N U D E

I need a muse... Or maybe, I just need an artist. Their art makes me wanna listen to Radiohead. Nudity, sexuality, and purity... artfully represented.

Photographs by Andre Brito and Ryan McGinley

Teena Marie

It saddens me to know that we have lost another music icon, but it saddens me even more to hear journalists, websites, tabloids, etc. call her the "Ivory Queen of Soul." Maybe I'm overanalyzing it, but is melanin a prerequisite for soul? Why are we so surprised that people of other "races" (used loosely) can sing, perform, or dance with soul? Are white people devoid of passion and vitality just because of their skin color...? It's true that the artform originated and was popular with people of color, but does that make other "races" incapable of enjoying or even participating in it? Ahhhh well... I digress. Teena Marie was a force musically no matter what her skin color was.

I wish I could be nearly as mentally aroused as the young man that sings this song... It goes to show that 90s grunge can be just as sexy as ummmm... *insert random sexy object here*

Jansport J ft. Lyric'lee

A thought occurred to me while I was in the shower... If God created Eve from Adam's rib, why is it that women are responsible for the birth of mankind and not men? Is this a form of gender favoritism or punishment? If we were created equally in the eyes of God, and made to be dependent upon each other, why is there such a great schism between the sexes? Oh if harlots were saints...

If nothing else, Mayer Hawthorne got me in the Christmas spirit. #kudos.

The Camper Velorium II: Backend of Forever

I really hate when I download so much new stuff that I forget ab all the great music I had before... Sigh. Where was this song 2mos ago?

I know it's probably socially unacceptable and illegal to marry both of these lovely specimens, but if I could just.... get between them, I'd be happy.

...and he sings?

I think it's wonderful that the music of Fats Domino has more influence than post-socialist views of America...

...but that's just me. I'm sure there's someone on Capitol Hill that thinks this is just a ploy to get celebrities to join forces with Putin, redeem socialism, and build an army of brainless fans that will help him take over the world.

The Takeoff...

Last semester's attempt to study abroad was a emeffing fluke, but this year, I'm taking flight... literally. And as I get ready to embark on a journey that could quite possibly change my life, I realize that I'm surprisingly stoic ab everything... When I got accepted into the program I was excited, but then I realized, I had to start unravelling my rubber band ball of plans for the next six months. Instead of relishing the idea that I might be FINALLY be living my dream, I decided to accept possible failure, and to strategize for next semester. So often, as a matter of fact, too often, I second guess myself. Instead of living in the moment, I'm living in tomorrow... After the climax. While I haven't given the reality of what I'm ab to do much thought, I've def thought ab the moment I touch down in the US... after my trip is over. For some reason I can never get to that sense of accomplishment, I always dismiss it by finding something else to think ab, plan, and control. I have no earthly idea what lies ahead for me in the Dominican Republic, but I can be almost certain of what will be here when I return. I think that's what scares me the most... I hate not knowing. The gray area between knowledge and ignorance is more frightening than the dark... Spoken like a true control freak. Hopefully I find the peace within myself that will allow me to surrender to my surroundings and absorb all there is to learn. I need this experience to show me that there is more to life than I have been accepting... I need to see that there is so much more for me to experience than what lies in front of me. The philosopher in me yearns to find reason and purpose, hopefully I find both.

#...

Well damn... I was def ab to post ab my new mantra, until I saw this:

Misogyny in music... Great discussion topic I think. Gina McCauley is responsible for this through her "What About Our Daughters" organization. My thoughts...? Firstly, I wonder if this is directed towards hip-hop or ALL music. I think it's such a shame that we tend to criminalize our people worse than those that are on the outside. And yes, I mean racially. It's sad to see successful black people *cough cough* [Oprah] look down on rappers because of their craft, or the way they choose to form or express their talent... How do we expect the younger generations to grow and progress when we constantly hold bibles over their heads instead of helping them... Marinate on it. Anyway, I think ALL misognystic attitudes stem from a previous event causing them to distrust women. They don't just appear from thin air. NO I don't think that rap music is solely to blame, because black men CLEARLY thought this way before the hip hop movement took hold. In the same token, I think hip hop does fuel the fire in a way... BUT if you're going to argue the point for women, you're going to have to do the same for men. Just as misogynists hold negative views of women, women do the same to men. We yell about "niggas ain't shit" all day long, and then we wonder why they hold the same attitude towards us? One could make the argument of "butt naked hoes marring society's view of black women," but if we penalize our own men for lying, cheating, and being roguish, how can we expect society not to treat them as such? I think the problem lies with us dehumanizing each other so that it's easier to degrade each other. By depicting black women as booty shaking sluts, it makes it easier to view them as material objects and not as mothers, daughters, etc... Likewise, if we show black men as dogs, they stop appearing as fathers and sons in our minds, they become animals unworthy of human consideration. I could go on and on and with the "stop funding foolishness" slogan because it applies to SO MUCH MORE than music, misogynistic lyrics, and black society, but for the sake of your eyes, I'll stop here.

It's Been Awhile...

My my my... I feel like I'm reconnecting with an old lover. The lust is still there, but there's been such a large time gap in our relationship, I'm scared it's gonna hurt if I press forward... Ahhhhhhhh well, here goes. Good riddance :)