Pinewood Derby Car

I have to give credit for this post to my Dad, so this one's for you Pop! Recently, he stumbled upon these old photos of me and wanted to reunite them with the actual wooden car (which miraculously survived my childhood!) As you can see, I took the design of the thing very seriously. It was inspired by the little Hot Wheels car in the pictures. I guess it's a 1936 Auburn 852 (in yellow and brown). I've always loved old cars.

Anyhow, the car never won any races but I did get a prize for best design! Ha! : )

Hunger Games (dark parallels)

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but with the release of the film a month ago, I got sucked into the world of the Hunger Games.  I even channeled my inner 13 year-old-girl and read all three books!  According to NPR, Dystopian novels like the Hunger Games are all the rage. A recent story on All Thing's Considered touched on the phenomenon, attributing it to the economic uncertainty of our trying times. Where 'young hero protagonists inherit dark and broken worlds', check it out here if you have the time and interest.  This is all very interesting and so is the movie's commentary on our glitzy media and entertainment obsessed culture. Though, what drew me most to the Hunger games, were the images of the dystopia itself.  Here, the film makers seem to have drawn inspiration from the decadence and austerity of 1920's-30's Germany. First, in brightly colored deco couture that conjure up the glamorous and grotesque subjects of an Otto Dix painting.  Then through architecture, referencing the monolithic classicism of nazi architect, Albert Speer.  In my opinion, you're not hit over the head with it, but there are visual clues to trigger the perception. After all, what better way to depict an oppressed totalitarian regime, than the dark and disturbing imagery of the nazis.  In my post today, I've gathered a few examples to draw these parallels. 

Classically beautiful Katniss Everdeen with her, rather anachronistic, braided hair.

1930's era German propaganda poster

 Standing shoulder to shoulder, the girls of District 12 evoke scenes from a Leni Riefenstahl film.

 Effie Trinket's eccentric wardrobe contrasted with the more traditional sensibility of District 12

Three Prostitutes on the Street, Otto Dix 1925.

 

 affluent citizens of Panem's Capitol City.

Berlin Street Scene, Ludwig Kirchner 1913-24

 Berlin Street Scene, Ludwig Kirchner 1923

Avenue of the Tributes, Capitol City.

Panem's Capitol with it's broad central avenue leading to a domed structure on the horizon. There are shots in the film that even more closely resemble fascist neoclassicism, but I couldn't track them down online.

Albert Speer's model for what would have been a new Berlin, called Germania. Note the geometry of buildings and most similar to Panem, the long central avenue leading to a domed structure. It's effect is brilliantly imposing, a white-washed and conformed, nightmare of a city.  

All of these long avenues, neoclassical monuments, and domed buildings may remind you of another capital city.  But in contrast to the previous two, I think we can all agree that boy did they ever get it right in Washington D.C.  It's such a stunning and inspired cityscape. In contrast, the scale and ornament of the Federal-style uplifts and empowers, serving as a symbol of hope and freedom in the world. You may think me too patriotic for saying it and I know our country (and government) are by no means perfect, but it still remains the best shot at justice and representation the world has ever known. Well, unless Obama loses, I'm kidding. Ha! ; ) But before you go, take a look at this shot of the National Mall from across the Potomac.  Gorgeous! 

Potomac river and Washington D.C. 
(taken with my iphone near the Iwo Jima Memorial, my new favorite spot to spread out a blanket and read :)

a tale of two mansions

Le Chateau de Lumiere, The Building Group Inc.

I caught wind of this story on Huffingtonpost last week. If you would like to read more about it click here. To sum it up, some rich guy with rather opulent taste wants to build the palace (above) in an upscale development outside DC. The neighbors are in an uproar over the scale of the thing and feel it isn't in keeping with "Hidden Springs's traditionally Washington aesthetic, elegant but understated." That part cracked me up because in a way, it is very much in line with the aesthetic of the area. In fact, I think Pierre L'Enfant, the enigmatic architect and engineer credited with designing Washington, would actually be quite pleased with it.

Notice the similarities in the house (below), columns and neoclassical ornamentation, sloped French roof, even little cupolas. Pierre L'Enfant designed this mansion for financier Robert Morris in 1794. Inflated construction costs eventually drove Morris into bankruptcy and the unfinished structure, known as Morris's Folly, was demolished. If history is any guide, the residents at Hidden Spring need only wait it out.  Ha!  It seems things have resolved themselves, even before I could get this posted.  The homeowner backed out! Folly averted. Read more here. 

 Morris's Folly, Pierre Charles L'Enfant 1794

Fort Hunt Park, our favorite new picnic spot

I wanted to share the full size photo used in my title bar this month. It was such a glorious sight that day, as if we were walking through some 18th century landscape painting. I don't know, could we get some hunters riding through on horseback, chasing the hounds?