Tuesday 21 January 2014

Israel/instagram











Kyrat Shmona/trapping ferrets/bunker clubs/small pubs in haifa/hippie coffee shops/facebook chat w dad




I dig this video rn



Arcade Fire "Here Comes The Night Time" Directed by Roman Coppola
<3
I'm israel

Saturday 20 April 2013

Saturday 23 February 2013



Chrissie Amphlett was the lead singer of The Divinyls. Born in Melbourne  as a teenager she ran away to Europe where she traveled to England, France and Spain and was arrested for three months for singing on the streets.



Apart from being a totally kickass performer and lyricist, she also acted in the 1982 film Monkey Grip


And don't forget she is responsible for my pre-teen obsession - "I touch myself" a song that represented how unapologetic she is about her sexuality, a mind-blowing concept for a 12 year old to fathom that still resonates with me today.





Programming on rage



  fucking sick video

Saturday 16 February 2013

B Grade

teenage mother starcrash cannibal girls big bad mama

Monday 4 February 2013

Saturday 19 January 2013

Holy Roller Roll Over Me


Stay true to yourself, stick to your gut and never doubt or let anyone make you feel like you need to compromise yourself. 




<3

Summer of transformations

Spent the summer in South Africa visiting family, going on safari, going to gigs, house parties, hanging with my friends band the dollfins and gateway drugs.




xx

Friday 7 December 2012

Hollywood Nailz Episode 1


Created by and starring Seth Bogart from Hunx and his Punx

Friday 23 November 2012

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Forbidden Fruit, A Clockwork Orange: A documentary



"A With Out Walls Documentary from 1993 About A Clockwork Orange which was Still Withdrawn From Public Viewing In The UK At The Time Of Making, At Stanley Kubrick's Request. " 




Happy halloween! x

Sunday 28 October 2012

"MANDY! YOU'RE DAUGHTER IS A BEAUTIFUL FEMINIST"

Quick thoughts on Feminism
 I was recently fortunate to engage in a discussion with one of my parents friends who were a homosexual couple about gender issues and feminism at my father’s birthday party. The flamboyant and significantly more intoxicated individual of the pair exclaimed to my mother “MANDY! YOU’RE DAUGHTER SAYS THAT YOU DON’T SAY YOU ARE A FEMINIST!” to which she replied “I am not a feminist, I am a woman and therefore I am naturally a feminist”
 Misogyny in our patriarchal society has been around for thousands of years, and feminism is only a reason 100 year old advent. It is going to take a lot longer than 100 years to change deeply embedded patriarchal values. This is why I think it is important to identify as feminist. If you don’t continue to protect your rights, the walls of the establishment will slowly close around you. And my parent’s friend Tom was quick to retort, gay rights, women’s rights any rights can be taken away in a second.


one of my favourite women’s liberation photographs. Vale street 2 by Carol Jerrems, the necklace she is wearing is the symbol Ankh symbolising the ancient power of women and the age of Aquarius

Sunday 21 October 2012

Me + Noel Fielding =

 I was aware Noel Fielding was in Sydney as my friend had spotted him perusing the Museum of contemporary art where we both work (alas I wasn't there that day)

Anyway, bummed that I wasn't able to bump into him, I soon found out that he was  having a signing in my city and I felt like I simply had to go. If only to honour my 15 year old obsession with him and his shiny boots. 

I didn't have anything for him to sign so I printed off an old photoshop I made of us and got him to sign it. He found it hilarious and it was great


Part of the reason I went to the signing was just for the novelty, I mean he's a cool guy but there were girls there CRYING. I mean he's just a dude... you know?


My awful posture and I justifying the picture.

"I used to be obsessed with you.. I mean not really.. I mean I thought it was funny... do you think it's funny?"

"Is that.. .Allison" 

Monday 15 October 2012

What I have learnt about feminism from a junkyard record



Last weekend I took a visit to my very un-local junkyard to try find some bits and bobs for my art and perhaps a colour parade costume. Rummaging through the trunks of pieces of fabric, old school folders and unused raver candy, I stumbled upon a box of old vinyl.

In this old box of vinyl I was fortunate to come across this fantastic “I am Woman: A compilation of 20 BEAUTIFUL songs” It was admittedly the bright orange cover that caught my eye, but I couldn't help fall in love with the records title track I AM WOMAN and gloriously fabulous woman on the cover.  


The record was a compilation of woman-power and relics of 70s feminism and disco. As I held the record in my hand, I felt this warm rush throughout my body to think that there was a time in history when this record was enthusiastically hung on the walls of Australian feminists everywhere.  

I then handed the record to my father as he checked out all the other goodies we had picked up that day and I can't help but giggle at the thought of the check-out woman’s face when he handed her the “I am woman” record.

However, as much as I love all things kitsch and womanly, it wasn't until I arrived in my bedroom and placed the needle on the record when I really began to understand second-wave feminism and the mistakes I might have made about my own.



As the title track “I am Woman” Proudly blasted through my bedroom windows, I pranced around to Helen Reddy’s glorious war-cry , “I am in invincible!” and threw my arms open at the final “I AM WOOOOOOMAAAANN” To me this song is exactly what feminism means to me, powerful, passionate, strong and melodic. However I was thoroughly caught off guard when the next song “Misty Blue” played. What does this have to do with feminism? I thought. Apart from the fact that it was a female singer, I was incredibly critical of the lyrics that tell the story of a woman’s heart-break at a failed relationship. Where was the strength? Where was the anger and passion? I was honestly slightly offended by the fact that a song about a woman crying over a MAN made it to MY feminist compilation record.  


But then something clicked. As the sappy kitsch love songs flowed on, I was reminded of a part of feminism that I may have forgotten and needed to be reminded of. Part of the movement is to understand and respect the fact that as women/humans we are emotional beings. These love songs were justified in the way they portrayed women and feminists as still having emotional attachments to people and men and most importantly reiterated the fact that as women and feminists, we still have HEARTS. Perhaps it’s because I have become so exhausted by the fact that I have needed to defend my feminism so long that I have become a... heartless, almost angsty feminist? Maybe I've internalized the angst/angry feminist trope unintentionally and found myself forming into the very being that most teenage girls unfortunately have come to resent about feminism. Cue the common: “I don't like feminism because I like men”
Le sigh.  

By throwing my cynical attitude away I was able to enjoy “Dance Little Lady Dance” with a huge grin on my face. This record had taught me a lot about feminism that I had forgotten, that feminism can be fun, emotional but most of all, strong.






Monday 8 October 2012

Profumo Affair


The Profumo Affair was a 1963 British political scandal named after John Profumo who was the Secretary of State for War. He was alleged to have had an affair with call girl Christine Keeler who was the reputed mistress of  an alleged Soviet Spy. Profumo had previously denied the affair by lying in the House of Commons but he was later forced to resign as he had damaged the reputation of the British conservative Mcmillian government. The affair caused a stir within the British public as it revealed an almost hedonistic aspect to the British aristocracy. This was also symbolic within the atmosphere of the "Swinging sixties" as it represented the downfall of conservative ideas and ideology amongst British public. 




In my day, there was a sense of style about the whole thing, you know. Christine Keeler, Mandy Rice-Davies… Gorgeous little women who kept their mouths shut and just looked gorgeous, and gave the whole thing an air of dignity. - Patsy Stone


Cool documentary on Profumo Affair! 





Liebster Award

Liebster Award

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile and this post is hardly content-heavy or anything but I was nominated by Lovelier Words WHICH IS SO NICE and I feel obligated to acknowledge it. Only due to the fact that I rarely get nominated for anything, I feel as though this is a momentous occasion. 
Please do not feel obligated to read this, It's a break from my usual pop-culture posts and I rarely talk about myself or my life on my blog. I will answer all questions with utmost honesty. 


Apparently you answer 11 questions and then nominate 11 people with 200 followers or less.


What do you think of my blog?
LovelierWords? Well I think you're super sweet and lovely and that you have a great taste in books and films and music! I wish you all the best in your future blog/life/posts?

What do you think of the blogosphere?
As much as I try, I don't feel like I particularly "fit" into the blogosphere world. As with most things, I'm kind of content skimming the surface and meeting the people that cross my path, without necessarily diving into it and engulfing myself within the world of bloggers. I think it's because I find it hard to really define what my blog is and I guess that makes it harder for me to find blogs/other bloggers that are into the same things as me. I feel like energy is best focused to creating and finding content for my blog which means keeping my antennae up at all times. I really do love however connecting with other bloggers when I do, but it's not the most important thing for me. That said I do appreciate all comments and acknowledgements! 

Most beautiful thing?
I love the feeling of riding on the bus in a beautiful sunny day and passing the marina and beautiful sydney parks on my way home from a good day. I also love beautiful films with honest characters and storylines.

Main objective?
To connect with people and create a life for myself that exceeds my imagination. I know that's weird, but I would really love my future to surprise me and to look back and be like "WOW I would never have guessed this would have been my life 10 years ago AND IT'S AWESOME" That means taking every opportunity that is given to me and always keeping my eyes open to new possibilities.

Biggest vice?
Probably being too self-critical and critical of others. Maybe it's a virgo thing but I tend to place incredibly high expectations on myself/others and feel incredibly betrayed when people/I don't exceed those standards. I'm also in a constant state of self-doubt which prevents me from achieving what i probably can. 

Favorite song?
Ah!!! I don't know! I really love the song When we was fab by George Harrison. 4eva.



What do you hate most?
I hate hate! I really dislike negativity and bad-vibes. I'm not interested in people who are constantly bringing me/themselves down. Just get that negativity away from me!!

Best Quality?
Oooft! I don't know! Maybe my self-doubt can be productive at times? But it is by no way my BEST quality. Maybe good study habits and good organization skills? I'm also really enthusiastic to learn about new things and love learning.

Defect?
I have insulin intolerance which means I can't digest sugar and will most probably develop diabetes in 10 years and I need to exercise a lot. 

Idol?
Sebastian Bach. 

Are you happy?
At this moment, yes. I have an awesome job, good friends, an awesome kitten, food, a good support system ALL GOOD THINGS.

Who I nominate:
Gap-Teeth for sure. Probably one of my earliest followers. I absolutely love/admire her blog. She hasn't been posting recently but I really like the mutual support/fangirlyness.
Leah - Because I admire her honest posts and she makes the best fucking mixes ever
Roma - Because she's also one of my earliest followers and likes cool shit and I'm contributing to her zine SOON OKAY.
CAELAN - How could I chose my favourite blogger people without mentioning her? I'm constantly appreciative of her support and altogether loveliness
Nevena - because she's awesome and we both like similar things.
stone-age stomp - Great blog for inspiration and beautiful things! And music!
the red telephone - Probably one of my all-time favourites. Her posts are INTERESTING and cool and beautiful. I would love for my blog to one day be up to this standard. She finds the most interesting things, definitely inspirational. 
googirls - beautiful, cool, awesome, FUNKY girls! They also have friggen cool hair and seem like they would be cool chicks to hang out with!

Thursday 20 September 2012

Midnight Cowboy 1969





I've seen this film about 4 times this week and it's probably my new favourite film ever. I have never even felt a directorial film orgasm before this film and the beauty of this film is so insane that it's just like WOW ORGASM the entire movie. In a completely non-sexual way. 
The photography and directing is so amazing and beautiful. From the scenic visions of the Texan country side, to the beautiful scans of the New York city lights at night. 




The film features Jon Voight as a runaway cow boy named Joe Buck who has left his Texan ranch to pursue a hustling life style in New York City. He soon meets Dustin Hoffman's character, Ratso and together they form a tight companionship with Ratso taking position has Joe's Pimp. 




However New York City hustlin' life turns out to be disastrously unlike Joe's preconceived fantastical notions and what begins as a prosperous partnership between the pair, soon turns out to be tragically horrible. Unable to get any hustling jobs and without any home, Joe begins to rely more and more on Ratso who is equally as desperate. Their relationship is formed out of hardship, loneliness and a need for dependence on one another. Despite this, they are hopelessly hopeless and frequently seek solace in  allusions to their futures of success in Florida. 



The use of non-diegetic and diegetic music is so wonderfully incorporated in this film. Joe's hand-held radio follows him throughout the film and when he becomes so desperate for money and he sells the radio to a pawn-shop AND WHEN THE PAWN-SHOP MAN TURNS OFF THE RADIO MUSIC. It's just like wow, heartbreak. 




The film also features the iconic and improvised "HEY I'M WALKIN' HERE" scene from the great Dustin Hoffman. 



 It's use of fast-cut and flash-backs that allude to Joe's previous lover back in Texas throughout his prostitution jobs are heart-wrenching. The film also frequently interchanges between black and white photography and extremely vivid images to convey emotion, time and speed. When I first saw the way the film also features black and white photography I almost fell out my seat. IT'S SO AWESOME. Cleverly alluding to the time in 60s film history where film makers were transitioning from B & W photography to technicolour.

The film also features a warhol-esque party scene, which for me definitely makes the film.






The film ends on a melancholic note, much like Dustin Hoffman's The Graduate where the characters reside in the back-seat of a bus and you get this strange feeling that you are with the characters, painfully empathizing with their predicament. 



Great film GREAT SOUNDTRACK... even if Hoffman's accent is a little annoying