CIDADE DO FUNK

Working in progress...

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA - The first black president of the United States of America

He won!

THAT OBSCURE OBJECT OF DESIRE: The New Mac Book PRO

I seriously need the new Mac Book Pro right now! This cute little thing has got 1.86GHz plus memory SSD: Price? US$ 2.499.

A Madonna to call mine: FILTH AND WISDOM

Madonna and her Filth and Wisdom's crew at the film premiere during the last Berlinale

The Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival is gone and me plus hundred of others "hungry" film fans of this town are again back to the normal routine. Among some few surprises of this year's festival I've found Filth and Wisdom an independent film written, directed and produced by... Madonna! Yes, Madonna Ciccone. Of course I firstly thought: " God damn! It might be a flop!". But fortunately I was wrong. I must confess I am a really big Madonna's fan, but her blond ambition can sometimes cause a kind of rejection since people aren't use to face with so much high levels of self-confidence. And obviously it can bothered most of frustrated guys around even whether they secretly liked the film. Madonna is the antipode of frustration. Losers, bitters and frustrated at all should keep distance from her and specially from this film since it must be hard to them to conclude that:

1 . She is highly talented in many ways.
2. She knows how to tell a history.
3. She knows direct actors very well.
4. She made a very good film.
5. She is corageous.
6. The woman is in fact a genius.

I'm not saying 'Filth and Wisdom' is a masterpiece or so. It isn't indeed. But it is a kind of film I would watch over and over again with a little smile in my face. And that's enough for me.



Someone who puts a band like Gogol Bordello in a film knows it all, right?

P.S: If you happen to be in Rio in October don't miss Gogol Bordello's performance at the next Tim Festival!

My new fav cult-movie: SHORTBUS

John Cameron Mitchell's second feature film: Shortbus

I know I am one year later but the point is that only yesterday I went to the movie theater to watch Shortbus. My friend Marcelo told me a lot about this movie and had explained me about the explicit sex scenes on it. Well in fact this is nothing new since Catherine Breillat's Romance came out late in the 90's. Mrs. Breillat put an innocent alike French actress to performer hardcore scenes with pornstar Rocco Siffredi and all I know is that I hated this film from the very beginning til the end when I first saw that. Besides that Lars Von Trier has also put real actors "doing" each other in Dogme 95's film The Idiots . Sounds like if anyone intends to be the newest provocateur filmmaker just need to include some professional actors doing some hardcore sex scenes in front of the camera plus a nonsense storyline, right? No. John Cameron Mitchell went further in Shortbus; he's put some actors together with non professionals new faces , created the most unbelievable and creative sex scenes ever imagined, mixed it all with some great dialogues, lot's of astonish music, a vaudeville atmosphere with lot's of seriously interesting characters, a beautiful photography and a huge and tolerant heart on it. And the explicit sex? I would say they work as (art?) pictures. All in all it is an impressive and amazing picture of an era. I still wonder how could I have missed this little masterpiece for one year...

Pre-Paid Love : Cinderelas, Lobos e Um Principe Encantado

Poster of Joel Zito Araújo's newest documentary

Yesterday I've been at Cine Odeon to watch the first national screening of Joel Zito Araújo's newest documentary "Cinderelas, Lobos e Um Principe Encantado" ("Cinderellas, Wolves, and One Prince Charmed") at Festival do Rio, whose theme is the huge and scary Brazilian sex industry, which also involves pedophilia and traffic of human beings. Joel Zito Araújo is nowadays one of the greatest Brazilian directors and also an amazing thinker. Professor at the Universidade de São Paulo his works aways have got a social and politic glance to controversial subjects, specially those related to racism and poverty. This time hasn't been different. "Cinderelas" is a kind of film which should be watched without prejudice and at same time with distancing. By talking about sex tourism and its exploration such in Brazil (Northeastern cities like Salvador and Recife, two of the biggest nerve centres of sex tourism in Brazil) and as well in Europe (Rome and Berlin), Joel Zito got to get sincere, sad, tragic and funny testimonials such of some lost low class European tourists serching for the perfect "bitch", as well of poor young Brazilian girls trying to find some immediate solution for their own (financial/moral) whole life misery, among others. But he's been crossing borders as well; right there, where some got to get beyond the sunny sex market of Brazilian Northeastern beaches. In Berlin he talked to some "characters" like: couples whom met at such circumstances, a young and pretty lady from Bahia totally disappointed with the lack of "sexual interest" of her husband and a German guy who claims to be a "big fan" of Brazilian women, and whose big apartment is fulfilled with young and "sexy" Brazilian ladies he calls as "friends". "Cinderela" is a very interesting study about sexuality, poverty, degradation, illusions and make us wonder, in many ways, about the difference between interest and necessity. It is also about the (still) very post-colonial view of latin women as a sexual object, who suppost to be aways sexually available in a very cheap way. This very stereotiped view embodies the stigma of the "civilized" and the "savage". Joel Zito's documentary shows us that those roles - "civilized" and "savage" - are in many situations completely and wrongly reversed.

Rio de Janeiro International Filmfestival
"Cinderelas, Lobos & Um Principe Encantado"
Last Screening
Thusday, 30th September
Estação Vivo Gávea (Shopping da Gávea)
1:30 PM - 10:30 PM

The Gay Gum

In Sévaly blog I`ve found a post about this increadible Gay Gum , which is worth to take a look at (as well in Portuguese only). Gay Gum is produced in New York City by company Blue Q and has other variations with unbelievable names like: “I’m so wasted gum”, “Let’s pretend I give a shit gum”, “Could you be a bigger bitch gum" and the amazing “Every time you masturbate, God kills a kitten gum“.

The Italian Vogue Effect

Korean and Japanese edition of Vogue magazine unusually bring Asiatic faces on its pages, but last but not least, it seems historical July issue of Vogue Italia featuring only black models had some effect in the Orient as well. Despite of that Asiatic models (!) are illustrating an editorial inspired by American TV serie Gossip Girl. It's unbelievable but the Eurocentrism of the fashion industry is also top there. You can read and see more of Korean Vogue on my favorite fashion blog Cajon Desastre. Unfortunately in Portuguese only.

Panis et Circense (?)

Senator Barack Obama and his 200.000 "Obametes" in Berlin.

It is notorious that American democratic presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama is a great speaker who's got huge charisma, charm and charateristics of leadership. He apparently is one of the most well intentioned American politicians who has emerged since years indeed. And not forgetting to mention the fact he is already globalized by birth; son of a white American girl with a Quenian guy, and half-brother of an Indonesian girl. All of that makes me think that the future can be a better place to stay. And yes, if I was American I would vote on him for those and other reasons. But his first international speech in front of the Siegessaeule at the Grosser Stern in Tiergarten, Berlin, last July 24 addressed to over 200.000 people - his largest speech ever - made me wonder. Obama used this opportunity to increase his electorial campaign in the States. What a great marketing campaign! And if I was Obama I would do the same. But after the first moment of "frenesi" concerning this increadible event and by living in Germany since seven year - what gives me a bit authority to ask the following questions - I still kept wondering; Are the germans (and obviously the others tons of foreigners presents at the venue) really so into the American elections? Or were they so fascinated by the physical presence of this man (or mythos) only? Do they really have the need of a great rhetorical of the spectacle? Or do they have the need of a spectacle of the rhetoric? Questions.

Back to Black?: Italian Vogue - A Black Issue

The four different covers of italian Vogue - Black Issue photographed by Steven Meisel.
(From Left to Right: Liya Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell)

Blackface by Steven Meisel: Is blackface on a black face still blackface?

Naomi Campbell by Steven Meisel

Tyra Banks by Steven Meisel.

Toccara Jones the super (normal?) sized model from American's Next Top Model by Steven Meisel

Toccara Jones looking like Pam Grier

Yasmin Warsame by Steven Meisel.

(Not Tyra!)

Yasmin again!

More here!

Italian Vogue magazine is considered the most trendsetter and independent of all magazine editions since decades, working as a trend forecasting for the whole fashion industry in the four corners of the world. This month came out a historic issue of the so callled "fashion bible" namely A Black Issue which fills about 100 pages of the magazine with gorgeous pictures accompanied by features on black women in the arts and entertainment photographed by star fashion photographer Steven Meisel - who worked with Madonna on her controversial book Sex - and also makeup by fabulous artist Pat McGrath. This issue intends to cause a relatively big revolution in the fashion industry and pop culture. Some american friends of mine said it sounds too nonsense nowadays but we need to understand that to Americans this may be offensive. Italy today is 1950s America since they are completely ethnocentric - and not forgetting the fact they have Berlusconi in the power, which makes this "Black Issue" a real giant step forward not only in Italy but in Europe at all. Well, the July issue of Vogue Italia - from front cover until back cover- has only black female beauties on it. Almost. After the pull-out cover featuring four striking close ups (Liya Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell), the next thirteen pages of ads — for Valentino, Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior — hironically all feature white faces only. From this point we can have a real idea of the absurd of the racial issues in the fashion industry. It can sound quite cynical to be truth and to be take seriously but it is sadly truth, and it must be take seriously for only one reason: the almost completely "white hegemony" and Eurocentrism of the fashion industry worldwide. It's hard to believe but there are lot's of talking heads speaking about racism and prejudice towards "non-white" models. In Brazil it is notorious since aways. The so called "melting pot's land" and "pseudo racial diversity dream" is indeed one of the most racists countries specially in the fashion and media issues. The "colonized" inferiority complex is not gone in the country that insists to show a more Western/Eastern European face as possible in its magazines, soap-operas, films and ad campaigns. As more white, better, seems to say some Brazilian fashionistas if we watch the runaways of fashion shows at São Paulo or Rio Fashion Week. And the worst thing about it is that Brazilian fashion designers, journalists, producers, model agents and bookers just work in a kind of "copy-paste" of the European and American market. They seem to have any conscious that we live in a heavily racialy diversified enviroment. It's like that lyric's line of an old and beautiful George Michael's ballad Cowboys and Angels; "monkey see and monkey do, their wish is your command." And so it is. They see and they do exactly the same the rich Western does. But sadly it not only happens in Brazil. The same racial barrier is still alive in other Latin America countries as well in India, Japan, Thailand and even in Europe and USA. Post-colonialism inheritance? I think so. The idea of wealth and beauty still remains the Caucasians from the Imperialism era. The non-white are the poorst and the ugliest unconsciously. I remember when I was in Thailand about 5-6 years ago and some Thai people said to me that they didn't like their image. They wish they would look "lighter skinned", taller and thiner. And in the Thai media, fashion magazines and so on thre were only more European alike Asiatic faces that have nothing to do with the native Thais. This padronized Western/Eastern Europe beauty with all those pales, skinny and quite childish alike models seems to have pissed off Italian Vogue's editor Franca Sozzani. One source of inspiration for this issue was actually the phenomenon of the Barack Obama campaign. In the spirit of "change" Franca Sozzani and photographer Steven Meisel, were ready to go out on a limb. Meisel says of the shoot, “I thought, it’s ridiculous, this discrimination... It’s so crazy to live in such a narrow, narrow place. Age, weight, sexuality, race — every kind of prejudice.” Italian Vogue editor says of her publication, “Mine is not a magazine that can be accused of not using black girls”. I've found lot' s of impressive articles about Italian Vogue's black issue at The Independent and Timesonline. At Facebook there is a big campaign to improve the selling of Italian Vogue. The idea is to combat the pessimists forecasts of major magazine distributors across Europe, whom have said that they expect the Italian Vogue magazine that feature all black models to be the worst selling edition ever. I bet it won't.

And here an interview with italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani about the Black Issue published in the New York Times. By Cathy Horyn

Q: So how did the black issue come about?

A: I was in New York in early February for the shows. I always notice the black girls in the streets in New York, more than I would in Milan. And it was also the time of the primaries, Super Tuesday. I’m interested in Obama. In the beginning Steven and I were talking about three or four stories, and then it became the entire issue. Steven really tried to reach all the girls who were around—Pat Cleveland, Iman, Naomi, the young girls, like Liya and Alek Wek. We also went back to the pictures that were used in the past of the black models and performers, like Tina Turner.

Q: Diversity on the runways has been the subject of a lot of media attention.

A: We asked Robin Givhan [of The Washington Post] to write a piece. She did a good story. She said that what we were doing was great but—what will happen next month? Will everything go back to where it was before, with all-white models? I think she was right to ask that. I hope the issue will be something that can change things. Anyway, people will talk about it, for sure. Like or dislike, it will be a controversial issue. I think it’s good to keep that tension and focus on this subject.

Q: Everybody complains about the models today, the sameness, the blank faces.

A: Nowadays, at the shows, I turn to my editors and say, ‘What’s the name of the girl, what’s her name?’ I really cannot recognize one from the other. The models in the past, like Linda and Naomi, were immediately recognizable. They had a lot of personality. These new girls have nothing. You can paint everything on their faces in a way because they have no expression. And the girls we used to see on the runway were very elegant. Liya is elegant. To me, she walks like a princess. Now the girls all look the same—from the first to the last.

The problem is partly with the modeling agencies. They have a lot of white girls—it’s easier. To find black girls takes more time. It’s a problem of research and talent, to find the right girls. We’re a little bit back to a period in the 70s, when you didn’t remember the name of a single model. They were not girls making an interpretation of the clothes, the way Linda did. They were just models. In the beginning of the 90s, those models were really celebrities—Christy, Naomi, Cindy, Stephanie.

Q: It’s the follow-the-leader mentality. And it winds up being such a narrow view of the world.

A: When you see the black issue and all the pictures, you realize that these girls in a way have to work much harder than other models. They are more in touch with their own personalities—they’re not simply models in front of a camera. They really try to get the tension.

Q: Do you think the issue will have an impact?

A: Yes, I think it will. I noticed the June issue of French Vogue had a split cover with a black model and white model, though there’s nothing inside.

Q: It’s interesting that you mentioned Obama…

A: Here in Italy, everybody is crazy about Obama, even people who never talk about American politics. It’s the new way to see a country where something can always happen. It’s a young country and modern. The feeling is similar to the Kennedys, but 50 years later. Ultimately, it’s not about race.

Q: It’s strange to be talking about racial diversity today in fashion. We should be further along. Is there a risk the fashion world will just see it as something trendy?

A: It could happen, and it would be a pity. Because, you know, it’s easier to do a normal issue. Paolo Roversi does a story, Craig McDean does another, and Steven Meisel another… I would feel very disappointed if this is only a nice moment. We should go forward.

Q: I suppose an all-black issue is something an American magazine might naturally or logically have done, more so than an Italian magazine.

A: In a way, it’s one of those stupid ideas that when everyone sees it, they think, Oh, I should have done that. [Sozzani laughs] It was so easy.

Q: What the black issue a political gesture?

A: I didn’t feel it was a political gesture. Maybe it was political in that when I see all these girls who look alike in a fashion show, they really annoy me. We need to see beautiful clothes on beautiful women.

Read Cathy Horyn’s article “Conspicuous by Their Presence” on the July issue of Italian Vogue.

Goodbye, "Pitti".

Portrait of Adriana "Pitti" Pittigliani published by german magazine Neon.

My dearest friend Adriana Pittigliani has passed away this morning at the age of 46. Unfortunately she didn't get to win the war against cancer. "Pitti", as she was known among her friends, was one of the most influentials and creatives Brazilian photographers since late 80's and during the whole 90's, taking great pictures of over 200 hundred magazine covers like Sui Generis (the first gay oriented Brazilian magazine), over 300 hundred Cd's covers of many of the greatest names of MPB ("Música Popular Brasileira") , books, and so on. Genial and visionary she gave up of her very well established career at the age of 44 to become the brain and the heart of CARIOCA FUNK CLUBE, a multimidia project created to spread out Funk Carioca to the world and support its artists. One of them, Sany Pitbull, became the biggest name of CFC and his work together with Pitti came into an increadible symbiosis, which took Sany and his magic MPC to four big european tours in only a year and a half (!!!), among other things. Crazy, supportive, talkative and smart, "Pitti", with her unforgettable Aristotle's Rhetoric, was generous enough to introduce, connect, communicate and help lot's of people to her "Knowledgeland" by sharing ideas, ways and new conceptions about the present and the future of the Funk Carioca movement. She believed and supported my documentary "City of Funk" since the very beginning of the project, opening doors and showing me new possibilities about this theme. Now Pitti is gone, but her passion, vision and big heart will be forever alive in our hearts. Rest in peace, my lovely friend. Respect!

More of "Pitti":

Pitti + Pitibull: Adriana and Sany, Rio de Janeiro, 2007.


Sabrina Fidalgo by Adriana Pittigliani, Berlin, 2006.

GRACE is 60!

Ok, I am a bit late, I guess about one week or so. Btw Grace Jones turned 60 last week. So what? Just need to look to the picture above. She (still) is the owner of one of the most exceptionals and spectaculars bodies that the humanity ever had the chance to see. ALSO she is one of the most influential artists of our era. WHY? That woman was a TOP MODEL in the most truth sense of what this word can mean. She made it in the seventies and at that time she also recorded some VERY NICE disco albums of all times.

For example:

PORTFOLIO (1977), MUSE (1978) and FAME (1979).Three must have albums of any disco fan and music lovers. My fave are: "That's the the trouble", "La Vie en Rose" and "I need a man" (from "Portfolio"). Three disco classics with that Saulsoul Orchestra sound-alike (not even sure if they ever produced some of her tunes) and of course the cover of Édith Piaf's anthem, which became in Jone's contralto voice a definitive masterpiece.



PORTFOLIO's front cover



PORTFOLIO's back cover


She ALSO was Andy Wahrol's muse and in the eighties together with french husband Jean Paul Goude, who was ONLY one of the most creatives graphic designers, illustrators, photographers and advertising film directors at that time. Together they worked in Grace's several new wave phase videos like the classic of the classics SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM. This is one of the most intriguings and amazing videos EVER made and also a masterpiece of Pop Art. I remember vaguely of some images when it came out in 1984 and I was pretty impressed and somehow scared by everything I've seem. Well I took a look at it again nowadays and I just could be sorrow for myself for not have had the chance to appreciate it at the right time and at the right age when it has appeared. But btw it is still a timeless blast from any other dimension but not from this planet. Take a look at and make your own conclusions:



And what about this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Citröen ad (parts of this were included on "Slave to the rythm's" video) with an outrageous Grace also made by Goude:



I could write millions lines here about Grace Jones work as fashion icon, performer, actress, model, singer, muse, unique personality and so on. A bit underrated, I think she represents everything any Madonna, Gisele Bündchen or Beyoncé wished to be when they grow up.

Happy B-day!

Smells Like Teen Spirit

See with your own eyes, baby!



Mama was right, and I'm proud to have been a good girl!

Beautiful Berlin and 3 Angels for Charlie.

So I'm back to Berlin since exactly 2 weeks. It seems there is some strong vibration here which prevents me to definitively change the date of my flight ticket back to Rio. I actually changed it 3 times already and I feel really sad to have to leave sunny Berlin with its tons of unique peoples from all over the world riding happy their bikes on the streets as nothing else would matter. And also there are some aphrodisiac atmosphere here, which makes the german capital even more interesting specially when the sun is shinning. And, well, three angels will live without Charlie this summer, unfortunately. ): But life goes on still under the line of the Ecuador and Charlie will be back soon!

Loneless Descontrol -Dancing with myself Vol.2 - The final

After the flash-bipolar-crise wich lasts 2 seconds during the conversation I felt better for a while. The boyfriend#1 of my girlfriend, as I said before, is a pain in the ass, a troglodyte, a roude hillbilly. Well btw she introduced me the boyfriend#2 who was present in the venue we met up. A somehow attractive and shy guy who was the master of ceremony of the night. My girlfriend was sickly jealous about a french girl who insited to be too much nice, too much talkative and too much close to her boyfriend#2. And the girl was indeed too arrogant and somehow irritating by the approach. My girlfriend with two boyfriends didn't want to show off her tremendous jealousy towards the french girl publicly , so the french girl keeped trying to conquer the boyfriend#2 of my girlfreind with two boyfriends and the boyfriend#2 was acting as if he was COMPLITELY single ALL NIGHT LONG. I mean he was deeply interested to listen to the "oh-la-las" and didn't talk to my girlfriend with two boyfriends anytime! And meanwhile my girlfriend was seriously annoyed she explained me about her very big dilemma in life regarding her jealousy about the french chick and how complicated it is to manage two boyfriends. She told me for example that the boyfriend#2 was not that sex machine the boyfriend #1 used to be althoug his rudness, but that on the other side he was a gentleman, a good character and a fine person. At that point I thought with myself: "But I would love to have a nice, tall, handsome, charming and clever boyfriend by my side but I WOULDN'T like to have two boyfriends that d'ont trat me well nor respect me. So at that point I also understood that to be a bitch with myself would be the worst way to comabt my own loneless. And at that point I also felt I was a shinning human being (yes!) since I was indeed not alone but dancing with myself. And I was enjoying it. And I was happy.

Loneless Descontrol - To 'bitch' or not to 'bitch' ? vol. 1

Yesterday I met a friend of mine. She is a very pretty, sexy, exotic (in a positive way), modern, fashion and creative human being. If I was a man or even if I was a lesbic I would have a big crush on her, I must confess. She is a real IT GIRL. We are the same age actually, end of 20ies. She has two (yes! I said TWO) boyfriends at the moment. When you are in a totally stressed and career oriented phase and has NO time nor patience to find a Mr. Right right now it hurts to know people have even TWO of them. Well she was complening about the fact that the boyfriend#1 althoug sexy, tall and hot, is a real pain in the ass and a hillbilly. She said the guy says sweet things like : "you're a gold pussy" Translating he means she is a formidable, beautiful and very charismatic person. But of course if a guy says such a stupid thing to a girl he deserves to be left immediataly. At least I would feel very offended by hear such rudness like that. And that's what this girlfriend of mine felt when her boyfriend#1 "tryed" to be cute. Well I'm just telling this story because I want to point out some strange and extreme change of feelings we women can have in just some minutes during a conversation PLUS even changing life philosophy and political views so quickly when we realise that we ARE NOT so lonely and blue as we thought we were at the beginning of the conversation. (I say WE because I'm almost sure that I am not the only girl in this entire solar system who has experienced this bipolar reactions, even not being a bipolar, in a only 10 minuites small-talk) just because we miss, just a little bit, a TALL, TANNED, YOUNG, INTELLIGENT, SEXY, FUNNY AND LOVELY guy by our side. But it's o.k, it's alright and life goes on. Well cotinuing. When she first told me she had TWO BOYFRIENDS I felt like an envious bitch immediatelly and at same time the most miserable woman in this ENTIRE world, if you know what I mean. I thought: "God, how unfair is this universe! She has 2 and I have NOTHING!" And then immediataly my bitch-female side started to compare all sort of sordid details between us in one second only, like: hips size, boobs size, mouth size, hair size, clouth size, shoes size, eyes size, hairdo size, nails size and so on. Because when women turn envious and ALL OF THEM CAN TURN ENVIOUS AT LEAST ONCE IN LIFE (And I admit it was my first time, I SWEAR!) they can only see the world I mean THE OTHER WOMAN in size and numbers.

How to avoid "spongers" or "borrowers"?

There is this kind of people who never feels ashamed by asking you for favours more and more and more. This kind of people or at lest a very specific kind of them use to act in a very cute, "innocent", lovely and nice way at the first sight but after a while...

SANY PITBULL IN EUROPE

Long time no write. Well I was quite busy lately and moving back to Brazil temporarily, so I couldn't write here as I used to do. But now I'm back and pretty happy to post these news (again) about a big friend of mine and the inspiration of my documentary: MAESTRO SANY PITBULL

Above you can see the leatest international news concerning his european tour. It's an article published today in the finnish newspaper NYT-LIITE regarding his appearence tonight in Helsink at the club REDRUM, whose party is promoted by Timo Santala.

Sany, who is a resident Dj at favela Cantagalo in Rio de Janeiro, is since 7h March in Europe for the third time. And this time he starterd the tour performing at one of the biggest and well-known clubs in London, the famous Fabric. Here you can see what my friend Sany made with "We are your friends" of Justice in a live-remix with his MPC during the set at Fabric:

SICK!!!!!

And if you happen to be in one of those european cities, d'ont miss the chance to see him.
Check out his tour schedule here: