandpa, "those are supposed to be the ghosts!" I would have expected the ads to downplay the games themselves - because, well, look at them - but all of the spots I watched prominently featured the actual game play, which leads me to believe that the graphics were enough of an advance to genuinely impress. This Laserblast promo amusingly asserts the superiority of its gameplay to another, seemingly indistinguishable, title.
Laserblast commercial
n.d.
:30
Although the ads aren't above a little jiggery pokery to make the games look more exciting, as in this actually pretty neat Tunnel Runner ad.
Tunnel Runner TV Spot
n.d.
:30
But the majority of them, apart from looking obviously dated, mostly seem uncool. They feature incongruously old characters, have problems with tone and message, and seem to lash around for an effective strategy, emphasizing just how new this whole video game thing was. If there's anyone who was in their target audience reading this, I'd love to hear just how the ads affected you. Here is the most hilariously awkward ad of all, not for Atari but for their blood rivals Intellivision, who engineered quite a coup by securing Henry Thomas and...George Plimpton??
Intellivision Commercial featuring Night Stalker and Lock N Chase
1982
:33
PS. Here are my favorite Atari legends:
1. There are thousands of cartridges of the Atari ET game buried in a pit in the California desert, like victims of a mafia hit. Having "played" the game, I entirely believe it. "Hm, so I'm wandering around in a circle. Wandering around in a circle. Game over?? Take this one out back and shoot it."
2. There was a game called "Polybius" which was test-marketed in the Portland OR area, which was actually a CIA experiment in amnesia and hypnosis. Those who played it still wake up screaming, and have difficulty doing much besides get stoned.
Sounds like every resident of Portland Oregon was privy to this game.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
A Day for Dada
Blago Bung! Enjoy this lively documentary, "Dada: An Alphabet of German Dadaism," as it attempts to discover what the hell they were thinking, what with all the lobster costumes and nonsense poetry.
Dada: An Alphabet of German Dadaism
1969
56:17
And here's a fun short from Germany called "Ghosts Before Breakfast," in which time flows mysteriously backwards and bowler hats give merry chase. Not ten years ago I had to make an appointment at the NYPL film archive to go and see this film in 16mm in a basement. Now I can watch it while lying in bed. I don't care what you say, the interweb is awesome.
Ghosts Before Breakfast (Vormittagsspuk)
Hans Richter
1928
6:31
Dada: An Alphabet of German Dadaism
1969
56:17
And here's a fun short from Germany called "Ghosts Before Breakfast," in which time flows mysteriously backwards and bowler hats give merry chase. Not ten years ago I had to make an appointment at the NYPL film archive to go and see this film in 16mm in a basement. Now I can watch it while lying in bed. I don't care what you say, the interweb is awesome.
Ghosts Before Breakfast (Vormittagsspuk)
Hans Richter
1928
6:31
Young Scotland Indeed
This documentary may just solve the world's problems, provided that the world's problems mostly consist of a dearth of Scottish post-punk deliciousness. No word on a release date, but I'm excited to bits!
The Sound of Young Scotland (teaser trailer)
2008
3:24
And to tide us over, here are two of my very favorite singles from the era:
Candyskin by the Fire Engines is creepier than anyone's really given it credit for - it would make a great theme song for an indie serial killer, or as a score for the scene in Battleship Potemkin where the baby carriage clatters down the Odessa steps. Here the fun is accompanied by a striking montage of some Hammer-era British mystery show.
Candyskin (fan video with footage from Thriller: The Eyes Have It)
The Fire Engines
2007
2:42
and the 1982 video for Rip It Up, in which Edwyn Collins (who looks about 12 years old) and Co have enormous fun hammily lipsynching and scaring the straights on the streets of Glasgow.
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
1982
3:43
The Sound of Young Scotland (teaser trailer)
2008
3:24
And to tide us over, here are two of my very favorite singles from the era:
Candyskin by the Fire Engines is creepier than anyone's really given it credit for - it would make a great theme song for an indie serial killer, or as a score for the scene in Battleship Potemkin where the baby carriage clatters down the Odessa steps. Here the fun is accompanied by a striking montage of some Hammer-era British mystery show.
Candyskin (fan video with footage from Thriller: The Eyes Have It)
The Fire Engines
2007
2:42
and the 1982 video for Rip It Up, in which Edwyn Collins (who looks about 12 years old) and Co have enormous fun hammily lipsynching and scaring the straights on the streets of Glasgow.
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
1982
3:43
Mr. Blue Sky - Please Tell Us Why
It's true, I love this big dumb song. The puppet performer, Max, is only slightly more hairy than ELO themselves, and much easier on the eyes.
Mr. Blue Sky (fan video, with Max the Puppet)
ELO
2007
5:25
And although this episode of Dr. Who had its daft moments - never let a seven year old design your big bad, and probably don't insinuate that your protagonist has oral sex with a paving stone - "Love and Monsters" did revel in the ELO, to excellent effect. Here's a nice fan edit, cutting out much of the smirking and gooey monsters and leaving the relevant geeking out over Jeff Lynne.
Dr. Who, "Love and Monsters," Season 2 episode 10 (fan edit)
2006
6:25
Mr. Blue Sky (fan video, with Max the Puppet)
ELO
2007
5:25
And although this episode of Dr. Who had its daft moments - never let a seven year old design your big bad, and probably don't insinuate that your protagonist has oral sex with a paving stone - "Love and Monsters" did revel in the ELO, to excellent effect. Here's a nice fan edit, cutting out much of the smirking and gooey monsters and leaving the relevant geeking out over Jeff Lynne.
Dr. Who, "Love and Monsters," Season 2 episode 10 (fan edit)
2006
6:25
This is just to say...
I'm creating this blog to keep track of the videos I unearth on google video, as the google "share" function only holds 10 videos at a time. 10 videos! Pah! Please enjoy the randomness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)