Trip to Israel

For the last ten days I traveled all over the incredible country of Israel. A country that is the subject of a great controversy, it is also a place of great beauty and strength. The city of Jerusalem breathes history and seeing people gathered before the Western Wall inspires feelings that are difficult to describe. Seeing the unity and joy of the people gathered there to celebrate the coming of Shabbat is unbelievable. A visit to a kibbutz run farm allowed me to taste fruit/vegetables that could truly be called organic. They were grown using techniques that minimize the use of water and ensure cleanliness. Not to mention the fact that they taste wonderful. Tel Aviv- Jaffa combines the old with the new, with great nightlife joined with the old city of Jaffa. Climbing up Mt. Masada and hiking in the Golan Heights really tested my limits, but it was worth it, because seeing the sunrise above Mt. Masada was breathtaking. However, not everything was fine and dandy. A visit to a border town near the Gaza strip really brought home the fact that Israel was a nation at war. Seeing the abandoned playground that acts as a bomb shelter was heartbreaking and made me feel pity for the poor children who lived their lives like this everyday. Learning that an alert had been issued only 2 hours after I left the place was surreal and seeing the military cemetery with the gravestones indicated dead at 18/19 really hit me hard. Israel may seem like a desert paradise but it comes with a heavy price.

Die, Nazi Scum-Soviet TASS Propaganda Posters

     A couple of days ago I was at the Andrew Edlin Gallery in Chelsea helping out a professor with his latest book project. The exhibition with its strongly worded title of "Die, Nazi Scum!" is a collection of propaganda posters from the WWII era Soviet Union. The posters definitely send a persuasive message to its audience, in some ways reminiscent of American propaganda posters of the WWI era, with their depiction of the Germans as evil and inhuman. The posters range from images with one liners to entire pieces of prose. A particularly powerful piece was composed by the famous poet Konstantin Simonov urging the Soviet citizen to pick up arms on behalf of his homeland and family for if "you won't kill the German, no one will". The trip was also interesting for me, because I got to experience first hand the nuances of translation. As a native Russian speaker I noted that some phrases were translated in similar, but not identical terms which often changed the meaning. I also came to appreciate how often times a work of art is difficult to interpret as parts of the text are not translated thus leaving important contextual cues inaccessible to the general public.
    The exhibition will still be open after the holidays so I recommend that anyone that has an interest in WWII or the Soviet Union take the time to visit.

Courtesy of Andrew Edlin Gallery

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse- quick comment

Courtesy of Kate Mosse

I am so excited ! I just found out that Labyrinth by Kate Mosse is being made into a TV series. Some of my favorite actors will be starring in it including Tom Felton, Tony Curran and Katie McGrath. I can't wait to see it.

Pan Am

I've been watching Pan Am for a while and I have to say it is really good. It has definitely kept me occupied while Mad Men is still on hiatus.

Pan Am focuses on the story of the flight crew of a Pan Am air craft during the 1960s. Like Mad Men it is glamorous and the storyline is always fun. I love the costumes and the cast are is incredible. Each episode takes place in another country so the setting is always unique.

Each character's back story is pretty interesting. Kate, is a recently made CIA operative is struggling with the fact that her younger Laura, who recently ran away from her wedding, has also joined Pan Am. She is also trying to find her way as an agent. Maggie is a feminist who loves to break rules, but has a few secrets that could ruin her career. Dean, the youngest Pan Am pilot, is struggling with the disappearance of his fiance Bridget and is starting to get close to another stewardess Coulette.

Courtesy of ABC

The show really gives life to the period and does a good job presenting the freedom and excitement that flight brought to a generation of women. I can't wait until the next episode, two weeks from now, and recommend that anyone looking for something fun to watch give it a shot.

Anonymous

I have recently become very interested in the upcoming movie, Anonymous. Although personally not a fan or a believer of the theories that Shakespeare was a fraud, this movie seems worth watching simply, because the story line is intriguing, it has a pretty good cast and seems to be getting good reviews. In honor of this movie I have decided to make my own coat of arms although the motto has been borrowed from the English royal family.

Jasmine Becket Griffith

I've recently discovered this incredible artist, Jasmine Becket Griffith. She makes interesting Gothic renditions of famous paintings. Below are just a few examples:

Jasmine Becket Griffith is extremely talented so check her out.

Sepulcher by Kate Mosse

     A mix of historical fiction and mystery Kate Mosse's Sepulcher is an excellent read. The story consists of two parallel plots. One takes place in 19th century France where Leonie Vernier becomes involved in the fate of the mysterious Domaine de la Cade, her mother's hateful childhood home and the center of a mysterious power. The second plot takes place in modern day France as Meredith Martin is conducting research for a biography on famous composer Debussy while simultaneously trying to uncover the secret history of her biological family, who seem to have some sort of tie to the Domaine de la Cade.

Courtesy of Kate Mosse

     Personally, I found the 19th century plot line much more engaging than the present day one. The detailed descriptions of the period were richer and the setting somewhat darker. Each cliffhanger was pure torture as I wanted to just skip over the present day and find out what happened next. The present day story line seemed more of the cliche girl meets boy, girl likes boy, boy helps girl uncover a family mystery and they live happily ever after. I felt that the ending could have been stronger in the sense that a lot of information was thrown at the reader in the last few pages and I wish the family history after Leonie was more developed. However, I do think that the suspense that the book created was great and it was a good mix of the historical with the supernatural without entering the realm of the absurd. I definitely recommend this one.