A picture is worth a thousand words. In the case of Kendrick Lamar’s new video for "Element," perhaps the moving imagery that are based on the works of photojournalist Gordon Parks is worth more than just words; they’re worth emotions. The video definitely went the extra mile to create an accurate visualization of Element’s lyrics, which are the further exploration of the dynamics of black communities in the US.
The use of Parks’ iconic photographs (such as the row of black nuns dressed in white) could only be done justice by the lyrics. Through this song, the messages and emotions behind Park’s photographs are witnessed to come to live—of course, one of the reasons being that the photographs are shown to be not motionless and lively. But moreover, the emotions behind the photographs are emphasized along with Elements, with the words morphing together with the imageries, creating a whole new perspective on the issue while also keeping the feel of the rawness and originality of the images.
With the ever-evolving concepts for his recent videos, Kendrick Lamar presents his audience with this aesthetic piece of ‘moving’ tribute to the black culture. And this song definitely does justice not only in addressing sensitive social issues, but also bringing Parks’ imageries into notice to celebrate its emotions and presence of identity.
Indeed, the title itself may be a way to describe Drake’s latest album. A certainly fresh wake from Views, More to Life indeed shows the more there is to Drake, exploring emotions and personal expressions of his further, while also taking ‘dips’ into colorful grooves added to the tracks such as "Get it Together" and "Glow." A ‘playlist’ as the artist himself describes it, perhaps provide an explanation as to the vivid feel of sentiment present throughout the tracks.
An even more personal touch is added at the end of "Can’t Have Everything," where Drake’s mom is heard leaving him a voicemail. The extra attempt of being personal may be his way of redeeming himself after the lack of enthusiasm he received for Views. Drake definitely convinced the world that in spite of the ‘monotonous’ accusations aimed at Views, he hasn’t lost his touch and in fact has plenty of ‘Drakeness’ left to offer through a ‘more open peak into his life’ with this one.
Salah satu di akhir Juni lalu membandingkan serial baru ini dengan Orange is the New Black (OITNB) dan dengan lugas menilainya lebih baik daripada serial yang ber di penjara khusus perempuan tersebut. Berdasarkan tulisan yang bertebaran, jelas sudah bahwa serial baru bernama GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) ini hadir, juga dengan isu perempuan. Bertempat di Los Angeles pada tahun 1985, GLOW membeberkan bagaimana pemberian label dan pada masa itu masih sangat kuat dan bahkan menjadi tolak ukur kesuksesan sebuah acara di TV.
Premisnya sederhana saja, sebuah dari acara gulat khusus perempuan. Mulai bagaimana sang inisiator mencari perempuan yang tepat, sampai hadirnya seorang produser muda membabi buta memaksakan idenya untuk membuat dengan stereotip - yang jika diposisikan hari ini tentu sangat Walau season 1 dimulai dengan cukup aman, publik dibuat penasaran dengan mau ke mana jalan cerita dibawa. Tapi jelas adegan tidak akan segera mengisi tiap , layaknya OITNB.
Adanya Brie Larson dan bahkan Kate Nash sebagai bagian dari “perempuan terpilih” dalam GLOW, membuat serial ini sangat menarik untuk diikuti. Namun sayang, penonton masih perlu meraba di mana letak isu perempuan yang ingin ditonjolkan karena banyaknya sisipan yang bersifat distraktif. Berisi 10 episode, 1 ini setidaknya mampu membuat penonton untuk belajar melihat sebuah isu dalam konteks tepat. Tapi apakah GLOW lebih baik daripada OINTB? Nampaknya penilaian tersebut dibuat terlalu terburu-buru.
GLOW (2017)
Sinopsis: Cerita di balik para perempuan yang tergabung dalam sebuah acara gulat perempuan pada tahun 1985 di Los Angeles. (IMDb)
It’s clearly been a while since anything was played on cassettes. Perhaps, most of us might think cassettes are soon to be gone for good. However, Moscow-based producer Zurkas Tepla proves us wrong with the release of his musical-storytelling-cassette entitled Bank Robber/In The Same Car; one side telling a story through the subconscious of a robber and the other featuring a meditative counterpart.
Tepla certainly aims to reintroduce his audience with the familiarity of developing imaginations from listening to sounds, inviting us to dive into a world constructed within our own minds with the help of his murky soundscapes, disquieting beats, and also ambient sounds with distant melodies. Perhaps Tepla is trying to ignite the power of imagination within his audience, the kind you get from reading books, listening to audio ones, which during this age where a huge percentage of entertainment becomes visually presented may become more of a challenge to some.
A journey of the mind may be a way to describe the experience brought by Tepla’s storytelling cassettes. Through each side’s tracks and chapters, who knows? Maybe listeners will be transported to the sceneries in the stories and live through the moments. Perhaps Tepla’s method may also provide audiences with the chance of taking their minds on a creative challenge to simply imagine.
Bank Robber by Zurkas Tepla
There’s no doubt that nowadays, it’s becoming a more and more common to see young CEOs starting up their own businesses. This urban phenomenon is what eventually drove Fendi to create a business-executive-themed collection for their SS18 runway debut. The office-themed runway, which ironically took place in Fendi’s HQ office, featured rather casual office wear pieces.
Fendi also took everyday items such as telephones, sink taps, martini glasses, and so on to create patterns that further portray the everyday essentials of a corporate life. It’s clearly an unusual sight for the eyes to find everyday items that can be considered rather dull or ordinary to be the essence of a high-fashion brand’s collection. Fendi’s take on the young start-up CEO phenomenon may actually be Fendi’s way of catching up with the future, as they stated that “you have young kids who are the head of start-ups and then become multi-billion companies in a few years, and so the attitude is changing and I think our life is changing.”
In that case, Fendi has certainly succeeded in incorporating society’s dynamics into high fashion; which adds a whole new level into the understanding of what ‘contemporary’ fashion is. Fashion that, while defying the common conception that runway collections are usually far from being wearable, relatable, and are for aesthetic purposes only, also makes it its point to illustrate urban society. Fendi finding inspiration within youth in society may also be proof that not only does fashion take actual part in society, but also that fashion can be made of almost anything, even society’s seemingly mundane and dull everyday activities known as the ‘corporate life’.
Creating his own ‘storylines’ within the Russian music scene is one way of describing Kuznetsov or Antoha MC’s (as he’s better known) unconventional yet offbeat new energy in it. Taking his music into a way of telling the story of everyday experiences, Kuznetsov describes his process as “(getting) rid of all the superfluous stuff and transform the raw material into what’s really necessary.”
A combination of dream-like vibrations, combined with a realist composition into the rhythms of his inspirations, Kuznetsov shows the world just how much positive vibrations may be channeled through music that speaks about everyday muses—books, travels, moods created by a balanced lifestyle, and so on. Safe to say that Kuznetsov’s music is a literal ‘soundtrack’ to daily life, as he delivers his sincere and uplifting energy into each note.
The fresh, unique, yet enjoyable works of Kuznetsov may be a worthy alternative to the usual cliche rap, as his transcendent twist on rap can take his audience not only on an uplifting trip, but also a journey of nostalgia through the lyrics.
