We’ll see what happens when we say “yes” while this rigor mortis world says “no”
This is one of the few instances where watching the film persuaded me to read the book, and not the other way around.
As adapted by the film, Isaac Marion’s novel takes on the perspective of ‘R’, a zombie slightly more introspective and emotionally connected than most others. I loved the film’s witty and hilarious lines, and while the book made me chuckle every few pages, the words were more focused on creating beautiful poetry out of R’s “afterlife,” if you will: “I long for exclamation marks, but I’m drowning in ellipses.” Moreso, the book shed light on details that I failed to understand (and then later ignored) as a viewer. Marion also makes use of vivid imagery to excite his readers’ imagination, something I think he’s achieved quite successfully, considering the premise — a post-apocalyptic world from the point of view of a zombie.
Both the film and the book were so cleverly written, that it makes the audience root for the zombie-human romance, as grotesque as it may seem on normal grounds. While it helped that Jonathan (not Adam) Levine cast Nicholas Hoult as ‘R,’ the zombie’s brooding character and charming ways, seen both in the film and the novel, make Julie (and the audience) fall in love with him. I mean, who wouldn’t love a zombie who collects vintage trinkets and listens to Sinatra in an abandoned 747 he calls home?
The little sister doing her thing.
stuffonmyrabbit:
Chocolate bunny
Have a happy Easter :3
I Have Found My Dream Watch
Meet Hermès’ Le Temps Suspendu, or “Time Suspended,” in English.
Appearance-wise, it isn’t anything spectacular. I probably wouldn’t even consider it, with my inclination towards thinner, sleeker watches. It’s not the most technologically-advanced, either. At least, not in the way you would imagine (no, it doesn’t have a built-in phone, camera, or credit card). But it isn’t the appearance or the advancement that makes me want the watch so much. Rather, it’s the beauty that lies inside.
Take it from the name itself — “Time Suspended”. The watch has a little button on its side that stops time when pushed. Not really, of course. No one can do that. But once the button is pushed, the hands of the watch turn rigid at exactly 12 o’clock, and the dial on the date disappears. Then you can go on for hours not knowing what time or date it is (at least, on that watch). But fret not, because pushing the button again will bring it to the actual time and date. Like time did stop for that particular moment.
I don’t disagree that this technology, albeit incredibly cool, is completely useless. But it is incredibly cool. We’ve all had moments when we wished we could stop time. Now, here’s an illusionary way to do it. The idea is so poetic and romantic, that it could easily be used as a tool to get laid. But that isn’t why I like it. I stop at the poetic and romantic part.
In the heat of summer sunshine.
Post-processing by Danna Quimbo!
An art installation at Manila FAME.
Saturday Artventures
Today was for art. And it was beautiful.
Started the Saturday accompanying my brother to Cubao X, to find a birthday present for his girlfriend. I don’t frequent the place, so I wasn’t familiar with their schedule. It was unfortunate that most stores don’t open before noon — I was looking forward to pay a visit to UVLA (opens at 3) and Heima (I suspect they’re closed on the weekends). So we decided to check out an unnamed gifts and collectibles shop that just opened for the day, where we found a vintage Parisian-stamped mini-suitcase. I was amused by the trinkets in that store, but little did I know that it was a mere kiddie pool compared to the shop beside it.
That ocean of a vintage store was filled with all sorts of memorabilia, from Audrey Hepburn, to Michael Jackson, to the Disney characters, to… cats. Yes, there were loads of cat figurines and clocks and all sorts of things. They even had Newton’s Cradle, among other interesting scientific contraptions I couldn’t name. I would love to have trinkets like those in my room — they create such a character that keeps me fascinated and inspired.
Afterward, I braved the EDSA traffic and headed to SMX for Manila FAME. I knew our country had notable designers like Kenneth Cobonpue, Rajo Laurel, and Amina Aranaz, but Manila FAME opened my eyes to the wealth of creativity and resourcefulness that many Filipinos possess. A number of exhibitors fashioned bags out of newspapers, juice packs, and old foil wrappers. But then, those are already pretty commonplace.
Enter Siklo Pilipinas, creators of bags and belts made of old tires and inner tubes. Though not exactly suited for my personal taste, I find this idea ingenious, with a heart. Definitely looking forward to watching them grow, and hopefully, expand with more fashionable designs.
And Ann Ong, an incredibly talented accessories designer whose pieces scream “statement”. One wouldn’t think the bark of a tree would make a fashionable evening bracelet. And then it touches the hands of one Ann Ong, who then plates it with gold, adds a few stones, and voila! You’ve got an elegant conversation starter for your next dinner party.
There’s also Resurrection, a furniture and found-objects gallery located in Quezon City. Take it from their name — these people “resurrect” old things and turn them into charming new ones. They transformed a couple of old vinyl records into bookends. An old snare drum into a table. A set of card catalogs into their own business cards, with a little note suggesting its third life could be a bookmark.
It was an endless fascination with objects that were created from local products, by local artists. It’s rather sad, though, that many of these beautiful items are marked only for export. On a marketing level, perhaps it would benefit them, with traces of colonial mentality still laced in our society today and Filipinos accepting products only when they’re deemed acceptable by foreigners. But I can’t help feeling like a dog withheld from its bone. Fellow Filipinos should have just as much access to these products. They’re beautiful enough to instill a sense of pride in the locals, allowing them to say, “A Filipino made it.” (Admit it, we love doing that.)
My next stop was Art in the Park at Salcedo Village. It veered away from the confined spaces SMX and showcased art in a more refreshing place. My friends and I took advantage of the setting — we ordered a bottle of Muscat and a plate of cheese, then basked in the local art scene, bonded over culture, and contemplated on creating a blog with parodies of the “cultured lifestyle”. Art in the Park once more brought to light the creativity and talent of so many Filipinos. I’ve high hopes that these artists would be noticed not just locally, but the world over.
Fashion photography experiments.
I fell asleep at 4 AM and had a series of dreams about things I missed: friends, Baguio, video games, the mall, the beach, bookstores, books, hugs, love, relationships; and things I want: becoming an astronaut, relationships, wormholes, traveling through time.
Those were great dreams.
@ktchaps