While many of you may be concentrating on potential Christmas presents to purchase, I seem to find myself curious about… Czech Marionettes. Okay, so fine: I’m Jewish. Santa doesn’t visit me and I eat chocolate coins. Alas, I blog about my random fixation of the moment. {For the record, can I just state that I am so over practically every blog I read posting about what everybody should BUY?} OK-CAPITALISM.

Anywho, here’s a history lesson that’s both visually enchanting as well as substantial.

Or you could go look at photos of gifts to buy from Urban Outfitters. Either/Or.

Czech puppeteering has achieved this significant status for a number of reasons. First and foremost there is still a widespread, although by no means completely historically accurate, conception of the role played by Czech puppeteers in the period of the national revival, that exceptional process, at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, whereby the modern Czech nation was formed, and the leading forces of the nation combined to fight against the gradual decline of the Czech language and to give rise to a new national self-confidence within Czech society.

The amateur puppet movement, widespread in the first half of the 20th century, also evokes feelings of considerable respect and, after the period of the folk puppeteers in the 19th century, forms the second critical phase in the history of the development of Czech puppetry. At that time there wasn’t a city, town or even village in the Czech lands where amateur puppet players didn’t play puppet theatre for fun, and the entertainment and aesthetic education of their children. With their enthusiasm and self-sacrifice they only constituted a unique phenomenon in the puppet world of the time, the range of their activities having no match in Europe, but they also created a fertile enviroment for the creative development of such eminent artistic personalities as Josef Skupa and Jiří Trnka.

To these historical associations in the general consciousness we can also add the fact that, after a complicated development in the 20th century, contemporary Czech puppet theatre has now reached a momentous stage in its development. The dream and the goal which generations of Czech puppeteers fought for has at last become a reality: On the basis of its artistic achievements, puppet theatre has fought its way up to take an equal standing alongside the other theatrical arts. Not only is its relevance to society completely accepted, but so are the unique possibilities of achieving artistic affects which arise from the expressive qualities of the marionettes themselves.

We can say without fear of exaggeration that contemporary Czech puppet theatre plays a significant role in Czech theatre culture as well as in the context of world puppeteering, and that the work of its leading protagonists is playing a leading role in determining how puppet theatre will progress and develop. At the same time it is contributing to the development of modern theatre culture as a whole.

With Lisbon’s much-loved marionette museum closed in preparation for its move across town to a less ramshackle building (to reopen next summer), puppetry fans will have to make the three-hour trip to Oporto to sate their appetite. This is the 10th such festival that Portugal’s second city has held, and its promises a range of Portuguese and foreign groups to pull in audiences of all ages.

Here’s one of my favourite artwork: The Marionette Messiah

A marionette who had cut herself free from her creator. Her only way of verbal communication: is by using a re-writeable placard.

p.s. she has a very hot temper.

This was inspired by listening to a song called Marionette Messiah By Masako Iwanaga, and it was the chara song for Mai Kobayashi aka Levi Torah of the SRW series (Alpha and OG). I like the song and the BGM version of it so much, I tend to play it on repeats, continuously.

And here’s the Youtube page:

Nice, eh?

Lapsing into flaps to close a cardboard box, she slips a note in afterward
the way she forgets she can dance
without strings. The tension
for the right arm varies from that of the knee. Thighs weigh more 

than you might imagine. Pulled out, she emerges
naked and cut free
of nerves before the flaps fold
over each other, before everything collapses, 

before she slips away without written instructions
on how to manipulate the soil
to grow freshly carved limbs.

Marionette is the proprietary software developed and used in-house by Pixar Animation Studios in the animation of their movies and shorts. Marionette is not available for sale and is only used by Pixar. As a result little is known outside of Pixar about the detailed workings of this software.

The reason for not releasing Marionette for sale is expected to be an unwillingness to give away the software to competing animation studios and the lack of resources to fully debug and prepare the system for general, multi-purpose sale.

Pixar claims that Marionette is designed to be intuitive and familiar to animators who have traditional cel animation experience.

Pixar chooses to use a proprietary system in lieu of the commercial products available and used by other companies because it can edit the software code to meet their needs. One example of this editing is shown in extra features of The Incredibles DVD; it is explained that previous versions of Marionette were not able to stretch models in the ways needed to correctly animate Elastigirl so the in-house Marionette development team created a new version that included this feature. – Source: Wikipedia

Twenty years ago, the Berlin Wall came crashing down.  This year, Germany and the world are celebrating this momentous event.  Today another wall came tumbling down in Berlin.  In honor of the anniversary, children from around the country created beautiful pieces of art on the surfaces of 2.5 meter high dominoes, that were symbolically knocked down, the trail passing across the Brandenburg Gate in the streets of Berlin.  In October, though, something even cooler than the dominoes took place.  France’s Royal de Luxe Street Theatre company enacted a performance that spanned several days entitled, The Berlin Reunion. The company produced two HUGE marionettes, The Big Giant and his niece, The Little Giantess, to walk through the city streets and act out the story.  The two have been separated for a long time by a wall constructed by monsters.  The Big Giant has just returned from a long sea expedition to destroy the wall, and the traverse Berlin’s streets looking for one another.

Click the image above to link to a bunch of pictures of the grand exhibition, and watch the video to see these marvelous giants in action!

Thankfully, I have something to momentarily distract me from the stress caused by my parents’ hysteria.  My brother is no longer with Voldemort.  I should be clear that, though I was concerned by what I’d heard about her actions (which all spoke of her being manipulative, possessive, demanding) and didn’t care for the vibes I got from her photos (that she was a drunk, conniving dragon lady), Frank reasonably pointed out that she was the only kind of partner my brother could expect and, in fact, wanted in his current state of insecurity, thrill-seeking, alcoholism, and general poor judgment.  So I’d come to see their being together (and marrying before her work visa expired) as inevitable and really what my mother deserved, as Voldemort was, in fact, eerily like my mother in terms of her being conniving to get her way.

What surprised me, but shouldn’t, was that it was Voldemort who broke up with my brother–all because of this supposedly stupid question.  I don’t know the details of the situation that led to the split, but have only this cryptic scenario to puzzle over: She asked him a “stupid question.  Her friends told her it was a stupid question (well, the friends not trying to sleep with her at least), and she admits that it’s a stupid question. She also admits that [he] gave a stupid answer, and [he] tend[s] to agree. It’s one of those Catch 22 questions to which there’s no answer that makes both parties satisfied.  [He] answered it the way [he] knew [he] had to, to be true to [himself] and not lie, but she would have preferred the lie.  Okay, preferred isn’t too strong of a term obviously, since she broke up with [him] because of how [he] answered that question.”

The question remains, what was the question?  Obviously., it couldn’t actually have been a stupid question if it made her realize he wasn’t worth putting her hopes on.  My brother believes people tended to underestimate her wisdom and insight, but really I never did.  In fact, she was much too crafty for me to underestimate her in any way.  Like my mother, she’s a survivor and has street smarts, if not quite the ability to pull off a convincing fake smile.  If anything, it was her acting so clearly as puppet master that initially frightened me (and I’m as afraid of marionettes and those who operate them as I am of clowns).

Why are you afraid of me?

Also, people don’t break up because of stupid questions or answers.  It’s simply these differences that reveal deeper rifts in a relationship or are the last straw in what has been an ongoing struggle of personalities.  No, you didn’t divorce over his not buying sour cream.  No, he didn’t break up with you because you didn’t straighten your towel after your shower.  Don’t be foolish.

So what question could (1) be perceived as stupid by yourself and others, (2) be answered in an acceptable manner only by those trying to sleep with you, (3) and couldn’t be answered favorably by a significant other telling the truth, (4) the truth coming off to both parties as a stupid answer (5) but still leading you to give up hope on someone already in love with you, whom you’d believed would enable you to attain a green card?

Another option would be to ask a hypothetical question like, Would it matter to you if I didn’t want to have children?  In this case, guys who only wanted to sleep with her would say no, it doesn’t matter (in fact, it’d be the last thing they wanted), whereas someone who cared about her would say yes, it did matter (i.e. I do want to have kids).  But this, even if only hypothetical, doesn’t qualify as a foolish question at all, nor would answering honestly result in what could be regarded a stupid answer.

What about, Does it really matter to you what your mother thinks of me?  This one, a guy who simply wanted to sleep with you would answer of course not (criteria 2).  And I know that, if my brother were to answer this question truthfully, his answer would be yes, it does matter (crieria 3).  This he could admit to himself would be a stupid answer, since why should it matter if you’re in love? (criteria 4)  And this would be enough for her to give up hope that he would marry her (criteria 5).  But I’m not sure it meets criteria 1 in qualifying as a stupid question.

So what was the question?  What was the answer?  And why do you never put your towel back properly after you shower?

Michael Stevens – HollywoodNorthReport.com

Director J.J. “Star Trek” Abrams is interested in producing a film adaptation of the Japanese action figure line ‘Micronauts’, recently acquired by toy maker Hasbro.

Debuting in Japan in 1974, the plastic/metal ‘Micronaut’ 3.75 inch action figures were released in North America by the Mego Corporation. Pallisades Toys picked up the toy line in 2002, following a succession of Micronauts comic books published by Marvel, Image and Devil’s Due Publishing.

According to the first Marvel comic book, the Micronauts originate in the ‘Microverse, a microscopic series of habitats linked together in the fashion of molecule chains. The original team comes together in response to the threat posed by former academic and now dictator, ‘Baron Karza’. ‘Commander Arcturus Rann’ (returning from a thousand-year deep space voyage in suspended animation) and ‘Biotron’, his robot co-pilot, land on the ‘HMS’ (Homeworld Micro Ship) “Endeavor,” to discover Karza has removed the royal family, who are Rann’s parents.

What follows is an epic war across the Microverse: Rann and his allies against Karza. In addition to Biotron, Rann’s team includes ‘Princess Mari’ of Homeworld, who, with her brother, ‘Prince Argon’, are the only survivors of the royal family. Known to the team as ‘Marionette’, she falls in love with Rann.

The warriors ‘Acroyear’ and ‘Bug’ also join Rann’s cause, one a noble warrior prince and the other a joking ‘insectoid’. The last member of the original team is ‘Microtron’, Mari’s robot tutor. Trapped for a time on Earth (where they are the size of toys), the team returns to the Microverse for more battles against Karza and his genetically engineered armies of soldiers, until the Micronauts triumph and Karza is destroyed.

Rann is able to claim victory with possession of the ‘Enigma Force’, a semi-sentient power that bonded with him during his period of suspended animation, enabling him to perform super feats.

Amazon Specials!

La cultura si riprende la città.

Si è svolto presso il Parco Falcone, il primo evento previsto nel Progetto legalità “Il parco animato”: uno spettacolo itinerante di laboratori ed arti varie organizzato dalla scuola secondaria di primo grado “Dante Alighieri” di Catania. Il merito della buona riuscita dell’evento è da attribuirsi, oltre che al tempo primaverile ed alla splendida cornice di verde, alla minuziosa organizzazione, alla bravura degli artisti ed alla eccellente partecipazione da parte degli studenti della scuola.

«Questo è un progetto sulla legalità, – spiega la Dirigente scolastica Daniela Vetri – intesa come riappropriazione del territorio, come voglia di esistere senza avere dei limiti e il limite, in questo momento, è rappresentato da un parco che è della città, che dovrebbe essere di tutti ma è diventato egemonia di pochi. E questo è quello che fa rabbia. L’obiettivo era quello di far vivere alla comunità, quindi a tutti quelli che abitano qui, nonni e genitori, questo spazio come un luogo sano, dove si può fare spettacolo, passeggiare con i nipotini, trascorrere un po’ di tempo serenamente».

La giornata, organizzata grazie alla collaborazione dell’Associazione Culturale “La Casa Di Creta – teatro argentum potabile”, ha visto al centro della scena gli studenti che hanno rappresentato il vero fil rouge fra uno spettacolo e l’altro. Divisi per classi, infatti, ogni gruppo si è spostato lungo il percorso teatrale, dando il via ad ogni artista. Le tappe da raggiungere erano tre, intervallate da un laboratorio d’arte curato dall’illustratrice Tiziana Rapisarda.

Gli studenti davanti al primo momento scenico, -“Chi ha tempo…” del Piccolo Teatro Itinerante-, si sono trovati davanti una marionetta a filo di nome Ugo, che fra sveglia, caffè, autobus, ufficio, computer, sogni e monotonia viveva una giornata all’insegna della normalità, un quotidianità capace di alienare, sempre ad inseguire il tempo che non si ferma mai. L’opera e i suoi contenuti, quanto mai attuali, sono stati apprezzati dai ragazzi che come gli adulti ormai vivono una vita di stress e senza pause.

La tappa successiva, -“Trick and Ballack” di Peppino-, ha visto la partecipazione attiva dei ragazzi che, fra applausi e risate, hanno dimostrato di apprezzare la giocoleria comica attirando anche l’attenzione degli anziani che ogni giorno vivono il parco. Arrivati all’ultimo momento, -“Qualcosa di strano” di Lybra-, gli studenti hanno acclamato il trapezista Riccardo Strano, ex-studente della Dante Alighieri, che ha realizzato il suo sogno di volare invitando tutti i presenti a non smettere mai di sognare.

La scelta di questi artisti, come ci spiega la professoressa Laura Curasì, è stata dettata da due motivazioni: «la prima, perché gli artisti di strada sono i più adatti per operare in questo contesto. La seconda, perché gli artisti di strada hanno una tradizione storica interessante e questi, in particolar modo, sono tutti artisti formati in maniera professionale. Obbiettivo successivo, sarà fare delle ricerche in classe per vedere qual è la storia di queste forme d’arte».

Dopo questo primo appuntamento, il Progetto legalità “Il parco animato” prevede altri momenti. Una delle iniziative, preparata dalla scuola stessa, vedrà laboratori musicali ed un’esibizione dell’orchestra scolastica. Altro avvenimento, sarà quello organizzato dagli Scout d’Europa con una grande caccia al tesoro fra la scuola e il parco. E anche il progetto, proposto della questura di Catania, “Silenzio in aula” che avrà come manifestazione finale una mostra grafica e fotografica. Un’altra idea, che probabilmente si realizzerà, riguarda l’avviamento di laboratori di botanica nel parco, in collaborazione col Dott. Morabito direttore del Verde Pubblico di Catania.

Adesso che si è lanciato il primo segnale alla città, la cultura può iniziare a rivalutare una delle poche aree verdi che esistono a Catania, spazi di qui la città ha bisogno per poter rendere più vivibile ogni quartiere e migliorare il benessere di tutti i cittadini. Ben vengano, quindi, iniziative di questo tipo che allontanano il degrado dai parchi e, mentre arricchiscono il presente, offrono un pizzico di speranza per il futuro. Specialmente quando ad essere protagonista è la creatività dei ragazzi.

[foto: Stiben's blog]

30 ottobre 2009

(per Unimagazine)

Went to a special presentation of the Halloween Spooktacular show where Charles Phoenix gave a slideshow on Bob’s career which began in 1932. Got all emotional seeing this man’s dedication and passion to puppetry.  It’s truly amazing.

bob said he had a beer and was feeling good the day of this photo. keke

i want Charlie Phoenix’s suit but in the form of a dress. The splatter has rhinestones on it.

bob’s face projected on bob keke

ice cream and cake party

couldn’t resist… i bought a clown puppet.

Ne avevamo già parlato, ma è troppo affascinante, ho trovato il sito ufficiale e un bellissimo video di Nina.

Il puparo parigino

Tra i tanti personaggi che, con la loro presenza, contribuiscono a rendere Parigi una delle città piú suggestive e speciali, ce n’è uno che mi sta particolarmente simpatico.

Si tratta di una sorta di “puparo” moderno che suole esibirsi nei corridoi sotterranei della metropolitana o, all’aperto, sui ponti parigini.

Il suddetto artista non é un puparo classico: non manovra “pupi” che raccontano le gesta di Carlomagno e dei suoi paladini nè passi dell’Orlando Furioso, come avviene nella migliore tradizione siciliana.

La sua marionetta é una rockstar!

Il mitico marionettista muove abilmente i fili per guidare le mosse del suo pupazzo che si esibisce in uno show unico: la marionetta rockettara segue perfettamente la musica dando l’impressione di suonare veramente i pezzi.

I brani proposti dall’originale artista e il suo inseparabile compagno inanimato sono quelli piú conosciuti dagli Oasis ai Coldplay o ancora i piú noti artisti francesi contemporanei.

Da non perdere!

In early October, France’s Royal de Luxe street theatre company came to Berlin to perform a several day street theatre spectacle dubbed “The Berlin Reunion” celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. As part of this event, a pair of huge marionettes known as the Big giant and the Little Giantess (an uncle and his niece, long separated by a wall that the gant himself has finally succeeded in demolishing) searched the streets of the city for one another and finally being reunited. Check out the full article from Boston.com. There are many more pictures to be seen. Totally worth checking out, and an inspiring piece.

This one above is beautifully shot.

I love how expressive the marionette’s eyes are even though they’ve got limited eyelid movement.

You can never go wrong with aviator goggles.

These are the coolest puppets ever.
This one of them embracing is actually quite touching.

Festeggiamenti per i venti anni dalla caduta del muro. Una storia di marionette giganti affascinante.

Just kidding.. These are two marionettes which were part of “The Berlin Reunion” held in Germany to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fallen Berlin wall. Click HERE for more photos of the other marionette and the rest of the day.

I can hear the comments now: “Not a hack.” Yeah that might be true, but it’s still enormous puppets running around Berlin – that in its own right is pretty cool. The show, put on by the street theater group Royal De Luxe, is part of the 20th anniversary for the fall of the Berlin Wall. Spectators watched as the Big Giant rose from the water in search of his niece, the Little Giantess. We won’t spoil the ending, but its a happy one. Reminds us of the similar giant marionette group La Machine, and their La Princesse.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s destruction, France’s Royal de Luxe street theatre company got all marionettey on Berlin’s ass. Justifying my doctoral thesis stating that Big = PR, the several day exhibition, in front of 1.5 million germans, featured two massive marionettes traversing across the country to reunite and sail off together in a steam ship. What commemorates epic political change like marionette terror?