Showing posts with label pop culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pop culture. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Jean-Paul Belmondo, R.I.P. Without Jean-Paul Belmondo, The French New Wave film revolution -la Nouvelle Vague- never reaches so far around the globe. Never touches every single part of 1960's Popular Culture. In Belmondo, an actor with enormous magnetism, savoir-faire, and a particularly Gallic strand of studied nonchalance, he becomes the de facto New Wave Ambassador, and the very face of what was (and was not) cool, dark, and even slightly threatening.

photo via The British Film Institute

Without Jean-Paul Belmondo, The French New Wave film revolution -la Nouvelle Vague- never reaches so far around the globe. Never touches every single part of 1960's Popular Culture. In Belmondo, an actor with enormous magnetism, savoir-faire, and a particularly Gallic strand of studied nonchalance, he becomes the de facto New Wave Ambassador, and the very face of what was (and was not) cool, dark, and even slightly threatening. 

And always, in every film, he is eminently watchable! 

Belmondo becomes that most magical of all entertainers: he is #sublime.

Belmondo becomes both his very own brand, as well as representing a certain style of dramatic acting, AND in the process, becomes a representation of a certain way of thinking, living, and of film-making. 

And he is always, for both good and bad, France personified.

A cool France that has ideas and feelings uniquely its own, not American or British.


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It wasn't until I was living and working in Washington, #DC in the 1990's and could actually see great prints of French 🇫🇷 and Italian 🇮🇹 #NewWave films at the National Gallery of Art main building on weekends when I wasn't up in Baltimore for an Orioles ballgame or at home or sports bar watching a football or basketball game.

The NGA was one of my favorite social haunts, and there, I could watch and absorb films I'd never been able to see in a theatre while growing up in #SoFL.

It was in those moments when one of Belmondo's films was being shown in a packed theatre that all the dozens of New Wave articles and books I'd read over the years while in Bloomington, Chicago, Evanston and DC -and learning French!- all made sense when #Belmondo entered a scene.

Then, all of the dots were connected! 😊

British Film Institute: https://www.bfi.org.uk/
Cahiers du cinéma: https://www.cahiersducinema.com/

A tribute will be paid to Belmondo in the next issue of Cahiers du cinema magazine.


Sans Jean-Paul Belmondo, la révolution cinématographique française de la Nouvelle Vague -la Nouvelle Vague- n'atteindrait jamais aussi loin le globe. Ne touche jamais à chaque partie de la culture populaire des années 1960. Dans Belmondo, acteur au magnétisme énorme, au savoir-faire et au brin particulièrement gaulois d'une nonchalance étudiée, il devient de facto l'ambassadeur de la Nouvelle Vague, et le visage même de ce qui était (et n'était pas) cool, sombre, et même légèrement menaçant. Et toujours, dans chaque film, il est éminemment regardable !

Belmondo devient le plus magique de tous les artistes : il est #sublime.

Belmondo devient à la fois sa propre marque, tout en représentant un certain style de jeu dramatique, ET dans le processus, devient une représentation d'une certaine façon de penser, de vivre et de faire des films.

Et il est toujours, en bien comme en mal, la France incarnée.

Une France cool qui a des idées et des sentiments qui lui sont propres, pas américains ou britanniques.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Tweets of Note: Recent Pop Culture & Sports Odds & Ends you may've missed -September 21 thru October 5, 2013
















LA Times: Jimmy Kimmel's Obamacare stunt: How infallible is public opinion?







You can see more of that Bars routine in the video below of her training. Lest we forget, when she really puts her mind to it, Mustafina is Magic!


























































Great photo of "Downton's Uptown Girl" in the Sunday Telegraph: Michelle Dockery, a.k.a. Lady Mary, the English Rose whom this blog dearly loves.
Caption underneath photo reads: "Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary in Downton Abbey, ahead of tonight’s Emmy Awards. She is nominated as best actress."

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Robyn NEVER disappoints! Amazing new music video (and Behind-the-Scenes video) of Robyn's #UShouldKnowBetter feat. Snoop Dogg is a pop culture delight; @robynkonichiwa, @decida, #PernillaPhilip, #2faced1


Robyn YouTube Channel video: Behind The Scenes: Robyn feat. Snoop Dogg - U Should Know Better. The behind-the-scenes for #UShouldKnowBetter gets into great detail about all aspects of the collaboration of Robyn's Konichiwa Records and Decida Wahlberg's 2faced1. Uploaded June 22, 2013. http://youtu.be/DZnClsOnuuo


Robyn's behind-the-scenes videos are always entertaining, the cherry on top -delicious pop culture confections of  subtext, theme and fun.


The swedish film that Robyn and Decida reference towards the end regarding "kickers" is Stockholmsnatt, but it had the opposite effect on her than it did for many other teens living in Sweden then: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholmsnatt


RobynVEVO Channel video: Robyn performing U Should Know Better ft. Snoop Dogg. Uploaded June 21, 2013. http://youtu.be/iVDbl2buP0Q

See also:

SPIN Magazine
Robyn Stylist Decida Talks Platform Timberlands, Jody Watley, and Stockholm
By Julianne Escobedo Shepherd
January 9 2013, 11:11 AM ET


The Guardian
Robyn: unchained melodies
She was a teen pop star who stepped off the conveyor belt. 
Now Robyn Carlsson is singing about fembots, working with Snoop Dogg and dabbling in the avant garde
By Alexis Petridis, 16 June 2010 16.31 EDT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jun/16/robyn-interview

Decida Wahlberg's blog: http://2faced1.com/decidastyle
@decida - https://twitter.com/decida

Robyn - @robynkonichiwa, https://twitter.com/robynkonichiw
http://www.robyn.com/

Friday, April 5, 2013

re Justin Bieber -Teen Idols and Teenage Girls' Consumer Power and the Backlash: Signs of the coming Pop Culture apocalypse in Oslo: 5 Norwegian schools are rescheduling mid-term exams around Justin Bieber tour dates, and it's okay according to Kristin Halvorsen, the Norwegian Minister of Education and Research. But other politicians are less sanguine about it, and worry what this sort of govt. response will encourage in the future

re Justin Bieber -Teen Idols and Teenage Girls' Consumer Power and the Backlash: Signs of the coming Pop Culture apocalypse in Oslo: 5 Norwegian schools are rescheduling mid-term exams around Justin Bieber tour dates, and it's okay according to Kristin Halvorsen, the Norwegian Minister of Education and Research. But other politicians are less sanguine about it, and worry what this sort of govt. response will encourage in the future
And the one thing we know from the mountain of evidence is that the students who would otherwise have skipped school are NOT teenage boys!
Interesting that the news media is unwilling to state the facts -that the students who will not show up for school are almost exclusively girls, don't you think?

Art Beat blog
New York Times
Schools in Norway Postpone Exams for Bieber Concerts
By JAMES C. MCKINLEY JR.
April 4, 2013, 10:40 am 


This article below from NRK TV's website can hardly be more apt: "The whole world is laughing at us"


NRK-TV
Heile verda gjer oss til latter
Politikarane rasar fordi skulane har flytta tentamen til fordel for Justin Bieber-konsert.
MARIA HOLAND TØSSE
Pubisert 03.04.2013 17:03

Another article about the over-the-top situation is this one that ran on Tuesday, that was dominated by one large photo of a teenage fan's bedroom :


Flyttet tentamen for Justin Bieber, Nedtellinga til konsert i Oslo 17. april har begynt. Da får Kristiane Søvik (15) se sitt store forbilde - Justin Bieber.
Randi Longva
Publisert: 02.04 2013 06:00 
Sist oppdatert: 02.04 2013 14:42

It's like I'm always saying on these pages -twelve-to-seventeen year old girls in Western countries are taking over the world and won't let go of their grip, and as long as they hold sway, pop culture will cease to be a meaningful measure of merit or talent in the way that it often but not always was in the past.
That so much of what teenage girls "Like" music-wise is pre-digested corporate filler product is not a positive sign. 

Old rule of thumb for the blog and his circle of friends is that if the recording artist's album sale or concert is comprised of more than 90% of one gender, they're not really that talented.

Those girls' fingers on their precious cell phones, whether texting or casting votes dozens and dozens of times for no-talents at home, at school or while walking across the street without looking both ways, are like tentacles around real music talent's throat and creativity.

U.S. and Western consumer product companies and their print/TV middlemen are completely afraid to call their bluff, too, which is the worst sign of all.

That's closely followed by the U.S. Mainstream Media's general cowardice and unwillingness to push-back against the LCD group think that says giving more news time to what's going on with teenage girls and their myriad fads and obsessions, is, actually helping.

In many cases, it's pretty clear that the more the media -hard news and general interest- talks about one of these issues -teen suicide, anorexia, bulemia, teen fashion, teens texting while driving- is actually does more harm than good.

But publicly you can't tell teenage girls NO anymore, as per the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas cheerleading scandal here in Broward County, where a mob and a mob mentality made the all-female Broward School Board make decisions not based on facts but on their -yes- feelings.

For more on that, see my October 8, 2012 blog post titled, Dynamite! Bob Norman adroitly uses facts and context to lower-the-boom on the Broward School Board for their abysmal handling of the purported Douglas H.S. cheerleader coach 'scandal" -and drops School Board member Katie Leach squarely on her head; One month before the election, docs show Donn Korn opponent Franklin Sands funds his race with lots of money from his stepson’s lobbying firm -shocker!; @mattgutmanABC, http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/dynamite-bob-norman-adroitly-uses-facts.html

The firing of Coach Melissa

By Bob Norman, Reporter, bnorman@Local10.com
Published On: Oct 07 2012 10:33:04 AM EDT  
Updated On: Oct 08 2012 11:16:26 AM EDT

http://www.local10.com/news/blogs/bobnorman/The-firing-of-Coach-Melissa/-/3223354/16884040/-/8enkprz/-/index.html

Not giving in to upset teenage girls and their emotionally over-wrought mothers actually resulted in a principal being removed!

Principals upset over cheerleading coach's firing
'They're furious. They're absolutely furious over this'
Published On: Oct 08 2012 06:30:41 PM EDT  
Updated On: Oct 09 2012 10:16:48 AM EDT
http://www.local10.com/news/Principals-upset-over-cheerleading-coach-s-firing/-/1717324/16903370/-/t6vkfa/-/index.html

And you certainly can't say aloud in the media that many of their so-called "problems" actually seem much more psychological in nature, and based on their own self-esteem or lack of it, not something physical, otherwise you're labeled as not being understanding.

But if these things were physical, shouldn't there be at least some measurable incidence of bulimic or anorexic activity by girls in countries like Pakistan and Iraq, too?
But there aren't any.
Why the dissonance?

Because these groups all have an incentive to not tell these Western teenage girl consumers the truth -that they can't always get their way
They want to sell them something: a product, a fad, an idea... that will make them like themselves better.

So, while consumer product companies and the advertising industry falls all over themselves to get in (and stay in) the good graces of teenage girls -because they'll be making the family buying decisions in the future, so they want to favorably shape those opinions ASAP!- the news media just capitulates rather than stand up for common sense or the truth.

And they just can't wait to find out the new trend and fad of upscale teenage American and Western girls and obsessively report on it as if it's something more than it is.

My last post on Justin Bieber was an August 31, 2010 post I titled simply,

Examining a music phenomenon: ABC News Nightline's Chris Connelly interviews pop sensation Justin Bieber: "The Business of Being Bieber"


http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/examining-music-phenomenon-abc-news.html

It's now been read 4,081 times.

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http://www.regjeringen.no/en.html?id=4

Friday, December 14, 2012

Dynamic Swedish fashion forward retailer H&M opens store at Aventura Mall today - Finally! Store near me is located near Bloomingdale's on far south side of Aventura Mall; @hm, @iamdwerbowy

H&M Finally! November 14, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.
Despite the fact that it's been known since mid-July that the Aventura Mall less than two miles south of me would be opening a large 25,000 square foot Hennes and Mauritz -H&M's- the Mall's official website hasn't been updated as you might expect it would be to accurately reflect the store's grand opening today, and show customers where it is on either a stationary or interactive map. http://www.aventuramall.com/ Nice going!
Way to embrace the technology!
says that the H&M is on... "Level: upper level."



Some of H&M's in-mall promotion. November 14, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.

But located next to what? Near what major anchor store? On what side of the Mall???
Such obvious questions, yes?
Good thing I'm here to answer those questions in an intelligent fashion.

Late afternoon, looking east at Bloomingdale's, Aventura Mall, Aventura, FL. November 14, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.
Actually, the truth is that H&M will be located on levels 2 and 3, near Bloomingdale’s, above, on the far south side of the Mall. 

If you're heading over there for the High Noon opening today, like I am, be smart.
Whatever you do, DON'T park near the Bloomingdale's or you will be circling forever.
Instead, park closer to near the Sear's and come into the Mall near the entrance to the AMC 24 Theatres and the Starbucksand save yourself some time and aggravation. 
You're welcome!



If you see this when you walk into the Mall, you successfully followed my directions!
November 14, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved.

Daria Werbowy, @iamdwerbowy,  https://twitter.com/hm

H&M's Holiday 2012 ad campaign featuring Daria Werbowy, on location in Zermatt, via Wendy Lam at her fashion blog, Nitrolicious: http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/2012/12/11/hm-holiday-2012-ad-campaign-featuring-daria-werbowy/



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Monday, November 12, 2012

U.K.'s 'Official Singles Chart' turns 60 -brilliantly! "The Wanted" swing by BBC Radio1 to help Reggie Yates celebrate 60 years of the Official Singles Chart, the U.K.'s family tree of popular music, with Robbie Williams' 'Candy' at #1 this week; Jay McGuiness says, "Rock and roll is alive in the form of a boy band cutting a cake slightly askew." THE best pop culture quote of the year! @thewantedmusic, @robbiewilliams, @OfficialCharts, @BBC1


 YouTube Channel video: The Wanted say happy birthday to the Official Chart and BBC Radio1 host Reggie Yates during his taping of the show on Sunday. At 1:55 above, band member Jay McGuiness says, "Rock and roll is alive in the form of a boy band cutting a cake slightly askew." Brilliant! Best pop culture quote of the year! Also includes anecdotes re Mike Tyson and Pitbull. Uploaded November 12, 2012. http://youtu.be/xGIvtzyEmHo


 Channel video: Robbie Williams - Candy. Uploaded September 10, 2012. With Kaya Scodelario as the object of Robbie's affection. Single is from his "Take The Crown" album, the U.K.''s #1 album this week. http://youtu.be/gtOV7bp-gys


 Channel video: The Wanted - I Found You. Uploaded October 15, 2012. http://youtu.be/5r8G3SEGIV0


And just because I love it so much and will finally be seeing 'Skyfall' in a few hours...

 YouTube Channel video: Robbie Williams -  Millennium. Uploaded April 7, 2009. http://youtu.be/BJ5uIkJDb6o
Still brilliant!!!

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http://www.officialcharts.com/


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Pop culture marriage made in heaven -Star Wars sagas & Indiana Jones adventures move to Mouse House: Sharon Waxman shares the first takes on Disney's surprising $4 Billion purchase of Lucsafilms via her WaxWord blog at TheWrap; listen to the Bob Iger and Jay Rasulo conference call explaining the deal; @Disney, @starwars



TheDisneyPost YouTube Channel: Disney to Acquire Lucasfilm. Uploaded October 30, 2012. http://youtu.be/QIkqX5fG_tA
See more at https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/blog/disney-acquire-lucasfilm

This afternoon while I was writing some emails and drafts of some future blog posts that you'll soon be seeing here, I received the Breaking News about Disney's purchase of Lucsafilms via an email from Sharon Waxman's TheWrap, our daily entertainment must-read. 

A few minutes later I listened to the entire conference call and heard analysts try to alternately pry and parry some good intel out of Jay Rasulo, Disney's CFO, that he didn't want to share, particularly as it involves valuation.

Much of the video above spoken by Disney CEO Robert Iger, better known to some of you as the husband of TV news personality Willow Bay, was later heard in the conference call that I listened to in its entirety. 

You can listen to the entire conference call here: 
http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/c2nj5j33/lan/en%20%20

In particular, they didn't want to talk in much detail about what the story is with Fox's distribution contract for prior Star Wars films and Paramount's deal for the Indiana Jones films.

As you listen, while you probably have already heard the big news that a new Star Wars film is slated for release in 2015, Episode 7, make sure you don't sleep on the news that Disney wants to bring Star Wars and its huge cast of characters and narratives to TV in some new fashion, geared towards kids, and to amusement parks.

TheWrap
WaxWord blog
Will the Force Be With Disney’s $4B 'Star Wars' Gamble?
By Sharon Waxman
Published: October 30, 2012 @ 7:58 pm
In buying Lucasfilm for a stunning $4.05 billion on Tuesday, Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger has made yet another bold gamble for the future of his media company, betting on a beloved but dusty franchise in need of a radical reimagining for a new generation. 
Read the rest of the post at:
http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/will-force-be-disney-s-4b-star-wars-gamble-62876



starwars YouTube Channel: George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy discuss the future of Star Wars movies at Disney. Uploaded October 30, 2012. http://youtu.be/YyqlTi7lkhY