Exhibition gave me the Schwitters

For me, going round an art gallery is a chance to be quiet and meditative; and to really think about the art in front of me.

That's why I really didn't like one aspect of the Kurt Schwitters exhibition at Tate Britain, which I visited a few days ago. As I was looking at the art in room one, I could hear some sort of caterwauling noise in one of the rooms ahead of me. When I got to room two or three, I discovered that the noise was a recording of someone (perhaps Schwitters himself, I didn't wait to find out) reciting a very irritating Dada-ist poem.

I quickly moved on to look at the rest of the exhibition; but I did wonder whether it is a deliberate ploy by the gallery to ensure that the crowds looking at the exhibition are kept moving. If it was, it certainly worked.

For the most part, I really liked the exhibition. However, there was another noisy bit near the end where some contemporary artists had created some work which commented upon Schwitters. I'm never a fan of video work in galleries anyway. I don't like standing around looking at something which usually drags out for hours and is often very noisy and unfathomable. You can watch that sort of thing anytime on TV at home.

I'm not saying that this example was of that ilk as I didn't look at it. I'd already had my fill of noise and discord.

One notable exception to my dislike of video art was the wonderful piece by Mark Wallinger, called 'Threshold to the Kingdom' which I wrote about in a previous blog post. That piece of art was perfectly sited at Tate Britain and was one of the most powerful pieces I have ever seen.

Media Sickness - morning, noon, afternoon, evening and night-time...

This morning, as I look at the news websites, I see that Colleen Rooney is 'showing off her baby bump' on a beach somewhere. Further down the page, there is a picture of a conventional-looking mum and a baby, under a headline asking 'Can you be a mum and have a career?'

I think the answer lies somewhere in the 'strap lines' further down the page of the BBC news website - where you might actually miss them (unless you have your eyes peeled for the words 'Kate', 'Catherine' or other quasi 'Royal/Celebrity' words).

If you did, this morning you would have spotted the line 'Kate photos to be published in Italy'. Click on that and you get an article from News UK 'revealing' that the Italian 'Chi' magazine is to publish pictures of Kate sporting a baby bump on a beach in Mustique (Oh, and by the way, she is holding hands with William. I think that came somewhere in the report at least).

From the time Kate appeared in a student fashion show wearing that now famous 'Prince-bagging' dress which looked like a black net curtain creation over a  bikini, the media have been in a frenzy over the girl's over-exposed body. We had the same thing with Princess Diana's 'see through' dress when she was pictured outside the nursery school where she worked.

What is interesting about the Mustique photos is that they were (allegedly) taken on a public beach so, like the fashion show pictures, are (kind of) 'fair game'. (Although if you read my last post, you will gather that I am not entirely convinced that the 'balcony' pictures can really be blamed on others). The media rumpus is all part of the marketing of the Modern Monarchy. They like us to believe that they don't want pictures of bare-chested (or breasted) royals pasted over the newspapers and magazines. In reality, though, they know that those pictures are the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) of their business; and that, in 'trying' to 'sell' them to their 'market' i.e. you and me, exclusivity is king. No longer can the royals pretend that they are the victims of the media. They are as complicit with it as the most publicity-concious celebrity.

Talking of which, I noticed  yesterday a strap line, declaring that Madonna had joined some social media website and that the first thing she did was to post a picture of a cleavage to it.  (I'm not an expert so I couldn't tell if it was hers; but she knows a thing or two about marketing if anyone does). There was a headshot of a smug-looking Madge to go with the line.

So it seems, in our celebrity culture, that you CAN be a mum and have a career, if you are a) A WAG of a famous sportsman or other kind of celebrity or b) Married to a royal - preferably the heir to the throne or b) Are Madonna - either the mother of Jesus or the one we adore in contemporary society.

Thankfully, '100 Most Powerful Women'  rankings recently listed some other kinds of career women mothers performing other kinds of roles. I hadn't heard of most of them - naturally - but coming in at number 26 is Her Majesty The Queen. 

I don't recall every seeing a picture of Her Majesty in so much as a swimsuit. That's probably because she would only go about in a swimsuit on a beach which she owned (or her sister owned). Isn't that what proper royals do?

The Duchess's New Clothes

Just after the marriage of HRH and HRH last year, I wrote a blogpost in June 2011 with the above headline.

At the time, everyone was talking about what Kate was wearing and, predictably, this interest has not waned at all.

I signed off my blogpost with the comment that I doubted that there could be more interest in 'Princess Middleton' unless she went completely naked; which of course, she has now done (allegedly).

One could add, 'after a fashion' - the fashion in question being the chosen swimwear of many in the South of France i.e. a monokini or a nonokini.

When I worked as a Junior Copywriter under the supervision of Salman Rushdie at Ogilvy many years ago, I learned that one of the basic rules of Advertising was to 'First attract attention'. Without your audience's attention, you have no chance of delivering your message.

Catherine Middleton certainly did that when she wore her 'see-through' dress for a student fashion show, at which Prince William was said to declare that she was 'really hot'.

Nearly a year-and-a-half on, the girl's still managing to keep the interest of the world's media glued to her every appearance. However, it now seems that her husband is finding this more than a little tiresome. The couple were staying (we are told) at a villa belonging to Viscount Linley.  Viscount Linley, you will recall, is the son of  society photographer, Lord Snowdon, formerly Anthony Armstrong-Jones.

If Anthony Armstrong Jones (Tony), had not married a princess, he might have become more involved with the Paparazzi himself, who knows?  In any case, if Viscount Linley, with his upbringing, cannot recognize a good spot for a paparazzo photographer a mile off, then who can?

Which brings me to another 'soundbite' I recall, from the man who said 'News is something someone somewhere doesn't want published. All the rest is advertising'.

Olympian effort by former UCA student leaves everyone breathless...

...(including herself)

'Id rather run a mile than do any kind of sport' said one former couch potato at a recent UCA alumni gathering.

So it was a real surprise when Su Moberly (BA (Hons) Fine Art 2004 awarded herself a solid pewter medal 'For Keeping Her Head Above Water Against All the Odds'.

The medal was made with the help of staff and technicians at the college last week on an annual Alumni Reunion Day. Su made it in between nattering to old mates, watching some great videos, having a lovely outdoor lunch; and generally having a bit of a jolly.

Asked how she felt on being awarded such a high honour, Su announced that it had been a 'tough year' and that she had 'felt like giving up' many times. However, in the end, inertia and depression had given way to an all-out effort in keeping with the 2012 vision we have all come to admire.

Nice to see that the Olympian ideal is not completely extinguished round here.

Congratulations! You survived 'Blue Monday'

If you're reading this, you will have survived 'Blue Monday' - which I wrote about in my blog yesterday.

'Blue Monday' is so named for several reasons; all of which are pretty negative.

However, yesterday, from where I was writing, there was some brilliant sunshine - even though the day started icily cold and became so again later in the day.

I wrote about some of the things which I hoped would get me through the day yesterday. However, I have to admit that I was very low by the evening.

Anyway, nasty Blue Monday is over for another year. And, as I am writing this after mid-day on Tuesday, we're nearly through Tuesday too. By tomorrow morning, we'll be half-way through one of the most difficult weeks of the year. 

Keep going!

Blue Monday. Ways to 'Pink' it up...

The newspaper I read yesterday carried a reference to 'Blue Monday' - that is the Monday that, this year, is the second full working week of the year.  As if we didn't need the reminder, the weather is usually not great at this time of year. (Last year there was torrential rain on Blue Monday). The festive season is well and truly over; but the debts we have incurred are still with us. What's more, we may have failed in our efforts to even make, never mind keep, any new year resolutions. So that the problems we had at the end of last year are well and truly carried over into this year. None of us are immune, according to the report in Wikipedia. However, help is at hand in the form of a handy little website specifically made for the purpose of trying to cheer people up on, what is known to be, a day with depressing tendencies.  In the meantime, I said I'd be mentioning a book which my son gave me for Christmas. It's called 'The Happiness Project' and it's about one woman's quest to spend an entire year on various experiments to see if she could make herself more happy. The end result for the author was a book in which she reported that 'yes' - she had made herself happier. She is not the first or the last to carry out such an experiment. She lists a whole load of references of the kind you'd expect to find in any self-respecting 'self help' book. However, no book or website, by itself, is going to make someone happy. As someone (possibly me) once said: 'Self-help books? I've read them all and they don't work'.

So what's the answer? In a nutshell: try and do something to cheer up someone else. Taking action increases energy and starts the fight against depression. Make a list of the good things in your life (starting a 'gratitude' diary or list is one way.)

In my own experience, I have found that to a) ask for and b) accept help is the first step to conquering depressing thoughts. I am certainly no happiness guru - but, for me, the fact that my son gave me such a thoughtful and insightful gift is something I treasure.

Writing this blog is my 'gratitude' list (in a way).

 What follows is the entry from Wikipedia which relates the origins of 'Blue Monday':

Blue Monday (date) 1
Blue Monday (date)
Blue Monday is a name given to a date stated, as part of a publicity campaign by Sky Travel, to be the most
depressing day of the year.
This date was published in a press release under the name of Cliff Arnall, at the time a tutor at the Centre for
Lifelong Learning, a Further Education centre attached to Cardiff University. Guardian columnist Dr. Ben Goldacre
reported that the press release was delivered substantially pre-written to a number of academics by public relations
agency Porter Novelli, who offered them money to put their names to it.[1] The Guardian later printed a statement
from Cardiff University distancing themselves from Arnall: "Cardiff University has asked us to point out that Cliff
Arnall... was a former part-time tutor at the university but left in February."[2]
According to a press release by a mental health charity,[3] the formula is:
where weather=W, debt=d, time since Christmas=T, time since failing our new year’s resolutions=Q, low
motivational levels=M and the feeling of a need to take action=Na. 'D' is not defined in the release, nor are units.
Arnall says the date was calculated by using many factors, including: weather conditions, debt level (the difference
between debt accumulated and our ability to pay), time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s
resolutions, low motivational levels and feeling of a need to take action. Writing about the calculation, Ben Goldacre
stated: ... the fact is that Cliff Arnall's equations ... fail even to make mathematical sense on their own terms.[1]
This date allegedly falls on the Monday of the last full week of January. The date was declared by Arnall to be 24
January in 2005,[4] 23 January in 2006,[5] 22 January in 2007,[6] 21 January in 2008,[7] 19 January in 2009,[3] 18
January in 2010. In 2011 there has been confusion about the correct date. Some claimed it was on 17 January 2011[8]
while others say blue Monday was on 24 January 2011.[9][10][11]. In 2012, Blue Monday will fall on January 16th.
[12][13]
Mr Arnall also says, in a press release commissioned by Wall's ice cream,[14] that he has calculated the happiest day
of the year—in 2005, 24 June,[15] in 2006, 23 June,[16] in 2008, 20 June,[17] in 2009, 19 June[18] and in 2010, 18th
June.[19] So far, this date has fallen close to Midsummer.
References
[1] Goldacre, Ben (2006-12-16). "MS = media slut, but CW = corporate whore" (http:/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ science/ 2006/ dec/ 16/
badscience. uknews). London: The Guardian. . Retrieved 2008-01-21.
[2] Goldacre, Ben (2006-11-18). "How GxPxIxC = selling out to your corporate sponsor" (http:/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ science/ 2006/ nov/ 18/
badscience. uknews). London: The Guardian. . Retrieved 2008-01-21.
[3] "Campaign aims to help ease January blues British public urged to ‘Beat Blue Monday’" (http:/ / www. mentalhealth. org. uk/ media/
news-releases/ news-releases-2009/ 13-january-2009/ ). www.mentalhealth.org.uk. 2009-01-13. . Retrieved 2009-01-13.
[4] "Jan. 24 called worst day of the year" (http:/ / www. msnbc. msnMSNBC. 2005-01-24. . Retrieved 2007-03-13.
[5] "Jan. 23 most depressing day of the year: report" (http:/ / www. ctv. ca/ CTVNews/ World/ 20060123/ depressing_day_060123/ ). CTV.
2006-01-24. . Retrieved 2007-03-13.
[6] "Blue Monday: The unhappiest day of the year" (http:/ / www. dailymail. co. uk/ news/ article-430389/
Blue-Monday-The-unhappiest-day-year. html). London: Daily Mail. 2007-01-22. . Retrieved 2007-03-13.
[7] Booth, Frances (2008-01-21). "Smile! You're not the only one in a bad mood" (http:/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ news/ features/ 3635353/
Smile-Youre-not-the-only-one-in-a-bad-mood. html). London: Telegraph.co.uk. . Retrieved 2008-01-21.
[8] "'Blue Monday': Today the most depressing day of the year" (http:/ / www. joe. ie/ health-fitness/ health-fitness-news/
blue-monday-today-the-most-day-of-the-year-008758-1). www.joe.ie. 2011-01-17. . Retrieved 2011-01-17.
[9] "2011 is so bad – we have two Blue Mondays!" (http:/ / www. beatbluemonday. org. uk/ ?p=136). beatbluemonday.org.uk. 2011-01-17. .

Inspiration for the coming year...

We always seem to start the New Year with new goals and good intentions. However, we very quickly realize that it's just not that easy. Inevitably, we face setbacks and difficulties. This short video of Maya Angelou reading one her poems, is truly inspirational. Enjoy...

Still I Rise
By Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise” from And Still I Rise. Copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou. Used by permission of Random House, Inc.
Source: The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (1994)