Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Bloggy blog! :)
"Livin' On the Edge"
“Livin’ On the Edge”
by Lauren Farmer
Franco’s got Spain down on lock
Spaniards want to fight
But they’re down on their luck…it’s tough, so tough
Prostitutes working all day
Desperate for her drug, she brings home her pay
For coke-for coke
They say: We’re gonna hold on, to all our cards
Bingo is my life and I’m
surging to the top
“Me toca loteria” and that’s enough
For me- to feel energy!
Oooh we’re half way there
Livin’ on the EDGE
Take a stand and we’ll make it – I swear
Livin’ on the EDGE
Spain is drinking around the clock
Spirits served with meals to
Take away the pain- so numb, so numb
People run with bulls all day
When they kill for the fight
The crowd crazily screams ole, ole
We’ve gotta stay true, to who we are
We’ll make it to the top, with great players or not
FC Barcelona’s in to win
For pride- go kick your best shot!
Oh we’re half way there
Livin’ on the EDGE
Make love on the sand, we’ll make it I swear
Livin’ on the EDGE
Livin’ on the EDGE!!!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Leon Golub in Madrid
This is a painting by Leon Golub displayed in an exhibit in the Palacio de Velazquez in Madrid. It says, "Wanted: Killers of the Dream", "What's your dirty little secret, huh?", and "Happiness is a Warm Gun". The last quote is a Beatles song. I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or intentional. Golub was born in Chicago and died it New York so I'm sure he's heard the song. Regardless, it's supposed to amplify his anti-war stance after his experiences in WWII. His artwork forced me to ask myself whether I'm anti-war. The last time I asked myself was while reading Kurt Vonnegut's books. Golub and Vonnegut were both born in America's Midwest in 1922, served in WWII, and have motivated me to analyze my stance on war. Being in Spain, I asked myself what WWII meant to the Spanish and recalled that while doing research for my investigation, an article claimed that Spain never really dealt with it and the controversies attached to Nazism. Then I asked myself, What's this exhibit doing in the middle of Madrid? The informational pamphlet handed out at the exhibit promptly answered: "It is entirely appropriate that this exhibition is taking place in the museum that houses the twentieth century's iconic anti-war image, Picasso's Guernica, and in close proximity to Goya's The Third of May 1808 in the Prado." So it's basically a part of the Reina Sofia, an extension of the contemporary art themes, but in a different building. I like that the location of this exhibit has no relevance to nationality but was decided because its theme is heavily connected with other anti-war, contemporary artworks. The placement of the exhibit provides priority to an anti-war, humanist approach to life over the nationalistic philosophy. If we were all nationalists, Golub--being an American--should have all his work in the states. That would entirely contradict some of his themes, proving the fact that nationalism doesn’t seem to be a reasonable option in every situation. It tempts me to say that I'm a humanist over a nationalist.



