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Europecinema – part 1: Food.
A very learned man, not even half my age, was on the Telly last night. Though he is a sociology professor, he had quite a lot of interesting things to say on strategies to exclude minorities. But I will not go into them here and now. However, to my dismay he joined the choir of pessimists when he referred to the near future of Europe as a museum only.
I don’t agree at all. The present political mood may not be what sensible people would want it to be, but to me the continent is still dynamic and vigorous. Yet unquestionable it is true that we are surrounded by 2500 years of breathtaking artifacts in all kinds of realms. Ranging from ancient Greek architecture to modern cinematographic art. As a matter of fact I, as a composed lover of movies, for instance definitely prefer European cinema to Hollywood and Bollywood. In that sense, and in that sense only, I second Willem Schinkel.
By way of example: culinary Indonesia and Japan may be my world champions, but the three best movies in which food plays a major part, are European: “La Grande Bouffe”, “Babette’s Gaestebud” (Babette’s Feast) and “The cook, the thief, his wife and her lover”. At least these are the best I’ve seen.
A Quickie
It’s May. My girls are queens and demanding. So, just like the birds, I’m busy these days. So what to do about Pelopor?
Okay. Let’s bore everyone born after ’60 to death. Let’s feed the crowd (?) with some old fashioned stuff I myself am crazy about. Once popular artists endowed with the talents of passion and compassion, but who run the risk to be forgotten when I die.
Please try to listen to Vladimir Vysotsky. A Russian critical singer songwriter. Clever, poetic and daring. That is: in times of the Sowjet Union when it took courage to tickle the communist’s taboos. To defy the authorities.
Well, your command of the Russian language may be as bad as mine ( which means: non existent), but you can’t escape the impact of this bard:
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UU ITE – my too indolent solidarity for Indonesian bloggers
Here we are. In relatively comfortable conditions – although we also should always and everywhere watch out for authorities wanting to invade the privacy and freedom of their citizens. Yet, for us it’s still easy to be “brave” and speak our minds if we wish.
For bloggers in Indonesia times are not that great now. Maybe partly as a consequence of some half wits here in the Netherlands, who spoke their mind but should have thought twice before they did. Anyhow, Indonesians have to cope with UU ITE – the government’s guide for a decent and proper cyberspace. The officials aim at cleaning up cyberspace. No pornography or nasty criticism anymore. It implies serious punishments for naughty surfers and bloggers and a lot of off limits area’s in cyberspace – YouTube and MySpace included.
I should like to state solidarity with those over there. And start by saying I admire what “Journal by the Lightbeamers” (http://journal. marisaduma.net) published about this phenomenon here ( a really great essay on the subject), here and here and also this most effective entry, “Commander” by “Life like This, Avianto’s journal” ( http://home.avianto.com) which she refers to.
If I can be of any help?
Updates (1) : More sensible posts on this subject here (annaelissa) and here (pure thought). Update (2): Ah, things are mending now it seems. Update (3): Some point out the Indonesian government should not use “Pornography” or Wilders as decoys which divert attention from the real, the economic problems. Update (4): Apart from one minor stronghold, the artistic masterpiece “Fitna”, the Government has unconditionally surrendered. Marisa Duma, in her latest comment, reports on it. This article in The Sydney Morning Herald has even better news: the government offered apologies to the public.The Youtube Wars
And finally we have it. The Youtube Wars! Propaganda has undergone a new evolution. Youtube quality movies to reach out to the world in the name of righteousness.
For those who couldn’t find it, here’s……Fitna. Reactions from the Dutch media, public figures were all roughly the same: is this it? And it has to be said: OMG this is really lousy work! Please deh. If you have watched this, you’ll probably going to conclude this is not worth worrying about.
Almouftinoun. Almouftinoun? It’s the reaction of the
AEL to the movie of Wilders.
And it has to be said: OMG this is also really lousy work!