Category: Featured

The Artistic Brilliance of Serge Clerc: A Look at his Captivating Illustrations

The world of illustration has seen many brilliant artists, but few have left as profound an impact as Serge Clerc. Known for his distinctive and captivating style, Clerc’s work is characterized by its intricate detail, vivid colors, and unique fusion of pop culture references with a classic comic book aesthetic. His illustrations not only resonate …

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Remembering Kirsty MacColl: A Tribute to Her Timeless Hits and Incredible Talent

Born on this day October 10, 1959, Kirsty MacColl, a highly regarded singer-songwriter, touched the music world with her unique blend of new wave and folk influences. Her untimely demise left a void in the music industry that can never be filled. Yet, her timeless hits continue to resonate, providing a lasting testament to her …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Little Red Riding Hood

Meet the Brumberg Sisters, Valentina and Zinaida Brumberg, both Moscow-born artists who worked together as animators, screenwriters, and directors, creating around 50 films in total. Made in 1937, this is their spooky animation of Charles Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. Perrault’s version was a cautionary message to children about stranger danger. Soviet Film …

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Marty Robbins: The Singing Gunfighter of Country Music

In the history of country music legends, few stars shine as brightly as Marty Robbins. A master storyteller with a voice as smooth as Tennessee whiskey, Robbins changed the landscape of the genre, particularly through his unforgettable Western ballads. Let’s saddle up and ride through the remarkable life and career of this country music icon, …

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Meet The Jetsons: A Nostalgic Trip to the Future That Was

Remember when the future looked like a utopia of flying cars, robot maids, and meals at the push of a button? If you’re feeling a twinge of nostalgia, you’re not alone. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the beloved animated series that captured our imaginations and shaped our visions of the future …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Russian Sugar Ad

Here’s a little treat for this Wednesday: a jam ad created for Russian Sugar directed by Yuri Norstein. It was one of a group of Russian Sugar commercials made by Norstein between 1994 and 1995 that used cutouts and drawings for the animations (a bit past the Soviet era but still delightful and created by …

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The Sublime Animation of Yuri Norstein

Picture this: a dimly lit studio, filled with layers upon layers of intricately cut paper figures, and a man hunched over his work table, bringing life to these static images one frame at a time. This is the world of Yuri Norstein, often hailed as the greatest animator of all time. Born on this day …

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A Modern History of Tiki Music

In his essay of the “Cultures of Tiki,” Scott Lukas noted that in modern presentations of Tiki cultures that had little to do with Tiki of the past like the soft surf culture and the former car culture. These are now becoming a part of the Tiki culture. This is particularly true of surf music, …

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Frank Armitage: Disney Artist and Mural Maestro

Born on this day September 5, 1924, Frank Armitage was an Australian-born American artist whose brush strokes brought magic to both the silver screen and theme park walls. His journey from Melbourne to the heart of Disney’s creative empire is a testament to the power of artistic passion and perseverance. Disney’s Background Wizard Armitage’s talent …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Tenderness

Full of the vibrant energy of the outdoors and whimsical romance, Tenderness (Нежность, Nezhnost) was director Elyer Ishmukhamedov’s first major film, made in 1966-1967, and set in summertime in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. At its release, the film won awards at the International Week Of Asian Film Festival in Frankfort and at the Locarno Film Festival. Tenderness was …

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