Room On Fire: Rules Of Relations

The rules of relationships are relatively simple to understand, but not to follow. The scenario is normally something relating to the phrase "Do as I say, not as I do" (doing what I do is bad, and doing as I say is probably just as useless in honesty).  

There are many taboos which shouldn't be broken down, thrown around and lost in uncontrollable moments, but being the humans that we are, those taboos are fucking flung against the wall so hard, not even the likes of Iker Casillas, Joe Hart or Peter Shilton would've been able to stop them from rippling the back of the net.

One of these taboos that shouldn't be broken but is on many occasions is falling for your best friend of the opposite sex. This situation occurs often as attractions take a hold between the two "friends", as they prove to each other that they stand side by side during tough experiences that they each share separately. Another horrid truth that correlates well from this situation is that it ruins the friendship completely, after feelings are spilt from that over flowing, hot mug of stupidity to the point of no return. 

The "mug" was a key word in the last paragraph. No matter how much either you or the other subject involved try to cover it up with the fact that "it doesn't mean anything" and "we're only friends" is a literal piece of bullshit that people must learn to accept isn't OK to say when such feelings are spilt between one and another. This easy escape kicks the friendship in the tits to be quite frank, as it proves to the person on the other end (who's feelings end up being shoveled about a bit) that the friendship wasn't worth much if both of the participants are willing to risk it to the price of curiosity, or by being completely mis-lead by words that the other has used, in order to gain the attention and affection of the "mug" (yours truly).

During this period I felt many different stages of what I thought was love, lust and affection, all of which I realise were completely from my side and not at all from the other what so ever. The stages I experienced I can definatly learn from as for pretty much the first time in my life I learned to overcome some fears, completely bottle other situations, lie, attention seek and shun the subject from my life, as currently I have realised is probably the best option for me for the time being.

Anyway, after paying the personal price of losing a good friend through this tacky manner of stupidity and learning to deal with it through many different stages experienced, whilst listening to an album written by "the Strokes" named "Room on Fire", the lyrics to the majority of the songs I could easily relate to through my experiences so far.

Julian Casablancas fell head over heels for his best friend at the tender age of seventeen and remained strung upon her until mid way through writing the album "Room on Fire" which lead him to the age of twenty-one. Four years of a gruesome relationship that was never official or anything near it put me off the whole "keep kissing the ground she walks on until she turns around" approach, known also as, "stop being a bitch". 

Whilst listening to the album a certain amount of lyrics stood out for me personally. The title first song "What Ever Happened?" was written completely about the loss of his close friend whom he fell so passionately for but ruined through the sheer intoxication of the situation, and realisation that he was being taken for a mug.

The lyrics in bold I have decided to analyse in italic.

"What Ever Happened?"

I don't want to be forgotten,
and I don't want to be reminded. -Wanting her attention but also wanting to forget the whole situation, which he struggled to forget.




I wanna be beside her.
She wanna be admired. - Kissing the ground she walks on, and realising that she wants better, more and purely just the attention. Summary - The subject loves to be loved.




 "life ain't chess,"
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone... 


You don't miss me, I know. - Self explanatory.


Oh Tennessee, what did you write? -
I come together in the middle of the night.
Oh that's an ending that I can't write, 'cause
I've got you to let me down. Play- Write (Tennessee) that Julian admired, settled Julian's stomach about the whole situation, and made him realise that there's no chance to salvage anything, and that he's got to pick himself up.

Meet me In The Bathroom

Yeah, we were just two friends in lust

And baby, that just don't mean much

You trained me not to love

After you showed me what it was - Realisation of what the situation between them is, that it means nothing, and the hard feelings felt are shown and shoved towards her (if she listened to the album that is!)

Now she's staring wide-eyed

Can't close her eyes

Anywhere is fine

just don't waste my time - After she has obtained his attention, he can't escape her even if he tries. She wants his attention, he doesn't want to give it but does.

I relate to these points directly as I have interpreted them as I believe they have been intended to be interpreted after Julian spoke with NME about the lyrical content and subject matter of the whole album.

There isn't really a point to this whole blog, just the fact that, things will just improve after the realisation and gained inspiration to leave the past behind no matter what the situation maybe, because to be honest I've been pessimistic, pessimistic as hell to be blunt, but putting that aside you are left with pure optimism, and that's what gave me a hand, as well as the pure inspiration of The Strokes first two albums.

Room on Fire, relations up in smoke....fuck 'em.

Modern art: Where did it go so wrong?

Art, a word that gets thrown around like a piece of faecal matter within a group of chimps, is a word that has started to provoke thoughts on what "art" really is.

Yesterday afternoon I was inside the Tate Modern Art Gallery passing time as I was meeting an old friend for a catch up. My experience inside the Tate was a major loss of my time which say a lot as I was trying to throw it away.

The majority of the pieces on display were laughable, and really made me wonder how these "modern artists" get any sort of credit for work that seems so under prepared, with little thought process, little effort put into it, and a big comission off the back of it.

As I wondered around the "Art Gallery" I found myself getting wound up by some of the pieces, and some of the punters being taken for an absoloute ride, stroking their chins trying to see what the "artists" point was, the emotions they felt and the effort put into the work. I was also angered by generations of school children being shown that this is what "art" has come to. A lack of creativity, a lack of understanding and a shocking series of "artists" for the next generation to gain inspiration from.

A few of the pieces on display genuinly made me laugh though, due to the sheer lack of effort put into the work. One piece was a plank of wood floating from the roof, another was a mirror (pictured above), another was an irregular octogan stuck to the wall, and the creme de la creme.... a glass vase on the floor with some cloth slung around it.

Maybe it is just a case that I'm too stubborn to even try to comprehend these "masterpieces", but I don't consider my Dad to be an artist, and he has cloth slung over some planks of wood in the garage as I write this post, and i'm not charging anyone £15 to come and have a look (maybe that's where I'm going wrong)!

It baffles me that people from all across the world come to see this absoloute jargon when it's thrown into a gallery, but if I took a literal shit into a glass box and left it outside, I wouldn't get a huge comission, and major attenion from "art lovers" globally. Maybe the "shit" would represent modern art, and all of it's lovers, but I'm probably getting a bit hasty thinking about it so i'll talk to you about modern art that SHOULD be appreiciated.

If you've got a facebook page, which the majority of you do, I wouldn't be surprised if you have seen some funny looking illustrations with hilarious captions flung around the page.

Chris (simpsons artist) is how he likes to be known, and his style of art represents a good side of modern art, that seems to be lost within all of this utter shite that is being flung about in galleries of recent times.

What Chris (simpsons artist) does is create illustrations that reflect upon a recent event that is either big in the news at the time or within his life. Normally these illustrations are based on quite serious circumstances, but his style of illustration and use of language to support the drawings gives them a such a light hearted feel, that they become lost in within the insignificance of the world and are seen as small things again.

His light hearted approach within his word choices and illusrative style is almost child like, and is so by no accident. The serious issues he documents through his work remain serious but we are reminded that the grass isn't greener on the other side, but will be greener on your side in the future through his child like naivity.

He has become an absoloute hit on facebook, with over 165,000 people liking his page, and averaging about 2,000 likes per illustration.

He is exactly the type of modern artist that deserves to blossom into galleries as his work is so neutralising when witnessed, and really makes you feel insignificant but not in a negative way at all, in a way that contains such power that you are so glad to be part of it.

He is also a fabulous inspiration to younger MODERN artists, as he has developed his own style by using modern day equipment, but combining the old and new togther through a picasso-esque level of abstract with a completly modern day texture to his images as if they were created on microsoft paint, which makes the pieces so simplistic but part of our time also.

I was lucky enough to speak to him through e-mail briefly on facebook to ask him a few questions. Through his answers he held the tone of naivity and innocense which form his style all so well.

I started by asking him how he got into his drawings, his style and how his recent burst of fame started. His response made me chuckle but I grew a larger insight into how he is. This is his response:

"Hi there Alex. thank you ever so much for your kind words to me and i am glad that you love my pictures that i gone and done as well. i have drawn pictures for all of my life but lots of people started seeing them one day in april last year when i moved in to my own house because my mum needed a break she said and she got me my own house and i made a facebook page on the internet so i could still show my mum my pictures even when she isnt at my house and then loads of people jsut started to be friends with me and then loads of magazines and things wanted to do interviews with me and things and then they gave me jobs for them and things to draw pictures for them and now it is my job being a artist and it is the best job in all of the world and all of the planets. i hope that you have a really nice day and you are doing something really good as well and good luck with your blogs as well. forever and a day. Chris (Simpsons artist) xox"

ANNE FRANK

"my best bit in her book that she gone and done was when she was showing her brother what she could do with her body and she was lying on the ground and she was making her body look really shivery and she couldnt stop laughing because it was so funny and her dad was saying for her to be quiet or she would get killed and she said that she doesnt even care anymore because she would rather die having a laugh with her brother and making her body look really shivery than die from someone else that she has never met before "

This snippet of his use of language to support the illustrations really touches you, especially through innocent tone through out. On the image of Anne Frank the words read "don't look in here". This choice of language works so well next to the figure of Anne Frank, who also has been made to look as she does texturally speaking on the cover og her book, through the black and white colour.

The word choicing on the illustration reminds me of Banksy's rats, whom all shared very strong political messages with its audience. "Don't Look In Here" really relates to Anne Frank as she was obviously in hiding from the Nazis, but it also relates to all of us in a way, there are somethings we just don't want to share with the world because there is a danger of being caught, and punished. Chris captures this perfectly.

As well as this Anne Frank piece, he has covered a lot of big moments in modern history and further back along the timeline, celebrities, light hearted advice to his audience and also issues that he relates to on a personal level.

Here are two more pieces of his genius, check his work out on http://picturesthatigoneanddone.bigcartel.com/.

"when people die it is really sad. but i think that it is better to say goodbye in peace than to say hello in pain. Chris (Simpsons artist) xox"

"If you feel sick just be sick, if you love someone just tell them."

Chris deserves to be inside the Tate Modern, and paid deserved comission....it makes me wonder how dense some people are the think that a plank of wood hanging from the ceiling is "modern art", and Chris doesn't get a look in.

Some "pictures that he gone and did", I thank him for doing. A real inspiration, no matter how easy going they are, and let's remember that shitting in a box and giving it an audience doesn't make it art because it's still shit in a box at the end of the day. Burning a burger and calling it gourmet doesn't mean you can charge more for it, as it's still a burnt burger, but developing your own style, and giving out a powerful message through such a subtle manor... that's art.

Colin Lane: making rock 'n' roll sexy again

IS THIS IT, Colin Lane

The photograph that I am going to be critically reviewing is an image that holds a lot of meaning and memories for me.  “IS THIS IT” is The Strokes 2001 debut album cover, and my favourite image of all time. The artist behind the image is The Strokes’ official photographer Colin Lane. I chose to review this because it represents a personal era of my life, as the band I listened to over this era of my life was The Strokes, and this album also makes me feel nostalgic, and miss the era that this photograph represents so well.

Colin Lane, 1999, IS THIS IT. [Photograph] (Blunt Photography London, RCA Records)

Colin took this photograph in 1999 to support his portfolio of fashion photography. At the time he had no idea that the image was going to become one of the most recognised images within rock ‘n’roll. 

 Colin Lane is a photographer from New York, New York, and is represented by Blunt Photography London. Colin is well-known for his work within fashion and music photography. Primarily a fashion photographer, Colin was approached by “The Face” magazine in 2001 to photograph the new band to enter the New York and London indie circuits, The Strokes.  As The Strokes weren’t well known at the time, the only bit of press they were receiving was from releasing their 3 song E.P, “The Modern Age” (RCA Records, The Strokes, and Produced by Gordon Raphael).

Colin didn’t have much of an idea as to who they were, so when he went to shoot them he took his portfolio of work with him for them to gain an idea as to what the final images from their shoot with Colin would look like. The “arse” shot was in the portfolio, and The Strokes all agreed that this would be a suitable image for the album cover, if Colin gave his permission, which he did. After that, the rest is history, Colin has now photographed some of the world’s most famous bands and musicians including Robbie Williams, The Arctic Monkeys, etc., and had work published for companies such as Jack Daniels, and Sony.

The photograph was taken on a Mamiya 7 Rangefinder Camera in 1999. The original print was on Celluloid photographic paper. The image is black and white but with a very high level of contrast, and I believe the fact that the image is black and white makes the image look more like a photograph, because, if the audience saw a copy on the image in colour and in black and white, the colour image looks like a copy of reality, but the black and white image makes the audience automatically adapt to know that the image is actually a photograph, which leads me on to talking about the texture of the photograph. The texture is very of the photograph seems very smooth, and the fact the glove is so shiny, leather and in focus supports the smoothness that I stated.

The context of the image is that the gluteal of the model is framed to be the primary focal point, and the photographer (Colin Lane) has made her put a leather glove on, and place it on the model’s gluteal suggestively. I believe he did this in order to obtain a sexy picture, with a vintage feel, and by not including a face in the photograph, it means anyone can relate to the image, without a personal feel. Due to the sexual nature of the image, The Strokes and Colin lane caused controversy across the globe, especially in the U.K and USA. Woolworths and HMV across the U.K were both very reluctant about stocking IS THIS IT due to the Photograph, but as it was in such high demand they eventually both stocked the item, but  the case was worse for the USA version. The image was banned from all stores across America, causing The Strokes to choose a new album cover. In relation to the ban, US magazine, Entertainment Weekly gathered quotes from The Strokes band manager Ryan Gentles about the decision. “Ryan Gentles, concurs that singer Julian Casablancas ''wanted to change it for the whole world. He phoned and said 'I found something even cooler than the ass picture (to replace Colin Lane’s IS THIS IT photograph).” [Willman, C. September 14th 2001.]

 CRITICAL ANAYSIS OF Colin Lane’s “IS THIS IT”

The image, as mentioned previously is the backside of a woman, with a hand wearing a leather glove placed upon the backside of the woman in a rather provocative manner. The photograph was taken against a plain white wall, and a flash was used in order to give off very little shadowing, and make the image very clear. The brightest part of the image is the background where the typography of “The Strokes IS THIS IT” is placed in the top left hand corner, but the primary focal point is the backside itself. I believe the image represents “that glamorous woman” that we all aspire to obtain, but I also believe that the image has a sense of freedom about it.

The provocative and sexual nature behind the image helps support this sense of freedom idea that I have, as the choice to be kinky is the female in the photograph, plus we’ve all got a wild side to us. The fact that the photograph is black and white reminds us that it is a photo, but the image looks like it could be the bottom of Marylyn Monroe, or another woman from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, the days before colour. The fact that Colin chose to shoot on black and white supports the idea of “Glamour” and also brings in the elements of it being timeless.

Colin’s intentions were to create a photograph that was purely and simply just a sexy image that was technically photographed very well, as he mentions in an interview with STEAL-LIFE.com in January 2005. Colin shot about 10 photos in order to obtain the “sexy image” and he had taken inspiration from photographers such as Jim Marshall. [Anon., January 2005][Lane. C, 1999]

As I have mentioned previously, I absolutely adore the image and everything it stands for, whether it being my personal perception of the image(glamour, freedom, rock ‘n’ roll) or what the photographer intended to shoot (purely just a sexy image). I love it because it reminds me of a personal era of my life that I adored, but also, technically speaking it is such a powerful picture, and a “V sign” to the world.

There is a story behind the photograph as Colin states on the music photography website steal-life.com, ““It was basically my ex-girlfriend - it was all about the black gloves. I’d done this fashion shoot for the Observer and the stylist had left all these clothes at my apartment and there were these black leather gloves which we hadn’t used in the shoot and so I said to my girlfriend, ‘come on let’s take some photos with these black gloves’ and she was like ‘no, I’m tired I want to go to bed’ and I eventually persuaded her to do a couple of pictures. I put them in my portfolio and the day we did the press shoot I bought my portfolio along because The Strokes had never really seen my work and the arse shot was in there and Julian saw it and was just like, ‘that’s cool, would you mind if we used it for the cover?’ So my girlfriend ended up getting paid about 1,000 dollars for the shot from RCA and she never complained about modelling for me again”. [Lane. C, 2005] [Anon., 2005]

I believe that this simplistically composed black and white photograph is so much more than just a photograph of a bare backside, I believe that it is the photograph that represents the door opening to modern rock ‘n’ roll, and the closest thing to what rock ‘n’ roll was. Is This It is the album and the photograph that changed modern indie rock’s image and sound forever. Is This It, is the sexy image of a photographer’s ex- girlfriend that won’t leave your head after you’ve seen it. Colin Lane’s Is This It, is “it”, whatever “it” may be.

Kevin Meredith AKA Lomo Kev

Kevin Meredith is a photographer based in his hometown of Brighton. He primarily shoots on Lomo, hense the nickname LOMOKEV. I don't know how he does it but every image he publishes seems to be; A) physically beautiful and B) the perfect shot.

I purchased one of Kevin's latest books from Urban Outfitters in late January 2012, titled "Hot Shots". It instantly changed my attitude and approach towards taking photographs. During my A-Levels I found myself in a situation which allowed me to have a lot of freedom within my work, which I was expecting to retain upon my arrival at University.

I was soooo bloody wrong, and it has taken me a while to get used to the loss of freedom within work. Kevin gives me that bit of freedom and extra kick up the arse as I gain inspiration from his "Don't think just shoot" approach, whereas my university forces the opinion upon us that everything has a meaning, semiotics, yada this, yada that, blah blah. So now I find myself as two photographers in one, setting myself work to make sure I retain that burning desire inside of me and not lose the passion for documenting what I see, and the second is the dull, uninspired work-o-holic, write-o-holic, bored-o-holic student you read from at this second.

Kevin is a member of Brighton swimming club and most of his images are taken in and around the water. He documents every moment, and when he leaves home he'll grab his keys, his phone, and a compact camera.

He is the biggest inspiration I have had in such a long time, and inspired my series of images titled "sea spray".

Still, he's my second favorite Kevin, to none other than Torquay United legend, Kevin Hill! Sorry Lomo Kev!

References: http://lomokev.com/about/

Technology: For and Against.

As a photography student, I find myself using technology each and everyday. I own a laptop, a digital SLR, an Ipod, and a phone. As you read this, I am listening to "Explosions in the sky - the earth is not a dead cold place", have just finished watching the first half of the Euro 2012 final between Italy and Spain (who currently find themselves 2-0 up), checking my phone for texts and typing this blog through my laptop, to publish onto the piece of genius which we call the internet.

Overall, I need technology to keep up with the rest of the world, but if it wasn't for the root of all evil (money) being an issue I wouldn't need it to complete my work. If I was somehow transported back to the sixties DR.Who sty-lee, I would be able to complete the work I am so passionate about with my Canon A-1 analouge camera, and the most crisp and cheap films on the market.

Personally, I find technology annoying (you know what I mean, not the life support machines in hospitals, and phones to make those emergency calls to and from, just the little things). I feel the need to check my facebook page daily, and I also feel that I never have someones full attention when I share my time with others, as everyone else is a few clicks away with a blackberry, I phone or HTC.

I guess that makes me a lot like my dad, and old fashioned in that sense.

I currently have a small, and quite frankly shit little samsung phone. I can call from it, I can text from it, I can use it as an alarm clock. I believe that phones with so many apps, however impressive they may be seem to force their owners into ignoring and missing out on so much beauty in the world.

When I go on a train journey, I make sure I have a view and a bit of music, as I love moving image and music together. I could happily sit for 5 hours plus, gazing out of a window letting my mind wonder away from what is so lucid, to a beautiful soundtrack, but the majority of the people I know will play games on their phones, text away to everyone they know and ignore the natural and architectural beauty of the world around us.

As much as I slate technology for promoting ignorance, you can't fault how impressive a lot of machines and art created by technology can be, as a lot of the time it can be life saving.

Just try to obtain the best of both worlds, get rid of your blackberries and enjoy natural beauty at its best.

Feminism

As the 20th centuary began, each and every man saw women as an underdeveloped, weak and inferior species of human, that lacked the brain power, determination and physical strength to be able to achieve anything close to what a man could.

We all know that this is non-sensical drivel, arrogant and ill informed as women have fought for equality for decades after the second world wars close in 1945.

The feminist movement began during the first world war when women proved that they could "hold the fort" as the men were sent to war. It seemed to be swept under the carpet by the returning soldiers, and forgotten until the start of the second world war, when women were called back up into action, as post women, factory workers, farmers, and anything else away from that stereotype of the cook, the cleaner and the house wife.

Women are strong and as independent as the next man, but are still fighting for equality in its drips and drapes, as the introduction of the LAD bible and UNILAD  (both of which personally I have liked on facebook for the photos they post, not the comments), seems to discriminate and divide the sexualities back into their corners again all in the name of banter. 

"Wenches n Ladz"

This new found banter scene of Lads, Ladettes, and Wenches may be in the name of banter but it shows insecurity from both sexes directed towards eachother through joke form, sure, it's seen by many as light hearted, but it promotes the wrong moral to all, and is still being openly sexist, banter or not.

This is the website "LADBible.com" and the second item I saw on it proves the given point exactly. Females here are being portrayed as items, before and after beer, yet hundreds of thousands of men havve "liked" or "follow" this page so openly promoting sexism.

As I have mentioned, I have liked the page for entertainment values, reading experiences that other "LADz" have posted in order to make myself feel better about myself, which I know full well is wrong.

All in the name of banter..... maybe not.

References:

1) http://www.theladbible.com/media/beer-and-after

Identity

Identity, we all have one and we all wish for it to be portrayed in a certain way.

We are all very similar in so many ways; ranging from feeling emotions such as empathy towards others, happiness and other incredible sensations that are sometimes bad, but also can be a sensation so stong that you simply can not use any language to describe such feelings.

We also pretty much having the same physical features whether you find yourself to be of a different ethnic origin to one and another, coming in different shapes and sizes, we are all human beings....unless if you're a bloody intelligent cat with the ability to read and comprehend this post, and a pair of hands to access your owners laptop then yes, we are all human.

These are the basics to being a standard Human being, which means we currently seem to be skulling in the shallow end of the pool. There is a lot more towards being a human being that meet the eye, and someones Identity is a massive part, well the biggest part.

Identity is who you are, what you have experienced, how you wish to be shown, and every little bit in between. I'll use myself as an example, and analyse my facebook page as it currently stands.

As you can see, my page is divided up into many different segments. I have a cover photo, which I have chosen to give myself a certain image and also because it's something that personally I enjoy to look at.

I have a display photograph which isn't actually a photograph of me but is a photograph of my favorite guitarist Albert Hammond Jr from The Strokes. I have chosen this image to represent my facebook page as it represents how I work and how I feel. The image is of a young, modern cool guy in a rock 'n' roll band which is something I look up to. He is part of a movement that I could only dream of being part of, and represents a large period of time of my life which I have listened to his band The Strokes.

On the right there is a chat bar which allows me to communicate directly with my facebook friends, which I have all met through many different experieces of my life, whether it be trravelling from the age of 16, through school, as a child or at University, I share an experience with each of these people, which has formed the person whom is currently posting this blog right now.

Maybe using my facebook was the wrong way of showing identity, but It definatly proves that each of us are different as similar to eachother as we may be, everyones facebook page is different, just as there finger prints are.