My Coloring Book

I think I have a pretty discerning eye. It plays out in the arrangement of my garden with its rainbow of tints. I know I am good with paint samples and finding just the right shade for room. My taste in clothes may be a but gawkish, but even then, it is a choice made.

In films, Art Direction always amazes me when it works in stunning and surprising combinations. I found this web link that breaks down specific scenes from iconic and sometimes overlooked works of cinema - and then shows the color pallet that makes up the visual. In essence, it takes the creative and breaks it down into the logical choices that were made. I found it fascinating and will let some of the images speak for themselves. 

The link to the full article in Digital Synopsis is also attached where it goes much more into depth about emotional responses to color, period trends separates Sci-fi from Romantic Comedies in terms of spectrum. You'll see some wild choices by Tim Burton, emotional touches by Spielberg and cerebral touches by Christopher Nolan

 

 
 
 
Digital Synopsis = Color Palettes

English Urchins

One of my regular Twitter feeds is @historyepics - which constantly finds interesting and often mind-boggling pictures in history. Often it is monumental shots like the last noted photo of the Titanic setting sail. Recently it has been a bit morbid with shots of the back seat of the Kennedy limo or John Lennon's stained spectacles. But for the most part, it is curated albums that hold a place in time; whether slice-of-life shots or celebrity candids.

This album highlights the poverty ridden children on the streets of London at the dawn of the 20th century. It is not quite the imagery of Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger. But think more Newsies set in London's East End. During these holiday times when we think about the Cratchit children and Tiny Tim, I thought this would be a good share. Attached is an enlightening article that talks about the political climate of this specific world. When the poor were continuing to benefit the ruling British Empire, by favoring factories and trade which exploited both the children & families. It was not until the enactment of the Employment of Children Act of 1903 which started to turn the tide for these unfortunate urchins.

Ironically, the photos show more charm than they do turmoil of infections, dead animals & excrement that littered their streets. The photos are mostly taken by historian Horace Warner in the Spitalfield neighborhood. Here is the link to complete feature with more photos and history of the time period. #GodBlessUsEveryone

Daily Mail - London's East Side in History

American Sexual Dysfunction

My personal blog is often a place to share art, a musical memory or general joy in the world around me that I happen to stumble on. But every once in a while it becomes an outlet for me to share something on a bigger scale. It becomes a personal diary where I put my thoughts into word and circulate them with those around me. It gives me clarity; sort of a journal entry.

With all the current wave of sexual allegations, #MeToo, political resignations, and careers destroyed I have been weighing the conversations. I am by no means choosing sides or battles. My method is usually to survey the larger picture for signs of reason among the raging chaos. Every story has worth. But I do think there is a larger epidemic under the surface that has been prevalent for my entire lifetime.

The concept of a Consenting Adult has always been merely a theory to me. The real dialogue between two people is usually less clear. It starts with dating and exploring sexuality in our teens. Rarely are conversations clear or informed. They mostly whisper around the subject and any exploring happens quietly behind closed doors where actions speak louder than our words. So the idea that two people are navigating and "consenting" is a myth.

My late life dabbling in on-line dating made this very obvious. I was always baffled that the internet made it feasible to say exactly who I was and what I was seeking, but yet it rarely played out that clearly. I can't tell you the number of times I was met with lies, dishonest married men, false profiles, stood-up dates, and awkward sexual encounters among SO many other things. These were not with teen children, but grown men who should have been much better at communicating who and what they were.

Later on while working in mental health & addiction, the whole consenting merry-go-round became even more skewed and was a dysfunctional apocalypse of humanity failing at the simplest of skills; speaking truth. Again, I am not pointing blame. But as a society, Americans are ridiculously inept at this primal rite. There is guilt, shame and a lack of honesty that shrouds all choices. 

So that brings us to the current state. There are witch hunts, accusations and pain that are brought into public forums. When the original conversations should have been much easier ones of a simple yes, no, or "I'm not remotely interested" without any sort of apology needed. These are the discussions we should be having as a society and as individuals. Let's behave like Adults first and then maybe we can broach the subject of Consenting as a sexual being.