What It Means To Be Human: First Kiss

Art Film by WREN and created by Tatia Pllieva shows twenty complete strangers put together to share first kisses together. Not knowing names. Not knowing backgrounds. No barriers.

Viral on YouTube and Tumblr, I find this art film piece really emotive and moving and I have no idea why. Kisses are just really emotional things and I think this film just really shows what its is to be human. Literal biological functions made into a black and white film. Human contact is the nicest thing in the world, whether it be holding hands or kissing.

Beautiful.

Madison.

(music by SOKO: We Might Be Dead Tomorrow)

What it means to be human: Shaun Ross

A professional model, dancer and cameo guest star in Lana Del Rey's short film: "Tropico", Shawn Ross has received a lot of attention, whether positive or negative over the years.

At 22 years old and accomplishments within the fashion industry, Ross has, in my personal opinion an OUTSTANDING beauty, being of Afro-American heritage and of albinism, his beauty is the strength, confidence and elegance he has carried himself through the bullies and peers that threatened to knock his self esteem down. Having an almost ethereal beauty gracing him in his young years, he got recognised over YouTube where he was snatched up at only 16 years old, repped by Djamee Models.

Breaking the mould for the fashion industry as being the first albino model, has changed the face of "fashion modelling" for good. No longer are models perceived as "coat hangers" for the clothes, a bland canvas where the art  is within the garments, oh no. No, now the fashion industry are recognising them as people, REAL people, of all races, backgrounds, sizes, heights and personality.

When I watched this, as someone who wants to enter this very fierce industry, I found it so emotional to watch. This has further inspired my ethics and an aspiring designer. He reiterated what models do, what they mean for society at this day in age, how life altering it can be for a chosen few. I think societies opinion of fashion have altered. Now when you see a model representing Dior on the runway or out in the streets, you want to buy the clothes in angst to be like them, idolising them for their personalities, looks or actions. And I can tell you, I'd spend my savings on what he's wearing, to have his strength, determination and views which are still so rare. Here in this video, he discusses what it means to be "perfect" and "beautiful". He's talented and compassionate, this is what it means to be human.

From this post onwards into February I am doing a series of posts: "What it means to be human" where I investigate inspirational beings in their own right, their views and thoughts enclosed. So keep and eye peeled.

Response to What Guys Look For In Girls

(above is a response video to Nash Griers's vlog from YouTuber: Meghan Tonjes)

Okay so, many of you may not understand what this is about, but recently a YouTuber going by the name of Nash Grier made a video with two of his friends generalising what guys look for in a potential girlfriend/fling.
This YouTuber is particularly famous in the U.S and has quite a vast fan base of young girls so you can imagine the scale of responses Grier got from fellow vloggers, bloggers,Y Tubers and viewers alike. I hadn't heard of him or his videos until now, so this has gotten a lot of negative attention from potential subscribers so I think it's a damn shame he made this mistake.

Some people may not consider the video he made titled "What Guys Look For In Girls", a damaging video to his audience as he states in the beginning that these are of his and his friends opinions, yet the video gives off the impression that these views were of general males within the same age range of them. While mentioning very few personality traits, they primarily focus on very misogynistic view points to women's appearance.

They favour "Long hair" but NO fake hair. "Confident, charismatic, text THEM first" but if you show signs of being too loud or over bearing, don't bother with them. "you have to be all natural beauty" but shave/ wax each hair off your limbs otherwise you'll be classes as ugly. It is not the point of them expressing their opinions, but when they express such distaste to some features and favour others above all else, then that's when they should consider re-thinking what content they expose on their channel.

Other YouTuber Meghan Tonjes has made a video up above, that made me think about this subject in detail and consider some day-to-day aspects of conversation between male groups and has furthered my understanding on feminism.

Until next time,

Madison

Atta Boy, Atta Boy!

REVIEWING TIME, REVIEWING TIME.

New year, new sounds I say. Since the new year has come about I've been searching high and low for a new up-and-coming band that I can sink my teeth into so to speak. So where on earth better to search for talented bands than along the shining west coast of the U.S ? Bearing all walks of music, penny boards, golden tans, surf spay, I didn't have to look far before head bumping into the talented Atta Boy.

L.A based indie band of four, you won't be able to get over their soothing songs with that distinctively coastal sound. Found these stars via folk band: Haim. Having one of their associates direct the video for Atta Boy's Walden Pond, a seemingly favourite for endless fans including myself. Instrumental sections of their songs are whimsical and something that is easy going to listen to, but do not be fooled, these aren't cute little songs, they are delivered with an aloof coolness, feist and seemingly beautiful melodic vocals delivered from a talented group of four: Freddy Reish, Dashel Thompson, Lewis Pullman, and Eden Brolin.

• First track of "Out Of Sorts" their new, much loved album is Out Of Sorts their debuted song, with steady drum and electric guitar intro is a soft and sweet trance that is a brilliant combination between vocal and playfulness with writing.
• Jack And Blow is the following track, a slow-prom-esque tune that is crooned softly and meant to be listened to during a rainy afternoon, while dancing with your boyfriend in summer and when you're crying into your duvet after a bad breakup. Or all of the above. It's brilliant and beautiful in such a sad way.
• Now, Diamonds are a sassy little number that follows the same sort of beat as the first track but resembles a late Paramore song rather than a rocky Beatles tune that Out Of Sorts demonstrated a la Paul McCartney. Feisty and strong lyrics to follow a feisty beat
• Here, Walden Pond takes the cake in my opinion, sandwiched between light, upbeat songs, here we see a whimsical, indie tone that is some-what tranquil, something you don't hear in the other songs up until now. I'm not sure why this appeals to me. Maybe it's just when you hear it in the privacy of your own company, you think of somewhere or someone that you call home.
• A Dog's Adventure is up next and introduced with chiming tones that can only be described at the tinkling of carnival music, kicking into another summertime tune, demonstrating the breathy warbles of beautiful lyrics, piano features throughout which makes this song differ nicely from the beginning three songs. Cue summer picnics and sunshine.
• Hearing a gradually building harmony in Saccharine now, "Stay close to home my darling boy", raspy vocals, slow progression of tender piano keys and bass drum, Atta Boy has built up a certain sound and image that works well. From mid- onwards we here more and more instrumentals, stronger key notes of guitar, piano and bass drum.
• Bells is a nice palette cleanser with raw sounding electric guitar to match the oh-so-cool voice. "oh's" and "aahhs" feature with the rockier sounding chorus and stronger tune, we see ourselves shedding summer and donning Autumn. It's an appropriate change in the album.
• Road Block and When We're Alone is and interesting mix of rock sound and candy floss chiming, does it work? Most certainly. Interesting use of electric guitar but toffee-butter sounding chorus. Award for consistency as more happy go-lucky tunes is the dish of the day.
• Now we end on a tranquil track that is something that is the epitome of the last rays of summer, when your pour the beach sand out of your shoes, kiss that boy one last time and go for that last swim in the surf way into the night. Readiness Is All puts all feelings of sadness and happiness into  5 minutes of bitter sweet sadness of piercing piano keys.

Chord and song progression is set steady throughout their whole album, showing raw, professional talent from these young four, aspiring musicians. With clear influences from country, folk and soft rock. It's backyard band session that has taken off with absolutely flying colours. Not being big in the U.K yet, I really hope they explore and open their fan base and tour areas as they have a distinct, likeable sound.
Check them out or it'd be a mistake.

Detox and pure

Did you know the term "Merry" is actually a phrase for getting drunk? So while "Merry Christmas" rolls back around this year and people are reaching for the buck's fizz and Disorano, I'm reaching for my peppermint tea and organic honeys, 'cos it's cool to go herbal.

Celebrities are favouring health juices over fizzy alcoholic beverages. Whether out shopping or going to the gym, health drinks are becoming the top choice for all ladies with style and great health:

So in order to share my knowledge of teas, pure juice smoothies and oils I decided to make a top pick of my favourite fruit juices and teas to stay happy, healthy and blemish free this season, because no one wants a stuffy cold and de-hydrated complexions at the end of December.


DETOXIFIED PURE JUICES AND TEAS FOR THE WINTER SEASON:

Best for fighting illness:
GARDEN MEDICIDE TEA

Ingredients:

• Sprigs of peppermint
• Dead Nettle (don't panic, this is the one that doesn't sting you)
• Marigold petals
• Manuka or floral honey

It's really that simple, most of these you can acquire in tea-bag form and will just need to be steeped and then stored in a glass jar to chill and then add hot water to warm the tea up when served. But if your want to go uber organic then you can get dead nettle online, at gardening centres or even grow your own. With Marigold, this does need to be boiled down quite well to get any dirt and pesticides off. Peppermint can be steeped in hot water and will instantly add a pleasing flavour to any tea, juice or smoothies. Honey makes the whole thing sweeter to any health drink new-comers and for any sweet tooth's out there like myself.


Best for clearing up complexion:
BEST OF ZEST

Ingredients:

• 1 whole lemon
• 1 whole lime
• Organic honey
• Ground ginger

Okay so now this ball-buster of a juice packs a real punch so needs to be checked on to make sure the zesty flavour really comes through this drink as this, fundamentally is a cordial so can be added with water to lessen the strength of the tangy taste you'll definitely get with this little number.
Slice up the fruits thinly and place in warm-hot water that's been already boiled.
Store this in the fridge for a good 3 hours before you then add a dash of ground ginger and a dash of honey. You can add cinnamon or mint to vary the flavours.

Poem of the month

I decided on this little monthly feature on my blog as poetry actually inspires me when I'm under the weather or just lacking inspiration on my personal and college projects.
But most of all, I wanted to start off with one of my most loved poems that has carried me through my teenage years, being my ever constant companion when searching for the idea of love and romance. Being the 15 year old romantic fanatic as I was.

Here, I present "Having A Coke With You" by Frank O'Hara.

Having a Coke with You
is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irún, Hendaye, Biarritz, Bayonne
or being sick to my stomach on the Travesera de Gracia in Barcelona
partly because in your orange shirt you look like a better happier St. Sebastian
partly because of my love for you, partly because of your love for yoghurt
partly because of the fluorescent orange tulips around the birches
partly because of the secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary
it is hard to believe when I’m with you that there can be anything as still
as solemn as unpleasantly definitive as statuary when right in front of it
in the warm New York 4 o’clock light we are drifting back and forth
between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles
and the portrait show seems to have no faces in it at all, just paint
you suddenly wonder why in the world anyone ever did them

I look at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world
except possibly for the Polish Rider occasionally and anyway it’s in the Frick
which thank heavens you haven’t gone to yet so we can go together the first time
and the fact that you move so beautifully more or less takes care of Futurism
just as at home I never think of the Nude Descending a Staircase or
at a rehearsal a single drawing of Leonardo or Michelangelo that used to wow me
and what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them
when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank
or for that matter Marino Marini when he didn’t pick the rider as carefully
as the horse
it seems they were all cheated of some marvellous experience
which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I am telling you about it
by Frank O’Hara

Happy mid-week.

Madison xxx

Beautiful and Damned

I'm a big Fitzgerald fan, I've read his beautifully done American novels, listened to his audiobook when I was young and was delightfully exposed to Baz Luhrmann's brilliant adaptation of The Great Gatsby, controversial topic I know but I absolutely adore it. But I had never read his Beautiful and Damned which put me to shame so as my birthday approached I knew what I was going to ask for. So on the 7th, I opened the shiny paper to receive a really lovely copy of the Fitzgerald's novel.

The story line is set in the roaring 20's, depicting a beautiful, luxurious and chaotic plot between the newly rich, young man: Anthony Patch and his newly wedded wife Gloria, delving into the themes of money, the Jazz Age and intimacy. It just promised to ooze decadence an delight.

It proved me right. The beginning showed Patch's early and swift beginnings as a blossoming gentleman with riches, education and charm at his side. Meeting the beautiful but troubled Gloria, the two begin a romantic involvement, evolving into a quick marriage.
It shows the struggle these two young people have with the decadence and the passion that the jazz age represented.

The book was grand, glamorous and really shoed the full idea of the "American dream" and highly underrated. It's quite and easy and enjoyable read. Especially if you love the 20's era as much as I certainly do.

To get it cheaper and quicker, head over to Amazon right now to get a first or second hand copy in time for Christmas:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/books-used-books-textbooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=266239

Book score: 8/10

Right, I'll be off to invest in jewel headpieces and Mary-Jane T-bar heels.

Madison xxx