the dandy flâneur conflict

"Baudelaire would be torn the rest of his life between the stances of flâneur and dandy, a disengaged and cynical voyeur on the one hand, and man of the people who enters into the life of his subjects with passion on the other."

-David Harvey



dandy

A man person who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies.

flâneur

The term flâneur comes from the French masculine noun flâneur—which has the basic meanings of "stroller", "lounger", "saunterer", "loafer"—which itself comes from the French verb flâner, which means "to stroll". Charles Baudelaire developed a derived meaning of flâneur—that of "a person who walks the city in order to experience it".

Easy Come, Easy Go

I'm listening to a streaming of Marianne Faithfull's new album and damn, damn, damn this woman is incredible. She's only getting better with age. Her voice now is just out of this world, it's certainly not the angelic voice of hers from the 60s but certainly all of her history and life lived since then is layered, etched, and burned into her smokey, gritty and empowered voice. Looking at a photograph of her at age 60, she is stunning. I'm gonna go ahead and put her higher up on the list of women I want to grow up to be. How do these women do it? I'm pretty sure living your life passionately and uncompromisingly is the answer. I'm in.

Yes, please learn to draw

As someone who's spent multiple 5+ hour sessions on making one single pencil drawing of a cup (with no handle, only after the cup with no handle was mastered did I move onto one with a handle) under the scrutiny of a very intense and at times scary art instructor and spent at least one day a week at the Art Institute of Chicago soaking in the old Masters while I was in school, I have a great appreciation and respect for technical ability and discipline in art. A much greater appreciation than most in this time and age.


I have to say this is a pretty cute advertising idea from London College of Communication. I'm not much impressed by the actual design of the sticker, nor do I know anything about this school. However, I would LOVE a stack of these stickers on me at all times, but just the arrow that reads "Learn To Draw." You'd see this sticker ALL over Chicago (and all the other places I get my little feet to land on) on the streets, inside coffee shops and even "galleries." I suppose any art, even bad art, is better than no art. Wait actually no, I don't think so, at all. Sorry.

man, man, man, man-eater

Really? I mean, REALLY? Oh you you fiery ball of amazingsuperfantasticness, just stop it. I mean, no, don't stop, ever.

An incredible video for an equally incredible song.

The poet is one who is able to keep the fresh vision of the child alive.

The best part of being a 26 year old kid?

You can buy your own toys!!!





King Prancer and Scooty Fritz Gerald


Also I can keep a big bowl of hard/fruity candies AND a big bowl of chocolate in my very own apartment at all times. Right now I'm about to pour myself a glass of red wine and devour 10,000 pieces of chocolate and stay up til 3 in the morning drawing. Growing up is so awesome.

It's getting old, I know, I know.

(a HORRIBLE youtube video/image but trust me on this song.)

The band Swan Lake has been in heavy rotation these past few weeks since I discovered them. Especially so the song "A Hand at Dusk."

I have not sought out or written any poetry in quite awhile, but of course Poetry will always find us. These words are absolutely paralyzing-

there's a hand at dusk
in the wake in the water its mine
can you take the palm of it
for every time you change your mind
you are the flash of skin
seen through the leaves of anxious trees
the summer's touch just above the knee
just above the knee

I would love to be his state of mind when he wrote this song. I would love to see the things he saw inside his mind. This song is so rich, saturated in visuals. And the structure of it is so complex, so many different layers (listen to the song and you will understand what I mean.) But there is no climax. Each part is it's own climax. Steadily profound and powerful. Not surprisingly films and books I prefer are structured as such. No beginning, middle or end. No climax. Every page, every frame is an experience. Of course there is harmony and unity in the whole. But they are not working just for One/The experience, each stands its own yet understand the greater beauty in "together."

I have to admit, I am absolutely pathetic over the part in the song where he repeats:

It's getting old, I know, I know but you still look good to me in that knee-length checkered dress.
It's getting old, I know, I know but you still look good to me in that knee-length checkered dress.
It's getting old. It's getting old.

Korean Parents (for sale)

Kids today got problems
Like their parents never had
Neighborhoods are dangerous
The public schools are bad
At home there are distractions
So irresistible
The hours fly by
No work gets done

Some Jewish kids still trying
Some white kids trying too
But millions of real American kids
Don't have a clue
Right here on the lot
We got the answer
A product guaranteed to satisfy

Korean parents for sale
You say you're not all
That you want to be
You say you got a bad environment
Your work at school's not going well

Korean parents for sale
You say you need a little discipline
Someone to whip you into shape
They'll be strict but they'll be fair

Look at the numbers
That's all I ask
Who's at the head of every class?
You really think
They're smarter than you are
They just work their asses off
Their parents make them do it

[Saleslady]:
Oh, learn to play the violin
Oh, to turn your homework
In right on time

What a load off
Your back that will be
No tears
No regret
Never forget who sent Fido
To the farm

The greatest generation
Your parents aren't
The greatest generation
So sick of hearing about
The greatest generation
That generation could be you
So let's see what you can do
Korean parents and you