Magick, Hermeticism, Art, and Naughtiness...

Lakshmi Menon in ” Black Widow” for Please! Magazine Fall/Winter 2012
photographed by Nagi Sakai
styling: Vittoria Cerciello,
hair: Dennis Gots,
make up: Munemi Imai and manicure: Kelly B.

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36331123011

f-l-e-u-r-d-e-l-y-s: Fashion Artifacts by Una Burke Conceptual…

2012-11-23T01:27:28Z

f-l-e-u-r-d-e-l-y-s:

Fashion Artifacts by Una Burke

Conceptual collection of Fashion Artifacts depicting a series of eight physical gestures associated with the cause, effect and healing stages of human trauma. Sculptural forms are created around the shape of the contorted female body. By Una Burke

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36323125625

elle: Spotted: polka dot hardware on @MbyMarcJacobs

2012-11-22T23:16:44Z

elle:

Spotted: polka dot hardware on @MbyMarcJacobs

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36314858121

Photo

2012-11-22T21:05:43Z

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36305975129

scarymansion: V Spain

2012-11-22T18:54:44Z

scarymansion:

V Spain

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36297196388

she-loves-fashion: SHE LOVES FASHION: Saskia De Brauw by Mario…

2012-11-22T16:44:04Z

she-loves-fashion:

SHE LOVES FASHION:

Saskia De Brauw by Mario Testino for Vogue

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36289246786

Shu Pei by Bojana Tatarska for Glass Magazine #11.

2012-11-22T14:33:06Z

Shu Pei by Bojana Tatarska for Glass Magazine #11.

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36282929670

reportervancouver: raf simons – zipper boots, sz. 45 — re….

2012-11-22T12:22:08Z

reportervancouver:

raf simons - zipper boots, sz. 45

—

re. porter | the archives. | blog. | facebook.

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36279084239

Photo

2012-11-22T10:11:29Z

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36276330981

Kwanza Jones: #blackdress

2012-11-22T05:49:36Z

Kwanza Jones: #blackdress

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36267461662

Seahorse skeleton cocktail…

2012-11-22T03:38:38Z

Seahorse skeleton cocktail dress

www.sourpussclothing.com

http://sourpussclothing.tumblr.com/

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36259655071

Seahorse skeleton cocktail…

2012-11-22T03:38:38Z

Seahorse skeleton cocktail dress

www.sourpussclothing.com

http://sourpussclothing.tumblr.com/

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36259655071

Style direction: apocalypse glam.

2012-11-22T03:32:24Z

Style direction: apocalypse glam.

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36259249294

Roxy Skull cut out…

2012-11-22T01:27:39Z

Roxy Skull cut out tee

www.sourpussclothing.com

http://sourpussclothing.tumblr.com/

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36250879972

theseasonofthewitch: Dovima in a promotional photo for Funny…

2012-11-21T23:16:37Z

theseasonofthewitch:

Dovima in a promotional photo for Funny Face, 1957.

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36241702978

blackfashion: Marisa Martins, 22,…

2012-11-21T23:00:33Z

blackfashion:

Marisa Martins, 22, London
www.themessywardrobe.tumblr.com
Dress - Topshop
Necklace - Topshop
Shoes - Internacionale

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36240508645

On Misogyny in Industrial Music

2012-11-22T01:48:04Z

And speaking of deflecting criticism through irony, Nadya Lev has written a long, thoughtful piece on misogyny in industrial music:

The “cinematic reference” argument seems to be a common tactic in deflecting criticism. Thomas Rainer has used the filmic term “sexploitation” to describe Nachtmahr, and Throat Full of Glass music video director, Chad Michael Ward, wrote to Coilhouse stating that “the video, conceived by both the band and myself, is a send-up of 1970s grindhouse/exploitation films, where men were thugs and women were whores; in other words caricatures, not entirely unlike the noir films of the 1930s that I also love dearly.” In reality, the “it’s an homage to grindhouse” defense is so common that it’s becoming a cliche. Here’s the thing: when Tarantino revived the grindhouse genre, it was with clever, self-aware, satirical, intelligent scripts that actually told new stories that were relevant to our time. The Bride is one of the most celebrated bad-ass film icons out there. Similarly, today’s burlesque movement revives the noir glamour of the 30s with a DIY, feminist sensibility. Contrasted to that, what collective story does the combination of these industrial music videos tell?

Full Story: On Misogyny in Industrial Music

Here’s the comment I left:

“If satire isn’t interpreted as satire, but as a sincere expression of belief, doesn’t mean that the artist has to condescend to explain it and hold the listener’s hand.”

The question of the artist’s responsibility for people not getting a piece of work is a sticky one. People completely missing the point of satire has been a thing for a long, long time. The movie Joe [1] comes to mind, but it was hardly the first.

Similarly, to what degree can an artist be criticized for utterly failing at satire? If Combachrist has been at this for as long as he has, and no one gets the joke, is that a failure as an artist on his part? (joblowcritic’s point about Laichach is particularly relevant here).

There has been a rash of movies over the past few years that claim to be satire or criticism of media violence, violence against women, etc. but simply devolve into being an embodiment of what they intended to satirize — to such a degree that it’s questionable whether the film makers ever really intended to do satire or whether that was all just a cover (Sucker Punch for example).

Combachrist and Nachtmahr have fallen into the same realm. Is this stuff *really* earnest parody, or cover for the opportunity to do whatever they want without criticism? Did it start out as parody, but at some point start feeling a bit too comfortable?

One big difference between these guys and Laibach is that, to the best of my knowledge, Laibach never used their aesthetics of fascism schtick as an excuse to, say, make a video about torturing Jews or beating women or whatever. That’s the problem I have with films like Sucker Punch, Crank and that whole family of neo-grindhouse films as well. There just isn’t a big enough difference between the real thing and the satire.

[1] http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3013/

From http://technoccult.net/archives/2012/11/21/on-misogyny-in-industrial-music/

dollcunt: ☥ clickkk ☥

2012-11-21T18:54:56Z

dollcunt:

☥ clickkk ☥

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36223133960

dollcunt: ☥ clickkk ☥

2012-11-21T18:54:56Z

dollcunt:

☥ clickkk ☥

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36223133960

dollcunt: ☥ clickkk ☥

2012-11-21T18:54:56Z

dollcunt:

☥ clickkk ☥

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36223133960

A Brief History of Geotrauma or: The Invention of Negarestani

2012-11-21T18:30:55Z

From http://technoccult.net/archives/2012/11/21/a-brief-history-of-geotrauma-or-the-invention-of-negarestani/

Life Without Irony

2012-11-21T17:43:03Z

I was surprised at how much I liked this article on irony by Christy Wampole for the New York Times:

What would it take to overcome the cultural pull of irony? Moving away from the ironic involves saying what you mean, meaning what you say and considering seriousness and forthrightness as expressive possibilities, despite the inherent risks. It means undertaking the cultivation of sincerity, humility and self-effacement, and demoting the frivolous and the kitschy on our collective scale of values. It might also consist of an honest self-inventory.

Here is a start: Look around your living space. Do you surround yourself with things you really like or things you like only because they are absurd? Listen to your own speech. Ask yourself: Do I communicate primarily through inside jokes and pop culture references? What percentage of my speech is meaningful? How much hyperbolic language do I use? Do I feign indifference? Look at your clothes. What parts of your wardrobe could be described as costume-like, derivative or reminiscent of some specific style archetype (the secretary, the hobo, the flapper, yourself as a child)? In other words, do your clothes refer to something else or only to themselves? Do you attempt to look intentionally nerdy, awkward or ugly? In other words, is your style an anti-style? The most important question: How would it feel to change yourself quietly, offline, without public display, from within?

Opinionator: How To Live Without Irony

I’m not sure her antidotes to irony work though… what’s wrong with wearing clothing in a particular style? What’s wrong with liking things that are absurd? Can’t nostalgia be sincere? Why shouldn’t you draw influence from historical periods that you didn’t live through?

Still, analysis of contemporary irony is spot-on, and these self-examinations are good starting points, even if you decide that dressing like a 19th century dandy is the best way to sincerely express yourself. Or whatever. (I can’t help but loop this sort of analysis of one’s own speech back to the Buddhist notion of “right speech”.)

Tangent: Wampole mentions the films of Wes Anderson as examples of a “New Sincerity” movement. I find that interesting because they don’t come across to me as sincere at all — I’ve found his work to be quite hipster-ish. But I have no idea if it’s actually sincere or not — I guess that’s part of the problem. Also: is irony such an infection that even sincere things can be shot through with irony? For example, I don’t care much for Quentin Tarintino’s films, but they strike me as very sincere in their nostalgia. I recently saw The Man With Iron Fists, directed by RZA and produced by Tarintino and it came off as a very sincere attempt at making a kung-fu movie. But while Tarintino, Rodriguez, Roth and the rest of the neo-grindhouse movement are clearly sincere in their love for this stuff, these pastiches remain immune from criticism. Lift lines and scenes from another movie? Treat women like sex objects? Fixate on torture porn? Well, why not — it’s an homage, these are the tropes of the source material — we can’t be criticized for their mistakes.

From http://technoccult.net/archives/2012/11/21/life-without-irony/

Photo

2012-11-21T16:44:08Z

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36215443777

vandercunt: Maison Martin Margiela Spring/Summer 2013

2012-11-21T14:33:01Z

vandercunt:

Maison Martin Margiela Spring/Summer 2013

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36209460818

everything-went-black: Noir – ~xKimJoanne deviantART

2012-11-21T12:22:05Z

everything-went-black:

Noir - ~xKimJoanne deviantART

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36205540590

Photo

2012-11-21T10:11:23Z

From http://morbidfashion.tumblr.com/post/36202630679