British National Identity Somewhere in the UK (1)

The definition of Britishness:

“It’s about singing Karaoke in bars, eating Chinese noodles and Japanese sushi, drinking French wine, wearing Prada and Nike, dancing to Italian house music, listening to Cher, using an Apple Mac, holidaying in Florida and Ibiza and buying a house in Spain. Shepherd’s pie and going on holiday to Hastings went out about 50 years ago and the only people you’ll see wearing a Union Jack are French movie stars or Kate Moss.” (Malcolm McLaren, in Richaed Eyre’s ‘What is Britishness?’)

Despre seriale – discutie pornita pe In Vino Veritas

Initial voit un comentariu la postul lui Razvan pe blogul lui, In Vino Veritas, a devenit ceea ce urmeaza:

“Halul” in care ne plac serialele cred ca poate fi numit, fara exagerare, dependenta. Sunt un drog usor, ale carui efecte nu le constietizam inca prea bine (in afara de, sa zicem, timpul alocat, sedentarismul, durerile de ochi) din cauza formei in care se prezinta: seriale usoare, care nu necesita nici analize aprofundata, nici studii superioare pentru a fi intelese, sunt bine fragmentate astfel incat portia saptamanala sa fie suficienta. Par a fi parte din cultura de masa, dar, de fapt, complexitatea lor le ridica la un alt statut, cel de film artistic de foarte mari dimensiuni, ca sa zic asa. Devin epopei post-moderniste.

Serialul este un simulacru al vietii noastre cotidiene, este varianta care ni se da, cu mici si, aparent posibile, adaugiri si imbunatatiri: personajul exceptional suntem noi mai frumosi, mai spontani, mai pasionali, mai corecti, traind mai intens, asa ca da, vrem sa tot vedem ce face mai departe. Empatie si participare, ce zicea si Razvan. Si mai este o componenta interesanta, care ne face sa stam prinsi acolo, cea a impresiei de stabilitate pe care ti-o da. Atata timp cat personajele principale sunt aceleasi, sunt binevenite orice suciri de scenariu, orice conflicte, contexte, cu cat mai multe, cu atat mai palpitant pentru noi, noi cei care in viata de zi cu zi avem parte de mai putina diversitate. Am vazut pe pielea mea ce suparare mare am patit in noul sezon Grey’s.

Riscul acestei dependente cred ca se refera la subconstientul nostru (aviz pasionatilor de Criminal Minds), care, tocmai din cauza empatiei noastre, poate ajunge sa asimileze scene, idei, intamplari din serial, ca fiind de fapt ale noastre, traite in realitate. Cred ca implicarea prea mare intr-un serial subtiaza linia dintre realitate si fictiune, pericol care exista, pana la urma si in cazul cartilor, viselor, pieselor de teatru, numai ca acestea nu persista, nu sunt o prezenta continua in viata noastra, pe o perioada lunga de timp. Si mai e un risc, poate mai usor de prevenit si de controlat, acela de a ajunge sa discuti atat de mult despre viata personajelor, incat sa nu mai ai ce sa spui despre viata ta. Am intalnit cazuri printre pasionatii de Lost.

Asa ca… salut initiativa lui Razvan de a studia acest fenomen, si promit sa contribui in continuare cu observatii mai mult sau mai putin relevante sau pertinente, ca deh, si mie imi plac serialele intr-un hal…

Sincerely, L. Cohen

Nu am vrut sa stau prea aproape de scena, de teama ca ma va dizolva, ca ma va desface in sute de mii de particule care mai apoi sa fie examinate de cei din jur. Muzica lui este un fel de parfum a la Suskind, compusa din trairi, framantari, atitudini umane din care se extrage esenta, cea care pulseaza in fiecare dintre noi si ne dicteaza pasii ce se indreapta cu o precizie uimitoare catre mama, Dumnezeu, un barbat, o femeie, un ideal. La concertul de vineri seara, puteai admira procesul: ascultai muzica, dragostea iti patrundea in organism, in sange, si simteai nevoia sa dai si tu, la randul tau, din ce ai primit, fie sotiei din stanga, fie iubitului, prin telefon, fie inapoi spre scena. O simteai prin toti porii.
La ora 20 a inceput concertul cu slabiciunea mea, “Dance me to the end of love”. A promis ca vor canta tot ce au ei mai bun, asa au si facut. Cu o pauza de 10 minute intre cele doua “acte” ale spectacolului si un bis de 5-6 melodii (numararea melodiilor a trecut intr-un plan secund odata ce emotiile au dat buzna), a ajuns sa cante si sa recite poezie timp de 3 ore si un sfert, la sfarsitul carora s-a adresat publicului cu un discurs despre sufletele noastre, ale romanilor, plin de caldura si intelepciune de mi s-a zbarlit parul pe maini. O diferenta de cateva clase intre vorbele lui si morala ieftina pe care ne-a facut-o Madonna.
Orchestra si cantaretele care i-au acompaniat lirismul au avut parte de prezentari pe masura talentului si dexteritatii de care au dat dovada, de asemenea echipa tehnica si managementul au primit multumiri, gest care mi se pare pe cat de corect si de respectuos din partea lui Leonard Cohen, pe atat de rar intalnit la majoritatea artistilor (aici cred ca e vorba de diferenta artist – vedeta, de fapt).
Poezie impartasita cu modestie…
Multumesc, Suzana, pentru cel mai frumos cadou primit fara nicio ocazie.

P.S.: “Trebuie sa-i apreciem cat sunt in viata…”

Pictures taken by Razvan Leucea.

later edit: setlist – 1) Dance Me To End Of Love
2) The Future
3) Ain’t No Cure For Love
4) Bird On The Wire
5) Everybody Knows
6) In My Secret Life
7) Who By Fire
Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye
9) Lover Lover Lover
10) Waiting For The Miracle
11) The Flood (poezie)
12) Anthem

(pauza 20 de minute)
13) Tower Of Song
14) Suzanne
15) Sisters Of Mercy
16) The Gipsy’s Wife
17) The Partisan
18) Boogie Street
19) Hallelujah
20) I’m Your Man
21) Take This Waltz

(bis 1)
22) So Long Marianne
23) First We Take Manhattan
24) Famous Blue Raincoat
25) If It Be Your Will
26) Closing Time

(bis 2)
27) I Tried To Leave You
28) Whither Thou Goest

discursul final: “To you friends, who kept my songs alive all these years – my deep gratitude! It is a great honour to play for you. You’ve been through so much, you know so much of the human spirit, where it can thrive and where it can fall. It is an honour to play for heart like your, to be accepted by you. So we don’t know when we will pass this way again, friends. Until then, may you fall on the side of luck, may you be surrounded by friends. And if this is not your luck, may the blessings find you in your solitude. We are deeply greateful for the hospitality that you’ve shown us this evening”.

sursa aici.

MJ Tribute in Bucharest – 8 august

Poze din Herastrau – pana ne-am dat noi seama unde se va dansa, a inceput si s-a si terminat momentul:

La TNB, in schimb, ne-am orientat mai bine si am participat la dans cu succes, in ultima linie. Daca ne cautati (pe mine si pe pastaie, ca al treilea muschetar a filmat momentul, il voi downloada peste vreo saptamana), ne puteti ochi undeva langa niste baieti spectatori cocotzatzi:

Atmosfera “incendiara” in randul celor care au dansat, numai energie pozitiva si chef de dans si de cantat; spectatorii – tipic romanilor, gura-casca, lipiti cu ochii de ecranele telefoanelor mobile, drept urmare deja impanzesc youtube-ul cu filmarile de la eveniment. Chiar si cand am inceput sa dansam freestyle, pe Black or White, tot impietriti erau cei de pe margine, de aveai impresia ca nimic nu i-ar putea trezi din amorteala lor vesnica. Cu toate astea, excelenta doza de petrecere in aer liber!
MJ – this was for you!

Let’s see your moves! Michael Jackson Tribute in Bucharest – Beat it

Cand ma uit la filmarile dansurilor “spontane” in piete publice sau in statii de metrou, cel mai mult imi place cum sunt amestecati dansatorii in public si cum pornesc treptat, ca o armata care se vede din ce in ce mai numeroasa la orizont. Nu stii daca cel de langa tine va incepe sau nu sa danseze pana nu se incheie momentul coregrafic. Nu stiu daca se va pastra iluzia de spontaneitate in acest omagiu adus lui MJ in Herastrau si in fata TNB, dar stiu ca-mi va creste inima de bucurie vazand o mare de romani care danseaza la unison dupa coregrafia lui MJ. Si cine stie, daca-mi ies miscarile picioarelor, ale naibii lemne, poate ma voi alatura si eu dansatorilor

Coregrafia: uitati-va la videoclipul Beat it sau aici:

Pentru informatii referitoare la repetitiile de maine, vineri, 7 august, si la detaliile organizatorice, vizitati site-ul evenimentului:

Evenimentul de sâmbăta, 8 august, se va desfasura in doua locuri: parcul Herăstrău (Intrarea Charles de Gaulle) între 18.00 – 18.30 şi scuarul din faţa TNB-ului, între orele 19.30 – 20.00.

Holding hands: Michael Jackson tribute in Bucharest

After watching the DVD of Michael Jackson’s live performance in Bucharest, Romania, part of the Dangerous Tour, in 1992, you wonder where did all the euphoric people in the audience go: did they continue listening to MJ, did they believe in his values and dreams of healing the world, did they listen carefully to his message regarding the parent-child relationship, did they stop listening to and trusting his music after the accusations of child molestation? How much were the Romanians influenced by the person and personality of Michael Jackson? If you look at the people’s faces in the crowd at the concert in 1992, it is amazing to catch a glimpse of their pure reactions; sighs, screams that unleashed the tension and fullness of life, big, hopeful teary eyes, large smiles and attempts at connecting with the living dream performing on stage. Their faces were priceless. But where are they now? Do they still remember the energy and the determination to change their and Romania’s ways? And this goes for any men and women, belonging to any nation. If all the fans of MJ, who admire the messages and the principles in his songs, spread the love for mankind, the awareness of huge issues such as the parent-child bonding, the refusal of tabloids and bad journalism, based on immorality, hypocrisy and low culture, the demand for professionalism, and many more, we would surely live in a healthier environment.
I am particularly proud of the following tribute made by a handful of Romanians outside the Lia Manoliu stadium where the 1992 concert took place; they expressed the essential of what MJ’s music is all about. Their holding hands gave me incredible goose bumps, as it also reminded me of MJ holding hands with children, during the same song, around the immense globe on stage:

Michael Jackson – Remember the time and Heal the world

Cand eram mica, nu aveam voie sa umblu la casetofon. Aveam caseta mea cu albumul “Dangerous” pe care o tineam pe masa, dandu-i tarcoale, pana cand se intorcea unul dintre parinti de la serviciu. Citeam versurile si incercam sa le inteleg, sa trasez corespondentele intre sunete si cuvintele tiparite; eram fascinata, aproape hipnotizata de ochii lui de pe coperta si de melodii. Cand ajungeam la “Will you be there” incepeam sa plang. Intotdeauna. Era momentul de eliberare, de maxima sensibilitate a unui copil de 5 ani care invata sa citeasca, sa asculte, sa cante, sa simta. La primul concert nu am ajuns, din cauza varstei, la al doilea am ajuns doar pe acoperisul unui bloc de 10 etaje de langa stadionul national, din lipsa banilor. Dar nu ma deranja, pentru ca aveam caseta acasa, pe masa.
Dupa cativa ani, vreo 10, dupa revolutii muzicale si inceputul unor revolte sociale, stateam pe scari la TNB si discutam despre probleme existentiale cu noi cunostinte din liceu. Ajunsi la capitolul muzica, fiecare scotea nume sonore, cu greutate: de’ale rock-ului, folk-ului, jazz-ului, chiar si clasica. Nu stiam exact daca sa spunem sau nu de el, parca nu se mai incadra in noul statut, in atitudinea specifica liceului. Si totusi cineva a spus: sincer, eu cam ascult si Michael Jackson. Toti am rasuflat usurati si am simtit, in acel moment, ca este un detaliu care ne va lega ca pe niste sectanti, ca ne uneste sub magia cantecelor lui, ca ne-am gasit. Ulterior am devenit prieteni. Suntem si acum. Pe atunci nu stiam noi prea bine ca, de fapt, toti erau ca noi. Le tresarea inima cand auzeau intamplator “Heal the World” si cu greu se abtineau sa nu faca niste miscari sacadate pe “Billie Jean” in vazul lumii.
Caseta mea sta cuminte la loc de cinste, asteapta un nou copil care sa se bucure de ea si de educatia pe care i-o poate oferi. Restul nu mai conteaza.

It’s only a question of time

Tomorrow, 16th of May, should have been the long waited concert Depeche Mode in Bucharest; long waited by me, at least, who wanted to escape the current reality just for one evening (“let’s get away just for one day”…). I could imagine myself singing along happily and inserting every now and then two or three swearings that needed to be let out, about the exams, about the professors and the faculty. But it was not meant to be. I hope Dave Gahan will recover soon and I hope Emagic will be able to reschedule the concert wisely. My ticket is here to stay and I’m not going to exchange it for anything else than a Depeche concert. I hope you’ll do the same.

It would be nice to see the same energy again:

Q&A

O leapsa mica de la Tallica:

1. Care e singurul lucru pe care nu ai vrea să-l schimbi niciodată la tine?
Visatul cu ochii deschisi. When things really suck, imi revin imediat alcatuind un scenariu posibil, nu neaparat ideal, dar pur si simplu mult mai atragator decat prezentul. Aproape ca ma transpun in scenariul respectiv cu totul, de am impresia mai apoi ca l-am trait cu adevarat. Asta se intampla si cand imi este bine si imaginatia mea vrea sa se joace. Schizo-what?

2. Primul film care îţi vine în minte acum?
In the name of the father – de cand cu festivalul One World.

3. Ce ai desenat ultima oară (pe hartie, nu în paint)?
A ‘rolling on the floor’ smiley

4. De câte ori ai spus “te urăsc” până acum?
Niciodata. Nu am simtit niciodata sentimente negative atat de puternice. Au mers cel mult pana acolo.

5. Cu ce personaj din literatură te identifici?
Acum vreo 2-3 ani as fi spus Mrs Dalloway (cea din romanul The Hours, mai degraba). Acum nu mai stiu.

6. Cât de bine te înţelegi cu tine?
Ne mai suparam, ne mai felicitam… viata e ca o scara, te ridica si te coboara… )

7. Daca ar fi sa scrii o carte… ce titlu ar avea?
The Romanian Dream

8. Descrie în trei cuvinte o persoană pe care încă nu ai cunoscut-o.
copilul meu drag

9. Continuă propoziţia:
Azi, încă adormit(ă), m-am trezit visând la… eee… wouldn’t you like to know?

One World Romania – Human Rights Documentaries

One World Romania is a festival which presents 6 days of documentaries on the theme of Human Rights. As the organizers have rightly put it, “political imprisonment, life under the terror installed by totalitarian regimes or the daily experience of racism and intolerance are not only the problems of those actually living them. They’re also ours. Especially in a country that surpassed the experience of a long period of political oppression, the question of human rights, their understanding and defense should be permanently a present one.” (oneworld.ro)
But I don’t know if the totalitarian regime has made Romanians truly sensitive to the matter, given the fact that part of them are ignorant (the wealthy, the gold hunters), another part of them are interested more in the spectacularity, in the sensational elements, rather than in the actual problem (the mediocrity, the people with poor education). The ones that actually care and even get involved in human rights-related issues are mostly young people, who have not lived under the Ceausescu regime or if they have, they were too young to be aware of and affected by it. I believe this is an interesting social phenomenon, which hasn’t been explored. Instead of using the experience they had in communism, they choose to turn their backs and mind their own lives, ignoring the problems people around them are confronting. Another important matter that would make a difference is the fact that many people are not aware of their rights. Ignorance will always take lives.
In this direction, I salute the One World Romania festival. I’ve seen five documentaries so far, and I will present in a few words three of them. “Letter to Anna”, the story of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya who was murdered after having written for years disturbing articles about the social and political scene in Russia, more precisely, about the infringements of human rights by then-president Putin. The documentary has some footage with Anna herself, taken during an earlier project of the director Eric Bergkraut on Chechnya, Anna being deeply involved in the matter. Very interesting and challenging to see her commitment, although she was fully aware of the danger she had got herself into.
“Blind Loves” was the kind of documentary that insists too much on an already known and sympathized issue: blindness. There is a fine line between exaggeration and moderation, especially when you deal with such a theme, and the director Juraj Lehotsky (Slovakia) didn’t know how to estimate the quantity of “blindness” in his characters. They were no longer human beings with many other qualities, they were just blind people who – wow! – fall in love and have relationships. It was so in your face that you get the feeling that the one dehumanizing blind people is the director himself. Disturbing.
“Blood Trail” can be seen today, at 16h30, at Eforie Cinema, therefore I won’t give too much away. It was the best I’ve seen so far, because of its innocence in dealing with war journalism. Robert King’s trail in succeeding with his war photographs, as a free lancer, is so much our own in whatever path we choose. The initial enthusiasm and idealism and what comes next, when you’re in the front line, change you and make you see life and death with different eyes. The dilemma of war journalists is also discussed between the lines, based on questions such as the following: Why am I risking my life taking some photos nobody wants to see?

You can find the festival’s program here
.