Question: Why I Gotta be Naked to Make It?
August 24, 2009
The Curious Case of the Naked Celebrity
This past week I had an in depth conversation with a friend about being naked. It wasn’t about us being naked or people we know personally being naked, or even nudity in general…it was about the celebrity nakedness epidemic that seems to be plaguing Hollywood as of late. Once upon a time, creating a hit record, making amazing films, even winning a Superbowl or something constituted and solidified your fame. Now in order keep your celebrity or even to just become a celeb one must take drastic measures, including “leaking” nude photos or starring in a homemade porn film with your boyfriend.
By now we’ve seen, or at the very least heard, about Cassie’s spread eagle photo shoot and Rihanna’s tittie flicks dedicated to her very own Ike Turner, but in my mind the real phenomenon and break out star is Kim Kardashian.When I started writing this, it took me a second to actually put it all together. I’ve got to admit, although I have absolutely NO IDEA why she’s as famous as she is, I know her first step to celebrity started with her sex tape with Ray J. Before that she was a stylist to his sister Brandy, a job that doesn’t garner much attention camera wise (unless your Rachel Zoe) and is often overlooked and ignored. Seemingly overnight Kim Kardashian’s face was everywhere; in tabloids, on television, in music videos, on the covers of magazines, befriending legit celebrities, beside Reggie Bush…EVERYWHERE. She is the poster child of Public Relations, how to take a “oops” situation and turn it into an empire. And to think, it all started with a scandal…and some tits. I guess it really ain’t trickin’ if you got it. Or is it?
Obama’s recent nominations for the Supreme Court, Judge Sotomayor became the first Latina to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Disclaimer: This article was written for online magazine M.I.S.S. Omni Media. All images and words are property of that magazine. If you would like to see the original, please view it via the M.I.S.S. website HERE.
Ladies, we’re making a come up! Hillary Clinton, Condelezza Rice, and Nancy Pelosi were only the tip of the iceberg called CHANGE that we’ve been seeing make it’s move in Washington. Now we can add two successful, educated, and powerful women to our roster of women to look up to; Sonia Sotomayor and Regina Benjamin. These two talented women have taken Washington by storm with President Obama’s recent nominations of Sotomayor for the Supreme Court and Benjamin to be Surgeon General. If both of them are confirmed by the Senate Judge Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic woman to hold a Supreme Court position while Benjamin will be the United States third African American Surgeon General, and also it’s third female holding the position. Not bad at all!
Sonia Sotomayor is a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. A native of the Bronx New York, she is of Puerto Rican decent, and graduated from Princeton University in 1976 on a full scholarship and then from Yale Law School in 1979 where she was an editor of the Yale Law Review and also the recipient of a Juris Doctorate.
After reading up and watching Judge Sotomayor over the past couple of weeks, it hasn’t been her amazing record of fairness that has quite inspired me as much as her activism for the Latino culture. As a student at Princeton she observed that there were no full time Latino professors and no Latin American curriculum, and decided to take it upon herself to approach the President of the university to discuss this flaw in Princeton’s educational foundation. After seeing no change Judge Sotomayor promptly filed a complaint with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare citing the schools discrimination in its hiring practices. Between her complaint, speaking with the New York Times and an article penned by her for the Daily Princetonian, the school began to hire Latino professors, and the Judge established open dialouge with Princeton’s university President.
In 1998, Judge Sotomayor became the first Latina to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, one of the most demanding circuits in the country. She has participated in over 3000 panel decisions and authored roughly 400 opinions, handling difficult issues of constitutional law, to complex procedural matters, to lawsuits involving complicated business organizations.”
Matt W. Moore Parallel Universe.
July 2, 2009
Matt W. Moore - Parallel Universe
Artist and graphic designer Matt W. Moore debuted his latest exhibit in San Paulo Brazil just last week stating that his source of inspiration came directly from the city itself. Traveling to the vibrant city for one month in preparation, Moore initially had no concrete plans or ideas for the collection of art, but stated that after spending time in Brazil’s largest city the solo project came together after absorbing the Brazilian culture. Full of vibrant colors and geometric shapes, the Parallel Universe series of artwork are entirely done with spray paint Moore’s favorite ingredient for his artwork. Parallel Universe can be seen in San Paulo Brazil until July 25, 2009.
Stephen Morris Photography.
June 30, 2009
I found Stephen Morris’ photography with the help of a really good friend of mine, who has a spectacular eye for noticing good quality artwork. His Flickr account is a melting pot of visually stimulating photos, some of my favorite being the ones in this post. To check out more of this artists work, you can find him on Flickr, or look at more of his photos after the jump.
Beautiful Old Hollywood Editorial by Steven Meisel.
June 25, 2009
Stardust by Steven Meisel
In my opinion old Hollywood glamour was real glamour. These days the more provocative your attire is, the more attention it garners to your craft, good or bad. Old Hollywood was about being sexy, seductive, and pushing the limits while still being a lady. Women like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Betty Davis embodied and personified this style. This editorial from Vogue Italia, shot by Steven Meisel in 2008, is a great depiction of classic Hollywood that is still the standard of beauty today.
More when you read the rest!
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Mental Weirdo Asylum
Skateboarding brand Yama collaborated with street wear brand Carhartt to create this collection of skate decks. The two brands in collaboration with artist Elzo Durt created these four boards for skateboarders they together sponsor.
via mashKULTURE
Fires, bombings, and arrests have plagued Iran in the last couple of days...
Disclaimer: This article was written for online magazine M.I.S.S. Omni Media. All images and words are property of that magazine. If you would like to see the original, please view it via the M.I.S.S. website HERE.
It has been a week since the highly anticipated elections in Iran between incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the people’s candidate Mir Hossain Moussavi and there is still heavy unrest in the country from many of its inhabitants. Fires, bombings, arrests, and casualties have plagued Iran in the last couple of days. The massive outpouring is the result of a presidential election many believe was rigged.
Known by some as Iran’s version of President Bush, current Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not only known for his distrust of the United States and Israel, but more so for his stubbornness towards international regulators in relation to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology. Words such as conservative, strong willed, and bullheaded have all been used to describe Ahmadinejad, but its believed his relentless persistence in obtaining nuclear technology have destroyed the country’s image, and dragged down it’s economy. An economy that is in a far worse state than it’s ever been.
Banksy x Bristol.
June 14, 2009
Banksy vs Bristol
The often illusive, pseudo anonymous, and pretty legendary street artist Banksy gives us another artistic gem in his latest exhibition at Bristol Museum in what is said to be his home town of Bristol England. BBC gives us all a look inside the art show as Banksy unveils 70 new pieces and a revamp of the Animal Shop in New York. The exhibit running from June 13, 2009 until August 31, 2009, was completely funded by the legendary artist and it’s said that he will not be selling any of the pieces.
If you won’t be able to make it to England any time soon, check out the video below of the collection, and more views after the jump.
The World According to M.I.S.S. Lebanese Youth Create Newspaper; Challenge Politics & Media.
June 12, 2009
Lebanese Youth Create Newspaper; Challenges Politics & Media
Disclaimer: This article was written for online magazine M.I.S.S. Omni Media. All images and words are property of that magazine. If you would like to see the original, please view it via the M.I.S.S. website HERE.
In Lebanon, a place where politics and media are often divided and fear is the ultimate decider in political battles, there is a revolution brewing. A revolution that is being defined by the youth of the nation in the form of a new independent news paper that is shocking many and shaking up the status quo.
Sawt Ashabab, meaning ‘Youth Voice’ in Arabic, was launched just last week right before the country’s Parliamentary elections, but began as a media literacy project at Lebanon’s Notre Dame University. Its successful launch into an independent media organization has challenged the country’s polarized media landscape and has brought together dozens of Lebanon’s young adults to represent the ethnic and political divide in the country; many of whom are under 21, Lebanon’s legal voting age.
Lebanese youth have not been immune to the country’s recent political crises. And while they appear at rallies and demonstrations, they are not involved in the decision-making process on a substantive level and lack places where they can constructively express their views and aspirations
Sneaker Freaker: ‘Is High Fashion the New SB?’.
June 11, 2009
Is High Fashion the New SB?
Disclaimer: This article was written for online magazine M.I.S.S. Omni Media. All images and words are property of that magazine. If you would like to see the original, please view it via the M.I.S.S. website HERE.
There is no doubt in my mind that high fashion influences low fashion and vice versa. In Issue #15 of Sneaker Freaker Magazine, the sneaker enthusiasts take a deep look into the phenomenon that is the high end sneaker in the feature ‘Is High Fashion Really the New SB?’. The article examines the many ways in which high end fashion has influenced the sneaker game and in turn how the sneaker culture and low end fashion has caused luxury labels to go back to the drawing board and create a little something for the streets.
Is Louis Vuitton the New SB?
Taking an in depth look at a few of the worlds most prestigious luxury brands and their past and present involvement in the sneaker world, are none other than a few of our favorite women. Tee from TrashBag Aesthetics/Trenddoll covering the Kanye West favored Louis Vuitton, Claw Money of Blogue covering Gucci, and our very own Miss Mama reporting on Chanel are not only outstanding voices in the article, but they also happen to be apart of our ‘Women Making History’ series here at M.I.S.S. Crew.
Misadventures of a Misfit. 