Inked-- more modern art.

Now, this is one of my first art blogs I guess...I've just noticed how many people these days have been inked. Me, being interested in tattoo art always zooms in my eyes to look at the artwork and try to see the stories through the artwork. I am addicted to watching the tattoo shop shows--Tattoo Highway (a filler series on A&E), LA Ink, and the various segments on television talking about the art of tattooing. I have read Kat Von D's book, and am excited about her newest venture in writing another book. There are many styles to tattoos, as with any art. It is known that it started in Indian tribes, to permanently let others in the community know their rank in society and what they represent. Now in the Pacific area, they created what we know as Tribal tattoos. The lines and angular shapes forming to the person's body. When sailors would come back to the states or are on leave, they would decide to get inked, by simple old-school styles. The classic pin-ups and nautical tattoos were soon formed. There are all different styles out there, and it's hard to put that in just a simple blog. There are so many diverse artists and different areas of tattoos. From Kore Flatmo in picturesque portraits, to Dan Smith's amazing old school style, with bold colors and classic design. All the artists are amazing, an art that should be more recognized.

My Own Private Idaho

I picked up this movie, because it sounded interesting. Kind of like a guys "Thelma and Louise". The thing is, it's nothing like it. It is directed by the fantastic Gus Van Sant (Milk, Drug Store Cowboy, Paris Je T'aime) who also wrote the screenplay. Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix star in their challenging roles. Keanu plays a son to a rich matriarch, who is in his "street rat" phase and says "When I turn twenty-one, I don't want any more of this life....I will change when everybody expects it the least." River plays his best friend, who happens to be narcoleptic. In the beginning you see his character-- Mike, holding his thumb ready to leave this road, that looks like an "f***ed up face" in his hometown Idaho. The film goes through the lives of these men, who are male prostitues, Scotty (Reeves) does it only for money to men, while Mike isn't quite sure. They also search for Mike's mother and go on a road trip to try to find her. As Van Sant is a openly gay man, this film sort of shows the confusion a young man in trying to figure that out for sure. In this film, I seemed to see the contrast of the rich and poor, and how two people from opposite areas can be best friends. Kind of like a complicated version of "Fox and the Hound." The friendship is always there, and they will always be best friends. Despite their different backgrounds.
River is fantastic in this, and it is known as his best role before his tragic death. He plays a very complicated character, fantastically. While I was watching, a percentage of the time I was thinking is this another James Dean?? I know that he died young, by accident. Same as the iconic James Dean. He was wearing a red jacket as did James in "Rebel Without A Cause", and had much of the same attitude, and body language that he seems to have. Down to the hairstyle, I thought I was watching another Jimmy Dean. River's reactions to certain situations, and his character's seemingly bad childhood, just seemed to me from what I read to be so much like the James Dean we know and love. I know I don't want to be one of the people to typecast him as the "James Dean of 'so and so...' generation", but he was similar none the less. He has that charm, passion, rebel attitude with a general sweetness we just don't see anymore in young adult actors anymore. I saw his film "Stand By Me", and thought he was the baddest twelve-year old I've ever saw, but the best of friend. He will live forever in the roles he played, and as the road he mentions in "Idaho"..."This road will never end. It probably goes around the world." Your work will never be forgotten as the road will never end.