Is she the coolest former model or what? Isabella Rossellini has made a series of short films about the way insects have sex for the Sundance Channel. In “Green Porno,” the collection of 8 short films, Rossellini plays both male and female insects and uses claymation-style animation to illustrate the unique and graphic ways that insects do it. The films are framed much like playful, educational shorts for children, but there is no way that could include her being a hermaphroditic worm and talking about 69-ing. I learned a thing or two, mostly that as she ages, Rossellini is getting more compelling by the minute. Check out the trailer above and go to the Sundance Chanel to watch the vids. The earthworm and snail are my personal choices.
Greg from the Ballet told me Rae Spoon’s voice had too many flourishes, and while I agree there is something precious in the way his voice inflects, you can’t knock the charmingly meek country songs on his myspace. Hailing from Calgary in Alberta, Canada, this transman is claiming firm ground in the Canadian roots scene and is currently on tour. My favorite track, “Great Lakes,” can reflect the beauty and cold that comes from living next to a giant pond. Check out the way rural song below, the intimate vid above, and be on the look out for more from this new country hero.
Pitchfork reported earlier this week that Kyle Fischer, ex-guitarist from Rainer Maria is the first from the band to have a new music project. After breaking uo in 2006, this is the first we are hearing from anyone related to that charming, off key, female fronted, proto-emo band. Fischer’s up to the minute attempt at releasing some music is being offered for free, with an option to donate directly through paypal. Besides a Radiohead-style release template, he has also recruited some notable guests for the album, entititled Black Milk, including The Blow’s Khaela Maricich. Check out the song with Maricich below then get the record and throw Fischer some cash here.
Chicago’s only queer prom for youth who want a chance to go to a fancy party as themselves, with a real date is looking for volunteers. No need to go in a group, or with a friend, this is a safe space where anyone in high school or college that identifies as some form of queer. Presented by Homofrecuencia, and WRTE Radio Arte, this annual gala will take place at The National Museum of Mexican Art on Friday, May 23, 2008. Interested volunteers can go here and fill out the form. If you are young and just looking to party, tickets are (suggested donation) $10 for youth and $25 for adults. Queer Prom 2008: “Todos Me Miran” will be super fun and filled with tears of joy, as always. Full details after the jump.
Portishead–Nylon Smile
Electric Six–Gay Bar
The Mae-Shi–Run To Your Grave
Jeppe–Johnny Come Home
Crystal Castles–Magic Spells
Matmos–Rainbow Flag
Broadcast–Black Cat
Tegan and Sara–Back In Your Head
Baby Dee–The Only Bones That Show
Morrissey–Seasick, Yet Still Docked
The Cure–The Only One
Scissor Sisters–It Can’t Come Quickly
The Hidden Cameras–The International M.M.A.
Nico–I’ll Keep It With Mine (Pocketknife’s Odd Beauty Remix)
El Perro Del Mar–You Can’t Steal A Gift
Lykke Li–Dance Dance Dance
CocoRosie–Rainbow Warriors
Anna Oxygen–Red Horse Cafe
Tracy + Plastics–Bury The Hair
The Breeders–Regalame Esta Noche
A book entitled Hiding in Hip-Hop: Confessions of a Down Low Brother in the Entertainment Industry, by former MTV producer Terrance Dean is set to go on sale tomorrow, and I’m not sure if I’m as excited as everyone else. It doesn’t seem to name names, and is more of an awareness tool about the industry. While the press alludes to scandalicious details, it seems more like a book that says “there are gays in the entertainment industry,” which is, you know, redundant. A quote from Dean in a recent article in the Guardian:
Leading hip hop artists such as Eminem, DMX and Ice Cube have all been targeted by gay activists for using homophobic lyrics. One of Eminem’s songs famously included the line: ‘Hate fags? The answer’s yes.’ In his book Dean describes a world in which hip hop stars and executives often berate and denigrate homosexuals, and the use of the word ‘faggot’ is common place. He says that too often he let such abuse pass by, and writing a memoir was a way of making up for that. ‘I am a part of this culture. I was getting by, saying it’s OK when those things are said. But then I realised they are actually talking about me too,’ Dean said.
We’ll either be pummeled with headlines about this book or it will be a footnote, but it will be a historical piece about a culture that is very ‘out’ about their homophobia. Buy it at amazon.
UPDATE: A lot of interest for this post–everyone wants to know the names that aren’t named. Listen to an interview with Terrance Dean on the Wendy WIlliams radio show, you’ll see how much doesn’t get said. “It wasn’t about naming naming names, it was about telling my story,” is as far as it goes. Not that I want to know or anything…
What would you say to a late-twenties Buffy fan who was curious about starting Firefly?
I believe that “Firefly” occupies a controversial place in the “Buffyverse”. Wait, I think they call it the “Buffysphere”. Or is it the “Buffyzone”? As a huge Buffy fan, I have floated on the periphery of this so-called Buffyverse or sphere or zone (ie: got into the comic books and “Angel”, but have avoided any conventions, chat rooms or fan/fic.) So I’m no expert, but have been geeky enough to have some Joss Whedon conversations at dinner parties and the like. From my limited study of the subject, “Firely” and it’s spin-off movie “Serenity” seem to have been embraced by some Buffy fans but rebuked by an equal number. So it certainly seems worth it to give it a try.On a personal note, I am a fan. A Sci-Fi Western about independent types flying around the galaxy defying the oppressive central government, cool. Plus the guys are hot, especially the fancy-pants doctor, and got themselves even hotter by the time the movie was shot.
Side-note, currently trying to watch “Wonderfalls” the even shorter lived series created and produced by some of the “Firefly” folks, about an underachieving young woman working at a Niagra Falls gift shop when inanimate objects start speaking to her. Thus far, a little painful, but gonna try to muscle through one disc before giving up.
Their LGBTQ Youth CloseUp will include research on the following topics:
* LGBTQ Youth cultures;
* Cyberworlds and LGBTQ Youth;
* LGBTQ Youth resilience;
* LGBTQ Youth of color;
* LGBTQ Youth in rural environments;
* Homelessness among GLBT Youth;
* LGBTQ Youth suicide;
* Special health issues faced by LGBTQ Youth;
* Making schools safe for LGBTQ Youth
If you are a nonprofit and are doing work in the field of LGBTQ Youth please register at IssueLab today. They are asking that organizations list their research with IssueLab by the last week in May
This a cool electric version of “Chelsea Girls,” very different from the downer strings that accent the original version from the album “Chelsea Girl.”
