Thursday, November 10, 2011

Me & Bill


Hello & Welcome to Me & My Classroom Copying Bill Cunningham New York.
The above statement probably won't make much sense to you if you haven't at least heard of 
Bill Cunningham New York, the documentary.  Then again, much of what I say may not make much sense to you, but you may at least Skim Read it anyway. Of course it always makes Perfect Sense to Me which, after all is all that matters.
Spotting a Psychopath.
Ooooo..... I hope I'm not sounding too much like a Narcissist or perhaps, dare I say, a Psychopath.
Last nite, over a splendid Birthday Dinner at 'Zinc' for AJ, Lady Di, a local friend, told us a chilling story of her now Ex-boss, who behaved so much like a psychopath  in the workplace that she was fired & escorted off the premises. While Lady D was describing The Psychopath's  behaviour, I was mentally ticking off all the characteristics we had in common:
1. considered herself an artist/photographer;
2. Had strict rules for life like always rub blockout on your cleaveage & eat broccoli;
3. Fancied herself as a singer.
4. Reminded people of Bette Midler.
5. Had an office that was adorned with Photographic Portraits of herself, sometimes in multiples as if Andy Warhol himself had taken them.
Sadly, I share a number of those characteristics but I'm not going to tell you which ones, except to say  that someone told me recently that Bette Midler would be far more suited to playing me in My Biopic than Meryl Streep.
Anyway, back to Bill Cunningham's Documentary. I totally loved it & I'm sure you would too.
In a Nutshell:
Bill is v. old. He lives in NYC.
As a young man, he made hats. And then he was drafted & was sent to Korea.
He has never had a romance.
He totally loves fashion but doesn't wear it himself. Instead, he wears a kind of French Smock which makes him look like an Aged Warehouseman.
He takes photos of people wearing interesting outfits mainly on the streets of NYC. They are published in his regular page in the NY Times.
He is not interested in celebrities which is such a Huge Relief because I'm not really interested in what they wear myself even though I slavishly watch 'Fashion Police every week.
I'm now realising that there is far too much more to say about Bill Cunningham so the whole Nutshell Thing is a disaster. Just go watch it yourself. You can download it off  iTunes I think.
Of course, as soon as I got home, I feverishly began making my own version of  Bill's Movie Poster. Perhaps this makes me a Narcissist.
Anyway, its dangerously close to my Official Bedtime & I must hop into a steaming bath liberally sprinkled with Epsom Salts which is my Panacea for Every Ache & Pain & God knows I've got a few because I went to Boot Camp this afternoon & skipped a little too rigorously. Oh, if only there was Epsom Salts for the Soul.........

4 comments:

ReaderRita said...

Oh, I want to see the Bill Cunningham New York film!
But alas, since I live not in New York or LA, the chances are sadly slim. It is a crime how they distribute movies.
At any rate, I always read his page in the NYT, and just love his "eye".
As for your resemblance to the fired psychopath, I've always though that "sanity" is such a subjective concept. Much like "reality". Seriously, who among us can state with certainty that they unequivocally embody either concept?
(Usually the one who embodies neither...)
All of these previous points merge together in my head- I
love to peruse the Bill Cunningham page to see what real people are creating, (it gives me hope for humanity) and
see something purely wonderful before celebrities abscond with and exploit the idea in the media. That melds into what is the definition of a celebrity vs an artist, then that leads to artist vs genius, genius vs mad person, and I'm right back where I started.
I DO find time to loathe Madonna in here somewhere, for she has never had an original idea in her life. And if she didn't just copy other's ideas wholesale, I wouldn't care. But she does. Can't even be bothered to change them a little, as in what's called "inspiration", the old cow. Lord, how I abhor that vile woman. But I digress.

For what it's worth; I dare say that YOU are a true and genuine creative; an artist, not a psychopath. You inspire us like Mr Cunningham!

Rebecca said...

Your own "Classroom Page" IS inspiring!

Bette Midler, huh? She's a huge fav of mine!

I'm a big fan of Epson Salts, too. (This reminds me I need to replenish my supply--I used it on my failing rose bush per advice, and it revived it quite well!)

Della Street Dreaming said...

I'm with you, R. Rita about Mads. I've never been even remotely interested in her, except during her 'Desperately Seeking Susan' period & then that wasn't because of her acting, but her style - all those bangles & chains & punky fishnetty slightly trashy look which I unsuccessfully tried to emulate.
Thanks for your insightful comments. Don't forget that you can see Bill C. on iTunes
love
Sue

Della Street Dreaming said...

I'm glad, Rebecca you like Bette. I went off her during her 'Wings Beneath my Whatever' period, but just recently I viewed 'First Wives Club' again & thought she totally stole the show even from Goldie & Diane K!
Had an epsom salts bath last nite. Amazing that it works just as effectively on Rose bushes as well as me!
love Sue