1) FILM / TELEVISION
CASABLANCA - (Directed by Michael Curtiz) - *Classics*
Every once in awhile I would like to revisit a classic film. One that has had a profound effect on me personally, and fixed itself into my carousel of re-watchable films.
PLOT - “Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), who owns a nightclub in Casablanca, discovers his old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) is in town with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). Laszlo is a famed rebel, and with Germans on his tail, Ilsa knows Rick can help them get out of the country.” -Google machine
Casablanca is one of those films that is considered an all-time classic, by the majority of audiences and film critics. And if it has been a while since you have last seen it, or if for some reason you have never seen it, then I must advise you to put it on your to-do list, preferably near the top. Casablanca is my favorite “Classic” film, mainly for its superb writing. When you watch it, feel free to sink into the movie itself, but pay attention to the dialogue. It’s some of the best, still to this day.
This video from the Youtube channel “The Take”, goes in depth as to why Casablanca ranks among the greatest films ever made.
2) MUSIC / PODCASTS
CHILDISH GAMBINO - THIS IS AMERICA (Music Video)
*Mature Audiences - Violence
This week I would simply like to highlight a music video. One that is almost four years old now, but still grabs me when I watch it. This music video, just on Donald Glover’s Youtube channel alone, has almost 1 billion views. Insane. Maybe there’s a reason for that. Outside of the artistic execution of this video, it holds a mirror up to all of us as viewers. I am sure you can find videos and blog articles on the dissection of this video and it’s meaning. Have at it if you like, but I recommend trying to come up with your own answers before doing so.
Donald Glover has much to say, and is an artist that I continually look forward to seeing what he will create next.
*This Is America is currently considered Rolling Stone’s #4 music video of all-time.
3) ART
VITRUVIAN MAN - LEONARDO DA VINCI (Italian Painter)
“The Vitruvian Man (Italian: L'uomo vitruviano [ˈlwɔːmo vitruˈvjaːno]; originally known as Le proporzioni del corpo umano secondo Vitruvio, lit. 'The proportions of the human body according to Vitruvius') is a drawing made by the Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci in about 1490. It is accompanied by notes based on the work of the Roman architect Vitruvius. The drawing, which is in ink on paper, depicts a man in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and inscribed in a circle and square.
The drawing represents Leonardo's concept of the ideal human body proportions. Its inscription in a square and a circle comes from a description by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius in Book III of his treatise De architectura. Yet, as has been demonstrated, Leonardo did not represent Vitruvius's proportions of the limbs but rather included those he found himself after measuring male models in Milan. While the drawing is named after Vitruvius, some scholars today question the appropriateness of such a title, given that it was first used in the 1490s.” - Wikipedia
4) BOOKS / WRITING
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WRITING - Margaret Atwood's Top 5 Writing Tips
Margaret Atwood shares some answers to questions by National Centre For Writing Young Ambassadors. If you have any interest in writing yourself, or enjoy seeing behind the curtain of the craft at all, this is a nice video to wet your whistle.
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5) PHOTOGRAPHY / CINEMATOGRAPHY
CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR - (2021 Contest Winner and Finalists)
“Two of a Kind is the second CUPOTY CHALLENGE – a themed contest that runs outside our annual competition.” -Cupoty website
Macro photography gives us a view of the world that we rarely see on a regular basis, if at all. Here is a selection of photos deemed worthy of celebration by www.cupoty.com and their annual contest titled “Two of a Kind”.
WINNER: Alex Pansier
2nd Place: Barry Webb
3rd Place: Julia Briggs
FINALISTS:
The remainder of the finalists photos can be seen here:
https://www.cupoty.com/cupoty-challenge-21-winners
If you would like to support this newsletter, please consider becoming a paid subscriber (donation based). Thank you for reading. Peace. -AA