Friday Ephemera
Return of the Post-It notes. // Tactile illusions. // Magnetic cows. // The healing power of spider bites. // How South Park is made. // Battlefield lasers. // Radioactive scrap yard. (h/t, Mick) // Stockholm public library. (h/t, Growabrain) // The EU language police. // Evan Sayet generalises wildly, but he’s not without a point. // What are your political coordinates? (h/t, HP) // Victimology and pies. // Early medical paraphernalia. // “The finger is not permanently attached to his hand, so it can be easily left plugged into a computer.” (h/t, EQ-aliser) // The hammock you’ve always wanted. // Pizza vending machines. // The polygraph museum. (h/t, Things) // Browser ball. // And, via The Thin Man, it’s Luthor’s Luau.
I like the post-it notes installation. It’s funny but… “is it art?”
“It’s funny but… ‘is it art?’”
Well, if the same arrangement of objects appeared in, say, a TV commercial, would it be considered art – or just clever set design? I like the display – it’s fun and striking. But it seems to me that if it wasn’t presented as an “installation” in an art context we might not even ask the question.
The questions on the political compass test are a bit leading:
“If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations.”
“No one chooses his or her country of birth, so it’s foolish to be proud of it.”
“Multinational companies are unethically exploiting the plant genetic resources of developing countries.”
Sounds like it was written by a lefty. Did like this one though:
“Astrology accurately explains many things.”
David, new Wolverine trailer…
http://io9.com/5176396/get-catty-with-the-new-wolverine-trailer
For some reason I’m not terribly excited by the prospect of a Wolverine film. The X-women are generally the more interesting characters, in the comics at least. Though it may be interesting to see whether the Emma Frost cameo does justice to our favourite imperious telepath.
“if the same arrangement of objects appeared in, say, a TV commercial, would it be considered art – or just clever set design?”
If it gets public subsidy it’s art. If it doesn’t get public subsidy it’s “just” commerce.
“If it gets public subsidy it’s art. If it doesn’t get public subsidy it’s ‘just’ commerce.”
In fairness, the Post-It note installation was, I think, part of Merz’s degree show and he now works as a graphic designer. But, yes, I think we can assume that if the same arrangement of objects were presented by someone calling themselves an artist (rather than ‘just’ a designer), we’d be ploughing through reams of Very Important Text™ justifying the endeavour (and its public subsidy).
Re the language police:
“The politically correct rules also mean a ban on Continental titles, such as Madame and Mademoiselle, Frau and Fraulein and Senora and Senorita. Guidance issued in a new ‘Gender-Neutral Language’ pamphlet instead orders politicians to address female members by their full name only.”
But what if I’m a German woman and I *want* to be called Frau? What if a German guy greets me as Frau because he’s being polite? Won’t it be insensitive if I correct him?
“Won’t it be insensitive if I correct him?”
Probably. In that situation, I wouldn’t look on the correction as polite. But I don’t think we should assume that the object of the exercise is to spare anyone’s feelings or to lift womankind from the jaws of oppression. Given the obvious difficulties and contradictions, it’s much more plausible that the object is simply to gratify those who wish to assert themselves by controlling how others speak.
In other words, doctrinaire pricks and harpies.
The photos of the library are great.
“Guidance issued in a new ‘Gender-Neutral Language’ pamphlet instead orders politicians to address female members by their full name only.”
Why is someone trying to fix a non-existent problem?
“For some reason I’m not terribly excited by the prospect of a Wolverine film. The X-women are generally the more interesting characters, in the comics at least. Though it may be interesting to see whether the Emma Frost cameo does justice to our favourite imperious telepath. ”
I have to admit, I was pretty ‘meh’ about the prospect of the ‘Wolverine’ film at first, but the casting of Liev Schrieber as Victor Creed sure perked my interest!
Now I’ve seen the trailers, it’s one of my ‘must see’ movies ths year…
Julia,
I’ll put that down to the prospect of seeing Hugh Jackman all naked and wet.
What? 🙂
Lol! Oh, I’m sure that’ll be a draw for a vast percentage of the female audience.
In fact, it’d be interesting to see the demographics for the audience, compared to most superhero movies. Perhaps casting lanky pretty-boy Jackman was a good move after all..?
Woof! 😀