Friday Flowers: Days of Wine and Roses

White dahlias

Vitae Summa Brevis

(By Ernest Dowson)

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate;
I think they will have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream

White Dahlia

After highlighting roses throughout the summer, I couldn't do it again. Instead, our focus is on the "Angel of August", the white dahlia. Symbolic of elegance and dedication, it's an auspicious beauty to start off the month.

So, why the title of this post? We're celebrating the birth date of Ernest Dowson, featuring one of his most famous phrases. Anyways, it's closer to our premise than "gone with the wind". ;-)

When a Dancer Becomes a Dance

Flashdance was released on April 15, 1983

Given the 30 year anniversary of Flashdance, I have been looking at some of the classic dance movies of the late '70s and early to mid '80s. In my youth, I was not a fan of the genre. However, I've grown to enjoy both the performance aspects of such movies and the symbolic significance that dancing holds within the narrative.

So, in Saturday Night Fever, the dance is a form of escapism, a way of forgetting the slow death of daily life, an uplifting moment when pride overcomes despair. In Fame, the performances are about honing a unique genius for expression, a distinct talent that can lift one from obscurity and hardship, bringing the much desire fame. In Footloose, rebellion, from stifling rules and small town petty "moralism", is expressed through the dance. And, in Dirty Dancing, the confidence and self-determination of adulthood is gained through the dance.

But in Flashdance, what is the purpose of the dance? Well, it's a glass slipper. The means through which Cinderella may become a princess, and catch a prince. Unlike the other classic dance movies of the era, the story is too simplistic and contrived to carry any deeper message. While her friends may fail at realizing their dreams, Alex prevails by narrative fiat over her uncertainties and social awkwardness to win the prize.

Jennifer Beals starred as Alexandra Owens, a welder by day and exotic dancer by night.

Well, the story was really mediocre, but the dance scenes are fun. The cinematography and editing style became vastly influential, having an obvious influence upon later movies, such as Footloose and Dirty Dancing. Although there is no "training montage" scene, the framework of the genre staple is laid out in the "Maniac" practice scene. Yeah, we luv the '80s. ;-)

So, in celebration, put on your dancing shoes, take your passion, and make it happen. What a feeling!!!

No Treats for You!!!

Little mummy wants a tasty treat.

Hmm, my internet is hassling me yet again.

Well, I'll just bump today's regularly scheduled fun and games, for tomorrow or Thursday. And we'll just enjoy this darling little mummy doll today. After all, if we used the ancient Egyptian calendar, with its leap year discrepancy, I'm certain that today would coincide with our Halloween sometime over the thousands of years from Old to New Kingdoms. ;-)

So, Happy pseudo-Egyptian Halloween!!!!!

Let's listen to some music.

In a Reflective Mood, Again

 Reflected through a glass darkly.



Over the past few days, there has been a lot of navel-gazing here at Paideia. Too be honest, those are the easiest types of posts to write, much easier than producing a quality essay or coherent review. Don't worry!!! I plan on putting up posts with greater substance shortly.

I'm just getting back up to speed. One of the problems is that the holidays have not been conducive to going out and doing interesting things, at least things interesting to a general audience of readers. ;-)

Of course, time constraints are also a problem. For instance, today is J.R.R. Tolkein's date of birth, in 1892. I would have liked to write a bit about it, but I guess we'll make do with a few bits of music inspired by his works.

Dying for Chocolate

Chocolate skeleton on a chocolate electric chair at Jean-Philippe Patisserie at the Bellagio


The previous two posts were based on a daily theme, Friday Flowers and Silly Saturday. So, I began to wonder about about today's theme. Then, I remembered that Sunday already has a topic, Spooky Sunday!!! Yeah, it's been a while since I did one of those posts, but they've always been popular with the readers.

So, I figure that we can dust off the concept and put it back into use, especially for Halloween.

Moreover, I have some photos from my tip to Las Vegas that I would like to share with you all that fit the theme. At the Jean-Philippe Patisseries at the Bellagio and the Aria, there were plenty of Halloween-inspired chocolate sculptures to admire and desire. Yum!!!

This trapped ghoul hasn't realized that it can eat its way out of the chocolate coffin.


Although I normally focus on more "highbrow" forms of sculpture, these sweet constructs were wonderfully crafted. From candy Thriller zombies and Michael Jackson to chocolate Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, there were plenty of pop culture Halloween icons formed out of sugary materials. But I was more interested in the large scale works.

For instance, the Electric Chair Skeleton is made of 35 kg white chocolate, 30kg dark chocolate, 1.5kg rolling fondant, and took two people 70 hours to create!!! That's some impressive chocolatier work.

Chocolate Pumpkins and tombstones


Anyways, let's look at a few more photos and listen to a couple tunes. And let's welcome Spooky Sunday back into our weekly schedule. ;-)

Friday Flowers: Summer Sunflowers

Yellow Sunflowers

Well, it's been hot and muggy down here in the South Bay. The sky is overcast, promising a warm summer rain.

I was hoping to start exercising on a regular basis again. At least, I wanted to start taking daily strolls. Yet, the oppressive humidity leaves me feeling awfully damp after just a couple block. Annoying!!! And the constant grey of the leaden sky saps at my spirit.

But the day seems brighter when beautiful flowers are around. So, here are a few beauties to chase the gloom away. ;-)

Dark red sunflowers

Very pretty!

Days of High Adventure!

Promotional image for Conan the Barbarian (1982) featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger

Lately, I've been doing the "Thirty years ago" celebrations in regards to music. But tonight we'll consider one of my favorite movies of the era, Conan the Barbarian. It's not high art; it has no profound message. It isn't even a good adaptation of the original source material, short stories written by Robert E. Howard.

Nevertheless, for a teenage boy enthralled by "Sword & Sorcery" fiction, it was adventure and excitement. With awesome fight scenes, sexy ladies, dark magics, and an epic soundtrack, it set my imagination on fire. An age undreamed of. . .

I never got around to seeing the 2011 remake. The '82 Conan might be dated in terms of production and effects, but the spirit still holds strong. And, always, there remained the discipline of steel. ;-)

Conan the Barbarian (1982) promotional poster by Renato Casaro

So, what is best in life?

Empress of Winter

Camellia: Pink Perfection


The camellia season has begun, starting with a show at the Decanso Gardens. Over the next two months, nearly every weekend will feature a flower show somewhere in Southern California, from Kern County in the North to San Diego in the South and out in the Pomona Valley to the East. Yeah, we love our camellias out here in SoCal.

As a flower of Western fashion, the camellia was queen during the early to mid-19th century, but it fell out of favor in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, leaving it with an "old-fashioned" reputation. For most of Europe and the USA, it still trails dahlias, orchids, roses, and tulips as symbols of glamour.

But California is a Pacific Rim civilization. As with the other great cultures along the Pacific, California recognizes within the camellia a special splendor, a floral elegance both refined and bold.

Camellia: Tama Peacock

And that's why we are blessed with two months full of camellia celebrations. ;-)

But, although I'll be visiting many a show, we aren't transforming Paideia into a Camellia blog. I'll try to keep a healthy mix of flowers going for our Friday showcase.

The Heart of Music

Nino Rota won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Godfather in 1974.


On this date in 1911, the great cinematic composer, Nino Rota was born.

One way of judging the effectiveness of a movie score is to imagine how a scene would feel if the music were removed. How would the mood be changed? How memorable is it with a background of silence?

If this test were applied to Nino Rota's work, the answers are clear. Yes, movies such as The Godfather or La Dolce Vita would still be masterpieces, but their underlying intensity of mood, which the music conveys, would certainly be weaker. In the case of lesser films, Rota's music is that which makes them stand out.

The Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet topped the US charts in 1969.

So let's take a moment today to remember Nino Rota's artistry and the beauty of his music.

Ecstasy of Gold

"Ecstasy of Gold" scene from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)


The creative alchemy that turns an average movie into a good movie, a good movie into a great movie, a great movie into an all-time classic, is generally found in the music, the unvoiced sounds that capture the spirit of the most memorable of scenes.

There are many great cinematic score composers, but my favorite might be Ennio Morricone. There may be composers with greater technical skill. There may be films that have stronger scores. But I'd say that his music is the most distinctive, yet appropriate to the movie. His genius lies in merging his personal aesthetic into the subject matter, creating a work that expresses the cinematic premise in a musical articulation unique to his compositional voice.

Oftentimes, movie music is "incidental" or ornamental, not an integral part of the scene. That's the situation with much "soundtrack" based scores in contemporary films. Obviously, production companies want a nice set of singles to release on the side for added revenue. There's nothing wrong with that, but it loses the sense of authenticity and coherence that a real musical score brings to the movie.

Detail from a promotional poster for The Mission (1986)

So, let's wish Ennio Morricone a Happy 83rd Birthday and listen to some great music.

Music for Aliens and Oddities

Flying Saucers from Mars Attacks! (1996)

We can't let the birth date of Leon Theremin pass without celebrating his great invention, the Theremin! An electronic instrument, the theremin is played without being touched by the performer. Here's Wikipedia's description of how it is played:

The theremin is almost unique among musical instruments in that it is played without physical contact. The musician stands in front of the instrument and moves his or her hands in the proximity of two metal antennas. The distance from one antenna determines frequency (pitch), and the distance from the other controls amplitude (volume). Most frequently, the right hand controls the pitch and the left controls the volume, although some performers reverse this arrangement. Some low-cost theremins use a conventional, knob operated volume control and have only the pitch antenna. While commonly called antennas, they are not used for receiving or broadcasting radio frequency, but act as plates in a capacitor.

The sound is weird and unearthly, yet with a distinct and authentic quality. It has been featured in science fiction soundtracks ever since the '50s, most notably in Bernard Herrmann's score for The Day the Earth Stood Still.



Leon Theremin demonstrating his electronic invention.


Let's listen to some examples.

You're A-Number One

Escape from New York promotional poster (Detail)

Thirty years ago, Escape from New York was released. Starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter, this movie has become a cult classic. With good reason!!!

Russell plays "Snake" Plissken, an anti-hero who is coerced into a search-and-rescue mission into the post-apocalyptic ruins of New York City, which has become a wall penitentiary city, to find the President of the United States, who crash landed within the city during a terrorist incident. The President must be rescued in time to make a diplomatic meeting to negotiate the end of World War III. Moreover, Plissken has been administered a poison that will kill him at the same time frame. However, the city has been overrun with criminal gangs that rule New York in a perpetual state of violence and anarchy.

Fun stuff!!!



Kurt Russell as "Snake" Plissken


Let's look at some vids.

We Have Top Men Working On It Right Now

Thirty years ago on this date, Raiders of the Lost Ark was released. As a youth, this was one of my favorite movies. It had two lasting influences upon me. First, it turned my interests towards cinematic soundtracks and classical music. Second, it set me up to become interested in history.

I had heard and appreciated soundtracks previously. I enjoyed the music to Star Wars and the Godfather. The theme music for Jaws and the Exorcist were recognizable to me and gave me chills. But Raiders was the first movie were the concept behind programmatic music mentally clicked for me. I realized that the music was another form of narrative expression.

In regards to my interest in history, I was still a bit too young to take action upon my fascination with the ancient Egyptian themes but they endured in my imagination. About a year later, when I was inspired by Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, to start pursuing my studies into Roman history, my interests soon returned to Egypt and the ancient Near East.

Well, let's get to the vids.

Shaken, Not Stirred

On this date in 1908, Ian Fleming was born. There is much to say about him, but the thing that for which he is most famous is his creation of James Bond, the protagonist of a series of Spy novels. Although the novels were very popular, it was their adaptation to the cinema that made them into pop culture icons.

There is so much that I can write about this topic. In my youth, I was crazy about Spy stories, developed out of my enthusiasm for the James Bond movies and novels. Yeah, there are better, more cohesive novels then Fleming's, but I give him a pass for being a primary inspiration of the genre.

Likewise, the movies can be a bit silly from time to time. But that's part of the Bond charm. ;-)


Live and Let Die


In regards to the movies, one of the things that I enjoy the most is the theme music.

High Noon

On this date in 1894, Dimitri Tiomkin was born. I'm not a big fan of his music. It does the job, but, among the early giants of the cinematic genre, he's not ranked highly in my book. However, there are a few pieces that masterpieces.

Perhaps the greatest of them is "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling" from High Noon. It captures the entire spirit of the film. I makes clear the human anxiety of abandonment and the inexorable pressure of duty. Yeah, it's a bit cheesy by modern standards, but that's more of a negative reflection upon modern times than upon Tiomkin's composition.

Here's a vid:

There are other noteworthy works, such as the theme to Rawhide:

Anyways, here's a link to Dimitri Tiomkin's Wikipedia page.

Here's a link to the High Noon Wikipedia page.

And here's Rawhide!!!

Enjoy! Yeehaw!!!

I Always Tell the Truth

We're also celebrating the birthday of Giorgio Moroder, born in 1940. His music is not my "cup of tea" but it certainly has a distinct sound. I remember being in a club in the early '90s when his song "The Chase" from the movie, Midnight Express, came on. Although that song was like 15 years old, there was still a bunch of enthusiasm for it. It's got a memorable vibe that is hard to resist.

My favorite Moroder compositions are from the movie, Scarface. The individual pieces don't stand out as showstoppers, but together they set up a strong mood. They capture the film's spirit. In the game, Grand Theft Auto III, this music is used both for a laugh and as a reference motif. It's a cool form of appropriation. "Flashback FM, where every night's a dance party.

Here's my favorite piece from the soundtrack, Debbie Harry singing "Rush Rush":

Finally, I wouldn't be a child of the '80s if I didn't link to Flashdance:

Here's a link to Giorgio Moroder's Wikipedia page.

Enjoy!!!

Off to See the World

Henry Mancini was born on April 16, 1924. I'm of mixed feelings towards his compositions. On one hand, he was fantastic at creating accessible and memorable tunes. The themes from Peter Gunn, the Pink Panter, Romeo and Juliet, and Moon River are all classics of the cinematic genre. They elegantly and powerfully express the mood of the movie. In my imagination, I can see Audrey Hepburn on her window or Peter Sellers bumbling along whenever I hear these tunes. That's the result of pure compositional brilliance.

On the other hand, I don't feel that he was very good at creating quality cinematic scores as a whole. It's as if he would spend his creative genius composing a single "highlight" piece, leaving the rest of the score to rely on repetitions of the theme and mood reinforcing "fluff" works. Now, nothing's wrong with pleasant "fluff" but it certainly isn't the sign of high artistry. Mancini was too talented to get a pass on "mailing in" the incidental music.

In sum, Mancini was like a poet who specializes in short works, such as sonnets ot haiku. However, his genre required the skills for long works, odes and epics. Nevertheless, I'm grateful for his music.

Here's a link to his Wikipedia page.

And here's the divine Audrey:

Enjoy!!!