Un Homenaje a Debora Arango

Debora Arango, una pionera del arte colombiano. Se atrevio a criticar el status quo y enfrento la sociedad en la cual vivio por medio de su arte. Hablo, por medio de la estetica y a traves de un expresionismo pictorico, colorido y agrio, que se combertirian en sus simbolos propios. Hablo con su arte de la corrupcion del gobierno colombiano, de la hipocresia de la iglesia, de la mujer y su rol en la sociedad, de la falsa moral de la clase alta Antioquena. Fue siempre critica en una epoca que le costaria una mujer su lugar en una sociedad como la Antioquena. Se limitaria a ser segregada y un "outcast" de la sociedad. Fue una mujer que no comprometio sus principios y entrego su amor al arte como medio de expresion. Finalmente seria reconocida como simbolo del arte colombiano. Que descanse en paz y que sea simbolo de esperanza para nuevas generaciones. (QEPD, Dec 4, 2005)

http://www.elmundo.es/accesible/ultimas/noticias/43/1133778475.html

CRASH
Directed byPaul Haggis

This is a gotta see movie. I did not blink while watching it.

The movie intertwines different stories, all filled with anger, stereotypes and hope; that kind of hope people never looses no matter how bad things are. The set up for the movie was excellent and the stories were smartly combined with each other. I will use the three words to describe the scenes that I have chosen from the movie:

1. Anger: three characters personified the anger often seen: The guy that was talking all the time about how white people was undermining black people. He went on and on talking about all the racism there is and how white people is such and such (all these caffeinated white people…). Then, to illustrate the two-way racism, the white cop calls the hospital and Shanikwa answers the phone. The conversation ended on how he discovered why she was dumb: the reason is that her name was a black name, thus she was a dumb black girl. She hangs up the phone. Both the first and second guyes were angry, both were upset. And the rage did not come directly thru fear from distinct people. The rage came from personal frustration and personal anger. And it is personal frustrations driving most racism.

2. Stereotypes: And this is my favorite in the movie. They show all kinds... We are all guilty of stereotyping. We all do it at some point in our lives. “China-man”, Chocolate cookie”, etc. One of my favorite scenes is when the black cop is in bed with a Hispanic girl. He’s on the phone and he tells his mom that he is with a white women. Once he hangs up she gives him a mean look and he says: “I know that byt saying that I will piss my mom off more than if I say your Mexican.” She answers: My dad is Puerto Rican, my mom from el Salvador… where did Mexico come from? Then another stereotype comes back again and the cop ask her how is that that all Latin people ended up with the idea of parking the car in the yard. All the stereotypes portrayed in the movie are very real.

3. Hope. I loved the part when the “Arab” guy (who is a Persian) goes and tries to kill the Hispanic guy (whom I almost called Mexican without even being sure). Before this happens, the Hispanic guy gave his daughter an invisible cloak, which is bullet proof (they live in a bad neighborhood). The Arab guy shoots at the Hispanic guy and the daughter runs to him and covers him from being shot. Watch the movie to see what happens next… it is a magic moment.

Go see the trailer http://www.crashfilm.com/

5 stars *****

Mean Girls


Yes! I watch girly movies too, I'm not ashamed to say I like them. As for this movie, I will say: if you want to watch it and if you feel in mood of watching it, go ahead!!It was funny, and that was its purpose: to be funny and to make a statement. I was particularly looking at how the producers over performed girls being mean with each other and I wondered if it is that the case in real life. I had few observations: indeed some girls tend to be ultra competitive some times. I was talking to a colleague the other day and she told me how she preferred so much to be working with men than with women. Also, a couple of weeks ago, I read an article in which 1000 women were interviewed, 65% preferred not working with women. So the question really is, do they like working with men because they feel special? Do they prefer working with men to avoid feeling rivalry about their female- workmates? Is is specially the case when there is recognition to individuals to be granted. Men are not so caught up with that. But what do I know about gender differences? All I can say is that when girls put aside their girly rivalry teammate competition, they tend to be great workmates and tend to achieve whatever the goal is. I have been in all-female teams and its been great. Well, at home we are 4 girls and I have noticed that Girl perseverance is very strong, now imagine a bunch working together in peace!!!

Anyhow, the movie was funny.

3 stars ***