Indian model posing in Traditional Indian Saree

Indian model posing in Traditional Indian Saree with all over zari balls and block printed pallu.

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

I have just read your lousy review. You sound like a frustrated old man who never made a success, an eight ulcer man on a four ulcer job...I have never met you but if I do, you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and a supporter below.
~ Harry S. Truman
(to critic Paul Hume after his unflattering review of daughter Margaret's singing recital)

I want to reach that condensation of sensations that constitutes a picture.
~ Henri Matisse, Notes d'un peintre, 1908

Coughing in the theater is not a respiratory ailment. It is a criticism.
~ Alan Jay Lerner

If you're photographing in color you show the color of their clothes - if you use black and white, you will show the color of their soul.
~ Author Unknown

You too can own your very own Tommy Tomahawk!

 For the low price of $699.99 (It's on sale!). The description:

This Indian Brave Mascot Costume gives a boost to your school spirit.  Shindigz is your place to find the fiercest and most affordable mascot costumes.

Fierce AND affordable. 

http://www.shindigz.com/party/Indian-Mascot.cfm

(Thanks Scott!)

The Strange Case of the Hipster Headdress

 

(anyone know the source? I love this!) 

I think the graphic above (which I totally want on a shirt) sums it up well, but am I the only one who is baffled by the hipster headdress phenomenon? I've been trying to break it down, thinking back to the hippies of the past--connections to nature, to the mystical, against the mainstream, etc--but those stereotypes just don't seem to fit with today's hipster stereotypes. I'm guessing it's just an iteration of the tribal fashion trends, with a little bit of the desire to be counter culture thrown in there. 

After the jump, several examples from around the internets, and examples of how indie music has hopped on the appropriation train--Juliette Lewis and the Licks and Bat for Lashes are both fans of the hipster headdress. 

 

(image via latfh.com)

Look at this F***ing Hipster (another entertaining blog) has a slideshow entitled "Someone call the Headdress Police" which is a great compilation of the many iterations of the trend, and does a nice job at pointing out the ridiculousness of it all:

http://www.latfh.com/post/247408833/someone-call-the-headdress-police

I wish I could embed the slideshow, it's kinda awesome. 

Hipsterrunoff declared Native American fashion as "big" back in 2008, though doesn't include any headdress pics. But these pants are really nice:

http://www.hipsterrunoff.com/2008/08/native-american-fashion-is-big-in-18k8-2k09.html

Which brings us to the music scene. Two years ago Racialicious's Jessica Yee did a great post examining Juliette Lewis and her band The Licks, and tying it back to Indigenous Feminism. It's definitely worth a read if you have time. Juliette is fond of the "rock and roll warrior" look, which tends to include a headdress and facepaint:

 

 

(images via starpulse.com)

 Jessica ties it back to her feminist point of view:

What I find most interesting though about all this imagery, and in particular Lewis’s choice of dress with her band, is actually coming from my raging feminist point of view. In an attempt to appear strong, raw, and unapologetic, people, and in this case, a woman, feels like she has to appropriate Native culture to a pretty extreme extent in order to do a good job of it.

So I guess that goes back to my question about the reasoning behind the hipster appropriations--are hipsters trying to be strong, raw, and unapologetic? I can see the raw and unapologetic, maybe. But are the skinny guys in skinny jeans really going for "strong"?

Juliette and the Licks aren't the only band, the lead singer of a group (that I had admittedly never heard of) called Bat for Lashes is also big on the headdress:

(images via retroglo.net)

Since many of these posts are from 2008, it's interesting that the hipster headdress and the hipster-Native connection is one that has had a bit of staying power.

Semi-related: are there any self-identified Native hipsters out there? I'd love your thoughts.

UPDATE 4/27/2010: I've had a lot to think about since I wrote this post, so here's a more up-to-date version of my thoughts: But Why Can't I Wear a Hipster Headdress?

Related posts:

Racialicious Post on Juliette and the Licks: http://www.racialicious.com/2008/10/02/indigenous-feminism-and-cultural-appropriation/

Retroglo on Bat for Lashes: http://retroglo.net/headdress-the-newest-accessory-2/

Random Appropriation of the Day!

 

via peopleofwalmart.com. The pink hat is a nice addition. 

(Thanks Desi!)

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif

Photoshop digital sketch of beautiful actress Katrina Kaif.

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

The director is the most overrated artist in the world. He is the only artist who, with no talent whatsoever, can be a success for 50 years without his lack of talent ever being discovered.
~ Orson Welles

The world today doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?
~ Pablo Picasso

Has anybody ever seen a dramatic critic in the daytime? Of course not. They come out after dark, up to no good.
~ P. G. Wodehouse

When painting, an artist must take care not to trap his soul in the canvas.
~ Dena Groquet

Random Appropriation of the Day! (Holiday Edition)

Via Regretsy.com (one of my favorite blogs, it finds weird handmade things for sale on Etsy.com). In case you can't read it, the description says:

An original painting on leather with acrylic paint. Tracy Rose Moyers hand-crafted and hand-painted this Native American Shield. A Native American shield is based on the Warrior's shield. A good shield was believed capable of affording the bearer the protection of the Great Spirit. They frequently bore sacred feathers or symbolic pictures of animals who customarily had appeared to the owner during a vision, which thought to endow him with the qualities of the animals that were depicted.

 ...sure, ok. For those of you in warmer climes, just letting you know our dear friend Punxsutawney Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Thanks, Phil. So much.

Regretsy Post: http://www.regretsy.com/2010/02/02/punxsutawney-filler/

Original Etsy page (you can buy this!): http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20934648

Chanel Temporary tattoo

During the latest show to reveal the Chanel collection for 2010 we spotted a few models with lovely temporary tattoos.

Channels interlaced designs around wrists or ankles were created for the show by Peter Philips, International Director of makeup creation for Chanel. These tattoos are temporary tattoos and they have been so successful during the show that Chanel is launching a line of fake tattoos.

The new collection of tattoos is scheduled for March 2010, with drawings of chains, beads, flowers, or the Chanel trademark logo.

These fake tattoos called "The trompe l'oeil Chanel" will be sold £50 for a batch of 5 and there will be something for all body parts.

Basically, we already now that if you want to be hype this summer, you dress will be short and flowery and you will be wearing one of the Chanel tattoos with your best outfit. This is yet another sign that tattoos are hot and very very fashionable at the moment.