Morrissey Symposium: Another Reason The Irish Rule

Reason #5,345,234,233,545 that the Irish are amazing - the University of Limerick hosting a two day symposium on Morrissey. No, really. Of course, I won't be able to make it. From their site:

The Songs That Saved Your Life (Again): A Symposium on Morrissey.

April 24th and 25th 2009.

Jointly organized by IWAMD and the Department of Sociology, UL.

Last April over 250 people attended our half-day symposium on Morrissey and The Smiths. The event attracted fans from all over Ireland and beyond as well as widespread media interest. Just days prior to Morrissey’s Irish leg of his 2009 “Years of Refusal” tour, this year’s symposium will celebrate Morrissey’s 20 year career as a solo-recording artiste. This unique event will feature Irish and international speakers presenting papers on Morrissey which will examine, amongst other themes, his iconic status amongst immigrant Latino fans in Los Angeles, Morrissey and Italian popular culture as well as his use of ambiguity in the construction of his identity.

There will be a special focus on current debates about fandom and we are proud to be able to present the European premiere of Kerri Koch’s (2008) documentary on Morrissey’s Latino fans called ‘Passions Just Like Mine’. The event will also include guest speaker Len Brown – author of the best-selling book ‘Meetings with Morrissey’. Len Brown has interviewed Morrissey more than any other journalist. The Symposium will include an evening gig (in Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick) by the tribute band These Charming Men. These Charming Men have re-created the music of Morrissey and The Smiths all over the world. A full list of conference speakers and further details will shortly be available on the Department of Sociology and IWAMD's websites.

See the Department of Sociology website for more details: http://www.ul.ie/sociology/index.php?pagid=32&useid=grd4978379

Brando Advertisement Predictably Cool

Perhaps you've been flipping through a magazine recently, only half paying attention to the advertisements, when something stops you. Was that just...Marlon Brando? Yes, yes it was the late great Marlon Brando, all youthful and thin. It seems Armstrong Flooring (not the most glamorous product in the world) had the ingenious idea of using dead cool pitchmen. There is another ad featuring the similiarly cool and dead Dean Martin, though I must say that the photoshop is not quite as mastery in that one. Check them out, they are pretty well done.

Andy Was Always Right

Quote of the day:

"Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide whether it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they’re deciding, make even more art.”

— Andy Warhol