For most models modeling is just a job; a chance to see the world, an escape from a hardscrabble life, an avenue to more fulfilling pursuits. The glamour ends when the lights go down. For Naomi Campbell modeling is a way of life. Naomi’s got a reputation as a bitch and a diva, and not for nothing. It seems that every few months she’s in the papers for attacking or insulting someone. When she was finally convicted of assault, she showed up to do her community service wearing stilletos. A few years ago I read that her fees have grown so extortionate that not even her friend Donatella Versace wants to book her. She may be a drama queen. She may be someone you don’t want as an enemy. But do models come any more fabulous? Remember what I was saying earlier about the cult of personality and the importance of image? Naomi knows very well what her image is, and she lives it to the hilt. She knows what the world expects and she plays up that persona. Her job is to be a glamorous, dangerous, beautiful diva 24/7. Who else lives her job like that?
Animals Make Us Human is the latest book by Dr Temple Grandin, one of my heroes. I just spent an hour writing up a review. Unfortunately, somewhere between opening the draft and publishing it, it got lost. FUCK!
So I’ll give you someone else’s review. Anyway, I’m sure The New York Times review is way better than anything I wrote. Now I’m depressed and angry.
I’ll just say that any book by Temple Grandin is highly recommended, for anyone who cares about animal welfare or who’s interested in the mysteries of autism, or the science of perception, or animal (and human) nature.
Awkwardly, I really don’t have anything to say about Black Uhuru except to reiterate that I really like them. I do listen to reggae a lot, and strongly feel that Black Uhuru makes the best reggae on the market. But…Being hopelessly beholden to the cult of personality, well, my range of interest is limited. Black Uhuru has changed lineups multiple times over the years, without any drastic change to their sound, and nobody has emerged as a powerful star or driving force. That leaves me repeatedly featuring a band I know nothing about. I could do some research beyond the minimal effort of Wikipedia requires. But this isn’t a band about whom whole libraries are written, and there’s not much information easily available. The problem remains that I base my interest in rock stars on how good their hair looks in pictures. (Although the members of Black Uhuru do all have awesome hair.) I wonder if that’s a faulty basis for a career as a wanna-be critic. I’ve always argued that image is a vital part of performance and anyone neglecting their image is a lazy flop. On the critical end of things, is it unfair to judge an act by its image? I’m going to say no to that question. I’m also going to say that it is no way shallow or unfair if I renounce certain performers for being too ugly to be a fan of. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone with less musical aptitude than me, so music is very mysterious to me. Not having a clue, I’m basing my judgements on totally intangible things, like my own feelings stirred. And I have these moments of wondering what the hell I’m writing about and why, and I justify myself. I’ve already established that I’m not qualified to provide real criticism, nor do I feel up to unearthing any useful factual information. The alternative is to skew more strongly towards the personal. What I’d like to achieve is an impressionistic approach of listening to music – or does that sound a SOUPÇON pretentious? It help to view this whole blog as just a writing exercise, until the moment when I have the inspiration to really write something. I’m wondering many other bloggers view their page as a vehicle for polishing their prose. It’s a weird platform, this blogging – so anonymous and so public. I have to say, I really really love the internet, and I love this damaged culture that’s evolved with it. (BTW have you read the latest issue of Vanity Fair, which bemoans the horrific impact of reality tv and exposes the dark side of ‘Teh Qte’?) Because it gives me the freedom to go off on a stupid tangent like this one and put it out to world, as opposed to just thinking it or possibly soliloquizing to a captive audience of one at some party or bar, and feel like I’m doing something creative in this life, ass all the while safely planted in my favorite chair.
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