funny or die vs dove evolution

Another day, another Jersey Shore post. For those of you who have never seen the original video which the above parodies (Brother, I’m speaking directly to you. By the way: Heyyyy, Brother) check it out below. Both are awesome in their own right.

Update: I can’t figure out how to embed from Funny or Die and the YouTube vid was taken down so go check it out here!

pure amazingness

Perfect soundtrack to my continuing obsession with India. Someday I will get there!

video art + lipstick lovers

“Here is a video to remind you that women eat about 7 lbs of lipstick in their lifetimes.” This video really hit the spot and reminded me of a random variety of subjects. Initially it reminded me about a chain email I received from a friend warning me about the lead content of lipstick. Although there is no hard evidence linking lipsticks that contain trace amounts of lead to cancer, this video does make you think twice about what you put on your mouth, on your skin, in your hair…

Although the commentators over at nymag do not seem to be fans of this video, I think it’s interesting. It’s provocative and not to be taken too seriously. The contrast of overtly sexual behavior with comedy and a touch of narcissism (always lurking around the edges of the beauty/fashion world) remind me a lot of a video art piece by my dear friend Antonia: Miroir, Miroir.

Miroir, Miroir is a humorous/haunting exploration of our culture’s (and her’s — she’s Brazilian) obsession with physical perfection. What’s that expression… we destroy that which we love? Paradoxically, the superficial medium of the makeup exploits the deeply embedded urge for perfection. The woman in the mirror is demure, then frenzied as she hurtles toward her id, refining her face past the point of perfection and into the obscene. I love the strong red and black carnal colors.

There is always a mocking smile, or the indifferent Asian women on the bus in the final scene to remind the viewer we’re supposed to laugh at ourselves. The artist’s beauty is ultimately what renders this video comic and not tragic; it is clear the woman in the video is ruining her face, not improving it, so we can laugh at her “makeup abuse.” But what if the artist was ugly? Would the desperation be ugly and full of pathos? Would the viewer be relieved that it was hiding what was underneath?

america’s next average model

Must watch:

more about “america’s next average model“, posted with vodpod

how i feel today