Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Break The Silence






Leslie Morgan Steiner is a writer and outspoken advocate for survivors of domestic violence -- which includes herself. The embedded video below explores why domestic violence victims don't leave, and is one of the most powerful TED talks videos I've watched, it really hit home as i was involved with an emotionally and at times physically abusive individual years ago. It took time but i eventually got out and escaped from the situation/individual. It's not something i speak about often but i am always honest if the subject of domestic violence and abuse arises. I speak up as i feel that open and honest dialogue is needed from everyone, to expand people's perception and to shed the stigma attached.



The who's and what's and why's of domestic violence are complicated and there is a perception that it applies only to women but the reality is that it affects both men and women. Domestic abuse applies to everyone, all demographics, sexes, colours, shapes and religions. The following excerpt comes from Lundy Bancroft, author of 'Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men' and  eloquently describes a common dynamic (but i should add that I strongly feel that His/Him is interchangeable with Her). 

"The abusive man’s problem with anger is almost the opposite of what is commonly believed. 
The reality is: Your abusive partner doesn’t have a problem with HIS anger; he has a problem with YOUR anger. One of the basic human rights he takes away from you is the right to be angry with him. No matter how badly he treats you, he believes that your voice shouldn’t rise and your blood shouldn’t boil. The privilege of rage is reserved for him alone. 

When your anger does jump out of you —as will happen to any abused woman from time to time —he is likely to try to jam it back down your throat as quickly as he can. Then he uses your anger against you to prove what an irrational person you are. Abuse can make you feel straightjacketed. You may develop physical or emotional reactions to swallowing your anger, such as depression, nightmares, emotional numbing, or eating and sleeping problems, which your partner may use as an excuse to belittle you further or make you feel crazy."


If you are suffering from domestic abuse or violence, please know that you are not alone. 
You are not crazy. 
You do not deserve to be treated this way. 
Regardless of your situation, you can change it.
Talk to someone, break the silence. 
Google domestic violence aid and the city you live in, there are services and people out there who can assist and guide you through your options.






Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Four Walls



"In many shamanic societies, 
if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, 
they would ask one of four questions: 
When did you stop dancing? 
When did you stop singing? 
When did you stop being enchanted by stories? 

When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?"

                                                                            Gabrielle Roth




Image: Katherine Crockett by Albert Watson

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Ohrwurm


Chrome Sparks is Jeremy Malvin, a young musician and producer living in Brooklyn by way of Pittsburgh and Ann Arbor. Marijuana is a hypnotic, spiraling ear worm of a track and so darn catchy i'm surprised that some big corporation hasn't licensed it for an advert yet. 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Fresh Blood



No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow. 
Euripides 

Brazilian filmmaker and writer Edson Oda has created one of the most stunning and unusual short films I've seen by taking a comic book story and bringing it to life.


Malaria tells the story of Fabiano, a young Mercenary who is hired to kill Death in an intriguing turn of events. The short runs for over five minutes and combines a variety of techniques including Origami, Kirigami, time lapse, nankin illustration, comic books and western cinema. 

Although he originally intended on submitting Malaria to the Django Unchained Emerging Artist contest, it was behind schedule and instead he submitted and won first place with The Writer .


Au Courant








Some of my favourite graffiti recently has come from the spray can of Goin, a French artist who has make a name for himself within the graffiti community over the past decade. His socially aware work casts a critical eye over big business, politics, modern living, materialism, greed and corporation. Although he mainly works with stencils for his street art, he also creates sculptural pieces and prints. 


His involvement in the world of street art stemmed from his time playing guitar in a French punk band in 1994. The bands bassist created artwork for their albums and Goin became interested in how images could be used to manipulate the masses (slogans, advertising, logos etc) and how by putting a personal spin on these, viewer perception could be modified. His art acts as a wake up call to critical thought and a willingness to create change.










To see more of his work:
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