When knowledge hangs as chains rather than pearls on your neck…

Yesterday they came and told me my time is running out…

I knew that deep inside my heart

I waited for a sign to do what i was destined to do

Time seem to have frozen

Probably to mock those who hadnt cleaned after their mistakes

Now that time seems to be moving again

Faster and as a reminder

telling me my time is up

I am granted to do all i want to do

till the last bell rings

Today i felt how is to be dead

You cant feel the tenderness of a simple breeze

Or the warmth of the sun

You soul is there

But you feel nothing

Ive been told im different

The sqaure among the circles

Now i know why

I am the one to go

My time is really short

I want to learn and know everything before i go

But how much can i learn

In such a short time

The knowledge i have are truly pearls

But sometimes they burden me like chains

Reminding me of the ticking clock

Will heaven be a better place?

 

A CLOCKWORK SHANU :)

Well, i recieved an email from Sarah from UK. She asked me to demonstrate and breakdown the step of the UMI. If you guys have questions do keep mailing me. I am going to keep this short cos i am itching to write about ma new obsession.

A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.

I was interested in this movie when i was reading my film art textbook. But i kind of knew i could not get hold of it. But somehow i did! Nah not from our school library. N well ive gt that film with me. And how should i descibe it. Its GENIUS. Its like having an entire course of FSV (Film sound video) in one movie. If melanie asks me to write reviews, i can write an entire thesis on it.

A clockwork orange is about a young man whose primary interests are violence, rape and Beethoven!

After watching the movie, i was itching to get that book. And yes my comrades i did

What does a clockwork orange mean? Well according to Anthony Burgess (Burgess. A, 1986, p. 911) a clockwork orange is an orange which looks entirely juicy and real on the outside but its a mere mechanical device that can be tuned by God or evil to be Good or Bad. Interesting isnt it? Well apparently Mr. Kubrick removed the last chapter of the book from the film. It ends portraying our droog Alex as an evil little devil. But according to the book, Alex would start thinking about marriage as he got tired of vioence. Kubrick and the publisher didnt want that ending as it doesnt seem as catchy! Anthony Burgess was upset cos human beings change, There is no such thing as a clockwork orange!

Ive been analyzing Kubrick’s amazing work. I am not a kubrick fan. Cos i didnt like THE SHINING! I read the book and the movie kind of failed to scare me as much as the book did. But A CLOCKWORK ORANGE is very very very close to the book. In fact, Kubrick simply ripped off the dialouges from the book and used it in his movie.

“Whats it going to then, eh?”

Where do i start? On the misc en scene or on the cinematography or about the acting the music? In fact i think they used everything from the film art textbook lol! The use of colors, shadows, lights and set makes you remmeber the film for a lifetime. Apart from that, the music is pretty shocking. Kubrick probably used the music cos our droog Alex loves Beethoven. And when he goes about doing the murders the music is used to indicate that he is enjoying it as much as he enjoys Beethoven. The music could also be in his mind. I laughed the most when Ludwig’s 9th symphony was played during Alex’s orgy scene. It seemed to me like he was having a marathon with the two women.

MOLOKO

Alex uses alot of Russian words like Droog (friends) Moloko (Milk). It was the same in the film as well. The fact he drinks milk makes him look halfway between innocence and maturity. I loved the fact kubrick used alot of shadows in the movie.

Drunken man;s shadow can be seen.

N slow Alex and his droogs are introduced. Only the shadows first. I loved that very much.

Ive been playing around with the lights at home to achieve that. I like exploring myself honestly. I know im not very sane. I dont like hollywood movies alot. But this is the perfect film. No nonsesical effects. Just genius work to achieve shock that many new movies with all the effects could never do!

I loved the low key lighting. The strong sharp light from the side illuminating the shape of his face.

Apart from cinematography, the designs of the set were very futuristic. The colors were cleverly used. Expected of a film in the eighties and seventies. Now you dont see that much. The colors can speak out alot. The objects used. The posters.

Our droog Alex

Hmm Well this role was acted by Malcom Mcdowell. Kubrick once said that if Malcom wasnt available he wouldnt make this film. I will show you why!

Thats a really evil looking “15″ year old teenager. I can see why Kubrick wished to keep young Alex evil. I really think no one else could have done this role better than him. And he was 28 when he was doing this movie. The rape scene with him singing “singin in the rain” is really disturbing. Very scary.

Apart from his young look, Malcom did carry out the role really well. Closely following Alex’s character. Even though in the book Alex wasnt really singing and raping. But it was Bizzare!! Cos in the book he was raping 2 ten year old which was replaced with the orgy with 2 teenage women. In fact in the book, most of the raped victims were ten year olds. I think if Kubrick had continued with that, he could have been shot dead! N most of Kubrick’s film used this sinister expression. Even the shining has it. Hmm if ma son was drinking his moloko as sinister as this, i think i would jump off the window!

Malcom nearly died in this film. He was nearly drowned in the water trough scene where his old droogs were trying to drown him. Apparently his water pipe came off. He also had cracked ribs in the humilation scene. But he is very much alive today.

Yes young Alex is our Mr.Linderman from HEROES!

Hadnt really changed his ways yet eh.

Why ban it?

I think almost every country banned this movie. Its a genius film but it triggered off copycat murders. There were a few cases of some rapists singing “singin in the rain” to their victims. Haiz that song has now become a rapist’s favourite.

I would say the movie has loads of nudity sex and violence. But we are looking at it from Alex’s perspective. Honestly, i dont like nudity much in movies. But this film had to use it. N i think they used it wisely. Not like some useless films that show tits to attract attention. Kubrick just showed whats happening in reality. This is how cruel our world is!

 I do not really agree with the ending after reading the 21st chapter of Anthony Burgess book. People change. No one is a clockwork orange!

Beladi’s question on FACIAL EXPRESSIONS in Bellydance

 

Hi there, This time i am back to answer an interesting question posted by Beladi from united states. The question was on facial expressions in bellydance. There is not much of emphasis on facial expressions in bellydance. Ive only heard people telling me to SMILE SMILE SMILE and only SMILE. However there is only one genre of bellydance that involves alot of expressions and that is gothic bellydance.

So…I have to smile?

Smiling is not a MUST. As i mentioned in this video, it really depends on your personality. I am a serious person by nature. To me, smiling may not be appropriate. I only smile in my perfromances when it is necessary. Apart from smiling you can have so many other expressions. You can even have a serious look on your face to make yourself look fascinating the eyes of your audience. Before you decide to smile, there are other factors that you have to consider.

MUSIC

LYRICS

PLACE OF PERFOMANCE

FEELINGS YOU WISH TO INVOKE IN AUDIENCE

Music you dance to is really important. If you have a drum solo, smile. Tease your audience. Play with them. If your music sounds somewhat hypnotic, have a more serious expression on your face. If your music has a sort of sad tune, you can enhance it further with your facial expressions. Like your feeling and melting into the music.

Lyrics???

Most songs are in Arabic. How the hell are we to know the lyrics? Thats not really hard. Trust me. There are some useful websites up in the net that has lyrics. Dont embarass yourself or offend cultures by dancing to a music you shouldnt be dancing to. Like i said in the video, someone dance to an arabic verse of the Quran which can be quite offending to people of that religion. Dont embarass yourself. Learn before you dance.

Place of performance

This might be almost impossible to control. If you cant control your surroundings. You can tune yourself to your surroudings. If your music is jovial, and you want your expressions to tease the audience but your “stage” is super dark and sombre, then you might have to rethik your wardobe. Dress in a color that you can be seen by your audience. Wear makeup in such a way, that your expressions can reach out to them.

Feelings in my audience?

You control what you want your audience to feel. You can make your audience think of you as friendly, professional or aproachable. Its all in you.  You dont haf to smile all the way. You can use expressions to cue your audience. Like i mentioned in the video, if a backbend is the highlight of your performance, dont smile like a noob and spoil the suspense. Play with your expressions, suddenly look quiet and then perform the backbend. The impact will be much greater.

There are NO strict rules in art. Ive seen people who criticise Rania for her unfriendly look when she dance. Maybe its the nature and her style of dancing. Maybe to her dancing is more onto the serious kind of business. And for Maria Shashkova she makes it a point to tease her audience. Dont force expressions that arent from your heart. It will never reach the audience.

If you cant smile, its alright! Its better than looking constipated forcing a smile.

Trust me, i find it hard to force an emotion. Ive learnt to smile when i need to. Ive seen bellydancers who even overdo expressions. They wink TOO MUCH. Until you wonder if something is wrong with their eye. Never overdo an expression. Plus every bellydancer is a representer of the artform. By doing stupid actions like flirting may add on to the wrong idea that people have over bellydancing!

Its not only facial expressions…its also body language too. Ive seen dancers who act flirty giving a real bad impression of every bellydancer. Always take note of your facial expressions. Sometimes our faces may twitch in concentration. It happens! You are only human. But do keep a check on it.

There is no specific expression. Be comfortable. Dance is an expression. Not a drama. You dont have to put a fake mask on stage. If you love your audience, be honest with them. But dont frown and look unfriendly. It really turns people off.

I am not an expert again….I dont smile. Sometimes  i think i look unfriendly. Well i am trying to change that.

I hope you guys find this info useful. Do keep mailing me. I am reading your questions. And i will try to do videos when i can. Take care and happy bellydancing and belly watching

Sabreena