Yes, Everyone Poops. Especially Velvet Goldmine.

Bummer of the week:

I don't know why anybody had recommended Velvet Goldmine as a watchable movie.

I tried to watch it with CopyKat, and we tried our best to be patient, but after watching a character survive a mental institution as a result of brotherly incest, and then seeing lizard-like, body-painted Jonathan Rhys-Meyers writhe around, humping blowup dolls frantically in a music video and making out with a spooky transvestite, CopyKat and I couldn't really stand it much longer. We had to just turn it off, wondering how a movie like this ever got made.

It's a long 70's glam rock gay transvestite fantasy, from the point of view of someone on drugs, who likes to believe in aliens that reincarnate into humans through the power of some emerald jewel. HOW is this movie supposed to appeal to me in any way? I don't care if it's an homage to David Bowie. I can still enjoy his songs and like gay/bi people without watching this crap. Even a naked Ewan McGregor couldn't save this film for me. I think I need to watch Down with Love or The Island again to console myself after watching this debacle.

Inspirations over the last week

I stumbled on this wonderful little children's book by Taro Gomi, called My Friends. You may be familiar with her other book, Everyone Poops. I am starting to pay more attention to children's books, because I think someday I may want to delve more into illustration, possibly as a career. Well this little book, My Friends not only had charming watercolor art, but a touching story of how a little girl learns from her diversity of friends. She learns to nap from the crocodile, how to kick from her friend the gorilla, etc.

Also I discovered a wonderful illustrator's blog by Paige Pooler, which led me to find Illustration Friday, a site that provides weekly topics for illustrators to practice their work. And then I was at Target, shopping for the annual back-to-school backpack donations through work. In their children's book section, I found Sleepytime Tales, which is a collection of all those "Little Golden Books" you may have remember from your own childhood. I decided to get it because there was so much delightful art by a variety of illustrators in it, including one of my childhood favorites, Richard Scarry.

By the way, if you haven't seen Target's new back-to-school commercial, spoofing Sir Mix-a-lot's "Baby Got Back," you have to see it now. Target is GENIUS. (I wish I knew the lyrics better; that would be an awesome and funny song to sing at karaoke tomorrow!)