tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73537002324027050752024-02-06T19:00:12.968-08:00Things I Vacuumed TodayClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-82694725319048767582021-01-22T16:26:00.002-08:002021-01-22T16:30:02.567-08:00My Beef with the Bridgerton Costumes<p>Yes, of course I watched <i>Bridgerton</i>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1ODggV_oCj3PnQfKAzsQXlnIS6wIZTdP_X2BHW8akcfnk0zvCz2k_VuYFRd50I3ltwlF6_gNDqFVaPEM0Fj2OCZeIxtuBXZLiMru7b2jL71UtMl-bzpb69ueMQog-bu9Cirrhk2znkeX/s2048/Bridgerton1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1ODggV_oCj3PnQfKAzsQXlnIS6wIZTdP_X2BHW8akcfnk0zvCz2k_VuYFRd50I3ltwlF6_gNDqFVaPEM0Fj2OCZeIxtuBXZLiMru7b2jL71UtMl-bzpb69ueMQog-bu9Cirrhk2znkeX/w400-h268/Bridgerton1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I had lots of opinions but generally I enjoyed it. Similar to my thoughts on <a href="http://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/2020/05/i-didnt-love-great-but-i-respected-it.html" target="_blank">The Great</a>, I liked the idea of just embracing that this was a fantasy version of history. It was full of inaccuracies but its goal is to be fun and escapist. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMBmZmWj_ZiZV9KaT7iCp8GUjiJkbHesS06bGpnrAvB3I3J6VqdVY-BRld6FJ2SIrJ1LB6afqywaNuM8uigdg0Kj5gKisnpun3fIghnBn_Zh9OS2eK7wYoreRoHlyXdFI479lILEPwXA2/s2048/Bridgerton2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMBmZmWj_ZiZV9KaT7iCp8GUjiJkbHesS06bGpnrAvB3I3J6VqdVY-BRld6FJ2SIrJ1LB6afqywaNuM8uigdg0Kj5gKisnpun3fIghnBn_Zh9OS2eK7wYoreRoHlyXdFI479lILEPwXA2/w400-h268/Bridgerton2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It was funny for me to see what kinds of inaccuracies I liked or didn't mind, and which ones infuriated me. Diverse cast? Great. Costumes made with bright, modern colors and embroidery that could only be done by machine? Ridiculous, but sort of fun. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbUNNrRHLknIbhRZ0KtAOLs7Zv7gh9G77s9R57Ij9_5i7d880T8aTzVVx8yolNWW03XKeXI47g2Rx8Gm5AwHLbysS9xq2dSO2RzF9nsBOjABfEWh6hPy_fRL9hyphenhyphenzPOZNffCJhSOvRA74L/s1200/ColorCostumes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbUNNrRHLknIbhRZ0KtAOLs7Zv7gh9G77s9R57Ij9_5i7d880T8aTzVVx8yolNWW03XKeXI47g2Rx8Gm5AwHLbysS9xq2dSO2RzF9nsBOjABfEWh6hPy_fRL9hyphenhyphenzPOZNffCJhSOvRA74L/w400-h300/ColorCostumes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>A scene when someone is being tight-laced into a corset? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCwWzMAAyH_bqXg4AxetoeJty5EjLxGjN6xzDmJ8FHnxzyGSiPZMpB6jFPv_TUVjstWrelI1o0ffz7DhOx2Zb34U6D7t9DN92slxpg5v8vwcPvuVnjp5ZvJ5t2R-DCohcI48l8qdYgZuX/s800/BridgertonCorset.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCwWzMAAyH_bqXg4AxetoeJty5EjLxGjN6xzDmJ8FHnxzyGSiPZMpB6jFPv_TUVjstWrelI1o0ffz7DhOx2Zb34U6D7t9DN92slxpg5v8vwcPvuVnjp5ZvJ5t2R-DCohcI48l8qdYgZuX/w400-h300/BridgertonCorset.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyyhJ3_x-k-OsQ9BrVvLhjyvnFy8CjrF3tjK-pzDSdAVl3sA3nhWGFGR3A4EKPTeSF35eDYIpQDzcpoeW45up_RvF9JmRHGkRUgG6yjinzUiXQmA8V_b4rrFCytNYLEdqRJVZglOvlpgo/s500/Wrong.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="500" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyyhJ3_x-k-OsQ9BrVvLhjyvnFy8CjrF3tjK-pzDSdAVl3sA3nhWGFGR3A4EKPTeSF35eDYIpQDzcpoeW45up_RvF9JmRHGkRUgG6yjinzUiXQmA8V_b4rrFCytNYLEdqRJVZglOvlpgo/w400-h211/Wrong.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I watched several costume reviews on YouTube and my favorite comment about this scene was an exhausted fashion historian saying "</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3e8d9nErUk" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">I ain't got no time for corset bullshit</a><span style="text-align: left;">" and I FELT that. (The same reviewer has a </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNwTqanp0Aw" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">great video about corset myths</a><span style="text-align: left;"> if you want the full picture). There is a lot wrong with the scene but the basic thing is why would she try so hard to get a small waist in an era when dresses completely obscure the waist??</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRsYulrHiNvRhpWmwDI7lyfbF_OivBag00xMJ9ulqfltt8Z7QuEkFuqlNWEI-wJRKhufIr27Y0JP1aMZtAC7jXLuZju_9k7ReyJSWIPsy6S2TqicLjmNKQrvW2PZoExZ6-yiOcFK-0oDX/s498/NoSense.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRsYulrHiNvRhpWmwDI7lyfbF_OivBag00xMJ9ulqfltt8Z7QuEkFuqlNWEI-wJRKhufIr27Y0JP1aMZtAC7jXLuZju_9k7ReyJSWIPsy6S2TqicLjmNKQrvW2PZoExZ6-yiOcFK-0oDX/w400-h225/NoSense.gif" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, actually that brings me to my second problem with the costumes. Why did Lady Featherington have a totally different silhouette than everyone else? Different neckline and tighter on the waist? I get that she is supposed to be "tacky" but the fabrics are already accomplishing that. Why give her distinctly different dresses than EVERYONE else? </div></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuyglmC7yWiDPUxBdtYGlPKlf8atmNqd7fds_TXPg5WVC7nxg2Eev0RbWiuAwIxrY4w7p3jwX7l42xmnCQIMCjARmn51U6fhdlR4AiE_CpuXtwSWwuVTw_DKahX_ZVf0ox6rikpQFNRPn/s615/Featherington1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="411" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuyglmC7yWiDPUxBdtYGlPKlf8atmNqd7fds_TXPg5WVC7nxg2Eev0RbWiuAwIxrY4w7p3jwX7l42xmnCQIMCjARmn51U6fhdlR4AiE_CpuXtwSWwuVTw_DKahX_ZVf0ox6rikpQFNRPn/s320/Featherington1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQdk8qx7u6CWcFCDOqaaKW_cxNFnjTkxOKoG7YYJOn7Ge_T2ZIzBV_DH5dN1C380_DgAxDzHNTT6VBM3xdBnA3s9HWEf24rux8bCx-EZPcZ3PNIXrI4zSkzoXcMxnsVj2a3HECnp1t-hF/s599/LadyF.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="537" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQdk8qx7u6CWcFCDOqaaKW_cxNFnjTkxOKoG7YYJOn7Ge_T2ZIzBV_DH5dN1C380_DgAxDzHNTT6VBM3xdBnA3s9HWEf24rux8bCx-EZPcZ3PNIXrI4zSkzoXcMxnsVj2a3HECnp1t-hF/s320/LadyF.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywfzF0H2czT11drGXK7FiXHFKOtIshn6ZcxFE8GYl9UdnIPEj5wlWmNejUHUPCjVlQ-Vyt-NRsb27L1GSFom1DTnlUTzYTgsL4suijAYrjV2Vvb7IQB0gaMSijgnFYBSWxAdXMdufFdcD/s498/ThePoint.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywfzF0H2czT11drGXK7FiXHFKOtIshn6ZcxFE8GYl9UdnIPEj5wlWmNejUHUPCjVlQ-Vyt-NRsb27L1GSFom1DTnlUTzYTgsL4suijAYrjV2Vvb7IQB0gaMSijgnFYBSWxAdXMdufFdcD/s320/ThePoint.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p>But perhaps my BIGGEST annoyance was the fact that QUEEN CHARLOTTE dressed in fashions that were at least 40 year old. She and her ladies-in-waiting were back in the 1770s while everyone else was generally in 1813 (except Lady Featherington who was just floating off into space by herself). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeELKgOVp84Q528yvxWYOgqlpFmc0glqLcywnya2QfCmgd1dEHM5GKa2ZKgYXp3SiOcxwJ8VHru9IkPojyx9RL6bGQPsfNdoPAbHURgRUWZOVbdX-ewfsQX7TDCNulscYE-h8NqK0KxjI/s480/Charlotte1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="480" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeELKgOVp84Q528yvxWYOgqlpFmc0glqLcywnya2QfCmgd1dEHM5GKa2ZKgYXp3SiOcxwJ8VHru9IkPojyx9RL6bGQPsfNdoPAbHURgRUWZOVbdX-ewfsQX7TDCNulscYE-h8NqK0KxjI/w400-h268/Charlotte1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>This is a weird period movie trope of having older, rich women wear things <i>decades</i> out of style. Not a few years behind. DECADES. Not a women who doesn't have the resources to stay up on the latest styles. A woman with RESOURCES. In this case THE RICHEST LADY IN THE COUNTRY aka THE QUEEN.</p><p>Like the corset thing, this one hits harder because it isn't just a fun, fresh idea that the production team wanted to experiment with. It is actually a dumb pattern that has been cropping up in period movies made in the 21st century. Here are some other examples: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKLTMwN1P0mcY95xzwPwlpjrA-WfrDX0VMnND6-g0HL6MLe2PHQ2c9YckeCG2ztiVOqpwKkUv_dNKujV49DfHb3j9qCdfo031pEPu_FYz8wtvSafhip135OL1jobMYnFXRvWqqbIBQKYB/s400/Carter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKLTMwN1P0mcY95xzwPwlpjrA-WfrDX0VMnND6-g0HL6MLe2PHQ2c9YckeCG2ztiVOqpwKkUv_dNKujV49DfHb3j9qCdfo031pEPu_FYz8wtvSafhip135OL1jobMYnFXRvWqqbIBQKYB/w400-h225/Carter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>Cranford</i> takes place in the early 1840s. Above is Lady Ludlow, who lives in a gigantic estate and is the richest person in the whole story. She dresses like it is the 1790s, with her hair from even earlier. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXVZjJgsMGV7ZXs6vecKBJxT4_UpJ0fdPBydbM-pIe35uzw1vP_AGHLcnrVxV9CfNahCKtSnoKhGfTwhLxKIjlhxbG-EmKYk4fS2gLuFfb8w1B2NdqBfRY2eI8emTRhkNDdO26KHHXlP2/s512/LadyCatherine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="461" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXVZjJgsMGV7ZXs6vecKBJxT4_UpJ0fdPBydbM-pIe35uzw1vP_AGHLcnrVxV9CfNahCKtSnoKhGfTwhLxKIjlhxbG-EmKYk4fS2gLuFfb8w1B2NdqBfRY2eI8emTRhkNDdO26KHHXlP2/s320/LadyCatherine.jpg" /></a></div><p>This is Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the 2005 <i>Pride & Prejudice</i>. Not only the highest status person in the story but arguably in all of Jane Austen. The movie is set in the 1790s, but she dresses more like the 1760s or 1770s. </p><p>It is also worth noting that, while she is not as rich, the movie makes a similar silhouette choice for Mrs. Bennett. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZGA2rnbD7RM4nFRVS6U8SpE8vq7v2KmXjpFKyioViwUulwXtxdkIOWrckBkskIlFx5DinNJtB7Bk2sVfW8olNDKHyLfDShOcCO_w59jbhWoOhwyj8S6NW1qoodwR2vD0GnIYrh8noGqa/s519/Bennett.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZGA2rnbD7RM4nFRVS6U8SpE8vq7v2KmXjpFKyioViwUulwXtxdkIOWrckBkskIlFx5DinNJtB7Bk2sVfW8olNDKHyLfDShOcCO_w59jbhWoOhwyj8S6NW1qoodwR2vD0GnIYrh8noGqa/s320/Bennett.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I haven't seen Sanditon, but based on the promo images, it is clear it has this same problem. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabDYMUKjd34qWDmVcN5yeXCTI85OI2mZw7Aw7y6infzJoCfJidPN0LrSY3D4Ix5yCbZu3sa0T1XkprKh858j1CGUlinRoRlkXE7a0JGpyNLoe_IrEtduM4PRwHEFQWpE1qEROAIm7wRkN/s1920/Sanditon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabDYMUKjd34qWDmVcN5yeXCTI85OI2mZw7Aw7y6infzJoCfJidPN0LrSY3D4Ix5yCbZu3sa0T1XkprKh858j1CGUlinRoRlkXE7a0JGpyNLoe_IrEtduM4PRwHEFQWpE1qEROAIm7wRkN/w400-h225/Sanditon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everyone here is in the Regency period, except the lady on the right who is stuck in the Rococo. </div><div><br /></div>These movies are all basically inventing this mythology that, in the past, the older and richer you were, the more stubborn you were about changing fashions. And not a little stubborn. Like, 30-50 years stubborn. This is simply not true. There <i>have</i> been some historical eras when styles changed radically in a short period of time, and some women (and men) did lag behind. But really we are talking a single decade behind <b><i>at mos</i></b><i><b>t</b></i>, and even then a wealthy woman wouldn't be literally wearing her same old clothes. What happened instead was usually some kind of hybrid-- she would have her dressmaker stick with some older elements that she was more comfortable with, but also include newer elements that kept up with the times as much as possible. <a href="http://www.frockflicks.com/embrace-the-weirdness/" target="_blank">Frock Flicks has a great recap of one of these "hybrid" eras which includes Queen Charlotte (and debunks the idea she didn't update her fashion).</a> <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf9WSpwQVMhTw9RK_gEJ27JXcdLVcswo3nrX2m4KoOfwy2pQagRtzMJEZXzya55-ZmOOh6aISqpg50NhVegrQ_BVpopWNo-4hVO2DIXw3E22rXqTrku8s1zamuFkTXGTEgeW4HtRK2c0N/s1920/QueenC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1920" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf9WSpwQVMhTw9RK_gEJ27JXcdLVcswo3nrX2m4KoOfwy2pQagRtzMJEZXzya55-ZmOOh6aISqpg50NhVegrQ_BVpopWNo-4hVO2DIXw3E22rXqTrku8s1zamuFkTXGTEgeW4HtRK2c0N/w400-h268/QueenC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div>Now, to be fair, <i>Bridgerton</i> used this nonsense choice to put Queen C in some gorgeous gowns and fabulous wigs, so I'm not claiming she didn't look good. </div><div><br /></div><div>But even when these older gowns are fab, it makes the production seem cheap to me. It automatically feels like some community theater show which simply didn't have enough options in their costume stock from the right period, and so makes it up. Same problem with Lady Featherington. Her styles seem vaguely 1960s to me, so it's like the time I was in the ensemble of a community theater production of <i>My Fair Lady</i> and was wearing a 1970s dress for the big ball scene. I wasn't the lead and it was the best they had on hand. But I suspect "this the best we could do" wasn't the vibe <i>Bridgerton</i> was aiming for. </div><div><br /></div><div>In summary, I made this Venn diagram: </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVJkVzvtUBElxoPjin4xVvLqtr2qe1QsBnHx7S8t-mNnE8ASIOB8BNJWZpmVBIgxDPm4BOQU5lbfA6Plo6c8ZmcpfiIN0DW8Lcsjdx-tpx83h-LTiFyj0u7tDX5epPP1J_drduxnTHBRe/s651/Screen+Shot+2021-01-22+at+4.22.20+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="651" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVJkVzvtUBElxoPjin4xVvLqtr2qe1QsBnHx7S8t-mNnE8ASIOB8BNJWZpmVBIgxDPm4BOQU5lbfA6Plo6c8ZmcpfiIN0DW8Lcsjdx-tpx83h-LTiFyj0u7tDX5epPP1J_drduxnTHBRe/w400-h284/Screen+Shot+2021-01-22+at+4.22.20+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-78664503329481618962021-01-10T16:48:00.004-08:002021-01-10T17:06:38.283-08:00I have a problem with skirts in The Queen's Gambit <p>Looks like I've taken a six month break from blogging, but we are still living with covid restrictions, the world is really stressful, and I'm watching period shows again. So here we are!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwsqS5DVVJ0xSnsmHaJe2O9tbgld7VqvhBMwsfoymffS7HfAJHyai-jJqvQXAkPLeComR1TKdY6o1XfSK9rM1SUiGU2e1fQIQZXk9QO10igKRWqPIk5c2HtyuOHBF2k1SHJZEqJ5fqomt/s1500/Skirts.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwsqS5DVVJ0xSnsmHaJe2O9tbgld7VqvhBMwsfoymffS7HfAJHyai-jJqvQXAkPLeComR1TKdY6o1XfSK9rM1SUiGU2e1fQIQZXk9QO10igKRWqPIk5c2HtyuOHBF2k1SHJZEqJ5fqomt/w400-h266/Skirts.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I recently watched <i>The Queen's Gambit</i> and agreed with the general consensus that it was excellent and the costumes were gorgeous. I also love a female character is was smart and also interested in clothes. Too often those are treated as mutually exclusive things. BUT there was one particular costume choice that I had a BIG problem with: LONG FULL SKIRTS IN 1966.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUOHsIbAN4NTQrJLW6cvDcb9jGTRdjswUyhRHP-pH5s8QWCW7PaUXl1zY5_-pqrlIsM-J8cVupr47MZGWjNWsL-oyaXsCjpHRgI7428s6i0nfKy-ry5nJD7-lzN_JQnU6u-EPtkm3-6BK/s1440/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.53.16+AM+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUOHsIbAN4NTQrJLW6cvDcb9jGTRdjswUyhRHP-pH5s8QWCW7PaUXl1zY5_-pqrlIsM-J8cVupr47MZGWjNWsL-oyaXsCjpHRgI7428s6i0nfKy-ry5nJD7-lzN_JQnU6u-EPtkm3-6BK/w400-h249/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.53.16+AM+2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Beth wears this dress at two chess tournaments in 1966: Las Vegas and Mexico City. So we see a lot of it from many angles. The skirt is fluffy and full, and she wears a crinoline under it to make it even fuller. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHVNNfXfG_UW5JlYaDBJvjb7npTLTX3F-gXUvnK8l57mrcA6XvowvQUwi5f4kskzMpx43gr57K46LUq3pHDmK0XvjTFFi5XdftVdMQwdMOQJYLL6YApsemuI9C9DINwvVSM2RxN11TAqG/s936/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+8.01.58+AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHVNNfXfG_UW5JlYaDBJvjb7npTLTX3F-gXUvnK8l57mrcA6XvowvQUwi5f4kskzMpx43gr57K46LUq3pHDmK0XvjTFFi5XdftVdMQwdMOQJYLL6YApsemuI9C9DINwvVSM2RxN11TAqG/w400-h320/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+8.01.58+AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheR9a0FHOnZinGHEiU8gJQwBcn4alxcdoOac7HHXGlavUCCLL5iI6CWFEKReAAjxel_uaE5-Lbtw0LRbowJpXtEj5BmOE8_T_VpUxgXAimB1_h5-2kVmWMKR9DsPWLqhTOXulTmQiGoagr/s1440/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.54.59+AM.jpeg"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheR9a0FHOnZinGHEiU8gJQwBcn4alxcdoOac7HHXGlavUCCLL5iI6CWFEKReAAjxel_uaE5-Lbtw0LRbowJpXtEj5BmOE8_T_VpUxgXAimB1_h5-2kVmWMKR9DsPWLqhTOXulTmQiGoagr/w400-h250/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.54.59+AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>This silhouette: a small waist with full skirt that falls well below the knee is very 1950s. It lingered in the early 1960s, but was pretty outdated by 1966. We actually see the dress at Ben Snyder when Beth first visits the store with her mother--in <b>1963</b>. Several costumes from the show, including this dress are on display at the Brooklyn Museum right now. <a href="https://www.thequeenandthecrown.com/" target="_blank">The online exhibit dates it to <b>1960</b></a>. So by the show's own admission, this dress is 3-6 years old. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmjW6ny2bCrWnCKBiJZolKssbtnHn7N1KxwdWaCfkkUytU9PzD9E3FRFuD5JYRb4jrBSsxDG1fPVxN33WKXUVTrLk4Um2CT3Yl0Yg3XtZef6t3B7kmFBFMvCi0FZZs_evUw_ubQNVmW0M/s1440/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.40.57+AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmjW6ny2bCrWnCKBiJZolKssbtnHn7N1KxwdWaCfkkUytU9PzD9E3FRFuD5JYRb4jrBSsxDG1fPVxN33WKXUVTrLk4Um2CT3Yl0Yg3XtZef6t3B7kmFBFMvCi0FZZs_evUw_ubQNVmW0M/w400-h250/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.40.57+AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In fashion school, I remember my professor saying "the 1960s were like 100 years," meaning that so many styles and changes in fashion were packed into a very short amount of time. So picking a 1950 dress to portray 1956 might not be so noticeable, but wearing a 1960 dress in 1966 would. It isn't just one dress though. Most of the outfits Beth wears at these two competitions have similar full, long skirts. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFta-id-V8yl4d_D5g485_KTX2bnDQTaAVEN_U6QsUZLa7IOUfPDRnmOSPmUTTtu-0jKcXsnpRhPB88r81tLxLjsjqZxOB9wjaNZII-ODA7qf-vOGtp2RzSfEfnl6WXVlRcj7S34U1YFZn/s1056/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.28.53+AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1056" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFta-id-V8yl4d_D5g485_KTX2bnDQTaAVEN_U6QsUZLa7IOUfPDRnmOSPmUTTtu-0jKcXsnpRhPB88r81tLxLjsjqZxOB9wjaNZII-ODA7qf-vOGtp2RzSfEfnl6WXVlRcj7S34U1YFZn/w400-h293/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.28.53+AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxgtjIwC4JrZ48QSmRyxs3fST-HfOuY7fmgMu6beO5zS8uABea-FfmRtj9BzTt6NjkyM-o9fv2qdAVgQpLuJyqyJ4kohPZIFH__kmHsOPmHAwqd6tgVuWH-4rrK9v0wXc1d54sJ-_68U7/s1440/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.55.42+AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxgtjIwC4JrZ48QSmRyxs3fST-HfOuY7fmgMu6beO5zS8uABea-FfmRtj9BzTt6NjkyM-o9fv2qdAVgQpLuJyqyJ4kohPZIFH__kmHsOPmHAwqd6tgVuWH-4rrK9v0wXc1d54sJ-_68U7/w400-h250/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.55.42+AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkoNKzv_A_ukcwEBghVA4ZbXs-Ua_Cw52qHKVSbHulVFxROakO-2OSt6_4NyuvpxkkLep9tDZ5jsQGg9cwVhk0iPpJWXEbF26_rKtbuGP8-KGzomhM2nwNRMx0ANhpr52TCerAqcbOu_W/s1440/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.57.00+AM+2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkoNKzv_A_ukcwEBghVA4ZbXs-Ua_Cw52qHKVSbHulVFxROakO-2OSt6_4NyuvpxkkLep9tDZ5jsQGg9cwVhk0iPpJWXEbF26_rKtbuGP8-KGzomhM2nwNRMx0ANhpr52TCerAqcbOu_W/w400-h250/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.57.00+AM+2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXBHn30nlSINmyKkUBnOQrnX3D2F6j3fF2EFcbpcOhgy4P8wc1pQ1zf-oSE-RNjDUaKL02wNDueXcN4cCb0MFpMQymgLwd02QkzY8ogmfi7Oc99yfXKBginVUIxGuRtjCQN8rI0dgA4uM/s736/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+8.05.27+AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="736" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXBHn30nlSINmyKkUBnOQrnX3D2F6j3fF2EFcbpcOhgy4P8wc1pQ1zf-oSE-RNjDUaKL02wNDueXcN4cCb0MFpMQymgLwd02QkzY8ogmfi7Oc99yfXKBginVUIxGuRtjCQN8rI0dgA4uM/w400-h351/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+8.05.27+AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This last one is reallllly long. </div><div><br /></div><div>I poked around online to see if any other fashion historians were pointing this out. I found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRP5R1aq8A8" target="_blank">this video</a> which mentions the skirts but is very forgiving. She argues 1) Beth is young and still figuring out her style. She goes through a major style transformation after these tournaments and the costume designer wanted to show a contrast. 2) She is from Kentucky and so she and her peers are a bit behind the times. Ok, so I can handle the first explanation even though I disagree that this is the right choice to portray it. But I have a BIG problem with the "people in Kentucky don't know any better" argument. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jkrIEDioQOZAilRVr13YYHQHcBkBvz_IG2GRTvqnI0iulFY8kKX46aSgrP0v3agMfQe3nseEX9d-pROVKpexsEDWDs8pCkpO59yCmIejOcHlrEMnhvxLtWO1yM4Q8J3rum8mLJenK7Z-/s1344/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.25.39+AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1344" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jkrIEDioQOZAilRVr13YYHQHcBkBvz_IG2GRTvqnI0iulFY8kKX46aSgrP0v3agMfQe3nseEX9d-pROVKpexsEDWDs8pCkpO59yCmIejOcHlrEMnhvxLtWO1yM4Q8J3rum8mLJenK7Z-/w400-h233/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+7.25.39+AM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This "Kentucky is still stuck in the 1950s" idea is played out in the scenes of Beth at high school. While most of these take place in 1963, where it was more reasonable to find these full skirts lingering, her classmates wear <i><b>aggressively stereotypical</b></i> 1950s clothes. Like, saddle shoes and literal poodle skirts. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpj9ou2wnApfofC8UC0tpp7EV9Ij2oNcr-y9sBvOfKjmAKb4SydN9k8Makx-kkhA80StKo-958h3JhxADZakj4z5AHl3uYBKqqLElubf6q3qeyVozfmiVndXTGXh4Iw0gOOzZ6TfSuX_H/s1249/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+12.02.29+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1249" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpj9ou2wnApfofC8UC0tpp7EV9Ij2oNcr-y9sBvOfKjmAKb4SydN9k8Makx-kkhA80StKo-958h3JhxADZakj4z5AHl3uYBKqqLElubf6q3qeyVozfmiVndXTGXh4Iw0gOOzZ6TfSuX_H/w400-h240/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+12.02.29+PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VZdwqCvqocRP8dAvM2VweDZglYDfQqSMvCxtuAVNWxUvnkLIeJ7ywavQKzQTLW1_zEft5IkL2TX-gtXBpO8s_f-_rstbYCrfZOCcdQJlXDTAG3C4Gp8OAYH_mSPmAc8CT4EP8YIIeupd/s647/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+12.08.45+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="647" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VZdwqCvqocRP8dAvM2VweDZglYDfQqSMvCxtuAVNWxUvnkLIeJ7ywavQKzQTLW1_zEft5IkL2TX-gtXBpO8s_f-_rstbYCrfZOCcdQJlXDTAG3C4Gp8OAYH_mSPmAc8CT4EP8YIIeupd/w400-h366/Screen+Shot+2020-12-28+at+12.08.45+PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It should be noted that these are the <i>popular</i> girls. The girls who make fun of Beth for shopping in the discount section--which suggests that they are affluent enough to not buy discount and have some sense of what is "in." We would expect them to be the most fashion forward students at the school. And let's be real, Lexington is a <i>city</i>. Not London or Paris, sure, but not exactly rural. It is 1963 and they all look like extras in <i>Grease</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/id/3761/rec/33" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="640" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZh63EODqegOJrMyrlF7dSUw57Wcj9hNxKpu599LeTfegPDG2NzWpFs3IJzIDQez1tsYiSGKhjnNdPjSZUUW4d4SOFZIskDBCtuWpiw4TWKhw1uj518JxQtrqe5KMIvNr3F7fNa-y6TKv/w400-h345/Monorail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two women at the 1962 Worlds Fair in Seattle</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a fashion historian out in Seattle, I've also heard some version of this from people on the other coast--this idea that the farther you get from New York the farther back in time the fashion goes. No. Let me stop you right there. This line of thinking is ridiculous and condescending and shows a gross misunderstanding of the American fashion system and ready-to-wear industry. Sure, teens in Lexington aren't likely to be on the cutting edge. A few months behind? Sure. But this is the 20th century. They have newspapers, and magazines, and TV. They have seen Jackie Kennedy in her boxy jackets and straight skirts. And if it were true that people in distant corners of America were 2-6 <i>years</i> behind on fashion, my mother would have been the poster child for that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBGvkrX0DaWz9GmnsxFsrh0xLhQ7m-zsWMC09M-LpwSIZuuaERbBMh3Uz3EWZRzEExtm7_sL_cYI1xn0LSB1GE-qmYAPaw3DrpBZsr3vUn4cN25yC4E3-3HazfRZCTPqEL60VBn1sZ-C9/s2048/IMG_6576.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="2048" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBGvkrX0DaWz9GmnsxFsrh0xLhQ7m-zsWMC09M-LpwSIZuuaERbBMh3Uz3EWZRzEExtm7_sL_cYI1xn0LSB1GE-qmYAPaw3DrpBZsr3vUn4cN25yC4E3-3HazfRZCTPqEL60VBn1sZ-C9/w400-h328/IMG_6576.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 1966 my mother was a senior at Lustre Christian High School in rural Montana. And by rural I mean <i>rural</i>. Lustre is a farming community about an hour drive outside of Glasgow Montana, which was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/20/using-the-best-data-possible-we-set-out-to-find-the-middle-of-nowhere/" target="_blank">recently certified as the middle of nowhere</a>. Here are some pics I found in her 1966 yearbook: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuAMfCF1jJk3GCeivufASs_h05DpHd7HmzTFfZhbbLCC-YSRj1lno3DM7iHTBU3U9lh6-Fz4j8Jvh4YZ1fIIFaK8bILliFEACfk2ZSJO8pv1zZp-8qlOQlXkRlIpUsioIWd-TvS2U6l0q/s2048/IMG_6575.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuAMfCF1jJk3GCeivufASs_h05DpHd7HmzTFfZhbbLCC-YSRj1lno3DM7iHTBU3U9lh6-Fz4j8Jvh4YZ1fIIFaK8bILliFEACfk2ZSJO8pv1zZp-8qlOQlXkRlIpUsioIWd-TvS2U6l0q/w400-h300/IMG_6575.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My mom is in the front row, fourth from the left. The girl second from left has a fuller skirt with a tighter waistline, but it is a pleated skirt not a circle skirt. Everyone else has very straight skirts and loose or dropped waistlines. Most of the dresses are homemade and certainly nothing "designer," but still pretty representative of the 1966 silhouette. There were some much shorter mini skirts out in the world at this time, so the just-at-the-knee length is on the conservative side--but they are all still shorter than the skirts that Beth wears! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIyJo4g2aA5wBiHhGrAoXDK1iQWoW_BjKjCzhR608Oaa11PYU1jcEz1QGnzRSIJmSQeW1d2dv7KoVb6sVfPG3QjZnLSPlIm7IxR1iIGzyH8gqTiqE0u6_YftJc47_kwlQQxVDE9Uqv2mE/s2698/IMG_6577.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="2698" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIyJo4g2aA5wBiHhGrAoXDK1iQWoW_BjKjCzhR608Oaa11PYU1jcEz1QGnzRSIJmSQeW1d2dv7KoVb6sVfPG3QjZnLSPlIm7IxR1iIGzyH8gqTiqE0u6_YftJc47_kwlQQxVDE9Uqv2mE/w400-h173/IMG_6577.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the senior class (yes, the whole class) singing at graduation. All the girls are wearing matching white dresses which are straight and again, fall right at the knee. And this is a farming community HOURS drive away from anything resembling a city the size of Lexington, Kentucky. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPH6yqRV7ehPdwM6hiTw7sjkks24pGxVaUTV6xKgFlDaV1QEORCM7IMHwMl4ssNdzrRQz2HI_shZ0f6WFROacFqFR_3_u1oY1-52kdPahyL1k6L8iqwB92pDKH-1AYvo6iLs215mSVu2j/s2048/IMG_6578.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPH6yqRV7ehPdwM6hiTw7sjkks24pGxVaUTV6xKgFlDaV1QEORCM7IMHwMl4ssNdzrRQz2HI_shZ0f6WFROacFqFR_3_u1oY1-52kdPahyL1k6L8iqwB92pDKH-1AYvo6iLs215mSVu2j/s320/IMG_6578.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These were the most fashion forward girls I spotted in the 1966 yearbook but my mom was quick to interject that they were stylish because they were from farther away and lived in the school dorm. Oh were they from Chicago or something? Or exchange students from London? No, they just lived "closer to Wolf Point." Um, Wolf Point is the town that came in 3rd on that list of "middle of nowhere" communities. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I asked my mom if she thought Lustre was behind the times in terms of fashion, she sort of scoffed and said "we had the Sears catalog." Which is to say that no, they weren't reading <i>Vogue </i>or up on what was going on in the streets of London or the runways of Paris. But even the most mainstream, middle American source for fashion was still readily available. The way fashion goes from <i>Vogue</i> to Sears isn't about a length of time as much as a <i>translation</i> of a cutting edge looks into something more affordable and sellable (or sewable). The American ready-to-wear industry was very experienced at this quick-translation game because customers all over the country wanted the "latest" styles, just in versions that they could afford or sew themselves. It turns out you can <a href="https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ShowCatalog/1966-Sears-Spring-Summer-Catalog" target="_blank">view an entire 1966 Sears Catalog online here,</a> so let's see what kind of fashion images were available to teens from "backwater" places like Kentucky and Montana. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXq3YizCNmrrLQSNy9y2THzHlHM5CHWJd74QGDqcwcMzjd0KmdUxMisKv_5SZRP2dOZNs5AA2nmMZOXfi3An9ddYkwBf-YILIdUVT9Hs0nuimKehhN_m0sqSNeLu_L-a5czlJvi3ZNfPh/s719/Screen+Shot+2021-01-10+at+10.21.05+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXq3YizCNmrrLQSNy9y2THzHlHM5CHWJd74QGDqcwcMzjd0KmdUxMisKv_5SZRP2dOZNs5AA2nmMZOXfi3An9ddYkwBf-YILIdUVT9Hs0nuimKehhN_m0sqSNeLu_L-a5czlJvi3ZNfPh/w295-h400/Screen+Shot+2021-01-10+at+10.21.05+AM.png" width="295" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLPZvUpI8nK3P91HxvYofDHAF7MEKc4cljwoCj1jyU-pHmoKDAZHUvaFvHAHo61Neqt8l1r50g_8sGelxv8LHkIFmJW3uNmI3OGhoe2XPCq9gKqyIWjpTS23WnaAXLdOR0qe0zHhl7u8U/s555/Screen+Shot+2021-01-10+at+10.28.21+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="529" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLPZvUpI8nK3P91HxvYofDHAF7MEKc4cljwoCj1jyU-pHmoKDAZHUvaFvHAHo61Neqt8l1r50g_8sGelxv8LHkIFmJW3uNmI3OGhoe2XPCq9gKqyIWjpTS23WnaAXLdOR0qe0zHhl7u8U/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-01-10+at+10.28.21+AM.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not cutting edge, but a solid representation of mid-1960s style. And WAY more fashion forward than what Beth wears to her tournaments. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, TO BE FAIR I was surprised to see a <i>few</i> fuller skirts in the Sears catalog. I spotted this green one in the image below and a few more marketed to older women. So I'm not saying that fuller skirts had completely vanished from the planet by 1966. But while the skirts were full, they were much shorter than what Beth wears. Townes acts impressed by how "grown up" Beth looks when he sees her in Las Vegas, but she would have actually looked very dowdy for the time. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk_8SJNlpcCGMQUogJr5WtcEhm87IWWEw7fFq8nfI106oBmMNWHmtlDhNoviKdU7nsIqpvVlQaTlvNoGgkvfUuDarWgfkFxj7F6J1cto5EBEtygWi9bYFTe2lZdTy3a6627v1son57ulX/s529/Screen+Shot+2021-01-10+at+10.29.40+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk_8SJNlpcCGMQUogJr5WtcEhm87IWWEw7fFq8nfI106oBmMNWHmtlDhNoviKdU7nsIqpvVlQaTlvNoGgkvfUuDarWgfkFxj7F6J1cto5EBEtygWi9bYFTe2lZdTy3a6627v1son57ulX/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-01-10+at+10.29.40+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I can accept "we took some artistic license with Beth's costumes to show a more dramatic change after her 1966 tournaments" and "we picked these longer skirts because they looked great on the actress and would appeal to the 2020 audience." Fine. Sure. But realistically, a teen girl with her own money and a budding interest in fashion would be picking more updated looks. The "well, she was from <i>Kentucky</i>," argument is just nonsense. If the girls at Lustre Christian High School knew about current fashion trends, the girls in Lexington certainly did too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm coming for you next, Bridgerton. </div>ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-57507054487798906552020-06-28T13:00:00.000-07:002020-06-28T13:00:06.073-07:00Period Shows I Bailed OnAs you can see, I have been making my way pretty quickly through the historical movies and tv options on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. I'm always craving that new show that I will fall in love with, which means I have taken a chance on some things that ended up not being my jam. Here is a recap:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The English Game</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGAmZX2hvsuUiYrxs4cKByQhRyWF_T0Lc_df-vXZJORvwqYG57_95DAJ7zzmNdxHJkVurXO91zlU2O-3Jy7-cFLorCxTS2spzvFuUqH0xzUJ1eS4QmGwOChkNj93mN1UTGK6PIy7aP1cz/s1600/English1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="448" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGAmZX2hvsuUiYrxs4cKByQhRyWF_T0Lc_df-vXZJORvwqYG57_95DAJ7zzmNdxHJkVurXO91zlU2O-3Jy7-cFLorCxTS2spzvFuUqH0xzUJ1eS4QmGwOChkNj93mN1UTGK6PIy7aP1cz/s400/English1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The previews and promo images for this show include women in bustles which made me think I would like it. Also: Old-timey sports fashion! Class conflict! What looks like the same mill where <i>North & South</i> was shot! It is about football (I think the "soccer" kind of football but not 100% sure) but I stupidly was like "maybe there won't be so much of that."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMLV9rlUIa1gF3XirdXGdnBY1YXVXlClMax5v4BlhFDIe98n6Jd9qkhdQ4NvbqqXz0-Oce2477qXN8AcZW22-MntKsw0amrUB6r2M99cUAxlzBCIfUyAZo0niZZwfkNJapdWrqvgb4T-0/s1600/Game1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMLV9rlUIa1gF3XirdXGdnBY1YXVXlClMax5v4BlhFDIe98n6Jd9qkhdQ4NvbqqXz0-Oce2477qXN8AcZW22-MntKsw0amrUB6r2M99cUAxlzBCIfUyAZo0niZZwfkNJapdWrqvgb4T-0/s400/Game1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I made it to the first game (match?) and remembered something about sports-focused movies/tv. They aren't just going to talk about the sport and do some sports things briefly. The whole show will hinge on long game scenes in which each play is important and you have to focus because some detail of what happened will shape the characters and their motivations I was just like...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9KX2t2W4IfNAgKL0kICO2gjYuKLWFxQhpKgpyzTybu8_XOPS4V2B1ECxJobiv2BROTQB6nO3thQHNzTmrd46Ur0gV_4wwTGbC1Nw8mFGhLOXclKxhAGN_PLyWUHhVRBg0kgREaiJBYog/s1600/Naw.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9KX2t2W4IfNAgKL0kICO2gjYuKLWFxQhpKgpyzTybu8_XOPS4V2B1ECxJobiv2BROTQB6nO3thQHNzTmrd46Ur0gV_4wwTGbC1Nw8mFGhLOXclKxhAGN_PLyWUHhVRBg0kgREaiJBYog/s400/Naw.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>My recommended fix: </b><br />
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Less sportsball. More bustles. Or maybe change the sport to something women can play while wearing bustles? I guess what I really want is an extended version of the archery scene in <i>Daniel Deronda</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JjfU_4rUaIQs0btYGzK5WnfRnfjluqm6KYn_J_22n6DLvn3aWEatNy8-fXMGH6H86vb3NBqrw9vFkc6pH3IwOLM8EmiFKe0Gehv5WmlR_29iWPcE1GJvHk0kgWAxrT7OFb_j6lPS_f6J/s1600/Archery2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JjfU_4rUaIQs0btYGzK5WnfRnfjluqm6KYn_J_22n6DLvn3aWEatNy8-fXMGH6H86vb3NBqrw9vFkc6pH3IwOLM8EmiFKe0Gehv5WmlR_29iWPcE1GJvHk0kgWAxrT7OFb_j6lPS_f6J/s400/Archery2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiEQ-544i1z_beFiBRMIVbkTrjJFXjddDYsiV4o1SBdT0s4Mj0pnXw8zuD04fajKVtegF3U07DvzQflHsydyy2g7JGqg8aX6jrI2InjR-KBakY2jA9UGAU6r9ISYM-ySAcWPnPJTkMQFg/s1600/Archery3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="750" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiEQ-544i1z_beFiBRMIVbkTrjJFXjddDYsiV4o1SBdT0s4Mj0pnXw8zuD04fajKVtegF3U07DvzQflHsydyy2g7JGqg8aX6jrI2InjR-KBakY2jA9UGAU6r9ISYM-ySAcWPnPJTkMQFg/s400/Archery3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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YEP, THIS IS IT</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Turn: Washington's Spies</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVprjo_cpCB78at6meFXoRJhlIUT5LqS_GvkcdJHPFTgRM7X_QruFuryH3CE0d3hTI6gjh2y-x5-u_Ah2zGBIhY5PePZl67XqW3EycQuJ46P1QRz9LU_r-E_U6MVilPWrJrD8XbUgMwzzt/s1600/Turn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1200" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVprjo_cpCB78at6meFXoRJhlIUT5LqS_GvkcdJHPFTgRM7X_QruFuryH3CE0d3hTI6gjh2y-x5-u_Ah2zGBIhY5PePZl67XqW3EycQuJ46P1QRz9LU_r-E_U6MVilPWrJrD8XbUgMwzzt/s400/Turn2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I keep seeing this on the list of historical shows on Netflix (yes, the Netflix algorithm gives me a "historical TV shows" category) and finally I gave it a shot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiSt-MVOzkU8KRV8w-Ge5ht2bImtrWDGLQaxO3nDFPyjAHvcJP6o7pe6r7xDGQoGICg8jm3JXHvHA1UhdidguQ7SCKEvuL85aEvzC9ByzqKqaZFx9eNrHBsAkSL-QzH2eVCb3EWv3GDiW/s1600/Turn1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiSt-MVOzkU8KRV8w-Ge5ht2bImtrWDGLQaxO3nDFPyjAHvcJP6o7pe6r7xDGQoGICg8jm3JXHvHA1UhdidguQ7SCKEvuL85aEvzC9ByzqKqaZFx9eNrHBsAkSL-QzH2eVCb3EWv3GDiW/s400/Turn1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Why I thought I might like it:<br />
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<ul>
<li>As has already been documented, <a href="http://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-other-favorite-period-movies.html">I enjoy the fancy jacket and knee pants look of 18th century menswear.</a> This promised to have lots of that.</li>
<li>J.J. Field is in it and he is delightful</li>
<li>History stuff</li>
<li>The first episode had a content warning for sex but not violence so that seemed promising</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNXoUeXdRd18KmlQbFLgLlj3e6C5p9Wo_TK9iN-MipO-Ofzdh-WeMW6mJb6XflA9gR06p2kq69Ov0V5MNkJvQ6pWf3MaHp-72h5LOLcznyvU_NiN5i-DdRlPbY0IrQbXIuhkRVMaGok91/s1600/Wink.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="500" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNXoUeXdRd18KmlQbFLgLlj3e6C5p9Wo_TK9iN-MipO-Ofzdh-WeMW6mJb6XflA9gR06p2kq69Ov0V5MNkJvQ6pWf3MaHp-72h5LOLcznyvU_NiN5i-DdRlPbY0IrQbXIuhkRVMaGok91/s400/Wink.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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But here are some things I don't like, which <i><b>I probably should have guessed</b></i> would have been part of a story about spies during the American Revolution.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Stories about wars and battles </li>
<li>Shows where most of the cast are men and all the main storylines are about men</li>
<li>Stories where characters are constantly in tense and dangerous situations</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToMMugERrLvU0hmBVyjYYiP_8bSw0ta2CKpkLMQgyVIB4QAmMsb1U_Ztg8PSvRNT-WQxJPiL7BbsSAEGOuvVlK98QUH9Sz6g6yInL0G0d56hvkTPNHmZujq4UIPajvF0TTK3UfP-f2hP_/s1600/Oprahwell.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="350" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToMMugERrLvU0hmBVyjYYiP_8bSw0ta2CKpkLMQgyVIB4QAmMsb1U_Ztg8PSvRNT-WQxJPiL7BbsSAEGOuvVlK98QUH9Sz6g6yInL0G0d56hvkTPNHmZujq4UIPajvF0TTK3UfP-f2hP_/s400/Oprahwell.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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So SHOCKINGLY I didn't enjoy it and gave up. But the biggest insult was that J. J. Field's character had a wig with these awful little white rat-tail braids.<br />
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<b>Recommended fix:</b><br />
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Is there a way to make a show with a bunch of military uniforms that isn't like, about a war? Or about the British army but somehow not be super problematic and colonialist? Maybe a show where J. J. Field's character clips off the braids and goes around the country saying nice things to ladies in that Alan Rickman deep voice he has?<br />
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Maybe he can talk about muslin</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dickensian</span></b><br />
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Ok, my bad on the other shows, but this one really <i>should</i> have been up my alley. <i>Dickensian</i> takes a bunch of characters from Charles Dickens books and puts them together for a new story. I mean, I seem like the exact target demographic for that.<br />
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I gave this a two-episode try, but finally had to admit that I wasn't enjoying it all and didn't look forward to anything about how it would unfold. The main problem was that it was a <i>prequel</i> to the action of the books where all these characters appear. In the first episode there was this young woman named Amelia whose father had died, and she seemed like she was going to be one of the lead characters. Only near the end of the first episode do we learn her last name: Havisham.<br />
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Uh oh</div>
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I know that origin stories are hot these days, but it does take some of the suspense out of it. This gal is going to fall in love and it isn't going to go great.<br />
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But it will be Goth AF</div>
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The same goes for the other leading lady. Her name was less familiar, but some internet searching and I realized she was the future Lady Deadlock from <i>Bleak House</i>. Ah ok. So I now know exactly how her story will play out.<br />
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She ends up very happy and fulfilled</div>
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The inevitability just seemed to take all the fun out of it. Plus, there wasn't much fun to be had in the first place. The show interpreted "Dickensian" to mean "dark and gritty" without much joy and humor also found in his stories. Watching the rest of the episodes seemed like a slog.<br />
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<b>Recommended fix:</b><br />
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Why do a prequel? Why not connect all these characters <i>after</i> the main action of their stories and have them all go in surprising and unexpected directions? You could start where <i>Our Mutual Friend</i> leaves off (the final completed novel) with the enigmatic Mortimer Lightwood walking off into the night. Mortimer spends most of <i>Our Mutual Friend</i> being detached and sardonic, but he is also shown to be compassionate and kindhearted. He is observant, critical of the follies of London society, unmarried, and you can reasonably interpret him as gay or bi. Wouldn't he be an interesting character to follow into a new story?<br />
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For the record this is a legitimately good idea.ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-19516844715446538972020-06-20T19:04:00.000-07:002020-06-20T19:21:37.521-07:00Martin Chuzzlewit Still Got It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've written <a href="https://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-favorite-period-movies.html">before </a>about how much the 1995 <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> basically changed my life, but the reason I even saw it in the first place was because my parents and I were already in the habit of watching Masterpiece Theater-type miniseries together. <i>Martin Chuzzlewit</i> came out the year before P&P and while it didn't become an obsession, I remember enjoying it.<br />
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Having seen it over 25 years ago, it was amazing <i>how much</i> I remembered. It has many unforgettable characters and scenes. A decade later Andrew Davies is credited with livening up Dickens by making <i>Bleak House </i>(2005) with a lot of quick cuts and cliffhangers. This was widely applauded and he brought a similar style to <a href="https://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/2020/05/some-big-opinions-about-little-dorrit.html"><i>Little Dorrit </i>(2008)</a><i>. </i>But for me, the combination of Dickens' ridiculous characters with everything being over-dramatized and fast paced just felt like...a lot. Too much. <i>Martin Chuzzlewit</i> has a slower, smoother pace, which allows the actors to really go for it without becoming grating or exhausting. The exceptional acting carries the story.<br />
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Martin Chuzzlewit is the name of both an old man and his young grandson, although neither feels like the main character of the story. The real main character is Seth Pecksniff, a completely amoral man who wraps up all his plotting in a veneer of goodness and gentility. He is played to perfection by Tom Wilkinson.<br />
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Pecksniff is dastardly at times (there is a particularly upsetting scene when he physically grabs a woman who he wants to marry and won't let her go) but most of the time he is comedic. Everything he does is done with 10 layers of obsequious posturing.<br />
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Pecksniff has two daughters: Charity and Mercy, or "Cherry" and "Merry" because Pecksniff is that kind of cheeseball. Emma Chambers plays older sister Charity, who at first she seems to be the perfect picture of sweet, feminine docility. It falls apart though when a man she thought was about to propose to her, proposes instead to Mercy. She bursts into a screaming rage and it is funny and cathartic all at once.<br />
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Let it out girl</div>
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For the rest of the story she asserts herself more and tries to take charge of her life. Some of the choices are more "Oh honey no" than "Yaas Queen" but she is consistently interesting and entertaining.<br />
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Montague Tigg</div>
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Pete Postlethwaite is AMAZING as a character who is basically two characters. Montague Tigg starts the story as a poor, rough-looking opportunist. Eventually he finds the right opportunity and transforms himself into the stylish Tigg Montague. As one character remarks, even his own mother might have trouble recognizing him.<br />
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Tigg Montague</div>
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Other standouts include Paul Scofield as both older Martin Chuzzlewit and his twin brother Anthony, and the exceptional Elizabeth Spriggs as Mrs. Gamp.<br />
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Couldn't understand half of what she said but still into it</div>
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Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellows also has a small role.</div>
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ME?</div>
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This being Dickens, there has to be some darkness and gloom. In addition to Pecksniff assaulting Mary Graham, there is a major storyline about an abusive marriage which is really painful to watch.<br />
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It involves Julia Sawalha's character Mercy</div>
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On a less serious note, the other upsetting thing about this miniseries is that this character is supposed to be the same age as me:<br />
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Unacceptable.</div>
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One interesting thing about <i>Martin Chuzzlewit</i> is that it was written in 1843 just after Dickens visited the United States for the first time. He wrote a travelogue which critiqued quite a bit about American society, including slavery and our dangerous love of capitalism and how we idolize successful businessmen. In <i>Martin Chuzzlewit</i>, young Martin goes to the US to try to make his fortune, and is swindled into buying land in a remote swamp were everyone is dying of a fever. Slavery isn't mentioned, but it still paints a pretty unfavorable picture of our country. You know what else paints an unfavorable picture of our country? Our still very current problems of racism, capitalism, and rampant illness!<br />
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I won't go so far as to call <i>Martin Chuzzlewit</i> prescient. It is a very white, old-timey story about 1840s England. But if you are wanting a break from current events, but still want your entertainment with a whiff of anti-American sentiment, <i>Martin Chuzzlewit </i>isn't a bad bet.ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-18175995219391924232020-05-30T18:23:00.001-07:002020-05-30T18:25:21.379-07:00I Didn't Love The Great But I Respected It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTCURMwjEqOTAvmiorD9i5CCspNfXXv7uWBeGelfaeHxB9vD-5vdy0rVM-YavUDoLlCJOyVVJXReJppw4RWEGoUERlrHOiK6NK7Xccue83hl5pAlMd7-TrUkcrl3Z6NeYhLGShgvYQqZ_/s1600/TheGreat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTCURMwjEqOTAvmiorD9i5CCspNfXXv7uWBeGelfaeHxB9vD-5vdy0rVM-YavUDoLlCJOyVVJXReJppw4RWEGoUERlrHOiK6NK7Xccue83hl5pAlMd7-TrUkcrl3Z6NeYhLGShgvYQqZ_/s400/TheGreat1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last night I gritted my teeth and made it through the final episode of <i>The Great</i> on Hulu.<br />
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The shameful reality is that I am a pearl-clutching prude and have a very low threshold for stories that are stressful and violent. <i>The Great </i>was too vulgar, too gory, and too intense for me. But I also recognize that it was witty, well written, and beautifully filmed. There was a lot of it that was good and I hope those parts have a positive impact on future period movies and TV.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpcSVhi-HrnRWU2wlnGK3SU7XbsOYB8oF0bhbM2_j6hIpXMh5GKDapQWFR9B_XMUEEIoCojLsxGqT5IOLDW02RZ1W-QIxrhEGoVgSZt22-gHfDyymhQMVMBq6J-jhH3evnMQDLlYm3RAg/s1600/TheGreat4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpcSVhi-HrnRWU2wlnGK3SU7XbsOYB8oF0bhbM2_j6hIpXMh5GKDapQWFR9B_XMUEEIoCojLsxGqT5IOLDW02RZ1W-QIxrhEGoVgSZt22-gHfDyymhQMVMBq6J-jhH3evnMQDLlYm3RAg/s400/TheGreat4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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With the tagline "an occasionally true story," <i>The Great</i> makes clear that this will be a very loose interpretation of the Catherine the Great story. This, I felt, was one of its biggest strengths. Every historical movie or TV show involves some degree of interpretation. Being honest about that provided a lot of freedom to play around and be creative.<br />
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Which brings me to a little thesis I've been working on. Whenever there is a "fresh take" period drama, it usually falls into one of two categories:<br />
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<b>Category 1: </b>The filmmakers believe history (or the historical novel they are adapting) is inherently boring and so thankfully they are here to spice it up. They don't trust the material and they don't trust the audience. They think their revisions are necessary to make the story palatable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnsr653lrAQLH-8bX7xc_KBdLaITOjErAb3Wif5i4rsz29VnWhpX8N5MXxErO1Mg1F7PFpe7PAiBPvUnqxHLcmwY4hsVs4p24fOr_zVa2t6PcdrnEgaUsDpI0Y5-Y47Onj6r_HWXFZHga/s1600/Welcome.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="430" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnsr653lrAQLH-8bX7xc_KBdLaITOjErAb3Wif5i4rsz29VnWhpX8N5MXxErO1Mg1F7PFpe7PAiBPvUnqxHLcmwY4hsVs4p24fOr_zVa2t6PcdrnEgaUsDpI0Y5-Y47Onj6r_HWXFZHga/s400/Welcome.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Category 2: </b>The filmmakers believe that history (or the historical novel) is inherently interesting and speaks to our time, and so they want to infuse some modern elements and have fun with it. They genuinely love the material and want to share it in a new way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M8TFV9YHgCEPjSSNnLqFIgafyFsTuHS9zJZTQYrBF1FbRt33H-7AOYcEkYRxjMWZG39ImpG9p4nZXLxytneQVFACYI-4H_ib8EoZonWGE_YpdDyOb-dnmGdbg1CrUNsSH3b6w_KUhCIn/s1600/Awesome.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M8TFV9YHgCEPjSSNnLqFIgafyFsTuHS9zJZTQYrBF1FbRt33H-7AOYcEkYRxjMWZG39ImpG9p4nZXLxytneQVFACYI-4H_ib8EoZonWGE_YpdDyOb-dnmGdbg1CrUNsSH3b6w_KUhCIn/s400/Awesome.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Even though I have a fondness for it, <i>The Tudors </i>is an example of Category 1. The King Henry VIII story is already a wild ride. It doesn't need to be sexed up and have added plotlines about Henry's horny friends or Thomas Tallis being haunted by his dead girlfriend. It makes for a very uneven show that doesn't really know what it wants to be. I also think the 2005 <i>Pride & Prejudice</i> falls under this category too. To me, it feels like the filmmakers looked through the book and were like "yikes we need to fix all these boring parts."<br />
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The musical <i>Hamilton</i> is a perfect example of Category 2. Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't add rap to the show because he thought it was dull without it, he wrote a musical in his own style about a historical narrative that genuinely thrilled him.<br />
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I would argue that <i>every</i> good period movie, TV show, or play falls under Category 2--as there is always some degree of a modern perspective infused into the storytelling. Emma Thompson's <i>Sense and Sensiblity</i> may seem like a standard period film, but Thompson used very little of Jane Austen's original dialog, cut some important scenes, and invented others. It was also directed by Ang Lee, which had some xenophobes worried about how this Chinese director would handle an English classic. The movie is phenomenal because both Thompson and Lee cared about the source material but were also willing to try new things with it.<br />
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Which is all to say that<i> The Great</i> is Category 2, which is why I respect it, even though it wasn't to my personal taste.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUuvX__IEH9Ev-OCdFVva3CwZzrX2baodQ5jUZXxyZIgLRvflT7XfqW5qv-A1vD7qdyntLX2vFh99G8TpjVCy4e3UxV471c0iBKbMT2xbri1sIIsMkVL_qI-5THnrWTUP_dOOqMJerNCe/s1600/TheGreatCouple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUuvX__IEH9Ev-OCdFVva3CwZzrX2baodQ5jUZXxyZIgLRvflT7XfqW5qv-A1vD7qdyntLX2vFh99G8TpjVCy4e3UxV471c0iBKbMT2xbri1sIIsMkVL_qI-5THnrWTUP_dOOqMJerNCe/s400/TheGreatCouple.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of the best aspects of <i>The Great's </i>modern take is that the cast has some racial diversity. There are a fair number non-white courtiers even though we know that wasn't the case historically. It is interesting that while many period movies are happy to play fast and loose with other aspects of history, diverse casting still feels like a taboo. Maybe it is because the general public doesn't know that an 18th century gown shouldn't have metal grommets, but they <i>do</i> have a sense that there weren't a lot of Black aristocrats in 18th century Europe. But a dumb anachronism like a metal grommet or a corset worn without a chemise doesn't actually add much to a story. <i>Actors </i>though add a lot, as they can have an exciting take on a character that someone else wouldn't have. If you are relaxing your historical accuracy, diverse casting is more likely to make a show good than throwing in some cheesy, sexy costumes.<br />
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BAD</div>
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Atrocious dress in <i>War & Peace</i> (2016)</div>
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GOOD</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO85lh9GXk2IY5sEM02ly6gV_4BVNID-uRLVjxOGUWO__fBVAqaCcr8G6MejP6AA_rk_NNWPnUYdVdCqO44SUoUt71Sf52716i-slXgSJJJ7t0oCSXs3OaXvpizsbSumBQ4F8seaGVbFZU/s1600/Svenska.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1263" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO85lh9GXk2IY5sEM02ly6gV_4BVNID-uRLVjxOGUWO__fBVAqaCcr8G6MejP6AA_rk_NNWPnUYdVdCqO44SUoUt71Sf52716i-slXgSJJJ7t0oCSXs3OaXvpizsbSumBQ4F8seaGVbFZU/s400/Svenska.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Black court ladies in fabulous dresses in <i>The Great</i></div>
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So this is how I hope <i>The Great</i> will influence period pieces that come after it. If you are working with exciting material set in a historical period, it is OK to be playful and take a risk. You can have anachronisms just make them intentional and smart. </div>
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But if you think history is boring, maybe just step away. </div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-27442472968104606462020-05-23T08:30:00.000-07:002020-05-23T08:30:23.208-07:00Cranford Is Fantastic And Infuriating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On my rampage through period movies I rewatched <i>Cranford</i> (just the 2007 series) this week. I've had a long-simmering beef with this adaptation and so now is the time to get it off my chest. </div>
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<i>Cranford</i> by Elizabeth Gaskell is a remarkable book. It is a series of stories about a small town, where all of the lead characters are older, unmarried women. It is not a story driven by romance, shocking secrets, or political intrigue. The woman of Cranford live very quiet, unremarkable lives by most metrics. But for them, their town is their whole world, and so the book is a treasure trove of funny, sweet, and heartbreaking stories about everyday lives.<br />
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For the screen adaptation, the filmmakers enlisted some of the best older British actresses in the game, the standouts being Imelda Staunton, Eileen Atkins, and Judi Dench.<br />
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Staunton plays town busybody Miss Pole. She is Cranford's own 24-hour news cycle, dramatically running here and there to breathlessly relay the latest gossip. She seems to always be in a state of agitation and can turn even the smallest bit of news into the scandal of the century.<br />
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Atkins and Dench play sisters Deborah and Matilda "Matty" Jenkyns. Deborah is the arbiter of decorum and propriety in the town and has extremely high standards. In the first episode there is this very funny scene about consuming oranges (which were a rare treat in Victorian England). Deborah is worried about eating something with so much messy juice and finds the word "suck" to be vulgar. So she decides that each of them will retire to their own rooms to eat their fruit alone so that any indecent behavior can be done in private.<br />
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Judi Dench is glorious as younger sister Miss Matty. She is the heart of the story and the kind of character that makes <i>Cranford</i> so remarkable. Her life and experiences have been very limited, and she isn't particularly clever or quick-witted. She hasn't "done" anything with her life (no husband, no children, no great accomplishments) but has made an impact on Cranford by being exceptionally kind and compassionate to those around her.<br />
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It has been more than 150 years since Elizabeth Gaskell's day and we <i>still</i> have very little media that puts older women at the center of a story. Whenever this adaptation follows the book and lets its exceptional cast of actresses do their thing, it is absolutely sublime. Very funny at times and deeply moving at others. I laughed out loud and cried multiple times.<br />
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BUT<br />
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The filmmakers didn't trust that modern audiences could handle a story focused on a bunch of old biddies. So they added what they thought the story desperately needed: more men and more young romance. To be fair, these added stories <i>are</i> based on other Gaskell writings. But that is the last fair thing I will say about this. Now I will rant. Strap in.<br />
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I'm bringing a lot of Miss Pole energy to this post</div>
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The FIRST added story is about Lady Ludlow, a rich woman who thinks poor people shouldn't be educated. Her backwards views are emphasized by her costuming and hair. It is a common (and very annoying) trope in period films to dress older ladies in decades-old fashions. A few years outdated is <i>possible</i> for women who are older and more set in their ways and <i>certainly</i> more likely for women of limited means. But a super-wealthy woman dressed like it is the 1790s when it is actually the 1840s is absolutely ridiculous.<br />
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particularly THE HAIR</div>
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She clashes with her land manager (a man) who tries to get her to embrace more modern ideas. Whereas the other older Cranford ladies feel like fully realized characters, Lady Ludlow is one dimensional. She is set her her ways. That is her entire deal. She is really just background dressing to a bigger story about her land manager educating a young impoverished boy. Sure. Fine. Whatever.<br />
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Lady Ludlow also speaks and moves very slowly. Maybe it is because her feeble lady brain can't process information quickly? Or is it because the character is supposed to be 90 even though the actress is only in her 60s? I mean, once a lady is past 50 it is all the same, right? <br />
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MUCH WORSE is the story of Dr. Harrison. A young man who comes to town to fall in love with the blandest woman he can find. He is dopey and earnest and the object of his affection is Sophie Hutton, a cherubic looking blonde whose mother has died and who thinks she will never marry because she is too busy selflessly raising her siblings and running her father's house. She is sweet and perfect and says very little. I realize I just praised Judi Dench's character for being sweet and kind but Miss Matty seems like an actual human woman. Sophie Hutton feels like a male fantasy.<br />
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She probably has a hairless body and never farts</div>
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Through various hijinks, two other women in town believe that Dr. Harrison is romantically interested in them. It is misinterpretations and in one case a cruel prank that causes them to think so. They are both older than him (one substantially) and we are supposed to chuckle and how delusional they are.<br />
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The unfortunate ladies who think dull Dr. Harrison is worth their time</div>
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Everything comes to a head at a May Day festival when all three women say they are being courted by Dr. Harrison. Everyone is shocked, Dr. Harrison is shunned by the town, and the women are all devastated. Well, we are <i>told</i> that the older women are devastated but they work it out behind closed doors. Clearly, they are side characters and their feelings matter less. The focus, of course, is on Sophie Hutton who nearly dies of a broken heart (and also a fever) and Dr. Harrison has to swoop in to save her. The series ends with everyone in town attending their wedding.<br />
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Congrats to Dr. and Mrs. Blandy McBlanderson!</div>
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In summary:<br />
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Actual <i>Cranford</i> story: Here is a fascinating, hilarious, and powerful story about older women.<br />
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Added <i>Cranford</i> stories: LOL JK women over 30 are dried up, old fashioned, and it is hilarious when they think men are attracted to them. Anyway here are some male characters and younger women who are clearly more important.<br />
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ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-11904106053097058302020-05-18T09:10:00.001-07:002020-05-18T09:11:17.260-07:00The Way We Live Now Was Worth The Re-Watch<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCQlsib8_Xt7BKRwXUARVrUJp-F2T_WrpK7wUzR5MZIFkZGgGlMbaRwr2Ndnbx8E3KDv_PXd3Vjb1eiUqT3ptLnBkNOStDNfN3qAzHyRaFkuiMVvxWoNJIxSzzarPWItAH18CjwRnZkmV/s1600/WWLN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCQlsib8_Xt7BKRwXUARVrUJp-F2T_WrpK7wUzR5MZIFkZGgGlMbaRwr2Ndnbx8E3KDv_PXd3Vjb1eiUqT3ptLnBkNOStDNfN3qAzHyRaFkuiMVvxWoNJIxSzzarPWItAH18CjwRnZkmV/s400/WWLN.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After I finished <i>Little Dorrit</i> I decided the antidote was <i>The Way We Live Now,</i> a 2001 miniseries based on the book by Anthony Trollope. One of the plotlines in <i>Little Dorrit</i> is that a man named Mr. Murdle is "the man of the age" who can make anyone rich if they invest with him. It turns out to be one big scam. That is basically the central plot of <i>The Way We Live Now.</i> I also watched because I found Matthew Macfayden to be dull and uncharismatic in <i>Little Dorrit</i> but remember him being good in <i>The Way We Live Now</i>. So it was time to see if my memory was correct.<br />
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It was.<br />
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First to my point about Matthew Macfadyen. Admittedly, I have a bias against him because I don't like his portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the 2005 adaptation of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>. In <i>Little Dorrit </i>he had the challenging task of playing one of those deadly dull "good" characters that Dickens writes. But even so, he didn't seem to bring much charm to the role. He was just sort of...there. Claire Foy played a character who was impossibly sweet and selfless and yet still managed to make her compelling.</div>
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Well, after rewatching <i>The Way We Live Now </i>I think Macfadyen is miscast as good guys because he is <i>fantastic</i> as profligate hot mess Sir Felix Carbury. He makes all the worst life choices yet still swaggers around like he owns the place. Macfadyen gleefully embraces all Sir Felix's awfulness, yet still manages to be charming and have just a tinge of humanity.<br />
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The best parts are his scenes with Marie Melmotte (the <i>excellent</i> Shirley Henderson). Marie is the wealthy daughter of the main financier and every unmarried man in London is trying to win her hand (and therefore her money). At first Marie seems shy and awkward, and Sir Felix's suave confidence easily sweeps her off her feet. But she turns out to be much more than he bargained for-- she can't keep her hands off him and is ready to run away together even if it means being disinherited (<i>not</i> the plan at all). The power dynamic between them is constantly shifting and they have great comedic chemistry.<br />
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Henderson as Marie is one of the overall highlights of this adaptation. She starts as a comical character but proves she has a strong will, and by the end you are rooting for her to come out on top.<br />
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The story is biting social satire without the sweetness of Austen or Dickens. That means that most of the characters aren't exactly good people, but they are complex and interesting. This adaptation works because the acting is really fantastic throughout.<br />
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David Suchet is a standout as Augustus Melmotte, the shady financier who has all of London high society clamoring to invest with him. He is clearly a bad guy, but most of the pompous, old-money Englishmen he is fleecing aren't great people either. It is fun to see him push them around and not give them the fawning reverence that they expect.<br />
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A few other reasons to watch:<br />
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Cillian Murphy is in this and is very attractive and has an excellent hair situation.<br />
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This character is named Dolly Longestaffe and his hair, on the other hand, is delightfully atrocious. </div>
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Miranda Otto plays an American with a bizarre Texas accent and a history of shooting men who cross her. One of the main plots is about building a railway through the American southwest and clearly everyone in England at this time thinks the US is a lawless nightmare place.<br />
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BUSTLE GOWNS</div>
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Can't resist a good bustle. </div>
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ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-29291397634200585902020-05-16T10:03:00.001-07:002020-06-28T14:52:39.370-07:00Some Big Opinions About Little Dorrit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I needed a break from my <i>Wolf Hall</i> obsession so decided to revisit another Claire Foy vehicle <i>Little Dorrit </i>(2008). I saw it about a decade ago and remember it being enjoyable but not anything for my list of favorites.<br />
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After rewatching I found it...surprisingly tiresome. It is one of those Dickens stories where the good characters are perfect to the point of being dull, the bad characters are dastardly evil, and the funny characters are goofy beyond belief. In order to make it "fresh" and "exciting" Andrew Davies makes everything <i>more</i> quirky and <i>more</i> dramatic. It is also <b>seven</b> hours.<br />
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This character is literally named Mr. Tite Barnacle</div>
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But I certainly have the time and can usually put up with a lot of nonsense and still enjoy the journey. But by the end of <i>Little Dorrit </i>I felt<i> </i>there were a few too many sour notes I just couldn't get over.<br />
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First of all, there is the character of Tattycoram. She is a servant who works for a wealthy family, primarily as companion for their vapid daughter. In this adaptation she is played by a Black actress (Freema Agyeman). Period movies <i>should</i> have more diversity and during the early episodes it seems like the casting choice adds an interesting layer to her story. The people she works for act like she is "family" while ordering her around and imagining that she enjoys fetching shawls and parasols. When she bristles at their requests she is told she is "wicked" and needs to control her temper. Wow some important commentary there about white people expecting cheerful docility from Black people and then being shocked when they seem angry all the time.<br />
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Tattycoram is befriended by Miss Wade, who tells her that she isn't wicked and her anger and frustration are valid. She offers shelter and protection if she ever wants to leave her employers. She eventually does...and then her story sort of fizzles out.<br />
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Dickens didn't intend Tattycoram to be black and also had no concept of writing a story about a woman of color. Let's be honest, he can barely write interesting women. The series was then adapted by Andrew Davies, who is also a white man. What starts as a potentially illuminating storyline about a black Victorian woman ends up going nowhere.<br />
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Miss Wade turns out to be sort of sketchy and it is hinted that she and Tattycoram have a romantic relationshiop -- not in a fun way but more predatory which is its own problematic can of worms. We see Tattycoram in the background of scenes looking unhappy, slowly realizing that Miss Wade is bad news, and eventually she leaves. In the final scene we see her...back with her original employers.<br />
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I DID WHAT?!</div>
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Nothing is said about how or why. We are left to wonder whether her absence helped her employers realize they need to treat her better, whether nothing has changed and her story reflects a cruel reality for Black women during this period, or whether we are supposed to think she "learned her lesson" and now is happy to be ordered around. Keep in mind, in other storylines, <i>Little Dorrit</i> is anything but ambiguous. It is full of lessons and moral messages. So it feels like the the filmmakers wanted a gold star for having a more diverse cast but didn't want to actually follow through with having the story go anywhere.<br />
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Similarly upsetting is the treatment of Flora Finching. Lead character Arthur Clennam (Matthew Macfadyen) is back from living in China for about 20 years, and he goes to visit his childhood sweetheart Flora (Ruth Jones). When they were young they wanted to marry but their families cruelly kept them apart. She is now a widow and so he is eager to rekindle the connection. When she sweeps into the room the music stops and HORROR...she got fat!<br />
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Arthur recoils and we are supposed to as well. Flora is an incessant chatterbox and her costuming is overly-youthful and fussy -- to make her seem as silly as possible. She is annoying and seems to have little self-awareness. But the main joke is clearly that she is unattractive and past her prime and so it is comical that she still imagines a man her own age may be interested in her. Arthur ends up with (spoiler) the titular "Little Dorrit" who is half his age and so petite that she is often mistaken for a child.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWaqCacJsiWvo3NQ_NBOKJlw3zw6XMxEgepDrog200Z1KLJF33EsQPwXbjJSzWLpK3ig7GWBnGzodPl6h4mRicCt0IG_VTEgc8c0lTzrYMv6Ouosyu1CNNaJYRxmKtSEM5TosRwqvj0Ou/s1600/LittleAmy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWaqCacJsiWvo3NQ_NBOKJlw3zw6XMxEgepDrog200Z1KLJF33EsQPwXbjJSzWLpK3ig7GWBnGzodPl6h4mRicCt0IG_VTEgc8c0lTzrYMv6Ouosyu1CNNaJYRxmKtSEM5TosRwqvj0Ou/s400/LittleAmy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dickens had some fun opinions about ideal women</div>
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Rather than finding Flora's scenes funny, I found them grating. To the minor credit of Macfadyen and the director, they don't make it worse by having Arthur gagging and rolling his eyes every time she flirted with him. Instead he was polite and kind. But Arthur gets <i>two</i> romantic interests who are in their early 20s and many business opportunities and life experiences in front of him. Flora, a woman his same age, is past her usefulness to society. No amount of bad makeup, silly clothing, and awkward chatter will hide the fact that a patriarchal system royally screwed this woman.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO18CWq__p_pbqqWyAzjx87vAlZRuABYMslDh5Ja88ZyNdlYonBF-J6vQTeAQutp_YTa8kOHkXc8lPRWyFbw2pLmFZI3Qm3puC6jmNNjwmDwj8lSEfPlzmMV9EGHs5jvRkY5INqSIR9fi/s1600/Babe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="665" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO18CWq__p_pbqqWyAzjx87vAlZRuABYMslDh5Ja88ZyNdlYonBF-J6vQTeAQutp_YTa8kOHkXc8lPRWyFbw2pLmFZI3Qm3puC6jmNNjwmDwj8lSEfPlzmMV9EGHs5jvRkY5INqSIR9fi/s320/Babe.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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This is what actress Ruth Jones looks like irl</div>
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So while there were some fun moments, <i>Little Dorrit</i> didn't win me over. It just felt like an over-dramatized version of a story which wasn't that great in the first place.ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-83604736598511633282020-05-12T12:19:00.000-07:002020-05-12T12:19:27.323-07:00Time Is Meaningless So I Made Some Wolf Hall MemesI am incredibly privileged in this this coronavirus era. I am not sick. I am not high-risk. I am able to work from home and receive a paycheck. I am not raising children or have any dependent family members to care for. I have a safe, comfortable place to self-isolate. But if you are in a similar situation you know, that even having things "good" right now, is still not...great. I miss people, I miss doing things, I cry sometimes, I get anxiety-induced stomach aches, and time stretches out as a big, nebulous blob.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqZzwN5Z_Nu5JUwffrjRAu0x4M92d1KysgMeUFpvbBw6jh7PSZ2-QqVlq69k-81SEFGPRbooKMgG7vwDoxqNCSlYGtPF8jozcIIonUJTJ0z2RNyzEltwAsw0bI2glwYGukO60fnt3IORi/s1600/Timegif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqZzwN5Z_Nu5JUwffrjRAu0x4M92d1KysgMeUFpvbBw6jh7PSZ2-QqVlq69k-81SEFGPRbooKMgG7vwDoxqNCSlYGtPF8jozcIIonUJTJ0z2RNyzEltwAsw0bI2glwYGukO60fnt3IORi/s320/Timegif.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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sometimes fast, sometimes slow, who knows?!</div>
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Occasionally though I get really excited about doing something meaningless. I suddenly have an urge to organize a photo album, watch a TV show I have seen many times before (and sometimes "before" is "last week"), look at the pictures in a favorite fashion history book, or search Ebay for old Seattle-made brands. And sometimes a little voice in my brain tries to tell me no: that is not a good use of time. It is not "productive." And then the other part of my brain chimes in to say "If you found joy in something, by all means DO THE THING."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKKQ5eniFDndWQL9XsqiRjGWugCUFi76_X4Ezm2g3WfrarPN-6aCZhe0rYHIfTUo3y626VbQk85OanCAopPre3zYrY2Mq1EDOmtpEDD-9O56xnUImku4OXDMpXortVOzjz_r7_PXM7X8I/s1600/Excited.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="500" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKKQ5eniFDndWQL9XsqiRjGWugCUFi76_X4Ezm2g3WfrarPN-6aCZhe0rYHIfTUo3y626VbQk85OanCAopPre3zYrY2Mq1EDOmtpEDD-9O56xnUImku4OXDMpXortVOzjz_r7_PXM7X8I/s400/Excited.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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And honestly, I have so much time these days, is it even possible for me to waste it?<br />
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmDo2zFRhmvaAoTU-wXKbaDfdvKBDsLXZR2J3c66FobAglC8dQcy6Fdn1BRXU0jxcxHH6vTVo5WtBnXV2hPdgGxRv3MXfrSP95Xx4PHkTdR-NN_hdOb8nIXRlVkqiLgTG4q80Lj9OjMfN/s1600/Free-time-GIF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="500" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmDo2zFRhmvaAoTU-wXKbaDfdvKBDsLXZR2J3c66FobAglC8dQcy6Fdn1BRXU0jxcxHH6vTVo5WtBnXV2hPdgGxRv3MXfrSP95Xx4PHkTdR-NN_hdOb8nIXRlVkqiLgTG4q80Lj9OjMfN/s400/Free-time-GIF.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Which is all a fancy preamble to the fact that, inspired by the excellent Jane Austen + Onion Headlines meme from a couple years ago (<a href="https://kcinpa.tumblr.com/post/129726481568/austen-the-onion-masterpost">click here</a>) I spent a substantial amount of time this week making <i>Wolf Hall</i> + Onion Headline memes. Apparently other people are using this time to get abs but this was what I picked instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUJNLPe7U4Khpf45Rt39gI5c2n_uk_j4yVGQTeNU8y-ENPIOV9SK7FENjMDZppSjvA4o9Vtayxmo68IWNjzhZpbeR2QMCXOII2ys8EuQw24QFAPEu2Mi8qADhRxGNCOhouOI7SGGHYwM8/s1600/WolfHall1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="873" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUJNLPe7U4Khpf45Rt39gI5c2n_uk_j4yVGQTeNU8y-ENPIOV9SK7FENjMDZppSjvA4o9Vtayxmo68IWNjzhZpbeR2QMCXOII2ys8EuQw24QFAPEu2Mi8qADhRxGNCOhouOI7SGGHYwM8/s400/WolfHall1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnkaAZ31NgRCplxrTnYQWr34r9J7ljxWN6hiNsWSRxvVfbBWtLOpsz8TPHyY8XsUmTX5InuwFsxpNmCheOWCWckr0zOSZ6eZn0W0gv1sxCN9ONSumu3ML2yZvCvca-9CqCxp9dcRewkR6/s1600/WolfHall2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="873" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnkaAZ31NgRCplxrTnYQWr34r9J7ljxWN6hiNsWSRxvVfbBWtLOpsz8TPHyY8XsUmTX5InuwFsxpNmCheOWCWckr0zOSZ6eZn0W0gv1sxCN9ONSumu3ML2yZvCvca-9CqCxp9dcRewkR6/s400/WolfHall2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFqstVo9G8lfwJet1mMYMk-OVkmVCPiMkwa60TTqF7FDNuxb4j7d3XiYWM6JF2Dgr0Q4s0oZ7IFqp7doflHiV3lXBgTW0zTSrlu89d5oDb6fDuhwg9thWcmaolZPM1O3hmKKJ5TWxHMeD/s1600/WolfHall3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="873" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFqstVo9G8lfwJet1mMYMk-OVkmVCPiMkwa60TTqF7FDNuxb4j7d3XiYWM6JF2Dgr0Q4s0oZ7IFqp7doflHiV3lXBgTW0zTSrlu89d5oDb6fDuhwg9thWcmaolZPM1O3hmKKJ5TWxHMeD/s400/WolfHall3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO_kr-mbTdJ2t_cZWb6QRmNSAekANISNOmYMadYXOmtBOVhoi3P2cxXSd41PXo4xMRgJcNxdLvN2tYZ1CEyABPCIOCTtPlGl3dmUO4v7EBmVTtJa_HaCpvoyCZ-PBtjZNcPtCY03m5A0b/s1600/WolfHall4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="869" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO_kr-mbTdJ2t_cZWb6QRmNSAekANISNOmYMadYXOmtBOVhoi3P2cxXSd41PXo4xMRgJcNxdLvN2tYZ1CEyABPCIOCTtPlGl3dmUO4v7EBmVTtJa_HaCpvoyCZ-PBtjZNcPtCY03m5A0b/s400/WolfHall4.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1hPmqT1ZUTBPccAuECVRkTPJoQ2pTcUc2R93Sa0gdSlZ3Ff-zb_V9tWhwrF4yZh1sma1M4xQHKhKIsdvs4j2ufxX5W8a_dlnUbVwON5lTByBEMKj7vvFWQ5iUKZN6Wmvn9g5xX9_BmXk/s1600/WolfHall5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="869" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1hPmqT1ZUTBPccAuECVRkTPJoQ2pTcUc2R93Sa0gdSlZ3Ff-zb_V9tWhwrF4yZh1sma1M4xQHKhKIsdvs4j2ufxX5W8a_dlnUbVwON5lTByBEMKj7vvFWQ5iUKZN6Wmvn9g5xX9_BmXk/s400/WolfHall5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rYS1x-20BhIvX3a8-b9JKLV9xCNM_-Uw1z1mBd-JsuU2PbX_2vHT3rsnT6kMm5_CZgH4bqTIlWzCk-bdyAijxktXR3A23PuvHwzF_ynV4s6ekKaJue1DgJ2GJmFTqucmWtJJq6UYqI_h/s1600/WolfHall6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="869" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rYS1x-20BhIvX3a8-b9JKLV9xCNM_-Uw1z1mBd-JsuU2PbX_2vHT3rsnT6kMm5_CZgH4bqTIlWzCk-bdyAijxktXR3A23PuvHwzF_ynV4s6ekKaJue1DgJ2GJmFTqucmWtJJq6UYqI_h/s400/WolfHall6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmca6w8Jky6v-diWalmLjexbBoPYEP3wYeXp72dAluhaPM8HQOZ3UkOT4CRryA-dxp0HjbtPnvhryvjkU_V76IhmNGbSqLZ_ycGSP70iQ_fg_b3MDmy2ajMXTAle8pifaSaynU0SN7agBl/s1600/WolfHall7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="860" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmca6w8Jky6v-diWalmLjexbBoPYEP3wYeXp72dAluhaPM8HQOZ3UkOT4CRryA-dxp0HjbtPnvhryvjkU_V76IhmNGbSqLZ_ycGSP70iQ_fg_b3MDmy2ajMXTAle8pifaSaynU0SN7agBl/s400/WolfHall7.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRx6ipj4t5eQFEZMHkHOfTHg0zSLEEQlzgizXoOIff7o68AwxRqvwZm9p3o3-avq8D-MZp59W2Jd_GtwbueUX7zYffJXtji9Di2XlUtKtzUy1a-uPSmrxKsorJPSeRqzhFPI3IIPGuFjEj/s1600/WolfHall8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="860" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRx6ipj4t5eQFEZMHkHOfTHg0zSLEEQlzgizXoOIff7o68AwxRqvwZm9p3o3-avq8D-MZp59W2Jd_GtwbueUX7zYffJXtji9Di2XlUtKtzUy1a-uPSmrxKsorJPSeRqzhFPI3IIPGuFjEj/s400/WolfHall8.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooJp_Kqzw6c87s19CoNYxVlW1icLoSvK9Tq1aPXc3kCHaFsPUsqoovIC1edT6Lz3HBr3pHvMSh72PUsvPBM-BQgOSYzSwd5pni6ukZ4YmvanV9RMukkOEQ5j_7zlOlW4sCKDqFt6hNPJg/s1600/WolfHall9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="794" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooJp_Kqzw6c87s19CoNYxVlW1icLoSvK9Tq1aPXc3kCHaFsPUsqoovIC1edT6Lz3HBr3pHvMSh72PUsvPBM-BQgOSYzSwd5pni6ukZ4YmvanV9RMukkOEQ5j_7zlOlW4sCKDqFt6hNPJg/s400/WolfHall9.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRbfzsH58EXLlhUmRbAe53azDEFjD2PCb_1hMAvdjmi9GienvAxB8PubGXPAdox8KrfIxc0T4XJHniKiFGqUXpbezmpD0MzvE6LwxPBAsynXDbLycMY6irEYgKBAKcGlOaUBURSohshVM/s1600/WolfHall10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="867" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRbfzsH58EXLlhUmRbAe53azDEFjD2PCb_1hMAvdjmi9GienvAxB8PubGXPAdox8KrfIxc0T4XJHniKiFGqUXpbezmpD0MzvE6LwxPBAsynXDbLycMY6irEYgKBAKcGlOaUBURSohshVM/s400/WolfHall10.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19JsIUUQYm_Lg_b3Imkb1SRo0kjexJ2Q7FUX30KdQwUQlGLQrscazRiDIqMLxX233XsGd8pyINsZcyLWj3e1jyoFKN_VssbAVDGa4hnohjxWujy0oumGJwjXByuq0V_8ljxw-GpNyCg8H/s1600/WolfHall11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="609" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19JsIUUQYm_Lg_b3Imkb1SRo0kjexJ2Q7FUX30KdQwUQlGLQrscazRiDIqMLxX233XsGd8pyINsZcyLWj3e1jyoFKN_VssbAVDGa4hnohjxWujy0oumGJwjXByuq0V_8ljxw-GpNyCg8H/s400/WolfHall11.png" width="377" /></a></div>
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I should mention that there is already a series of these that I found on Tumblr and they came up with some <i>really</i> good ones that I couldn't re-use. See them <a href="https://cinemaocd.tumblr.com/post/143086434609/onion-headlines-wolf-hall-part-33-part-1-2">here</a>, <a href="https://cinemaocd.tumblr.com/post/139452438450/wolf-hall-onion-headlines-23-part-1">here</a>, and <a href="https://cinemaocd.tumblr.com/post/139140650174/wolf-hall-onion-headlines-13">here</a>.<br />
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But like, mine are also pretty great.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjTMqAXAYgomRgJpqTQuvTzDJu6lLPpfhmywUWcLwmkLJzPczHwp_RYyYaPkI_mc-pCytQXBopaE1lZzaTr7BKyOW7aMwrPcVFql1zfSJmJLL7zXsEcYa0zzInq2P_3GVoozSbm6zttnn/s1600/Accomplisthed.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="350" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjTMqAXAYgomRgJpqTQuvTzDJu6lLPpfhmywUWcLwmkLJzPczHwp_RYyYaPkI_mc-pCytQXBopaE1lZzaTr7BKyOW7aMwrPcVFql1zfSJmJLL7zXsEcYa0zzInq2P_3GVoozSbm6zttnn/s400/Accomplisthed.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-31159015557217744552020-04-23T17:56:00.000-07:002020-04-23T17:56:50.474-07:00Why Did Amazon Put Heidi Klum In This Terrible Dress?Despite the relentless kitsch of the Tim and Heidi dynamic, I ended up bingeing more of Amazon's <i>Making the Cut</i>. It is so over-the-top in its production values I kind of hate it. But it is ok background noise while spreading out all my possessions on the floor and pretending that I'm "organizing."<br />
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But then in Episode 7 Heidi walked out in THIS:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVV_ZN-XXat2wblOZoJHdm37Z-e20xkQStRx0LbDYODvuIc6zQJ9-3VMp407dGGYmIWykXaRDw785mygqvTOEaRNnK9MFqyPqxua0-YAfE7suq7u9YmAY02vaHAf7brV2C-rbvxtZXA8O4/s1600/JeremyScott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="620" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVV_ZN-XXat2wblOZoJHdm37Z-e20xkQStRx0LbDYODvuIc6zQJ9-3VMp407dGGYmIWykXaRDw785mygqvTOEaRNnK9MFqyPqxua0-YAfE7suq7u9YmAY02vaHAf7brV2C-rbvxtZXA8O4/s400/JeremyScott.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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*record scratch*</div>
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Wow, um so this is a horrid cartoony version of a totem pole and blatant cultural appropriation of Northwest Coast Native style. I did some googling and found out that this dress is from a 2013 collection by (non-Native) designer Jeremy Scott for Adidas. </div>
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Here is a photo Heidi posted on Twitter when the show was filming:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF8FFgr1_4sU4gUCmzfaEo19CuI84QTmcfqHgBgh4ppKNaS1Uz7r9WKnurgoS8nkhwB60dGPsemGc9CCoCCgwFdNeZMNSBcio4NkB1Tle-LY3r65ARVE82CT7Yz8RTmI3emYernPhBiHX/s1600/HediOhNO.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="748" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheF8FFgr1_4sU4gUCmzfaEo19CuI84QTmcfqHgBgh4ppKNaS1Uz7r9WKnurgoS8nkhwB60dGPsemGc9CCoCCgwFdNeZMNSBcio4NkB1Tle-LY3r65ARVE82CT7Yz8RTmI3emYernPhBiHX/s400/HediOhNO.jpeg" width="331" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbh7KO1uZ9qjahi2wM-JSIno73EkxV_wsdvhl9VF88TXCNcmOrRVRfrNlmj_BJ4VHryUrfFR40YpUDEVW_eidPgVcbnqEaOAzTerHpOqLNAwZR2hFsFFGxvCAlHFsN20_lpw65jTqIWUg/s1600/MoiraKnows.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbh7KO1uZ9qjahi2wM-JSIno73EkxV_wsdvhl9VF88TXCNcmOrRVRfrNlmj_BJ4VHryUrfFR40YpUDEVW_eidPgVcbnqEaOAzTerHpOqLNAwZR2hFsFFGxvCAlHFsN20_lpw65jTqIWUg/s320/MoiraKnows.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here are some other looks from the collection: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cx5ptYhx-g1sQqIHwgkOqQ96L_pHoU3bijgTWPw7RkEfxPIi7qhBhZCFbJiLyj0b1kTQtY4UiQyYDj_9zRPXGGVUT_IPz8Ci2mjQNR2CslKgEifYQekQ6MMRLnTXpkj5kkabX34N5oya/s1600/Offensive2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="640" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cx5ptYhx-g1sQqIHwgkOqQ96L_pHoU3bijgTWPw7RkEfxPIi7qhBhZCFbJiLyj0b1kTQtY4UiQyYDj_9zRPXGGVUT_IPz8Ci2mjQNR2CslKgEifYQekQ6MMRLnTXpkj5kkabX34N5oya/s400/Offensive2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yikes.</div>
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MEGA YIKES</div>
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This collection was firmly condemned by Native people when it was released. Check out <a href="http://www.beyondbuckskin.com/2013/01/misappropriation-and-case-of-yellow.html">this blog post here</a> (best quote: "[Scott's] inspiration was unoriginal, and his take on Northwest Coast formline was ignorant, disrespectful and badly construed"). Tellingly, it wasn't available for purchase in the US-- so Adidas maybe sensed they had a controversy on their hands. So WHY ON EARTH would the Amazon fish this abomination out of the 2013 bin and give it this platform?? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS63mAgtQyKbTYotcS8Z1yGpp6fjXvLsXIHjxRTfPRpz4OV6NKodtA8szpq2zoS4P01qiZ9j9XUQw1MojLrcNZj-o7YUF7e9-zjcgEZ1DzftxV8sw8scVO8inAka2ta6aT2hhNxI2av9el/s1600/Choices.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="480" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS63mAgtQyKbTYotcS8Z1yGpp6fjXvLsXIHjxRTfPRpz4OV6NKodtA8szpq2zoS4P01qiZ9j9XUQw1MojLrcNZj-o7YUF7e9-zjcgEZ1DzftxV8sw8scVO8inAka2ta6aT2hhNxI2av9el/s400/Choices.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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As I mentioned already, <i>Making the Cut</i> is very glossy. Amazon clearly spent massive money on it: there is a million dollar prize, high-budget fashion shows in Paris and Tokyo, and judges that you know were only lured there with a huge paycheck. There are lots of artsy, slow-motion shots with swelling music that try to make you feel like you are watching something really important and powerful. Every visual feels very manipulated and curated. So unless Heidi brought this dress in from home and said she would leave the show if she couldn't wear it (highly unlikely) this dress was <b>intentionally</b> picked out for her by a team of stylists and she and Tim Gunn and the rest of the production team thought it was a great choice instead of gasping in horror and being like:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvInAMWhU6tMxYNIspUZaC2OzAabQh6RrZ9ulNDeR7PW__vh7tB68rND8EJ9nTBZGyAcL5ZgsdwC-cfrB3J0o4Nl_43FdtK4y3C4PvyR0adHCW1ZG4RYHL-ujdCtdX0abLwD2ufbXArAbY/s1600/whitenonsense.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvInAMWhU6tMxYNIspUZaC2OzAabQh6RrZ9ulNDeR7PW__vh7tB68rND8EJ9nTBZGyAcL5ZgsdwC-cfrB3J0o4Nl_43FdtK4y3C4PvyR0adHCW1ZG4RYHL-ujdCtdX0abLwD2ufbXArAbY/s400/whitenonsense.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just a reminder that Eighth Generation, a Native-owned business which sells products <i>actually</i> designed by Native artists is awesome and is <a href="https://eighthgeneration.com/">taking online orders during the pandemic</a> (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B--LolsA6n0/">along with sourcing 10,000 N95 masks and donating them to local clinics</a>). </div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-36208041724713643522020-04-18T14:42:00.002-07:002020-04-18T14:49:25.732-07:00A Very Important Ranking of Mr. CollinsesI was thinking of ranking <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> adaptations or Mr. Darcys, but where is the surprise in that? Everyone knowns that it is <b>#1</b> Colin Firth (<i>Pride and Prejudice </i>1995) <b>#2 </b>Colin Firth (<i>Bridget Jones's Diary</i>) <b>#3</b> tie between Sir Laurence Olivier and Wishbone the dog. But a great Mr. Collins can pop out of nowhere.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEsFGDWYQRxRMQq27havys74ACcTmGpb6j_awDAYx_qAv1wnUd77YNTMkm2D0382oWI8v2BMP4BroQYDEKdbHiTl7SJSdyVSlBhFNXgtwYJ48tefYT-2_s5J2hMprX5bM3hhZrvjI098Z/s1600/CollinsWave.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEsFGDWYQRxRMQq27havys74ACcTmGpb6j_awDAYx_qAv1wnUd77YNTMkm2D0382oWI8v2BMP4BroQYDEKdbHiTl7SJSdyVSlBhFNXgtwYJ48tefYT-2_s5J2hMprX5bM3hhZrvjI098Z/s200/CollinsWave.gif" width="148" /></a></div>
Mr. Collins is goofy and embarrassing and a great comedic role. All the men on this list have a slightly different take on whether Mr. Collins is buttoned up and prissy, or boorish and crass. But one thing that is easy to gloss over is that Mr. Collins is no harmless fool. He is pompous, self-important and a misogynist. When Elizabeth rejects him he brushes it off because he believes that when women say no they really mean yes--an idea that continues to cause destruction in women's lives to this day.<br />
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The other thing about Mr. Collins is that in the book he is 25 -- actually <i>younger</i> than Mr. Darcy. Most adaptations cast him as more than a decade older and style him to look older still. But being young adds an important dimension-- he is one of those 20-something guys who thinks he knows EVERYTHING and is eager to grace the world with his superior knowledge.<br />
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Ok enough chit chat. Here is my list. I wanted to call this a "definitive" list, but there are several versions I haven't seen (something about zombies?) so this will have to be what it is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5g1W6bLiq8JTA7vI6pJCg-YxB-RTIYKC8AvopE-GI5nwxKtAFtg5qESoZSs1R6Fjq0Lrl5mfNFpxBqH-5JfaB9WVCBWpdfZqXZbcJqlOuogCTTcyviDKtSZ0n38dP2Ehrllzs7Mp11vj/s1600/Collins1940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="384" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5g1W6bLiq8JTA7vI6pJCg-YxB-RTIYKC8AvopE-GI5nwxKtAFtg5qESoZSs1R6Fjq0Lrl5mfNFpxBqH-5JfaB9WVCBWpdfZqXZbcJqlOuogCTTcyviDKtSZ0n38dP2Ehrllzs7Mp11vj/s400/Collins1940.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>6. Melville Cooper as Mr. Collins in <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, 1940</b></div>
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I have a fondness for the 1940 <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> even though it takes liberties with the plot. Melville's Mr. Collins is prim and silly but has very little edge. At 44 he is also the oldest Mr. Collins on this list. </div>
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Best line: As you are aware madam, when a certain...<i>melancholy</i> event occurs [makes awkward eye contact with Mr. Bennet]... I shall be the involuntary means of disinheriting your daughters. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiueR77Nyz3mlsETqJErB2Rrc_GqoflOzg40WAeu518ncu7CfdVT8BigHaoqrVRNgZAHv5iXCpnkgmNEsr2hpvR0GaOr1wxcgxgQGaUxAfII73MetzXuQnXQSvdMOhL9ISURMtWnnCPv6i/s1600/Collins2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="260" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiueR77Nyz3mlsETqJErB2Rrc_GqoflOzg40WAeu518ncu7CfdVT8BigHaoqrVRNgZAHv5iXCpnkgmNEsr2hpvR0GaOr1wxcgxgQGaUxAfII73MetzXuQnXQSvdMOhL9ISURMtWnnCPv6i/s400/Collins2005.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<b>5. Tom Hollander as Mr. Collins in <i>Pride & Prejudice</i>, 2005</b></div>
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I like Tom Hollander but I don't care for this adaptation. This Mr. Collins is painfully awkward but not very funny. Hollander is also quite short, which follows a trope of making Mr. Collins a wee little man compared with tall, hot Mr. Darcy. The book actually describes Mr. Collins as "a tall, heavy-looking young man." Not that every adaptation has to stick to that but it is interesting that most adaptations imagine Mr. Collins as older and smaller than Darcy when in the book he is young and has a big physical presence.<br />
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Best line: What excellent boiled potatoes. It's been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMpuqLW8ROjhtIPd0cpyz56BH39wLLbtxW2n0b0YdTFf8jDF-OebiHHTyOH_ZgNZjDUbJJoKGb_jt1426M9_GXG71A_gsqPmja1jLxFMnas6BsQzvJ4ThuTG03XhRKIWyqVLJB7bwvg9H/s1600/Collins1995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMpuqLW8ROjhtIPd0cpyz56BH39wLLbtxW2n0b0YdTFf8jDF-OebiHHTyOH_ZgNZjDUbJJoKGb_jt1426M9_GXG71A_gsqPmja1jLxFMnas6BsQzvJ4ThuTG03XhRKIWyqVLJB7bwvg9H/s400/Collins1995.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>4. David Bamber as Mr. Collins in <i>Pride and Prejudice,</i> 1995</b></div>
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Oh David Bamber, I'm sorry for ranking you so low! Obviously everything about the 1995 adaptation is iconic and perfect and Bamber is a hoot in the role. We get a little bit of the dark side with his spiteful visit after Lydia's elopement, but generally he is just a sweaty idiot with a moist upper lip. This adaptation also really leaned into him calling Elizabeth "cousin Elizabeth" which really hits the gross factor for modern audiences. Bamber was about 40 when this was filmed, and the producers tried to age him further by styling his hair to look like he was balding. </div>
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Best line: Observe that closet cousin Elizabeth! WHAT do you say to that? Is it not the very ESSENCE of practicality and convenience? Lady Catherine de Bourgh HERSELF was kind enough to suggest that these shelves be fitted EXACTLY as you see them here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jg9Zm6ucFhNg8wIINmkohhEGG2KLKn4RUT5SjFHHLlo0d2eXRCGo7ydqXDeYoEAzvC8wNHSWHAJQ4lFcnvaGJIPzNgqkGhGZkyU0r9nIFE7IaYJpuDfRMX0CqDlsR99o8XJ9qqmOqRRT/s1600/Koli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="319" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jg9Zm6ucFhNg8wIINmkohhEGG2KLKn4RUT5SjFHHLlo0d2eXRCGo7ydqXDeYoEAzvC8wNHSWHAJQ4lFcnvaGJIPzNgqkGhGZkyU0r9nIFE7IaYJpuDfRMX0CqDlsR99o8XJ9qqmOqRRT/s400/Koli.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>3. Nitin Ganatra as Mr. Kohli in <i>Bride & Prejudice</i>, 2004</b></div>
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This Bollywood adaptation gets many things right about Mr. Collins (or Mr. Kohli as he is called here). Ganatra brings an amazing smarmy energy to the role. Mr. Kohli is obsessed with signifiers of status, has snobbish ideas about America's superiority to India, and thinks Indian-American women are too "outspoken." He is also the only Collins who has a musical number sung about him.<br />
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Best line: No life without wife!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunDaE4ORSL0EgLDSc4kJrFDl_g5vmjkSirc4K3qvf7rdLLCLjqnb2jTG96wiR3DVa9ChnCKGgeOozK1QRTmnrzPOEgsaa5u-nHmq2LUpkRH1wqItsvUCpsG1WkOybjpXzVwObZZV-ajKL/s1600/Collins1980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="300" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunDaE4ORSL0EgLDSc4kJrFDl_g5vmjkSirc4K3qvf7rdLLCLjqnb2jTG96wiR3DVa9ChnCKGgeOozK1QRTmnrzPOEgsaa5u-nHmq2LUpkRH1wqItsvUCpsG1WkOybjpXzVwObZZV-ajKL/s400/Collins1980.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>2. Malcolm Rennie as Mr. Collins in <i>Pride and Prejudice,</i> 1980</b></div>
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This adaptation is mostly a huge snooze, but Rennie is a bright spot. At 33 he is nearly the youngest on this list and is a tall, big guy. He conspicuously checks the quality of the silver while at dinner (which he will one day inherit), apologizes endlessly for small mistakes, enjoys mansplaining things to the Bennet sisters, dances more hilariously than David Bamber, and his cheerful "you <i>will</i> accept me presently" during the proposal scene sounds like a threat from a serial killer. </div>
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Best line: It is more than well-situated. It is <i>excellently</i> situated. And what you refer to as "rising ground" is a <i>hill,</i> Miss Eliza.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUIamIQQfRC9Z26gZqXbsJuwCE29CXkK4zM7HpejZJwjGhKtH_kij8Ij9VaVvtpRFV1b6rMnasXFvQkfn_AZlsCGDMaLRe8sCcQU1gCN28hOvyXtb1gpcsvMG9fakl6-zxvVDdShG0oqN/s1600/Collins2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="400" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUIamIQQfRC9Z26gZqXbsJuwCE29CXkK4zM7HpejZJwjGhKtH_kij8Ij9VaVvtpRFV1b6rMnasXFvQkfn_AZlsCGDMaLRe8sCcQU1gCN28hOvyXtb1gpcsvMG9fakl6-zxvVDdShG0oqN/s400/Collins2003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>1. Hubbel Palmer as William Collins in <i>Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy</i>, 2003</b></div>
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This is why I wanted to do this list because the #1 is a bit obscure and maybe a surprise: Hubbel Palmer is the best Collins ever captured on screen. He was 26 when the movie came out and is physically spot-on. He is obnoxious, boring, self-important, and has some pretty messed-up ideas about women. This movie was made by Mormon filmmakers and takes place in Provo, Utah. The writers clearly had no problem poking fun of their own, so Collins tinges his self-righteousness with religious overtones. There is this great scene where he is basically giving a sermon about how women should be grateful for marriage offers and Elizabeth fantasizes about throwing a bible directly at his face. This Mr. Collins is awful, but manages to also be very, very funny. </div>
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Best quote: Elizabeth, we have been commanded to multiply and replenish the earth.<br />
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ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-68285885851886765242020-04-05T10:26:00.000-07:002020-06-28T14:53:38.658-07:00My Other Favorite Period MoviesOne of my top old blog posts was a ranking of <a href="https://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-favorite-period-movies.html">my favorite period movies</a>. (And by "top" I mean the post that I personally re-read the most. My <i>actual</i> most popular post is the <a href="https://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/2015/08/costume-meltdown.html">one I wrote about how bad the costumes are on a Hallmark Channel show called <i>When Calls the Heart</i></a>. I kid you not, it has 2500 page views.)<br />
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At the time I could only come up with 9 instead of a nice round 10 and described my feelings thus:<br />
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<i>Maybe there is something meaningful about always being on the search for that great movie that will round out the list. Or maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and think of the 10th and feel like an idiot for forgetting it. </i><br />
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So here are my candidates for that 10th spot-- some are ones I forgot about, some are newly discovered.<br />
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<b>Much Ado About Nothing (1993)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLtRnWi68CI8WQ1EidRNuBL-e13zYVOySA15eAT3xxTFoojDDB1CU96kpdCbqFnNXdMU2qENN4H5-QhbuxGa1b1HTKNgR23uO3OcDErzKnE-Tcem-9ThPhJoqgmCXjOs-DPdWKRAhSREZ/s1600/MuchAdo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="450" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLtRnWi68CI8WQ1EidRNuBL-e13zYVOySA15eAT3xxTFoojDDB1CU96kpdCbqFnNXdMU2qENN4H5-QhbuxGa1b1HTKNgR23uO3OcDErzKnE-Tcem-9ThPhJoqgmCXjOs-DPdWKRAhSREZ/s400/MuchAdo4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is one where I slapped my forehead and couldn't believe that I forgot. But then...is this actually a period movie? What period is it? The white dresses and leather pants period? Is this just what Italy was like in 1993? It is an intentionally vague Shakespearean time warp rather than any point in time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4B6bLfY5cdZKnNp91LymAFjCGBW4v8V1u7t9XGoPnEfmplokI6P_qUmnpLRNEiINTU6-lCnqrrR8wGPwS5o5ZoJtFOL89y3suuG8-r8V6318wLjM3sv4SEVRfHjbmvgI-fYEBbhJzO2f/s1600/Much+Ado+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="796" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4B6bLfY5cdZKnNp91LymAFjCGBW4v8V1u7t9XGoPnEfmplokI6P_qUmnpLRNEiINTU6-lCnqrrR8wGPwS5o5ZoJtFOL89y3suuG8-r8V6318wLjM3sv4SEVRfHjbmvgI-fYEBbhJzO2f/s400/Much+Ado+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The important thing is that Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh are SO CHARMING in this movie I just can't handle it. It is also PACKED with other great performances, including Denzel Washington and one of Kate Beckinsale's first film roles. There is also a cameo by film composer Patrick Doyle who plays the role of Balthazar the singer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT7XoGMqynFMmYqOGqtud02dNlbODeuUvv25cIXUjGNWJHIemJ6OevIkt8o5f9GOFRoHigJS87GAfP9pVsXVpfHXHdUQJZZBxGx1DyEPmn-CWb4sq2keEeLdtyRthdZ5uyUGabYGT6skk/s1600/muchadoDoyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT7XoGMqynFMmYqOGqtud02dNlbODeuUvv25cIXUjGNWJHIemJ6OevIkt8o5f9GOFRoHigJS87GAfP9pVsXVpfHXHdUQJZZBxGx1DyEPmn-CWb4sq2keEeLdtyRthdZ5uyUGabYGT6skk/s400/muchadoDoyle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Doyle is on the left)</div>
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<b>Best costume moment:</b><br />
<br />
There are like two costumes in this whole movie with a different vest here and there. So instead I will use this gif of a chair collapsing under Benedick, which Kenneth Branagh deserves for cheating on Emma Thompson and ruining the illusion that these two were also the perfect couple in real life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45VGCfy8V-g6ZU3eFAeqE569ZzBcZhUEphR4DtLtey-ZMK5LNsWqzyNw66N1d-VaO5DQVHXcoW8TWN3SbhzIjHnaNHvfocS2R4rHcs76rRvwNVnHmHrOfA-Fva6BD36w0pyVhJc3utLn1/s1600/MuchAdoFall.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45VGCfy8V-g6ZU3eFAeqE569ZzBcZhUEphR4DtLtey-ZMK5LNsWqzyNw66N1d-VaO5DQVHXcoW8TWN3SbhzIjHnaNHvfocS2R4rHcs76rRvwNVnHmHrOfA-Fva6BD36w0pyVhJc3utLn1/s400/MuchAdoFall.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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MEN WERE DECEIVERS EVER</div>
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(But then she met Greg Wise while filming <i>Sense and Sensibility</i> so it all worked out)<br />
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<br />
<b>Gosford Park (2001)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlGztI-qQ2kSVY7rdOrCbJptY8DPcJIm2x5WH3gtTXTMogNNKnaDlkQdhKqk1rKDPLiTVpGzuV320fBBkMNXmskisSb_R_nDXrJXRy7ekB5o72PQeELrw1r4vKxueWRIbxmcQ6iK8y5kD/s1600/gosford_park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1452" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlGztI-qQ2kSVY7rdOrCbJptY8DPcJIm2x5WH3gtTXTMogNNKnaDlkQdhKqk1rKDPLiTVpGzuV320fBBkMNXmskisSb_R_nDXrJXRy7ekB5o72PQeELrw1r4vKxueWRIbxmcQ6iK8y5kD/s400/gosford_park.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is a great film that I recently re-watched and became re-enamored with. It is a murder mystery that takes place at an old English manor house and peeks into lives upstairs and downstairs and how they interact. It was written by Julian Fellows and so was Downton Abbey before Downton Abbey. But unlike Downton Abbey it is perfectly contained and plotted film rather than a TV show that goes off the rails (yeah, I said it).<br />
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Fortunately, Maggie Smith plays the exact same character.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa5hyCk1HksVplvh8yPEsZBIWB7s8ErzWaB75VDinsYj79tzCKhJHpqFu8ufDd8ADNedaT6z5DqSzsgKf_sV381g8865GEKpYPt1fuEjZ1HYgME_q_25m08U3aTxjmJVnkL5SdKLagpFd/s1600/Countess3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="489" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa5hyCk1HksVplvh8yPEsZBIWB7s8ErzWaB75VDinsYj79tzCKhJHpqFu8ufDd8ADNedaT6z5DqSzsgKf_sV381g8865GEKpYPt1fuEjZ1HYgME_q_25m08U3aTxjmJVnkL5SdKLagpFd/s400/Countess3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The <strike>Dowager Countess of Grantham</strike> Countess of Trentham</div>
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The cast is incredible, including Helen Mirren, Jeremy Northam, Stephen Fry, and Kristin Scott Thomas to just name a few.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPyBjLFlN2CUaC9fIVKlhbOFTyNoy-2MzuqYJcAYB2Q9NItN31n-lWxiuGLQmKb9jggIUEUrIGAB_6Us6tbfmnjxa4hJ2lt5pkw-mKvnvBlBwgbEUCMcaZK5Zv4JlLtnwLqdPuBFfaqyz/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-04-05+at+7.57.28+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="1147" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPyBjLFlN2CUaC9fIVKlhbOFTyNoy-2MzuqYJcAYB2Q9NItN31n-lWxiuGLQmKb9jggIUEUrIGAB_6Us6tbfmnjxa4hJ2lt5pkw-mKvnvBlBwgbEUCMcaZK5Zv4JlLtnwLqdPuBFfaqyz/s400/Screen+Shot+2020-04-05+at+7.57.28+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKbpvMm1b9J5MbvgKg32Tf57tBKmrbi9B9NFAViOYAigiYeTdzTkYIrP1v-RP6Q6emasaiNV6KnUut9x49OWWnYrSwUEHcYCRp39VQ3AhopzE75ym-1RDQAIPXrqYVsFmQTSuGM-sZco6/s1600/Gosford+Park_Clive+Owen_2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="1104" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKbpvMm1b9J5MbvgKg32Tf57tBKmrbi9B9NFAViOYAigiYeTdzTkYIrP1v-RP6Q6emasaiNV6KnUut9x49OWWnYrSwUEHcYCRp39VQ3AhopzE75ym-1RDQAIPXrqYVsFmQTSuGM-sZco6/s400/Gosford+Park_Clive+Owen_2001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oh and helloooo Clive Owen<br />
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This is one of those movies you want to watch over and over again to catch all of the little details and layers of the story.<br />
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<b>Best costume moment:</b><br />
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<i>Gosford Park</i> has a great range of 1930s costumes, from evening gowns, to servant's livery, to sporty hunting tweeds. But I think my favorite detail is the little tiara that Maggie Smith wears. She may be low on money (sssh don't tell the other characters!) but she is still a Countess dammit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWbqwcyxqk7F_7VuKCzPHtAoJddK2iZf9BgX1Arr1iF4dHNprOpJY-aJW830fGABaiT-oheXgAriGMOVyVCKfZW_Gbq5Ga9mTFAKMzRHAjNAaznIcNjLVgNrx0Jvtp1KXdmv64qH-A64n/s1600/Countess1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWbqwcyxqk7F_7VuKCzPHtAoJddK2iZf9BgX1Arr1iF4dHNprOpJY-aJW830fGABaiT-oheXgAriGMOVyVCKfZW_Gbq5Ga9mTFAKMzRHAjNAaznIcNjLVgNrx0Jvtp1KXdmv64qH-A64n/s400/Countess1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Elizabeth (1998)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfMnl5aogoxSNah7SPTd9n1GNY0TAw3EKP7LWuz7zs7NcdeTRiHtWjcFcSx50DgDqqXWns7z0tKsptAuaDXyfsGwJce2toC4Vz4okIIZlQ7KgnmvTD7ycuq5jry_8FeYMvk9uhGwZzKYT/s1600/cateblanchettelizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="334" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfMnl5aogoxSNah7SPTd9n1GNY0TAw3EKP7LWuz7zs7NcdeTRiHtWjcFcSx50DgDqqXWns7z0tKsptAuaDXyfsGwJce2toC4Vz4okIIZlQ7KgnmvTD7ycuq5jry_8FeYMvk9uhGwZzKYT/s400/cateblanchettelizabeth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Elizabeth</i> has a bit more violence and ridiculous drama than I usually enjoy in a good period pic (someone literally dies while having sex in a poisoned dress), but Cate Blanchett is so wonderful and compelling that it is hard not to love it. It is quite different in tone from <i>The Young Victoria</i> but it has a similar appeal-- a young queen coming to the throne, discovering her power in a world that wasn't built for women to be leaders.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYCLb-pfUUghg8HmAUBJuc4I4jR3IwPgEKY9iigGZVmqYHLU6wW0O39LGn9wX52KC8qXBFsHh8kyDfKnzHP6OveLfyPAFktW3tmReLSD6p0mv8SV0CX0bSKFebkw6kZ2EaXex8T0GB38l/s1600/NoMansElizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYCLb-pfUUghg8HmAUBJuc4I4jR3IwPgEKY9iigGZVmqYHLU6wW0O39LGn9wX52KC8qXBFsHh8kyDfKnzHP6OveLfyPAFktW3tmReLSD6p0mv8SV0CX0bSKFebkw6kZ2EaXex8T0GB38l/s400/NoMansElizabeth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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She is NO MAN'S Elizabeth</div>
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<i>Side note:</i> Having recently watched <i>The Tudors </i>and enjoyed James Frain as Thomas Cromwell, I totally forgot he is also in this movie. He plays a cartoon version of a Spaniard, complete with thick accent, strange facial hair, and overly-dramatic black outfits.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tzTd1gPMwLWgBi_VB7t1xvU5_HFmceE80g1HbHiVPDrm8r8-tayVas5z9tHuCNSHVkURI5-p8BquQgmHcP-XPY00vy-HgKzthT7Fb85MXkHF5TjMMpF4p3EmG0msd2CDdK2g5oW8mHaT/s1600/Spanish2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="337" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tzTd1gPMwLWgBi_VB7t1xvU5_HFmceE80g1HbHiVPDrm8r8-tayVas5z9tHuCNSHVkURI5-p8BquQgmHcP-XPY00vy-HgKzthT7Fb85MXkHF5TjMMpF4p3EmG0msd2CDdK2g5oW8mHaT/s320/Spanish2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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lol not your best look hon</div>
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<b>Best costume moment: </b><br />
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There are some pretty memorable costumes in this movie, but many are debatably accurate. Probably the best for both fabulousness and accuracy is the coronation gown.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNMrxwJEgR73SeHDjFH3HnymTqfhmVYVB-JswKnsYxd8xCjtsXP9TcanS-hrwJWgSRKKi7gAgKQ6pXJAzgWX4kwqfcLXj9m0Or-BuGXZSHHwj-HV_1uBXAo_XOQpniFST-8cQal9hi1U-/s1600/Coronation2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNMrxwJEgR73SeHDjFH3HnymTqfhmVYVB-JswKnsYxd8xCjtsXP9TcanS-hrwJWgSRKKi7gAgKQ6pXJAzgWX4kwqfcLXj9m0Or-BuGXZSHHwj-HV_1uBXAo_XOQpniFST-8cQal9hi1U-/s320/Coronation2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Based on this portrait:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-RgeD57EG6CrgNeiM44LgQGtD6ZSmzAhZ6sFdkO0tJ4taFoB9ErSxoknPpykmab9YAHp1Cv3t258nULa-PcOBy9bokpcKwQZsDFoHQQ8qgQVXEtUamB_Da_bK7Iv70TRCtOB0bIEs8IU/s1600/ElizabethCoronation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1192" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-RgeD57EG6CrgNeiM44LgQGtD6ZSmzAhZ6sFdkO0tJ4taFoB9ErSxoknPpykmab9YAHp1Cv3t258nULa-PcOBy9bokpcKwQZsDFoHQQ8qgQVXEtUamB_Da_bK7Iv70TRCtOB0bIEs8IU/s320/ElizabethCoronation1.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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And then she wears it while dancing a Volta like a boss.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zS7Hl7Hos4glEenGRBC4KZ0Ci1lui842i4FYDgKuwTrkKBY6q2zQ6Gls0b5WzJlkHxxJ9MEWzmWv5dJjeq5D7pQVdJj8QdorTBtwMbAeBVDyl9bhKV39Acyv9j4smBFuKlzd1DV9eFZk/s1600/Volta%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1024" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zS7Hl7Hos4glEenGRBC4KZ0Ci1lui842i4FYDgKuwTrkKBY6q2zQ6Gls0b5WzJlkHxxJ9MEWzmWv5dJjeq5D7pQVdJj8QdorTBtwMbAeBVDyl9bhKV39Acyv9j4smBFuKlzd1DV9eFZk/s400/Volta%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTkJR3OXBxko4eWrNJQGxAayaF7I1BXefWLO__FwxwwH5Xcrywlp7GlwgcgRju2-a4XBo4ruCsWm5sQgKjbU9j2SBBvYUq1CgbeaxmB5N3AYwulxDOqvYcwoHlyPeKjWq6rWDviCgeV30/s1600/cap713b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="849" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTkJR3OXBxko4eWrNJQGxAayaF7I1BXefWLO__FwxwwH5Xcrywlp7GlwgcgRju2-a4XBo4ruCsWm5sQgKjbU9j2SBBvYUq1CgbeaxmB5N3AYwulxDOqvYcwoHlyPeKjWq6rWDviCgeV30/s400/cap713b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On a completely unserious note, there is the original <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i>. The sequels have run this franchise into the ground, and Johnny Depp is kind of gross now, but weren't we all delighted by this movie when it first came out? Weren't we all sort of surprised by how good it was? Do I own this on DVD? Yes, yes, and yes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE_zaiywgEj03wDkIwJpA8mkB55M6hId9zXJ_TdzzxudeOX6kxNo9KJv4Vtco3AL22rT-M-bw5VnhcaBa9KAxF9mQQHW1-Y_kzDFEcUTe_uPWRIZhCYKcKlphY0ad5QIjYccLS-8f2KG1/s1600/Elizabeth%2526Will.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="832" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE_zaiywgEj03wDkIwJpA8mkB55M6hId9zXJ_TdzzxudeOX6kxNo9KJv4Vtco3AL22rT-M-bw5VnhcaBa9KAxF9mQQHW1-Y_kzDFEcUTe_uPWRIZhCYKcKlphY0ad5QIjYccLS-8f2KG1/s320/Elizabeth%2526Will.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This being a movie based on an amusement park ride it isn't the most accurate costume-wise. Elizabeth Swann's costumes seem to place the movie around the 1770s (when she <i>definitely</i> would have worn a corset prior to the start of the movie but would have called it <i>stays</i>), while Will Turner has more of a 17th century Three Musketeers vibe. </div>
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<b>Best costume moment(s):</b><br />
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When this movie came out I had a friend who LOVED Orlando Bloom as Legolas in the <i>Lord of the Rings </i>movies. I don't really care about <i>Lord of the Rings</i> and wasn't into the platinum blonde look so I didn't get what she was on about. So when <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i> came out she was like SEE. DON'T YOU GET IT NOW? HE IS SO HOT. And I admit, Will Turner is a dish. But I didn't want to give her the satisfaction. So told her that I preferred Commodore Norrington. I printed out pictures of him for my dorm room and she was SO ANNOYED.<br />
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It started as a joke, but was it? I sort of like his look? Perfectly powdered wig, tricorn hat (sometimes with <i>feathers</i>), gold-trimmed jackets, snappy little knee pants? Jack Davenport gave an interview where he complained that all the pirate costumes looked "so cool" and he looked like "an ice cream cone."<br />
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Now 15+ years later I can say with confidence that it was not a joke and that I do, in fact, like Norrington, the upstanding ice cream cone. </div>
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<b>Belle (2013)</b><br />
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One of the biggest problems with loving period movies is that they are generally written and directed by white people and star only white people. They often depict a world where no one thinks about race or racism. <i>Belle</i> is a wonderful movie that breaks that mold. Written and directed by Black women, <i>Belle</i> tells a story about a woman of color at the upper end of English society.<br />
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This movie is loosely based on the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle (if you do some internet searching you realize <i>quite</i> loosely) whose mother was a slave, but because her (white) father claimed her and designated her as his heiress, she was raised as gentlewoman by her wealthy uncle and aunt. She was in a unique position, but the movie also gives us glimpses of other Black lives in England during this period-- including a Black maid and group of formally dressed Black men attending an important court case.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qbg0MtaIUfKUgRGB5IjPX7e12PxPWgR8J6DgV6YFOoTP5icTwDMhzmXsvkP7go5Zywa-mPzzylZZE9pp6SdU7nopZFfzmum0ed6qLBTtj8_gzem4PHyZD4LwoUqt8xZ4M3MxM8KSr1Fb/s1600/Belle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="650" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qbg0MtaIUfKUgRGB5IjPX7e12PxPWgR8J6DgV6YFOoTP5icTwDMhzmXsvkP7go5Zywa-mPzzylZZE9pp6SdU7nopZFfzmum0ed6qLBTtj8_gzem4PHyZD4LwoUqt8xZ4M3MxM8KSr1Fb/s400/Belle3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The movie wrestles with the racism of English society and how it effects Dido. It is at times a little heavy-handed and overly idealistic. But it also has many insightful and moving moments. There are a lot of well-meaning white people saying things to Dido that they think are really enlightened but are actually pretty crappy. It is powerful to watch her start rejecting all the ways that she has been belittled and marginalized. Ultimately the movie is uplifting and she gets a happy ending which is what every period movie heroine deserves.<br />
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<b>Best costume moment: </b><br />
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Gugu Mbatha-Raw is fabulous and looks fabulous in 18th century gowns. I'm a sucker for a frothy pink dress, and she gets SEVERAL.<br />
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Lovely pastel</div>
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A little frillier</div>
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Hot pink YAAAS</div>
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<b>Wolf Hall (2015)</b><br />
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This is my current obsession so I might go on a bit. Why do I love this so much?? One of the joys of most of my favorite period movies and miniseries is that they are female-centered stories, with female characters driving the plot and the action. But <i>Wolf Hall</i> is all about Thomas Cromwell. I argue that it is so good because the series is based on an excellent and award-winning series by lady writer Hilary Mantel.<br />
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This is a retelling of the King Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn story from Thomas Cromwell's perspective-- a man who is usually cast as the villain in most fictionalized accounts. Here he is clever, likable, and compelling to watch.<br />
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<b>Best costume moment(s):</b><br />
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I love movies that make subtle changes to costumes as the story progresses. Cromwell consistently wears black but his clothing get fancier as he rises in power. At the beginning he is a successful lawyer and secretary so his clothing is nice but simple, and he wears a soft cap which he is always taking off when he bows and then re-adjusting over his loose hair.<br />
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By Anne's coronation he is trimmed in heavy furs and the cap he wears is more structured. He now wears a skullcap underneath it that keeps his hair in place when he takes his hat on and off. </div>
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In the book the reader is reminded that Cromwell was once a cloth merchant and sizes people up by mentally pricing the fabrics they are wearing. He understands the power of clothing, both as a representation of self and as a connection to one of the most important seats of power in Europe: the merchants and traders. His costuming is contrasted with Thomas More who is shown in furs that look old and shabby.<br />
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This is implied to be an affectation rather than a sign of poverty. More is wealthy, but in this telling he is insufferably smug and superior--assuming he is more intelligent and righteous than anyone he meets. His old clothes are a way for him to show that he is "above" worldly things.<br />
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There is a scene in the book when More is regaling his dinner guests with stories about the follies of women. He recounts how his daughter-in-law desperately wanted a pearl necklace. To teach her a lesson about desiring such vain things, he gifted her with a box that rattled like pearls when shaken. She was elated and opened the box, only to discover it was filled with dried peas. He roars with laughter remembering her disappointment. Cromwell notes to one of the other guests that the woman in question brought a great deal of money into the family when she married More's son (which of course became the property of her husband's family). Cromwell remarks that if the lady wants pearls, she should damn well have pearls.<br />
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This anecdote, and the costuming are two of the clever ways that the story re-frames and re-imagines the differences between these two men. The conventional wisdom is that More was a voice of morality and unwavering in his opinions. Cromwell was constantly changing, climbing the ladder, and pleasing who he needed. Usually that translates to More=good, Cromwell=bad. But here More's steadfastness is stubborn and backward. He would rather wear an old coat and gift someone dried peas than participate in the vanity of fashion. Cromwell is a man who embraces change-- change in himself, change for England, change for the church. He adjusts his wardrobe as his wealth increases and is generous with gifts and favors. If you were a Tudor woman with virtually no rights wouldn't you rather be Mrs. Cromwell than Mrs. More?<br />
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Ok I need to stop tinkering with this post and finish <i>Bring up the Bodies</i>.ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-2166709231093650362020-03-30T22:25:00.001-07:002020-03-30T22:30:36.289-07:00What Next In Fashion Fixes About Project RunwayI am a <i>Project Runway</i> fan from way back. I've been watching since season 1, own several seasons on DVD and have watched and re-watched them over and over again. I once skipped work to see Nick Verreos at a meet-and-greet at a La-Z-Boy furniture store.<br />
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Still a life highlight</div>
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So believe me when I say I'm a genuine fan of the show. But around season 8 it started to break my heart and get bad. And then it just got stale. I have to admit that I haven't seen it since it moved back to Bravo so I can't speak to those seasons. But I recently watched <i>Next in Fashion</i> on Netflix and was amazed how good it was and how it highlighted what has gotten so dull about <i>Project Runway.</i><br />
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But while thinking about it, I realized that all the "bad" things about <i>Project Runway</i> had started as strengths. Let me break it down:</div>
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<b>1. <i>Next in Fashion</i> has more experienced designers than <i>Project Runway</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NvcAybHiosKk4FWcrcDZ6l1Aqc4CkW0bfP4Cya-Vo1EbY7DYE9INLHRgeryE1sJFdJR1GuLskzK1BGDBeLlAykjhd-TSHdR4Ztp9UlDgZM8-EZ2liCItdfPkKWTdixgZn3_RLTXUXlst/s1600/Next2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NvcAybHiosKk4FWcrcDZ6l1Aqc4CkW0bfP4Cya-Vo1EbY7DYE9INLHRgeryE1sJFdJR1GuLskzK1BGDBeLlAykjhd-TSHdR4Ztp9UlDgZM8-EZ2liCItdfPkKWTdixgZn3_RLTXUXlst/s400/Next2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Why inexperience was good at first on <i>Project Runway</i>:</b> <i>Project Runway</i> is all about watching a group of scrappy, unknown designers be put through their paces and seeing which ones come up with exciting looks each week. These are people for whom a showing at Fashion Week is a dream, and winning "a mentorship with Banana Republic" would be considered a prize (that actually something you could win on the first two seasons). Season 1 came to a thrilling conclusion when lovable weirdo Jay McCarroll won with a collection that felt like a genuinely fresh point of view.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bJpHsSQWjgunFQ8ZG5U0bKOWzUWKGBvFOynEhGRm0DqepjGYZpBmIAFY-hBPqsj29MiRVghGhGh24gpA5e6tQ-X4DR7zvytadjmJHUW6S5iQwTaS9C61nYyCLv7l5QLaR8f175nHU4a1/s1600/JayMcCaroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="400" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bJpHsSQWjgunFQ8ZG5U0bKOWzUWKGBvFOynEhGRm0DqepjGYZpBmIAFY-hBPqsj29MiRVghGhGh24gpA5e6tQ-X4DR7zvytadjmJHUW6S5iQwTaS9C61nYyCLv7l5QLaR8f175nHU4a1/s400/JayMcCaroll.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Still Iconic</div>
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<b>Why it got stale: </b>There was a period where <i>Project Runway</i> was growing in popularity and attracting people with more experience. But as so few winners found success in the industry, savvy designers stopped signing on for the show. Instead it filled up with a lot of clueless dreamers who didn't know much about the fashion industry at all. There were people who didn't seem like they could name any current designer or trend and would put a peplum on a dress and think they invented fashion. And the show sometimes rewarded them. It was embarrassing. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNurKDMdwH1RlOnzbtnMYE8rN22_JKYAM9h8DF6Cbn6vEogYKmpI_KC8s4V1g-4KuPeZDFANifoAFPsVxs3-xyLG_Q1_v76Yg6zfHQXparHE3_3oDYXjekE0UcsQHv6naFaeZcKrQf9y-/s1600/AnyaPR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="560" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNurKDMdwH1RlOnzbtnMYE8rN22_JKYAM9h8DF6Cbn6vEogYKmpI_KC8s4V1g-4KuPeZDFANifoAFPsVxs3-xyLG_Q1_v76Yg6zfHQXparHE3_3oDYXjekE0UcsQHv6naFaeZcKrQf9y-/s400/AnyaPR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Should you be allowed to win <i>Project Runway</i> if you can't make a sleeve? </div>
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NO</div>
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<b>What <i>Next In Fashion</i> got right:</b> Oh hey it turns out designers with more experience know a lot about the industry, what is on trend right now, and what might actually be new and different and fresh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooVN5L3_tDa7cFiK5vGHw8kcGj6ipso06yhppSzUynodrZqliwJXL_zF4R-j37DvA4KfOPurX__hO3q5xjEQsXhugEiGG59IB7PBQrgsA24wHwFwzhLopJSbYGEmLTs3T9dY4Eqs2u1Xw/s1600/Happy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooVN5L3_tDa7cFiK5vGHw8kcGj6ipso06yhppSzUynodrZqliwJXL_zF4R-j37DvA4KfOPurX__hO3q5xjEQsXhugEiGG59IB7PBQrgsA24wHwFwzhLopJSbYGEmLTs3T9dY4Eqs2u1Xw/s400/Happy.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>2. Time is limited but still within reason</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV0v0L4MHkEmKrYCXbQXaFLKHsz85TMpzhHd_8Csb_S_e8lYcouQ3iqb-0crsKdnCVQMULkyIueEmaRIs2WZLOKHqBQnS4I4gq07QrR0RayqusJmMxO6Yb6xjMJp2iwuY-Bd12yRRgA2C/s1600/FiveHours.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV0v0L4MHkEmKrYCXbQXaFLKHsz85TMpzhHd_8Csb_S_e8lYcouQ3iqb-0crsKdnCVQMULkyIueEmaRIs2WZLOKHqBQnS4I4gq07QrR0RayqusJmMxO6Yb6xjMJp2iwuY-Bd12yRRgA2C/s400/FiveHours.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>What was good at first: </b>Again, part of the joy of <i>Project Runway</i> was seeing what creative people could come up with when given limited time and resources. Some results were amazing!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0YM6ZhiZ5KmvXyRFgcAAu2WSTJx_ZWz1ZCOnbki-0WsPYxbEaJLZgW2gKB_EdJrmzSrFlAYyXGNJGuuNGN-TYwu4pRkjn4Y8VNhGl6n4ssNYA5YUcdhDhnfnG6SV1FlEG939afMsyyig/s1600/ActualAvantGarde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0YM6ZhiZ5KmvXyRFgcAAu2WSTJx_ZWz1ZCOnbki-0WsPYxbEaJLZgW2gKB_EdJrmzSrFlAYyXGNJGuuNGN-TYwu4pRkjn4Y8VNhGl6n4ssNYA5YUcdhDhnfnG6SV1FlEG939afMsyyig/s400/ActualAvantGarde.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Made in two days by Christian Siriano and Chris March season 4</div>
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No "Avant-Garde" look on the show has ever lived up to this</div>
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<b>Why it got stale: </b>The producers started to think that the less time given, the more "exciting" it was. They started having designers make gowns in half a day and a few times even forced designers to go head-to-head and design something in an hour. But it turns out the less time you have the less ambitious you can be. The time crunches caused a lot of drama but not very many interesting looks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVO8q7yO-rvKe_yPVFpxlQw0zGprQXKcc4bzfJrxUMs-9G8ruSpA6ov32KjmwMAJ2WS8KL34rH50DKO9xrkEuuK2IXYdX8k1gEGJfLLvrjKSBA41fuV_NCWOvZfA9aLhggz7LbsLL6psvE/s1600/1HourChallenge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1200" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVO8q7yO-rvKe_yPVFpxlQw0zGprQXKcc4bzfJrxUMs-9G8ruSpA6ov32KjmwMAJ2WS8KL34rH50DKO9xrkEuuK2IXYdX8k1gEGJfLLvrjKSBA41fuV_NCWOvZfA9aLhggz7LbsLL6psvE/s400/1HourChallenge.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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*Snore</div>
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<b>What Next In Fashion got right: </b>Two days for every challenge means actual time to plan, and execute a design.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPlkxsHUa7LNO12p7YaSO1J_278WzJHlDehRokvMIDrAcFg20_aWu3us690J7UioJufmuJGZxMdWMdIrKFT3eOUBIZtjD_IlepgvushMvpBgOK-aWcLLjjsydYB2FIym17ywewlFx9m_x/s1600/FInale.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPlkxsHUa7LNO12p7YaSO1J_278WzJHlDehRokvMIDrAcFg20_aWu3us690J7UioJufmuJGZxMdWMdIrKFT3eOUBIZtjD_IlepgvushMvpBgOK-aWcLLjjsydYB2FIym17ywewlFx9m_x/s400/FInale.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>3. No gimmicky challenges</b><br />
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<b>THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE</b></div>
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<b>What was good at first: </b><i>Project Runway</i> started with a gimmicky challenge. Season 1 episode 1, Tim Gunn took the designers to a grocery store instead of a fabric store and they had to "Make it Work." Challenge winner Austin Scarlett made a dress out of corn husks and the world was never the same. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEian_SmMnZEriYcV0wBzvFU4ohIhtNSiWD4bhX1KCrebCDqpsGqGhwhJ4k2IZF6drjvTeOixwsCu1BUE_ZW8fzUM6Bhod8xCIlzey_A_LjwLDKN79deNSoTq1NbSNr7c87r574fue0rWmd7/s1600/CornDress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEian_SmMnZEriYcV0wBzvFU4ohIhtNSiWD4bhX1KCrebCDqpsGqGhwhJ4k2IZF6drjvTeOixwsCu1BUE_ZW8fzUM6Bhod8xCIlzey_A_LjwLDKN79deNSoTq1NbSNr7c87r574fue0rWmd7/s1600/CornDress.jpg" /></a></div>
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ICONIC</div>
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From then on, the show tried to replicate that magic with surprising, unexpected challenges.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj_WHwCbpGmR-ixKitIY2-YAnCeXpyv6ELi1N-cCAHDHIXI2VugWIbkeTo8cJLJSOBinkK4FHZUklJXMTVFSBKVpGXu-_-7j3txnUSZ5Hh2X1JPblrnVRCDyRBdITcK3gS0rEzHITz6Ll/s1600/CarParts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="815" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj_WHwCbpGmR-ixKitIY2-YAnCeXpyv6ELi1N-cCAHDHIXI2VugWIbkeTo8cJLJSOBinkK4FHZUklJXMTVFSBKVpGXu-_-7j3txnUSZ5Hh2X1JPblrnVRCDyRBdITcK3gS0rEzHITz6Ll/s400/CarParts.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another highlight: The car parts challenge in season 5</div>
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<b>Why it got stale: </b>Each season had challenges that were increasingly wacky, incorporated strange product placement, or simply didn't make any sense. The stilts challenge in season 9 was memorably bad. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1hDueg8McV4pqGGN9l2xHEe-iWKZnwsMJqahIlbKsDLAOwgL6BnD6jE_-3vJ26OfeukRIBmd-X80Hi06IKIEIQmlOgs2zBVCyFFE9EOBSimramKFVzdqS5-hxHraTusLN7KNnvc5DGQ8/s1600/Stilts.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1hDueg8McV4pqGGN9l2xHEe-iWKZnwsMJqahIlbKsDLAOwgL6BnD6jE_-3vJ26OfeukRIBmd-X80Hi06IKIEIQmlOgs2zBVCyFFE9EOBSimramKFVzdqS5-hxHraTusLN7KNnvc5DGQ8/s1600/Stilts.jpeg" /></a></div>
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WHY</div>
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Now, occasionally magic still happened, even with terrible challenges. Season 13 had this one where Tim Gunn began by talking about a great new Samsung TV and how innovative it was and then there was a sound of thunder and he announced they would show "innovative" avant-garde garments on a "rainway." Umm...what? Contestant Sean filled the seams of his white dress with dye and so the dress burst into color when wet. It was genuinely jaw dropping. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRA9l4H-cKhl07-TUsT1Ov2t3Tl-OSQtaASvlUPvBEEInfxcBIbZHpPt4UsQGsdj_6qvqJGTgyjxoAkLRdyIapT39Zdu7XwKobDEf7iXOsP-3PgmQSdoVZK9WXzbRDQQNLqcBEQA5TUN3/s1600/Rainway.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="667" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRA9l4H-cKhl07-TUsT1Ov2t3Tl-OSQtaASvlUPvBEEInfxcBIbZHpPt4UsQGsdj_6qvqJGTgyjxoAkLRdyIapT39Zdu7XwKobDEf7iXOsP-3PgmQSdoVZK9WXzbRDQQNLqcBEQA5TUN3/s400/Rainway.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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You can watch the clip <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX7S03hBC0I">here</a></div>
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But 90% of the time the gimmicky challenges were just bad. It was like "make an avant-garde look inspired by the zodiac but you have to collaborate with an eliminated designer who you hate and then the two of you have to sell it to some random people at a cocktail party."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85KipmoXdCi6H2FKYN-2lQhQhzcNW6L6O8qT5_ZFzgVi5dcEUgnflavCINsIiNR1gM3u3ZanSCqRwB9f1EMiRDqu2bS2WYZuHfkYy_YzpsnFCR4JDDxtUHVEwC819W4pnXNACLVfuKzKj/s1600/Zodiac.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="793" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85KipmoXdCi6H2FKYN-2lQhQhzcNW6L6O8qT5_ZFzgVi5dcEUgnflavCINsIiNR1gM3u3ZanSCqRwB9f1EMiRDqu2bS2WYZuHfkYy_YzpsnFCR4JDDxtUHVEwC819W4pnXNACLVfuKzKj/s400/Zodiac.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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HIDEOUS</div>
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<b>What Next in Fashion got right: </b>Make a gown. Make streetwear. Make something out of denim. Make a suit. It was amazingly refreshing to have very clear, simple parameters for designers to work within.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTS-4F0xNNxKm9hHPEid1-U_W2fCmYT0isZ5xLBE7IdioDz7SAizXbOdZo8q4LpJMf6vwZQX2uXwnSTmDxAPs_xKN2DDPjreqOKu8HBBmO9RpUax7Sku143vPSVN1m8q1C5QEvF5luwhxb/s1600/Suits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="618" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTS-4F0xNNxKm9hHPEid1-U_W2fCmYT0isZ5xLBE7IdioDz7SAizXbOdZo8q4LpJMf6vwZQX2uXwnSTmDxAPs_xKN2DDPjreqOKu8HBBmO9RpUax7Sku143vPSVN1m8q1C5QEvF5luwhxb/s400/Suits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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AND THE RESULTS WERE STILL INTERESTING</div>
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While drafting this post, I started watching Amazon's new show <i>Making the Cut</i> with Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. And while it made some of the same improvements as <i>Next in Fashion</i>, I found myself immediately annoyed by Tim and Heidi's same old schtick. I feel like a monster saying anything bad about Tim Gunn, but on TV he has started to become a parody of himself. And his dynamic with Heidi has gotten cheesier and cheesier. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNSj-UnM8P-Q0E1HDcJhGxNhI-nqL9NQiyDNHlx9T5GDMSa5EZDPVT7ohq659nIngyUK2EMVM6qZL6tpzrnd8J3H4HvNZMWZfFEvrHFi404M5DngVaZ80dsaeNu_AbHLiw6eUC4T9TR4x/s1600/MakeItWork.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNSj-UnM8P-Q0E1HDcJhGxNhI-nqL9NQiyDNHlx9T5GDMSa5EZDPVT7ohq659nIngyUK2EMVM6qZL6tpzrnd8J3H4HvNZMWZfFEvrHFi404M5DngVaZ80dsaeNu_AbHLiw6eUC4T9TR4x/s320/MakeItWork.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every <i>Project Runway</i> season he tearfully tells the designers that this is the strongest group he has ever seen. Every season Heidi jokingly flirts with Tim and acts like they are a couple. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkWkVTj20uWsUcbkmQ1CMtwtFtYNiH7XqtizpQoyldW1Xr5C9Hlxcv3cCBr-k4f9oKNuL3uSC_FHDoplWmIyvwAg2lpiZwTRjTN8jDph9ACYfTHwgJjPkn8vrEfYNzgcfSPQZeJchIGlN/s1600/Kissing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="500" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkWkVTj20uWsUcbkmQ1CMtwtFtYNiH7XqtizpQoyldW1Xr5C9Hlxcv3cCBr-k4f9oKNuL3uSC_FHDoplWmIyvwAg2lpiZwTRjTN8jDph9ACYfTHwgJjPkn8vrEfYNzgcfSPQZeJchIGlN/s400/Kissing.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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And every season they constantly remind the designers how EXCITING each challenge is and what a HUGE DEAL this is and CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT AN EXCITING HUGE DEAL THIS IS. And basically all of that happened in the first episode and I was immediately exhausted. </div>
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TO BE FAIR the schtick between Tan and Alexa on <i>Next in Fashion</i> frequently borders on obnoxious. But at least it was <i>different</i>. I think the moral of the story is that good things can become bad things if they go on long enough. </div>
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Hmm, kind of like how a month ago staying in to sit on the couch and watch TV seemed like some kind of treat and now it is ALL THERE IS. </div>
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ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-44959615045456747622020-03-22T21:08:00.000-07:002020-05-12T12:20:23.835-07:00Why The Tudors Is Kinda Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you know anything about Showtime's <i>The Tudors</i> you know that it is...rather trashy. It has been maligned by critics, fashion historians, and regular historians. But having recently re-watched it, and watched it alongside <i>Wolf Hall</i>, I am ready to make the case that it is, at times, actually good.<br />
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First, to recap why <i>The Tudors</i> gets a bad rap, and why it is mostly deserved:<br />
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The pitch meeting for the show seems to be: <i><b>History, but make it SEXY</b></i>. And this being the 2000s, SEXY meant that all the actors are all young and hot, the clothes are all ready to fall off at any moment, and there are lots of sex scenes that are gratuitous and unrelated to the plot. <span style="text-align: center;">The show tries to aggressively sell everyone on Jonathan Rhys Meyers as hot beefcake Henry VIII and he mostly comes across as gross.</span><br />
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He enjoys aggressively and sensually eating fruit for some reason</div>
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The costumes are frequently hilarious, but I particularly enjoy how they keep trying to find ways to show off Henry's body even in scenes where he isn't having sex. Like, how about he is with his tailor and his tailor hasn't put sleeves on his doublet yet, but then he is angry so has to have a big important argument without sleeves?<br />
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So hot</div>
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In summary: Henry VIII is HOT and has SEX and everyone in his court has SEX and it is all just so HOT.<br />
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You get the idea</div>
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But the other thing is that it is still a multi-episode television show. Each episode is an hour and the Anne Boleyn story is stretched out for two 10-episode seasons. So that is 20 hours to fill and it can't be 20 hours of Jonathan Rhys Meyers ripping his shirt off.<br />
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Some of that time has to be filled with actual historical events and details of Henry's reign. Sure, there is stuff that is totally made up or wildly stretched, but some of it is actually accurate. And historical figures who are usually flattened down to a few basic traits in a movie retelling, get more screen time and stuff to do.<br />
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Take for example the two women at the center of the story: Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Queen Catherine is usually depicted as either stoic and saintly or dried up and stubborn. Anne Boleyn is either slutty and conniving or romantic and heroic. In <i>The Tudors</i> Catherine is shown as strong and pious, but also savvy about the politics of the court and knows how to play her hand. Anne Boleyn is calculating and power-hungry at times, but she also is shown as vulnerable and aware that she is being played as a pawn for her family's own ambitions. She is sympathetic to the Protestant church but also argues with Cromwell about money from the monasteries going to the needy instead of into Henry's pocket. Gosh, maybe women are full human beings with complex emotions and motivations?!<br />
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In a similar vein are Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell. In most versions of the Henry VIII story, More is a hero and Cromwell a villain. More, a great scholar and thinker of the time, felt his conscience wouldn't allow him to support Henry's marriage to Anne. He was tried and executed as a traitor. There is understandable respect for him and he was even sainted by the Catholic Church. In <i>The Tudors</i> he is played by Jeremy Northam so he is principled AND attractive.<br />
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Mmmm.</div>
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But The Tudors also shows us his less palatable side-- like when he was Chancellor he jumped at the opportunity to burn as many Protestants as possible.<br />
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The non-sexy kind of hot</div>
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Then there is Thomas Cromwell, who is usually viewed as an opportunist who had no problem doing Henry's dirty work. In <i>The Tudors</i> he is a major character for three seasons, so he gets a lot of screen time. He is clever and capable, sympathetic to the Protestant cause, zealously against aspects of the Catholic church, eager to please Henry, and not terribly afraid of making enemies. Again, they cast an actor (James Frain) who is much younger and more attractive than the real Cromwell.<br />
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Dark curly hair yes please</div>
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While doing some googling <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/wolf-hall-a-look-at-thomas-cromwell-on-screen/">I found this article by a Cromwell biographer who begrudgingly admits that <i>The Tudors</i> is the most accurate portrayal of Cromwell on screen</a>. Her reasoning is that the real Cromwell was quite complicated, not fully hero or villain (as it true for most people) and <i>The Tudors </i>came closest to showing that.<br />
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Ok, so I mentioned <i>Wolf Hall</i> earlier. If you don't know, <i>Wolf Hall is</i> the name of both a novel by Hilary Mantel and a miniseries made by the BBC (which was actually an adaptation of both <i>Wolf Hall</i> and the second book <i>Bring up the Bodies</i>. The last book <i>The Mirror and the Light </i>was just published). Mantel positions Cromwell as the hero of the story and makes him very charming and sympathetic. Both book and miniseries are FANTASTIC and I'm sort of obsessed.<br />
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If he loves cats, how bad can he be?</div>
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While historians may quibble about how favorably Mantel portrays Cromwell, everyone agrees that her books are painstakingly researched and evocative of the Tudor period. But watching <i>The Tudors</i> back-to-back with <i>Wolf Hall</i> highlighted how surprisingly historical much of <i>The Tudors</i> actually was--it just got lost under so much schlock.<br />
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So to summarize, <i>The Tudors</i> isn't so bad, <i>Wolf Hall</i> is amazing, and I maybe have a crush on Thomas Cromwell.<br />
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ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-71695382896937639882020-03-15T14:24:00.000-07:002020-03-15T14:24:33.012-07:00Why Doctor Thorne Is Bad But I Re-Watched it Anyway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyurOGsH26lJ6CnpkB7UXedYXUlbtEQ1KWpYqkr8DYP7p3ajoyRNFYr1_BH1e55bqjZeYGDKdpuOVKCTiApCErNG8GUTY9GdWafosQ4qjws03NXYAZde3WIB2F-g1Fu2GUFgcXDCEs4kz/s1600/DRThorne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyurOGsH26lJ6CnpkB7UXedYXUlbtEQ1KWpYqkr8DYP7p3ajoyRNFYr1_BH1e55bqjZeYGDKdpuOVKCTiApCErNG8GUTY9GdWafosQ4qjws03NXYAZde3WIB2F-g1Fu2GUFgcXDCEs4kz/s400/DRThorne.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last night I re-watched <i>Doctor Thorne</i> on Amazon Prime and it was just as head-scratchingly bad as the first time I saw it. This is a four-part adaptation of Anthony Trollope's book of the same name, adapted by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellows.<br />
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Why it is bad:</div>
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<b>1. The main romance is between two people who are already in love</b><br />
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A good period movie <i>does not</i> need to have a love story, but if it is going to be a central part of the story, the "in love since childhood" trope is the most booooooooring of all possibilities. We don't get to see them meet, exchange any exciting banter, or thrillingly touch hands while dancing/helping into a carriage/handing a teacup<br />
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Not a scene from Dr. Thorne</div>
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[SIDE NOTE: this pandemic may just revive the idea that hand to hand contact is forbidden yet thrilling]<br />
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More hand porn from North & South</div>
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Instead when we see them together for the first time on screen we get swelling music that tells us they are IN LOVE and then they just goofily grin at each other.<br />
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Nothing new or exciting happens between them. The only conflict is that he is rich and she is poor and his family is against it. Now, an "in love but can't be together" story could be salvaged by some tortured glances but even then, nada. The two leads are both just bland and sweet. So they either smile at each other or look sad. But not dramatic sad. Sort of "well gosh this sure is a pickle" sad. </div>
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<b>2. The resolution of the plot is clear from the first episode </b></div>
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Ok, so actually the "rich" guy's family is terribly in debt and so he <b>must</b> marry a wealthy woman in order save the family. Also, his romantic interest is from a sketchy, most likely illegitimate background. So here comes a spoiler, but like I said, you find this out very early on: There is this other super rich guy in town who is about to die. When he does his son will inherit everything. BUT if his son dies the money will go to his sister's "oldest child" and SHOCKINGLY that turns out to be the same young woman who thinks she can't marry the man she loves because she is poor.<br />
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All that needs to happen for everything to work out is that the rich guy's son needs to die young. And when we meet the son, he is the absolute worst. He doesn't care that his father is dead, is straight-up cruel to his mother, is skeevy toward women, and has a serious drinking problem. </div>
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Oh yeah, this guy is toast</div>
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So somehow there are four episodes to get us to a resolution that plays out exactly as you would expect. </div>
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<b>3. Julian Fellows thinks he is Alistair Cooke / Russell Baker and he is NOT</b><br />
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Greetings idiot Americans</div>
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If you watch this on Amazon there are these unbearable fireside chats where Julian Fellows condescendingly explains what is going on in this very un-complex story. </div>
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<b>4. Flower crowns, bad hair, and skirt scrunching</b><br />
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The gals over at Frock Flicks have an excellent post on some very strange costuming quirks of this adaptation:</div>
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<a href="http://www.frockflicks.com/doctor-thorne-2016/">http://www.frockflicks.com/doctor-thorne-2016/</a></div>
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Also more about why skirt-hiking is obnoxious and unnecessary</div>
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<a href="http://www.frockflicks.com/snark-week-stop-skirt-hiking/">http://www.frockflicks.com/snark-week-stop-skirt-hiking/</a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But despite all that, I re-watched it anyway!!</span></div>
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Here is why:<br />
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<b>1. Despite all the skirt schrunching, the costumes are pretty</b><br />
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Ballgown pastels</div>
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Mean ladies = fab dresses </div>
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Love the blues </div>
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<b>2. Alison Brie plays the only character that isn't a familiar 19th-century trope</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGBclCoOYfVryvmLwi_yyECA0LrK2u4HvccwcB1kXnmR6gGRMppUHNy1DV2kGqgjcLItgBjelIE_crLI5lhSD6m9BIk9oSeSj9B9HlVp3uBtJuPg2JNod1hHXE3MLnNr15LUq_uCDvUHo/s1600/Brie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGBclCoOYfVryvmLwi_yyECA0LrK2u4HvccwcB1kXnmR6gGRMppUHNy1DV2kGqgjcLItgBjelIE_crLI5lhSD6m9BIk9oSeSj9B9HlVp3uBtJuPg2JNod1hHXE3MLnNr15LUq_uCDvUHo/s400/Brie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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She is an over-30 wealthy American who enjoys watching men embarrass themselves by trying to marry her.<br />
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#sorrynotsorry</div>
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<b>3. I find even bad period movies (and shows) to be strangely comforting</b><br />
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And here is the meat of it: I like seeing pretty costumes walking around on screen. My absolute favorites combine good visuals with compelling stories, but even when the story misses the mark, the good costumes can make it worthwhile. I put on Doctor Thorne to chill out and also half-watch while doing a couple other things. One of the things that was bad about Doctor Thorne (virtually no drama) was also good. It was safe and gentle and easy to digest.<br />
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So if you want something to watch that will be pretty, take very little mental energy, and make you angry about something as unimportant as skirt scrunching, I highly recommend Doctor Thorne. </div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-11597616724973604182020-03-15T14:05:00.000-07:002020-03-15T14:05:12.184-07:00Blogging about stupid stuff during the Coronapocalypse <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've taken a long break from blogging, but sitting at home by myself last night I had a lil' anxiety freakout about the possibility that this might just be what life is like for a couple of MONTHS. And so I watched a period movie and it made me feel better. But also I had lots of opinions about the movie and felt like writing them down. So if you are also stuck at home and want to read something that isn't terrifying or a massive guilt trip about leaving your house and maybe touching something that someone else will touch, join me for some opinionated blogging about shows I am watching.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJHV0SenfKK0BoCgPEd2obpmzgRrScR4HphdXfwELa7_sjkl4B9zuv-k7l4z_F013Ph_1XGFNV6Q-b0lIbqC7k01WRQO-n16SX65FpY0isUfCmIgdn7hyphenhyphenECzBeGBCdT4BfUqlbLcSU19b/s1600/Awkward.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJHV0SenfKK0BoCgPEd2obpmzgRrScR4HphdXfwELa7_sjkl4B9zuv-k7l4z_F013Ph_1XGFNV6Q-b0lIbqC7k01WRQO-n16SX65FpY0isUfCmIgdn7hyphenhyphenECzBeGBCdT4BfUqlbLcSU19b/s320/Awkward.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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And you know there will be gifs.ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-8832944963195999872016-11-25T14:56:00.000-08:002016-11-25T14:56:46.918-08:00Grief, Action, and St. Catherine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrXyptSkdLj5Mn2EIa3v0TsiBbA5ftO5GYuk1C-oJWKva138HvVD39GidirVIrHrsBCm9WyUe4wf77sdOL-ZA9jS8hyphenhyphenMnzo8qetvhg6nONvJv7CZdJ3jCWHTkRHRU21G58Mx_zRlGstZw/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrXyptSkdLj5Mn2EIa3v0TsiBbA5ftO5GYuk1C-oJWKva138HvVD39GidirVIrHrsBCm9WyUe4wf77sdOL-ZA9jS8hyphenhyphenMnzo8qetvhg6nONvJv7CZdJ3jCWHTkRHRU21G58Mx_zRlGstZw/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="240" /></a>For four years now I've been posting on (or around) November 25th about <a href="http://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/search/label/St.%20Catherine%27s%20Day">St. Catherine's Day</a>--the day that celebrates the patron saint of archivists, couture house workers, and single women over 25. In years past I've gathered my friends, donned silly hats, and toasted to history, fashion, and life without husbands.<br />
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But this year, I haven't been feeling it. Since the election I've been more in the mood to wear a black veil than my 90s Blossom hat. I realize though that going into full Victorian mourning would only play into the conservative taunts that liberals are just being "dramatic" about Donald Trump's election. "Liberal Idiot Now Only Wears Black Crepe" the Breitbart headline would read.<br />
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Which is to say that all of this melancholy has got me thinking differently about Saint Catherine this year. Her legend tells the story of an educated woman from a privileged background who spoke out against persecution and injustice. For those of us who grieve the results of the election but have the privilege to possibly sail through the next four years mostly unscathed, we need to resist the lure of that comfort.<br />
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Of all the things Cathy is a patron saint of, the ones that resonate with me the most is her patronage of archivists and educators, couture house and millinery workers, and single women over the age of 25. So this year, rather than writing goofy prayers to a (most likely) fictional saint, I'm going to make some Catherinesq post-election pledges.<br />
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As a museum professional: I pledge to be inclusive in my collecting and seek out opportunities to tell stories about people who are underrepresented in museums. I pledge to remember that I do not preserve objects for their own sake but for the benefit of the people of the community. I pledge to not only tell the happy, triumphant stories of history but also the ones that are painful and difficult. I also pledge to not always be the storyteller, to step back and amplify other voices, and allow those voices to educate me.<br />
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As a person who loves fashion: I pledge to care about those to make my clothing, and the environmental impact of clothing manufacturing. I pledge to buy fair trade, to buy from companies that pay their workers a living wage, and support local businesses whenever possible. I also pledge to buy less, to care for the clothing I already have, and dispose of unwanted clothing as conscientiously as possible.<br />
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As a single woman who has the gift of free time and disposable income: I pledge to seek out concrete actions and activities that I can do, to sign up and show up, to push myself, and to also take time to recharge. I pledge to increase the annual amount that I give the charitable causes. I also pledge to be conscious of self-congratulation about any of my actions, thinking not in terms of "enough" but always seeking to do more.ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-19872289768481923512016-11-02T21:12:00.001-07:002016-11-02T21:12:27.497-07:00Dark Corner of the InternetIn a few short weeks MOHAI is opening a major exhibition about food culture in Seattle called <i>Edible City</i>. Even though food is the focus, there will also be clothes-- including some chef's jackets and dresses worn to a famous Seattle restaurant. For various reasons, we wanted a couple of the mannequins to not be the usual ones we had in stock. So I was tasked with finding some new mannequins.<br />
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Since we had a limited budget and limited time, it meant finding something from a retail supply company rather than a custom order from someplace fancy. So I went online to search. And I'm here to tell you that the internet world of mannequins was grimmer and even more upsetting than I expected.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi0zBAh1ETYjaKrQ1XX8LcAVZrCcONa2bba7ZSwY4nyg4mcQCyAKsriMTAp-0LSMchLwndkrhaL942KEhyhHmABqfdV9J2MwspPUAw5Ikx-flzu_YDG2X-mWRWTq9dVXupoo0Tu2ApIKJ/s1600/FullPage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi0zBAh1ETYjaKrQ1XX8LcAVZrCcONa2bba7ZSwY4nyg4mcQCyAKsriMTAp-0LSMchLwndkrhaL942KEhyhHmABqfdV9J2MwspPUAw5Ikx-flzu_YDG2X-mWRWTq9dVXupoo0Tu2ApIKJ/s320/FullPage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I realize that the bar for icky things on the internet is set pretty high, but I still feel like this was a dark little corner I had stumbled upon. </div>
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The idea was to get mannequins that were a bit more dynamic and lifelike than our regular ones. So I guess, faces? But if the faces are painted, you sort of need wigs...</div>
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Ok, ok, no wigs. Maybe "molded" hair? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCR3_WOZ4Uwbu0IakK-VUP85m3BlN3rKex64c6Ic-KOKNXPvQS31RbAP4du01R_QUiGYrr6gD910yVSwGUWFPaA7AToX4_bujlz9Ho3fyTIiLgOhyphenhyphenhqprcC9VuoyCbAMS8YF_zbSuIsNV/s1600/moldedhairfull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCR3_WOZ4Uwbu0IakK-VUP85m3BlN3rKex64c6Ic-KOKNXPvQS31RbAP4du01R_QUiGYrr6gD910yVSwGUWFPaA7AToX4_bujlz9Ho3fyTIiLgOhyphenhyphenhqprcC9VuoyCbAMS8YF_zbSuIsNV/s400/moldedhairfull.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Erm. A little better, I guess, but sort of hard to pass her off as a 1930s housewife, right? </div>
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Hey, oh actually this molded hair one looks a little better... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk77RvQtTGlnf6IvzDBrTBsQoAjD4WayEot8QViyZyx9JfXWLEhRGpCv_j0izeK9tpLFcXml8VxOYketVFuFgY6fumYKikfwSc0DVJGVBuoGNoUIgZse4NHZarBsh4gJcAEC7foq5GOnRr/s1600/MoldedHairEthnic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk77RvQtTGlnf6IvzDBrTBsQoAjD4WayEot8QViyZyx9JfXWLEhRGpCv_j0izeK9tpLFcXml8VxOYketVFuFgY6fumYKikfwSc0DVJGVBuoGNoUIgZse4NHZarBsh4gJcAEC7foq5GOnRr/s400/MoldedHairEthnic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wait...how come all the non-white mannequins are specifically listed as "Ethnic" or "African"? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJiJ5zhtGoNPr8DJ27KOFqt9iyVrOjuAotlHrIcm5SdZoOLNFwlNjvwIvzFdrzf2uxwux3PWkE4QY3Dk8lIfsDeuxRmCLXr0FC7YSH-u39fakvGHdbGqvHgBPDkP4wzfzvpXHsThxBE3k/s1600/African.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJiJ5zhtGoNPr8DJ27KOFqt9iyVrOjuAotlHrIcm5SdZoOLNFwlNjvwIvzFdrzf2uxwux3PWkE4QY3Dk8lIfsDeuxRmCLXr0FC7YSH-u39fakvGHdbGqvHgBPDkP4wzfzvpXHsThxBE3k/s400/African.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This...feels a bit racist. I guess it is good that they even sell mannequins that aren't white, but you lose points if the white version of the style is "female mannequin" and the black version is "ethnic female mannequin." And you <i>definitely</i> lose points if all your "African" mannequins are in a separate special category, away from all your "regular" (white or abstract) mannequins. </div>
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Oh there was also a site that used "Latin style" as the euphemism for mannequins with larger butts. </div>
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Even without the casual/blatant racism, there were lots of weird categories on the sites. Some that I really didn't want to click on...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JXEl7pWlN3vL8ZxY_NLLegu-ajRcLc9mJ5KAkDS4CJuiuVpjKeWSMja6YK99aIggIu2k1dxtp56VDounorpRfpL3Qnp-ONT9ouL51n6ZsV798W5i_EyQAblyNpiw4h1HW6pNUUy9s8qA/s1600/Sexy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JXEl7pWlN3vL8ZxY_NLLegu-ajRcLc9mJ5KAkDS4CJuiuVpjKeWSMja6YK99aIggIu2k1dxtp56VDounorpRfpL3Qnp-ONT9ouL51n6ZsV798W5i_EyQAblyNpiw4h1HW6pNUUy9s8qA/s320/Sexy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And some that were a little more intriguing. Like a whole section of "Euro Male" mannequins???</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FC_VB2jG77G718kBDgf1nJ1_ViI6gXbBp8vSHMHXggFnYWIqxlH-kOKI46gxNgZO1yUH9cGGZDKeHLDQqACGyb499zNW3GdW_hg7vJKotTxiDazV4xF8janS0gTU0_W1gSqjWJuuRjN9/s1600/EuroMales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FC_VB2jG77G718kBDgf1nJ1_ViI6gXbBp8vSHMHXggFnYWIqxlH-kOKI46gxNgZO1yUH9cGGZDKeHLDQqACGyb499zNW3GdW_hg7vJKotTxiDazV4xF8janS0gTU0_W1gSqjWJuuRjN9/s400/EuroMales.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
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Tell me more!!</div>
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And then there was just straight-up nightmare fodder. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcfNQCdR9dg1bPdhJvNZFnR7LTRZk-pQHpHjPqhnuvAm7Iwx8yhKXz_huebOAHPRyL7GpQKiRfal3znvgbdLJD_uRo8GrioJQ1uonyETrPbHNT04YhxVqf_5UWPH91UKvdupB4RgSPYhe/s1600/nightmare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcfNQCdR9dg1bPdhJvNZFnR7LTRZk-pQHpHjPqhnuvAm7Iwx8yhKXz_huebOAHPRyL7GpQKiRfal3znvgbdLJD_uRo8GrioJQ1uonyETrPbHNT04YhxVqf_5UWPH91UKvdupB4RgSPYhe/s320/nightmare.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
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Aren't you glad I started blogging again?</div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-77900412114698726062016-09-14T12:17:00.002-07:002016-09-14T12:17:49.200-07:00Not Included in the LectureLast night I gave a lecture at MOHAI called "In Search of Seattle Style" in which I combed through Seattle's past to try to unravel the history behind the city's complicated relationship with fashion. But that is not what this post is about. This post is about how distracted I get when I do historical research because old-timey magazines are hilarious.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyxZ5gR-nG8FBP84HgU9Ug7MfLTmFi2J7Vh6wwvlaoX-vyxyFWvxE6e9S1GsMoCYPW471D_mFKhPoviqq3gIV15omicN9MS48vY43q6nYqKbKscIDcFMZqxdHbwAOZZTwIN2tuwIvT96j/s1600/IMG_1924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyxZ5gR-nG8FBP84HgU9Ug7MfLTmFi2J7Vh6wwvlaoX-vyxyFWvxE6e9S1GsMoCYPW471D_mFKhPoviqq3gIV15omicN9MS48vY43q6nYqKbKscIDcFMZqxdHbwAOZZTwIN2tuwIvT96j/s320/IMG_1924.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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1) Is this or is this not an ad for cocaine?</div>
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2) Were people using cocaine to heat their houses? </div>
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3) Or is it like "fuel your furnace" *wink *wink?</div>
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4) I have never been in the market for cocaine, but 200 lbs for $1.00 does sound like a good deal</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAuR77Z4pVxBxvzLbl_JpMzYVoWmNh2dT2x6-haELCouXMvXP4KDHgUDb7Oc7EKMWMFHKjIVedus6glwuloxpWWNqSNWjPze5AhPEBkR518q7K5iXN0_JuqC_YkhjM-XCB5pQuLMSv7w3/s1600/IMG_2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAuR77Z4pVxBxvzLbl_JpMzYVoWmNh2dT2x6-haELCouXMvXP4KDHgUDb7Oc7EKMWMFHKjIVedus6glwuloxpWWNqSNWjPze5AhPEBkR518q7K5iXN0_JuqC_YkhjM-XCB5pQuLMSv7w3/s320/IMG_2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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95 YEARS OLD YES THANK YOU FOR ASKING</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21XZGJZRffqXYoOPbtoLgbGWdShWWhwcZaYKQAcXaCJx0pKHoDGjHRw-zExFZ9zaTdyRW-rH7Lc2058DlAKKRXLpl27AM6hmgE3J85StOKSB-9xZVEJHI-oKcwmgj5bzSxOviwwajbTpu/s1600/IMG_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21XZGJZRffqXYoOPbtoLgbGWdShWWhwcZaYKQAcXaCJx0pKHoDGjHRw-zExFZ9zaTdyRW-rH7Lc2058DlAKKRXLpl27AM6hmgE3J85StOKSB-9xZVEJHI-oKcwmgj5bzSxOviwwajbTpu/s320/IMG_2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Something about the minimalism of this ad just gets me. It isn't actually clear what happens when call Peggy. It sort of sounds like "Are you overweight? Then call Peggy because she loves to talk about that kind of stuff." Actually, I hope that Peggy Eckford is actually an amazing listener and empowering speaker and just tells you that you are already wonderful, strong, powerful, and beautiful. And when you hang up you are just like: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHkoX0-bla0sGgaAuufVJCB4Y_OrFyGrfPs_mh-nHoZfN3my-fOHekeb_ZwvDXzOTUGg7n0_uMW4S0kK8Exh-H6rRbobWTaJcpaFMY3wKfFMSdA2Ewq_RdB3fQPxJZq3LRs3sQuac8xOX/s1600/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHkoX0-bla0sGgaAuufVJCB4Y_OrFyGrfPs_mh-nHoZfN3my-fOHekeb_ZwvDXzOTUGg7n0_uMW4S0kK8Exh-H6rRbobWTaJcpaFMY3wKfFMSdA2Ewq_RdB3fQPxJZq3LRs3sQuac8xOX/s1600/giphy.gif" /></a></div>
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Wow Peggy. No wonder your results are guaranteed. </div>
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I also enjoyed this image caption: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPRQMzox1mM2P7hWA7oZVq9p2hfv6cnkBQwsjyXHLiPszXKANu1wuvfgX5rD9TsGX32sDSXM-O4huf7u9vYVqZPetxEUykbAME0Lb4jcRiowV-Mb_HOJwkbAy7rVJRXrB3p54ZOVWImVs/s1600/IMG_1911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPRQMzox1mM2P7hWA7oZVq9p2hfv6cnkBQwsjyXHLiPszXKANu1wuvfgX5rD9TsGX32sDSXM-O4huf7u9vYVqZPetxEUykbAME0Lb4jcRiowV-Mb_HOJwkbAy7rVJRXrB3p54ZOVWImVs/s320/IMG_1911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The caption says:</div>
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MARION B. BAXTER</div>
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Who Has Just Closed Her Life of Eminent Usefulness</div>
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When I first read it I didn't get that she had recently DIED and that it was trying to applaud her for a life well lived. What it <i>sounds</i> like is that she is still alive but someone is just publicly announcing that the useful period of her life is over. Like that feeling you get when you are in a meeting or with a big group of people and at first everything is great and people are listening to what you are saying, but then you say something incredibly stupid and everyone just goes quiet for a moment? And you are just sitting there thinking "Clara E. Berg has just closed her life of eminent usefulness."</div>
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Did you know that before the famous gossip column "Page Six," Seattle had it's own less-successful version on page five:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xrxSE0pMMrNx2KxpTOqa85TfERHMQQrQ2XiiiKzIWzNhEHmTjswMaJvRZvKUiCqvnEnOVNehaeVo8nmL4KpYovcpEJ79LlGAe4OKnpq1gTR7nkYVRMaFd2auyeYQi-mck_lBogJmv3Nj/s1600/IMG_1914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xrxSE0pMMrNx2KxpTOqa85TfERHMQQrQ2XiiiKzIWzNhEHmTjswMaJvRZvKUiCqvnEnOVNehaeVo8nmL4KpYovcpEJ79LlGAe4OKnpq1gTR7nkYVRMaFd2auyeYQi-mck_lBogJmv3Nj/s320/IMG_1914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The author of this column later became a historian and wrote a book called <i>Things That Happened In Various Places.</i></div>
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I also had a giggle over the photos in a feature about the charity work of local society matrons. My goal is to be this woman:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgQDBTFtpYjq7X6ZuYm03wAeBsuD4pmsqO5T9ZQRqIJuHy7beMS9bnWilQhD7GJUTfmW-q_m9f527O_MlofIvMTe60G8JQmpbdJLAqD1mN8huU8MYiJmDklnaxMzS_1tw3QumsNHq8Afm/s1600/IMG_1937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgQDBTFtpYjq7X6ZuYm03wAeBsuD4pmsqO5T9ZQRqIJuHy7beMS9bnWilQhD7GJUTfmW-q_m9f527O_MlofIvMTe60G8JQmpbdJLAqD1mN8huU8MYiJmDklnaxMzS_1tw3QumsNHq8Afm/s320/IMG_1937.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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But some days I feel more like this woman:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c2VuNdhO4So0e6vGpxINnbkrvWEmdnCgecZvA2TaOf76CLYb0KjjVyUFLvJF-OK4NLAz9qgE5S2U6UrXVAFC9I0eqKcgYgo-0jzKSJFrL6wTL31x6o-Ww_ITZtZIvgYxjaKAzMredmUh/s1600/IMG_1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c2VuNdhO4So0e6vGpxINnbkrvWEmdnCgecZvA2TaOf76CLYb0KjjVyUFLvJF-OK4NLAz9qgE5S2U6UrXVAFC9I0eqKcgYgo-0jzKSJFrL6wTL31x6o-Ww_ITZtZIvgYxjaKAzMredmUh/s320/IMG_1938.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-60234452585202190202016-08-21T13:45:00.000-07:002016-08-21T19:25:45.992-07:0022 Hours in Portland This weekend I took a trip to Portland to see the exhibit <i>Native Fashion Now</i> at the Portland Art Museum. For various reasons I decided to keep it short. I took the 6pm train from Seattle, and the 7pm out of Portland the next day.<br />
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It was a perfect little trip, except for an issue with my Business Class seat which I HAD PAID EXTRA FOR and I narrowly escaped going into full-on, Ross Geller, First World Problem meltdown mode.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z0qkzfpTjGTU5VuKOg9F1EuN87vuvvtlaquztwB5e3FNILZ8SWtajU55LpOTn9GVOvBjdaoZWHJD1vUYxbfHZRobanEWkHwMNRg8JDLsx3XVTmXwcyQoz5IUlvrgr7KclO_vEIs9bEPs/s1600/WhyMe.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z0qkzfpTjGTU5VuKOg9F1EuN87vuvvtlaquztwB5e3FNILZ8SWtajU55LpOTn9GVOvBjdaoZWHJD1vUYxbfHZRobanEWkHwMNRg8JDLsx3XVTmXwcyQoz5IUlvrgr7KclO_vEIs9bEPs/s1600/WhyMe.gif" /></a></div>
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But it got sorted out and I ended up having a lovely train ride and an even lovelier evening in my hotel room. Is there any feeling in the world quite like walking into a nice hotel room which you have <i>all to yourself? </i>It is fantastic. You dump your stuff on the floor, make a throne out of the sixteen pillows they gave you, and see if Say Yes to the Dress is on TLC. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZY29As6BnQnhzz-zzmhV39-UArWcz9eJOKiiz_58-yNlXOHdQPXw9Vc5tOIhsznyMHGskb0vDISj9Al7rNnWubyAo59veivVcV6C4E7yESKRJohju9mLEn5oVqw6HRwgsjSuQaTsymoj/s1600/cozy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZY29As6BnQnhzz-zzmhV39-UArWcz9eJOKiiz_58-yNlXOHdQPXw9Vc5tOIhsznyMHGskb0vDISj9Al7rNnWubyAo59veivVcV6C4E7yESKRJohju9mLEn5oVqw6HRwgsjSuQaTsymoj/s320/cozy.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next day, I was off to the Portland Art Museum. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5_ORdihVW2fSv3qZg_CsrCmzyH9_FdJEx1V4x7GivlEdNkXz2x6pAJUtKcAY1J97rxnTZiraaCXcD1pjX-qmmozXrqe7T36ueujan9Q2MLZI4qZjRdbHV7__8iH23p0OLL0hpWt4DbA7/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5_ORdihVW2fSv3qZg_CsrCmzyH9_FdJEx1V4x7GivlEdNkXz2x6pAJUtKcAY1J97rxnTZiraaCXcD1pjX-qmmozXrqe7T36ueujan9Q2MLZI4qZjRdbHV7__8iH23p0OLL0hpWt4DbA7/s400/IMG_1956.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Native Fashion Now was originally created for the Peabody Essex Museum and is now on tour. Despite the name, it is actually more like 60+ years of Native Fashion, because it starts with some 1950s designs by Lloyd Kiva New.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf22UMDglE6WFYttX8uypIOXRrIURXrI1KJtArw7apdtXbZjsh3Ex30JjYPWvRhkPXs6NDDwXSNnWVuq7Psw4UxYQuYyThLi014rFU81UHepLL33isIh2aIIp9uVDSWnmXblQkujIUkJNU/s1600/IMG_1958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf22UMDglE6WFYttX8uypIOXRrIURXrI1KJtArw7apdtXbZjsh3Ex30JjYPWvRhkPXs6NDDwXSNnWVuq7Psw4UxYQuYyThLi014rFU81UHepLL33isIh2aIIp9uVDSWnmXblQkujIUkJNU/s320/IMG_1958.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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FAB</div>
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The main point of the show was to show the diversity and the skill of many different kinds of Native fashion designers. Some are reinterpreting traditional designs and techniques, some are experimental and avant-garde, and some are just making awesome, wearable clothes. </div>
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I lusted after this skirt:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNnDB74GdJmUJoYYcC12IlKOTM19xS-7CLvyQcYaYlgpLl2_vAWIOt9pcNUdGRFwtT3qnJctOmZqQrGWTCuyk9TlpUcKZor70n7jCqoXDH-tJfOZ5ZssBAiffV6tr3ED9ETPtwzbmMGHG/s1600/IMG_1959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNnDB74GdJmUJoYYcC12IlKOTM19xS-7CLvyQcYaYlgpLl2_vAWIOt9pcNUdGRFwtT3qnJctOmZqQrGWTCuyk9TlpUcKZor70n7jCqoXDH-tJfOZ5ZssBAiffV6tr3ED9ETPtwzbmMGHG/s320/IMG_1959.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Virgil Ortiz collaboration with Donna Karan</div>
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Loved this outfit but knew that I could never pull it off:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCTZP-YEQJoa0lDZ1R50Dt8pGfh5sHMTsSOQpl_4xEGuwey3MQ9wK4AXvMI6uSRCnp3azO4TqAyczShsqVD4fexiiHbJJac2tiyxk_dqVTwPnE1jtTJelzJo4xiT0bHGmXtbKy3wjujXj/s1600/IMG_1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCTZP-YEQJoa0lDZ1R50Dt8pGfh5sHMTsSOQpl_4xEGuwey3MQ9wK4AXvMI6uSRCnp3azO4TqAyczShsqVD4fexiiHbJJac2tiyxk_dqVTwPnE1jtTJelzJo4xiT0bHGmXtbKy3wjujXj/s320/IMG_1963.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Jamie Okuma</div>
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This was another favorite:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTk7FhosSYct0YMAEIhyphenhyphenQ2YuThsx7xSUQPLwyqew4X6jso8WgvvBqpWtxtzqzUrlsytFpNqICaxGX9CFCfFVTPZc3S9V2Jdk-VovSsX8AWh3zw1I66a_hxvXhbxZ94uIu5o6vMlLanUWw/s1600/IMG_1960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTk7FhosSYct0YMAEIhyphenhyphenQ2YuThsx7xSUQPLwyqew4X6jso8WgvvBqpWtxtzqzUrlsytFpNqICaxGX9CFCfFVTPZc3S9V2Jdk-VovSsX8AWh3zw1I66a_hxvXhbxZ94uIu5o6vMlLanUWw/s320/IMG_1960.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Dorothy Grant "She-Wolf Tuxedo"</div>
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Overall the mannequins and the presentation was top-notch. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_Vdm_j2yqGrUvABG8sseMoLlt_Riwj8ci-EsAw67YHdx5zQ-8yNIIZKuYH_ilWBeQT5bvjy9oOAkKoo2xDL92O7AHdWl34anE00Oc87jvraE18JkecRla1o3Mc0-NEmpQM6ybF_pvZFR/s1600/IMG_1998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_Vdm_j2yqGrUvABG8sseMoLlt_Riwj8ci-EsAw67YHdx5zQ-8yNIIZKuYH_ilWBeQT5bvjy9oOAkKoo2xDL92O7AHdWl34anE00Oc87jvraE18JkecRla1o3Mc0-NEmpQM6ybF_pvZFR/s320/IMG_1998.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The only thing that seemed weird to me was how most of the jewelry was shown on full torsos. It just felt like too big of a display mount for relatively small objects. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUybk9v3Yr_8_xLarEAfN7a4zC3rUGJKJt4WEKKcxIeY9yRafRGS8wthLK6ERc1pipWVwjy0RDQNMa6qhXulzaSaAGDSZdFrz95XzHLJpzGz9IF0cBsyF8BMLRAokm6JG6pEP1BrHrHpDm/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUybk9v3Yr_8_xLarEAfN7a4zC3rUGJKJt4WEKKcxIeY9yRafRGS8wthLK6ERc1pipWVwjy0RDQNMa6qhXulzaSaAGDSZdFrz95XzHLJpzGz9IF0cBsyF8BMLRAokm6JG6pEP1BrHrHpDm/s320/IMG_1962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and the mannequin boobs are keeping it from hanging flat! </div>
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Actually one more thing. While it is always nice to see something fuller-figured in a fashion exhibit, it highlights yet another pitfall of mannequins with heads. If you fill out the body, the head starts to seem...small. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7peUonfhyjgzzDHDPwhF6EAOL_frm0o3HdPDBFCCM70N66Z6UwWp0DWPIUKrmj8EPeDHp6KZ1BvielMqkaWj58TpECVwH15JpBMdIgW5fmkM_mSeAqNagMMYHW6WtY86QblPFplHRfw61/s1600/IMG_1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7peUonfhyjgzzDHDPwhF6EAOL_frm0o3HdPDBFCCM70N66Z6UwWp0DWPIUKrmj8EPeDHp6KZ1BvielMqkaWj58TpECVwH15JpBMdIgW5fmkM_mSeAqNagMMYHW6WtY86QblPFplHRfw61/s320/IMG_1999.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sorry mannequin, I'm not trying to body shame you! It is just that, with more minimalist forms, the body can be whatever shape it needs to be, without limbs and heads calling attention to a "standard" size.</div>
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After that I wandered around the rest of the museum and saw more cool stuff. I loved this painting where baby Jesus shows us that his textile game is on point: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRHyDxzp9iSIiDJ76SEBQPv7B9e-FncN1YZ-apKl3whketLhgRff1ltMLOjBkZOkzInLQBdKkHsGjO6SyFE-sG0hiUJAQglKZ07i9ueZ0ybHvPqX8IKv8kFjmzJ9KLjehhhSLZBjDZKh7/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRHyDxzp9iSIiDJ76SEBQPv7B9e-FncN1YZ-apKl3whketLhgRff1ltMLOjBkZOkzInLQBdKkHsGjO6SyFE-sG0hiUJAQglKZ07i9ueZ0ybHvPqX8IKv8kFjmzJ9KLjehhhSLZBjDZKh7/s320/IMG_1973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thou shalt put a bird on it</div>
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And this trompe l'oeil painting that recreates the experience of finding something old in a museum collection and realizing no one ever properly cleaned it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02-YKC56pcaxzPsOAu6sUU2n6WwZaIQFJrtzRXHe7NBIn47ZCdgZrcthSluPEzV6DZv5VY66ipjTLTpCJoZptztgySCc4NqJlsOlJ3pRRkyoljRoM3hd__yGQ3GBs0JHZ3WFduX0deOY_/s1600/IMG_1976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02-YKC56pcaxzPsOAu6sUU2n6WwZaIQFJrtzRXHe7NBIn47ZCdgZrcthSluPEzV6DZv5VY66ipjTLTpCJoZptztgySCc4NqJlsOlJ3pRRkyoljRoM3hd__yGQ3GBs0JHZ3WFduX0deOY_/s320/IMG_1976.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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WTF there are PEANUTS back there?!?!</div>
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There was also a gallery of contemporary Native art with some serious social messages. This rug was titled <i>Resist White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchal Colonization.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9umyatC9rdI2Uz6AeOxvC9tzeVdApYnsWLl3uLGM7LzVaFxj8HVvNs-vPYxt0N7jqfr_-BVFGvgC_79WNxouS2xyZFurHOVR_dTA9lIkersdP6lK_Xs8llx3DtX-Vlao9QTvafERjPEyz/s1600/IMG_1984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9umyatC9rdI2Uz6AeOxvC9tzeVdApYnsWLl3uLGM7LzVaFxj8HVvNs-vPYxt0N7jqfr_-BVFGvgC_79WNxouS2xyZFurHOVR_dTA9lIkersdP6lK_Xs8llx3DtX-Vlao9QTvafERjPEyz/s320/IMG_1984.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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#RealTalkThroughWeaving</div>
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I also came across this sculpture and at first I was like <i>Awww cuuuute </i>but then I saw it was maybe crushing a bird with its body?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprnIh-fUGXACKnMRkrYi5ssn3hAWhfHcXrdvKtJfqoTdDhIO2g1A30-cjpwKd0W5RDPuymwTcAk55n-4v0dfbMQisJ703fXMR5ocFlrrL5phyXu-ACwnD8ymBWlMkHtICtgWLLxyBqnLH/s1600/IMG_1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprnIh-fUGXACKnMRkrYi5ssn3hAWhfHcXrdvKtJfqoTdDhIO2g1A30-cjpwKd0W5RDPuymwTcAk55n-4v0dfbMQisJ703fXMR5ocFlrrL5phyXu-ACwnD8ymBWlMkHtICtgWLLxyBqnLH/s320/IMG_1986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then the title of the piece is <i>Seal + Penguin 4 Ever</i> and now I'm even more delighted and confused. </div>
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Next I headed over to the Oregon Historical Society. On the stairs up to their main Oregon history exhibit they had this fun display of artifacts:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrkvTBzY-qBdQ2IWVi3QEMGPKJjlpTC5AKPFWgRj7ricxPAksITAJWwuXXJpFLyLNxLH4YOvHxQKOjW3M3QXVH-13DpnlmOBmGqG8CEnpJB0DjW5XkWJNBypgDfwR9lIQPzEpGRoEY7Ag/s1600/IMG_2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrkvTBzY-qBdQ2IWVi3QEMGPKJjlpTC5AKPFWgRj7ricxPAksITAJWwuXXJpFLyLNxLH4YOvHxQKOjW3M3QXVH-13DpnlmOBmGqG8CEnpJB0DjW5XkWJNBypgDfwR9lIQPzEpGRoEY7Ag/s400/IMG_2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is a great idea, because often you have quirky stuff in the collection that doesn't fit in the main narrative of your core historical exhibit.</div>
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I also liked this case which was a great way to get a bunch of your random hats and shoes out on display, and visually say "Oregon is made up of many different kinds of people!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQnFCzm0q_yi4l_n0BhG8c1pgLWWOgHvh3Ra_YSvstWDQ7srM_mmJHUEuyhmrhD4blDWzo0Nt2u4Irkqft74vu_fzKBckofbVww-xv0y2cvuo5352q1Bdhjtv5Bge5SVNAl0UuNE6amgP/s1600/IMG_2003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQnFCzm0q_yi4l_n0BhG8c1pgLWWOgHvh3Ra_YSvstWDQ7srM_mmJHUEuyhmrhD4blDWzo0Nt2u4Irkqft74vu_fzKBckofbVww-xv0y2cvuo5352q1Bdhjtv5Bge5SVNAl0UuNE6amgP/s320/IMG_2003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But I didn't end up taking tons of pictures of this exhibit. There weren't even that many mannequins to make fun of. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXHfIJPBGZLenAzf7huoFJVqK2xhwK-khsh-rrWJwfSUpYwjPWoybLWmIyxrqacYjME6hW8GmVO4Up-NQAg0fWlYBm_kM0Ks7yKZA1qgexjpYvS8VcSqVc4olwLixeWwjfEHuwQPvz8oI/s1600/IMG_2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXHfIJPBGZLenAzf7huoFJVqK2xhwK-khsh-rrWJwfSUpYwjPWoybLWmIyxrqacYjME6hW8GmVO4Up-NQAg0fWlYBm_kM0Ks7yKZA1qgexjpYvS8VcSqVc4olwLixeWwjfEHuwQPvz8oI/s320/IMG_2007.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I did find these guys, which I guess are worth a chuckle </div>
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But then I found this amazing wall decal and got a selfie:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rLhV86xP3R3G12jtl48vdijKaguxEb9M8oDaiiPEhDg-Qu7ktwHX7-MslrUpSNggaQ57umfesOIxdJry_lYohBusETT-s3xTTkOZ-nVSxDSrJhaO2DIbWUczSjW59YPY8rJ2IZuTcnHN/s1600/IMG_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rLhV86xP3R3G12jtl48vdijKaguxEb9M8oDaiiPEhDg-Qu7ktwHX7-MslrUpSNggaQ57umfesOIxdJry_lYohBusETT-s3xTTkOZ-nVSxDSrJhaO2DIbWUczSjW59YPY8rJ2IZuTcnHN/s320/IMG_2009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Potential rival to the Kansas cow selfie</div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-45483805453380005652016-07-28T14:03:00.000-07:002016-07-28T21:36:37.362-07:00Let's All Come Together And Make Fun Of This Fashion BookElection season got you down? Let's join hands and find something we can all agree on. Like how great it is to make fun of really atrocious fashion history books.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf7rSicseBCiPUJvUGo4jXrzJ-HgehVaYUbd3vSWGcPqTd0Teojhwj3Bn4RiBFZH5qAKoI9Ryk1WI8ul2WVbd0L50wq48dMQcjvvmwXv04FMF8Mlk5tgsGk-uQZLafttb9LjhLi_UAvkE/s1600/ReadFilth.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf7rSicseBCiPUJvUGo4jXrzJ-HgehVaYUbd3vSWGcPqTd0Teojhwj3Bn4RiBFZH5qAKoI9Ryk1WI8ul2WVbd0L50wq48dMQcjvvmwXv04FMF8Mlk5tgsGk-uQZLafttb9LjhLi_UAvkE/s320/ReadFilth.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Sorry mom, there might be some swearing)</div>
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Several years ago I started reviewing academic fashion books for a publication called <i>Choice. </i>Most of my reviews have been positive, and only once <a href="http://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/search/label/bad%20fashion%20history">have I had the pleasure of ripping into one of those books and marking it as "not recommended." </a>This month I got another opportunity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdGO1u0-uQTPRJc4167GnBMCXV_ibBEKeNzHdzlFOLcK0ixBGJjDWKp5iPeDvl9XKMS7XI0LVNORydCmRtMX9Szb3tB1GilXSkY5LPVyP5Cq8PaNXToSkx_V7ctzsRflCWjYgU4Xn7CAp/s1600/Hooray.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdGO1u0-uQTPRJc4167GnBMCXV_ibBEKeNzHdzlFOLcK0ixBGJjDWKp5iPeDvl9XKMS7XI0LVNORydCmRtMX9Szb3tB1GilXSkY5LPVyP5Cq8PaNXToSkx_V7ctzsRflCWjYgU4Xn7CAp/s320/Hooray.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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The book is called <i>Fashion Innovators </i>and it basically a two-volume encyclopedia of fashion biographies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEpcj5r6gP8azp8PYYq4r5Ck7OY3mXgjHg1f_L0jH5Q8WJHuV1qBFR060JNeyDCyN6w_ZqvxFlfvakn-mb7jEehuel7hHsQGM4p7JPPM1FF6ccL2dJ6-XwwhNTGYmOmzCIeAkdDnk3YfT/s1600/IMG_1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEpcj5r6gP8azp8PYYq4r5Ck7OY3mXgjHg1f_L0jH5Q8WJHuV1qBFR060JNeyDCyN6w_ZqvxFlfvakn-mb7jEehuel7hHsQGM4p7JPPM1FF6ccL2dJ6-XwwhNTGYmOmzCIeAkdDnk3YfT/s320/IMG_1856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So I crack open the first volume and I notice is that it is almost all text, with only a few portrait illustrations which are creepy and look like police sketches.<br />
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HOLY CRAP</div>
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HIDE YOUR CHILDREN</div>
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So far, so terrifying. I head straight for the Chanel essay because that is a good litmus test of accuracy vs. repeating incorrect old myths. Sure enough, it talked about how she freed women from the corset, introduced the bob haircut, and basically singlehandedly invented fashion of the 1920s -- or as the book puts it, the "flaming 20's."<br />
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Ok, so there is definitely blood in the water now. I gleefully flip to the index to see who else is likely to have an error-ridden essay. Instead, I get distracted by a lot of names I don't know. And some I do know...but I'm not sure how they qualify as "one of the most innovative and influential individuals in the development of fashion." Like actors Dijimon Hounsou and Cameron Diaz.<br />
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I go to Hounsou's essay and see a pretty brief bit on a modeling career but most of it is about his acting. Now, each essay includes an "affiliation" sidebar, which is supposed to be about the "primary company or organization with which the individual has been most significantly associated." For example: Liz Claiborne's affiliation is "Liz Claiborne, Inc". But for Djimon Hounsou, his nearly full-page sidebar is about the movie <i>Amistad. </i>And no, they don't make some interesting case about it being a fashion movie. It is just a summary of the plot and what Hounsou had to say about working on it. <i> </i><br />
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I find other mystifying essays, many about people who are famous for things other than fashion. Such as Ellen Stewart, who did some fashion designing but is mostly known as an influential theater director and producer. Or doll designers Madame Alexander and Robert Tonner who are...famous for making dolls.<br />
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I also start noticing some glaring omissions. Where is Paul Poiret? Jeanne Lanvin? Elsa Schiaparelli? I go back to the Publisher's Note see that these biographies are mostly taken from a magazine called <i>Current Biography</i> which began publication in 1940. Ok, so I <i>guess</i> the scope of this book is actually 1940 onward, and <i>maybe</i> I can concede that their peak years were prior to that. BUT THEN YOUR BOOK SHOULD BE TITLED <i>FASHION INNOVATORS: 1940-PRESENT.</i><br />
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But this also starts to make more sense. I start to think that this book may actually have been written by a robot. They probably did a word search for "fashion" in all their <i>Current Biography </i>essays and just slapped together whatever came up.<br />
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The Publishers Note brags that the book has a "strong multi-ethnic, cross-gender focus" so maybe by including Dijmon Hounsou and Ellen Stewart they were trying to have more people of color. Fine. The fashion world could <i>certainly</i> do better on the diversity front. But the thing is, you don't exactly have to grasp for straws to come up with POC who are important and influential in the fashion world. Sure, Hounsou did some modeling and is black. But you know who also fits that criteria who wasn't included? TYSON BECKFORD.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7qbwEseRhh_rvIN1nSbFdj5QGLIcHMe3TaXf-4grp8x4j8wwKpNZ8k14Ob14Qb6NPkZhEo89SWoBfq54OkeJ1BnWHd9C3qxhy6-ER7zCP9HrR53XGb36wAH5Sgdaf1_SOiXb-SbgFAQq/s1600/Tyson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7qbwEseRhh_rvIN1nSbFdj5QGLIcHMe3TaXf-4grp8x4j8wwKpNZ8k14Ob14Qb6NPkZhEo89SWoBfq54OkeJ1BnWHd9C3qxhy6-ER7zCP9HrR53XGb36wAH5Sgdaf1_SOiXb-SbgFAQq/s320/Tyson.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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Easily the most successful and well-known male model of all time. </div>
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Once I starting thinking about it, I realized there were lots of POC who would be obvious choices for a book on fashion influencers and innovators but weren't included. Such as:<br />
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Robin Givhan<br />
Alexander Wang<br />
Tracy Reese<br />
Isabel Toledo<br />
Prabal Gurung<br />
Hanae Mori<br />
Grace Jones<br />
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Also, I'm totally willing to be convinced that Hounsou is more important than I realize. But then MAKE THE CASE in the essay rather than telling me he was in <i>LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE</i>.<br />
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And while white people aren't exactly struggling for representation in the fashion world, I still think that a book that made room for Cameron Diaz and Lauren Conrad could have made space for:<br />
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Kate Moss<br />
David Bowie<br />
Cecil Beaton<br />
Richard Avedon<br />
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Oh wait...one more you missed...</div>
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CHRISTIAN FUCKING DIOR</div>
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Yes, that's right. Let that sink in. AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FASHION BIOGRAPHIES THAT DOESN'T. INCLUDE. DIOR. </div>
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It is hard to top that but basically everywhere I looked this book was embarrassingly bad. Many of the essays were 10+ years out of date. For example, the "Life's Work" section of Alexander McQueen's bio ends with his "current" 2002 collaboration with YSL to create a woman's fragrance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOFS_AfANuL6qaT0DTTLY8tKsKQfVv5YZ4n35f_alwLJPb3xoKvqKQ-K5wiZIiJ6WhaEZrBCd2QTNN27-adLyudavoOKK41TXUWvCbqsSJM4A32hx0M8jNUT7HtcvEJJdh4qtBAHKgmuz/s1600/yikesgirlno.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOFS_AfANuL6qaT0DTTLY8tKsKQfVv5YZ4n35f_alwLJPb3xoKvqKQ-K5wiZIiJ6WhaEZrBCd2QTNN27-adLyudavoOKK41TXUWvCbqsSJM4A32hx0M8jNUT7HtcvEJJdh4qtBAHKgmuz/s320/yikesgirlno.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Speaking of the "Life's Work" section, it often included weird descriptions of physical appearance:<br />
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<i>A tiny, fragile woman with pale, almost luminous skin, a high forehead, prominent cheekbones, and deepest brown eyes, Mme. Gres was described as looking like "a Sunday school teacher," a "madonna" or "the prioress of a Normandy convent." </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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This feels sexist. This is sexist, right?</div>
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Or a combination of physical appearance and...other information?<br />
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<i>Nat Abelson was five feet seven and one half inches tall, weighed 165 pounds and had gray hair and brown eyes. He was of the Jewish faith and generally voted the Democrat ticket. </i><br />
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Is there a way to convey that information that doesn't </div>
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sound like I'm reading his FBI file?</div>
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I could go on and on. More weird sidebars, a totally useless and half-assed timeline at the end, and typos galore. But I'll leave you with just one final embarrassment.<br />
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Are you ready?<br />
<br />
Does anything seem off to you about this picture of "Yves St. Laurent"?<br />
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For those who don't know, YSL is pretty recognizable. More like this:<br />
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At first I thought <i>well maybe when he was very, very young</i> but even then I've never seen a picture of YSL without his glasses. I was just about to draw glasses on the picture when it hit me.<br />
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This is Hedi Slimane. He was creative director for Yves Saint Laurent from 2012 to early 2016.<br />
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Again. THEY PUT TOGETHER A BOOK ABOUT FASHION AND NO ONE WORKING ON THE PROJECT KNEW WHAT YVES SAINT LAURENT LOOKED LIKE.<br />
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Stay in fashion school, kids!ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-82273141745919056022016-07-13T19:37:00.000-07:002016-07-13T19:37:16.325-07:00Pictorial Recap Of My Trip To Montana"Hey Clara, got any plans for the 4th of July weekend?"<br />
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"Yeah, I'm taking a trip to Montana!"<br />
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"Weren't you just there?"<br />
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"No, that was Kansas. It is a different place."<br />
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"Oh."<br />
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Yes, Montana. Where all my pictures end up looking like default desktop backgrounds. When I wasn't snapping perfect scenery shots I was filling up my camera with amazing mannequins at the local history museum in Glasgow.<br />
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YAAS</div>
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WORK IT</div>
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Zombie Cheerleader?</div>
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Maybe the scariest photo I have ever taken</div>
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Hey, weren't you wearing glasses <a href="http://thingsivacuumed.blogspot.com/2013/07/montana-and-mannequinland.html">last time</a>? </div>
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Lucille Ball?</div>
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But there were things at the museum other than mannequins. I found these drawings in the bathroom and have so many questions:</div>
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"Pictures drawn by Judge Jim Shea. He often 'doodled' while sitting on the bench"</div>
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Um ok, sure. But like, what year are we talking here? These ladies are in circa 1900 clothing and hats. Was he doodling around the turn of the century? So, like, he was just drawing pictures of attractive ladies in the courtroom (or attractive ladies in his mind???) while he was supposed to be listening to a case? Or alternately, he was doodling some decades later and was just thinking about women in old-timey clothes? Which, I mean, women in old-timey clothes takes up a lot of my brain space too but somehow this seems less ok? Or great? Like maybe he was a judge who actually really wanted to be a hat designer? I really need some answers Judge Shea.</div>
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Next up was a day at the family farm. The reason for this visit was that the farming community where my mom grew up was celebrating its centennial. My great-grandparents homesteaded in 1916 and my uncle still farms and lives on the site of the original homestead. </div>
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(I think the bouncy castle is new)</div>
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To provide an authentic historic farm experience (and to keep 100+ family members from traipsing through my aunt and uncle's house) we had these delightful farm bathrooms for the day:</div>
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At one point we loaded onto a school bus for a tour of various historic homestead sites, which basically meant we were off-roading in a vehicle that most definitely wasn't built for the purpose. Our reward though was fresh peas straight from the field.</div>
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(possibly the only vegetables I ate all weekend)</div>
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And more opportunities for beautiful photos:<br />
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After farm day was the official centennial celebration at the high school. It rained the night before so the parking lot was full of cars that looked like this:<br />
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For lunch we had food that looked like this:</div>
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Is coleslaw a vegetable?</div>
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One thing I learned this summer is that apparently styrofoam is still a thing. When you arrive in Kansas or Montana, they basically just hand you a styrofoam container and are like "Here hippie, throw this away." </div>
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My mom (second from left in the row of perfect hair flips) was a senior in high school when they celebrated the 50th. She gave a speech for that celebration and so they asked her back for the centennial. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMYV_IVV8Xri-J6KGuOC3s9FNcXH64TQfkwGn6rf_YEcxMMrbaYUyA4kczIiUvJG1oVnVqSbSQHiVWEfVgp0mlMW-I9hjhpO0YFuDx6f3NHky90KgAGvVOOJKqbn463TyFN8bA3EVGPlU/s1600/IMG_1835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMYV_IVV8Xri-J6KGuOC3s9FNcXH64TQfkwGn6rf_YEcxMMrbaYUyA4kczIiUvJG1oVnVqSbSQHiVWEfVgp0mlMW-I9hjhpO0YFuDx6f3NHky90KgAGvVOOJKqbn463TyFN8bA3EVGPlU/s320/IMG_1835.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Of course she rocked it</div>
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All in all, it was a pretty great trip. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKnBpUseCb5kprhyphenhyphen_YcP3OUwBgOO7cpHnUmWE1ZgDFU-v8k7EbgtAFbVPU2mLZnwcqHdFmhX4Dc-K0y8XnK_SFnMx9ccUCeSWYbtFq3m0dvByB99qKKDusHSZFM78yPXHv0_MA8HrN6GP/s1600/IMG_1846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKnBpUseCb5kprhyphenhyphen_YcP3OUwBgOO7cpHnUmWE1ZgDFU-v8k7EbgtAFbVPU2mLZnwcqHdFmhX4Dc-K0y8XnK_SFnMx9ccUCeSWYbtFq3m0dvByB99qKKDusHSZFM78yPXHv0_MA8HrN6GP/s320/IMG_1846.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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You just keep doing you, Montana. </div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-89912354825838000112016-06-19T20:28:00.000-07:002016-06-19T20:28:42.433-07:00Pictorial Recap Of My Trip To KansasRecently, I took a trip to Kansas to visit my cool cousin Laura who is a Mennonite pastor.<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIepxpvz_6a6wJAD3MHJw_lkXw4kmYk583ZXR91wzj14N7-7yUno3az1tE9k_FBqAovI3usOTCNcSEW13H0IkYftWhujFHJMjTryrpiM9JvSaCCTvBNjEJt9WvAqMj2i32B696QJXFc8Yu/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIepxpvz_6a6wJAD3MHJw_lkXw4kmYk583ZXR91wzj14N7-7yUno3az1tE9k_FBqAovI3usOTCNcSEW13H0IkYftWhujFHJMjTryrpiM9JvSaCCTvBNjEJt9WvAqMj2i32B696QJXFc8Yu/s400/IMG_1575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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There were also cats there! I love cats. This cat was pretty into me:</div>
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Less into me: This turtle </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFw6jJSLg3c">LESLIE KNOPE WAS RIGHT</a></div>
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We went to lots of museums! Our first stop was the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum in Goessel. There was lots of stuff to see there, including some interesting garments:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdBiFTweID78lAf0xBegjhqNid65B46BkP5SS-A1Q7CdatqdkE2F5M0xEcyRCoWPdrsxeALvP2AIuxzMZAWirOFrIM0Iej1M8kMy2NM2Typ-4CgaR-cIpu53auh3awAx_uP48AqUYvzuz/s1600/IMG_1503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdBiFTweID78lAf0xBegjhqNid65B46BkP5SS-A1Q7CdatqdkE2F5M0xEcyRCoWPdrsxeALvP2AIuxzMZAWirOFrIM0Iej1M8kMy2NM2Typ-4CgaR-cIpu53auh3awAx_uP48AqUYvzuz/s400/IMG_1503.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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That piece turned out to have a grim but intriguing label:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVe7B1gmun7bxseaKoAxig3NnqUs-08VlLhP8oUjoEKrL6379Ti_wxw3iRWwEQTc4oLmeszoI4QVQU1vR0gg5YwT1Zadpt4_jy0u47ekEfHvFMy-7Qh6pXfls9L8iMq-lApD9C97kHPVx/s1600/IMG_1502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVe7B1gmun7bxseaKoAxig3NnqUs-08VlLhP8oUjoEKrL6379Ti_wxw3iRWwEQTc4oLmeszoI4QVQU1vR0gg5YwT1Zadpt4_jy0u47ekEfHvFMy-7Qh6pXfls9L8iMq-lApD9C97kHPVx/s400/IMG_1502.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Death Shroud</i></div>
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<i>Made by Mrs. Elizabeth Schmidt for her husband Jacob, as was required by the Russian government for anyone boarding a ship</i></div>
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"Oh yeah! Immigrating to America is totally fun and easy! Hey though, we do have a strict BYO death shroud policy. You know, just in case. Enjoy the trip!"</div>
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-- The Russian Government </div>
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There were also lots of things made out of wheat, like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-j47C2s5PAfsqaMestV7_iqjf0DGP3-v9QWP831asRmORYM5K6S5240lEe_gZlelo-XvbQal2vRcTvL1uP9dX_-Jkv1y1Ndx0bVhp4cB45kKFUahbgNRW4S_JOtlalsuxMtW1MN5Gz8V7/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-j47C2s5PAfsqaMestV7_iqjf0DGP3-v9QWP831asRmORYM5K6S5240lEe_gZlelo-XvbQal2vRcTvL1uP9dX_-Jkv1y1Ndx0bVhp4cB45kKFUahbgNRW4S_JOtlalsuxMtW1MN5Gz8V7/s400/IMG_1522.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSy22JpV8-ZJHl6VO1SGGx9pJ0jGTa2pqMuOM1-OHKlmbNXzOJIc5vU4D6EpBoPbOY1aHhmXblfhgOd5WiKEm95S1tIq8HSgP7XHfH47a408apKDS7rM9DdM1fwwihs4cAb-765o24sNt/s1600/IMG_1523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSy22JpV8-ZJHl6VO1SGGx9pJ0jGTa2pqMuOM1-OHKlmbNXzOJIc5vU4D6EpBoPbOY1aHhmXblfhgOd5WiKEm95S1tIq8HSgP7XHfH47a408apKDS7rM9DdM1fwwihs4cAb-765o24sNt/s400/IMG_1523.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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"Cool! I mean, why NOT make a bell out of wheat?"</div>
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"Because it doesn't ring."</div>
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"To be fair though, the actual Liberty Bell doesn't ring either."</div>
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"That was a sick burn on the Liberty Bell."</div>
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I also saw one of the most effective "do not touch" signs I've ever seen, which was on a scary-looking piece of farming equipment:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxWr6muine7xrlQYku097Mc4TVF4KNrQpxd0w53pyCqvXSUaQy4ST4hxD5XgjdesMTJhxn9lT-UOjuTm1pLigqCZuX2hlHQ6kVGIix7qa5iwJoHPvBR2kGwMHPfKWKQri_AOApLlGqPr5/s1600/IMG_1524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxWr6muine7xrlQYku097Mc4TVF4KNrQpxd0w53pyCqvXSUaQy4ST4hxD5XgjdesMTJhxn9lT-UOjuTm1pLigqCZuX2hlHQ6kVGIix7qa5iwJoHPvBR2kGwMHPfKWKQri_AOApLlGqPr5/s400/IMG_1524.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
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If you <i><b>really</b></i> want people not to touch, add a splash of fake blood</div>
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We also went to the Eisenhower Presidential Museum, and had a pants-busting good time:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-fAYdeEsJkJzhQUPODQxf9xUpNQ8CRkFcFwMhb_-EcGEedd6VX5zV2lRBpkMKJKAndtE5KmSqwXZuDQ3eJQ_dkfBRQW9MsV4H-KpU3FQPFjWfZmbWpg6ejpj6W9ycbcZB459XaavRkdu/s1600/IMG_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-fAYdeEsJkJzhQUPODQxf9xUpNQ8CRkFcFwMhb_-EcGEedd6VX5zV2lRBpkMKJKAndtE5KmSqwXZuDQ3eJQ_dkfBRQW9MsV4H-KpU3FQPFjWfZmbWpg6ejpj6W9ycbcZB459XaavRkdu/s400/IMG_1526.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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(I nominate this for the Museum Mannequin Fail Hall of Fame)</div>
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There was also cake?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb4zPZk29NnBJFqKd6wQdVo0wSTHTKCBksHqmsuf7-it-ajreT5FX0WZTvwemhoz-jEPUG408paAIirfjSjeuMTBp_QGB_RzkkGWq5jxI9A6tpmWyUXNSpQnxZHdxYCQy4G6Iri5VdLRq/s1600/IMG_1527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb4zPZk29NnBJFqKd6wQdVo0wSTHTKCBksHqmsuf7-it-ajreT5FX0WZTvwemhoz-jEPUG408paAIirfjSjeuMTBp_QGB_RzkkGWq5jxI9A6tpmWyUXNSpQnxZHdxYCQy4G6Iri5VdLRq/s400/IMG_1527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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THERE SHOULD NOT BE CAKE</div>
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Some Mamie Eisenhower fabulousness:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pkVVQQFmpVNk4ZY0jq1AxiIDU7uvN-Njz51_Y49kAIQBpdotIQcFrJ_-41jDNyXlUSDgRQLfGOwdOQGTST-V8StGUu2ruya3POd5pmp3yg6ek_mPeHa4EGCp-nnMN9ZnrA1OpQWFcrME/s1600/IMG_1528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pkVVQQFmpVNk4ZY0jq1AxiIDU7uvN-Njz51_Y49kAIQBpdotIQcFrJ_-41jDNyXlUSDgRQLfGOwdOQGTST-V8StGUu2ruya3POd5pmp3yg6ek_mPeHa4EGCp-nnMN9ZnrA1OpQWFcrME/s400/IMG_1528.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Also, I hope that their social media campaign encourages people to IKE US ON FACEBOOK because if not that is a missed opportunity. </div>
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In between museum visits I enjoyed some delightful local food. I can verify that there ARE hipsters in Kansas and that--along with proper protocol of burgers with bacon jam and water in mason jars--they have come up with a new innovation of checks arriving in old timey library books: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aABPyZ8OQIkFB7j-jmS_1ur6zPIqWBUyPL_nQ3L0-TOlsL4kI2P6qcoC5wKZw6caXWgB0z-KDD4Y2M4bPAWoA5oNlUSnoRI_y4QBs_SZQFgDEAealhTGPwtgcF6DUUEYhFEZW8qeiI9s/s1600/IMG_1550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aABPyZ8OQIkFB7j-jmS_1ur6zPIqWBUyPL_nQ3L0-TOlsL4kI2P6qcoC5wKZw6caXWgB0z-KDD4Y2M4bPAWoA5oNlUSnoRI_y4QBs_SZQFgDEAealhTGPwtgcF6DUUEYhFEZW8qeiI9s/s400/IMG_1550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also had a simple diner waffle that would make Leslie Knope feel right at home:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJYDVRH0EQplBIg_198Pa-QrWuhFUKocsTqXgPluFjeybYmhNXP1_mwZoUEkMAKgCyexYY9HbwbAzmhZuGJ5xnB-ahc1hyphenhyphencOvzqLcvfxV0-5zPqmSPUe-XCU3voBQIXFveR4lrJUaBxik/s1600/IMG_1579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJYDVRH0EQplBIg_198Pa-QrWuhFUKocsTqXgPluFjeybYmhNXP1_mwZoUEkMAKgCyexYY9HbwbAzmhZuGJ5xnB-ahc1hyphenhyphencOvzqLcvfxV0-5zPqmSPUe-XCU3voBQIXFveR4lrJUaBxik/s400/IMG_1579.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I introduced Laura to Miss Fisher and we watched it outside:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN65BRhyphenhyphenA-JXtg7-KLKAJkl4mkLEa7_qVlxL8gjcLL17u3KgwsbQf86N-aEiXPTicYkpPOFSDHWCNZpmA5-arrawC1U2HUamsj4uPgOECDbNlRN27Ma7OM2Qtg10UrQV61veReZV-PKXvT/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN65BRhyphenhyphenA-JXtg7-KLKAJkl4mkLEa7_qVlxL8gjcLL17u3KgwsbQf86N-aEiXPTicYkpPOFSDHWCNZpmA5-arrawC1U2HUamsj4uPgOECDbNlRN27Ma7OM2Qtg10UrQV61veReZV-PKXvT/s400/IMG_1547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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STILL SO GOOD</div>
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We went to a bookstore where I found out the new euphemism for Christian romance novels (historical and/or Amish) is "Gentle Reads"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8W9hyphenhyphenNIR_YxRwMnJTSBfQ3bK3XFeHDoIGP6MaU98RokPLg0cIpZngkyrxXKFtMWN41Z4_bvZaeJ4z-uGYtTrUTWWJueOjMhE2PBPwY2LgRuqKCiozWAUnT9dBIzAj-c_QexdSKRhzm3hyphenhyphen/s1600/IMG_1542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8W9hyphenhyphenNIR_YxRwMnJTSBfQ3bK3XFeHDoIGP6MaU98RokPLg0cIpZngkyrxXKFtMWN41Z4_bvZaeJ4z-uGYtTrUTWWJueOjMhE2PBPwY2LgRuqKCiozWAUnT9dBIzAj-c_QexdSKRhzm3hyphenhyphen/s400/IMG_1542.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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And in a proud moment, I managed to take a selfie with some cows:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSx1SmVoe4pgMvuSy7kB7gtWHLw-bwX_M7-74eoa3u0nADOiD-0mFI46N9-fhnGlIwg1tNjZrgJmz0fxaNBveDrVN3uiW2uQGyxZjT4iY57JGwUo64ZMeWD_FOUEOZURK5lDImg-8YHZ-/s1600/IMG_1572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSx1SmVoe4pgMvuSy7kB7gtWHLw-bwX_M7-74eoa3u0nADOiD-0mFI46N9-fhnGlIwg1tNjZrgJmz0fxaNBveDrVN3uiW2uQGyxZjT4iY57JGwUo64ZMeWD_FOUEOZURK5lDImg-8YHZ-/s400/IMG_1572.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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THE FULL KANSAS EXPERIENCE</div>
ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-34029441603911569592016-05-30T21:34:00.001-07:002016-05-30T21:35:09.512-07:00Mannequins of InstagramPeople: Hey Clara, what's new with you?<br />
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Me: Not much. Same old stuff.<br />
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People: How is work?<br />
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Me: Great, museum is great.<br />
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People: So...really, nothing new?<br />
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Me: Not really.<br />
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People: You sure?<br />
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Me: Oh well I got married and gave birth to triplets.<br />
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People: THAT'S AMA-<br />
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Me: No. That didn't happen.<br />
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People: ...<br />
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Me: Actually I did have one pretty life changing thing.<br />
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People: Tell me about it!<br />
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Me: I (sort of last minute) got a ticket to the Beyoncé concert at Centurylink and it was phenomenal. I still haven't recovered and not sure I ever will. Here, let me show you some photos on my phone:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_sdPwA0PGvoDyrH5Ns5k2QRNWHC8vsNU8Q74nseWf09kBTmvp5okCkCqtmbFQ_D2BRfBdnJQ-fUrfcBpPCRbEUHf_x_aVhQpmJqgqoQp5wGEByK4jmRoNjBZ7ztg9BNZ1AFQfjZMNOUA/s1600/IMG_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_sdPwA0PGvoDyrH5Ns5k2QRNWHC8vsNU8Q74nseWf09kBTmvp5okCkCqtmbFQ_D2BRfBdnJQ-fUrfcBpPCRbEUHf_x_aVhQpmJqgqoQp5wGEByK4jmRoNjBZ7ztg9BNZ1AFQfjZMNOUA/s400/IMG_1454.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI5eHlmeYQ6R0Dl3GVStOCN-pvY2SMiH-7gG8RLyXDa6yGGy6WqhDXUO8CxB4iNVzpiTYHtIbq9ZwHCizeSo5-dzZ2DjmZygCz-DpQ4uInZawpgQHzuArWM-0mGTXOUNIxyU58ao0Eddb/s1600/IMG_1464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI5eHlmeYQ6R0Dl3GVStOCN-pvY2SMiH-7gG8RLyXDa6yGGy6WqhDXUO8CxB4iNVzpiTYHtIbq9ZwHCizeSo5-dzZ2DjmZygCz-DpQ4uInZawpgQHzuArWM-0mGTXOUNIxyU58ao0Eddb/s400/IMG_1464.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqBsD5efeNhMY3hSAr8vnVZCTzPij-2S5gINaz8bnvzwe8xQ9qejn3kR_aBuLpA3nZBBIxCotPpgILiVva0tgdmgcmsDdO_VgoqB-NyWxwOhTQmuUftKeepGrg0ms_p6M9Q-LOBksRXzx/s1600/IMG_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqBsD5efeNhMY3hSAr8vnVZCTzPij-2S5gINaz8bnvzwe8xQ9qejn3kR_aBuLpA3nZBBIxCotPpgILiVva0tgdmgcmsDdO_VgoqB-NyWxwOhTQmuUftKeepGrg0ms_p6M9Q-LOBksRXzx/s400/IMG_1474.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4endRhC_85UmjRnOQbJwEb1050OAGnRUXmYsF2R2No3oP3-cDJdGoBp-iPZ361iBYmxgcBOFwKBe6nleOn_aGgyAs8F6Swk_dBRUdLsV20n_0pWuE_9g-UlLsALziCqr3yd17dK_N-7vj/s1600/IMG_1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4endRhC_85UmjRnOQbJwEb1050OAGnRUXmYsF2R2No3oP3-cDJdGoBp-iPZ361iBYmxgcBOFwKBe6nleOn_aGgyAs8F6Swk_dBRUdLsV20n_0pWuE_9g-UlLsALziCqr3yd17dK_N-7vj/s400/IMG_1476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3FTBihHRjaO2r_F31CY1CHlFFCTDRCK2n3zc59yY5udWqylcu9_B7NFn_PQ6shWdT5e8T-OLzlXcRjPy7yyavJ9Ys3sf9TQh3_o_GKVpisgl9GwiZ3FJGo0r0SxW1hBWDSM3uJzcT6ho/s1600/IMG_1481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3FTBihHRjaO2r_F31CY1CHlFFCTDRCK2n3zc59yY5udWqylcu9_B7NFn_PQ6shWdT5e8T-OLzlXcRjPy7yyavJ9Ys3sf9TQh3_o_GKVpisgl9GwiZ3FJGo0r0SxW1hBWDSM3uJzcT6ho/s400/IMG_1481.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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People: Yes, those are probably the best pictures I have ever seen.<br />
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Me: Oh! Actually one more thing. I joined Instagram! The first picture I posted was of the Beyoncé concert.<br />
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People: Obviously.<br />
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Me: But I think, going forward, I want to showcase my collection of museum mannequin pictures.<br />
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People: Fantastic. That is a much neglected niche on the internet. How do I follow you?<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/clevaberg/"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH7i0bekh-xS664lx1v4sl9YHq2DgAj9jbeC7lqLqYki33_s_7IZbZ-YRwKMaPi-DbmbNkGyIZe3Ok5RnC9y2KZzi-Z52vnSdIXFatzQ0-L2Sgb2lZ3o7hZ1rZ2J-akDhilrlX0zo_hyH/s400/Instagram.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Me: Search for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clevaberg/">clevaberg</a> (or click the photo above)<br />
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People: Cool. Have you joined Tinder yet?<br />
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Me: We're done here.ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7353700232402705075.post-3936974945730824522016-05-15T21:58:00.001-07:002016-05-15T21:58:46.155-07:00Close Encounters With ObjectsLast weekend was amazing. First off, I had some fantastic musical experiences. I heard my Dad perform Messiaen's <i>Quartet for the End of Time</i>, attended <i>The Flying Dutchman</i> at the Seattle Opera, and finally watched <i>Lemonade. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQEiTPMKUW2_P3K2bj_YExqOAOQ_VVm752OdEom-jUGNC754qcaY8Np1A_LGCbeATGmNzxLYUlwP2gI0vbd0xRVFRPKPghcVDU4dLAi7QcgHE3XxSCBR2QhIJbykmqt6aLsi5f6kYQ5Ai/s1600/TufferFlyingDutchman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQEiTPMKUW2_P3K2bj_YExqOAOQ_VVm752OdEom-jUGNC754qcaY8Np1A_LGCbeATGmNzxLYUlwP2gI0vbd0xRVFRPKPghcVDU4dLAi7QcgHE3XxSCBR2QhIJbykmqt6aLsi5f6kYQ5Ai/s400/TufferFlyingDutchman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRbkPRQd9LkpnOrxgITgKD3CsKxOVW4bRhIeT6iuwsIOTZ8IgmHVtYYoFy1S1kCsFQ4-uVeD4RM4EwsSb-bdfMCA02y0ku2dZ2jOr5OW8GrI2uLvIRf22OWj16gc0FYajPW386aJiwFjF/s1600/Lemonade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRbkPRQd9LkpnOrxgITgKD3CsKxOVW4bRhIeT6iuwsIOTZ8IgmHVtYYoFy1S1kCsFQ4-uVeD4RM4EwsSb-bdfMCA02y0ku2dZ2jOr5OW8GrI2uLvIRf22OWj16gc0FYajPW386aJiwFjF/s400/Lemonade.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For me, experiencing Beyonce in <i>Lemonade </i>was not unlike attending the opera or listening to Messiaen. I was totally into it, but also keenly aware that there were layers of understanding that were beyond me. And that's ok. I understand houndstooth on a deeper level than most people so it goes both ways.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF3ZtyyNslczIiFQ7yyXCBEu_4EvR4DXk5XkmX-wsHb7Ya09RdqS9OHMJ-in1AJMHJ4QuFGji5qZOQNvLeJkGgkgb0XFk0PfeR1mXvatCKC7r5TAg45PxqvDao5PGd5Oxax7oOi6_6cTt/s1600/Houndstooth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF3ZtyyNslczIiFQ7yyXCBEu_4EvR4DXk5XkmX-wsHb7Ya09RdqS9OHMJ-in1AJMHJ4QuFGji5qZOQNvLeJkGgkgb0XFk0PfeR1mXvatCKC7r5TAg45PxqvDao5PGd5Oxax7oOi6_6cTt/s400/Houndstooth.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW</b></div>
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Anyway, in addition to the musical experiences I also gave three very successful "Behind the Seams" programs at the museum. These events grew out of the "garment viewings" I used to do after my annual fashion lectures. Basically it is just getting a group of people in a room and taking a closer look at some artifacts in the collection. Unlike an exhibit where you can only see a few sides of a garment, I can show interior construction and details that get lost when it is dressed on a mannequin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hPlvTlhGpRHTq1fkL8oNzVek8CCDbd94_A1Lp8znAD3OxO0z86mv4_TPAF90Pm1lcuAgiHw7eqyvUNpBTLlSL-kfu7m2dt8clteUvEhyQIu7yMnLhN_2Y1DBwJ3yPSJp58sOAuompUUa/s1600/Behind+the+Seams+skirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hPlvTlhGpRHTq1fkL8oNzVek8CCDbd94_A1Lp8znAD3OxO0z86mv4_TPAF90Pm1lcuAgiHw7eqyvUNpBTLlSL-kfu7m2dt8clteUvEhyQIu7yMnLhN_2Y1DBwJ3yPSJp58sOAuompUUa/s400/Behind+the+Seams+skirt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What I love about the programs (and the ones last Saturday were particularly good on this score) is that they end up being really collaborative. Often there are people in attendance who have lifetimes of knowledge about vintage clothing or sewing and they can point out things that I might have missed. Many garments are altered over time, or have multiple parts that don't go together clearly, so there can be a lot to discuss. In the first session we had a lively debate about the alteration history of a three-piece Balenciaga ensemble. Was the skirt original? Was the top altered? Was that weird peplum made out of the old lining?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgwgdOCKVhoh7hofyoMyT-Bmnx_sKFPpjRz8uMbOSoVRkePX8Scp56nIzC0BnXjNf_lPdak71MSTCUWszpxvaHL9aS874L1Iy8QmQj-oC5aXI7BwCrG4LOa9Ng5mmbpGA_2l-i0_t6YXd/s1600/Chris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgwgdOCKVhoh7hofyoMyT-Bmnx_sKFPpjRz8uMbOSoVRkePX8Scp56nIzC0BnXjNf_lPdak71MSTCUWszpxvaHL9aS874L1Iy8QmQj-oC5aXI7BwCrG4LOa9Ng5mmbpGA_2l-i0_t6YXd/s320/Chris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I take no responsibility for that embarrassing hemline</i></div>
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Usually historians are taught to use documents and photos as primary sources, but it is much less common to be taught how to "read" an artifact. I got some good instructions on how to do it in grad school, but I also recently got the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dress-Detective-Practical-Object-Based-Research/dp/1472573978/"><i>The Dress Detective: A Practical Guide to Object-Based Research</i> <i>in Fashion </i></a>which does a great job of explaining it in simple steps. Now I'm all inspired to do more of this kind of programming! History gets so much more exciting when it is presented as something to explore and discuss, than as indisputable facts.<br />
...<br />
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Huh so this ended up being a very weird post. Not much snarkiness, no update on the fan inventory, AND NOT ONE GIF!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI_XaLxgWjLkvo6J3QRBzrb4wb3kFe251_yFPlpotEm-vX4qLO0VnKy_QVNhGfUysbkeG0Xd5hL4Ei7dyEmGNlkdBQKpPKmJ2NCgYOsYNJlrUT6tchdePAk3r4gIGAlZEHzDVwInn236n/s1600/Shade.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgI_XaLxgWjLkvo6J3QRBzrb4wb3kFe251_yFPlpotEm-vX4qLO0VnKy_QVNhGfUysbkeG0Xd5hL4Ei7dyEmGNlkdBQKpPKmJ2NCgYOsYNJlrUT6tchdePAk3r4gIGAlZEHzDVwInn236n/s320/Shade.gif" width="272" /></a></div>
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Ok well this seems all in order then.ClaraBerghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16485436638084586305noreply@blogger.com1