Making the Rounds: 1st ed.

Welcome to the first Making the Rounds: a weekly list of links, thinks, and random, interesting things that might make your upcoming week a little brighter. Like Watson and Holmes, these links aim to sharpen the skills of all five senses. So here goes:

See:

The enclosed is an image that will be the subject of the Bronx Documentary Center's upcoming exhibition Altered Images: 150 Years of Posed and Manipulated Documentary Photography, as well as other related programming. The BDC makes no representations nor extends any rights as to use of this image by another party. German Reichstag building, Berlin May 2, 1945 Photo by Yevgeny Khaldei Caption as presently found on the Getty Images website: "Red Army soldiers raising the Soviet flag over the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, April 30, 1945." Background Information on this photo: This iconic photograph from World War II shows a triumphant Red Army soldier waving a Soviet flag over the Reichstag building in Berlin, signifying communist conquest over Nazi Germany. Many discoveries regarding the construction and continued manipulation of this photo have been made since its original publication. In order to make this photo, Khaldei scaled the Reichstag with his own Soviet flag in tow, one that had been made by his uncle out of tablecloths for this purpose. He asked the soldiers to pose with the flag. Before the photo's first publication in Ogoniok, a Russian magazine, the watches on the soldiers' wrists were scratched out on the negative, concealing that the Soviets had been looting. Dark clouds of smoke were added in a later version on the photograph. German magazine Der Spiegel wrote, "Khaldei saw himself as a propagandist for a just cause, the war against Hitler and and the German invaders of his homeland." When asked about the manipulation, Khaldei responded, "It is a good photograph and historically significant. Next question please." Links to articles about this controversy: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-art-of-soviet-propaganda-iconic-red-army-reichstag-photo-faked-a-551972.html http://www.famouspictures.org/flag-on-the-reichstag/ http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-06-16-WWII-photo_N.html
Photo by Yevgeny Khaldei, via Slate
  • While Some Are Shocked by ‘Go Set a Watchman,’ Others Find Nuance in a Bigoted Atticus Finch / Alexandra Alter, at the New York Times”Go Set a Watchman,” is the second novel by Harper Lee, and is set to be a literary wave maker. Lee, made famous by her debut novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” brings us back to Maycomb Country and protagonist Scout, only to find racism further engrained into society as well as Atticus Finch, the hero and moral center of the first book who was masterly portrayed on film by Gregory Peck, and often considered the masculine, fatherly ideal. Controversial? Yes. But fascinating? Also yes. Will you be reading the book, in spite of the fact that it may tarnish your perception of Atticus Finch?
American actor Gregory Peck, as Atticus Finch, stands in a courtroom in a scene from director Robert Mulligan's film, 'To Kill A Mockingbird,' 1962. Actor Gregory Peck died June 12, 2003 at age 87 of natural causes in his Los Angeles, California home. (Photo by Universal Studios/Courtesy of Getty Images)
Photo by Universal Studios/Courtesy of Getty Images, via

Hear:

  • God Help The GirlThis is a movie musical, so a bit of a cheat for the “Hear” category. But this was also my introduction to Belle & Sebastian, and in fact the culmination of a long-term passion project of theirs. The plot is thin and occasionally problematic, but the songs are undeniably charming and whimsical with a touch of darkness like the rest of Belle & Sebastian’s repertoire. And it’s hard to find a musical that’s clever and morose and lovely like real life that these days. When Eve sings, “I fried my head/ I’m not a brunette/ I’m a down and dusky blonde,” you can’t help but realize that you’ve felt that way too, and sing along.

     

Feel:

Taste:

  • I recently discovered Sour Skittles. To borrow from another product, it’s a kick in the mouth. So pleasantly, lip-pursingly sour.
  • If you’re near an Asian market and a fan of sour sweets, I also suggest Super Lemon: the most potently sour citrus followed by a soothing sweet core, and a fantastic pop-art bag to boot.

super lemonSmell:

  • This is a hard category, isn’t it. How about smelling a rose this week. By any other name, it would smell as sweet.

Go forth and experience your week!

Cheers! /c

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