June 23, 2004
-
This flyer was spotted in the current issue of Juxtapoz:
A Blue Demon painting! Who is Mike Burnett? We couldn’t find any info online.Mr Bali Hai’s most recent post links to some awesome postcards from Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy, a Communist Chinese opera. We love this sort of kitsch stuff. Last year, when researching music for Cosmic Baby on eBay, we found a Maoist ballet -Red Detachment of Women and another Maoist record (the name escapes me) where one of the songs was titled: “Chairman Mao is more important to us than our parents”. Such revolutionary spirit!
Some great night time photos of Hong Kong. (thanks, Garth)
Remember our post about Animation Trends 2004? Check this out!
Internet goodies:
- NeoSpeak (free?) video and audio file hosting
- Bloglines for blog subscriptions
- Chatango – a disposable instant messenger
- Pee-Mail (silly)
So Italy has been knocked out of the Euro 2004. We are hoping that Eddie’s Vespa is OK back in Sydney. We lent it to an Italian hardcore soccer fanatic….
This Thursday is Lucha Va Voom A Go Go. Well, we won’t be able to make it to this one… Direct from Mexico: Los Villanos, Super Porky, Tinieblas Jr and Que Monito, the blue midget ape!
*Update: Tom Kenny the voice of Spongebob is going to be commentating… (?!)
Eddie: We’ve been supporters of Lucha Va Voom from day one. Let’s face it – Lucha Libre and Burlesque…what’s not to like? Well, actually…the inclusion of comics (Blaine and Patton) to provide ’commentary’ to the proceedings has really soured this event for us. The saving grace has always been the informed comments of one of Lucha’s most knowledgeable insiders, Mr. Unknown. But sadly, no Mr. Unknown this year. Hey, why have insightful commentary when you can squeeze another comedian into the mix?
Comments (6)
I wonder if any opera or ballet companies have tried to stage these pieces outside of mainland China? Since Mao was ostensibly the greatest mass murdererer in human history, I can imagine that they’d be somewhat controversial, but they have an undeniable kitschy charm and naivete; they’d be a hell of a lot more entertaining than yet another sleep-inducing revival of Wagner’s Ring Cycle…As for the comedians’ inclusion in Lucha Va Voom, that’s the same sort of misguided thinking that led TNT to rename the Japanese gameshow Takeshi’s Castle, “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge,” and dub over the original hosts’ commentary with really dumb and smutty puns.I also find it rather ironic, since someone from LVV took me to task on my blog a while back for posting a link to the masked bowlers, Los Diablos Guapos, claiming that they were ripping off Lucha and didn’t represent the pure spirit of the sport! Juxtaposing strippers, luchadores, and stand-up comedy is somehow more respectful of traditional Mexican values?!
Interesting post, as usual, and thanks for the helpful links (yes, that last one was a bit silly!). Great comment by MrBaliHai, by the way. Peace!
There is an opening Saturday night at Bedlam Gallery on Hillhurst (just south of Los Feliz on east side of street). It is a group show…maybe 30 or so artists. If your in the area, stop in between 7:00 and 11:00.
Okay, long rant coming up!
Mr. BaliHai…it’s called hypocrisy.
Lucha Libre is a phenomen that somehow manages to reflect Latino culture, attitude – and the very distinct flavor of Mexican Comedy – in a way that Pro Wrestling has never done in US culture. In one match, a rudo like Satanico can be playing it straight, and beating the crap out of his opponent. The next match he’ll be in a comedy bout with a midget dressed as a Mayan Elf.
Comedy is a big part of Lucha Libre. But it’s just one part of Lucha. Our problem with Lucha Va Voom is that it’s all comedy, and the comic MC’s who ‘commentate’ during the matches portray Luchadores as costumed buffoons.
We support any promotion that tries to get Lucha Libre over to a mainstream audience. At the last Lucha Va Voom, the comedians basically ridiculed the main event with fat/Gay jokes, and it really soured the night for us.
Lucha Va Voom has its heart in the right place, and it has definitely helped raise the profile of Lucha in the US. I just wish they would get the balance right with some serious commentary amongst the stand up comedy.
-Eddie
Eddie, that’s unfortunate. It sounds as if they’ve veered over too far towards a sort of sneering, ironic-hipster ‘tude. Was the rest of the audience responding to it? I hope not.
It was all okay until the main event…that’s where things got a little out of hand, with derogatory remarks being made towards the Luchadores…and they weren’t just any Luchadores; Super Astro, Solar and Ultraman are huge stars in Mexico. Most people around us had pretty much had it with the comedians by then…
-Eddie