Stunning monuments. It would be great to get a description of their actual size. Or to have a person standing beside one of them for a reference. Quite a few of them remind me of Beksinski paintings...
The "alien"istic qualities that they all contain. Telling a story of a tragic ending for a mighty society past its prime. They are absolutely gorgeous pieces...
I really like a few of them: "Tjentište", "Makljen", "Kadinjača", and the one above, "Podgarić".
Obviously, it's not exactly as drawn, because the world is round. The actual image would be a lot more shakier and distorted.
But, it does create the idea of what would we see if we all traced our steps. Literally or in other senses - it'll be really cool, because it'll be like us, quite unique and fascinating.
(And, the guy must be pretty well off, or at least had a lot of sponsors to pull this off)
This is what great contemporary art does, it makes you think, and often, there may be so many interpretations to it, from this very simple (almost.. pointalistic/minimalistic [musically speaking]) concept. I mean, I even have my own interpretation of it, that's completely different from her's and the climate change people's. The beauty of it is that it's so elegant, people can have their own interpretations of it, based on their believes, interests, passions.
There is a place where time stands still. Raindrops hang motionless in air. Pendulums of clocks float mid-swing... As a traveler approaches this place from any direction, he moves more and more slowly...
"The novel fictionalizes Albert Einstein as a young scientist who is troubled by dreams as he works on his theory of relativity in 1905. The book consists of 30 chapters, each exploring one dream about time that Einstein had during this period. The framework of the book consists of a prelude, three interludes, and an epilogue. Einstein's friend, Michele Besso, appears in these sections. Each dream involves a conception of time. Some scenarios may involve exaggerations of true phenomena related to relativity, and some may be entirely fantastical. The book demonstrates the relationship each human being has to time, and thus spiritually affirms Einstein's theory of relativity."
Personally, I absolutely adored this book. The 30 stories are all very short, about three pages each, and very easy to read. The stories generally start of introducing the type of 'time', and then a few short clips from a few individual's lives to illustrate it. It usually end with a broader statement which would lead to questions, different views about that specific type of time.
The stories described in the book are all simple, clear, and straight forward, such that a grade schooler would be able to read and understand (though, some materials in there is probably not suited for audiences of a younger age). What is magical about them though, is that such simple stories, can bring on so much thought. It really makes you ponder about the concepts of time, humanity, our values, our stories, our lives. It is generally the last paragraph, which sums up the story, and brings on these questions. There is truly a lot to be gained from this book, if one looked deep enough.
Also, I loved Lightman's writing style. He makes everything just so poetic, and often, the style and structure reflects the type of 'time' which the story describes.
Here's a little excerpt:
... Thus, on any day, at any hour of any day, a line of ten thousand stretches radially outward from the center of Rome, a line of pilgrims waiting to bow to the Great Clock. They stand quietly, reading prayer books, holding their children. They stand quietly, but secretly they seethe with their anger. For they must watch measured that which should not be meaasured. They must watch the precise passage of minutes and decades. They have been trapped by their own inventiveness and audacity. And they must pay with their lives.
For more, click on the title of the book, that link contains the first three chapters of the book.
I watched this documentary about a month ago, very interesting.
Personally, I'm not a very big 'GO GREEN/ORGANIC!' fan. Any activism for me is a little too extreme. I think that they are right in some of what they are saying, and their thoughts' nice. But.... sometimes, their methods, the way they just force their ideology onto yours.... they almost act like what they're fighting against, just the other way around.
But anyway, it's an incredibly informative movie to watch. It has around 10 parts I believe, so it may take a while.
Speaking of chickens (featured throughout the film). We had 'free-ranged' (or w/e you call it) chicken the other day. Personally, I think it does taste better. The texture of the meat, composition of the chicken overall, is quite different.
To go along with this video, is an episode from the radio program Ideas, by CBC radio http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2010/05/17/have-your-meat-and-eat-it-too-part-1-2-listen/
The three segments of ~52min episodes explores the western culture of meat, arguments from both sides, etc. Again, really interesting.
If there's something to be taken out of these episodes:
1. Reduce your meat intake.
2. be very careful when making food choices for your baby/toddler/kid - too much is not good, but vegeterianism isn't the best way either, they still need all those nutrients to grow, people!
3. Eat everything! Do what Asians/natives/probably all cultures but the North Americans do, eat every part of the animal! (On a side note, pig ears = <3)
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BB: Jean Picard, Henri Victor Regnault, Ernest Hemingway
Despite the comments on the video, about whether or not the picture is photoshopped, or that the notes are all 'space' notes (so 3rds = they form consonants no matter what), the the correctness of voice leading, I find that it is still a very creative concept. And this idea of this concept, should be the most important factor. Yes, it would be awesome if the rest of the stuff mentioned above, were more 'artistically correct', but they are secondary.
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DD: John A Macdonald, Louis Chevrolet, Carl Jung
