The Kinks - Apeman promo film - full length

as promised, the original music video for The Kinks's Apeman. Enjoy.

Banvard's Folly

The wikipedia article about John Banvard discusses the popularity of his Mississippi panorama and describes how wealthy he became by exhibiting it here in this country and abroad.

After his European travels he built an enormous mansion on Long Island:

On his return his invested part of the fortune he had made in 60 acres overlooking Cold Spring Harbor on the North Shore of Long Island, where in 1852-55, in competition with P. T. Barnum's palace "Iranistan" in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he proceeded to design and have built a baronial residence from its eastern shore, which, it was given out, was intended to resemble Windsor Castle; he named the place Glenada, the glen of his daughter Ada, but the locals called it "Banvard's Folly".^[1] After his death it became a fashionable resort hotel, The Glenada.

Anyway. Never too early . . . the wiki article on panoramic painting goes into a fair amount of detail on the Romantics' criticism of such "mass" or "pop" culture. Great topic.

For Those Simpsons Fans

When trying to describe EarthFirst! to a friend of mine after class today, he said it sounded like something from The Simpsons. Considering the group started in '79, I knew it existed way before the TV series came into existence, but I figured there may see some connection so looking it up was worth a shot.

Turns out that he wasn't that far off. The Simpsons had taken a swing at the environmentalists. In an episode from November, 2000, titled "Lisa the Tree Hugger", Lisa meets a guy from a radical environmental group called "Dirt First", and ends up joining to help them protect a historic redwood tree. On of the jokes of the EarthFirst! spin-off is that the leader of the group named Jesse Grass claims to be a "Level 5" Vegan, refusing to eat anything that casts a shadow.

The writer behind the episode, Matt Selman, is a Simpsons veteran with multiple awards, including a handful of Emmy's, to his name. He was even one of the writers personally courted by Matt Groening to help write the 2007 Simpsons movie. In his own personal blog, Selman uses some interesting techniques, including some made up super villains to make some environmental statements.

He's not quite "Dirt First" material, but he's got a green side to him.

Moving Panoramas

Hi again everyone,
I probably moved through the last fifteen minutes of lecture a bit too quickly this morning. The Wikipedia entry for "moving panorama" is surprisingly well done and helps provide some more background on the popularity of these canvases during the mid-nineteenth century.

At any rate, a great paper topic!
Jim

Let's Get Mesolithic

Here's some song lyrics from Eddie From Ohio. It may be possible to download the MP3 for free here. At any rate, enjoy!

Let's Get Mesolithic

I searched the whole world over- to find the perfect mate.
There’s no place for traditionalists- If you want someone to date.
I just can’t catch that special match- in the Age of Modern Man.
I need to be transported to some ancient distant land
It’s B.C. vs. P.C.- It’s Darwin vs. God.
It’s Rubble vs. Redford- I want a hairy bod

Let’s get Mesolithic, you can pull me by my hair.
Call this girl old-fashioned, but I say a cave is where
you’ll find a loving cro-mag who will hunt and gather fare.
Let’s get Mesolithic tonight

I’ve dated new age women- they don’t impress me much.
There’s only one advantage- they insist on going dutch
The independent self-reliant gals you see these days
don’t understand my manly scent and knuckle-dragging ways

It’s B.C. vs. P.C.- It’s hands vs. fork & knife.
it’s Wilma vs. Jane Fonda- I need an obedient wife

Let’s get Mesolithic. let me drag you by your hair.
Call this guy old-fashioned but I say I cave is where
you’ll find submissive woman with her Stone Age Tupperware.
Let’s get Mesolithic tonight

I love it when you’re rough.
I just can’t get enough.
Come on over, Cave-boy, to my lair.
Give me some of that Alley Oop love stuff

I have no aspirations to leave the dwelling place.
I’m moody, broody & feel a duty to tidy the living space
So throw away your pager and forget that power lunch
I’m a “yes man” among women and I can surely take a punch

It’s B.C. vs. P.C.- It’s bedrock vs. couch.
It’s flintstones vs. Brad Pitt, I want someone who’ll slouch

Let’s get Mesolithic. We’ll grow out both our locks.
Instead of filing jointly we’ll just gather sticks and rocks.
There’s homo-erectus see the funny way he walks.
Let’s get Mesolithic tonight.

I have no big ambitions except to hunt the beast.
I poke sticks at the Mastodon for a big carnivorous feast.
I am a hunter and a gatherer, I like my woman dumb.
I’ll keep her my unequal to hold under my thumb.

It’s B.C. vs. P.C. It’s big man vs. wuss
It’s Steak Nite vs. Vegan, I’m a lion not a puss.

Let’s get Mesolithic and grow hair upon our backs.
Outsmart bigger predators and run when they attack.
Hang out naked and display my privates and your rack.
Let’s get Mesolithic tonight.

Let’s get Mesolithic, it’s the way it’s meant to be.
Why go buy a condo you can live up in a tree.
There’s no stress in a world when all the food and love are free.
Oh, let’s get Mesolithic, let’s get Mesolithic, let’s get Mesolithic tonight.

Mike Clem © 2001 J. Fish Music/ASCAP