ART

Smoking pipe, razor and revolver removed from Van Gogh sculpture in London's Brixton

Content Courtesy of: theartnewspaper.com

Written by: Martin Bailey

Controversial items relating to the artist's life were scrapped from original design over fears they could be linked to drug, knife and gun crime

A model of the original design for Anthony Padgett's Van Gogh sculpture in Brixton, London

A statue of Van Gogh in Brixton had to be modified, in order to avoid any perceived links with crime in south London. The original sculpture was to have been mounted on a base which included a still life with objects relating to the artist’s life.

Along with tubes of paint, they included Van Gogh’s trusty pipe (which is depicted on the chair of his painting in the National Gallery), a cut throat razor (of the type which the artist used to mutilate his ear) and a revolver (similar to the one with which he shot himself). These objects, including the paint tubes, highlight the mixing of creativity and destruction.

Anthony Padgett, a Lancashire artist, has recently made the sculptured head on a still life base for many of the places where the artist worked—in Britain (Ramsgate and Isleworth), Belgium (Borinage), the Netherlands (Nuenen) and France (Arles). But in Brixton the objects on the base were regarded as more problematic.

The modified Van Gogh sculpture just unveiled in Brixton

Padgett informally discussed the still life with local officials and whether the pipe, razor and gun might be associated with “drug, knife and gun crime”. He was never told that planning permission would be refused if the objects were included, but was gently advised it would be easier if they were not. Padgett, who appreciated these concerns, agreed to drop this part of the still life. Lambeth council subsequently gave planning permission for the statue for at least 15 years.

Last Friday the sculpted head was installed in Van Gogh Walk, a pedestrianised garden area close to 87 Hackford Road, where Van Gogh lodged. Padgett’s work there includes non-controversial elements of the still life base—several books of Van Gogh’s letters and two sunflowers—but the more contentious objects are missing.

“The Hackford Road area is lovely, but the pipe, razor and gun could nevertheless be seen as a concern in a city where there is a high incidence of these crimes”, Padgett says. He adds: “Concerns over these objects show the power they still have and help convey the reality of the suffering that Van Gogh endured”.

INNOVATION

SpaceX, we have a problem

Content Courtesy of: theartnewspaper.com

A rendering of Trevor Paglen's diamond-shaped sculpture, attached to a tiny satellite 

Credit: Nevada Museum of Art

The delay of today's widely anticipated launch of a SpaceX rocket in California was a disappointment to more than just the average space fan. The Falcon 9 rocket was due to carry two works of art—a reflective Suprematist-inspired sculpture by the artist Trevor Paglen and a bust of Nasa's first African-American astronaut by the artist Tavares Strachan—along with dozens of other satellites. But SpaceX announced in a tweetthis weekend that the planned launch from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base would be cancelled "to conduct additional pre-flight inspections". A spokeswoman at the Nevada Museum of Art, which is sponsoring Paglen's project, says lift-off will therefore take place “sometime after the Thanksgiving Day holiday”. Paglen, who had flown in to watch the launch, is philosophical about the delay. “This is definitely par for the course in terms of doing things in space,” he says. “We’re trying to roll with the punches and accept those things you cannot control.”

POP CULTURE

The Legend Who Created Legends Says God Bye

Content Courtesy of: fairobserver.com

Written by:  Knowledge@Wharton

In this opinion piece, Knowledge@Wharton’s technology and media editor, Kendall Whitehouse, looks back at the career of comic book writer, editor and publisher Stan Lee, who passed away at age 95.

Stan Lee was the most famous individual in the history of comic books — a testament to his talent as a writer and editor, his longevity and his skills at self-promotion. His writing and editorial approach to the superhero genre created a universe of enduring fictional characters, elevated comic books from children’s entertainment to adult fare, and helped to establish Marvel Comics as a publishing powerhouse.

In conjunction with artists and visual storytellers like Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Don Heck and others, Lee was instrumental in the creation of many of the comic book characters that populate the Marvel universe: the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man and hundreds of other superheroes, villains and supporting characters.

Lee’s career spanned nearly the entire history of comic books, starting in 1940 at the dawn of what would become known as the Golden Age of comics, serving as a driving force in the rebirth of the superhero genre in the Silver Age of the 1960s, and remaining as a figurehead in the industry as chairman emeritus of Marvel Comics until his passing. Widowed by his wife of nearly 70 years, Joan Lee, in July 2017, Lee is survived by his daughter, J.C. (Joan Celia) Lee, and his brother, Larry Lieber.

Born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922, Lee began his career in comic books at age 17 when he was hired by his relative by marriage Martin Goodman, publisher of Timely Comics (the company that would later become Marvel Comics), to be an office assistant for editor Joe Simon.

When given his first chance to author a story — a short text piece that appeared in Captain America #3 in 1941 — he signed his name as “Stan Lee.” As Lee later explained it, he wanted to reserve his real name for when he would write serious literature. But his future lay not in becoming a novelist, but as a writer, editor and publisher of comic books.

Through his writing, Lee introduced a new level of complexity and sophistication to comic book characters. Although dark, angst-ridden heroes are now the norm, that wasn’t the case at the dawn of the Silver Age of comics in the early 1960s. The urbane stories Lee penned helped to expand the audience for comic books beyond its traditional audience of pre-teen children to include older teenagers and college students. 

Complex Characters

While the Fantastic Four was likely modeled after rival DC Comics’ Justice League of America, unlike DC’s noble and stolid characters, the members of the Fantastic Four had quirky personality traits. They bickered with each other. Youthful Johnny Storm is a teenage hothead (who is transformed in the Human Torch). Surly Ben Grimm — the Thing — hates what he has become and spends much of his energy attempting to get rid of his super-human strength (and freakish appearance).

Other Marvel comics in the early 1960s continued this trend of psychologically complex characters. While Spider-Man is a successful crime fighter, his teenage alter ego, Peter Parker, is taunted by his schoolmates, frets over the health of his widowed aunt May, and often doubts his own abilities and motivations.

While the superheroes in DC Comics inhabit fictionalized locations – Superman in Metropolis, Batman in Gotham City and so on — Lee placed his characters firmly within the real world. The Baxter Building, the headquarters Fantastic Four, is in midtown Manhattan. Daredevil arose out of New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. Spider-Man’s Peter Parker lives with his aunt May in the Forest Hills community of Queens, New York.

In an amusing metafictional moment in The Fantastic Four #11, the titular team arrives at the local newsstand to pick up a copy of their comic book to find a long line of eager fans queued up to get the latest issue. Unwilling to wait in line, the gruff Ben Grimm says, “What’s the big deal? We know how the stories end!”

This grounding in reality also meant the stories in each comic book existed in the same universe. Characters from one title would often cross-over to meet the characters in another. Under Lee’s direction, the comic books laid the foundation for the “Marvel Universe,” in which each comic book is but one view into a larger world. Comprehending the full narrative required reading multiple comic book titles – a strategy of increasing relevance in the present world of transmedia marketing as the Marvel characters expand beyond comic books to include movies, television shows and more.

Lee is credited with developing what became known as the “Marvel method” of comic book production. In contrast to the conventional approach in which the writer develops a detailed script for the artist to render, Lee would often provide his visual collaborators with little more than an outline containing a few story elements. The illustrator would then plot the details of the story through the artwork — often including notes in the margin to explain the action to the writer. Lee would add the final dialog to the completed sketches before they were inked and printed.

Designed primarily to accommodate the crushing amount of work that needed to be accomplished, in giving more creative control to the artist, the Marvel method also helped to advance visually exciting works. Illustrators like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko created dazzling works of illustrated art under Lee’s editorship. This unusual division of labor between writer and artist would later call into question who was the “creator” of the some of the characters once they became multimillion-dollar properties featured in motion pictures and licensed merchandise.

Lee was a skilled promoter — of his company, his work and himself. As Jordan Raphael and Tom Spurgeon document in Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book, Lee wasn’t averse to mythologizing his own life story to make it more dramatic.

The issue of how much credit is due Lee for the success of many of Marvel’s characters is hotly debated among fans and detractors. In one awkward moment in an interview with British talk show host Jonathan Ross, Lee avoids giving artist Steve Ditko full credit as co-creator of Spider-Man stating, “I think the person who has the idea is the one who creates it” rather than the artist who gives visual expression to the idea.

Lee eventually parted ways with his early artistic collaborators such as Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby, often clashing over artistic differences or the credit for their joint creations.

Some of Lee’s later initiatives were not as successful as his work at Marvel Comics. Stan Lee Media, formed in 1998 (as Stan Lee Entertainment), with partner Peter F. Paul, went public in 1999 but closed operations a year later and declared bankruptcy in 2001 amid scandals of stock manipulation on Paul’s part. In 2001 Lee bounced back, co-founding POW! Entertainment with partners Gill Champion and Arthur Lieberman, which went public in 2004 with Lee as chairman and chief creative officer. In 2017, POW! Entertainment was acquired by China’s Camsing International Holding.

In his later years, Lee was associated with a wide range of publications and products, over which his creative involvement is uncertain. As “Stan the brand,” his name would attract attention and his enthusiastic boosterism was an asset to his business partners.

In the final year of his life, allegations arose of financial mismanagement and exploitation by close associates. Lee initially rejected the claims he was a victim of elder abuse.  “I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” he told The New York Times. “Nobody has more freedom.”

Lee continued to make appearances at comic book conventions and fan festivals until earlier this year. His brief cameo appearances were a popular feature in the movies based on Marvel Comics’ characters.

Lee leaves a rich legacy of stories and a durable imprint on the industry he helped to build. He was instrumental in elevating comic books from being perceived as frivolous entertainment for children to a major art form. The characters he created continue to resonate throughout today’s comic books, motion pictures, television series and popular culture.

MUSIC

November Top Hits Playlist (10 OUT OF 100)

Content Courtesy of: youtube.com

FASHION

27 Tech Gifts for the Loveable Nerds in Your Life

Content Courtesy of: elle.com

Written by: Justine Carreon

The new iPhone Xr might be the hottest phone on the market, but there are other tech gifts to go around. From Amazon-approved ring lights for the burgeoning beauty vlogger and an actual cyber pooch to vapes because it's 2018 and they're literally inescapable, here are the best tech gifts of 2018.

You don't want to discourage his dangerous relationship with french fries, but steer them in a healthier direction with an air fryer.

This gadget will keep their coffee warm at their desk all day long.

I'll be the first to admit that I thought Air Pods belonged to tech bros who left you on read, but I've changed my tune. AirPods are life-changing.

Speaking from personal experience, this belt carries my giant iPhone with ease during the most intense HIT workouts.

A phone's flash is never enough.

This is for someone new to tracking their health. It will monitor their steps, distance, activity time, and even calories burned.

Portable speakers are a dime a dozen, but this version is so much more stylish.

This console is still a top gift for all ages, which allows players to play alone or with a buddy.

If your BFF is allergic to dogs but still has puppy fever, Sony's "autonomous companion robot" is for them. It's a high-key Tamagatchi for the top-tear techie.

A projector makes binge-watching Making a Murderer so much more intense.

Noise-canceling bluetooth headphones are ideal for zoning out.

If they're new to tech timepieces, this one retains the classic Michael Kors style beloved by many.

Nervous parents will feel relief with this smart baby monitor that lets parents watch, listen and chat with their baby in the next room.

The new kindle only needs to charge once a month, which means she really doesn't need to put her newest book down.

Some of us don't lazily reach down from our bed to find an iPhone charger. Some, like the person who deserves this dock, would rather charge their phone on a marble pedestal instead.

The Pixel's camera really is that much better. New features in the third iteration—including a wider view to enable group selfies—make it a must for the person who won't. stop. snapping.

Drones are fast-becoming the toy of the decade. This one is intended for amateur users who want to feel like a Jedi, with sensors that respond to hand motions from the air.

There are a ton of new instant cameras available today (the Fujifilm Instax is my fave), but old-school photographers would prefer this refurbished antique.

Have a friend that constantly thinks their flatmate is breaking into their room and stealing their clothes? This will help their anxiety.

You'll never have to hear about their spotty WiFi connection again thanks to this device.

Rarely does one buy themselves a flashy phone case. That's where you come in.

This discreet pen is perfect for the vaping newbie...one who lives in a state where marijuana is legalized, of course.

If your BFF tracks every detail of her athletic life, then she'll appreciate this smart rope that will track her jumps.

A food scale is essential for any baker, but this one helps fix your mistakes by adjusting your recipe's measurements to counter over-pouring.

Beautiful home decor is just as important as sound quality to them. This turntable will offer both.

He can easily stream his music from anywhere by plugging this simple-to-use gadget into a set of speakers.

This sleek ring has all the benefits of a smart fitness tracker, but looks like regular jewelry.

ADVERTISING

John Lewi’s Christmas Ad “Some Gifts are more than just a gift”

Content Courtesy of: youtube.com

John Lewis’ Christmas Ad Is a Lovely Ode to Elton John’s Career, and How It All Began

Content Courtesy of: adweek.com

Written by: David Griner

The holiday angle isn't obvious at first, but it's worth the wait

The retailer's highly anticipated holiday spot rewinds Elton John's life to his childhood as Reginald Kenneth Dwight.

Credit by: John Lewis & Partners

With Elton John’s whirlwind farewell tour spanning the globe and his music seemingly more omnipresent than ever, one might be tempted toward disappointment upon hearing that U.K. retailer John Lewis’ highly anticipated Christmas ad is dedicated solely to the legendary singer-songwriter.