I’ve recently been having rants with two fellow bloggers. Not about them, you understand, but rather about current trends that we mutually abhor.
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Meanderer ( http://thelanternroom.wordpress.com ) and I were ranting on about the way large numbers of people are excited about the recent Royal Baby. A newspaper or papers avowed that “The World” was enthralled, to which my tweeted response was that The World should get out more. I am of course a Fat Bald Git, and an Increasingly Crusty Old Bugger to boot, but I’m increasingly appalled by the facile outputs of the media.
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I mean, for example, are there legions out there who are really going to go out and buy souvenir tea towels? And, if there are, then to these people was the sight of the proud parents and their offspring outside the hospital really going to be “unforgettable”, as the papers asserted? If the answers to these questions is anything like “yes”, then can I please have names and addresses, so that I can make my pitch – cold calling is de rigueur! – for selling them a bridge?
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And the second rant was with my fellow Bristolian, nettski – and you should really read her excellent post and see my comments below, at:
In a nutshell, nettski is talking about the trials and tribulations of finding your “ideal mate for life” in today’s IT-ridden and overly complex society – online dating sites, “how to” books(!!!) – and the rules and expectations that modern society increasingly imposes upon us – read what she says – its good stuff!
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And so to Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). Who was he? He was a famous portrait photographer who rose to fame in the 1930s, and who immaculately photographed everyone from The Queen “downwards” – including much work as an official war photographer during the WWII. I especially admire his portrait of the three year-old blitz victim Eileen Dunne (1940), clutching her dolly in her hospital bed – see it here . Pictures like this helped bring America into the war.
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And Cecil ranting? Or maybe just talking casually, I don’t know. Its a favourite quote of mine:
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“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.”.
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I admire these words. They stay with me, and give me something to aspire to.
Thanks, Karen. I think it a good idea to keep broadly abreast of goings on in the world and my backyard – but not via the press! As usual, money talks and bullshit walks, and the newspapers are simply bent on pulling in readers by any means they can think of. And the disturbing thought is that, presumably, since the newspapers are not going out of business, vast swathes of our species are lapping this stuff up! Thanks again. Adrian
[…] else’s eyes. Yesterday I went out with another blogger from WordPress called Adrian at FATman photos as he only lives a few miles from me in South […]
I do read Meanderer’s blog sometimes but had not come across Nettski earlier. Thanks for pointing to that in your post.
What resonated with me is that closing quote, ” “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.”.
This reminded me of what Steve Job had said in that famous interview of his. ” Be hungry, be foolish.”
[…] am hugely indebted to my friend Adrian at FATman photos see eccentric99.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/rants-and-cecil-beaton/ for this wonderful quote from the English photographer and stage designer Cecil […]
Great post, Adrian. I’m still amazed at the while baby fuss. Tradition and all is nice, but, Get a grip! The media needs to ease up on what they consider to be of earth-shattering importance. Stopped by nettski’s. I left my 2 cents, of course. Good luck with your photoshoot. Wish I could get in on some of that model action. Older women can be photogenic too, right? 😉
Thanks, Gem! “Get a grip!” hits the nail right on the head! I don’t know if the newspapers reflect public opinion but, if they do, then I have the feeling that lots of people are living in some kind of soft and fuzzy wonderland – and I don’t want to be there with them!
One thing that strikes me is that it is now possible to live one’s whole life on a diet of what the media serves up – news, magazines, game shows, gambling, sport, “lifestyle” – and not have to create or produce anything for oneself … a soft and fuzzy wonderland that can delude and falsely nurture us from cradle to grave … if we let it. 🙂
Glad you commented on Nettski. She’s often talking about food(!) and we share a liking for Full English Breakfasts, but she handles other topics too, and the over-complication of our society that she’s on here is spot on – and right in their with the fuzzy wonderland.
Older women? >>> anyone can be photogenic! But I think an important point to grasp here is that portraits – maybe they’re better termed ‘people shots’ – do not always have to have eye contact, or show a face, eg the Earring and Ring shots of my daughter.
You want in on model action? Well, get on a plane and I’ll polish up my optics until they’re sparkling and glittering! Enough said??? 😉 Adrian
I love people shots of the different persuasion. 😀 earring, half face, very interesting.
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If I could even get myself on a plane ( and had the $$$$ ) I would be there with bells (and earrings) on! You’d be my first stop – after a big British breakfast! 😉
Good post Adrian. No, I will not be buying the tea towel! The media has a problem, in the way that they over dramatise absolutely everything, in the interests of selling more of whatever they publish. This problem seems to be driven by their readers. Sadly, though we can grumble about the media, and I do, this will not change a thing. All we can do is rise above it, and perhaps carry on grumbling quietly.
Thanks for the link to Cecil Beaton’s photo, which I honestly had not been aware of, and have a good weekend. Dave.
Yes, you’re right, my friend, rise above it, good advice. To say that I admire the Beaton photo is vast understatement. You have a good weekend too! Adrian
FATman Photos 
So true, Adrian. The media (mostly) bores me and infuriates me at the same time.
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Thanks, Karen. I think it a good idea to keep broadly abreast of goings on in the world and my backyard – but not via the press! As usual, money talks and bullshit walks, and the newspapers are simply bent on pulling in readers by any means they can think of. And the disturbing thought is that, presumably, since the newspapers are not going out of business, vast swathes of our species are lapping this stuff up! Thanks again. Adrian
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[…] else’s eyes. Yesterday I went out with another blogger from WordPress called Adrian at FATman photos as he only lives a few miles from me in South […]
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Loved the post Adrian.
I do read Meanderer’s blog sometimes but had not come across Nettski earlier. Thanks for pointing to that in your post.
What resonated with me is that closing quote, ” “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.”.
This reminded me of what Steve Job had said in that famous interview of his. ” Be hungry, be foolish.”
Cheers
Shakti
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Shakti, thank you very much, I’m glad you like the post! And thanks for the Steve jobs quote, which I hadn’t heard before. Adrian
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[…] am hugely indebted to my friend Adrian at FATman photos see eccentric99.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/rants-and-cecil-beaton/ for this wonderful quote from the English photographer and stage designer Cecil […]
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Great post, Adrian. I’m still amazed at the while baby fuss. Tradition and all is nice, but, Get a grip! The media needs to ease up on what they consider to be of earth-shattering importance. Stopped by nettski’s. I left my 2 cents, of course. Good luck with your photoshoot. Wish I could get in on some of that model action. Older women can be photogenic too, right? 😉
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Thanks, Gem! “Get a grip!” hits the nail right on the head! I don’t know if the newspapers reflect public opinion but, if they do, then I have the feeling that lots of people are living in some kind of soft and fuzzy wonderland – and I don’t want to be there with them!
One thing that strikes me is that it is now possible to live one’s whole life on a diet of what the media serves up – news, magazines, game shows, gambling, sport, “lifestyle” – and not have to create or produce anything for oneself … a soft and fuzzy wonderland that can delude and falsely nurture us from cradle to grave … if we let it. 🙂
Glad you commented on Nettski. She’s often talking about food(!) and we share a liking for Full English Breakfasts, but she handles other topics too, and the over-complication of our society that she’s on here is spot on – and right in their with the fuzzy wonderland.
Older women? >>> anyone can be photogenic! But I think an important point to grasp here is that portraits – maybe they’re better termed ‘people shots’ – do not always have to have eye contact, or show a face, eg the Earring and Ring shots of my daughter.
You want in on model action? Well, get on a plane and I’ll polish up my optics until they’re sparkling and glittering! Enough said??? 😉 Adrian
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I’ve just published my post on that babay http://hellenjc.wordpress.com/2013/07/28/elitism-perpetuates-the-worlds-injustices-or-do-we-need-another-his-royal-highness/
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I shall have a look! What was the phrase that one newspaper used re the general press coverage of the birth – sugary sycophancy?
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Soft and fuzzy wonderland? Not for me!
I love people shots of the different persuasion. 😀 earring, half face, very interesting.
And…
If I could even get myself on a plane ( and had the $$$$ ) I would be there with bells (and earrings) on! You’d be my first stop – after a big British breakfast! 😉
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Absolutely, food first, got to keep priorities right!!! 😉
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😉
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Hi Adrian what a fantastic quote – slaves of the ordinary, a new on me. Thanks for confirming the faith.
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Cheers, Andy – thank you! Adrian
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Good post Adrian. No, I will not be buying the tea towel! The media has a problem, in the way that they over dramatise absolutely everything, in the interests of selling more of whatever they publish. This problem seems to be driven by their readers. Sadly, though we can grumble about the media, and I do, this will not change a thing. All we can do is rise above it, and perhaps carry on grumbling quietly.
Thanks for the link to Cecil Beaton’s photo, which I honestly had not been aware of, and have a good weekend. Dave.
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Yes, you’re right, my friend, rise above it, good advice. To say that I admire the Beaton photo is vast understatement. You have a good weekend too! Adrian
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I love the Cecil Beaton quote. I’ve never come across that before.
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Good, in fact excellent! Well, let’s never forget his words, and let’s keep on keeping on!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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