Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Teenage Paparazzo


I read a column in an old Popular Photography magazine. The columnist received a letter from an insurance salesman who owned a camera and decided to be a photojournalist. He wanted to go on assignment somewhere exotic. He asked where to sign up and how much he would be paid.

Even educated people thought they could just pick up their cameras, head for a war zone and be professional photojournalists.

Well. Turns out the idiots were right. It doesn't take years of experience to be a highly paid professional photographer. All it takes is a camera.

There's a documentary made by Adrian Grenier called Teenage Paparazzo about a kid named Austin Visschedyk. It focuses on Austin even though he had a friend, Blaine, who's also a teenage paparazzo but isn't quite as cute. The two boys run around LA with the grown-up paparazzi---one of them with a $3,000 camera his father bought him for that purpose. The little bastards make $500 to $1,000 per picture.

Austin became a bit of a celebrity himself---the subject of the documentary, for one thing. Both boys have websites which have a little "TM" after their names. They are now registered trademarks.

From a review by Chris Knight:

...the film gets most interesting when Austin, inebriated by all the attention, gets weirder, taking on the mannerisms of the pampered stars he follows. Grenier arrives with his camera crew one day to find Austin with his friend Blaine, whose dad is making his own movie. "Who are you with?" he asks another photographer. "Teen Vogue," the guy answers, doing a shoot about Blaine's dad's shoot.

Trying to rein in this pint-sized media monster, Grenier takes advice from Whoopi Goldberg, who suggests that, if Austin doesn't become the next Annie Leibovitz, his fame will fade the minute his voice changes. Maybe the boy can be steered toward an interest in serious photojournalism?

No luck. When Austin is shown the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo from the 1970 Kent State shootings -- of a girl screaming and kneeling over the body of a dead protester -- he shrugs and looks away. Not dramatic enough. Grenier, aghast, looks like a modern Prometheus.


There's something horrible about rich kids in Hollywood. I saw one of them on an MTV show called Cribs. The show has camera crews visit celebrities in their homes. And their homes are all pretty much alike. Everything they have is new. It's pretty much interchangeable. They could trade houses and no one would notice. And they all had the same cars---a gray BMW and the biggest, ugliest black SUV they could find.

The kid actor on Cribs---I think he was an undersized teenager who could pass for a 12-year-old---had appeared on that candid camera show Ashton Kutcher did, and was later cast in a short-lived sit-com. Looking at the kid's house, you could see his family was rich. They weren't living on the kid's money. It made me wonder what motivated this tasteless, bourgeois family to get their child on TV.

The idea of poor single mothers driving their children to auditions never bothered me. I'm all for it. But I can't understand these bourgeois parents. One look at their house and you can see that they don't have the slightest creative impulse.

In the case the the teenage paparazzi, you have rich parents spending thousands of dollars promoting their kids' efforts, which would probably be fine if they weren't doing something sleazy.

Austin Visschedyk is no Doogie Howser. All he has is a willingness to harass people with his camera and parents who let him do it. It doesn't say much for them. Or for the other paparazzi who aren't doing anything a seventh grader couldn't do just as well.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Miley Cyrus on “21 under 21″ list‎

Miley CyrusBillboard Magazine have revealed their top 21 musicians under 21 years of age.

They’re young, they’re on a white-hot winning streak, and most importantly, they’re just getting started: These are Billboard.com’s “21 Under 21,” selected not only for their tender age but also for their potential to rule the pop culture zeitgeist over the next 12 months.

Whether it’s a country star whose every song lyric demands hours of analysis (Is she singing about Joe, Taylor or Kanye?!), a beloved breakout character on TV’s hottest high school musical, or a newcomer who landed a record deal on the strength of one Lady Gaga cover – here are the top 10 of Billboard Magazine’s top 21 under 21.

10. Miley Cyrus.

9. Greyson Chance

8. Demi Lovato

7. Williow Smith

6. Nick Jonas

5. Soulja Boy

4. Charice

3. Selena Gomez

2. Justin Bieber

1. Taylor Swift

What do you think of the top 10? Who is favourite musician under 21? Leave us a comment.

Paris Hilton barred from Japan


I was generally on Paris Hilton's side during her ordeal in the county jail. A few people made fun of her for having a GED instead of a high school diploma, an insult to all those with GEDs, and an insult to the quarter of all high school graduates who can't pass the test for a GED.

But I had mixed feelings. I hate drunks, drunk drivers and, generally, rich people. Wasn't Paris laughing as one of her rich scumbag friends denounced one of their movie star friends for being "poor" because she only had a few million dollars? And what was the thing about her using racial slurs?

The sex tape wasn't her fault. She turned lemons into lemonade. She parlayed her degradation into a Hollywood career of sorts.

Now Paris has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of possessing .8 of a gram of cocaine and "obstructing an officer", whatever that means. She got one year probation, a $2,000 fine, 200 hours of community service and she has to complete a drug treatment program.

The judge told her that "Any new arrests terminate your criminal probation and you will serve a one year sentence."

As a convicted drug offender, she was barred from entering Japan. This put an end to her Asian tour to promote her line of clothing, or perfume or whatever the hell it was she was promoting a line of.

Anthony Papa wrote on counterpunch.com:

...Now I suggest because of this and her recent arrest she follows up with her thoughts back when she was released in 2007. Back then, fresh out of jail, Paris wanted to be an advocate and find meaning in her life. On the Larry King Show she was asked if she was planning to help others. Paris responded and said "That's something I was actually thinking a lot about in jail. I feel like, you know, being in the spotlight, I have a platform where I can raise awareness for so many great causes, and just do so much with this, instead of, you know, superficial things like going out. I want to help raise money for kids, breast cancer and multiple sclerosis." Those thoughts were soon forgotten.

But now because of her probation and her apparent drug use she was sentenced to two hundred hours of community service. I suggest that Paris Hilton now speak out and become an advocate for reforming our draconian drug laws. Think of how many lives she could save by speaking out for treatment instead of imprisonment. We would welcome her to our movement.

That's much better than my suggestion.

I was going to say that Paris should stop trying to steal work from needy actresses and use her wealth to produce and star in a series of shameless vanity projects. I would suggest a series of biopics. Paris Hilton as Zsa Zsa Gabor. Paris Hilton as Lana Turner. Paris Hilton as Marilyn Monroe. Paris Hilton as Jean Harlow.

Then do some intellectual roles. Paris Hilton as Ayn Rand. Paris Hilton as Madame Curie. Paris Hilton as...well. You get the idea.

And I'm not suggesting that Ayn Rand was an intellectual.

All Paris needs is money. Pay a few writers and actors, bring in a camera crew.

She would make the world a better place.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Party Wear Chaniya Choli Dress For Girls

Party Wear Chaniya Choli Dress For Girls
Party Wear Chaniya Choli Dress For Girls
Indian Model posing in Party wear Designer Chaniya Choli Dress (Indian Ethnic Wear)

 FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

A picture is the expression of an impression. If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it?
~ Ernst Haas

An artist is someone who produces things that people don't need to have but that he - for some reason - thinks it would be a good idea to give them.
~ Andy Warhol

Working in film is like making love to a gorilla. You don't stop when you want to stop; you stop when the gorilla wants to stop.
~ David Janssen

No good opera plot can be sensible:... people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.
~ W.H. Auden, Time, 29 December 1961

Designer Saree Blouse

Designer Saree Blouse
Designer Saree Blouse
Photoshop digital art of Indian Female Model posing in Designer Saree Blouse. For latest sari blouse designs and blouse neck patterns visit 'Designer Saree Blog'

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

The buttocks are the most aesthetically pleasing part of the body because they are non-functional. Although they conceal an essential orifice, these pointless globes are as near as the human form can ever come to abstract art.
~ Kenneth Tynan

Everyone criticizes the movies. Yet everyone seems to continue to go to them.
~ James M. Gillis

God and other artists are always a little obscure.
~ Oscar Wilde

They ought to put out the eyes of painters as they do goldfinches in order that they can sing better.
~ Pablo Picasso

Friday, September 24, 2010

Miley filming a commercial in LA

 Miley filming a commercial in LAMiley filming a commercial in Los Angeles on September 16.

There’s also going to be a new episode of Hannah Montana Forever airing on October 3rd called Hannah’s Gonna Get This with special guest star Iyaz, here’s the description.

“After a bad case of writer’s block, Miley finally comes up with a song for the new Hannah Montana album, a tune that gets mixed reactions from her record label. She starts to doubt herself until popular recording artist Iyaz overhears it and wants to record it as a duet. Meanwhile, Jackson and Rico compete over who can grow a better moustache.”

Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus Gossips, Miley Cyrus Pics, Miley Cyrus wallpapers, Miley Cyrus news,.

Miley Out with Braison

Miley Out with BraisonMiley out to lunch with her brother Braison! Enjoy!
Miley Out with Braison2
Miley Out with Braison1

Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus wallpapers,Miley Cyrus News,Miley Cyrus Images,Miley Cyrus Gallery,Miley CyrusSexy pictures,Miley Cyrus boobs,Miley Cyrus songs.

Miley Cyrus in Flowy Dress & Platform Hills at LA

miley
Miley Cyrus was spotted strolling around Los Angeles, California on September 23rd in a flowy dress and tall platform heels. What do you think of Miley’s outfit?

Miley recently posted a video for her “fans” in which she gets defensive about a number of rumors that are flying around about her. We wish if she was going to make a video she would make one really thanking her fans for their support rather than attacking the media
Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus images, Miley Cyrus wallpapers, ,Miley Cyrus news,Miley Style,Miley Boobjob,Milet Boy friend.

Miley Talks Abt Marraige and Boobjob

Miley Talks Abt Marraige and BoobjobMiley Cyrus has posted a 10-minute video on YouTube ranting about the number of false rumours about her.

The Hannah Montana actress uses the clip to address a series of tabloid reports - including claims she's to tie the knot with Last Song co-star Liam Hemsworth, 20. 'No, I'm not engaged,' says Miley, 17. 'No, I'm not getting married anytime soon.

'Miley doesn't need to do anything but sit and chill and make music that I love, and make art that means something to me. 'I'm way too driven right now... I'm 17! I've got so much work to do. No way.' Miley also tackles reports she's living with Liam and that she's having plastic surgery. 'I'm not living with anybody!' she adds. 'I think that rumour's been going on ever since I got my very first boyfriend ever.

'I live at home...I still live at home with my mum, my dad, my family. No one's here with us!

'And no, I don't want a boob job.'
Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus Gossips, Miley Cyrus images, Miley Cyrus news, Miley Cyrus Pics, Miley Cyrus wallpapers,

The most expensive tatoo in the world


South African model Minki van der Westhuizen spend 8 hours getting this tattoo done on her back and it's made of 612 diamonds. Each Shimansky diamond has been attached on her skin using waterbased glue.


This is the most expensive tattoo in the world and is etimated at 7,2 million SAR or 924,000 USD. This is a new fashion but few women will be able to afford it.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Indian Model in Printed Salwar Kameez Dress

Indian Model in Printed Salwar Kameez Dress
Indian Model in Printed Salwar Kameez Dress
Indian Female Model posing in Designer Printed Salwar Kameez Dress

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

He paints for the blind, and we are the blind, and he lets us see for sure what we saw long ago but weren't sure we saw. He paints for the dead, to remind us that - great good God, think of it - we're alive ...
~ William Saroyan

Pictures are for entertainment, messages should be delivered by Western Union.
~ Samuel Goldwyn

For me, painting is a way to forget life. It is a cry in the night, a strangled laugh.
~ Georges Rouault

Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.
~ Edmund Burke

Hawaii Five-0 stinks

Okay, so I watched the new Hawaii Five-O. My God, it was bad. Steve McGarrett and Dan Williams both talking in phony New Jersey accents. The sounded like John Travolta in his early, moronic roles. Do they think that sounds naturalistic?

I've never seen Hawaii look uglier than it did on that show. They apparently screwed around with the color and contrast. They must have thought they were making it look cinematic. Like the old soap operas where they would make everything brown because they thought it made it look more expensive.

Here's a shot from the show to give you an idea what they did to it:



Now, look at these two. If they knocked on your door and told you they were police, and said it in phony, moronic accents, would you say, "What seems to be the trouble, officers?" or would you lock the door?


What the hell is wrong with Steve McGarrett's arms?

I changed the channel and watched something else in the middle of it, so I missed the part where, according to one review, they question a suspect and hit him with an ashtray, threaten to deport his family to Rwanda and make some sort of quip about his seven-year-old child being forced to fight in a militia. Some of that wonderful humor admirers of the pilot were talking about.

I watched it because the REAL Hawaii Five-O was a pretty good show.

It makes me wonder---the network decided not to go with the new Rockford Files. They were disappointed by the pilot. Which means, what? It wasn't enough like this crap?

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Miley Declares 'I'm just like y'all!' ‎ Via Youtube

Miley cyrus
Without her Twitter, rumors this summer ran rampant, so finally the raspy voiced teen star filmed a video to set things straight and update her fans on her busy teen life.

Miley introduced fans to her new rescue dog (point 1 for Miley), joked about gaining weight on vacation (point 2 for Miley), and really did her part to come across as a normal teen girl wanting to live a normal teen life, even if that life includes an immaculately decorated, NYC studio apartment-sized shoe closet. It was great to see her acknowledge that she needed to go take a math quiz — even if she was procrastinating said math quiz to make a video. (Miley Cyrus stalling on math homework — I always knew we could be friends.) Of course, Miley proved that after her math, she could stand to brush up on her geography, with her “California is not the most beautiful city in the world” comment.

Rumors Miley debunked in the nearly 10-minute video: She is not engaged (last I heard, she was single), she is not living with a significant other (why move out of your parents’ house when there are huge shoe closets?), and she did not get arrested for driving while on the cell phone. It’s nice knowing that Miley is a law-abiding citizen — other former teen stars have me really worried these days. Topics I wish Miley covered: Which teeth whitening system she uses.

Mid-Week Motivation: Sherman Alexie's "On the Amtrak from Boston to NYC"



On the Amtrak from Boston to New York City

The white woman across the aisle from me says 'Look,
look at all the history, that house
on the hill there is over two hundred years old, '
as she points out the window past me

into what she has been taught. I have learned
little more about American history during my few days
back East than what I expected and far less
of what we should all know of the tribal stories

whose architecture is 15,000 years older
than the corners of the house that sits
museumed on the hill. 'Walden Pond, '
the woman on the train asks, 'Did you see Walden Pond? '

and I don't have a cruel enough heart to break
her own by telling her there are five Walden Ponds
on my little reservation out West
and at least a hundred more surrounding Spokane,

the city I pretended to call my home. 'Listen, '
I could have told her. 'I don't give a shit
about Walden. I know the Indians were living stories
around that pond before Walden's grandparents were born

and before his grandparents' grandparents were born.
I'm tired of hearing about Don-fucking-Henley saving it, too,
because that's redundant. If Don Henley's brothers and sisters
and mothers and father hadn't come here in the first place

then nothing would need to be saved.'
But I didn't say a word to the woman about Walden
Pond because she smiled so much and seemed delighted
that I thought to bring her an orange juice

back from the food car. I respect elders
of every color. All I really did was eat
my tasteless sandwich, drink my Diet Pepsi
and nod my head whenever the woman pointed out

another little piece of her country's history
while I, as all Indians have done
since this war began, made plans
for what I would do and say the next time

somebody from the enemy thought I was one of their own.

 --Sherman Alexie

(Poem found here)

AK thoughts: Bree posted this in the comments on my post yesterday on activist fatigue and daily interactions, and I was so taken aback by the relevance and power. Especially since I live in Boston, and I deal with the "there is so much history here!" comments constantly. I do have mixed feelings about Sherman Alexie sometimes, but then there are moments of clarity and realness in his work, like this poem, that remind me why I loved his pieces in the first place. So, I found strength in knowing that even the arguably best know Native author out there struggles and deals with these feelings, just like me.

(Thanks so much Bree!)

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Daily Encounters and Activist Fatigue: The Girl with the Headdress Shirt


Yesterday morning I walked into my 7:15 am "Total Body Workout" class at the gym, laughing and joking with my friend. As I turned to get my hand weights and mat, my gaze fell upon a girl in the class...wearing this shirt.

I sighed and wrinkled my nose, but turned back to my friend to continue our conversation. A few minutes before class started, my friend whispered "Did you see her shirt?! Wasn't that on your blog?" I nodded in response.

As class went on, in between sweating through sit ups and lunges, I kept catching her reflection in the mirror behind me. Each time sent a twinge through my stomach, a quick moment of discomfort and unease. I wanted to say something. I wanted to tell her how I was feeling. But the problem was, even in rehearsals in my head, I couldn't think of how to go about talking to her about the shirt.

 In the grand scheme of images on this blog, this particular shirt isn't that bad. I mean, I can easily sit here and tear it apart--how it represents a stereotype, how the cartoon-izing (I think I just made that word up) of the headdress takes away from it's sacredness and power, commodifying it and making it into a mass consumer good, how the blank, empty space where a head/face should be is representative of decontextualizing the headdress and separating it from the people and places where it belongs...but anyway, it's not an image of an Indian holding aloft a beer bong, or a severed Indian head, or any number of other blatantly racist images. She wasn't wearing a headdress. She was wearing a shirt that she probably bought at Urban Outfitters without a second thought.

But, as I've talked about so many times before, these seemingly benign images have just as much power to create and perpetuate negative stereotypes as the blatantly racist ones. Because of all these images she's seen and encountered in her life, she probably never would have thought that the dark haired girl struggling with push ups in front of her was a Native person who might take offense to her shirt.

So, you're probably wondering, what did I say? What did I do?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Even I, who day after day on this blog can spout the reasons why continued cultural appropriation and misrepresentations of our communities are wrong and harmful, couldn't find the right words to tell an undergrad why her shirt is hurtful to me. 

Not that I'm always silent. I once made a Harvard student in an Indian costume at a local pizza place almost cry when I confronted him, and another time at a football tailgate I physically ripped a headdress off a huge guy's head and stomped on it in the mud, after he wouldn't take it off when I asked nicely (That technique is NOT recommended).

But it's often the daily encounters, the seemingly minor interactions, images, and subtle messages that give me pause. Do I call out every classmate that substitutes the word "powwow" for "meeting"? Do I rip down every indie band poster advertising their latest gig with an image of an Indian? Do I tell the girl in the headdress shirt at my gym class that her shirt hurts me?

Some days I do, some days I don't--or I can't, or I won't--it's a combination. Because this work gets tiring. It's a never ending battle, and some days I'm too tired to fight.

My friend's solution? She thinks I should make up business cards with my blog address on it, so I can just hand one to the offender and say something like "I think you should check out this blog, it might give you a reason to rethink your shirt choice."

So I'm curious--since I don't purport to have all the answers, I'll turn it over to you, readers. Do you have any techniques for dealing with these daily interactions? Do you have a way of approaching someone that cuts defensiveness and allows for your voice to be heard? Stories of encounters with hipster headdresses?

I do have a few techniques I fall back on, but I think it's time we have a step-by-step "how to" guide for dealing with these incidents. So let's generate some thoughts, and I'll compile it all together.

Next time, Girl with the Headdress Shirt, I'll be ready.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Random Appropriation of the Day (Miller Tomahawk Beer Tap)


(listing here)
Reader Leah passed this one over via Facebook, it's an Ebay listing for a "Miller TOMAHAWK Beer Tap Handle". I'm guessing the whole concept here was Miller--American Beer--"Real American"--Indians. Or something like that. I'm also a fan of the labeling: "Tomahawk...Peace Pipe...War Ax." Um, I'd say "Peace Pipe" might be the outlier there. Here's the listing on Ebay:



On a serious note, associating Native peoples with alcohol is very troubling, given the legacy of alcoholism and alcohol abuse in our communities. The "drunken Indian" stereotype is one of the most harmful and still pervasive images of Natives in our society, and having a beer tap drawing that connection is definitely not helping the issue.

Other things to draw your attention to: The ebay store is called "Da Man Cave" (I wouldn't expect anything less, since we all know "manly"="warrior"="Indian"), and then there is this great disclaimer at the bottom of the page:
***EBAY DISCLAIMER:  This item is a replica and NOT an actual historic Native American artifact***
Really?! Historic Native Americans didn't make beer tap handles?! Mind. Blown.

Better hurry, grab your $175 dollars, and bid away...there's only 15 hours left on the auction.

Listing here: Miller TOMAHAWK Beer Tap Handle

(Thanks Leah!)

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Miley Cyrus Met Jonas Reunite At Birthday Party

Miley Cyrus Met Jonas Reunite At Birthday Party
Miley Cyrus And Nick Jonas Reunite At Birthday Party – Could romance be brewing between Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas? The two stars celebrated his birthday along with his brother’s ex Demi Lovato.

The trio was accompanied by a number of other individuals including Robert Kardashian. Demi and Miley were seen hugging at one point throughout the day. Selena Gomez was invited but was reportedly unable to make it because she is too busy promoting her new album. The trio went bowling at the stroke of midnight on Wednesday night.

Nick and Miley used to date one another, but they have not been together for quite some time. Joe Jonas, who is Demi’s ex-boyfriend, also joined them as they went bowling. It is not clear if he was seen chatting with his ex or not throughout the night, but he did make sure to wish his brother a happy birthday over twitter.
Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus Gossips, Miley Cyrus images, Miley Cyrus news, Miley Cyrus Photo, Miley Cyrus Pics, Miley Cyrus wallpapers,

Joaquin Phoenix, Woody Allen

Andy Warhol used to make these "movies". They were portraits on 16mm film. The person would sit and they would turn on the camera for 12 minutes or however long the roll of film ran. The idea was that the person posing for the picture couldn't maintain a front for that long. Their true self---their true facial expression, which I guess means their neutral facial expression, would come out at some point before the film ran out.

But then you have Woody Allen in Wild Man Blues, a cinema verite documentary about his European tour with his amateur jazz band. And amateurs they were. Some European critics pointed out that they really weren't very good.

Poor Woody Allen has practiced his clarinet faithfully for decades. He was dedicated to it. But it was decades before it dawned on him that he didn't have a talent for it. But he has other things to sustain him, and even if he didn't, he'd be no worse off than most of us. There's an elderly dishwasher or janitor somewhere practicing his clarinet slowly realizing that he never had a chance.

The thing about Wild Man Blues is that Allen never forgot the camera was there. He managed to go on a 23-day tour without ever behaving naturally.

"Wake me up before we land in Paris," he says as he goes to sleep on the plane. In Paris? He was speaking in movie dialog, explaining to the viewers what was happening.

Later, he writes down an order for room service.

"You're not signing an autograph," Soon-yi says.

"I'll write it more clearly," Allen says in case the audience didn't catch what she meant.

He gets sick and can't perform in London. He says: "What a drag. I was looking forward to giving a good show tonight. I don't want to just go out there and make an achievement till I get through the show. I want the show to be very good cause if I'm not good, these people will hate me in my own language."

I don't think I'm especially observant about things like that, but those jumped out even at me.

The only interesting thing was that Soon-yi seemed have more on the ball than people gave her credit for. When it came out that Allen was molesting her, Mia Farrow tried to portray her as subnormal, taken advantage of and manipulated by a rich geezer movie director. And she probably was manipulated and taken advantage of. The poor girl was a teenager when Allen started playing his dirty numbers on her (although she was an adult). She was adopted as a pre-schooler after living a horrible life in Korea, and just her place in this over-sized family probably left her vulnerable. Kind of like if Jan Brady had been a horribly abused Korean adoptee.

Soon-yi may be right about one thing. There were reports that she wanted Allen to get some decent frames for his glasses and start wearing Armani suits. Allen's image is so contrived. At least he quit wearing saddle shoes.

Mia Farrow wrote in her memoir that when she first went out with Allen, she was talking to someone who knew him. They talked about what she should do to make a good impression.

"Well, I know he doesn't care about clothes," Mia said.

"Are you kidding?" her friend said.

Moe Howard and Larry Fine combed their hair normally when they weren't playing the The Three Stooges. Charlie Chaplin wore regular, properly-fitting clothes when he wasn't on the set. Seems like Woody Allen could dress like a normal human being.

I'm Still Here

But now we have this other phony documentary, I'm Still Here, starring Joaquin Phoenix, directed by his brother-in-law, Casey Affleck. Roger Ebert seemed to have fallen for it--thought it was real. As I understand it, Phoenix made statements both ways, that it was a real documentary and that it was a "mockumentary". Affleck finally stated that it wasn't real.

I haven't seen it and I'm not likely to.

There is a precedent for this sort of thing in literature.

The first novels were epistolary---they took the form of letters or diaries. This gave them the illusion of reality.

Today, epistolary novels have taken it one step further---they take the form of memoirs and are actually published as memoirs. You have people writing sometimes wildly implausible stories and publishing and promoting them as memoirs and insisting that they're completely true. One was written by a woman who claimed that, at age 7, she killed a Nazi and then fled into the forest where she was raised by wolves.

You have literary hoaxes like the case of J.T. LeRoy. A middle aged woman wrote supposedly autobiographical stories by/about a teenage boy prostitute. She gave interviews over the phone speaking with a fake West Virginia accent. She would explain that he could give lengthy phone interviews, work as a prostitute and write shocking details about his life, but he was too painfully shy to be interviewed in person.

I don't think Daniel Defoe ever claimed to be Robinson Crusoe.

I read a little by J.T. LeRoy and thought it was crap. I can see how people might have found it compelling if they thought it was true, but even then the writing was very bad. As one critic mentioned, if you're going to write about being a 12-year-old "truck stop prostitute" in West Virginia, you should probably give some idea as to how truck stop prostitution actually works. How does one go about it? It was written in a vague, pseudo poetic style. I've seen stuff written by real teenagers about actual events that was infinitely better---written by kids with no literary pretense who'd probably be looked down upon by the high brow dupes taken in by "LeRoy".

There's a Facebook page called "I Love A Million Little Pieces Even If It's Not All True". There are always people like that. They were fooled into believing complete nonsense, and when the hoax is exposed they insist that it's still of literary merit because they were so moved by it when they thought it was true. Gus Van Sant said this about J.T. LeRoy. Van Sant had actually met with LeRoy and LeRoy co-wrote the script to one of his movies, but Van Sant didn't notice he was a woman.

But stuff like that is only interesting if it's true. Like an episode of Dragnet. No one would have watched that show for two seconds if they knew it was fiction.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Indian Fashion Model in Sleeveless Short Top Salwar Kameez

Indian Fashion Model in Sleeveless Short Top Salwar Kameez
Indian Fashion Model in Sleeveless Short Top Salwar Kameez
Photoshop art of Indian Female Fashion Model in Sleeveless Short Top Salwar Kameez

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

Everything in creation has its appointed painter or poet and remains in bondage like the princess in the fairy tale 'til its appropriate liberator comes to set it free.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending ourself that one becomes rich.
~ Sarah Bernhardt

The progress of an artist is a continual self-sacrifice, a continual extinction of personality.
~ T.S. Eliot, Tradition and the Individual Talent, 1919

To bring a film to the screen is to wrestle with monsters dressed as clowns.
~ David Thomson

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Rajnikanth's Endhiran - The Robot Wallpapers

Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai in Endhiran The Robot
Rajnikanth's Endhiran - The Robot Wallpapers
Rajnikanth's Endhiran - The Robot Wallpapers
Rajnikanth's Endhiran - The Robot Wallpapers,

For Latest Endhiran Wallpapers and Movie Stills visit 'Darpan Cool Pics'

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.
~ Ambrose Bierce
There is no surer method of evading the world than by following Art, and no surer method of linking oneself to it than by Art.
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

There are directors who desire to be artistic. It is pathetic to compare the seriousness of their aim with the absurdity of their attainment.
~ W. Somerset Maugham

Art is... a question mark in the minds of those who want to know what's happening.
~ Aaron Howard

Miley Cyrus launches fashion range at Asda

Miley Cyrus
Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus has launched her own pocket moneypriced fashion range at supermarket chain Asda.

But image-conscious British girls who are keen to dress like the trendsetting teenager need to figure out their American size first, as all the gear comes in US fittings.

From Miley's trademark ripped skinny jeans which are in American sizes 1-11 to edgy rock-chick T-shirts in US extra small to extra large, buying online could leave parents with a conversion headache.

The brainchild of Asda's American parent company Walmart, the trendy clothes for older girls start from £6 for foil-printed vests and £7 for tops, stylishly slashed at the back.

There's funky denim hotpants for £9, Miley's trademark Hannah Montana waistcoat and T-shirt for £9 and blue or black skinny jeans for £13. Miley's sassy outfits have been designed with the help of French fashion guru Max Azria who has created exclusive red carpet gowns for A-listers Alicia Keys, Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie.
Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus Gossips, Miley Cyrus images, Miley Cyrus news, Miley Cyrus Pics, Miley Cyrus wallpapers.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Miley Cyrus Break The Rule

Miley Cyrus

Police stopped Miley Cyrus after seeing her using her phone while driving in Hollywood reports have claimed. The 17-year-old star that was with her boyfriend Liam Hemsworth was told off by police for using her mobile where they told her how dangerous it was.

According to reports, the police made sure that Miley Cyrus knew how serious the offence was before letting her on her way.

A source close to Miley Cyrus said: “Miley got a good telling off by the police, they were not interested in who she was they were only interested in getting her to understand that using her mobile phone could have caused a crash.”
Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus Gossips, Miley Cyrus news, Miley Cyrus Pics, Miley Cyrus wallpapers.

Miley Cyrus -Liam Hemsworth Together again

Miley Cyrus -Liam Hemsworth kiss
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are getting back together start to gain evidence.

After reported spending time together during the weekend, the pair has been spotted sharing a long kiss in her parked car, a Mercedes Benz SUV, on Monday, September 13 morning in Los Angeles. Just Jared which obtains the picture reports that they were making out for about 10-15 minutes.


Miley and Liam, who started dating after they met on the set of "The Last Song", separated in August. On Saturday, September 11, however, the two were spotted picnicking together in Hollywood Hills.

"Miley and Liam kept smiling and seemed to really enjoy their afternoon together. They acted like they had missed each other, kept chatting and seemed to be catching up," a source told People about their outing. "They definitely seemed like a couple again."
Tags:Miley Cyrus Gossips, Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus images, Miley Cyrus news, Miley Cyrus Photo, Miley Cyrus Pics, Miley Cyrus wallpapers,

Monday, September 13, 2010

Cool Things at Cherokee National Holiday

(My Cherokee-style basket I made in Tahlequah!)

Labor Day weekend was the annual Cherokee National Holiday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma (the capital of the Cherokee Nation). When I used to work in Native recruitment at a university out west, my travels brought me through Oklahoma fairly often, but since I've moved to Boston I hadn't been back to visit my family in a while--so the National Holiday offered a great excuse for a trip.



The weekend proved to be incredibly powerful and really transformational in a number of ways--it became much, much more than just a surface-level visit. I went to stomp dances, learned a lot more about my Cherokee history and family, and left feeling so proud and so connected to my community. I've been trying to put my feelings and experience into words, so I'll put that up as soon as I feel comfortable with it. Then, on Sunday, I had the chance to meet up with filmmaker Sterlin Harjo for coffee and a chat. Post forthcoming on that as well (got the scoop on the New Moon Wolfpack Auditions video)!

So because the weekend became much more about family and community, I actually only managed to snap a few pictures throughout the weekend. Here they are:

This is from the "State of the Nation" address in Tahlequah on Saturday, that's Deputy Chief Grayson and Principal Chief Chad Smith up on the stage. It was really interesting to hear about all the cool things going on in CN, and they gave out some community awards and had performances as well. They also had a huge, yummy (and free!) feed in honor of Wilma Mankiller afterward. I also stood next to Wes Studi, who was trying to be all covert in a hat and sunglasses, but I spotted him right out! No picture of him, unfortunately. I chickened out.


One of the cool things about Tahlequah is that all the signs are bilingual--even the big storefronts like Bank of America. You can see me in the reflection (hi!).

Here's one of the street signs--Choctaw Street, in Cherokee.

Behind the main courthouse square, they had stations where you could learn some traditional Cherokee crafts, practice some Cherokee language, use a blow gun, and even play stickball. I made a basket (which I am exceedingly proud of, I even ordered supplies when I got home to make more!), and these cute mini-stickball sticks, which I would totally hang from my rear view mirror...if I had a car:

That's my Auntie's house in the background (like the Indian art?). Finally, I'll leave you with this awesome bumper sticker that I saw at the Cherokee Heritage Center:

True that.

In addition to these random pictures, there was also a powwow, an art show, and a million other cool events throughout the weekend. It was so neat to see so many Cherokees in one place, and it just really had the feel of one, big, family reunion. I'll definitely be back!
 
So stay tuned for a post about the more personal side of the weekend, as well as my interview (slash conversation with a tape recorder) with Sterlin Harjo!


 (Wado to Marcus for making me promise I would go!)

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Actress Bindu Choudary in Designer Saree

Actress Bindu Choudary in Designer Saree
Actress Bindu Choudary in Designer Saree
Photoshop art of South Indian Actress Bindu Choudary in Designer Saree

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

If Hitler's still alive, I hope he's out of town with a musical.
~ Larry Gelbart

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.
~ Georgia O'Keeffe

You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it.
~ Author Unknown

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.
~ Ansel Adams

Actress Anushka - Arundhati Movie Still

Actress Anushka - Arundhati Movie Still
Actress Anushka - Arundhati Movie Still
Actress Anushka - Arundhati Movie Still
South Indian Actress Anushka Shetty back pose still from her Super hit Movie Arundhati.

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

I'm not a movie person. They're collaborations of the worst kind. You must compromise yourself to many interests that are venal and crass and do not have your best interests at heart.
~ John Irving

Man will begin to recover the moment he takes art as seriously as physics, chemistry or money.
~ Ernst Levy

Television--a medium. So called because it is neither rare nor well done.
~ Fred Allen

Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea.
~ John Anthony Ciardi

Cindy Crawford Biography - Supermodel Cindy Crawford Biography

Cindy Crawford Biography - Supermodel Cindy Crawford Biography
Cindy Crawford Biography - Supermodel Cindy Crawford Biography
Supermodel Cindy Crawford Biography
Supermodel Cindy Crawford Biography : Born in DeKalb, Illinois to John Crawford and Jennifer Moluf, her trademark is a visible mole on her face (although most people refer to it as a "beauty mark").
A series of exercise videos that she made were successful — more so than her acting pursuits. She continues to provide celebrity endorsement for a variety of projects.

She was discovered by chance by a newspaper photographer, who noticed then 16-year old Cindy at work during her summer job of detasselling corn and took a picture of her. The photo and the positive feedback she received were enough to convince her to take up modelling. Thanks to two summers of modelling, she was able to study chemical engineering at Northwestern University on a scholarship.

The former high school valedictorian achieved the same exceptional grades in college as in high school, but didn't complete her studies. She left school in order to pursue a full-time modelling career. After working for photographer Victor Skrebneski in Chicago and becoming a success, Cindy moved to New York City in 1986.

Career
From 1989 to 1995, Crawford was host of MTV's House of Style. In 1992, roadside posters of her had to be removed in Norway when authorities noticed a 300% increase in the accident rate as motorists were distracted by them. In 1995 Crawford took her first movie role in Fair Game. Her performance was dismissed by critics, and the film was a financial failure, with expenses of $50 million and $11 million takings at the box office.

Crawford is just over 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall, has a slim, well-toned figure, with brown hair and eyes. Her measurements are 34"-24"-35". She was the first modern supermodel to pose nude for Playboy magazine. She was ranked number 5 on Playboy's list of the 100 Sexiest Stars of the 20th century.

She has been featured on the cover of more than 600 magazines worldwide including Vogue, W, People, Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Allure. A 1997 Shape magazine survey of 4,000 picked her as the second (after Demi Moore) most beautiful woman in the world. In 2002, Crawford was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People magazine.

Personal life
Crawford's first marriage to actor Richard Gere lasted from 1991 to 1995. It was heavily rumoured that the marriage was a cover for their mutual homosexuality, but this was denied by both.
During their marriage, the rumors had been further fueled (and mocked) by Crawford when she appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in a semi-provocative pose with popular and openly lesbian singer k.d. lang in August 1993.
Crawford is currently married to Rande Gerber (club owner) with two young children, Presley, born July 2, 1999, & Kaia, born September 3, 2001. Crawford famously gave birth to both her children through natural home birth. Gere has also since become a father. Crawford now owns her own production company, Crawdaddy Inc.

Filmography
The Simian Line (2000) ... as Sandra
Cindy Crawford: A New Dimension (2000)
The Secret World of... Supermodels (1998)
Beautopia (1998)
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza! (1998)
54 (1998) ... as VIP Patron
Frasier: Halloween (1997)
Fair Game (1995) ... as Kate McQueen
Catwalk (1995)
Unzipped (1995)
Cindy Crawford: The Next Challenge Workout (1993)
Cindy Crawford: Shape Your Body Workout (1992)

(source)

Miley Cyrus Get Tattoo on Little Finger

miley cyrus tattoo ear
Miley Cyrus getting tattoos inked on her right ear and under her left breast, singer-actress.

Miley Cyrus has gone ahead to get her third one - an outline of a heart.

The tattoo, Cyrus' third, is on the little finger of her right hand.
Miley cyrus tattoo breast
Her first one were the words Just breathe under her left breast. It was a tribute to her friend Vanessa, who died of cystic fibrosis, an inherited lung disease, three years ago.

She got her second tattoo - the word Love- in May this year.
Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus Gossips, Miley Cyrus images, Miley Cyrus news, Miley Cyrus Photo, Miley Cyrus Pics, Miley Cyrus wallpapers, Miley Cyrus Tattoo

How the hell do you break into the movie industry?

You want to avoid the expense of film school, to avoid graduating with a massive debt and a worthless degree. You have to figure out how to make the connections without enrolling, which doesn't seem like it would be that hard.

It seems like someone who wants to be a filmmaker had BETTER be able to come up with something more creative than "go to film school, then get a job."

There's always Toronto with its thriving film industry.

With the economy the way it is...

The economy is lousy. But the rich now are MUCH richer than they were just ten or twenty years ago. It's not that the economy isn't working---it's that it's working exactly the way they want it to, to the advantage of the parasites who control it. Which means this situation is going to be more or less permanent.

For the aspiring filmmaker, it either means you should snap out of it and do something that will actually allow you to earn a living, or it means that you're doomed to poverty anyway, so you may as well go for it. The only fields where the job market is expanding are waitressing and bartending.

John Waters, et al

John Waters started out filming hideously offensive movies for people in Baltimore. "Transgressive" (intentionally offensive) cinema would be hard to succeed at now since South Park and Family Guy have cornered that market, in much the same way that mainstream cinema is now bloodier and gorier than anything Hershel Gordon Lewis ever made.

In the early '60's, exploitation filmmakers were in trouble. Hollywood had moved in on their territory. They had been making sex movies. Not porno---just movies about sex. The cheap exploitation filmmakers had to think of something new, something commercially viable that Hollywood would never stoop to. They came up with "gore movies".

Now Hollywood has taken that over, too.

So. What's left? What is there? What is there that has commercial potential, that can be filmed on a tiny budget, and that Hollywood won't touch?

They've already taken over the gay market.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvathi
Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvathi
Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesha, one of the most important Gods of the Hindu Mythology. The festival is usually celebrated on the 4th day of Bhadarva Shukla-paksh of Hindu calendar in (August and September). According to the Hindu belief Ganeshji is worshipped first on all auspicious occasions, whether it is a marriage or a religious function. Ganeshji is the foremost god of the Hindu Pantheon. He is regarded as the destroyer of all problems and obstacles. That's the reason in Hindu family whenever they start a new venture they perform his puja he is regarded as an extremely benevolent god, fulfilling the wishes of those who pray to him sincerely. Ganesh is remembered on chauth or chaturthi, the 4th day of every month of the Hindu calendered, but most of all on Ganesh Chaturthi, which is celebrated as his birthday. On the day of the festival Hindus performs pujas at temples and even in homes. Fasting, feasting and distribution of sweets mainly ladoos are offered to him. These are some of the important aspects of Ganesh Chaturthi rituals in India. After the festival is over they immerse the idols in the nearby water body, which are sacred.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi symbolizes Good omen. It also inspires the devotees to have trust and faith in God all mighty and obey the commands of God. The celebration begins much before the festival as people starts preparing by cleaning the house and whitewashing. During the festival people purchase small images from shops and brought into home. Larger clay made images are made by the professional craftsmen and set up in pandals and pavilions throughout the country. It is a festival, which is observed through out the country. Especially in Maharashtra side this festival has a special significance and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. The festival is also symbolic of the advent of all festivals dedicated to other Indian Gods.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Miley Cyrus Laughing Out Loud in paris

 Miley Cyrus Laughing Out Loud
It seemed mere speculation when it was reported that 17-year-old Miley had fallen head-over-heels for LOL: Laughing Out Loud co-star Douglas Booth. The film also stars The Twilight Saga actress Ashley Greene and Demi Moore.

Miley Cyrus and Ashley Greene have taken the shoot for their upcoming flick "LOL: Laughing Out Loud" internationally. The ladies were photographed filming in Paris, after being spotted in Detroit earlier this summer.

In stills taken on the set, Greene and Cyrus are pictured with various castmates filming "LOL," which is due in 2011.

Later, Cyrus, wearing a leather jacket, goes shopping with Hinshaw and Esco, and in another shot, she is alone and soaking wet, running through a puddle. Cyrus and Greene also were filmed walking arm in arm through Paris.

Cyrus has said that in her post-"Hannah Montana" career, she's looking to film more serious, mature movies, and that she intends to take a break from music to pursue her film career.

"I'm working on lots of different films: drama, action, comedy," she explained. "I like challenges, so I'm doing a little bit of everything."
miley cyrus  Douglas Booth
"The more I make music that doesn't truly inspire me, the more I feel like I'm blending in with everyone else," she added. "I'm taking some time off [from music]."

Given those plans, "LOL" seems like a step in the right direction. The film is about a group of young people, led by Cyrus (whose character is named Lola), who try to navigate high school peer pressures and romance in a tech-savvy world. It also stars Demi Moore as Cyrus's mom.

"She's great," Moore said of her co-star, "and I think that she is incredibly grounded. ... [Miley] is a true professional, and she truly has a wonderful family. It really shows."
Tags:Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus images, Miley Cyrus Gossips, Miley Cyrus news, Miley Cyrus Photo, Miley Cyrus Pics, Miley Cyrus upcoming movie, Miley Cyrus wallpapers

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Jezebel Uses "#trailoftears" to Describe Megan McCain

(link to article here)

Notice anything distinctive about this posting from Jezebel this morning? Please direct your gaze to the upper righthand corner of the photo. See the hash tag? Here, I blew it up for you:

Yes, that says #trailoftears. Trail of Tears. The forced relocation of my ancestors, where they were unlawfully and forcibly removed from their homelands in the Southeast and marched over 1000 miles, in the dead of winter, to what is now modern day Oklahoma. Over 4,000 of the 15,000 Cherokees who began the journey died along the way from exposure, hunger, and disease. 

The Trail of Tears was also unlawful in the truest sense of the word. Chief John Ross of the Cherokee Nation took the case to court, fighting for the right for his people to remain in their homelands, where they had been for thousands of years. The Cherokees argued that as a sovereign nation, the state of Georgia had no right to enforce a removal within Cherokee territory. The case worked it's way up through the court system, ended up in the supreme court. In a series of decisions, Justice John Marshall and his court sided with the Cherokees, stating that only the national government had the right to intervene in Indian Affairs. To which President Andrew Jackson reportedly stated:
"John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!"
With the signing of the Indian Removal Act in 1830, Jackson took matters into his own hands, authorizing the removal of thousands of Native people from throughout North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama. 

To put this in perspective, this is the mid 1800's. The Cherokee Nation was a successful and prosperous community, with large plantations, farms, schools, printing presses that produced books and a newspaper in the written Cherokee language, a literacy rate exponentially higher than the local white community, and a system of colleges that educated members of the "Five Civilized Tribes" (I hate that term) in a way that incorporated both mainstream and tribal education traditions.

The federal government sent in troops to enforce the removal, and without warning, they swooped into these communities, burning homes, killing livestock, and removing families without even time for them to gather belongings. They were then rounded up into concentration camps where conditions were squalid and supplies limited, and then forced to begin their journey.

My great-great-great grandparents came over on that journey, a time that is called Nunna daul Isunyi in the Cherokee Language--The Trail Where They Cried. 

So, Jezebel, calling Megan McCain crying over her dad picking Sarah Palin as his running mate a #trailoftears? You are dismissing the pain and legacy of my community's genocide--and that's not something I take lightly. 

UPDATE 9/15: The #trailoftears tag is still there. On the day the post went up, I tweeted my thoughts on the tagging to Jessica Coen (@JessicaCoen), the Jezebel editor who authored the post, and received no response. Later, I tweeted this post, and again received no response. I received numerous emails from Native Appropriations readers who said they emailed the editors, and they received responses from the site ranging from "complaint noted" to "thank you for your response" to "dissent noted". There are also multiple comments on the Jezebel post expressing concern over the tag, and then there is this comment thread: http://jezebel.com/comment/28874773/ (complete with the typical "stop whining" troll) that exhibits the thoughts of some of the Jezebel readership. 

Am I surprised they didn't take the tag down? Not really. Jezebel is not exactly know for sensitivity about issues pertaining to race. Of course it's still upsetting and frustrating, and the most annoying part to me is it seemed like such a simple fix--something that they could have gone in and corrected with little fanfare and no one would have been the wiser. I know it's embarrassing to get called out when you eff up, but, I'm sorry Jezebel, ignoring the issue isn't gonna fix it. This may seem small and inconsequential to you, but these are my ancestors and my community, and the way this was handled does nothing to restore my faith in how people of color are treated on your site.   

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Double features on DVD


Roger Ebert suggested ideas for double features. It was in the back of one of his books. His idea was to rent two movies to watch together.

I don't really remember them, except he kept suggesting you watch the original movie, then the re-make, which seemed rather uninspired. And he suggested this with some really long movies---The Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven which would be awfully long.

But okay, here are my suggestions. Double features. Movies you can compare and contrast:

Psycho
and
A Touch of Evil


A Touch of Evil exemplified Orson Welles' approach---long sequence shots and composition in depth---while Psycho was a stunning vindications of the theories of Pudovkin and Eisenstein. Made within a few years of each other, both black and white exploitation films and both with Janet Leigh in a motel with a nutty desk clerk. The movies are similar, but so different. Makes more sense to compare these two than Battleship Potempkin and Citizen Kane.

Shane
and
Slingblade


Strangely similar storylines. Was it really such a good idea letting Shane hang around with that kid? Could it be that Shane belonged in an institution?

Exodus
and
Little Shop of Horrors


Made the same year, both shown by special invitation at the Cannes Film Festival. One an overblown epic, the other filmed in just two days. And they're both about Jewish people.

Dead Man
and
The Outskirts
(Russia, 1998)

Somewhat similar, both black & white. The Outskirts (Okraina) was filmed in the style of a 1930s Soviet film; Dead Man was filmed in the style of a Jim Jarmusch movie. If you like one, you'll probably like the other.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers
and
They Live


A cold war paranoia movie, about Communists from outer space. Then watch John Carpenter's movie about Bourgeoisie from outer space.

The Maltese Falcon
and
Yojimbo

Movies with seemingly amoral heroes who deal with criminals on their own terms, play one side off against the other and destroy them both.

Yojimbo, by the way, borrowed elements of the movie The Glass Key which was based on a Dashiell Hammett novel, as was The Maltese Falcon.

Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway
and
Roger Corman's A Bucket of Blood


Opening scenes show high-brow artistic types talk about art being more important than human life. Low-brows put the theory into practice.

Malcolm X
and
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story


Biopics. One anti-miscegenation, the other pro-miscegenation.

The Ice Storm
and
Max Mon Amour


The first is about wife swappers in the early '70s. The other is a surreal French comedy, played straight, about a married bourgeois French woman secretly dating a chimpanzee.

The Bicycle Thief
and
Angelo, My Love


The Italian Neo-Realist classic, and Robert Duvall's brilliant movie about Gypsies living in New York which I thought exemplified the theories of Italian Neo-Realism.

Suddenly Last Summer
and
Mondo Cane


The first, based on the play by Tennessee Williams. A guy liked to take women to southern Europe and show them how horrible the world is. And Mondo Cane, made in southern Europe by a depressed director who wanted to show audiences how horrible the world was.

Bad Day At Black Rock
and
Yojimbo


I already used Yojimbo, but here it is again. Bad Day at Black Rock was directed by John Sturges, who went on to direct The Magnificent Seven, which was a western remake of Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai. So it's sort of appropriate that there were parallels between these two movie. Bad Day at Black Rock pre-dated Yojimbo, of course.