All kinds of fucked up.

1) ALADDIN: Does anyone find watching Disney movies uncomfortable? Don't get me wrong--I grew up with these movies and absolutely adored them. I'm pretty sure I was a princess every year for Halloween and I convinced my younger sister that her name was actually Jasmine. My favorite one changed from time to time--my current favorite is Snow White--because i'm in awe of the amazing amount of skill and care that went into hand painting each scene. And because I just love that vain old wicked witch. We would definitely get along. For a long time I really liked Beauty and the Beast.

omg. We could so hang out.

But. Something about the bold-faced artifice, rigid gender roles, tongue-less kissing, shameless stereotyping, pseudo-feminist moments, and exagerrated caricatures just make me want to stop watching. oh and the cheesy script. I know, I know, these are family movies made to cater to viewers with the attention span of a pigeon. but still. I can definitely appreciate these as products of the cultural age we live in.
and I hate to further ruin a "good thing," but "A WHOLE NEW WORLD" sounds to me like a song about sex. The allusions to orgasm are just too hard for me to ignore. No, Aladdin, I would NOT like to go soaring tumbling free-wheeling on your magic carpet ride. As much as i'm sure you can take me wonder by wonder, over sideways and under. I'm pretty sure female orgasms only exist in a "Disney" land of make-believe either way!
another thing--I have to go back and watch some other Disney stuff but Aladdin acts just like a regular guy. Saying anything to get in that girl's pants. and COME ON, Jasmine--how could you NOT tell that Jafar was hyponotizing your ineffectual father slash sultan. and yet you go on asking Aladdin if he thought you were stupid? Girl, maybe you should stop complaining about how shitty life is having everything served to you on a silver platter and open a fucking book.

okay. i'll stop hating on Disney (for now)--its not fair, I know--Disney is an easy target. haha

2) Nobuyoshi Araki: No brainer why I find this man immensely intriguing. (on the surface?) this man seems to get away with --not even borderline--pornographic "art" photography of contemporary Japan and Japanese women. He even looks like your stereotypical lecherous old man. Apparently his wife was his muse for a long time until she passed away--and his series featuring his work about her and surrounding her death are very humanizing and you begin to sympathize with him. But his other stuff, damn--google him. He makes American porn look like, well, a Disney movie.

here is one of his tame photographs. Look at those colors and that savage juxtaposition of decay, innocence, greed, and mangled fruit. It really reigns in your gaze and holds you there. stunning. Oh fellow Japanese people, we are so repressed and have the most perverse sexual fetishes.

3) Enka Music. LOVE IT AGAIN! the "Japanese blues" as they would call it. So much better than the chipmunk on speed, pop-y shit they churn out these days. Seriously. The new "J-pop" genre is making a farce of Kohaku. Old stuff forever y'all.

4) The Kill Bills: loved it the first and second time. and STILL LOVE IT. Nothing will ever be as good a pulp fiction--but comparing the kill bills and pulp fiction is like comparing apples and grapples. Same family, but different. and both good. Original is always fresh though.

...another Disney-related comment: SCAR is by far the hottest sounding Disney villain. Thanks to Jeremy fucking Irons. One of my favorite old British guys.