Bastille Day is much like Independence Day in the United States – is the celebration of a new form of government. Bastille Day symbolizes the overthrow of the monarchy and the beginning of the French republic.

Bastille

The Bastille was built in 1382 and was originally used to defend the east side of Paris from attack. The Bastille had walls more than 80 meters high and was surrounded by a moat. Hundreds of years later, the French monarchy convertedThe Bastille prison in lock-up people who disagreed with their decisions. People have been imprisoned by the arbitrary decision of the king. The Bastille was especially known for holding political prisoners whose writings had displeased the royal government. The prisoners inside the Bastille were given no evidence – were put there under the command of the king, and he alone can decide if and when they are released.

The Bastille became a symbol of absolute power and arbitraryKing Louis XVI the Old Regime.

For the peasant class, the Bastille was a symbol of hypocrisy and corruption of the aristocratic government – controlled mostly by nobility and clergy. The monarchy is not only undemocratic. The king and the aristocracy also owned the land and not to extract only the rent, but taxes and restrictions imposed on the population.

The French people of all classes have been frustrated with many of the problems of their government, including wantingKing shares his absolute power, the right to land ownership and voting, tithes and feudal rights, religious personnel who want more money.

The beginning of the Revolution

Because of these many reasons, the French stormed and seized the Bastille July 14, 1789. Violent peasants pillaged and burned the castle and destroyed records of feudal rights.

At the time of his capture, the Bastille only held seven prisoners. But the assault against the prison was a symbol of freedom andthe fight against oppression for all French citizens. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king's power was no longer absolute: power should be transmitted to the nation and limited by a separation of powers.

The storming of the Bastille was the beginning of the French Revolution that toppled King Louis XVI and the aristocracy. To all citizens of France, the storming of the Bastille became a symbol of freedom and democracy in the fight againstoppression.

Modern Day Celebrations

Bastille Day was declared a French national holiday July 6, 1880. Bastille Day has a strong meaning for the French, because it symbolizes the birth of the Republic.

Bastille Day is commemorated around the world. For example, in Philadelphia, people dressed as French revolutionaries mark the day by singing the La Marseillaise, the French national anthem.

In France, the day holds many festivals. MilitaryParades are held in the morning, the largest taking place on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, opposite the President of the Republic. The parade begins with the cadets of schools, followed by infantry troops, who are then followed by motorized troops. During the transport plane flew parade complete. Lately, it has become customary to invite units to the nearest allies of France in the parade. For example, in 2002, the United States Military Academy Cadetsparades.

Bastille Day also falls during the Tour de France and is traditionally the day on which French riders will make a special effort to take a stage victory for France.

Parisians celebrate this national holiday with colorful arts festivals and raucous parties. Many cities hold fireworks during the night. It is also customary that firefighters organize dancing parties.

All are encouraged to bring a glass of champagne and toast to the national freedommaintains more than 200 years.

Celebrate Bastille Day at Home

This July, why not combine the citizens of France, in a celebration of freedom and a plan for a national celebration of National Day with the French gourmet chocolate.

My Links : Cheapest Toys

He looks remarkably calm for someone whose head had just been Lopped off.

We all know we can go to reviewers for opinions on whether a movie is worth seeing or an album is worth buying don’t we? And critics play an informative role in our interpretations of contemporary art (without them no-one would be able to work out whether a piece of gum stuck to the ground in a gallery is a work or not). This reliance on critics is somewhat problematic in that the scope of their reviewed material is somewhat limited. A critic never evaluated whether or not you might like the revolution, there’s a lot of tomes out there containing in depth analysis of the revolution, but in this post-modern age of fragmentation and instant gratification picking up such a tome without first knowing whether you’re going to like the revolution or not isn’t something many people are likely to do.

This series of posts is inspired by the format of film reviews but deals with the subject of revolutions, its tongue in cheek and will probably tend to be simplistic and general, but that’s ok for the sake of satire.

Like a film review there will be Criteria:

Context will evaluate how interesting the social cultural and historic context of the revolution and how well the revolution was timed as a means of alleviating tensions associated with the context, Plot will evaluate the progression of the revolution in terms of key moments, uprisings, battles riots and wars,  the characters will be evaluated in terms of individuality, memorability and interest, and the quality of the imagery and iconography associated with the revolutionary ideals will be evaluated.

Revolution Review: France

Have you ever been frustrated by aristocratic characters in Books and films that enjoy wealthy power and privilege without seeming to work at all? Do you sometimes find yourself wishing that Characters like Emma Woodhouse (from Jane Austen’s Emma) would be killed in  violent peasant uprisings? Do you hate oppression and wish for an enlightened means of achieving Liberty, Equality and Fraternity? If so then you might want to check out the French Revolution.

Some would say that the French Revolution was history’s first true revolution.

Yes that’s right, I know the American Revolution happened first, but it’s not really a proper revolution is it? They didn’t rise against a deeply ingrained and oppressive social order, they simply had a different idea to how the new world should be run so they had a bit of a tiff over tea and embarked on what has been described by Oscar Wilde as ‘The greatest social experiment ever undertaken.’

The French revolution was, for want of better words, very different. It was a bloody period filled with mass executions, massacres, assassinations, a lot (and I mean a lot) of political clubs, and conflicting outlandish radical ideologies.

Context:

The Nobility and Clergy look shocked as the Third Estate break their chains.

The old social order in France consisted of three distinct groups or estates. The esteem of the estates was closely tied to their association with god. Preceding 1789 France’s government was strongly influenced by religion. Their monarch, Louis XVI, ruled by divine right and all power political or otherwise came from god.

As such the first of the three Estates was the Clergy (or church) ranging from upper echelon members of the Catholic Church to lowly parish priests.

The Second Estate was the Nobility who, try as we might, no-one can actually ascertain their pragmatic function. They were nominally involved in politics which preceding the revolution was pretty much just a matter of nodding and smiling and generally agreeing with whatever whimsical notion the king may have come up with.

The Third Estate was everyone else and comprised the vast majority of the population; they ranged from peasants through to craftsmen up to lawyers and wealthy merchants. The upper Third Estate became known as the Bourgeoisie and while these people enjoyed affluence greater than some of the nobility they could not wield political power within the constraints of the old regime. They felt rather narky about this and an atmosphere of malcontent descended upon France.

The French revolution is perfectly contextually placed and the radical and symbolic acts are timed perfectly so as to sate the dissatisfaction of the proletariat at the most tense and dramatic moment possible. Disappointingly However, the economic factors that contributed to the French revolution are complex and economically inaccessible which leads to confusion in the early stages, the Compte Rendu is not blockbuster material.

Four stars

Plot:

One of the many poor people who lost aquaintance with their head throughout the Terror

This is where the French revolution really shines. The French revolution is spattered with iconic events that build tension and express the sentiments of the downtrodden proletariat with sublime nuance and brilliance of execution. Moments such as the Tennis Court Oath, the Capture and destruction of the Bastille, the execution of Louis XVI, the assassination of Marat are revolutionary genius. The only qualm one can have with the plot of the French revolution is the waning of intellectual intrigue throughout the period popularly known as The Reign of Terror this period can be slightly numbing, as images of guillotines beheadings and massacres tend to lose potency through repetition, the period lacks dynamic and focus as it consists almost solely of accusations and executions in a repetitive cycle. This period, however, is brief and can be tolerated, especially considering its appeal to a younger demographic. Concerned individuals may like to tune out any information pertaining to Robespierre’s execution, the bit about him trying to kill himself but missing and instead shooting his jaw off is rather disturbing and perhaps was overkill on behalf of the revolutionaries.

The ideological journey of the French Revolution is fascinating and is visually stunning in its delivery (Jacques Louis David’s portrayal of the Tennis Court Oath is flawless in its stylised realism) and also very witty and fresh (the use of the Pamphlet War as a means of communicating ideology was a stunning and interesting was of quickly communicating key points). Sadly however the culminate moments of the revolution are rather disappointing as the Thermidorian reaction to Jacobin radicalism led to the reestablishment of royalist conservatism and eventually Napoleon was instated as emperor, so in many ways France ended up where it came from.

Three and a half stars.

Characters:

The French revolution has some of the most memorable characters of any revolution.

Including:

Possibly one of the most amazing hook noses in history

The Philosophes of the enlightenment period: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire. Intellectual men who embodied ideas of rationalism and objective contemplation and proposed pioneering models of democracy. Unfortunately some of these ideas were used as the racist justification of colonialism as is was suggested that despotism could be justified by a hot climate. Don’t ask me how that makes sense, sometimes people will believe what they want to believe.

Early revolutionary leaders such as Lafayette are important as their enlightened reformation of France into a constitutional monarchy serves as a point of reference for the ridiculous radicalism of the later stages of the revolution. A brilliant plot device here as the juxtaposition of these elements serves as an illustration of the excesses of the revolution.

The Popular Movement is probably the best Mob in any of the revolutions that I know of, renown for not wearing pants and liable to kill anyone who stood in their way, they weer a force to be reckoned with.

Danton, the most dramatic name in the French Revolution.

The Girondins who were a group of loosely-affiliated individuals rather than an organized political party with a clear ideology. This political group serves as the devils advocate for the radicalism of the Jacobin endorsed Reign of Terror though their constant conservatism and lack of impassioning ideas or dialogue is draining. Key members included: Pierre Victurnien Vergniaud, Marguerite Élie Guadet, Armand Gensonné, Jean Antoine Lafargue de Grangeneuve and Jean Jay.

The Jacobins are one the real driving force behind the characterisation of the French revolution as their actions serve the purpose of defining people perceptions of the revolution in a holistic sense, when you think of the revolution you think of heavy blades falling through the necks of nobility, we have the Jacobins to thank for that. When considering the Jacobin club one cannot overlook Robespierre, perhaps one of the most misguided political leaders of all time. The terror completely ran away from him and for the most part he was out of control, the public feared the machinery of terror he instated, his political brethren feared him paranoia might turn to them and all political opposition despised his despotism that compromised the fundamental ideals of the Revolution. Needless to say of course he was eventually humiliatingly executed.

The only issue with the characters of the French Revolution is that they are predominantly male and there tends to be an unhealthy lack of romanticism among the revolutionary leaders as they were far more concerned with legislation than brainwashing the masses into believing their political leaders to be godlike. This may have helped the consolidation of the revolution on a practical level but doesn’t help with the development of larger than life memorable characters.

Three stars.

Imagery:

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

The imagery and symbolism of the French Revolution is rich and diverse. The All Seeing Eye (a symbol of enlightenment period thought), the equilateral triangle of equality (The three sides symbolising liberty equality and fraternity), the Bonnet rouge (a tribute the headwear of Grecian slaves) and the Tricolour… and the list goes on. No other revolution could possible hope to rival such diverse iconography.

The period also enjoyed some entertaining and effective propaganda.

Five stars.

Do I think you should get into it?

Definitively yes.

All in all France is a very fulfilling revolution. You name it the French revolution has it: Political intrigue, action, bloodlust, destruction of an imbalanced social order, social egalitarianism, philosophy, war and royal scandal.  This is one revolution this reviewer can recommend without question, check it out today.

Recommended Material:

Basic:

Fenwick and Anderson, Revolution France, HTAV: This book is basically an effective overview of revolutionary events and figures. A good starting point

Advanced:

Simon Schama, Citizens: A chronicle of the French revolution, Penguin books: revisionist historical perspective, lots of focus on details, good as a subsidisation of another text, not one to sit down and read all the way through.

Entertaining:

Mark steel, The Mark Steel Revolution: episode one, the French revolution, BBC: Simply the best lecture on the French revolution I have ever heard.

It’s time for another episode of Let Them Eat Mixtapes, which is our mixtape series we run along with our buddies over at The New Confusion. This time we’ve got a Progressive/Tech House mix for ya’ll to rave with. Let us know what you think, and remember, keep those submissions coming.

Looking for some small town cozy options for Thanksgiving? Old Town, Alexandria is perfect to spend your holiday in style.

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Stewart, the Hungry Traveler http://hungrytraveler.me/

Bastille Restaurant located in Old Town Alexandria is offering a special Thanksgiving menu inspired by French traditions and the American holiday. Executive Chef Christophe Poteaux and Pastry Chef Michelle Garbee-Poteaux have planned a traditional meal with a French twist, perfect for friends and family looking for a stress free holiday meal in a cozy setting. The three course prix-fixe Thanksgiving Day Menu is $49.00 per person and will be available on Thursday, November 26, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

AtBrabo Chef Robert Wiedmaier will offer a special three-course Thanksgiving dinner prepared gourmet on-the-go dishes from The Butchers Block and A Market by RW.

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 2009, diners can enjoy a traditional turkey menu from 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. for $65 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. They will begin their feast with options such as mixed green salad with seasonal vegetables, raw and braised, with a lemon vinaigrette; duck confit ravioli submerged in a creamy squash soup or Scottish smoked salmon served with potato blini and quail eggs finished with crème fraîche. For the main course, entrées include a traditional turkey dinner with sweet potato purée, brussels sprouts and cranberry relish, served with chestnut dressing and giblet gravy; seared Chesapeake Rockfish potato gnocchi, baby artichokes and wild mushrooms and a pan-seared rib eye steak, Pennsylvania mushrooms and potato purée served with a bordelaise sauce. Dessert includes a decadent pumpkin pie served with a spiced crème fraîche and a pecan tart paired with bourbon ice cream and triple chocolate mousse terrine with white, milk and dark chocolate mousse, burnt orange cardamom sauce and pistachio tuile.

For a stress-free holiday, The Butcher’s Block, A Market by RW, is offering deliciously prepared dishes for Thanksgiving Day. Guests can choose from Murray’s Amish Turkeys, ordered whole and raw at $4 per pound ranging in size from 10-14 lbs; 14-18 lbs and 18-20 lbs. each. Prepared turkeys come as stuffed turkey breasts with poached and stuffed turkey thighs at $5.50 per pound. Six side dishes are available, including chestnut stuffing, sweet potato purée, cranberry relish and traditional gravy and cost $9 – $20 each for six servings. Traditional pumpkin pies will also be available for $20 each. Orders must be received by Nov. 18 by calling (703) 894-5253 or emailing Salena.Zellers@braborestaurant.com. All items must be picked up at The Butcher’s Block by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25.

In preparation for America’s iconic dinner, The Butcher’s Block, A Market by RW will host a wine tasting and chef demonstration on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. Potomac Selections’ Eric Hauptman will choose four wines to complement any Thanksgiving menu as Chef de Cuisine Chris Watson demonstrates how to break down, stuff and prep Murray’s Amish Turkey.

BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier, BRABO Tasting Room and The Butcher’s Block, a Market by RW, are located at 1600 King Street in Alexandria, Virginia, adjacent to Kimpton’s new Lorien Hotel & Spa. Hours of operation at BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier are: Breakfast: Monday – Sunday: 7:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Lunch: Monday – Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Dinner: Monday -Thursday: 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Dinner: Friday – Saturday 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., Sunday Dinner: 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Breakfast 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Brunch: 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. BRABO Tasting Room is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. For reservations or additional information, please call (703) 894-3440 or visit http://www.braborestaurant.com

For Restaurant 3’s special Thanksgiving dinner see here

Donatien-Alphonse-François (abrégé D.A.F.) de Sade, plus connu dans ce temps-ci comme le marquis de Sade, est né le 2 juin, 1740 à Paris. Ses parents étaient Marie-Eléonore de Maillé de Carman et Comte Jean-Baptiste François Joseph de Sade. Il appartenait à une famille très importante du temps de Provence. Un de ses ancêtres était Laure de Noves, la femme qui a inspiré à Pétrarque, et il était apparenté par sa mère à la famille Bourbon. Son rapport avec ses parents était distant, son père le Comte étant toujours loin de la famille à cause des affaires et sa mère n’ayant pas simplement l’intérêt d’avoir une relation avec son fils. D’un âge très jeune, il paraît que de Sade était exposé aux choses qui ressembleraient le libertinisme radicale qui est surabondant dans ses œuvres. À l’âge de quatre ans, il a envoyé à Ebreuil au soin de son oncle, l’Abbé François de Sade, qui, selon Geoffrey Gorer, biographe de de Sade, « hardly bothered to disguise the fact that he had a mother and daughter as contemporary mistresses ».1 Il vivait ainsi jusqu’à 1750 quand, à l’âge de dix ans, il a commencé d’assister Louis-le-Grand, un lycée jésuite, à Paris. Au commencement de la guerre de Sept Ans en 1754, de Sade a joint la cavalerie, montant au rang de capitaine à l’âge de dix-neuf ans. Sa jeunesse n’était pas très extraordinaire ou diffèrent qu’un jeune homme né à la noblesse du XVIIIe siècle.
Cependant, ses mésaventures (lesquelles qui sont inscrites pour la postérité), et sa réputation de désordre, ont commencé quatre mois après son mariage à Claude-Renée Cordier de Launay, alias Renée-Pélagie de Montreuil,2 une femme avec qui de Sade avait une relation très distante. De Sade était un personnage très connu autour des maisons closes de Paris pour son patronage de prostituées, mais, après les plaintes de plusieurs d’eux envers sa conduite, il a incarcéré pour deux semaines en octobre 1763 pour « scandalous debauchery »3 et banni de Paris pour un an, une peine légère grâce à sa haute noblesse et les demandes de sa belle-mère, la Madame de Montreuil.4 En 1767, après la mort de son père, de Sade est devenu officiellement le Marquis de Sade.
Le matin de Pâques, 1768, l’affaire Keller s’est réalisée. Avant ce jour-là, la réputation du Marquis était quelque chose de discussion dans les salons, mais après, de Sade a transformé dans les yeux de société comme une sorte de diable blasphémateur cherchant les faibles pour les violer physiquement et spirituellement. Le vrai de cette situation peut-être perdu à l’histoire à cause d’une hystérie qui l’a suivie,5 mais il y a quelques choses qui sont certaines. Le matin de Pâques, de Sade s’est adressé à une veuve, qui s’est appelée Rose Keller, au sujet de quelques travaux ménagers avec l’intention de l’amener a sa maison d’Acreuil. En ce lieu, il l’est enfermée dans une chambre à coucher pour quelques heures et puis l’a fouettée, réalisant « small superficial circular skin abrasions ».6 Pour ça de Sade a incarcéré au château de Saumur et puis à Pierre-Scise pour six mois, encore grâce à la position de faveur de la Madame de Montreuil qui a voulu le rendre à la justice du roi et pas à la cour commune pour mieux supprimer le scandale. Après sa peine, de Sade a ressorti dans le soin de sa femme et ordonné de ne pas sortir de son château de La Coste. Les quatre années prochaines étaient vécues calmement. Pour la plupart, il suivait les souhaites de la cour et dépensait son temps à La Coste, réalisant les fêtes et suivant sa passion pour le théâtre amateur.
Puis en 1772, de Sade s’est impliqué dans l’affaire de Marseille. Là, il et son valet, Latour, cherchaient quatre prostituées. Après ayant actualisé une orgie avec eux et son valet, de Sade leur a offert aux filles des chocolats à la cantharide, un aphrodisiaque, mais aussi un irritant léger pour le ventre. Après elles se sont tombées malades, deux des filles se sont allées aux autorités disant qu’elles avaient été empoisonnées par de Sade. Le parlement de Provence a trouvé de Sade et Latour coupables pour l’empoisonnement et la sodomie et les a condamnés à mort. De Sade, Latour et la sœur de sa femme se sont enfuis à l’Italie. Cependant, même qu’ils se sont enfuis, l’exécution de Latour et de Sade s’est fait par effigie considérant leur absence. Encore, le public a exagéré les faits de l’affaire de Marseille, d’en parlant « as though it were a gigantic orgy, in the course of which Sade poisoned hundreds, including his own wife ».7
De cette escapade, de Sade était éventuellement rendu aux autorités et incarcéré au fort de Miolans à la fin de 1772. Madame de Sade lui a aidé d’échapper quatre moins prochains et c’est de ce moment-là que de Sade était libre, mais toujours caché, jusqu’à 1777. Son temps de liberté l’a rendu l’opportunité d’avoir les servants jeunes à La Coste desquels il abusait et un autre séjour à l’Italie où il a écrit Voyage d’Italie. En 1777, le père d’une servante est venu à La Coste pour sauver sa fille de la maltraitance du marquis, mais, quand il a essayé de fusiller de Sade, la pistole a fait long feu. Pendant ce temps, le cherche pour de Sade par les forces du roi continuait. C’était à la fin de 1777, quand de Sade s’est amené à voir sa mère mourant par la ruse de Madame de Montreuil qui, inconnu à lui, été déjà morte, que les forces royales l’a ramené enfin à château de Vincennes. Après un autre échappe et reprise, de Sade été envoyé à la Bastille en 1784 quand Vincennes été fermé. C’était ici à la Bastille où de Sade a pris son rôle dans la Révolution française quand, le 2 juillet 1789, il a crié de sa fenêtre qu’ils étaient tué les prisonniers dedans la Bastille et il fallait que les peuples allassent à leur secours. Pour ça il s’est emmené à l’asile de Charenton.
Après l’institution du gouvernement révolutionnaire, de Sade s’est libéré. Juste après sa libération, Madame de Sade l’a divorcé et il a rencontré à Marie-Constance Quesnet, qui restait avec lui la reste de sa vie. Pendant ce temps, il faisait partie de la Convention, écrivant les pamphlets, mais il s’est emprisonné encore en 1793 pendant la Terreur pour presque un an pour étant modéré. Après la Terreur, il s’est libéré encore pour le reste des temps du gouvernement révolutionnaire. C’était pendant la liberté d’expression partiale de la Révolution que la plupart de ses œuvres s’étaient publié quoique anonymat. Cependant, quand Bonaparte a mis contrôle, son dégoût de Justine et Juliette l’a mis dans prison encore une fois. De Sade vivait les restes de ses jours de 1801 jusqu’à sa mort en 1814 un prisonnier.
Pendant son emprisonnement de trente-deux ans de sa vie dans asiles et châteaux variés, de Sade écrivait profondément. Aux lecteurs modernes, cependant, il y a qu’une petite partie de ses œuvres qui survivent jusqu’aujourd’hui, la plupart desquelles incomplètes et compilées après sa mort. Il a écrit romans, pièces de théâtre, poésie, essais, pamphlets, contes philosophiques, et contes de fabliaux.8 Effectivement, c’est difficile à mentionner un genre duquel de Sade n’essayait pas à écrire aux degrés variés de réussi et considération. David Coward mentionne que de Sade « began to make his name as a playwright … he also plied his pen to pass the weary prison days … [et] after 1791, he wrote at least in part for money ».9 Presque ignoré dans sa vie comme écrivain de valoir, la littérature de Sade est toujours une chose de scandale même qu’il est considéré aujourd’hui comme un figure important dans l’histoire littéraire française, occupant la même stature de ses contemporaines Lumières comme Voltaire et Rousseau.10
Peut-être la raison pour le cloître de Sade est parce qu’il engendre une philosophie qui soutient la violence et dominance comme choses neutres dans un monde où Nature conduit tout. De Sade n’est pas très diffèrent aux autres matérialistes de la Lumière qui ont dit que « all life is molecular ».11 Divergeant de ses contemporaines matérialistes, cependant, de Sade utilise ce raisonnement pour justifier le détruit de toutes morales, les voyant comme une construction sociale fait de la nécessité d’arrêter la progression naturelle de l’avancement des forts sur les faibles. Ces idées « allowed Sade to defend sodomy, cannibalism, necrophilia, torture and every form of cruelty ».11 12 Sa philosophie est bien exemplifiée dans ces romans, essentiellement les histoires de Justine et Juliette où les protagonistes sont plusieurs fois violées, battues, fouettées et torturées d’autres manières pornographiques et toujours imaginatives. F. Gonzalez-Crussi argue que, dans ces histoires, l’intrigue ne vaut rien, mais qu’ils sont la « bold contention that all our noble impulses are a hoax, and cruelty the only abiding reality of the human condition ».13 Surtout, dans sa philosophie, de Sade fait l’argument encore et toujours que « the fundamental relationship between human being is not one subordinate to a higher, supra-individual value, but purely and simply this one : violence and cruelty ».13
Sa philosophie avilie pour la plupart aujourd’hui, de Sade continue d’être plus d’une force après sa mort que pendant sa vie. Les surréalistes dans les ans 1920 « took to him as an iconoclast » de leur art, Apollonaire disant de lui qu’il est « l’esprit le plus libre ». Avant ça, dans les ans 1840, il devinait « a uniquely chronicled case-history » des psycho-pathologistes et occupe « as much a place in the annals of psychopathology as in the history of litterature ». C’est grâce à ceux hommes-ci que nous avons le terme sadisme pour décrire la recherche de plaisir dans la souffrance des autres. En 1957, Jean-Jacques Pauvert a été trouvé coupable et pénalisé pour la publication d’une œuvre de Sade, et même en 1991, Moyra Bremmer a essayé à tirer la maison d’édition Arrow à la cour pour la publication d’une traduction de Juliette.14 Il y a même un groupe rock de France qui s’appelle « Marquis de Sade ». Tous une preuve que la vie, la philosophie et les œuvres du marquis de Sade sont toujours parties de la culture et cercles académiques d’aujourd’hui.

Des notes et citations :
1. Gorer, Geoffrey. The Life and Ideas of the Marquis de Sade. 1962. Norton. p.22.
2. Gorer, Geoffrey. The Life and Ideas of the Marquis de Sade. 1962.Norton. p.24. Gorer fait allusion à la femme du marquis de Sade comme « Claude-Renée Cordier de Launay », tandis que Love, Brenda. The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices. 2002. UK: Abacus. pp. p145. rend son nom « Renée-Pélagie de Montreuil ».
3. Gorer, Geoffrey. The Life and Ideas of the Marquis de Sade. 1962. Norton. p.24.
4. Mme. de Montreuil est une figure importante dans la vie du marquis de Sade, plusieurs fois conduisant ses emprisonnements et délivrances. Pour un aperçu plus clair de son rôle dans la vie du marquis de Sade, lire la première section de The Life and Ideas of the Marquis de Sade de Geoffrey Gorer.
5. On peut lire une lettre de Mme. du Deffand à Horace Walpole, daté le 12 avril 1768, comme exemple de ça à http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_de_sade#cite_note-9
6. Gorer, Geoffrey. The Life and Ideas of the Marquis de Sade. 1962. Norton. p.29. Cette citation est la traduction des notes du médecin qui a examiné Rose Keller pour vérifier l’ampleur de ses blessures fait par le marquis de Sade.
7. Coward, David. “Down with Sade?” Paragraph. 23.1 (March 2000). p.9.
8. Pour une bibliographie complète des œuvres du marquis de Sade, voir http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliography_of_the_Marquis_de_Sade
9. Coward, David. “Down with Sade?” Paragraph. 23.1 (March 2000). p.6.
10. Coward, David. “Down with Sade?” Paragraph. 23.1 (March 2000). p.10. Il fait allusion ici à la Bibliothèque de la Pléiade qui est une des collections majeures de l’édition française, publiée par Gallimard. Elle constitue une référence en matière de prestige, de qualité rédactionnelle, et de reconnaissance littéraire des auteurs. Être publié dans l’édition de la Pléiade représente une sorte d’intemporalité pour leurs auteurs.
11. Coward, David. “Down with Sade?” Paragraph. 23.1 (March 2000). p.7.
12. O’Neil, John C. “Sade’s Justine: A Response to the Englightenment’s Poetics of Confusion” Eighteenth-Century Fiction. 21.3 (Spring 2009). fait aussi des juxtapositions entre de Sade et les autres philosophes Lumières et puis décrit la philosophie du marquis de Sade dans une contexte des idées du temps.
13. F. Gonzalez-Crussi. “The Dangerous Marquis de Sade.” New York Times Book Review (1988): 1. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2009.
14. Coward, David. “Down with Sade?” Paragraph. 23.1 (March 2000). pp.10-12.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy arriving at the TV show ‘Vivement Dimanche’ in Paris, France on November 4, 2009

Bio from the French Magazine Paris Match

Though the French profess a certain disdain for Sarkozy’s unpresidential style, they clearly cannot get enough. “Carla has led many lives,” the noted journalist Christine Ockrent, whose companion, Bernard Kouchner, is the French foreign minister, tells me. “She’s a kind of alpha female. She was never a courtesan like Pamela Harriman—she was more like a female Don Juan.” Carla Bruni is no stranger to privilege.

In the opening scene of her sister Valeria’s semi-autobiographical film, It’s Easier for a Camel … , the female protagonist goes to church to confess, “I am rich—I am very, very rich.” Bruni was born into one of the industrial dynasties in Turin. The family fortune came from the ceat company, which produced electrical cable. Alberto Bruni-Tedeschi, the patriarch, however, was as much a composer and art collector as a capitalist. “He could converse on anything from A to Z,” says a family friend.

Carla’s extroverted mother, Marisa, who appears in Valeria’s films, was a concert pianist. Carla, Valeria, and their brother, Virginio, grew up on a vast estate outside the city. Carla studied piano, violin, and guitar. “Ours were not the kind of parents who would spend time with children,” she tells me. But neither, she adds, were they interested “in the power of money. Maybe because my parents were artists.

I remember that every time my father had to choose between increasing his business and going to the museum he would go to the museum, and I think that was transmitted to us.” In 1975, when the Red Brigades were kidnapping wealthy individuals, Carla’s family moved to Paris, where she attended an Italian school and received a French baccalaureate. Her parents expected her to continue her studies, but she soon tired of the 37 Métro stops it took to get to classes on art and architecture, and she couldn’t wait to be on her own. So when her brother’s girlfriend, a model, told her to try modeling, she made her move. “What I wanted was to be free, independent of my parents,” says Carla. “Modeling is a fast-acting job—right away you get to work, and you learn in two or three months by working.” That became her pattern: take on a big challenge, learn fast, and land on top.

French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy arrives at Elysee Palace in Paris, France on July 14, 2009 after the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysee avenue

Carla Bruni Sarkozy on the web

Though its bugging from time to time since its launch thanks to high traffic, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy website,carlabrunisarkozy.org, made its ranks within a bunch of other highly read political news websites.Among them the artistically acclaimed Segoléne Royal’s website, she was a presidential candidate for 2007.Club Villepin.fr, the former Prime Minister website and Elysée twitter account ..etc

A start with bugs and media coverage, discovering a design with pastel colors, clean, inspiring glossy upscale,the French quickly drawn the parallel with “ Your desired Future’ Ségoléne Royal website which has caused an overnight media firestorm.But not so fast, the comparison stoped at the design similarities, Segolene Royal being a left -wing politician as opposed to Carla Bruni Sarkozy whom married a right- wing politician.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy performs during the Mandela Day

While the singer has already a site dedicated to her albums, this new portal, created by Zeni, the agency’s Web Keyrus group, leans on her other hats – each with its own color code: Ambassador activities for the Global Funds against AIDS, those of her foundation which are aimed to “facilitate access to culture, education and knowledge to fight against social inequalities, and Finally, Carla, first lady.

It gives a homepage  where we can pretty much find everything from  an article listing the “10 things to know about AIDS,”  to another on the culture in prison or the story of her day with Michelle Obama in Pittsburgh and an interview with Jean-Paul Gautier, etc..

“In many parts of the world, when one hears the name” Carla “, it is likely to be Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. But since December 15, 2007, where she was seen with the president, its has  dramatically increased, she’s more popular as ever.

President Sarkozy, Queen Elizabeth II and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy watch a ceremonial welcome at Windsor on March 26, 2008 in England

carlaburnisarkozy.org

]]> http://italianiaparigi.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/il-mercato-della-creazione-arte-in-liberta/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:33:16 +0000 italianiaparigi http://italianiaparigi.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/il-mercato-della-creazione-arte-in-liberta/

Il Mercato della Creazione

Il Mercato della creazione, gratuito e aperto a tutti, si svolge tutti i sabati dell’anno dalle 10h00 alle 19h00.
Pittori, scultori e creatori vi aspettano per condividere con voi la loro arte. Si tratta di uno dei piú grandi mercati settimanali d’arte della capitale francese, frequentatissimo da collezionatori, amanti d’artiginato o da semplici appassionati.
Partendo dalla piazza della Bastiglia, sotto l’occhio vigile del Genio della Libertà che dall’alto del suo obelisco infonde l’ispirazione ai tanti artisti, il mercato si sviluppa lungo il Boulevard Richard Lenoir.

Il Mercato della creazione, vera e propria torre di Babele, rappresenta una galleria d’arte a cielo aperto: acquarellisti, scultori, incisori, creatori di gioielli, fotografi, disegnatori e artisti d’ogni sorta animano ogni settimana un’esperienza unica nel suo genere e vendono le loro creazioni in diretta.
Il Mercato della creazione fu realizzato per la prima volta il 1 Maggio del 2004, su iniziativa della città di Parigi in collaborazione con la Somarep (organismo che gestisce la maggior parte dei mercati cittadini) al fine di accordare algi artisti parigini un riconoscimento nel paesaggio culturale urbano.

Il Mercato è una realtà multiforme dinamica che ogni sabato assume sembianze differenti: ogni settimana gli artisti si interscambiano e agli stand permanenti vanno ad aggiungersi quelli temporanei e occasionali.

Durante il vostro soggiorno parigino, non rinunciate a una passeggiata tra gli stand del Marché de la Création… prenderete una boccata d’arte e cultura in un atmosfera coloratissima e multietnica.

C’mon now… who can honestly say, with a straight face, that they don’t love Foreigner. I most certainly cannot. Eighties hair metal gives me a boner. But you know what really gets me hot and bothered? House music remixes of eighties hair metal, specifically “Cold As Ice” by Foreigner. This remix by Bastille, two young bad asses that hail from LA and love the eighties (and make sweet dance music), is sure to get you hard (or maybe just me because I’m a creep).(Ed. Note: ATG does neither condones nor condemns boners.)

MP3: Foreigner – “Cold as Ice (Bastille Remix)”

Lets Dance,
Nick

Chat botté...

Cherchez pas le prix ou quoique ça soit d’autre.*

Je sais même plus où est cette boutique. Mais dans un quartier** que je n’ai reconnu que de nuit…

*Cherchez pas à comprendre non plus. Retenons juste que je suis passée devant cette vitrine. je me suis dis “Oh toi la vieille fille à chat, prends l’affichette chat en photo c’est marrant, t’arriveras bien à la caser quelque part sur ton blog…”

**Bastille. je vous le dis parce qu’il y en a bien un qui va dire ” Oh mais je reconnais c’est du côté de Bastille ou une autre qui va demander où c’est.

Bon week-end…

I will be doing an Instore DJ set at Bastille in the Gateway tomorrow from 2-6pm, for the Zuriick trunk show. My good friends at Zurrick will be displaying the latest and greatest from their new line. Come down and say hi if your in the area, there will be plenty of good food, drink, and tunes. 

Christmas time in London is always magical, with ice skating at Somerset House, German markets in Hyde Park and Covent Garden’s piazza all lit up, but after what feels like a lifetime since the last summer beach holiday, I’m just dying to get away for a few days.

Next month I’m going to Paris (my ‘third home’) for a few nights and now is the time when I obsessively search for the prettiest hotels in the area I want to stay in and then trawl the net for the best deals.  For most people may sound like a pain worse than death, not a secret indulgence, so if you’re planning a winter city break, I’ve done some of the leg work so you can pick the best affordable boutique hotels – I’ve stayed in all of them and would definitely visit again.

A while ago, I went to Paris with my mum and as we planned a night at the Opéra Bastille and particularly love the Marais, we booked to stay three nights the affordable design hotel Le Quartier Bastille Le Faubourg, an affordable design hotel in the 12e arondissement.

The hotel is sleek and contemporary with retro features like curved leather seats, fringing and glass orbs in the reception/lounge.  When you arrive, you’re hit with the kind of seductive, wood and musk aroma that you’d expect from Hôtel Costes.

Neutral tones with bold statement colours are the order for the bedrooms and they have cool design touches like perspex chairs, a flatscreen TV and a very touchable fibre optic light feature.  The beds are so comfortable that you just can’t wait to curl up in the crisp, cotton linen and catch some zzzs after a long day walking in the city.  They also place delicious Granny Smith apples on your pillows each morning to help you get your five a day amid the steak and fromage overload.

The best feature of the hotel is its beautiful outside terrace with wooden decking and red tables, beautiful plants and flowers and gardening can watering features. Paris is full of secret courtyards and Paris fashionistas flock to them for brunch or drink with a bit of secluded people-watching.

We didn’t have breakfast at the hotel (although it looked delicious), but we found an adorable bakery on the Rue du Faubourg St-Antoine where you could sit and have a café crème and pastries.

Le Quartier are a small hotel group that used to own a property near République and now also run Le Quartier Bercy-Square on the nearby Boulevard de Reuilly.  The staff were friendly and talkative and there are plenty of coffee table books and magazines like Madame Figaro to keep you amused.

Rates seem to start at 110 Euros a night for a double classic room in November and December, but check around the web for the best deals (we paid 95 Euros when we stayed).

Le Quartier Bastille Le Faubourg is best suited to second-timers in Paris who are familiar with getting around on the metro.  The location doesn’t have the grandeur of the Louvre area or the Left Bank, but you get a boutique hotel with individual design touches without the sky-high prices of more central hotels.  It’s one of the best places to sleep in style and still have enough Euros left for late-night aperitifs.

Le Quartier Bastille Le Faubourg, 9 Rue De Reuilly, 75012 Paris

Initially shown back in April, Nike announces a wider launch for November from its Paris Bastille by 180g campaign, focused on three simple sneaker styles, including the Tennis Classic, Air Flytop, and Flash. All three receive unique 180g treatments, a process which allows some of the brand’s classic product to be custom dyed, achieving a tailor-made type of aesthetic amongst various premium textiles and custom detailing. A release event is slated for November 5th, 2009 at 180g in Paris.

New set, this one’s more one the ravey/techy side, first time I’ve actually recorded a set quite like this. For those of you who were at the Bayit party (or weren’t aka Max), this is basically the set I played with a few slight changes. I’ll have to admit, I totally ripped off one of these transitions (the one from Stickin’ into Lyposuct) from a dope LA-based DJ by the name of Ramses, and you should all check him out, especially his Soundcloud page where you can listen to some of his sets and tracks.

-M

Rave N Claw – Bastille

Tracklist
Amsterdam (Riptide Remix) – Jennifer Delano
Weekend ‘09 (Dave Darell Remix) – Bad Habit Boys
Stickin’ – SonicC
Lyposuct – D.I.M. & TAI
Panzershreck (Original Mix) – PSEUDO-LICIOUS
Droplet – NORTB
Con Alegria (Solo More Cowbell Remix) – DJ Gregory & Gregor Salto
Medicine Man (Noob Remix) – Zero 7
Miami To Atlanta (Original Mix) – Pryda
One 2.3 Four (Auditiv Remix) – Martin Solveig
Cosmic (Original Mix) – Milton Channels
Gypsy Woman (Sandro Monte 2009 Bootleg) – Mike Polo
Listen To The Voice Inside (Laurent Wolf Remix) – Yves Larock & Steve Edwards

*We’ve posted most of these tracks before, but the one’s that haven’t been will be in my next batches

Under the surface, and largely unbeknownst to the mainstream media, the tide has been turning to Catholicism for some time. The pontificates of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI along with events such as an increase in orthodox minded seminarians, young priests and young women religious, a return to devotions and a reform of the reform of liturgy have shown us that indeed the tide is turning. However, for some time now western culture has been moving in the opposite direction, where any, whim or opinion that holds that orthodox minded religious thought is antiquated and even harmful is held in high regard. How could this jibe with the turning tide within the Church? Who would win? Didn’t Jesus promise that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church after He gave Peter the keys (and the 265 subsequent popes) to lead it? The answer is the same answer that has always been, the Church eventually always wins and it will this time as well.

Following the Election of 2008 when liberalism was on the ascendancy, many in the mainstream media joyfully proclaimed a new era, where one could read between the lines and see that traditional views of society, family and religion were on their way out and big government was in. However, a funny thing happened on the way to the revolution, many Americans refused to go to the Bastille with pitchfork in hand. Americans view of revolution was almost always in line with George Washington’s view of limited government and not Maximilien Robespierre’s view of war against society, family and religion. Perhaps the Election of 2008 was a pox on both their big spending houses that was wrongly construed as a vote for Big Government.

This was demonstrated in the Tea Party protests that took place early this year, as well as the outcry that has arisen largely from Catholic clergy and Catholic laity with regard to abortion provisions for the Big Government Health Care Plan. Many in the mainstream media labeled these protesters as kooks and worst yet mean spirited bigots who thumbed their noses at the enlightened elites.  The protesters were told to get with the program and the Church was viciously mocked by writers (Maureen Dowd and Richard Dawkins) as well as comedians Kathy Griffin and Penn & Teller. Those who always hated what the Church stood for now saw an opening and they let their venomous juices flow, and yet the Church Militant continues to pray for those who mock us. Yet, somehow we are portrayed as the ones who are bigots and mean spirited?

This only helped to show the Church in a truthful light as more and more orthodox minded Christians were coming to the Church, as evidenced by the bombshell Anglican Personal Ordinate announcement made by Pope Benedict XVI. Just like past failed attempts at Big Government, liberal Christianity had failed and many were seeing the writing on the wall and subsequently crossing the Tiber as fast as humanly possible.

As I noted before, all of this is made manifest in ordination numbers. Sixty four to six and 14 to 4 stand out. What does this mean? In 2006 when writing my book, The Tide is Turning Toward Catholicism, I noted that even though the Diocese of Rochester had more Catholics than the dioceses of Lincoln and Omaha combined, Rochester had 6 men studying for the priesthood while Lincoln and Omaha had sixty four. That same year of 2006 Denver had 14 young men ordained to the priesthood (eleven in May and three earlier in the academic year) while Los Angeles had four; a staggering statistic when one considers that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has 4,300,000 Catholic residents compared to 385,000 Catholics for the Archdiocese of Denver. Los Angeles and Rochester are led by two of the most liberal prelates in the Church, while Omaha, Lincoln and Denver are led by three of the more conservative bishops in the US, a revelatory statistic to say the least.

This year we heard again of the many women’s liberal religious orders that had not a single postulant step forward. Yet, at the same time we hear that the Sisters of Mary of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan and the Nashville Dominicans both are experiencing a vocations boom, so much so that that in Ann Arbor the good sisters have run out of room in their motherhouse. You guessed it, the Sisters of Mary of the Eucharist and the Nashville Dominicans are very orthodox in their beliefs. The telling quote of Archbishop Edwin O’Brien speaks volumes, ”A person may give their life for a mystery, but not a question mark.” Yet, the liberals still wonder why the young priests and nuns are all so orthodox minded?

During their 2009 election coverage, the mainstream media was all but anointing Maine as a forward thinking rural state about ready to openly endorse same sex marriage. However, the residents of Maine said no to changing the definition of marriage and the mainstream media chose to forget Maine, rather than remembering her. Maine would now be treated by the mainstream media as Alaska was when Sarah Palin was Governor, left to the butt of jokes about the ignorant nature of rural people. To the militant secular left, Governor Palin had committed the ultimate sin, she kept her Down Syndrome baby, something the secular left knew they would never have the courage to do.  Had Sarah Palin been a pro abortion outdoorswoman, who was Ivy League educated and big city born she would have been hailed by the mainstream media as a conservative darling and a Renaissance woman instead of a rogue hunter who somehow was elected governor. The moral of the story; be very careful of the mainstream media’s conservative darlings, they rarely are either.

The liberal reckoning is closer than we think and when the tide turns for society it often comes faster and more surprising than in the Church, for the Church is 2,000 years old and she moves at glacial pace unlike society which goes through many fits and starts. Thankfully and unlike the cultural aspects of the French Revolution and the cultural revolutions that hit Paris in 1968 and the US in 1967, the tide is being influenced by the Church and that is a great thing. We have a long way to go but there is hope.

Pope Benedict XVI has often spoken against the “Dictatorship of Relativism,” where the latest trends and whims are treated as truths, since relativism by its own definition doesn’t believe in truths. The Holy Father’s condemnation of the “Dictatorship if Relativism” was first attacked by Father Richard McBrien when the erstwhile Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger invoked the phrase at the opening Mass of the Conclave, which would later see his election as Pontiff of the Church. Father McBrien, friend of many Church dissidents, told a live television audience after hearing the phrase “Dictatorship of Relativism,” that most Catholics would head to the margins of the Church if Cardinal Ratzinger were elected. Father McBrien said he felt quite sure Cardinal Ratzinger’s election wouldn’t happen. Yet, it did.

Those in and outside of the Church who have spoken out against both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II are perhaps unwittingly playing into the very hands that despises them. Some struggle with faith but try to believe, others hate the faithful and would never take the time to believe, much like an arrogant lab technician who refuses to look through a microscope to see what others take the time to see and investigate.

To conclude, I would like to close with an analogy that I made in a previous article. In 1968 when cultural upheaval was hitting the Western world’s city streets, college campuses and religious seminaries, dissident theologian Father Hans Kung (who would later be censured by the Vatican) and Father Joseph Ratzinger were teaching at the famed Tubingen Seminary in the small German southern town of the same name. Father Kung was much loved by the dissident students; they relished his trendy ways and often scoffed and snickered at Father Kung’s polar opposite, Father Joseph Ratzinger. It was said that Father Kung loved to tool about the small town of Tubingen in his Porsche leaving his colleague, the bicycle peddling Father Ratzinger in the dust. Some forty years later, and much to the chagrin of the pop culture powers that be, the ideas and beliefs of the Tortoise of Truth are slowly passing the Hare of Relativism.

Ayant raté la FIAC (faute d’avoir trouvé une invit’) la semaine passée, j’ai voulu me rattraper sur le Marché de l’art contemporain que je ne connaissais pas.

Bon il faut dire que le temps de ce dimanche était déjà très maussade, pluie et vent à gogo, ça ne donnait pas envie de sortir. Cependant un dimanche où l’on ne sort pas de chez soi, très peu pour moi !  Une single citadine se doit de bouger ses petites fesses même par dimanche pluvieux ! Du coup en avant toute vers Bastille en espérant découvrir l’artiste qui me fera oublier qu’il fait moche.

Première surprise, l’entrée se monte tout de même à 8 euros. Pour un « marché » où, par définition, on est sensé consommer après y être rentré, je trouve ça un peu excessif ! Que voulez vous j’oublie parfois qu’on est à Paris…

Donc me voilà à déambuler dans ce marché où l’on voit de tout et de rien, mais surtout de rien. DECEPTION totale : la quantité est là certes, mais la qualité manque à l’appel ! Bon ne soyons pas généraliste mais quand même il y a des stands qui font peur !

De plus, quand on croit le supplice visuel terminé on se rend compte qu’il se prolonge tout le long des quais ! Après une heure de marche, sous la pluie et le vent au milieu d’œuvres incomprises, qui s’apparente plus à de l’artisanat qu’à de l’art… j’abdique. J’avoue je n’ai pas tenu jusqu’au bout.

Cependant ne soyons pas médisants il y avait tout de même quelques trucs sympas :

 

Infiniment grand-infiniment petit

Marie-Noël Combes-Martin

Nos amis les robots

Nos amis les robots

180g revisits Nike for a new collection of custom died pieces. The Parisian dye house created an wide array of custom colored sneakers using washed silk, leathers, and mineral flakes for an athletic look. The Air Flytop and Tennis Classic both get ample play alongside other styles, while each pair sports contrast colored laces, reptile applications and more. The launch of this collection takes place Thursday, November 5th at 180g.

Nike Paris Bastille
2 rue Faubourg St Antoine
75012 Paris

180g
15 rue des Tournelles
75004 Paris

The Air Flytop, one of Nike’s latest silhouettes, has already been spotted in a number of colorways this year. However, Nike has now incorporated this sneaker, along with a couple of other models in a collaborations custom design with 180g.

The Parisian dye house applied its custom designs to the Air Flytop, the Tennis Classic among other sneakers. Materials and textures used include leather, washed silk and mineral flakes. This highly-detailed, custom collection launches on November 5th, 2009 at 180g. Click here to view the extensive collection in its entirety.

(via NICEKICKS)

Soirée Lunatic Feet – Bolos Family

avec Liga Quintana

A changé de pied

Clin d’oeil à Tardi

Il est 04h37. Je suis à la Bastille.

Comment j’ai atterri là ? J’aimerais bien aller boir un verre. Mais à six euros le coca, je suis désolé.

Je vois des taxis, des gens, des filles, des bourgeoises. Chanel, Diesel, D&G, mais moi alors ? Croix-Rouge. Je dors, j’essaye. Dans ce bruit-là, je ne peux pas. Je ne veux pas. C’est dur, oui c’est dur. Oh oui que c’est dur la vie, OHHH c’est dur.

Je suis à terre, j’ai mal. Desperados, desperados. Un homme qui a la vingtaine vient ensuite me voir. « Bonjour Monsieur. Vous voulez de l’aide ? », De l’aide ? Dégage. Ça fait un an et sept mois. Pauvre homme du Samu. Parfois, je me demande sincèrement qu’est-ce qu’il fait là. Il cherche à se payer une dignité ? Hein ?

Je me lève, je n’ai pas dormi. L’heure du métro affiche 05h42. J’ai l’habitude. Cas social, insomnie.

Mon état psychologiquement solide fait que je suis toujours là aujourd’hui. J’y ai déjà songé, de travailler à France Télécom.

Mon pass Navigo, c’est une forme de calice pour moi.

Les gens ont l’air bien cool aujourd’hui, c’est étrange. Oui que c’est étrange.

Je vais à la Défense comme tous les matins. Je rêvasse. Délicieux petit-déjeuner à ma façon. Traders, traders. C’est classe. Ces gens-là, c’est mon fantasme à moi. Ils sont forts, riches et cultivés.

Le grand Treiber est un malade. Ils en parlent encore, dans l’excellent quotidien METRO. Ma source de distraction. La seule.

Je m’en vais à Montmartre. Délicieux. Ces jeunes garçons, touristes aveugles. J’en chope un. Je drague. Il a peur on dirait, oui qu’il a peur.

Il a sept ans. J’en ai quarante et un.

Je me réveille en prison. Merde.

La malice me pousse un peu trop loin : je suis SDF, pédophile et homosexuel. Mais j’ENCAISSE.

Nous sommes le 25 décembre 2008. C’est Noël. Une dignité Papa Noël, s’il vous plaît. Merci.

I can’t claim the credit, but they have put some of the favorite back on the HH menu, at HH prices. The portions are reduced, and fries no longer come with the lamb burger, but it’s a step in the right direction.

We (aka Bastille) have started a project with our buddies over at The New Confusion called Let Them Eat Mixtapes, where we will run a mix series on their site. The site just recently launched and I highly advise all of you to go check it out, it’s a great place for interesting perspectives, art, and ESPECIALLY Hip-hop (definitely where I go to learn about new artists that don’t always subscribe to four-on-the-floor beats). However, in wanting to expand their musical boundaries, they decided to collaborate with us in this mixtape project. While we will definitely be putting our own mixes up there often, I’m asking friends (and all you readers) to help by sending us mixtapes that you want to be included. We’re open to all genres, but please nothing longer than an hour, and send to apeswithbarrels@gmail.com. The first mixtape posted is our own Dub Sack mix, which is all Dubstep (you may have copped it when it was posted here a few weeks back). You can check out the series HERE, and I look forward to hearing your submissions.

-M

BONUS (I wouldn’t leave you without at least ONE jam):
Sweet Disposition (Axwell & Dirty South Remix) – Temper Traps
Been on loop for the past few days. It was buried in my downloads folder and I JUST got to it, and boy am I glad.