"Whenever I see some social conservative from the Midwest raging about the evils of homosexuality, I set my watch and wait patiently for the day he is found in a motel on his tired old knees, wallet empty, having grossly overpaid to give a blowjob..." - Christopher Hitchens
It was only a matter of time before the chronic humourlessness and moral superiority of Pink News turned out to be a sham.
"Look, this is hackish, but it does bear repeating: Benjamin Cohen and his husband seemed, somehow, to be able to distinguish between the half of their staff that they wanted to sleep with and the half they wanted to carry a child for them."
I like this ideat: “Aren’t the most interesting people the ones who can’t make up their minds about their world, who sometimes sneer and sometimes grovel?” Reminds me of Isaiah Berlin's introduction to "Fathers and Sons", which is basically an extended apology/defence for such people, since their counterparts are frequently fanatical nutters
As an ex chef ( and yes, that was my email address for some time as I couldn't then work out how to define myself), I utterly abhor chefs of a certain age who epitomise the talented bully.
I've never watched MasterChef or majority of programming which focuses on the mechanics of cooking predominantly because I tend to be influenced more by inspiration and taste. Good technique shows itself whether watching someone use a knife or lay bricks.
That TV has offered up bullies onto altars comprised of ratings for so long is one reason why this definition of talent is drawn to and polished by the media machine.
I did one last year, so things are looking good for next year! I've also recorded a quiz for Blocked and Reported, I think that one's going out over the break...
The portraits of Singer Sargent are easy to like, and you can understand how they were so popular; though I often want to know more about the subjects. I love his painting of Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose.
There was an exhibition of his work in London last summer, and it was fascinating to see Singer Sargent's other work. His paintings during World War One were particularly interesting, though he was always best when painting people.
For sheer virtuosity, he is close to that great "painter's painter" Velasquez , although with the volume of commissions where his heart clearly wasn't fully into it, or had little connection with the sitter, understandably , he veers close to a superficial slickness but one that I and many painters would still give their non painting hand to be able to imitate. But his drawings and non commissioned work show his true motivations. He was also a striking yet sympathetic painter of children who in less skilful hands can too often turn out looking like a sequel to The Omen.
I completely adore his watercolours which show imo that he wasn't exactly toadying when he did his portraits - it's just that he can't help making whatever subject he paints beautiful and compelling:
interesting to speculate too on the similarity between Gilded Age antisemites and anti-capitalist/pro-Hamas US college progressives (who may well be their great-great-grandchildren)
I think we always want to look beautiful in a portrait that will last beyond our lifetime. But I find it most interesting when the artist also manages to capture the personality of the sitter. Sadly, Singer Sargent did not always manage to do that - or perhaps his rich patrons preferred that he did not!
Oddly enough, I see Sargent as being the portrait painter who shows me the most of the personality of his subjects. The "Ena and Betty" painting mentioned in the article is a great example, as are the portraits of Dr Pozzi, Robert Louis Stevenson, and especially Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. I suppose no two people will look at any piece of art in the same way.
Re the egregious Gregg Wallace, by women of a certain age he meant menopausal women whose condition makes them irrational and prone to hysteria. He was trying to convey that no one with any sense who is not menopausal should take any notice of them. I am listening and reading quite of lot material re this but no one has mentioned this obvious interpretation!
Very much agree about Debbie Cameron's blogs on language - they are brilliant. Here's the link to her woman of a certain age one:
https://debuk.wordpress.com/2024/12/06/women-of-a-certain-age/
PS Trying to persuade her to join us here in Substackland.
"Whenever I see some social conservative from the Midwest raging about the evils of homosexuality, I set my watch and wait patiently for the day he is found in a motel on his tired old knees, wallet empty, having grossly overpaid to give a blowjob..." - Christopher Hitchens
It was only a matter of time before the chronic humourlessness and moral superiority of Pink News turned out to be a sham.
"Look, this is hackish, but it does bear repeating: Benjamin Cohen and his husband seemed, somehow, to be able to distinguish between the half of their staff that they wanted to sleep with and the half they wanted to carry a child for them."
BUUUUUURN
I like this ideat: “Aren’t the most interesting people the ones who can’t make up their minds about their world, who sometimes sneer and sometimes grovel?” Reminds me of Isaiah Berlin's introduction to "Fathers and Sons", which is basically an extended apology/defence for such people, since their counterparts are frequently fanatical nutters
Number 6 is probably good life advice for all of us. It's so easy to imagine the pressure to respond.
As an ex chef ( and yes, that was my email address for some time as I couldn't then work out how to define myself), I utterly abhor chefs of a certain age who epitomise the talented bully.
I've never watched MasterChef or majority of programming which focuses on the mechanics of cooking predominantly because I tend to be influenced more by inspiration and taste. Good technique shows itself whether watching someone use a knife or lay bricks.
That TV has offered up bullies onto altars comprised of ratings for so long is one reason why this definition of talent is drawn to and polished by the media machine.
Another excellent post but the numbering is off, this should be Bluestocking 348 instead of 346
Argh, well spotted, I will update the web version.
All I want for Christmas is for you to do another Christmas special with Decoding the Gurus!
I did one last year, so things are looking good for next year! I've also recorded a quiz for Blocked and Reported, I think that one's going out over the break...
Here’s the missing link to the Deborah Cameron blog on ‘women of a certain age’:
https://debuk.wordpress.com/2024/12/06/women-of-a-certain-age/
That first paragraph is so funny - love your sharp wit.
The portraits of Singer Sargent are easy to like, and you can understand how they were so popular; though I often want to know more about the subjects. I love his painting of Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose.
There was an exhibition of his work in London last summer, and it was fascinating to see Singer Sargent's other work. His paintings during World War One were particularly interesting, though he was always best when painting people.
For sheer virtuosity, he is close to that great "painter's painter" Velasquez , although with the volume of commissions where his heart clearly wasn't fully into it, or had little connection with the sitter, understandably , he veers close to a superficial slickness but one that I and many painters would still give their non painting hand to be able to imitate. But his drawings and non commissioned work show his true motivations. He was also a striking yet sympathetic painter of children who in less skilful hands can too often turn out looking like a sequel to The Omen.
An exhibition of his drawings and non-commissioned work would be worth seeing.
I completely adore his watercolours which show imo that he wasn't exactly toadying when he did his portraits - it's just that he can't help making whatever subject he paints beautiful and compelling:
https://americanwatercolor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Screen-Shot-2021-06-01-at-4.48.57-PM.png
interesting to speculate too on the similarity between Gilded Age antisemites and anti-capitalist/pro-Hamas US college progressives (who may well be their great-great-grandchildren)
I think we always want to look beautiful in a portrait that will last beyond our lifetime. But I find it most interesting when the artist also manages to capture the personality of the sitter. Sadly, Singer Sargent did not always manage to do that - or perhaps his rich patrons preferred that he did not!
Oddly enough, I see Sargent as being the portrait painter who shows me the most of the personality of his subjects. The "Ena and Betty" painting mentioned in the article is a great example, as are the portraits of Dr Pozzi, Robert Louis Stevenson, and especially Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. I suppose no two people will look at any piece of art in the same way.
Re the egregious Gregg Wallace, by women of a certain age he meant menopausal women whose condition makes them irrational and prone to hysteria. He was trying to convey that no one with any sense who is not menopausal should take any notice of them. I am listening and reading quite of lot material re this but no one has mentioned this obvious interpretation!
Q. How many biological sexes are there?
A. Its complicated.