May 28, 2009

Synecdoche, New York


In one way or another, Charlie Kaufman scripts always end up talking about love, death, pain and suffering and their impact on the human mind. "Being John Malkovich", "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Adaptation," "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," "Human Nature." The exploration of the psyche is there.

"Synecdoche, New York" marks his debut as a director, and is no exception - is a natural progression of Kaufman's obsession, and possibly his most complex and distressing work. A journey through their most neurotic and pessimistic nightmares, but with grace.

The movie introduces a theater writer and director (the brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman, from Capote, Doubt, Charlie Wilson's War) as the melancholic protagonist and naturally inclined to see the bad side of life. He seems to be always expecting his death.

"Synecdoche, New York" is a fascinating narrative, constructed in layers of complex structure - a shed in the shed in order to represent the simulacrum of simulacrum. A circle of many baffling dramatic representations of fiction - fiction of fiction of ficction. Mere co-stars in the universe, protagonists of our own lives... a great movie!

* Synecdoche - special kind of metonymy which uses a part for a whole or a whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in “a Rockefeller” for a rich man or “wheels” for transportation.

May 15, 2009

Edgar Mueller


He spent five days, working 12 hours a day, to create the 250 square metre image of the crevasse, which, viewed from the correct angle, appears to be 3D.
He then persuaded passers-by to complete the illusion by pretending the gaping hole was real.

Ask about his work, he said: 'I wanted to play with positives and negatives to encourage people to think twice about everything they see. It was a very scary scene, but when people saw it they had great fun playing on it and pretending to fall into the earth. I like to think that later, when they returned home, they might reflect more on what a frightening scenario it was and say, "Wow, that was actually pretty scary".'

May 13, 2009

Language & Open Source


Installing some IBM eclipse-based softwares - yes, I am... an ICT consultant, I am... - I noticed something... at least funny!

During the initial preparation, the installation program prompts you to chosse the additional language - apart of the standard english - would you like to install. Among the options are italian, spanish, simplified chinese, japanese and Brazilian portuguese! Not just portuguese, but Brazilian portuguese...

This could mean two things: or Brazil is quite famous among the Open Source community (Linux, Eclipse), or we have a bad name on the english speaker community!

I think I'll stick with the first one...

May 12, 2009

Dylanttante


I had the opportunity to attend to a Bob Dylan's concert. Yes, the Great Bob Dylan... godded for his brilliant lyrics and delightful melodies, accurate. But I tell you, Bob disappointed. Not artistically, but in his attitude. He arrived quite an left in silent. He didn't even say good evening, or thanks to the public: he only sang and played keyboard (!), three or four of harmonica solos and two songs on his guitar.

I, who despite not being a fan to know all the songs by heart, know his legacy and I can say ... I barely knew three or four songs he selected for the night - It seemed a "B side" show - which is not that bad, but I believe it would demand a little more interactivity... even more affection! And the songs (re)arrangements left many fans disappointed, just because the most of the songs were unrecognizable! Again, this is not that bad, but a little bit more... respect? Yes, that's it!

For those who consider him a god of folk music, a guru of poetry and literature, and now also a virtuoso because of his paintings, better know that his aura is less shiny now... unfortunately!

May 02, 2009

Radio conversation...


Irish: - Mayday, mayday, please divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision...

British: - Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North.

Irish: - Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision...

British: - This is the Captain of a British Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

Irish: - No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

British: - This aircraft is part of The Grand Fleet of the British Royal Navy! We are accompanied by 8 Destroyers, 4 Cruiser Minelayers, 3 Minelayers and I don't know how many U-Class submarines... So, in the name of the Queen I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees North, I say again, that's one five degrees North, Or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

Irish: - We are a Lighthouse...

May 01, 2009

cultural overnight



This is the fifth year of the Cultural Overnight. Performed by São Paulo's city hall, through the Municipal Department of Culture, it's a big uninterrupted 24 hours party spread over hundreds of attractions in 150 different venues.

Music is the most attraction: from samba-rock to electronica, from rock to romantic; circus performances, speeches, theater, movies, dancing, urban interventions, workshops. From May 2nd 6pm till the next day on 6pm, something around 800 attractions... It is estimated that more than 3.5 million people attending the event.

It's faaar too many people!