The Disney Effect

(Source)

Before I start this post I just want everyone to be aware that I am not exactly a Disney movie fan. I repeat not a fan! However about 89% of the time they manage to make me emotional, I guess I’m a sucker for a happy ending. I discovered this not so seemingly well-hidden secret when I watched the mind-numbing Disney princess flick Tangled with my friend one lazy Sunday. Oh, don’t get me wrong I think I lost a few brain cells in the process and the ending was hardly a surprise but the warm fuzzies got to me and I felt the cry building in the back of my throat as I fought against my sudden bout of ‘hay-fever.'

Now this wasn’t the first time I’d been hit by the Disney bat but it’d been a long time since I’d watched one of these tear-inducers. So I was somewhat shocked by my girly reaction to Rapunzel’s happy ending. Thinking, that this was probably a one-time reaction in reminisce of what-once-was.

Monday caught me watching the 1998 version of The Parent Trap, which seemed much shorter when I was younger, and Lindsey Lohan’s twin characters more stylish. But hey that’s the 90’s for you! Anyway long story short the parent’s fall madly in love again, (thanks to the twins) after not seeing each other for 11 years. And, OH God!!! There was that feeling of emotion again, which I shoved right back down as no Disney movie will ever get the better of me! Pixar’s UP on the other hand makes me cry at least three separate times per viewing at last count!

(Source)

So why is it that Disney movie’s jerk not only mine, (and after a super quick Google) many peoples tear ducts? There are so many way’s in which Disney could be dissected, It could be that many of us due to the obvious superiority of the character’s, fear that we as common people will never attain such a level of happiness, never mind deserve it. OR there is there is we’re too scared to take the leap of faith into love that so many of the princesses and talking animals manage to do. OR is Disney teaching us some sort of compassion whereby we are conditioned from a young age to be happy within another’s happiness. There is a smorgasbord of options to consider, a lot more than I have mentioned here each more outlandish and possible than the last.

But then again to those of us who have neither the time nor the patience to worry about the perhaps evil motives of Disney: Perhaps we should enjoy the ride into the impossible? I for one know that I long for a happy ending (not right now mind you I have plenty of living to do yet) as much as I long for perfection. Perhaps in spite of all their 2D glory I see a piece of me in them an idealized yet unattainable beauty: Tall, slim and tough when the time comes. Thing’s that a good portion of woman long for and I for one personally long for. Not that I see Disney as a big contribution into my body issue’s but I feel the more I delve into it the more I understand my reactions.

(Source)

Somewhere I want to be a Disney princess, and maybe it doesn’t matter that I’m about to turn nineteen. I think that no matter my age I will always long for the fairytale ending: The prince or pirate swooping down and saving me from some inevitable doom… Oh gosh, just listen to me! In my defense I’m writing this at 12.45 at night so excuse my rambling! But I would be interested to hear your thoughts on Disney so if you want you can comment me below or contact me via twitter here.


Lots of Love
                     Audrey Megan

Free time? Keep it

I'm not a big fan of the sequel movie as a whole, generally I think sequel's are a waste of time, so usually I wouldn't agree to going to see one, however my cousin had free tickets and I hadn't seen her in yonks and I didn't particularly feel like hanging around in my flat. Hence the reason I can now regretfully say: "Yes, I have seen The Hangover Part 2". 

OK yes the first movie isn't exactly on my top ten list, but I could appreciate the mind-numbing humor and the story didn't drag too much. Now I'm sure that many of you know the narrative of The Hangover and if you don't you can always click here. The change in the narrative is slim, instead of a tiger there's a drug-pushing monkey, a tattoo instead of a tooth and a missing brother rather than a groom. All the ingredients for a good movie? Apparently not. The movie had a tendency to drag on and about the only merit to this film was the actor who played Teddy, oh and the end...

Lots of Love

             Audrey Megan

Rainy day film

It's one of those day's when all you want to do is stay home snuggled up in bed and watch movies because everything outside the window is cold and grey and wet, sopping I think would be a better word. For if I went out that is how I would return. So today I have occupied myself with a range of fascinating activities like making delicious pita pizzas for lunch nom nom nom, capsicum, tomato and avocados. I should have gotten Jake to take a picture but alas at the time all I wanted to do was munch them down. I also made an effort to watch what I normally wouldn't scoping Vimeo for good film. However I somehow ended up on a terrible Zombie film which lasted about 17 minutes, wired how I continue to watch stuff even when it's terribly boring.... But I did find a couple of what I consider to be good.

This first one is called Extremities, and is actually a skating video, I know, I know, I'm not into skating either really. But I thought the camera placement was really good and it's not very long. So it's defiantly worth a look.

Extremities from Eli Stonberg on Vimeo.

The second one tat I want to share is called Half and it follows two women, I think it's quite interesting because It seems like there's something going on underneath it all that we never find out about and I really want to know if the diaries get mixed up and what the woman's feeling's towards each other after their brief meeting is. Anyway here it is. Have a watch and see what you think.

Half from Alex Bohs on Vimeo.

This last video is six drummers breaking into an elderly couples apartment and before you think "Oh, god! Here comes the part about how cool it is to make music out of household objects," don't worry I'm not going to spiel on about there originality etc etc etc.... But when you do watch it please shut your eyes, for a visual treat this is not, not to say it's terrible it's just the audio is like some weird tribal, polish techno mix made out of tooth brushes and slippers.

Music For One Apartment And Six Drummers from Mister Magnus on Vimeo.

Lots of Love

          Audrey Megan

Marc By Marc Jacobs, Resort 2012

I'm not so much a fan of Marc Jacobs however I do like his diffusion line; Marc By Marc Jacobs and the Resort 2012 collection is no exception. The colour palette is quite wide with reds, blues, greens and yellows making quite bold statements and a mixture of both formal and playful pieces. There's an ongoing theme of tie belts and pussy bows which for such a diverse collection nicely pulls it all together. My favorite pieces from this collection are his structured formal pieces that follow a generally monochromatic colour scheme however he has drawn me into his 1950s green floral print with his shirt and skirt combination that has quite a coltish feel to it. Some of my favorites are pictured below.

 All Images are from Fashionologie.

Lots of Love

          Audrey Megan

Take a deep breath...

I've always had a bit of a thing for Zac Posen and when Coco Rocha posted her photos of the new collection I swear I spent about a half and hour on fashionologie just wondering over the dresses especially. They are absolutely stunning!  

The collection is mainly monochromatic with sudden bursts of gold sequins, red chiffon and baby blue satin. The collection follows an "American Royalty" theme. Uber-femme with hourglass silhouettes and an amazing quality of craftsmanship the collection has reinstated Posen back into the business with a bang after the mixed feelings over his previous collections. Oh, if a both had a place to wear and enough money to afford this I would most defiantly invest in the finale.

(Source)

Ahhhh, gorgeous isn't it, Coco definitely does it justice

.

Lots of Love

               Audrey Megan

P.S. The sky looks so amazing right now: A mixture of teal and burnt orange!!!

Holiday's... Finally!

Wow, so huge apology for not writing on here sooner I've been hard out with Uni, trying to get all my assignments handed in on time, and would you believe I was actually organized this half-semester!! I would have written yesterday night but it was my starting night for my holidays and I had a massive mind block, so no idea what to write about.

Anyway yesterday afternoon after my final assignment test I went down to the library with my boyfriend to stock up on books for the holidays (because it's been ages since I’ve read anything just for self-indulgence and not connected with cultural views on anything and everything. I got only got two books out, as even though the Wellington library is massive and has multiple copies of nearly every book imaginable (except Warhol’s diaries, they have none.. Why is that?) All the books I really wanted to read were checked out. So I ended up getting The Sartorialist and M.I.L.K's Love: A Celebration of Humanity.

I haven't yet had the chance to flick through The Sartorialist, I did have a good look at the M.I.L.K book, which is a collection of photographs showing Love at all ages and between all ages, It is incredibly beautiful and I don't think photographs have ever had that kind of effect on me before, I'll admit I did get teary. The forward is written by Kim Phuc, the woman whose image as the girl from the Vietnam War is famous for it's hauntingly terrible insight into the effects of war. I most defiantly recommend picking up this book, and really looking at it. One of the series in this book is of a husband and wife, in the husband's last days in his battle against cancer. It is incredibly moving the way in which she looks at him and her love towards him seems to erupt out of the page. It's hard to explain and you have to see it yourself to understand the effects of this photo.

(Source)

Unfortunately I wasn't able to find any pictures to put up so I guess you'll have to find it for yourselves, and trust me you won't regret it! 

Lots of Love

            Audrey Megan