What if Boys and Girls had drinking apparatus designated by sex. For a Boy it was shaped as a penis. For a Girl it was Shaped as a vagina. They both would drink from a penis/vagina so therefore a homoerotic object surely, in touching orally, a sexed body part. Although if these drinking apparatus were assigned by sex surely they only represent the gender of the owner not a sexual act. Though the fact there are now two genitalia one of the owner of the drinking apparatus and another in the form of the drinking apparatus itself creates a conflict. As we assign identity from genitalia there is seemingly two identities conflicting in the intimate act of orally touching another and a judgment is made through the values of these symbols. Is it Homoerotic or is it just an overt showing of the way we categorize identity?
Have just finished my first book of the Summer, Fashion + Perversity by Fred Vermorel, about the life and times of Miss Vivienne Westwood (1950s-1995) by one of her brothers oldest friends.
It is split into three different chapters the first is a collection of anecdotes and interviews that people around Westwood or Westwood herself has divulged about her upbringing, her relationship with Malcom Mcalaren, the infamous SEX boutique, the SEX PISTOLS and much more. Though you do come from it feeling slightly shortchanged as there are so many nuggets and stories told and not enough detail that most of it feels quite throwaway. Bit and pieces stuck together like a mood board vaguely flowing together but never giving much clarity to the bigger picture. This is also reflected in the structure of the chapter with timelines obscured by the juxtaposition of Viennes's childhood and the odd relationship between Malcom and Vivienne. (M+V)
The Second Chapter however is rather different the author this time speaks from his own experience giving us a good few stories about M+V, as well as going into the authors life and the circumstances which surrounded the art scene, punk movement and French Riots of the 1970s. Though it feels a bit like he got the advance from the publisher to talk about M+V and really wanted to write his own autobiography seeing as this takes up most of the pages. Don't get me wrong there is some interesting parts to this indulgence if only for his reference points, it just never gets exciting as you hope it would be, only wavering on the sidelines.
The Third Chapter is most disappointing it is a collection of random annecdotes through1960's-1995 when he interviewed various people from the Vivienne Westwood team as they were to bring their 'Les femmes ne connaissent pas toute leur coquetterie' (Women do not know all their coquettishness.) collection to Paris for their annual catwalk show. It offers the sort of anecdotes a person tells you when they have run out of anything to say, a nothingness which is neither insightful or particularly interesting, just a bit pointless.
Though for its flaws I would recommend this book for its humorous first two chapters, to flick through but never to read the entirety as it never gives anything but a fleeting glance of Westwood or her partner. This is not a definitive guide but a appetizer for its interesting subject matter.
x
P.s. The author is now apparently a University Lecturer and has produced videos that are owned by Saaitchi, written many different books mostly about media and fandom. Not sure i can believe it. There is hope for me afterall :)
It's just this anger that sometimes comes why am i not? why aren't you? what are you? a questioning self a governing self that wants better wants more, craves a better. I want self-improvement i want to continue to improve and am angry that i don't do everything that comes to my head, i'm angry that i don't do everything to the best of my ability or screw over my motives by being ridiculously drunk and ruining .
I'm starting a piece at the moment called lifecoach its about failed and often desperate attempts to self improve, become better, be better at everything. The constant critical anaylisis of every move the motive of self and presenting a self. Self evaluation being a terrible, morbid, a torturing existence but it also presents an ability to be as one wants a blank slate. I suppose its also about 'the actor' trying failing and succeeding and failing again at becoming another.
Think i might be going to a class on life coaching for a bit of inspiration, not sure so need to get round creative people again i feel a bit useless with just a pen and paper. x
Been out CV dropping on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in mostly boiling heat, handed out 35+ CV's whilst going to at least 60ish places. Only 1 interview how crap is that, then again when was the last time someone was offered a job there and then.
When out last night with Lauren, Amy and Imogen around loads of random bars - loved it really good conversation interesting people and even some hot guys in the gay bars we found :)
Found a few things that might be interesting need to find time to write them up
Job hunting got off to a slow start today not many CV's handed out (4 i think) though went round around 10 places no where seemed to have many vacancies. Got distracted mostly by meeting up with a friend and goin to Notts castle trying to be a bit cultured and ending up just walking through most of the exhibitions cus they are the same things I saw when I went there @ 5 yearS old (So they're at least 15 years old). We even paid 50p for an exhibition of some of the props from the latest Robin Hood upon entering we quickly got bored since we hadn't even seen the film + the exhibition itself was just one room = waste of money.
Other than that i had a pretty boring day though i did see a pensioner staring out his front room hands pressed against the windowsill arms up as our bus stopped he looked really disapprovingly at everything in his eye line (including me), probably a Daily Mail reader. Then the house next to him a Dog in the same position with a naive look in his eye looked out and looked over at him, how odd, made me giggle as if the dog was like what the hell are you doing
Tommorrow: Hopefully go to Gym (if i can find my membership card)+ hand out more glorious CV's
I've done a few of these collage type things but I do wonder if anyone besides myself thinks they are any good, they are mangled together magazines postcards etc. though they sort of, to me at least, represent something a bit more. It's about the unknowing naive student trying to identify itself in the process of learning and of trying to assume an identity whilst constantly changing through influence. Or something like that. This piece is a collection of bodies including Whistler's Mother's head, a sunset and part of a smoking advert. I just like how the bodies awkwardly interlock and the words 'got my soul got my back got myself got my arms got my hands got my fingers got my legs got my feet'.
Been to the Gym for the first time in years and it was actually quite fun.
So being my Dad's regular Gym he gave me a tour of all the equipment:
The Treadmills The Bikes The Cross-trainers Rowing machines, Weights, Floor mats exercise balls BLAH BLAH BALAH BLAH GYM GYM GENERIC GYM STUFF BLAHBLAHBLAH and then he showed me possibly the most bizarre piece of equipment:
The Vibration Plate exercise machine
somewhere between:
A Lazy man's exercise/masturbation device
AND
when you try to balance on something and then after a while of trying to keep yourself steady you fall off and possibly break a bone or two.
Firstly you pick a vibration intensity, then a time, half min - 2min and then do some sort of press-up position (below) trying to keep yourself on it without a. falling off b. vibrating yourself into a gas substance c. trying to keep face when the vibrations are causing you so much pain, and as the main reason to being in a gym is to look manly,and never ever to feel the burn when you have previously been told that it was easy by your 64 year old father (boy was he lying)
Besides that it was quite fun the sauna, shower room (or from now on The Room where you hardly breath) and the jacuzzi were a bit of a let down but they did their bit alright i suppose.
Besides the Gym i failed to do what i planned to do today i.e. get a job through plastering my CV other Nottingham shire, as my printer doesn't work and my Parents one had run out of ink so decided to print it in brilliant PINK just to make sure my employers had a forewarning of the Gay presenting his infectious CV. Though have printed 20 today after buying a 40ish pound ink cartridge and WILL be distributed to ALL GOOD RETAILERS by the end of the next day.
Another development today was my realization that I need to do things my brain cannot be idle it has too many things to say and do. This may seem slightly arrogant like I'm declaring I'm a complete boffin or that in the Gym my instructor drilled it into me like an army major that i must blunk up cus I'm not a man i'm a Pussy (My instructor was actually really nice). No I realize I often over think things and this can make me paranoid and useless, a theory before a practice - pointless. So i really need to keep myself busy that is why for the first time in ages i've actually updated this blog two days in a row. GO ME:)
x
Still reading: Fashion + Perversity: A Life of Vivienne Westwood and the sixties laid bare by Fred Vermorel It's quite fun so far but maybe too many incomplete stories due to it being based on anecdotes and scraps of information- Anyway i'll give a better review when i've finished.
I've been back home for just under a week now. And it's time i really knuckle down. The thing is i've been neglecting the most important fact. I DO NOT HAVE A JOB and i really really really need one.
No Uni to fall back onto now its the friggin Real World and I need the cash
So Tommorrow my CV will finally be published and Distributed to waiting employers ready to be arse licked by me into giving me an Okish Retail or Catering job.
And for extra publicity my number is 07875210851 (Though contact may vary depending on whether I gave a false number)
In other News I've got my first session at the Gym tomoro with Dad in tow to guide me round should be exciting its got jacuzzi's, saunas and swimming pool too which is a much welcome Extra given the Heat at the moment.
Other Top News Stories Include:
1. Amanda Bynes has recently confirmed she is quitting acting - Something I didn't really care about but thought was quite amusing since she blatantly can't act unless you consider the combination of shouting and gurning Oscar worthy . Don't get me wrong though, I did like The Amanda Show and her ridiciulousness its just she expects everyone to care even though she isn't even tabloid worthy fodder.
2. The Cheeky Girls will be performing at Nottingham Pride - Amazing how they have stretched a three minute audition into a life long career. Can't wait to see them gonna be Funny as.
Currently Trying to Read: Fashion + Perversity: A Life of Vivienne Westwood and the sixties laid bare by Fred Vermorel x
