The RP’s Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Beauty

The Politics of Beauty

Want to really, really spread your political message? People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has long gained attention for their cause through provocative campaigns involving scantily clad activists covered only by strategically placed messages (thanks to local and state obscenity laws). Coming in the next few months, however, the message will be a completely “naked” one thanks to peta.xxx. Finally, a porn site you can watch with you favorite pet. New Zealand Herald News

Nostalgic for the Cold War-era, comrade? Still rebelling with your CCCP, Marx and “Che” t-shirts? Ever wonder what happened to all of those Lenin statues torn down after the fall of the Soviet Union? Next time you’re in Sofia, Bulgaria, get your fix of Communist-era art at the Museum of Socialist Art, featuring a plethora of state-sponsored propaganda and art that will satisfy your proletariat urges. But try not to get too excited, my little Pioneers. As the Bulgarian Culture Minister said wryly at the opening of the exhibit space last week, “It [is] high time to put communism where it belongs—in a museum.” DAWN.COM

Fashion and style have always been inextricably linked to politics. And the prim and proper, white pearl necklace-wearing Michele Bachmann seems to stand in striking contrast to a long-haired, rap/heavy-metal artist radio show host—until, that is, you notice that his bevy of tattoos include images of Moses, Jesus and the words “Bill of Rights” on his elbow. Bradlee Dean recently stated that President Obama had caused more damage to the United States than Osama bin Laden. Maybe that’s what makes Mrs. Bachmann a fan of the man, and his radio show. The New York Times

 

The RP’S Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Beauty

Last week, the RP began a new “Weekly Web Gem,” The Politics of Beauty. While we may occasionally opine on the relative attractiveness of certain current Republican candidates (declared and undeclared, male and female) for the presidency, the primary focus will be on the politics of art, literature, music and culture. Really, anything is game. As always, we welcome your feedback!

The Politics of Beauty

Check out this (quick) story from COLORS Magazine about a British bloke’s political memorabilia collection. Martin Parr always “hated Mrs. Thatcher and couldn’t believe anyone would collect things about her, so [he] did.” The RP loves the Saddam Hussein watch collection. COLORS Magazine consistently challenges notions of beauty, politics, art and culture. Check it out here.

Ordinary Israelis, ordinary Palestinians. Two photo booths and a roaming photo truck. 7,000 individual portraits. The large black-and-white portraits have been appearing in Bethlehem and Ramallah as part of an international project to allow people to make art and/or political statements. Learn more and view some of the photographs from The Washington Post.

If there are any of you left out there that still eat Freedom Fries and refuse to say “rendezvous,” “ménage à trois”or “café au lait,” the incomparable David McCullough’s latest book, The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, is for you. The American experiment owes more to France and the French than most Americans even remotely understand. In fact, we would not, McCullough argues, even “have a country without the French, who have permanently and profoundly shaped us.” Read the review from The New York Times. Of course, you could just read the new, um, “non-fiction” reflections of Dick Cheney instead.

 

The RP’s Weekly Web Gems: The Politics of Beauty

The Politics of Beauty

Ever wonder why the young, handsome guy in the next cubicle always seems to get the raises    and promotions? Or why the most beautiful women in the company never stay around on your floor long because they’re always “moving up”? Here are three new books that help explain to the less fortunate looking among us just why that is. The Economist

And for the more aural, listen to a further conversation about the subject of beauty and bucks (or Euros, Pesos, Yen—you name it because it’s universal) on the September 7th episode of The Q.

Finally, is there a political or “economical” (in the biological sense) explanation for the human female orgasm? Read on, dear friends. Salon.com

 

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