Saturday, 1 November 2008
i-marginal, Universite de Paris 7, WangXiang blog
Very interesting Eurocampus... Virtual World blog by WangXiang member of i-marginal of Paris.
Murder in Virtual World in Japan
Identity and Expression
First Avatar Arrest for Virtual World Murder? The Hack Job
10.23.08 | 1 Comment
In what might be the first arrest for the murder of an avatar, Associated Press reports that a woman in Japan killed off her virtual husband when he divorced her. The police threw her in jail for ‘hacking’ because the murder was accomplished by using her ‘ex husband’s’ log-in information to perform the act of revenge:
” “I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry,” the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.
The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.
She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.”
The murder took place in the online world of Maple Story. Which proves that it IS a world, because as Prokofy Neva has famously noted, a world is a world because it contains people, a sense of place, and drama.
First Avatar Arrest for Virtual World Murder? The Hack Job
10.23.08 | 1 Comment
In what might be the first arrest for the murder of an avatar, Associated Press reports that a woman in Japan killed off her virtual husband when he divorced her. The police threw her in jail for ‘hacking’ because the murder was accomplished by using her ‘ex husband’s’ log-in information to perform the act of revenge:
” “I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry,” the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.
The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.
She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.”
The murder took place in the online world of Maple Story. Which proves that it IS a world, because as Prokofy Neva has famously noted, a world is a world because it contains people, a sense of place, and drama.
The visitor, Home
The Visitor 3*
About a 60ish professor who taught for 20 years the same syllabus, pretends to write a book, and presents a paper written by a colleague upon demand - he didnt really want to do it, but the system requires him to do it. His wife an accomplished pianist already passed away, and he tries to liven up his life by learning the piano. But no talent, he dismissed 4 teachers one after another.
On his way to NY apartment, he found two people living in his place by some trickery - but the two young people are upright, so he invites them to stay. The young woman being cautious about the motif of the prof.
Finally friendship develops he starts to play the african drum - an instrument that you dont think - aboveall you must not think to play well. He starts to have a new budding friendship, life, life is budding in him. But, the young man by some turn of events was expulsed to Syria. His mother comes to visit, an upright woman of an age suitable for him, he feels something stirring, a soft warm hope of some small beginning. But as the young man gets explused his mother also decides to go back to Syria to accompany him, and never to return. (Illegal immigrants can never return)
So we see the plane takes off, and the prof goes to the subway to play furiously on a bench in the underground.
I said, how come, in his age, he has money, he has nothing more to do, career already accomplished, why doesnt he go to Syria? My friend says, you are so Hollywoodian, this is unreal, people have not begun anything. The ending is better like this. And I said, yes, I know contemporary movies are "realistic", and Hollywoodian movies are too much, but still - in his situation, what stops him from going to Syria? Even for one month; two months, it would still be happiness for everyone. Why must he stop at limiting himself by playing the drums in the subway?
At his age, it would be hard to find a suitable age woman for himself, he could find young girls, but the ideal one, the mature stylish upright one is hard to come by. Why does he not follow through, just to see? He has the means... and time to do it.
Home 3*
Isabelle Hupert plays a mother who loves her family living in a home situated next to a highway. Initially its an abandonned highway, so, calm and normal home living. But later, the highway opens, noise, etc. coming. And the behavior of the children testing the patience of the mother. Finally they put some concrete blocks and block up the whole house. The home gets messier, dirtier, people cant breath. The mother is at the end of her strength, she collapses. Sleeps like dead. Then one day she waits up, takes a hammer and slege hammer herself out of the concrete block wall, and sun comes in and fresh air. The whole family goes outside of the house and back ground music : Nina Simone sings Wild Wind Blows, the music is so soulful and free.
A very good movie, works on many levels. The Director is a young woman, she says this is a movie about Switzerland. Thats whats it like there. Seemingly clean but dirt and dust comes in everywhere, people are stuck.
I thought it could be a movie about any family, any woman; any mother feels like this sometime in their life.
By chance, my movie going buddy talked about the mother of a friend, who was a business woman, after she raised her kids, and sold her business, she doesnt know what to do , has no interest, she goes to casino - private ones - and owes tens and thousands of euros, that the son has to pay for. Its an illness - gambling. But what happens afterwards, if you dont gamble? there is nothing else. I think it is so important to have interests in life. But everyone feels stuck after a while... what else is there to do?
About a 60ish professor who taught for 20 years the same syllabus, pretends to write a book, and presents a paper written by a colleague upon demand - he didnt really want to do it, but the system requires him to do it. His wife an accomplished pianist already passed away, and he tries to liven up his life by learning the piano. But no talent, he dismissed 4 teachers one after another.
On his way to NY apartment, he found two people living in his place by some trickery - but the two young people are upright, so he invites them to stay. The young woman being cautious about the motif of the prof.
Finally friendship develops he starts to play the african drum - an instrument that you dont think - aboveall you must not think to play well. He starts to have a new budding friendship, life, life is budding in him. But, the young man by some turn of events was expulsed to Syria. His mother comes to visit, an upright woman of an age suitable for him, he feels something stirring, a soft warm hope of some small beginning. But as the young man gets explused his mother also decides to go back to Syria to accompany him, and never to return. (Illegal immigrants can never return)
So we see the plane takes off, and the prof goes to the subway to play furiously on a bench in the underground.
I said, how come, in his age, he has money, he has nothing more to do, career already accomplished, why doesnt he go to Syria? My friend says, you are so Hollywoodian, this is unreal, people have not begun anything. The ending is better like this. And I said, yes, I know contemporary movies are "realistic", and Hollywoodian movies are too much, but still - in his situation, what stops him from going to Syria? Even for one month; two months, it would still be happiness for everyone. Why must he stop at limiting himself by playing the drums in the subway?
At his age, it would be hard to find a suitable age woman for himself, he could find young girls, but the ideal one, the mature stylish upright one is hard to come by. Why does he not follow through, just to see? He has the means... and time to do it.
Home 3*
Isabelle Hupert plays a mother who loves her family living in a home situated next to a highway. Initially its an abandonned highway, so, calm and normal home living. But later, the highway opens, noise, etc. coming. And the behavior of the children testing the patience of the mother. Finally they put some concrete blocks and block up the whole house. The home gets messier, dirtier, people cant breath. The mother is at the end of her strength, she collapses. Sleeps like dead. Then one day she waits up, takes a hammer and slege hammer herself out of the concrete block wall, and sun comes in and fresh air. The whole family goes outside of the house and back ground music : Nina Simone sings Wild Wind Blows, the music is so soulful and free.
A very good movie, works on many levels. The Director is a young woman, she says this is a movie about Switzerland. Thats whats it like there. Seemingly clean but dirt and dust comes in everywhere, people are stuck.
I thought it could be a movie about any family, any woman; any mother feels like this sometime in their life.
By chance, my movie going buddy talked about the mother of a friend, who was a business woman, after she raised her kids, and sold her business, she doesnt know what to do , has no interest, she goes to casino - private ones - and owes tens and thousands of euros, that the son has to pay for. Its an illness - gambling. But what happens afterwards, if you dont gamble? there is nothing else. I think it is so important to have interests in life. But everyone feels stuck after a while... what else is there to do?
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Mesrine, W
Mesrine 3* Vincent Cassel
Very interesting actor, sexy, cruel, and gentle at the same time. Violent, we dont always feel negative towards this Mesrine character, but I feel very sorry for the characters wife. No one deserves this mad man - and as for the girlfriend role played by de France. She also looked and behaves in character. Just seems so point less to be in the outlaw world. Mesrine is probably mad from birth. This is what the movie seem to say.
W 1* about GW Bush
a movie i really wanted to see to understand the W Bush phenomenon, but i fell asleep after 5 minutes and woke up near the end. Came home and continued on my computer for a few hours. W, the movie, puts me to sleep.
Very interesting actor, sexy, cruel, and gentle at the same time. Violent, we dont always feel negative towards this Mesrine character, but I feel very sorry for the characters wife. No one deserves this mad man - and as for the girlfriend role played by de France. She also looked and behaves in character. Just seems so point less to be in the outlaw world. Mesrine is probably mad from birth. This is what the movie seem to say.
W 1* about GW Bush
a movie i really wanted to see to understand the W Bush phenomenon, but i fell asleep after 5 minutes and woke up near the end. Came home and continued on my computer for a few hours. W, the movie, puts me to sleep.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Blindness, Coluche, Vicky...
Blindness 2.5* Julienne Moore...
A film which has lofty philosophical goals, but i cant believe as an only surviving seeing eye person, who is intelligent, caring etc cannot use intelligence to outsmart the mad bully gang with a single gun... all the rest is about seeing and new ways of seeing, and reviewing old worlds with a new appreciation... lack of confidence once blind people have their eyes opened again - actor and actresses are very good. The way its shot, its almost like someone invited into a living room trying to catch all the things going on without knowing what is the focus, so we run from tiramisu, whipping cream to off the cuff exchanges of conversations just like everyday happenings... we dont know for sure which moment is THE MOMENT in our lives.
Interesting esthetic movie, but the story line and details needs a lot of suspension of disbelieve from the audience.
Thunder in the Tropics 2.5* Ben Stiller
Big muscles in his arms, with such a lean face... is it real? :)
The story line is incredible but a lot of laughs - comedy is not easy to do!
I didnt recognize Tom Cruise was the one playing this big fat... makes me think make-up is so sophisticated, if we dont look carefully in life, we are fooled left and right...
The child drug lord actor did a good job. (A real life parallel does exist, i read about it a long time ago... but what happened to him? Might be a good story here too)
Vicky, Christina... 3* Woody Allen film w his muses
Penelope is a great actress dialogue is funny, sophisticated people in sophisticated world. New generation who has the luxury to explore feelings, food, wine, body, sex, art - things ordinary middle class folks could only imagine by sharing on screen from the 9 to 5 world.
Forget about middle class etc, even among the leisure class, how much of this is an everyday reality of anyone?
Is this a concentrated sample of a contemporary 30 something class with time and money?
Entertaining and sophisticated - most of us little movie going folks look on with envy and amazement - those characters in the film should enjoy themselves while they can. Love, experimental, new rage of our age doesnt come easily. :)
Coluche 2* By Antoine De Caunes
De Caunes is one of my favorite comic tv personalities - smart, sharp, handsome, and charming... on the cover of a news weekly, he has grown a beard - an old mature man in view.
This movie is so crass... I dont know the Coluche in the 80s but this movie shows a fat slob crude jokes. It is everything i dislike, i only went to see it because its a De Caunes film. Historically, Coluche was a candidate for the presidency... there must be some background, that I must have to be French to understand the importance of this person.
In anycase, lacking the reality parallel, all i see is a fat slob and rough necks and utility oriented politicians... De Caune as the daily Canal+ news anchor comedian can do everything man must feel a need to show this Coluche, his Coluche as he was a man from behind the scenes and infront of the scenes. There are reasons that I can not begin to even search for.
As a film, its really so so. Because the important contrasting reality part from life is missing for me.
A film which has lofty philosophical goals, but i cant believe as an only surviving seeing eye person, who is intelligent, caring etc cannot use intelligence to outsmart the mad bully gang with a single gun... all the rest is about seeing and new ways of seeing, and reviewing old worlds with a new appreciation... lack of confidence once blind people have their eyes opened again - actor and actresses are very good. The way its shot, its almost like someone invited into a living room trying to catch all the things going on without knowing what is the focus, so we run from tiramisu, whipping cream to off the cuff exchanges of conversations just like everyday happenings... we dont know for sure which moment is THE MOMENT in our lives.
Interesting esthetic movie, but the story line and details needs a lot of suspension of disbelieve from the audience.
Thunder in the Tropics 2.5* Ben Stiller
Big muscles in his arms, with such a lean face... is it real? :)
The story line is incredible but a lot of laughs - comedy is not easy to do!
I didnt recognize Tom Cruise was the one playing this big fat... makes me think make-up is so sophisticated, if we dont look carefully in life, we are fooled left and right...
The child drug lord actor did a good job. (A real life parallel does exist, i read about it a long time ago... but what happened to him? Might be a good story here too)
Vicky, Christina... 3* Woody Allen film w his muses
Penelope is a great actress dialogue is funny, sophisticated people in sophisticated world. New generation who has the luxury to explore feelings, food, wine, body, sex, art - things ordinary middle class folks could only imagine by sharing on screen from the 9 to 5 world.
Forget about middle class etc, even among the leisure class, how much of this is an everyday reality of anyone?
Is this a concentrated sample of a contemporary 30 something class with time and money?
Entertaining and sophisticated - most of us little movie going folks look on with envy and amazement - those characters in the film should enjoy themselves while they can. Love, experimental, new rage of our age doesnt come easily. :)
Coluche 2* By Antoine De Caunes
De Caunes is one of my favorite comic tv personalities - smart, sharp, handsome, and charming... on the cover of a news weekly, he has grown a beard - an old mature man in view.
This movie is so crass... I dont know the Coluche in the 80s but this movie shows a fat slob crude jokes. It is everything i dislike, i only went to see it because its a De Caunes film. Historically, Coluche was a candidate for the presidency... there must be some background, that I must have to be French to understand the importance of this person.
In anycase, lacking the reality parallel, all i see is a fat slob and rough necks and utility oriented politicians... De Caune as the daily Canal+ news anchor comedian can do everything man must feel a need to show this Coluche, his Coluche as he was a man from behind the scenes and infront of the scenes. There are reasons that I can not begin to even search for.
As a film, its really so so. Because the important contrasting reality part from life is missing for me.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Digital Fashion 2
Haute Couture
what is the definition of Haute Couture and how to relate this notion with Digital Fashion?
First, about Haute Couture
http://dualite.wordpress.com/tag/paris/
what is the definition of Haute Couture and how to relate this notion with Digital Fashion?
First, about Haute Couture
http://dualite.wordpress.com/tag/paris/
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