Sara Collantes: Gustav Klimt - NUDA VERITAS

The painter in 1912

Klimt has never been one of my favorite painters; in fact he isn’t in my top five, whose first place has been a never-ending fight for years between Caravaggio and Turner. However, I have to admit that his work is absolutely lovely and completely original. Nowadays his works seem to be very accessible, easily acceptable, and and it’s us women who tend to experiment a magical, inexplicable connection with his paintings at once.

Today, when one first sees a painting by Klimt one might think that it is nice on purpose, made to please, but the eyes and minds of the Viennese in 1890 were not as used as ours to seeing such sensual and, on occasions, explicit sex gestures. He was accused of being provocative and sometimes even “sexually perverted and pornographic”.

Palas, 1898

Klimt belongs to neither the 19th nor the 20th century; however, he knew how to combine challenges and unite both historicism and symbolism, as well as naturalism and abstraction, in one single painting. He lived between the academicism of Makart and the unstoppable advance of the expressionism of Kokoschka and Egon Schiele. Therefore, we can’t classify him into a specific style. But in a time and place where a breakthrough of originality had been asked, Klimt was the answer.

He once said (quote) about his own art: 

“I have never painted a self-portrait. I am less interested in myself as a subject for a painting than I am in other people, above all women… There is nothing special about me. I am a painter who paints day after day from morning to night … Whoever wants to know something about me … ought to look carefully at my pictures.”

The Kiss, 1908

Klimt adored women; they were his main theme above all others. He surrendered himself to the feminine symbolism to depict the hypocritical Viennese society. Women were claiming for new positions on both an ideological and cultural level, always overshadowed by their wealthy bourgeois husbands. The female body was the main subject of his paintings, and he explored the sensuality of feminine beauty, from the kindest joy of pure love to the arrogant power of the “femme fatale”.

Medicine Hygieia, 1901

Judith, 1901

Many artists had tried to express the beauty of romance. Klimt captured the power of romantic love in his worldwide known painting “The Kiss”, which is a celebration of pleasure, joy and life. But “his” women aren’t always so tender as the one in The Kiss. They are also fascinating, irresistible sorceresses who provoke an inevitable attraction. Such unbelievable strength lies in Palas Athenea, Danae or Hygieia. They look at us saucily, insolently, trying to rouse the spectator. In my opinion, the proudest, most shameless of these women is one hanging in my room, Judith. She’s the paradigm of the femme fatale, even in the Biblical story in which she beheads Holofernes in order to save the Jewish people. But in this case, the painting loses its Biblical meaning on behalf of the woman’s seductive power. She’s delightfully vicious, charmingly sinful and fascinatingly perverse. Klimt demonstrated here the undeniable erotic superiority of women.

There’s a movie I haven’t seen it yet but it’s in my list of must-see films, based on Klimt’s life and featuring one of my favorite actors, John Malkovich.

Let me end up saying that Klimt is a delightful painter who devoted his entire life to women, so we in return should give him some of this love back.

Fernando: THE MORUCHA BREED

Salamanca is a worldwide-known city, famous for its main landmarks, like the old University, the breathtaking Plaza Mayor, the Old Town and, of course, its magnificent cathedrals. All in all, it is a place full of history, where significant events in the past changed the course of modern life somehow. It is considered an appealing city to live in for many reasons, too many to mention right now. There will be a more propitious moment to say something about how life is in this small town, because the purpose of this post is rather different.

I intend to remark that my homeland has other treasures, unfortunately unknown to many. One of them is its beautiful province, which is formed basically by four different landscapes: The Armuña, the Arribes del Duero, the Sierras of Béjar and Francia and the Campo Charro. According to senior geographers, there are even more. However, I want to simplify them in order to get a better understanding. I am going to focus on” El Campo Charro”, a landscape which is an extended area comprising the south of Salamanca, Vitigudino, Ciudad Rodrigo and Linares de Riofrío. It is a marvelous landscape full of oaks, cork oaks and, above all, our mighty “encina” (Quercus ilex, holm oak). This unique tree is evergreen, as it never loses its leaves and gives a very singular, rich fruit called “bellota” (= acorn). The vast majority of this particular zone is a meadow where a fine, nutritive pasture essential to animal feeding grows. The perfect combination between “encinas” and meadows provides a remarkable view whenever you contemplate it, no matter what season of the year you choose. This is an area where a very specific kind of cows lives: ”The Morucha breed”.

To be honest, prior to writing something about this issue, I must admit that I am certainly not an expert. Therefore, the aim of this entry is to give sort of a general outline on what these cows are like to those who do not know them yet. Consequently, to identify them at first sight, first of all, it is important to mention that they have two different types of hair, black and grey, but both share a common characteristic, which is having a black mouth. But what strikes you most about these singular animals is their long, white upright horns with black ends. They are big-sized cows indeed, with a short neck and the whole body in an almost rectangular shape. This livestock is extremely agile, as they are able to trot, even to gallop whenever any circumstance makes them shy away. Additionally, all of them have an expressive look and graceful movements, which you can notice it, if you just take the time to make an accurate observation. Their extraordinary adaptability to extreme weather allows them to live freely in open spaces such as ours, with cold winters and hot summers. At the same time, their strong maternal instinct, together with their fertility and longevity, make these creatures almost a perfect breed.

As I have said above, these cattle live freely, not in intensive or battery farms, and eat naturally. Fundamentally, their food comes from pasture, fodder, dry cereals and acorns, creating a perfect ecosystem that contributes to developing a good environmental protection. So the meat these cows provide is undoubtedly a very healthy, full of flavour and surprisingly tender at the same time. I highly recommend tasting it to those who have not done it yet.

Nowadays, many governments are studying how to encourage people to change their eating habits, because an unhealthy diet is considered a global problem. For that reason, all of us should use quality ingredients in our meals and be aware of how bad fast food is. To me a balanced diet means eating the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals that can protect you from illness, and to have a good physical-mental health.

Finally, I should emphasize that our country has excellent and healthy products. To my mind, the Mediterranean diet is the best choice, instead of imitating bad eating habits from overseas. That is what so many people are doing unwittingly, and going along this path is plain wrong, no doubt, which will have serious consequences in the near future.

Thanks, dear fernando, for this enlightening post about our native breed, whose tender meat I always relish whenever I order it in a restaurant. I guess I'll do even more from now on!

Nelson Mandela has died

Last night I received a whatssap from my son in Maastricht, which just read: "Dad, Mandela is gone!" It caught me so unawares that I admit I took a couple of seconds to realise the sad news: South Africa's first black President and arguably the most iconic, inspirational figure in politics over the last 50 years had passed away. Immediately, I logged on to BBC news and I read the headline: Mandela dies aged 95. His long battle against a lung infection was over. Madiba (his clan name), the father of modern South Africa, whose life had been devoted to a brave struggle against apartheid and in favour of the civil rights of his fellow black citizens, was dead.

It is only coincidence that Chani recently mentioned on our blog how Rodriguez, while utterly neglected in his native America, was passionately idolized in South Africa during the time when Mandela was in prison for 27 long years, and his music had inspired and kept alive the dreams of many people throughout the oppressive regime.

You know, I've always said that if was given the chance to meet a politician in the flesh that would, no doubt, be (have been, actually) Nelson Mandela, definitely one of my all-time heroes. A tortured man who was willing to forgive and forget his ruthless enemies for the sake and welfare of his country, who through his sensitive words and selfless deeds transformed a nation, a leader who's universally admired and acknowledged. His personal warmth and charisma always moved me, the story of his struggle and imprisonment, which I find so courageous, made me think of how generous a human being can be.

There are many memorable quotes that define his compelling personality. Among the many I could cite, I've extracted a few as a modest tribute to his life - and death:

- Racism is a blight on the human conscience. The idea that any people can be inferior to another, to the point where those who consider themselves superior define and treat the rest as sub-human, denies the humanity even of those who elevate themselves to the status of gods.

- Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.

- As the years progress one increasingly realises the importance of friendship and human solidarity. And if a 90-year-old may offer some unsolicited advice on this occasion, it would be that you, irrespective of your age, should place human solidarity, the concern for the other, at the centre of the values by which you live.

-  I was the symbol of justice in the court of the oppressor, the representative of the great ideals of freedom, fairness and democracy in a society that dishonoured those virtues. I realized then and there that I could carry on the fight even in the fortress of the enemy.

Such wise words he spoke, true lessons of human dignity and solidarity which we all (and especially our oft corrupted, selfish politicians) should learn from. That's why I decided to post this entry today, rather fittingly on the day we celebrate our Constitution, and I'd love you guys to join me and send in your own comments about Nelson Mandela. Politicians and religious leaders of all creeds across the world are unanimously praising the great man and his legacy so I'm sure many of you would like to share your thoughts about him too.

When I think of Mandela a song springs up, one by Scottish band Simple Minds, who in the late 80s paid a heartfelt tribute on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his cruel imprisonment: "Mandela Day". The Youtube clip I've found features the song as well as some of Mandela's everlasting quotes plus a few articles of the Universal declaration of Human Rights, so often trampled in our society:

Mandela is finally free. Long live the spirit of Madiba!

Luis. A book review: Memento Mori

Last year, when I was still living in Valladolid, I discovered a novel which now I bring to this blog. It is the first part of a trilogy whose author is César Pérez Gellida, a brave man from Valladolid, who quit his job in order to devote himself to his writing career. The first fruit of this is Memento Mori.

Let me tell you a little about the story. There’s the seemingly typical police inspector, Sancho, and a murder to investigate. A corpse has been found, horribly mutilated, next to a note with a poem. We could expect a police thriller, like many others with these ingredients, but this would be a big mistake, because "Memento Mori" contains several details that make it different and innovative from its beginning, including the foreword by Michael Robinson.

The story is told alternating the points of view of the two main characters: Sancho, the investigator, and Augusto, the murderer. We see the perspective of the antagonist very closely. We know his identity from the very first page, but the plot does not lose interest because of this early revelation. On the contrary, after ending the novel, the feeling is that Augusto is the engine of the story.

Sancho is a tormented inspector, dealing with ghosts from the past, whereas Augusto is psychologically complex. Not only do we perceive their fears, their strengths and weaknesses, but also we go on a tour through the streets of Valladolid while they try to beat each other. An extremely interesting route filled with monuments, famous streets, as well as pubs and restaurants.

There is room for constant literary references, like Kafka; many of them are the inspiration of Augusto for his murders.

His musical preferences are also the key to understand his behavior. So for the novel’s soundtrack, which is available on the author’s website, songs by Héroes del Silencio, Placebo, Rammstein and Depeche Mode, among others, appear during the development of the plot.

In short, Memento Mori is a different reading experience and you will easily devour its pages. However, a calm reading is recommended in order to enjoy each page better, and, of course, you must have Youtube at hand as the songs complement the story. It’s a novel to read as well as to listen to. When you finish it, you will probably be looking forward to reading its sequel, “Dies Irae”.

Jelena: A short trip to the imagination with Silvia Peréz Cruz

When my classmate Maite suggested going to the concert by Silvia Peréz Cruz, I was delighted, as I saw a great opportunity to experience and learn something new. I had no previous knowledge of this singer, and although jazz, which was the main theme, is not my favourite music style, the fact that the young Spanish vocalist is moving within different music genres, including fado and flamenco, actually the ones I prefer, I felt quite curious. 

The concert was held in the “Juan del Enzina” theatre, and to my mind it was just the perfect place for that kind of music, the space that gave us the sensation of a more intimate, warmer atmosphere and one which enabled a better connection between the musicians and the audience. The simplicity of the stage and the casual look of the artists, as if they were just rehearsing for the concert, made us feel more relaxed and ready to absorb the immense quantity of positive energy and strong emotions.

The songs we could hear were from Silvia’s only CD so far, named “En la imaginacion”, the fruit of the collaboration with the famous Javier Colina trio, whose founder, the magnificent double bass player Javier Colina, made a selection of some classics of Cuban music, Latin jazz to be precise, arranged and found on the album. Each song was telling us a story of love, passion, sadness, longing and hope, and we wouldn’t have enjoyed them if it wasn’t for Silvia’s radiant, warm and versatile voice. She performed each song as if it was her own story, her own emotion, her personal experience, and it wasn’t just her voice, but her eyes, her face, her entire body that was involved in the task of conveying every single feeling, so in a way there was no need to understand all the words. 

It was a unique experience in which we enjoyed ourselves together, the artists as much as the audience. What impressed me greatly was the degree of improvisation made by the musicians, which made the concert unique and, to some extent, amusing. For two short (at least to me) hours sequenced wonderful songs were played one after another, like “Debí llorar”, “Qué dirías de mi”, “Ella y yo” and “Veinte años”, but Silvia didn’t want to make us feel too sad or melancholic, so from time to time she performed some faster, more entertaining songs like “Belen” and “El panquelero”.

The most touching moment of the concert was at the very end, when Silvia and Javier sang together a beautiful song named “Si te contara”, which she dedicated to either a friend or a relative - who apparently passed away the same day they held the concert - while telling us that there was no reason to feel sad or disappointed. With a great smile on her face, looking to the sky, she paid homage to somebody she really cared for and who obviously must have loved the song. 

Silvia truly made her way to my heart, so I have started to listen to her music, and I’m deeply grateful to my friend Maite for sharing an extraordinary musical experience with me.

Thanks, dear Jelena, a riveting post indeed. I mean, sure you can write a Spanish artist - or from any other nationality for that matter - as long as it is in English!

I am just sorry I missed the gig as I find Silvia a fascinating singer, with a beautiful voice and oozing on-stage charisma. Hopefully I'll see her perform live soon. I hope you approve of the photos and clip I've embedded!

Chani: WHEN DESTINY WANTS TO TOY WITH SOMEONE (Searching for Sugar Man)

Last Thursday I went to watch this film of the “Ciclo de Cine e Idiomas” in Van Dyck cinema, Salamanca. The experience was absolutely amazing and rewarding. Even though I had previously heard of the incredible but true history of Rodriguez I couldn’t help being moved. 

First and foremost, the documentary made me feel at the beginning as if the protagonist was dead. Furthermore, I couldn’t certainly image how something like that could have happened in this supposedly advanced and modern world.  

To a certain extent, I dare say that it is really difficult to be a prophet in your homeland. This is precisely what happened to Rodriguez, who started his musical career in his native Detroit, Michigan. His songs, based on the cruel reality of the miserable, deprived neighbourhood where he lived, are like a scream of protest against social injustice. Contrary to popular belief, not only do his critical lyrics focus on the downside of a dire situation but they also show a slight light of hope on the horizon.

The music company Sussex Records released only two albums by Rodriguez and, quite ironically, dismissed him two weeks before Christmas, as he writes in one of his songs. Unfortunately, this artist was not successful in his own country so he gave up music and carried on working in the construction industry. As far as I am concerned, the owner of Sussex, who is interviewed in the film, is the one to blame for so many years lost for Rodriguez.

A young "Sixto" Rodriguez back in the early 70s

Little did he imagine what life had in store for him. Meanwhile, far away from the USA, the story of this great singersongwriter was being written in capital letters. In South Africa, his two albums, “Cold Fact” and “Coming from Reality”, reached the peak of success. What is more, they became so popular that Rodriguez was compared to his well-known, contemporary fellow artist Bob Dylan. Not to mention the fact that in South Africa, people were living the terrible “Apartheid” – the rights of the majority of the black citizens were curtailed. Obviously, people rebelled against the tyrannical government through submissive, peaceful protests in which Rodriguez’s songs were like a strong symbol of resistance and true hymns of freedom. 

I can’t help telling you that “yes, Rodriguez is still alive!” His life took a U-turn. The first gig he played in South Africa in 1998, almost 25 years after he recorded his music, face to face with his devoted fans, was absolutely spectacular. The concert hall was full to overflowing and the audience exploded in a burst of applause. I really liked what Rodriguez said: “Thanks for keeping me alive”.

Finally, I have to praise director Malik Bendjelloul for his good decision to carry on with the determination to find Rodriguez wherever he was. Of course, I eagerly recommend you to watch Searching for Sugar Man. There are still some questions on the air to be answered such as what happened to the royalties produced by the sales of Rodriguez’s albums in South Africa? Apparently, his record company received the money but the singer did not have any knowledge. Is Rodriguez going to delight us with new songs? I hope so!

Well done, Chani! You know, I can't emphasize enough, however enthusiastically I recommended you guys the film in class, that I totally, utterly love "Searching for Sugar Man" (so much so that I've watched it three times!) Not only Rodriguez's moving life story but, above all, his awesome music, which indeed deserves recognition, as it's mentioned in the movie.

So allow me to embed this clip of an interesting interview with Rodriguez himself and the film's director, during the promotion of the highly praised, critically acclaimed documentary.

Finally, just to give an example of his immense, unrecognized talent as a (sadly wasted) singer-songwriter, I'd like to post a song whose lyrics are sheer poetry to my ears. It's called "Cause" and it's said to be the last song Rodriguez ever recorded in his fleeting career. Sadly, dear Chani, I'm afraid he's just too old now, in his early 70s, so way past his prime, to pen any more songs. But his late legacy is one of amazing beauty. Enjoy!

Sara Collantes: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

While I am writing this, the last vinyl I bought, “Greatest Hits II” by Queen, keeps spinning and playing loudly. I have to stand up every four songs to turn the volume down but, you know, that’s the magic of vinyls.

On a day like today in 1991 Freddie Mercury, the frontman, main composer, lead singer and the heart and soul of Queen, died because of a bronchopneumonia brought on by AIDS.

I was only 8 when Freddie passed away and little did I know at the time about R ‘n’ R; however, what I do remember clearly is listening to lots of rock bands such as Deep Purple, Dire Straits and, above all, Queen. All of them used to play on my father’s car radio or at home while doing the weekly cleaning of the house on Sundays. It’s a kind of the soundtrack of my early days. Many years later I rediscovered the band and I’ve been absolutely hooked since then.

It’s undeniable that he was unique and a great performer, but it’s not as simple as that. Away beyond just being a musical artist, not merely a singer, he was widely known for his strength, magnetism and thrilling performances on stage. He was a really shy man and famous for his scarce interviews but as a performer he was like a burst of energy, an explosion of good feelings, a mixture of powerful vocals and a flamboyant attitude.

The worldwide known soprano, Montserrat Caballé, with whom Freddie recorded an album, said: “His technique was astonishing. His phrasing was subtle, delicate and sweet or energetic and slamming. He was able to find the right colouring or expressive nuance for each word”. Considering the source of this statement I believe it is a huge compliment.

In his last years he was seriously ill although nobody knew except his closest friends and band mates. During those years they penned some of the saddest songs ever written, such as “The show must go on”. I’ve always believed it was his final farewell. 

“The show must go on

The show must go on

I'll face it with a grin

I'm never giving in”

Last February I was in London with my boyfriend visiting a friend when we had the opportunity to see Brian May in concert. He played a small gig at St. Pancras Station to raise money as part of a campaign by an organization called “Save Tigers Now”. It was only 30 minutes long and most of the songs were covers from other bands but the last one he played was “A crazy little thing called love”. I was excited, absolutely delighted to see him perform so I cried out of sheer happiness to be there. Now I just wonder what it would have been like with Freddie himself on stage.

At least we have all inherited his amazing songs and memorable live performances. They are the long-lasting legacy he left us. Freddie died but his songs will never do.

Thanks Sara! I almost forgot it was Freddie's death anniversary, which is unforgivable being myself a lifelong fan of the band (and Freddie indeed!). I sometimes can't believe what a major crush I had on them as a rock-oriented teenager in secondary school. I would spend all day long listening to their songs, learning their lyrics by heart (I guess it helped my English a lot at the time!) and finding out as much as I could about the band's members' personal lives. Then I must admit I sort of almost hated Queen when in 1980 they released "Hot Space", their tenth studio album, which I found so so naff and tacky! (and still do today, I just can't help it however much I love their music!). 

I mean, I was a staunch follower of their classic albums, you know, "Queen II","A Night at the Opera" and stuff, and I admit I was even more outraged to watch their provocative, humorous clip of "I want to break free", featuring good old Freddie and the rest of the band in women's gear, with the lead singer infamously dressed as a moustached housewife doing the hoover. "These are not my Queen, no way!", I thought then. From that moment on I stubbornly kept listening to their classic albums - the earlier the better - and only when they recorded "A kind of Magic" and above all, "Innuendo" did I agree to listen to their new productions.

Actually, Sara has sent me the link to the video of a relatively late song by Queen, from their 1989 album The Miracle called "Breakthru". I guess it is a perfect example of the band juggled the old style (the operatic feel of the intro - those great voices!) with a more modern, late 80s sound. Enjoy:

Freddie's sad untimely death was a huge, devastating blow to me. It's amazing how time flies, I can't believe twenty-two long years have gone by. I just wish I could have seen them perform live just the one time, but it wasn't to be. Dear Freddie, may you rest in peace wherever you are ...

Van Dyck's 33rd ciclo's opening film: "A late quartet"

Yesterday I was lucky to watch a great film - at least to my mind -, the first of the “Ciclo de Cine e Idiomas” in Van Dyck: A late Quartet. Despite a modest commercial success, both my son and a few colleagues had recommended it to me, so I willingly went to see it with my wife.

Directed by Israeli-American filmmaker Yaron Zilberman, the story the movie tells is pretty straightforward: the seasoned cellist of a world-class string quartet is diagnosed with the Parkinson’s disease, which triggers off a chain of startling events and a flow of emotions within the group of fine musicians after 25 years of a successful, harmonious career. 

I have always believed that professional interpreters at the highest level have egos as big as the auditoriums they sometimes perform in, as well as a demanding life, rife with the pressures and demands of being in the public eye all day, going on long tiring tours, often giving up a lot on family life and stuff. And this is all very effectively portrayed in A late Quartet through the truly extraordinary performances of a brilliant cast, led by - arguably one of my fave actors nowadays - the awesome Philip Seymour Hoffman and indeed a great veteran of the screeen, Christopher Walken, who really steals the show with his memorable role as the illness-struck cellist Peter Mitchell. Apparently the film is loosely based on the autobiography of Gregor Piatigorsky, who, like Peter recounting an anecdote to his devoted pupils (possibly my favourite scene of the movie in the movie), once met Spanish legendary cellist Pau Casals.

The great Christopher Walken plays the role of a lifetime. Worthy of an Oscar?

To me, A late Quartet is a fine example of what intelligent film-making is all about: the drama is skilfully constructed and, first and foremost, accurately performed; the icing on the cake is the brilliant music, namely Beethoven’s superb, powerful string quartet opus 131 (which I’m listening to as I write these lines), the fitting background against which the moving stories of jealousy, ambition and family tensions unfold.

The troubled marriage within the quartet

It was only coincidence that barely an hour after the end of the film I was comfortably sitting at the Teatro Liceo relishing the delightful music of Schubert’s Octet in F major, performed by the “Octeto de la OSCyL”. As I was watching the very talented musicians play the piece, I couldn’t help thinking, obviously affected by what I had just seen on the screen, what their personal relationships might be like, you know,  their feelings towards each other, as well as the enormous strain they must be under whenever they perform in front of an audience. Being the father of an aspiring musician myself, I find this world totally fascinating - yet somewhat disturbing, I must admit!

From the point of view of English, I was glad to see some of my students (not as many as I'd wished, though) around in the stalls, thinking they surely understood a good deal of the words and expressions the fine actors uttered, since they all spoke mildly standard American accents.

If, like me, you enjoy a film featuring strong performances within a simple story devoid of gratuitous ingredients (you know, no special effects, no car chases or mindless violence), just a beautiful drama focusing on human passion, punctuated by a brilliant classical music soundtrack, A Late Quartet is a great joy. Watch the trailer and judge for yourselves.

Maite Garcia: Nosferatu, a film by Murnau

Photography revolutionized the world of art owing to its characteristics: veracity, instantaneous results, etc. This amazing medium promoted the emergence of the cinema, whose essential base is the image in movement. Cinema has become a kind of art which is so typical at present. 

I declare myself as a cinema lover. Not only do I like a good script or moving performances but also I am very interested in the esthetic resources the cinema uses to tell us a story (its shots, frames or camera movements). So for that reason, I wish to talk about Nosferatu, a silent film directed by German filmmaker F. Murnau in the 1920s which I saw this weekend and really surprised me. Despite the fact that the movie is so old, it established a lot of keys in relation to horror movies. 

It is not the first film in which a vampire appears. However, it was the first one to be inspired by “Dracula”, whose author is Bram Stoker. In spite of changing the names of both the main characters and places, the story was suspiciously similar to Stoker's novel; that's why the widow's writer won a lawsuit to destroy all the copies. Fortunately, the destruction was not complete and nowadays we can still enjoy this masterpiece. 

Though Nosferatu belongs to German expressionism, this film introduces a few changes in this movement. Pictorial scenographies (which we could also see in “The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari”) were abandoned so as to use scenes shot oudoors to evoke reality. Nowadays, horror films (“The Blair witch project”, “Rec”, “Paranormal activity”) use that resource to achieve more effectiveness. At an esthetic level, the carriage's scene must be mentioned, shot at a fast pace as a photo negative in order to announce that something terrible is going to happen. In fact, Stanley Kubrick included a similar sequence in “The clockwork orange” (Kubrick used a Durango 95 car instead of a carriage). It is important to analyze the illumination, because if someone is savage like Nosferatu, the light will be rough and dark. In contrast, victims and innocent people will appear against a soft light. Moreover, the shadows suggest the presence of the vampire, and also his death when they are destroyed. The use of a low angle is also remarkable in order to emphasize Nosferatu as the most evil paradigm.

Issues like the conflict between good and evil, and love as the only salvation are constants in this film. A great deal of the critics believe that these values are used in a metaphoric sense to reflect the fear Europe felt about the Nazi threat. We can relate this feeling to a dramatic scene where we can see a huge outburst of rats jumping off a ship to spread diseases. In this way, rats “prepare” the reign of Nosferatu. The vampire represents the darkest part of human heart as well; in fact, that reason leads him to his own destruction, when he stays / is staying with Ellen (his victim) and the sun is rising. This feeling has nothing to do with the desire associated with love, which is the main difference between Nosferatu and subsequent works by Tod Browning (“The mark of the vampire”) and F. F. Coppola (“Bram Stoker’s Dracula”). 

This movie is a great example of a horror tale but maybe it is also a journey into our evil, dark side personified by Nosferatu, the vampire. This monstrosity represents an interruption of the concept of “sublime”, which is defined as the observation of fear from a safety position, from a distance that allows our enjoyment. I believe Murnau breaks the distance and limits in quite an innovative, suggestive way so that his resources or techniques remain in modern films.

Thanks Maite, well done! I admit I have vague memories of Nosferatu, which I must have seen years ago. Perhaps I should have a go at it again after reading your post! In any case, I've found this clip of the film, actually the very beginning of it, so that your classmates get a taste of what this old movie looks like.

Chani: a spectacular landscape in Spain

Spain is an incredible country which surprises people everywhere. Undoubtedly, it boasts fascinating landscapes with wonderful, breathtaking views. One of these marvellous sceneries is located in Navarra: The source of the River Urederra is a clear example. We can admire this beautiful place in all its splendour all year round, especially in autumn.

This kaleidoscopic view offers a wide spectrum of colours, which delight our eyes in perfect harmony with a feeling of profound peace. It seems to be an otherworldly image that is reflected even more in the following photograph.

This huge variety of multi-coloured leaves which fall off the trees during the autumn creates a striking carpet. The crystal-clear waters carry them on a long trip slowly and smoothly. In addition, the vegetation which surrounds the river is worth seeing since it will astonish us with its beauty. 

I strongly recommend you to visit this magnificent area in which you can walk and enjoy nature.

Ana Garcia 1º NI: "The Last king of Scotland"

Last weekend I watched “The last king of Scotland”, a British film of 2006 directed by Kevin Macdonald and based on the novel by Giles Foden. It tells the story of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (Forrest Whitaker) through his personal doctor, Dr. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy)

The film is a sketch of the African dictator’s life. Garrigan begins his relationship with Idi Amin admiring him and believing in his future projects, but quickly he realizes the cruelties for which the dictator’s regime is responsible, and the terror that reigns in the country.

This fantastic movie focuses on the close relationship between the two men, without going too deep into the dictator’s political atrocities. It moves from a more fraternal relationship between the patient and his doctor to the doctor’s persecution and martyrdom, which is due to his supposed treason.

Amin’s men torture Nicholas, but, thanks to the sacrifice of one of his fellow doctors, he manages to catch a plane on which there are hostages who live in Uganda. After learning of Nicholas’s escape, Amin goes to the airport, where he finds out that the plane has already taken off.

I really liked the film, but I don’t think the crudeness of some images is necessary.


Thanks Ana, well done! Let me just round off this lovely review by inserting the movie's official trailer (with subtitles in Spanish)

Fernando: Scientific advances

I have always felt deep respect and admiration for the men and women that somehow have made life easier and healthier for the rest of their fellow human beings. In many cases, they have devoted half their lives to achieving a specific aim.

Manuel Serrano, a leading Spanish cancer researcher

Chemistry research at UCLA

To my mind, nowadays people - generally speaking - enjoy scientific advances as something that they take for granted. It is kind of an entitlement which is considered part of our common heritage. However, behind every human invention, a medical breakthrough or a scientific advance, there is, without any doubt, a huge amount of work. So all of us should take into account that it is normally a silent and often tedious task which necessarily requires time, effort and dedication, as well as endurance, determination and commitment. On top of that, researchers must keep going steadily, in spite of the many difficulties they have to overcome. But the toughest time comes when they are very close to succeeding and something wrong happens unexpectedly. In that precise moment, they have to retrace their steps and go back to where they were, and try over and over again until they find the right path towards success.

      

Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the extraordinary figure of SANTIAGO RAMÓN y CAJAL, the famous doctor and researcher. He exemplifies what I have mentioned above. Thanks to

his strong determination, painstakingly working in his lab while checking endless samples in his microscope, he managed to discover the close-knit connection between the neurons inside our brain. His remarkable discovery was one step forward into the unknown world of the human mind.

Thanks a lot, dear Fernando, for another fantastic post. Allow me to join you in for a humble tribute to the many committed, hard-working researchers across the world by embedding (if only for the sake of English) this short clip introducing NCRI, the prestigious National Cancer Research Institute in the UK. Hopefully one day soon an effective cure against this deathly plague called cancer will be found!

Sara Collantes: The Sagrada Familia (Barcelona)

“My client is not in a hurry”. That’s what Gaudí used to say when he was asked about the completion of the Sagrada Familia, the worldwide known cathedral of Barcelona and indeed the most important of his works.

La Pedrera

When Gaudí took charge of the project he was only 30. It was one of his first assignments and the largest no doubt. Antoni Gaudí was an extraordinary man, a deeply religious visionary, as well as a truly lover of nature. In fact, it is something easily noticeable in all of his works, such as El Capricho in Comillas, with thousands of sunflowers on its façade; Casa Milá, also known as La Pedrera, with sinuous and organic lines; or Casa Batlló, with its bone-shaped windows. His works were inspired by nature.

The construction of the Sagrada Familia stands on three main pillars: Firstly, original geometric shapes such as the parabolic arch or hyperboloid structures. Secondly, an organic, naturalistic style. And last but not the least important, religion.

The awesome main façade

The position of some of the structures like the entrances or domes is directly related to the holy hierarchy. The usual floor for Catholic churches is a Latin cross: the apsis or “head” faces east and the main entrance or “feet” faces west. Therefore, it has the same form as a human being, in this case Christ. The head would be the apse facing the east and also the holiest part of a church. Likewise, the feet would be the entrance and the profane place in a church. That is why the holy water is located in this place.

The cathedral on the inside

However, the Sagrada familia does not have this kind of plan. Gaudí planned the three different entrances on the basis of chapters of the Bible. As a result, the Nativity façade faces east, dawn that is; the Passion façade faces west, dusk, and the Glory façade, yet to be completed, will face south to the sea.

Numbers are absolutely necessary in the interpretation of religious architecture. They make plenty of references to the Bible in a Catholic church. When the Sagrada Familia is finished, it will have 18 towers, 12 of which will be thin 112-metre-high spires which symbolize the Apostles. There will be another 4 on each façade, eight of which are already standing. The ones on the Nativity façade are dedicated to Matthias, Jude, Simon and Barnabas while those on the Passion façade are dedicated to James, Thomas, Philip and Bartholomew. Over the apse there will be a 130-metre-high dome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

It will also have four 135-metre-high towers dedicated to the Evangelists, which have a direct correspondence on the inside. There are four pillars which support a dome, each one symbolizing one Evangelist: Luke, a bull; Matthew, a winged man; John, an eagle and Mark, a lion.

John's pillar

That dome will be supported by these four pillars, which will be the highest of the whole 170-metre-high temple and dedicated, of course, to Christ.

Nowadays, both architects and art designers are working on the drawings Gaudí left, although it is not enough. They are using the latest software, such as one used by NASA engineers, to design fitting structures that support the weight and the height of the domes and spires. 

The Sagrada familia is being built thanks to the donations of thousands of people and institutions as well as to a percentage of entrance tickets. So it is worth paying the ticket so as to help complete the cathedral just the way Gaudí wanted.


Thanks a lot, Sara, this post is really enlightening ad you took some fantastic photos of the Cathedral. Now, you sent me two YouTube videos: the first shows what the Sagrada familia might look like when it's completed (who knows when!)

The second is an interesting interview (subtitled in English) with Professor Mark Burry, from RMIT University in Australia, which is helping with the completion of Gaudi's famous Basilica.

Surely many of you guys have been to Barcelona and would like to share your own views on the, to my mind, somewhat overambitious work being done to Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece.

Jelena: Magical autumn in Japan

The custom of watching autumn leaves (kōyō, literally “red leaves”) is deeply weaved into Japanese culture. Thus, besides the rich literary corpus dealing with this motive, there are thousands of publications like collections of art photography and tourist guides that represent woods, temples and parks with the most beautiful deciduous trees.

Every year, usually in late September, a wave of red leaves is formed on the island of Hokkaido, getting almost to Kamchatka, and for the next two months it gradually spreads toward the south.

In November, all parks, temples and university campuses blaze, and the mountains, hillsides and valleys glow for a couple of weeks in all shades of yellow, red, purple and brown, thanks to the mantle of colorful autumn leaves.

That’s when hundreds of thousands of Japanese people will visit parks and temples, go for a weekend picnic to the woods and mountains, or to warm mountain baths in order to enjoy the bright colour of autumn leaves and do something beneficial for their health.

The practice of going to nature only to see autumn leaves comes from the early Middle Ages when both the members of the imperial court and the aristocracy used to go to the mountains and hills near Kyoto, at the time the capital of Japan, to sing about the beauty, but also the transient nature of leaves, comparing them with love and human life.

Japan is probably unique for its weather forecast, which, apart from the facts about the temperature, wind strength, precipitation, and the height of the sea waves, gives also the information about when and where the explosion of autumn colours is going to occur.

Japanese priests and horticulturists carefully choose and arrange particular kinds of trees, like maple and oak, combining them with moss and other plants so as to create the special ambience during autumn.

Autumn leaves are also used like a decoration to arrange meals in some restaurants serving traditional Japanese food.

Chilly yet sunny weather with a lot of bright days, some of which are as warm as those in the early spring, is very specific for November in central Japan. Nice weather and breathtaking landscapes make this month, together with April, the most pleasant to visit Japan, so now is the right moment to pack your bags and spend an unforgettable holiday in the land of the rising sun.

Fernando: my take on the current economic crisis

We are living times of uncertainty, with rising unemployment figures, specially among youngsters. They are, in general, well-trained people who have no job, no prospects, no future. Many of them are fleeing the country in search of new opportunities. Those who remain here live with their parents, and the lucky few who find work usually have a part-time or an underpaid job. 

Frankly, José Luis, this situation is extremely worrying; I have two daughters and obviously this current economic climate matters to me. I firmly believe that EU members should take meaningful measures to create new small businesses which can generate wealth and boost the ailing economy. At the same time, European governments should make it easier for young people with new ideas to develop their projects. Self-employment could be a possible solution. Nevertheless, I always think in a positive way and I do believe that Spain is a great country, full of of hard-working people with brilliant ideas, but unfortunately with bad politicians both on the right and on the left. 

Finally, I must say that I hope our country will overcome this situation, the sooner the better.

A new year ...a new blog

Hello everyone and welcome!

Yes, a new year at school has just started and, as I've been doing for the last 5 years, this is a new edition of my / your "EOI blog". 

Some of you guys (as well as former students of mine) have been asking me lately if I intended to have a go again. A few even told me you were thinking of writing some to get it going. The thing is I had no clue how to start it even if I had something from Fernando, one of my 2º Avanzado students this year, an article of opinion with his personal take on the harsh ongoing economic crisis.

So I was reading the press on my Mac when I came across a headline that caught my attention: "Kismet Diner gana el Manhattan Short Film Festival". Well, it suddenly dawned on me that I had the perfect excuse to kick this blog off!

You know, I had been lucky enough, thanks to a former student (and a faithful follower of my blogs!), to know that this self-proclaimed global festival was held in Salamanca alongside other Spanish cities (madrid, Bilbao and Valencia, no less!). People were cordially invited to attend the screening, during three days, of ten short films, the finalists we were told, among over six hundred productions from nearly 50 countries across the globe, and then vote for our favourite film as well as the best actor / actress. Being all of them in original version, I felt instantly appealed and I went to the venue, the Museo del Comercio. 

I really enjoyed the shorts on offer, different from each other in style and content, featuring different languages, from English to Finnish, from French to Russian, but all of them, to my mind, excellent quality. I've always believed that many times a good short film can move you much more than a 2-hour-long feature, you know, too often the commercial yet mindless Hollywood blockbuster. 

There was one short that I especially loved, Seb Edwards' British production "Friday", the hard yet captivating story of  a teenage boy struggling to come to terms with the loss of his mother on the anniversary of her death. Set in the wake of the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London, the film stars talented young actor Reece Noi. I found the film's cinematography utterly mesmerizing, the story deeply stirring and Noi's performance so compelling, so much so that I had no doubt Friday was my definite choice.

This is the only stuff I've been able to find, the official trailer. Seemingly, it has won many awards worldwide, including one in Spain, in Tarragona to be precise.

I was somewhat disappointed to read that Friday did not win the award (it actually scooped a modest fifth spot) but at least it was kind of small consolation that Noi was voted best actor.

So the winner, as the headline above reads, is another British production directed by English filmmaker Mark Nunneley. Mind you, the truly romantic story seems to be set in an American diner (spelt with a single "n" - a roadside restaurant, that is). Even though I enjoyed the sweet short, I still preferred the much grittier Friday, but I must admit the audience present in Museo del Comercio that evening started applauding the film (Kisnet Diner, I mean) rather enthusiastically the minute it ended. They must have been right to do so since it eventually won the coveted top prize!

So this is the clip of the short feature for you to decide it is a worthy winner of the global festival. Needless to say, it is in original version and subtitled in Spanish. You guys are all welcome to send in your comments about Kisnet Diner. 
José Luis Antigüedad