2012-04-04

Random bits and bobs

I'm having an idle evening on my own and hence I'd like to share some lighter and happier things than my recent posts.

I'll start with a film that I just finished watching: Milk. To sum up, it's about the first openly gay elected official in California, Harvey Milk and his pioneer work in the gay rights movement in the 1970's. Even though life as a homosexual today is nothing like it used to be in the 20th century it still remains a topic of discussion, which indicates that a lot is yet to be done before perfect equality regardless of sexual orientation has been achieved. Now I'm not an activist, but I support anything that can possibly aid this cause, and especially charismatic people with powerful, effectual words always make me emotional. So, I just wanted to say that this film really moved me.
A lot happened in the 1970's and 80's and there were others in different countries in addition to Harvey Milk who build the foundations for the LGBT movement, but even setting the larger political context it's a brilliant movie that everyone should watch. And admittedly the insight to his personal life added to his tragic martyr death by assassination provide a layer of fascinating drama to the story. Anyhow, being an optimist I'm easily won with hope for better tomorrow, which is precisely what Mister Milk wanted to give to his own.

 
A cheesy picture to make your day.
Another recent thing that has unquestionably improved the quality of my life was seeing The Phantom of The Opera musical live in Her Majesty's Theatre in London. I've seen it's sequel Love Never Dies earlier but obviously I know the original by heart as well.
And it was truly amazing.
Despite the couple sitting in front of me who very inelegantly preferred to concentrate on devouring each others' faces instead of devoting their attention to the awesomeness happening on stage. I seriously contemplated whether to 'accidentally' kick their heads when switching my sitting position, but judged it best to just let it go.
Anyway.
The show was great, and what I found a hilarious detail is that our Phantom was originally Swedish. It's a very Finnish thing to find anything Swedish outside Scandinavia hilarious - unless it's Ikea or H&M of course. I wasn't entirely convinced about his voice for it didn't quite seem to carry at times but he had such a massive charisma and personality that I can't really complain. To my shame I don't really have a clear picture of Christine in my head, but then again it shouldn't be surprising that everyone just decidedly gets overshadowed by the one and only Phantom in my memory. Cannot be helped.
 
I'd come with you Phantom. I just can't sing.
Whilst in London I also saw some glorious art including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and a whole exhibition of a contemporary Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama.

The last seven six days I spent in Grasmere at the heart of the Lake District here in the UK. Being there mostly on my own was a relaxing and calming experience. I woke up before dawn each morning in order to be on top of some mountain by the time of sunrise. I'm afraid I can't coherently put into words how good it all was, but trust me it was amazing.
It's a rare occasion that I get to spend in that kind of solitude, still not feeling lonely. Just walking outdoors surrounded by stunning landscape - and grazing sheep - and silence made me feel entirely detached from the world. It was just then and there, just me; and all else seemed very distant. I let my mind wonder aimlessly and even when it touched topics I didn't wish to think about I could simply let go of them, not at all like usually when on the contrary I tend to cling to them tightly and let them consume me.
Now I'm dreaming of a longer hiking trip at some point of my life.

Another good thing in my Lake District week was this book series I'm currently reading. I'm so deeply into the story and the characters that I won't probably be able to articulate anything comprehensible about them but I need to say something.
At least I can tell you that the books I'm talking about are by the author Robin Hobb. The series starts with Farseer trilogy and then goes to Tawny Man trilogy, the second novel of which I just finished today. To be precise, there is another trilogy between these two but since it's not about the same exact characters, but other relevant events elsewhere, I decided to leave it till later.
One of the most praiseworthy things in this story is the relationship that gradually develops between two main characters.
The characters themselves along with the circumstances, in which they both meet, grow and live are so original that also their relationship and dynamics are bound to become something unique. The thing that is remarkable for a fantasy book in the genre is that both of these characters are male, and yet one of them confesses to have romantic feelings for the other who sadly declines those feelings, which leads into agonising tension - and from my part utter desperation because that one-sided love just cuts too deeply and I can't take it. Apparently the last book is even worse than the middle one, and I am very much dreading to read it.
Seriously though, this is but one aspect of all that is great in those books. There is a whole bunch of other very well constructed characters and even though the fantasy genre may set certain presumption concerning the plot, I think it works cleverly as well.

Then there is also the new Poets of The Fall album, which has promised to be another piece of awesomeness and emotions and such and I am extremely glad about that.

Now to bed.

3 comments:

  1. Jostain syystä sun blogisi on paukahtanut taas takas mun lukuluetteloon näkyviin. Hyvä homma vaan, helpompi seurata päivityksiä! :)

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  2. Joo, sorkin jotain asetuksia eilen :D

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