You Should Watch This

By now most of you probably know about my semi-obsession with the band DakhaBrakha.  I personally think they are the most amazing Ukrainian band I have ever heard.*  They play mostly what I would call "folk" music, but what they refer to as "ethno-chaos."  I wrote a paper about them for my ethnomusicology class, so I have both an academic and a personal interest. 

Anyway, the point of all of this is to say that you should watch this video:
http://vimeo.com/14950124

The song and the video are both beautiful.  Sorry, I don't off the top of my head have a translation for the title, nor can I tell you what the song is about exactly.  If I thought about it more I would tell you about how the imagery and the lyrics (in other songs) have clear connections to Romantic Nationalism, modernity, nostalgia, and avant garde**.  But not today.  I will add, however, that I find the video a tad bit creepy, especially starting around 4:50. 

Enjoy!!

*But never seen - they have a tendency to be in places either right before or right after I am there.  It is very sad.  Although, I did see Nina (if you watch the video she is the girl with the braids) in L'viv during the summer. 
**The band originated at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Kyiv (DAKH). 

Review: Daybreakers

I am going to keep this short.*  I really liked this movie.  I know pop culture is over saturated with vampires these days in all forms - sparkly, law enforcing, vicious, loveable, children, etc.  But here is what I loved about Daybreakers.

It shamelessly exploits every vampire myth you ever heard of.  Stab them through their heart - check.  Sunlight is deadly - check.  Can't see one in the mirror - check.  Cut off their heads - check.  However, it takes all these predictable elements and wraps them up in an almost Marxian social commentary mixed with some original characteristics that you would have never thought of.**

Things I didn't like***: the bloodbath scenes that were utterly unnecessary; the fact that there will almost definitely be a sequel; the lack of a back-story -- how did all those people become vampires in the first place?  What sort of disease/epidemic causes vampirism? 

4/5 Stars


*mostly b/c I suck at writing reviews.
** or at least I wouldn't have, but I'm not a writer
*** in order from most annoying to least

Saving the World Through Psychedelics...

Yesterday I had the "pleasure" of going to a football game.  This was only my second ever, and both times have been fairly lackluster.  First time the band - one of the highlights of our school's football matches - was suspended, and yesterday there was a serious lack of competition.  If we had lost...well, I don't think we could have lost.  I was however all psyched up for the drunken undergrads figuring I would see some interesting sights and rather happy that I couldn't yet recognize my students.

But really, they were all pretty chill.  Nothing super extraordinary happened.  One girl almost fell down the concrete stairs due to her drunken stupor, but was helped by a very nice gentleman.  And someone before the game told me that he was "saving the world from nukes through psychedelics."  Only other extraordinary sight was the girl whose boots looked more like Furbies wrapped around her ankles than actual shoes.  I wish I had a picture b/c they might have been the ugliest shoes I have ever seen (in the U.S. at least). 

Despite the lack of excitement, I did have a good time especially as the day was sort of a post-birthday celebration.  I have not been having the best few weeks since around mid-August and didn't really do much on my actual b-day, so it was nice to socialize a bit.  I also discovered my new favorite vodka.  Wish I knew where to buy a bottle.  It was flavored with blood oranges!! A bit sweet, but I like sweet drinks so it was perfect for me. 

Oh, and I am ABD now, I finished my scarf/wrap thingy, and ... I was trying to think of some more good news, but drawing a blank.  How sad.