Around The Web | What We’re Reading
In a globalized world, we still find microcultures thriving, like this rockabilly culture in Japan we learnt about. There’s a great short film which gives you an insight into their world. As well as our feature this week with ex-Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, we learned more about the capitalist dilemma through the latest studies done by LSE, finding that the top 1% of earners still don’t feel well off. Oh, and finally the modelling world gets a smack down courtesy of top casting director James Scully. What are you waiting for?
Take a look at this week’s finds:
“I had to follow this guy to Tokyo to find out more. When making the film, I wanted to create an honest depiction of Johnny’s devotion and immersion into Rockabilly style – a subculture totally removed from his generation and the current digital age.” London director James Partridge uses this short film to explore the unexpected world of Johnny Jeana, a man trying to keep the Rockabilly culture alive in the heart of Tokyo.
“With her work situated in a tradition that includes Nan Goldin’s beatific images of friends and lovers, Tierney Gearon’s family-oriented photos, and the girlhood-focused films of Sofia Coppola, Collins has been an important voice in the conversation surrounding the female gaze.” Ahead of a new solo exhibition in her hometown of Toronto, Petra Collins talks about her photographs and being proud of her roots.
“Girls are seeing this big dream through the world of social media. They think they can be a model and don’t realize what they’re getting into. The turnaround now is so fast; it’s almost like trafficking. They’re pulled in and traumatized and then spit back out.” James Scully became the public scold of a global fashion industry when he brought attention to the shocking conditions of a Balenciaga model casting earlier this year. Here he describes why the industry must change.
“Every populist editor will tell you, ‘We are merely reflecting and articulating the public views,’ but they are publishing inaccuracies and distortions which help people to feel the way they’re feeling.” The tabloids, especially those forming part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, still have a strong hold on the minds of the wider British public. Is the fake news they report able to sway major political events like Brexit?
“A senior investment banker, who earns hundreds of thousands a year, said he ‘just doesn’t feel particularly wealthy’ compared with other parents at his children’s private school, who, he said, were sitting on £100m plus family fortunes.” A recent study of the highest-paid 1% in Britain shows that they still don’t feel wealthy. While some admit they are not worthy of their extortionate incomes, the vast majority seek more and more, but why?
“Could a rare autoimmune disease have left Francisco de Goya deaf for the second half of his life? Often referred to as the father of modern art, Goya was struck by a mysterious illness in the 1790s, and his work became increasingly dark during the later years of his career.” The work of Goya depicted ghosts and witches that could have been a result of hallucinations he was suffering from in later life. Now one scientist is trying to get to the bottom of what caused his genius.
“When you hear someone laugh behind you, you probably picture them on the phone or with a friend – smiling and experiencing a warm, fuzzy feeling inside…but imagine that the person laughing is just walking around alone in the street, or sitting behind you at a funeral. Suddenly, it doesn’t seem so inviting.” The science of laughing tells us that it is not always positive or healthy. Discover the darker side of giggling, with conditions such as katagelasticism (the joy of laughing at others).
