The Cross-Dressed Men of Jon Uriarte

CARLOS & NAIA 

GUILLERMO & BEATRIZ

JAVI & GABI

JOSE & AINARA

MARCOS & LUCÍA

NICK & REIKO

SANTI & SABELA

STEVE & FONLIN

VICTOR & ANA

The men under the influence’addresses the recent change in roles in heterosexual relationships from the relationships of our predecessors and how those changes have affected men in particular. the photos attempt to capture men’s sense of loss reference, now that women have taken a step forward and have finally come into their own as equal partners. The project consists of full-length portraits of men wearing the clothes of their girlfriends or wives, taken in the space shared by the couple.

Image credits and reference: Jon Uriarte.

Cultivating Culture posted 'Men Under the Influence:' A Portrait Series on Google+, and I commented:

It's definitely an intriguing, provocative series. Clothing reveals as much as it conceals, if only to speak to one's personality and style. Some of the men look resigned, even reluctant, as if they weren't quite willing participants in that influence. In this regard, their girlfriends may be exercising a form of control, which doesn't require them to be around. Yet, the fact they weren't in the photos makes me think that it's less about heterosexual relationships, changing or otherwise, and more about private disgruntlement of some sort. 

Very insightful comments. Thanks, Ron! The changing roles of men and women would indeed make for some private disgruntlement. We as people like to have roles to play, whatever they may be, and the lines today are somewhat ambiguous. That's a good thing--it marks progress--but it can also be quite confusing at times.

"Rolling in the Deep" Spawns Viral Covers

Adele's original VEVO video has raked in 438,148,575 views, as of right now. But this live one ain't bad, in the least.  Viral views: 23,274,995.

Marina Dalmas was just 13 years old, when she performed in this 2011 episode of France Has Got Talent.  Clearly she took the crowd by storm.  Viral views: 47,258,560.

The Vázquez brothers and sister - Gustavo, Abelard and Angela - do a soulful, rhythmic cover.  Viral views: 115,391,475.

Finally, Mike Tompkins does it all by himself, astoundingly a cappella. Viral views: 13,381,107.

Time to Cut Loose, "Footloose"

I've been working so hard
I'm punching my card
Eight hours for what?
Oh, tell me what I got 

I've got this feeling
That time's just holding me down
I'll hit the ceiling or else I'll tear up this town
Tonight I gotta cut 

Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise pull me offa my knees
Jack, get back c'mon before we crack
Lose your blues everybody cut footloose 

You're playing so cool
Obeying every rule
I dig a way down in your heart
You're burning, yearning for songs 

Somebody to tell you
That life ain't passing you by
I'm trying to tell you
That life ain't passing you by
It will if you don't even try
You can fly if you'd only cut 

Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes
Oowhee, Marie shake it, shake it for me
Whoa, Milo c'mon, c'mon let's go
Lose your blues everybody cut footloose 

Cut footloose
Cut footloose
Cut footloose 

We got to turn me around
And put your feet on the ground
Now take a hold of the phone
Whoa, I'm turning it loose 

Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise pull me offa my knees
Jack, get back c'mon before we crack
Lose your blues now everybody cut footloose 

Loose, footloose kick off your Sunday shoes
Please, Louise pull me offamy knees
Jack, get back c'mon before we crack
Lose your blues 

Everybody cut everybody cut
Everybody cut everybody cut
Everybody cut everybody cut
Everybody everybody cut footloose
Cut footloose

Fiesta Latina at the White House

There we were,  last night, my wife and I enjoying this White House celebration of Latino Heritage month, believing it was either a live broadcast or a delayed telecast.  In fact, this Fiesta Latina aired on October 15th 2009. 

I Try To Do Most Things Like Water Would

Consider what water does, and we see quickly that it defies singular or simplistic characterization:

• Water collects, water pools.  
• Water ripples, water eddies.  
• Water rushes, water drops.
• Water condenses, water evaporates.  
• Water beads, water drips.  
• Water nurtures, water drowns.

(image credit)

In martial arts, water is the paradigm of humility that practitioners strive for.  It possesses the silent and soft power that they train for.

What of this dance performance?

It expresses what happens in day-to-day life, including our alternating moments of synchronicity and disharmony.  Our moments of indecision and experimentation, along with exasperation and nonchalance.  Our private dances, too, which we may post on YouTube.  

I really liked the last number.  An exercise in creativity:  You have disparate items, now do something with them.  It is creativity within creativity.

A Woman in the Clouds

How ecstasy feels

What heaven is like

How stalks dance at dusk

RedOne is the Music Video Hitmaker

Nadir Khayat - known as RedOne - has the Midas Touch, as far as popular music is concerned.  The Wall Street Journal positioned him, in this Lee Hawkins interview, as a hitmaker.  Indeed, he is, with top songs on Billboard as both a producer and a songwriter.  But the fact that he has won two Grammy Awards, out of eight nominations, is testament to his talent.  He emphasizes that he's a musician, for example, who doesn't work off simply a beat but a song, that starts with a guitar or piano, not a synthesizer.    

But his talent notwithstanding, he knows that his work and his success are about the pop stars he works with.  It's all about them, he points out.  Give them the music that connects them to this generation and to a global audience.

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra, for example, enlisted his talent to help widen her stardom in a major way.

Khayat was reluctant to accommodate when asked to listen to music by DJ Havana Brown.  But when he learned that she could sing and perform, as well as DJ, he saw avenues for her talent.