Publication Director Mark Jennings
May 3, 2012 - Year V - Issue n.55
Editor in Chief Danielle Collins Art Director Davide Leali Executive Editor Monica Censi Fashion Director Arianna Cerri Managing Editor Michele Soldano Senior Features Editor Jennifer Leviance Graphics Angelo Cristaldi Maria Pozzi Executive Contributors New York Maureen Logbrad Paris Ophelie Henry London Antoine Muller Los Angeles Joshua Osvaldt Advertising Matteo Bergamini
ISSN 1828-6437
Public Relations Elisa Marchionni Published by H7 Group and H7 Magazine www.h7magazine.com Rome Via A. Salandra 18 Roma 00187 Italia info@thehmag.com London Portland House Bressenden Place London SW1E 5RS United Kingdom Warning: all images and texts are copyright protected. Every reproduction is not permitted without our permission.
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Thank You he day we decided to accept this challenge we were sitting around a table in a meeting room at the Hotel de Paris in Montecarlo. With me that day, the new publisher and owner of this publication, the new art director, some contributors and as always lawyers for the contracts (I don’t know why lawyers are everywhere???). Well, the new publisher came in the room and with a “Ladies and Gentlemen” as always...
A break..., a few seconds, and he said: “Let’s get out of here, all of us, let’s get out from this normality”. In 15 minutes we were walking, all of us (and our lawyers behind with papers) to the beachside, talking about this new incredible challenge. That moment I knew : “I want to get this position.”
H magazine has been recording a huge number of readers every issue in the last 3 years. Well, it was requested to follow those steps. I was thinking we needed more time, but today I can say, only after the first issue of the new edition: “we did it”. We had over 80,000 readers on our site and over 30,000 readers on Issuu and this is absolutely crazy. We’ve been planning a few issues like tests, to see what the readers want, but today after I saw this numbers I understand what our readers want. Our dream, our idea, of a digital, easy to get, downloadable for any device, and free information is changing the way the Media business is turning at this focal point. We have a lot to do and most important, we have to grow a lot now. But I believe with your help, we placed the most difficult step, the first one. Thank you, all of you, every single reader, every single visitor, every single contributor, to make this possible. And Today, we are back with the second issue wearing this weekly edition, with a stunning April Bowlby from Drop Dead Diva photographed by the celebrity photographer Joey Shaw. Let me tell you, April is a beautiful Diva of our times. Enjoy this issue. Editor in Chief Danielle Collins
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14 - PORTRAIT April Bowlby
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26 - ALSO Hayden Panettiere 30 - MUSIC Reviews
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34 - PULSE Hello Happiness 38 - COOL STUFF For a Better Life
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42 - REPORTAGE Pablo Picasso 52 - DVDs When Harry Met Sally 54 - ROCKING Jimi Hendrix 62 - TRENDS Mistreating Celebrities 66 - REAL LIFE Addicted To Fame 70 - DRINKS & FOODS Grilled Chicken
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72 - TIPS Get a Relaxing Vacation 78 - FINANCIAL Mexico Fever
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80 - BOOKS Mrs Kennedy And Me
ONTENT
10 - NEWS Every Week is a New World
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NEWS
Written by Donald Fraiser
What’s Up? An adaptation of 1960s’ Gothic soap opera of the same name, “Dark Shadows” centers on Barnabas, a wealthy playboy who owns the Collinwood Manor. One day, he made a big mistake of breaking the heart of vengeful witch Angelique, who then turned him into a vampire before burying him alive.
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brand new clip for Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” has been uncovered, focusing on a scene where vampire Barnabas Collins shares an awkward dinner with the newly reunited Collins family. Barnabas is seen offering an idea to throw a high-class ball to pompously show just how powerful the Collins family is.
His idea, however, is rejected by Carolyn Stoddard, who insists that people don't throw balls in modern day. She then suggests that the newly awakened vampire holds a gig and invite eccentric rocker Alice Cooper. Though seemingly having no idea what the young girl is saying, Barnabas takes the offer and goes, ™Well, she, Alice, should be our guest nonetheless.∫
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Two centuries later, Barnabas is accidentally freed from his tomb. The vampire returns to his mansion only to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. He must now struggle to restore his family’s glorious era while having some run-ins with various monsters, witches, werewolves and ghosts. Johnny Depp tackles the part of Barnabas, while Chloe Moretz plays rebellious Carolyn. Also supporting the much awaited fantasy comedy movie are Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonny Lee Miller and Jackie Earle Haley.
Kim
Kardashian seems unable to spend time apart from rumored boyfriend Kanye West for too long. The 31-year-old reality star quickly flew back to New York City after attending the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington D.C. to enjoy a Broadway date with the “Gold Digger” hitmaker.
complex,” the director reasoned, as quoted by The Associated Press. “Some people sometimes forget in the cliche of Bond, which is the international playboy, and someone who’s always untroubled, and almost never breaks a sweat, that actually what [Fleming] created was a very conflicted character,” the filmmaker said. The former husband of actress Kate Winslet explained that “Skyfall” will see Bond facing a “combination of lassitude, boredom, depression, difficulty with what he’s chosen to do for a living, which is to kill.” He added, “That makes him a much more interesting character, and some of those things are explored in this movie, because Daniel [Craig] as an actor is capable of exploring them.”
Skyfall director Sam Mendes recently attended a press call for the film in Istanbul, where they would be shooting some scenes for the anticipated spy movie. During the occasion, the helmer opened up that the 23rd 007 movie will explore the troubled psyche of James Bond instead of exploiting flashy gadgets and special effects.
Daniel Craig returns as the flamboyant secret agent after tackling the prestigious role in “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace”. This time, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
Mendes said that he would like to present Bond as a vulnerable character as portrayed in the original Ian Fleming novels. “You always go back to the Fleming because the character Fleming created over a number of novels was incredibly
To open in the U.S. on November 9, “Skyfall” also stars Judi Dench as M, Javier Bardem as villainous Silva, Ralph Fiennes as government agent Mallory, Berenice Marlohe as villainess Severine, and Naomie Harris as field agent Eve.
On Sunday, April 29 afternoon, the “Kourtney and Kim Take New York” star was spotted walking hand-in-hand with the 34-year-old MC as they made their way into the Gershwin Theater to catch the showing of “Wicked”. After the show, she tweeted, “I just saw the play Wicked, it was soooo good! Everyone should def go see it!”
Before going to watch the hit Broadway musical, Kim and Kanye grabbed some lunch at pizza restaurant Serafina. The estranged wife of Kris Humphries rocked a one-shouldered black mini dress, while the former boyfriend of Amber Rose donned a burnt orange jacket over a white T-shirt and baggy jeans for the outing. As the two continued to flaunt their togetherness in public, words came out that Kanye is “already acting like family.” An inside source told E! News, “He fits in and gets along better with everyone than Kris [Humphries] ever did.” The source added, “He’s totally cool with just laying low in the background. He loves watching Kim in action doing her thing.” H mag | 11
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NEWS contestants. “It’s frustrating that you keep trying to do your best and it’s never recognized, and everything you say and do is always wrong,” she recalled, before explaining, “When they don’t want to work with you, it’s annoying. It’s an environment that nobody in any profession would like to be in. But you deal with the idea of being pretty must mean that you’re being stupid.”
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aving kept her cool though she often got mocked by other contestants on “The Celebrity Apprentice”, Dayana Mendoza could not say she had a good time participating in the game. The beauty pageant queen, who got the boot in the latest episode of the Donald Trump-hosted series, admitted, “It was a terrible experience, it was terrible for me.”
Though so, she had no regret about signing up for the show. ™I'm happy that I did it and I'm happy that it came out the way it came out, because I feel like my values and everything that my mom and my grandma and my dad taught me is reflected in my job and the way that I behaved,∫ she explained, declaring that she ™would be happy to do it∫ again, and ™would do it the same way she did it.∫ One thing that might be upsetting for Dayana is when she was dubbed not smart by the other 12 | H mag
On Lisa Lampanelli who often got angry at her, the former Miss Universe said she did not anticipate it. “I didn’t know the people I was going to be playing with. But I guess it’s coming out very well for me. I’m very appreciative of what everybody’s been mentioning about me, because it’s just making me look better every time they’re opening their mouths,” so she claimed.
Still, she thinks what Lisa did was not “professional or funny.” She shared, “In the environment where we were working for our charities, I didn’t know that she was going to be so explosive or that she would have such anger.” Asked what might have triggered the comedienne’s anger, the Venezuela beauty said, “I don’t know exactly what is her personal issue towards me, I would have loved to know. I think I’ve treated her better than anybody else on the show has. I just treated her with professionalism and to be honest, I feel that an adult woman needs to behave that way.”
was fired
Dayana by Mr. Trump after failing to get the respect of her team mates when doing the task to create a jingle for the Good Sam’s Roadside Assistance Program. She made Clay Aiken frustrated as she tried to tell the “American Idol” alum how to sing.
Written by Martha Timoni
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PORTRAIT “ I would love to do a beautiful drama. Something really artistic and grounded. Something strong and powerful. It is so different than my current role on DDD and it would be a great challenge. Get me out of my comfort zone.�
April
Bowlby
photographed by
Joey Shaw Los Angeles, California Make up and Hair Style by Opus Beauty LA April Bowlby is wearing Lorenzo Riva Miss Bikini Damiani Alberto Guardiani 14 | H mag
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PORTRAIT
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et’s talk a little bit about Drop Dead Diva. What do you think are the biggest differences between April and Stacy? The biggest difference between Stacy and myself. Hmmmm. It would probably be that I have a bit more direction in my life. I feel like Stacy flounders a bit when it comes to her career and what she wants to do with her life. She kind of goes wherever the wind takes her. Luckily, I have been blessed with a clear path. And as of now it’s been consistent and I am loving it!
What do you think is the secret behind the huge success of Drop Dead Diva?
I think the secret behind Drop Dead Diva’s success is many little things all packed into one awesome package.
I think everyone at some point has body issues and perhaps even thinks they are in the wrong body.
The concept is great. I think people can relate to Jane/ Deb.
Our show touches on that. It shows the trials and error and reveals the process of loving oneself no matter what. It’s a summer show, we have a great cast. And the balance between comedy and drama is really great. What’s the episode you loved the most to play? My favorite episode I was in, would have to be when Stacy meets Fred’s mom, played by Jennifer Tilly. It was such a great scene. We had a blast filming it. And as a viewer I just think it’s so cool that Fred wanted to impress Stacy so much he “hired” someone to play his mom.
The idea just cracks me up. Could you tell us how is your typical day when you are not working? What do you like to do the most? My typical day when I’m not working would look something like this. ... Wake up. Walk the dog, get a coffee. Work out. Walk the dog, read a book, do some knitting, have lunch, walk the dog. :) Go see a movie. It’s very mellow when we shoot in Atlanta. I have taken a cooking class and also some piano lessons.
today
What’s in your handbag ? My handbag consists of my wallet I bought in South Africa last year. So beautiful. A small makeup bag consisting of a choice mix of lip glosses, hand sanitizer and a roll on perfume. My phone, ear buds, keys, and doggie poop bags. Ha! And what kind of music are you listening in these days? Do you have a “fav” playlist? I don’t have a favorite play list but I just downloaded some fantastic music yesterday. “The Alabama Sha-
I am in love with these albums right now. kes” And an album called “Rome”
What are your goals for the future? My future goals would be to continue with new projects. Changing things up is a good way to evolve. Learn the piano. Enjoy this life! 16 | H mag
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PORTRAIT
“When I’m not working I normally wear jeans and a t-shirt. With flip flops or some kind of ballet flat.”
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PORTRAIT How do you like to wear when you are not working? When I’m not working I normally wear jeans and a t-shirt. With flip flops or some kind of ballet flat.
when you are off?
And what kind of make up you like I love this foundation by Sunday Riley. It’s really light, has SPF in it, and won’t make you break out. A light eye shadow, some mascara, peachy blush and I’m ready to go! I like light, natural looking makeup. Is there a place in the world you’d love to visit one day?
I would loooove to visit Iceland. It looks like it’s a magical fairy land. It has natural hot springs, Icelandic ponies, and beautiful mountains. What more could I want?! And a place where you’ve been and that you loved like crazy? I’ve been to a few places in Italy. And it really was amazing. The food was incredible as well as the people. I would love to go back in the summer. Do you like to cook? I do like to cook, but I’m not a natural cook. I can’t just throw something together. That would be a disaster. I have to follow a recipe.
How do you train your body?
I walk / jog for 45 min in the morning. And I occasionally will take a yoga class. My dog keeps me active, Walking to the dog parks. Your “fav” movie ever? My all time favorite movie? That’s a tough one. Today it would have to be, “Some Like It Hot” The script you dream to receive on your table one day? A Drama, comedy, thriller? and Why? I would love to do a beautiful drama. Something really artistic and grounded. Something strong and powerful. It is so different than my current role on DDD and it would be a great challenge. Get me out of my comfort zone. The last book you read?
Huck Finn. We shoot in Atlanta and I thought
The last book I read was it would be a good classic to read. Really fun. 20 | H mag
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PORTRAIT
“I love this foundation by Sunday Riley. It’s really light, has SPF in it, and won’t make you break out. A light eye shadow, some mascara, peachy blush and I’m ready to go! I like light, natural looking makeup.” 22 | H mag
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ALSO
Written by Jason Wirell
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ayden was born in and partly raised in Palisades, Rockland County, New York, the daughter of Lesley R. Vogel, a former soap opera actress, and Alan L. “Skip” Panettiere, a fire department lieutenant. Panettiere is of Italian descent, her surname meaning “baker” in Italian. She has one younger brother, fellow actor Jansen Panettiere. Although Panettiere attended South Orangetown
healing powers. Thanks to her role on Heroes, she became a regular on the science fiction convention circuit, invited to attend conventions around the world in 2007, including Gen Con, New York Comic-Con, and Fan Expo Canada. Panettiere has complained that her acting options are sometimes limited because “people look at her as either the ‘popular cheerleader’ type or just ‘the blonde.’” She has appeared in over a dozen full-length feature films, several made-for-TV movies. For her performance in Lifetime Television’s 1999 TV movie If You Believe, she was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Young Actress Age Ten or Under in the ca-
Middle School in New York, she was educated at home from the 9th grade through high school. For now, Panettiere is postponing higher education in favor of an acting career. Hayden first appeared in commercials at 11 months, beginning with an advertisement for Playskool. She landed a role as Sarah Roberts on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live (1994–1997), and she followed that up by playing the part of Elizabeth “Lizzie” Spaulding on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light (1997–2000). While on Guiding Light, Panettiere’s character Lizzie battled leukemia. For drawing the attention of daytime viewers to the disease, and for improving national awareness, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society gave her its Special Recognition Award. Panettiere became most prominent as Claire Bennet in the NBC series Heroes, which was created by Tim Kring, as a high school cheerleader with regenerative
tegory of Best Performance in a TV Movie or Pilot. She provided the voice for Dot in A Bug’s Life. She played the role of Coach Yoast’s daughter, Sheryl, in the 2000 Disney film Remember The Titans. In addition, she voiced Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts series of video games for the PlayStation 2. Panettiere appeared on Fox’s Ally McBeal as the title character’s daughter, had a recurring guest role on Malcolm in the Middle
“I know it’s really gory, and a lot of people’s stomachs will probably not like me for it, but that is just awesome, just being able to be bloodied up and have different body parts put on. That’s right up my alley. It’s so awesome.”
and What ELSE
Hayden e r e i t t Pane 26 | H mag
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ALSO and guest starred in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.She starred in a 2005 film, Racing stripes where she plays Teenage girl with a pet Zebra named Stripes. She also starred in Bring It On: All or Nothing as a cheerleader and had a supporting role as Adelaide Bourbon in the recently released independent film Shanghai Kiss. She appeared in the Disney Channel film Tiger Cruise, in Raising Helen as Kate Hudson’s adolescent niece, and in Ice Princess as a the title character’s rival in a skating contest. She appeared in the drama film Fireflies in the Garden as a younger version of Emily Watson’s character, Jane Lawrence. In June 2007, she signed with the William Morris Agency, after previously being represented by United Talent Agency. Forbes estimated that she earned $2 million in 2007. In early 2007, Panettiere appeared on the MTV show, Punk’d. The appearance was engineered by her mother and involved a male “fan” discussing her work with her, instigating a jealous reaction from the man’s spouse. In December 2007 Panettiere was named GQ Magazine’s Obsession Of the Year. In September 2008, Panettiere appeared in a satirical video, a mock-PSA (public service announcement) on funnyordie.com entitled “Hayden Panettiere PSA:
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Your Vote, Your Choice.” Again, in October, Panettiere appeared in another satirical PSA video on funnyordie.com entitled “Vote for McCain: He’s just like George Bush, except older and with a worse temper.” In July 2009, Panettiere starred in the teen comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper. Daydream Nation, in which she was in line to appear, has since been filmed with Kat Dennings. On May 2010, Panettiere was cast in the upcoming sequel of the Scream franchise, Scream 4. She will play the role of Kirby Reed alongside Emma Roberts and Rory Culkin. Panettiere also provided the voice of Kate, along side Justin Long in 2010’s Alpha and Omega. In 2010, she was featured in the UK release video for Joshua Radin’s song “I’d Rather Be With You,” as the love interest. In September 2010, Panettiere was signed to star as Amanda Knox in the controversial Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy.
In 2011, she replaced Anne Hathaway as the voice of Red for the animated sequel Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil.
Written by Robert Fueller
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MUSIC
Romancing
and more
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ou’d be forgiven for thinking that the exotically named Devin Therriault was perhaps a merlot-swilling Parisian philosopher, prone to strolling around the Sorbonne and attempting to whisk impressionable students away for coffee and cigarettes on the Left Bank. While Devin is intrinsically linked to a city, it certainly isn’t a European one. His sound is a sidewalk-scuffing stomp that could only be birthed from the mean streets of New York and from the unapologetic brashness of North America.
The title of Devin's debut is something of a misnomer too. It's less Romancing and more cheekily being chatted up by a twinkle-eyed chancer on a 3am beer buzz outside a Brooklyn dive bar. Sneering like the New York Dolls transplanted to a nighthawk-populated diner after exchanging their shiny skin-tight trousers for leather jackets and Elvis LPs, this is a rock'n'roll record and no mistake. Like fellow Big Apple residents and punk pioneers the Ramones, who took the girl group template and amped it up with electric guitars before sending it on a mind-expanding trip through the seedy corridors of the Hotel Chelsea, Devin takes it upon himself to give loverboy blues much the same treatment. With tracks called things like 30 | H mag
Born to Cry, I’m Not a Fool and My Solitude, he channels teenagers in lust like Del Shannon and Dion and the Belmonts, falling head-over-heels before bemoaning an occasional broken heart.
Despite gritty production and guitar fuzz and flare, at the heart of every song is a deeply pop sensibility. Handclaps and supremely catchy choruses are stitched through the 12-track collection, blazing through the likes of I Don’t Think I, a pulsing Saturday night garage shakeout which could have been lifted from the back catalogue of The Black Keys. White Leather makes a case for the slower end of the spectrum, an end-of-the-night ode to getting trashed with the girl of your dreams – and looking fabulous whilst doing it – that sounds like a lost Joan Jett power ballad. You’re Mine is a short, sharp, Buzzcocks-worthy thrill that, when turned up loud, is almost enough to transport the listener to a moonlit Lower East Side with an inappropriate conquest and hours of young, dumb fun ahead of them. So Devin Therriault: not a noted French thinker, but fantastique in anyone’s language.
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2011’s Rome, singer Norah Jones, producer Brian ‘Danger Mouse’ Burton, guitarist Jack White and film score composer Daniele Luppi paid homage to old ItaloWestern movies with twinkling chimes, twangy guitar riffs, and notable vocal performances.
While many of the instrumentals held up without words, the concept album saw new life when White and Jones took to the microphone. On the song Black, for example, Jones' rich textures added a sultry layer to the reflective composition. On Problem Queen, she injected the same dreamy resonance into the melody, except the results were livelier than before, thanks to the track's rolling keys and buoyant percussion. If anything could be gleaned from the project, it's that good things happen when Jones sings atop Burton's arrangements.
On Little Broken Hearts, the two musicians explore the concept of heartbreak, investigating its unpleasant aspects with refreshing candour and sardonic wit. Albums about heartbreak certainly aren’t new, but Jones puts a fresh spin on the familiar topic with lovelorn musings that are wistful and carefree, meditative and ebullient. Good Morning, the album’s effective opener, is a delightfully sweet blend of airy synthesizers and melancholic strings, held together by Jones’ angelic falsetto. “I’m folding my hand,” the singer softly repeats over Burton’s oceanic production. She’s 22 carries a similar ventilated backdrop, but the result is a bit more pensive when paired with Jones’ gloomy
“You can throw away, every word I say.”
deliberation:
Then there’s the haunting Miriam, a morbidly sublime tune on which the singer threatens the woman with whom her man cheats. Here, Jones sings: “I’m gonna smile when I take your life.” Conversely, Happy Pills and Say Goodbye are cheery pop fare, on which the vocalist sings joyously about the break-up. Amid funky guitar grooves, Jones sounds playfully detached from said relationship.
Therein lays the success of Little Broken Hearts. Unlike other disheartened recordings, some of which are more sullen than others, Jones never sounds too depressed on this set. Instead, she keeps the mood fairly moderate amongst Burton’s fluid soundtrack, setting the pace with a wry bravado that makes this album a dynamic listen, even if she’s dumping a guy. Heartbreak is inevitable if you love hard enough, yet Jones and Burton make it enjoyable. H mag | 31
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PULSE
Written by Mia Gregory
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Happiness Throughout history happiness has been a central and controversial topic, as it embraces our entire being that forever aspires to it in numerous and often contradictory ways. After a quarter century of relentless investigation, here is what I have to say about it.
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aving said this, even this sort of happiness is a product of positive thinking and positive action, with good fortune lending a helping hand. Making it short, it is a product of will in relatively favorable circumstances. But isn’t it peculiar to imply that happiness can be of one sort or another? Are there not simply happiness and unhappiness? I think not. The sort of happiness
that the sage talks about is compatible with misfortune.
It is preeminently a doing from within a while without, the only prerequisite for it is that the sage be alive and capable of thought. It is a feeling of serenity, of being at peace with his situation and his conscience, as a welladjusted and fully committed servant of life, of humanity, of God as he sees them.
When the sage experiences this supreme happiness, he rightly feels blessed, and knows how precarious it is. Furthermore, he accepts this precariousness, or the fact that suffering and ultimately death loom ahead. Only battles are won in the war of life that will inevitably ñ despite every valiant effort to prevail ñ end in defeat.
However
conscious he is of the subjectiveness, the individual limitations and hence the imperfection ñ of his view, he does live by it with utmost faithfulness, if also with a willingness to reevaluate it critically when he catches himself out in a misstep. His wisdom is forever a work in progress; it is always laced with some form of foolishness, which leaves him open to ridicule. Humility and compassion, plus humor are therefore qualities that he cultivates. He mocks and forgives himself, and above all strives to improve. He shows no complacency, but an acceptance of his humanness that he is intent on bringing to the highest possible degree of truth and nobility. And this delicate blend of resignation and struggle alone in any situation, favorable or not is indeed the secret of his happiness, which admittedly is a dry manner of joy that fills the mind rather than the heart.
It follows that this happiness leaves something to be desired: happiness in the fullest sense of the word (a state of fulfillment, when everything is going our way, in terms of results as well as efforts), which is a joy, ever so sweet, that fills both the mind and the heart.
Some will say that happiness in its so-called fullest sense leaves something more to be desired: the power to make this happiness infinite: immeasurably great and unlimited in duration. Among them, some will choose the path of faith, which allegedly leads to a heavenly afterlife, whereas some will choose the path of reason, which admits of no rosy belief based on wishful thinking and unbridled trust.
This path leads nowhere as far as the beyond is concerned, or rather somewhere that is unknown and presumably so different from what is known that it totally exceeds our ability to conceive of its nature.
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PULSE I count among these proponents of reason, these infidels, to whom the only source of meaning is not a paradisiacal destination, whose existence is supported by no credible evidence, but the journey itself, a rugged and uphill journey to be sure, with an abundance of twists and turns, some of which are propitious, others not.
This journey is well worth the trouble, in my opinion. It is so independently of the abovementioned destination, which people are free to pursue blindly or regard with skepticism (and with detachment to boot, in the best case scenario).
It is All about the dignity of living and loving and the pleasure of succeeding in these difficult assignments. From this perspective, the purpose of life is none other than life itself, in partnership with our fellow creatures; and happiness is made possible 単 within certain limits 単 by our striving to achieve this worthy, albeit humble purpose.
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he limits imposed upon worldly happiness may initially stick in our craw, but after due consideration, as we realize that life without these limits would be death, we accept them, and better still we welcome them. Life is by definition a dynamic state that presupposes a perpetual tension between desires and their satisfaction. Render this satisfaction absolute, you resolve this tension and consequently reduce life to nothing; i.e., something as inert as a stone. And this nothing 単 this inert something is death, as I just pointed out.
Not a brilliant prospect in the eyes of a life lover! 36 | H mag
COOL STUFF
Written by Jonathan Molby
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Flash Gordon One of the first comic-book heroes to appear in a liveaction film, Flash Gordon was played by a dyed-blond Buster Crabbe (who also did time as Buck Rogers, as a brunet) in a series of movies released between 1936 and 1940. Though the cockpit and costumes don’t look terribly futuristic, audiences obviously thought highly of them in the era before computer graphics. This and other still photos from the series are included in a coffee-table book, “The Flash Gordon Serials, 1936-1940: A Heavily Illustrated Guide,” by Roy Kinnard, Tony Crnkovich and R.J. Vitone.
`Back to the Future Part II' Hoverboard
Never mind the time-traveling DeLorean. What about the hoverboard? Although we recently reported on an artist’s creation of a non-weight-bearing hoverboard, no one has yet to create the real thing.
Time machine H.G. Wells’s dark 1895 novel about a Victorian-era scientist’s journey into a dystopian future first made the transition to film in 1960 (though a British version videotaped for television appeared in 1949), with Rod Taylor playing a time-traveling academic named “H. George Wells.”
Forbidden Planet's Robby the Robot Considered one of the best science-fiction films of the 1950s, “Forbidden Planet” essentially transposes Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” into a futuristic era of space travel with Anne Francis (shown) as the Miranda figure and Robby as a (relatively lead-footed) Ariel substitute.
Robby looks after his human charges (think Sarah in the TV series “Eureka”) with such benign diligence that he ranks as perhaps the most appealing movie robot of the pre-”Star Wars” era.
UFO: A classic overestimation The British sci-fi series “UFO” ran for one season in 1970, presenting a richly produced future where people in shiny outfits ran a well-equipped secret organization dedicated to fending off alien invasions of the Earth.
The lavishly produced show featured lots of computers and futuristic design elements, but it was supposed to take place in the early 8Os, making it far too optimistic about how technologically advanced human beings would be by then. Still, there's no denying that sideburn implants were achievable in the `8Os, as anticipated. 38 | H mag
Director George Pal’s vision of the clock-confounding machine seems remarkably low-tech: It looks like a stripped-down Santa’s sleigh with a satellite dish mounted on the back and not even a windshield to protect the traveler from collisions with time-warping bugs.
2001 space travel
Everyone remembers the menacing red eye of HAL, the rogue supercomputer in Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” But the film had some subtler pleasures, too, such as this airport lounge scene. Note the prominence of brand names like Bell Telephone and Howard Johnson’s, and the prescient use of easy-to-remove footwear. H mag | 39
REPORTAGE
Written by Isabella Fogli
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PABLO Picasso’s father and uncle decided to send the young artist to Madrid’s Royal Academy of San Fernando, the country’s foremost art school. At age 16, Picasso set off for the first time on his own, but he disliked formal instruction and quit attending classes soon after enrollment. Madrid, however, held many other attractions.
is Alive P
icasso was baptized Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Crispiniano de la Santísima Trinidad, a series of names honoring various saints and relatives. Added to these were Ruiz and Picasso, for his father and mother, respectively, as per Spanish law. Born in the city of Málaga in the Andalusian region of Spain, he was the first child of Don José Ruiz y Blasco (1838– 1913) and María Picasso y López. Picasso’s family was middle-class. His father was a painter who specialized in naturalistic depictions of birds and other game. For most of his life Ruiz was a professor of art at the School of Crafts and a curator of a local museum. Ruiz’s ancestors were minor aristocrats.
Picasso showed a passion and a skill for drawing from an early age. 42 | H mag
According to his mother, his first words were “piz, piz”, a shortening of lápiz, the Spanish word for ‘pencil’. From the age of seven, Picasso received formal artistic training from his father in figure drawing and oil painting.
was
a tradiRuiz tional, academic artist and instructor who believed that proper training required disciplined copying of the masters, and drawing the human body from plaster casts and live models. His son became preoccupied with art to the detriment of his classwork. The family moved to A Coruña in 1891, where his father became a professor at the School of Fine Arts. They stayed almost four years. On one occasion the father found his son painting over his unfinished sketch of a pigeon. Observing the precision of his son’s technique, an apocryphal story relates that Ruiz felt that the thirteen-year-old Picasso had surpassed him, and vowed to give up painting, H mag | 43
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REPORTAGE Picasso’s father and uncle decided to send the young artist to Madrid’s Royal Academy of San Fernando, the country’s foremost art school. At age 16, Picasso set off for the first time on his own, but he disliked formal instruction and quit attending classes soon after enrollment. Madrid, however, held many other attractions. The Prado housed paintings by Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, and Francisco Zurbarán. Picasso especially admired the works of El Greco; elements like the elongated limbs, arresting colors, and mystical visages are echoed in Picasso’s later work.
Picasso made his first trip to Paris in 1900,
I
though paintings by Ruiz exist from later years.
n 1895, Picasso was traumatized when his seven-year old sister, Conchita, died of diphtheria. After her death, the family moved to Barcelona, where Ruiz took a position at its School of Fine Arts. Picasso thrived in the city, regarding it in times of sadness or nostalgia as his true home. Ruiz persuaded the officials at the academy to allow his son to take an entrance exam for the advanced class.
This process often took students a month, but Picasso completed it in a week, and the impressed jury admitted Picasso, who was l3. The student lacked discipline but made friendships that would affect him in later life. His father rented him a small room close to home so Picasso could work alone, yet Ruiz checked up on him numerous times a day, judging his son's drawings. The two argued frequently. 44 | H mag
friend and rival. The Steins introduced him to Claribel Cone and her sister Etta who were American art collectors; they also began to acquire Picasso and Matisse’s paintings. Eventually Leo Stein moved to Italy, and Michael and Sarah Stein became patrons of Matisse; while Gertrude Stein continued to collect Picasso. Picasso wrote of Kahnweiler
What would have become of us if Kahnweiler hadn't had a business sense?
In 1907 Picasso joined an art gallery that had recently been opened in Paris by Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler. Kahnweiler was a German art historian, art collector who became one of the premier French art dealers of the 20th century. He was among the first champions
of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and the Cubism that they jointly developed. Kahnweiler promoted burgeoning artists such as André Derain, Kees Van Dongen, Fernand Léger, Juan Gris, Maurice de Vlaminck and several others who had come from all over the globe to live and work in Montparnasse at the time. In Paris, Picasso entertained a distinguished coterie of friends in the Montmartre and Montparnasse quarters, including André Breton, poet Guillaume Apollinaire, writer Alfred Jarry, and Gertrude Stein. Apollinaire was arrested on suspicion of stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911. Apollinaire pointed to his friend Picasso, who was also brought in for questioning, but both were later exonerated. In the early 20th century, Picasso divided his time between Barcelona and Paris. In 1904, in the middle of a storm, he met Fernande Olivier, a Bohemian artist who became his mistress. Olivier appears in many of
then the art capital of Europe. There, he met his first Parisian friend, the journalist and poet Max Jacob, who helped Picasso learn the language and its literature. Soon they shared an apartment; Max slept at night while Picasso slept during the day and worked at night. These were times of severe poverty, cold, and desperation. Much of his work was burned to keep the small room warm. During the first five months of 1901, Picasso lived in Madrid, where he and his anarchist friend Francisco de Asís Soler founded the magazine Arte Joven (Young Art), which published five issues. Soler solicited articles and Picasso illustrated the journal, mostly contributing grim cartoons depicting and sympathizing with the state of the poor. The first issue was published on 31 March 1901, by which time the artist had started to sign his work simply Picasso, while before he had signed Pablo Ruiz y Picasso. By 1905 Picasso became a favorite of the American art collectors Leo and Gertrude Stein. Their older brother Michael Stein and his wife Sarah also became collectors of his work. Picasso painted portraits of both Gertrude Stein and her nephew Allan Stein. Gertrude Stein became Picasso’s principal patron, acquiring his drawings and paintings and exhibiting them in her informal Salon at her home in Paris. At one of her gatherings in 1905, he met Henri Matisse, who was to become a lifelong H mag | 45
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REPORTAGE
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Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth
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REPORTAGE dencies and the two lived in a state of constant conflict. During the same period that Picasso collaborated with Diaghilev’s troup, he and Igor Stravinsky collaborated on Pulcinella in 1920. Picasso took the opportunity to make several drawings of the composer. In 1927 Picasso met 17-year-old Marie-Thérèse Walter and began a secret affair with her. Picasso’s marriage to After World War I, Picasso made a number of impor- Khokhlova soon ended in separation rather than ditant relationships with figures associated with Serge vorce, as French law required an even division of proDiaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Among his friends during perty in the case of divorce, and Picasso did not want this period were Jean Cocteau, Jean Hugo, Juan Gris Khokhlova to have half his wealth. The two remained his Rose period paintings. After acquiring some fame and fortune, Picasso left Olivier for Marcelle Humbert, whom he called Eva Gouel. Picasso included declarations of his love for Eva in many Cubist works. Picasso was devastated by her premature death from illness at the age of 30 in 1915.
In 1944, after the liberation of Paris, Picasso began a romantic relationship with a young art student named Francoise Gilot. She was 40 years younger than him. and others. In the summer of 1918, Picasso married Olga Khokhlova, a ballerina with Sergei Diaghilev’s troupe, for whom Picasso was designing a ballet, Parade, in Rome; and they spent their honeymoon in the villa near Biarritz of the glamorous Chilean art patron Eugenia Errázuriz.
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hokhlova introduced Picasso to high society, formal dinner parties, and all the social niceties attendant on the life of the rich in 1920s Paris. The two had a son, Paulo, who would grow up to be a dissolute motorcycle racer and chauffeur to his father. Khokhlova’s insistence on social propriety clashed with Picasso’s bohemian ten-
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legally married until Khokhlova’s death in 1955. Picasso carried on a long-standing affair with MarieThérèse Walter and fathered a daughter with her, named Maia. Marie-Thérèse lived in the vain hope that Picasso would one day marry her, and hanged herself four years after Picasso’s death. Throughout his life Picasso maintained a number of mistresses in addition to his wife or primary partner. Picasso was married twice and had four children by three women.
The photographer and painter Dora Maar was also a constant companion and lover of Picasso. The two were closest in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and it was Maar who documented the painting of Guernica.
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uring the Second World War, Picasso remained in Paris while the Germans occupied the city. Picasso’s artistic style did not fit the Nazi ideal of art, so he didn’t exhibit during this time. Retreating to his studio, he continued to paint, producing works such as the Still Life with Guitar (1942) and The Charnel House (1944–48). Although the Germans outlawed bronze casting in Paris, Picasso continued regardless, using bronze smuggled to him by the French Resistance.
Having grown tired of his mistress Dora Maar, Picasso and Gilot began to live together. Eventually they had two children, Claude born in l947 and Paloma born in l949. In her l964 book Life with Picasso she describes his abusive treatment and myriad infidelities which led her to leave him, taking the children with her. This was a severe blow to Picasso. Picasso had affairs with women an even greater age disparity than his and Gilot’s. While still involved with Gilot, in 1951 Picasso had a six-week affair with Geneviève Laporte, who was 4 years younger that Gilot. Eventually, as evident in his work, Picasso began to come to terms with his advancing age and his waning attraction to young women. By his 70s, many paintings, ink drawings and prints have as their theme an old, grotesque dwarf as the doting lover of a beautiful young model. Jacqueline Roque (1927–1986) worked at the Madoura Pottery in Vallauris on the French Riviera, where Picasso made and painted ceramics. She became his lover, and then his second wife in 1961. The two were together for the remainder of Picasso’s life. Francoise
Gilot had been seeking a legal means to legitimize her children with Picasso; his marriage to Roque was also a means of revenge against Gilot.
With Picasso's encouragement, Gilot had divorced her then husband, Luc Simon, with the plan to finally actually marry Picasso to secure the rights of her children as Picasso's legitimate heirs. However, Picasso had already secretly married Roque, after Gilot had filed for divorce. This strained his relationship Claude and Paloma. By this time, Picasso had constructed a huge Gothic home, and could afford large villas in the south of France, at Notre-dame-de-vie on the outskirts of Mougins, and in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. He was an international celebrity, and there was often as much interest in his personal life as his art. In addition to his artistic accomplishments, Picasso made a few film appearances, always as himself, including a cameo in Jean Cocteau’s Testament of Orpheus. In 1955 he helped make the film Le Mystère Picasso (The Mystery of Picasso) directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot.
Pablo Picasso died on 8 April 1973 in Mougins, France, while he and
his wife Jacqueline entertained friends for dinner. His final words were “Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink any more.” He was interred at the Chateau of Vauvenargues near Aix-en-Provence, a property he had acquired in 1958 and occupied with Jacqueline between 1959 and 1962. Jacqueline Roque prevented his children Claude and Paloma from attending the funeral. Devastated and lonely after the death of Picasso, Jacqueline Roque took her own life by gunshot in 1986 when she was 60 years old.
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DVDs
When
Written by Gerard Holsner
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Met
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H arry
S a L ly
here Sally is beginning journalism school and Harry is presumably starting a career. At the time, Harry is dating a friend of Sally’s, Amanda (Michelle Nicastro), and the film soon presents their differing ideas about relationships between men and women. It is Harry’s view that, “Men and women can’t be friends because the sex part always gets in the way.” Sally disagrees, claiming that men and women can be strictly friends without sex. This argument becomes the film’s underlying theme. On the way, at a stop in a diner, Sally is angered when Harry tells her she is attractive; she accuses him of making a pass at her. In New York, due to their divergent philosophies, they part on less than friendly terms. Five years later, they meet in a New York airport and find themselves on the same plane. Both are in relationships; Sally has just started dating a man named Joe - who just happens to be an old college friend of Harry’s - and Harry is engaged to a woman named Helen, which surprises Sally. Harry suggests they become friends, forcing him to elaborate on his previous rule about male-female friendships; they can never be friends because sex will always be in their way spoiling it. They separate concluding that they will not be friends.Harry and Sally meet yet again five years later, in a New York bookstore. They have coffee together and talk about their previous relationships, which have ended. After leaving the café, they take a walk and decide to be friends. In subsequent scenes, they have late-night phone conversations, go to dinner, and spend a lot of time together. Their dating experiences with others continue to highlight their different approaches to relationships and sex. 52 | H mag
During a New Year’s Eve party, Harry and Sally find themselves attracted to each other. Though they remain friends, they set each other up with their respective best friends, Marie (Carrie Fisher) and Jess (Bruno Kirby). The four go to a restaurant, where Marie and Jess hit it off; they ultimately get engaged. One night, Sally tearfully tells Harry over the phone that her ex,
Joe (Steven Ford), is getting married to his legal assistant, and he rushes to her apartment to comfort her. They unexpectedly have sex that night, resulting in an awkward moment the next morning as Harry quickly leaves in a state of distress. This creates tension in their relationship. Their friendship cools for three weeks until the two have a heated argument during Jess and Marie’s wedding dinner. Following this fight, Harry repeatedly attempts to mend the friendship with Sally. Then, at a New Year’s Eve party that year, Sally feels alone without Harry by her side. Meanwhile, Harry is shown spending New Year’s alone. As she decides to leave the party early, Harry appears and declares his love for her; they make up and kiss. In the last segment, Harry and Sally are the last interviewed — they have gotten married
ROCKING since the time of Mozart and Beethoven has been built on chord structure and rock and roll music uses simple chord structure. Jimi actually used feedback alone to construct song structure in a few, but not all of his songs (i.e. Third Stone From the Sun).
Written by Jonny Mendez
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Genius FOR
E E FR
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HENDRIX
™I've been in rock and roll all my life and I admit it's bit difficult to put Jimi Hendrix above Mick Jagger in terms of brilliant rock and roll stardom, but after watching several movies of both Jimi and Mick in concert, here's why I would do it.∫
J
imi Hendrix was the only true genius in rock and roll. The word genius is highly overused and it’s often applied to people who are extremely talented. I disagree with the dictionary when it equates genius with “exceptional intelligence”, and what I think the word genius is supposed to refer to is a person who creates something that’s new, and not only new, but significantly new, important, and somewhat of a milestone in human development. I call Albert Einstein the premier genius of the human race because the Theory of Relativity was a giant
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jump in the understanding of the way our universe operates and to this day, few people actually understand anything other than the bomb part. Jimi Hendrix was the genius of rock and roll because he was the only one who invented something new. It’s almost impossible to do anything that’s really new in the field of music because there are only eight notes in the Western scale so in a sense, all music is derivative. But Jimi invented guitar feedback and nobody before Jimi even thought about it. And Jimi took his invention one step farther. Until Jimi came along, all music
To this day, nobody has been able to do what Jimi did. In fact, Jeff Beck bought Jimi’s strat at an auction and even the super talented Jeff admitted that he can’t get the same sounds out of the very same guitar as Jimi got. With all due respect to Mick, he’s a brilliant singer and one of the all time great rock and roll songwriters, but he’s not actually a brilliant musician because he only plays rhythm guitar. I believe Mick would agree with me about Jimi being a genius guitar player because Mick was one of the first ones to discover Jimi when The Experience made their debut in the clubs of London. Along with John Lennon, Mick spread the word to the other British musicians about the new nova in the rock and roll sky. BEST PERFORMER
It’s a tie between Jimi and Mick. Call it a dead heat with one survivor. If Elvis was still breathing he’d be breathing down both of their necks and I probably will get flack from a whole lot of people for saying that, and even more flack from the know-nothing fans of Madonna, Prince (whoever he is these days) and Michael Jackson (not to mention Roberta FLACK).
Certainly
Elvis came first
and Elvis was The King, but Jimi and Mick both had their own unique styles and neither one were heavily influenced by Elvis in terms of their performances. Mick was influenced by James Brown’s dancing and only God knows who influenced Jimi’s performance style because he was truly an original. Besides, Elvis moved on to acting and he starred in tons of below average movies - and now I’ll really get flack! Unfortunately I won’t get Roberta. But seriously, Mick deserves an award for putting on a great show every single time he appears, he did that right from his debut as a young man, and he’s continued to do that as an H mag | 55
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ROCKING
“I just hate to be in one corner. I hate to be put as only a guitar player, or either only as a songwriter, or only as a tap dancer. I like to move around.”
old man. Jimi died as a young man.
Both of them were sex stars on stage as well
as off stage but watching Jimi on stage is nothing short of breathtaking. He had all the moves, he had the body of a black Adonis, he played his guitar with his teeth, behind his back, under his leg, and when he set fire to it at the end of his shows, he got down on his knees and prayed to the Guitar God who obviously listened to
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him. He wasn’t a dancer like Mick, he was a mover and a shaker of women’s “G” spots. People standing in front of his stage all had the same astounded expression on their faces as if to say, “I can’t believe this guy! What galaxy did he come from?” SONGWRITING TALENT
“And the Wind Cried Mary”. Oh, Jimi, how poetic can you possibly be? So the galactic storm screamed “Jimi”, and what hetero man in his right mind doesn’t want that “Foxy Lady”? I suppose that a man who’s in a “Purple Haze” might not be able to recognize one, and a man who’s in a state of “Manic Depression” might not be able to get out of bed and do anything about it, but every time Jimi launches into Foxy Lady with his famous dissonant E chord my libido stands up and salutes. And every time I hear that all time classic feedback note in the middle of the song, it never fails to send shivers up my spine. Comparisons to other songwriters are superfluous. Jimi quite obviously wrote more than a few great rock and roll songs, he almost always had something important to say, and he always said it in a poetic way.
“Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel.”
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ROCKING good job but they lack Dylan’s sarcasm and his almost bored feeling with his own poetic brilliance. I’m a big fan of Bob Marley and I like his voice, but I recognize that he’s not a great singer. It just so happens that I love Jimi’s voice. I hear Bob Dylan’s influence and I know that Jimi was a fan of Bob’s voice and of his lyrics. But Jimi did something very unusual vocally and in the theater, it’s called an “aside”. Jimi had a wonderful habit of flipping off little spoken phrases, very often interrupting himself while he was singing and it came off as being totally COOL. When it comes to singers, people either like them or they don’t and all I can say is that as a professional singer, Jimi’s voice works for me big time.
SINGING TALENT As a professional rock and roll singer, it’s hats off time to Mick. Oh, I’ll get big arguments about that but people who would argue the point don’t understand rock and roll singing. It’s not about range, power, or technical perfection. It’s all about emotion and style. Mick knows how to sing without necessarily using words.
Like Robert Plant, he often uses sounds alone to express emotions. A case in point is “Going Home” on the Aftermath album which consists of 11 minutes of Mick having sex with a microphone. 58 | H mag
Jimi Hendrix was actually embarrassed by his own singing because as a great musician, he recognized and understood the great singers. In the recording studio, he was the master of guitar but he recorded his vocals over and over and over again until he got something that he could just live with. But I put Jimi in the same class as Bob Marley and Bob Dylan. These are great artists who were all perfectly capable of putting across their own unique songs in a way that nobody else can. I’m not a fan of Dylan’s voice and when The Byrds recorded Dylan songs, they did a
self evident and there are way too many examples in both fields to start listing them. But Jimi was a genius guitar player, a unique and atomicly powerful performer, a great songwriter, a very good singer, a super nova sex star, and a world class personality on top of everything else.
™Rock is so much fun. That's what it's all about - filling up the chest cavities and empty kneecaps and elbows.∫ SEXUAL AURA Every rock star has it. Jimi had too much of it for one man. I’m wildly hetero but I’m wowed by the sexual aura that surrounds Jimi on film. I was lucky enough to see him one time in person and I can testify that he was as HOT as it’s possible for a human being to be in the flesh. There are an uncountable number of women who would be quite willing to testify about Jimi’s abilities in the bedroom. So in conclusion, it’s not necessary to be a great musician to be a rock star, just like it’s not necessary to be a great actor to be a movie star. This should be H mag | 59
Written by Mike Rosenberg
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g n i t a re
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mass media broadcast live the slaughtering of fallen gods. There is no question of revenge here - just Schadenfreude, the guilty joy of witnessing your superiors penalized and “cut down to size”.
t s i M
Celebrities
Q. Fame and TV shows about celebrities usually have a huge audience. This is understandable: people like to see other successful people. But why people like to see celebrities being humiliated? A. As far as their fans are concerned, celebrities fulfil two emotional functions: they provide a mythical narrative (a story that the fan can follow and identify with) and they function as blank screens onto which the fans project their dreams, hopes, fears, plans, values, and desires (wish fulfilment). The slightest
deviation from these prescribed roles provokes enormous rage and makes us want to punish (humiliate) the “deviant” celebrities. But why? When the human foibles, vulnerabilities, and frailties of a celebrity are revealed, the fan feels humiliated, “cheated”, hopeless, and “empty”. To reassert his selfworth, the fan must establish his or her moral superiority over the erring and “sinful” celebrity. The fan must “teach the celebrity a lesson” and show the celebrity “who’s boss”. It is a primitive defense mechanism - narcissistic grandiosity. It puts the fan on equal footing with the exposed and “naked” celebrity. Q. This taste for watching a person being humiliated has something to do with the attraction to catastrophes and tragedies? A. There is always a sadistic pleasure and a morbid fascination in vicarious suffering. Being spared the pains and tribulations others go through makes the observer feel “chosen”, secure, and virtuous. The higher celebrities rise, the harder they fall. There is something gratifying in hubris defied and punished. Q. Do you believe the audience put themselves in the place of the reporter (when he asks something embarrassing to a celebrity) and become in some way revenged? A. The reporter “represents” the “bloodthirsty” public. Belittling celebrities or watching their comeuppance is the modern equivalent of the gladiator rink. Gossip used to fulfil the same function and now the
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Q. In your country, who are the celebrities people love to hate?
and his fans. The celebrity is obliged to “act the part”, to fulfil the expectations of his admirers, not to deviate from the roles that they impose and he or she accepts. In return the fans shower the celebrity with adulation. They idolize him or her and make him or her feel omnipotent, immortal, “larger than life”, omniscient, superior, and sui generis (unique).
A. Israelis like to watch politicians and wealthy businessmen reduced, demeaned, and slighted. In Macedonia, where I live, all famous people, regardless of their vocation, are subject to intense, proactive, and destructive envy. This love-hate relationship with their idols, this ambivalence, is attributed by psychodynamic theories of personal development to the child’s emotions towards his parents. Indeed, we transfer and displace many negative emotions we harbor onto celebrities. Q. I would never dare asking some questions the reporters from Panico ask the celebrities. What are the characteristics of people like these reporters? A. Sadistic, ambitious, narcissistic, lacking empathy, self-righteous, pathologically and destructively envious, with a fluctuating sense of self-worth (possibly an inferiority complex). 6. Do you believe the actors and reporters want themselves to be as famous as the celebrities they tease? Because I think this is almost happening... A. The line is very thin. Newsmakers and newsmen and women are celebrities merely because they are public figures and regardless of their true accomplishments. A celebrity is famous for being famous. Of course, such journalists will likely to fall prey to up and coming colleagues in an endless and self-perpetuating food chain... 7. I think that the fan-celebrity relationship gratifies both sides. What are the advantages the fans get and what are the advantages the celebrities get? A. There is an implicit contract between a celebrity
What are the fans getting for their trouble? Above all, the ability to vicariously share the celebrity’s fabulous (and, usually, partly confabulated) existence. The celebrity becomes their “representative” in fantasyland, their extension and proxy, the reification and embodiment of their deepest desires and most secret and guilty dreams. Many celebrities are also role models or father/mother figures. Celebrities are proof that there is more to life than drab and routine. That beautiful - nay, perfect - people do exist and that they do lead charmed lives. There’s hope yet - this is the celebrity’s message to his fans. The celebrity’s inevitable downfall and corruption is the modern-day equivalent of the medieval morality play. This trajectory - from rags to riches and fame and back to rags or worse - proves that order and justice do prevail, that hubris invariably gets punished, and that the celebrity is no better, neither is he superior, to his fans. 8. Why are celebrities narcissists? How is this disorder born? H mag | 63
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TRENDS No one knows if pathological narcissism is the outcome of inherited traits, the sad result of abusive and traumatizing upbringing, or the confluence of both. Often, in the same family, with the same set of parents and an identical emotional environment some siblings grow to be malignant narcissists, while others are perfectly “normal”. Surely, this indicates a genetic predisposition of some people to develop narcissism. It would seem reasonable to assume - though, at this stage, there is not a shred of proof that the narcissist is born with a propensity to develop narcissistic defenses. These are triggered by abuse or trauma during the formative years in infancy or during early adolescence. By “abuse” I am referring to a spectrum of behaviors which objectify the child and treat it as an extension of the caregiver (parent) or as a mere instrument of gratification. Dotting and smothering are as abusive as beating and starving. And abuse can be dished out by peers as well as by parents, or by adult role models. Not all celebrities are narcissists. Still, some of them surely are. We all search for positive cues from people around us. These cues reinforce in us certain behaviour patterns. There is nothing special in the fact that the narcissist-celebrity does the same. However there are two major differences between the narcissistic and the normal personality. The first is quantitative. The normal person is likely to welcome a moderate amount of attention ñ verbal and non-verbal ñ in the form of affirmation, approval, or admiration. Too much attention, though, is perceived as onerous and is avoided. Destructive and negative criticism is avoided altogether.
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The narcissist, in contrast, is the mental equivalent of an alcoholic. He is insatiable. He directs his whole behaviour, in fact his life, to obtain these pleasurable titbits of attention. He embeds them in a coherent, completely biased, picture of himself. He uses them to regulates his labile (fluctuating) sense of self-worth and self-esteem. To elicit constant interest, the narcissist projects on to others a confabulated, fictitious version of himself, known as the False Self. The False Self is everything the narcissist is not: omniscient, omnipotent, charming, intelligent, rich, or well-connected. The narcissist then proceeds to harvest reactions to this projected image from family members, friends, co-workers, neighbours, business partners and from colleagues. If these ñ the adulation, admiration, attention, fear, respect, applause, affirmation ñ are not forthcoming, the narcissist demands them, or extorts them. Money, compliments, a favourable critique, an appearance in the media, a sexual conquest are all converted into the same currency in the narcissist’s mind, into “narcissistic supply”. So, the narcissist is not really interested in publicity per se or in being famous. Truly he is concerned with the REACTIONS to his fame: how people watch him, notice him, talk about him, debate his actions. It “proves” to him that he exists. The narcissist goes around “hunting and collecting” the way the expressions on people’s faces change when they notice him. He places himself at the centre of attention, or even as a figure of controversy. He constantly and recurrently pesters those nearest and dearest to him in a bid to reassure himself that he is not losing his fame, his magic touch, the attention of his social milieu.
D E T IC
REAL LIFE
Written by Dorian Legher
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As far as their fans are concerned, celebrities fulfil two emotional functions: they provide a mythical narrative (a story that the fan can follow and identify with) and they function as blank screens onto which the fans project their dreams, hopes, fears, plans, values, and desires (wish fulfilment).
Y
ou bet. This, by far, is their predominant drive. Being famous encompasses a few important functions: it endows the narcissist with power, provides him with a constant Source of Narcissistic Supply (admiration, adoration, approval, awe), and fulfils important Ego functions. The image that the narcissist projects is hurled back
at him, reflected by those exposed to his celebrity or fame. This way he feels alive, his very existence is affirmed and he acquires a sensation of clear boundaries (where the narcissist ends and the world begins). 66 | H mag
There is a set of narcissistic behaviours typical to the pursuit of celebrity. There is almost nothing that the narcissist refrains from doing, almost no borders that he hesitates to cross to achieve renown. To him, there is no such thing as “bad publicity” ñ what matters is to be in the public eye. Because the narcissist equally enjoys all types of attention and likes as much to be feared as to be loved, for instance ñ he doesn’t mind if what is published about him is wrong (“as long as they spell my name correctly”). The narcissist’s only bad emotional stretches are during periods of lack of attention, publicity, or exposure. The narcissist then feels empty, hollowed out, negligible, humiliated, wrathful, discriminated against, deprived, neglected, treated unjustly and so on. At first, he tries to obtain attention from ever narrowing groups of reference (™supply scale down∫). But the feeling that he is compromising gnaws at his anyhow fragile self-esteem.
Sooner or later,
the spring bursts. The narcissist plots, contrives, plans, conspires, thinks, analyses, synthesises and does whatever else is necessary to regain the lost exposure in the public eye. The more he fails to secure the attention of the target group (always the largest) ñ the more daring, eccentric and outlandish he becomes. Firm decision to become known is transformed into resolute action and then to a panicky pattern of attention seeking behaviours.
The narcissist is not really interested in publicity per se. Narcissists are misleading. The narcissist appears to love himself and, really, he abhors himself. Similarly, he appears to be interested in becoming a celebrity and, in reality, he is concerned with the REACTIONS
he is present wit hout convict i o n , bar the conviction that he must (and deserves to) get famous.
He grades act i v it i e s , hobbies and people not
Because the narcissist equally enjoys all types of attention and likes as much to be feared as to be loved according to the pleasure that they give him ñ but acto his fame: people watch him, cording to their utility: can they or can’t they make notice him, talk about him, de- him known and, if so, to what extent.
bate his actions therefore he exists.
The narcissist goes around “hunting and collecting” the way the expressions on people’s faces change when they notice him. He places himself at the centre of attention, or even as a figure of controversy. He constantly and recurrently pesters those nearest and dearest to him in a bid to reassure himself that he is not losing his fame, his magic touch, the attention of his social milieu. Truly, the narcissist is not choosy. If he can become famous as a writer he writes, if as a businessman he conducts business. He switches from one field to the other with ease and without remorse because in all of them
The narcissist is onetrack minded (not to say obsessive). His is a world of black (being unknown and deprived of attention) and white (being famous and celebrated). H mag | 67
Written by Elizabeth Rose
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DRINKS & FOOD
How to Make a Perfect
Grilled
Chicken
G
rilling can be a fun, family activity during weekends. Spend your lazy afternoons in your backyard, and take out those grillers for a grilled chicken for your dinner.
Learning how to grill is not as hard as you would see on television. All you need is the proper temperature for your griller especially if you are using an electric grill. Nevertheless, if you have the conventional griller, try to find some dried wood or charcoal. Ignite the coals or wood by placing crumpled papers below each coal and then set the papers on fire. Do not pour gasoline on the coals or dried wood. The smoke coming from the coals will give a gasoline-like aroma to your grilled meat. These are your best weapons in grilling. Choose the best part of the chicken. I usually use chicken thighs and legs since they are the fattiest parts of the chicken. These parts will yield a juicy, barbecued chicken. Although these may sound unhealthy, the taste is incredibly delicious. Some would still prefer grilling chicken breasts with the skins on. Before you start grilling your chicken, do not forget to marinate them at least overnight. Yes, overnight. This is because the longer you marinade your meat, the better absorption of flavors happens. I prefer to use store-bought marinades as these save much preparation time in the kitchen. The downside of most ready-made marinades is their high sodium content. But if you have time, you can make your own marinade from scratch. In the recipe below, the marinade and the chicken were simmered together to speed up the process of grilling and also to let the flavors marry together. I like 70 | H mag
Asian-style marinades such as this: For every kilo of chicken: - ½ cup light soy sauce (available in the Asian section of grocery stores) - 2-3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice - 4 tablespoons brown sugar - 1 medium stalk of lemon grass (pounded) - 3 cloves crushed garlic - 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional) Combine all the above ingredients in a heavy skillet and let it boil for two minutes. Add in the chicken and simmer for another five minutes. Drain the chicken in a colander and reserve the marinade for basting during grilling. Basting is necessary so that the chicken won’t dry out. The marinade can also be made as a sauce by making a basic roux. This is simply done by placing a tablespoon of butter on a non-stick pan and let it cook for minutes. Pour over the marinade and whisk until the sauce thickens. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings accordingly. You can also opt to make a dry, rub marinade. This dry rub is comprised of herbs and spices and a little oil. For chicken, dried or fresh tarragon and rosemary blends together very well. If you want a spicier, grilled chicken, add a pinch of chili powder and cayenne pepper. There are limitless marinades for grilled chicken. A little imagination and creativity are the keys. Make sure that when grilling the chicken, never let the flame flare up. This will result in burnt chicken. This does not appeal both to the eyes and to the palate. If this occurs, sprinkle a little water over the flame. Some also like their grillers to be covered during the grilling process.
TIPS
8
Written by Denise Collins
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Ways to get a Relaxing Vacation
My mother likes to remind me that a vacation is supposed to be about relaxing. I tend to make lists and itineraries and plan as many things to do as possible for my vacations. But, my mom is right. Sometimes the best vacations aren’t about all the things you can get done, but about all the things you don’t have to do.
1
Stay at an all inclusive resort – I’ve often made the mistake of avoiding all-inclusive resorts because of cost and lack of variety. I tell myself I need to go to a city and see everything, not just the inside of a luxurious resort.
But when you need to truly relax and let go, an all inclusive resort can be the perfect escape. Not only are you taking a break from work, but you don’t have to worry about the other details that can consume a vacation like “where are we eating?”
“how do we get there?” and
and “what are we going to do this afternoon?” Most resorts will offer several dining options on site, transportation is as easy as an elevator ride, and you’ll usually find a full activity calendar centered around multiple pools and rec rooms.
72 | H mag
2
Go to the water - Whether it’s a beach, a river or a quiet lake not far from home, the waterfront provides a soothing backdrop
for a relaxing vacation. The best thing about the beach or a lake is that you don’t have to do anything to enjoy it. Sure, you can swim or surf or fish – depending on the waterfront you’ve found yourself on. But
And watch. And listen. I’ve yet to meet a
you can also just sit.
stressed out adult that couldn’t appreciate just sitting on the beach, listening to the sound of the waves.
3
Unpack your suitcase – It doesn’t matter if it’s a long weekend or an extended 10 day vacation, living out of a suitcase sucks.
Digging through luggage every morning can make you feel cluttered and disorganized. Cluttered and disorganized are not feelings that are conducive to total relaxation. It's a constant reminder that you're not home in your own space, and not in feeling in even the shabbiest a good way. Taking the time hotel room. to put your clothes in the drawers and in closets and Make lists, not itineraries – unpack your bathroom things you can still go sightseeing creates a home away from home and play tourist without
4
stressing yourself out. The trick is to loosen the reigns on your schedule a little bit.
Before you leave for your vacation, make a list of the attractions and things to do in the area you want to see. Take note of prices, hours of operation and days they might be closed. Make a loose outline instead of rigorous
“On Tuesday we’ll head over to the museum. time sheet.
H mag | 73
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TIPS
When we get done there, we’ll go shopping.” There’s a big difference between “when we get done” and “by 3 we should be at the mall.” You can still hit the high points without the added stress of keeping an eye on your watch for your entire vacation. Be in the moment, so to speak.
5
Bring cash – If you’re traveling on a budget, it’s hard to fully enjoy the things you’re spending money on if you’re keeping a running total of what you’ve spent in the back of your mind.
Decide on a budget that makes sense for you before you leave. Regardless of how much or how little you can afford, take out all the cash you’ve budgeted for spending money for souveneirs, dinners out, tips, etc.
Now, you obviously don’t need to be walking around with massive wads of cash. Put the bulk of it in the hotel safe and take out what you need for the day (or night, whatever). This might seem silly, but it’s a lot more freeing to know you can spend whatever you’ve got on you without worrying about a surprise on your credit card (or bank statement) when you get home. It’s hard to relax if you’re stressing about money.
6
Pamper yourself Self indulgence is relaxing. It’s especially relaxing if your primary role in your real life is to take care of other people (see: moms, dads, husbands, wives, managers, and practically any responsible adult).
Indulgence 74 | H mag
H mag | 75
H
TIPS means something different for everyone. It might be a 90 minute message at an actual spa, or buying something because it fits and not just because it’s on sale. Maybe it’s ordering whatever you want at a great restaurant or going to a popular Broadway show. Or maybe it’s convincing your wife to go para sailing with you even though it’s $60 a person for a 15 minute ride. Whatever your selfish indulgence is, allow yourself at least one just for you thing on your vacation. Use your head and you don’t have to break the bank to feel like you’ve been spoiled.
7
Get enough sleep – Do you ever notice how exhausted people are when they get home from vacation? Maybe it’s because they stayed up late and woke up early in a frantic attempt to get it all in.
I’m guilty of this. I tell myself I can get caught up on my sleep when my vacation is over. Because it is so much easier to get a good night’s sleep when you’re back to working full time, unpacking and catching up on laundry.
No. I’m not suggesting you sleep your vacation away, but if a solid 8 hours or an afternoon nap means scratching a few items of your list of things to do, it might be a sacrifice to consider. As cliche as it sounds, being well rested is crucial to really relaxing.
8
Unplug - I consider an iPhone a necessary travel accessory. I stock up on iPhone apps for traveling. But even I can appreciate the value in not being constantly connected while I’m on vacation.
Do you know people used to leave home without cell phones? There was a time when people would go days without answering emails! How did they ever survive? The fact is, the world will not fall apart if you’re unreachable for a few days. If you’ve left the kids at home with a sitter, it might be important to keep your phone on for emergencies – but it’s also OK to say “please call for emergencies and not just to chat or check in.” Let people know ahead of time that you’re going on vacation and set up a plan with key people to reach you in case of emergencies. And if the friend you haven’t talked to in months pops up on caller ID, don’t be afraid to take advantage of voice mail. Remember that you’re paying for this vacation. And it’s OK to take a break from all the responsibilities and obligations once in a while. It will all still be there waiting for you when your vacation is over – whether you’ve spent that time truly relaxing or not. Make the most of it!
76 | H mag
H Written by Dorothy Heller
FINANCIAL
MexiCo
Fever
D
their close proximity to the American market can eliminate long shipping delays that frequently occur between the United States and China. In a sense, Mexico is looking to act as a go-between, between China and the United States.
Mexico indeed has it’s issues. However, the country still attracts commerce from American companies seeking to lower operating costs. Additionally, as the world economy improves more investments is expected. The United States is the leader when it comes to making investments in Mexico, having increased by 400% over the last fifteen years.
As an added advantage, Mexico can bypass California as China’s entry point to the American market, and drive their products by truck. Plus, Mexico has many free trade agreements, enabling China a tariff free environment to conduct commerce. While China and Mexico do have agreements in place; Mexico continues to pitch in exclusive physical closeness to the American market to Chinese companies.
espite significant hurdles, such as a national drug war, worldwide recession, and a decline in oil production investments in Mexico have continued to rise. In 2007 Mexico was only ranked 19th as an appealing foreign market to invest in, yet by 2010 it had sky rocketed to an impressive number 8.
Certainly, China has become a popular place for American investments, yet Mexico has that closeness attached to it. In other words, Mexico is right on our doorstep. NAFTA and other trade agreements have served to increase commerce and investments in Mexico. Services have overtaken manufacturing in FDI, foreign direct investments in Mexico, and an incredible increase for the lodging sector is expected. An example of increased commerce into Mexico is when General Motors announced in January, 2011 an investment of $540,000,000 to make its new 4 cylinder engines. Mexico will also profit from the expected 500 employees that will be hired. Naturally, GM can conduct business anywhere on the earth, yet they have selected Mexico for their commerce. This action adds credibility to Mexico and it’s work force. Mexico is actively seeking a lot more Chinese investment and commerce. Their rationale being, 78 | H mag
Mexico, despite considerable struggles with the worldwide recession and an ugly drug war has managed to steadily increase the foreign investment it receives. Even GM has announced a new investment to build new 4 cylinder engines for it’s cars. Mexico would profit from 500 new jobs. NAFTA has helped to increase investment and business into Mexico. ProMexico is the Mexican Government institution in charge of strengthening Mexico’s participation in the international trade (comercio). With this objective in mind, the institution supports the export activity of companies established in the country and co-ordinates actions to attract foreign direct investment to national territory. ProMexico was established on June 13, 2007, as a sectoral public trust under the Ministry of the Economy, and operates through a network of 25 offices throughout Mexico and more than 27 offices abroad.
BOOKS HE CALLED HER MRS. KENNEDY. SHE CALLED HIM MR. HILL.
Written by Martin Tucker
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For four years, from the election of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in November 1960 until after the election of Lyndon Johnson in 1964, Clint Hill was the Secret Service agent assigned to guard the glamorous and intensely private Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. During those four years, he went from being a reluctant guardian to a fiercely loyal watchdog and, in many ways, her closest friend.
Clint Hill was a Secret Service Agent assigned to the White House and served Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford. He was in the motorcade in Dallas on November 22, 1963, assigned to protect First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, when President Kennedy was assassinated. He is credited with saving Mrs. Kennedy’s life. After rising through the ranks of the Secret Service, he retired in 1975 as Assistant Director, responsible for all protective forces. Hill remains in contact with the current U.S. Secret Service and is actively involved in training activities. 80 | H mag
Now, looking back fifty years, Clint Hill tells his story for the first time, offering a tender, enthralling, and tragic portrayal of how a Secret Service agent who started life in a North Dakota orphanage became the most trusted man in the life of the First Lady who captivated first the nation and then the world.
When he was initially assigned to the new First Lady, Agent Hill envisioned tea parties and grayhaired matrons. But as soon as he met her, he was swept up in the whirlwind of her beauty, her grace, her intelligence, her coy humor, her magnificent composure, and her extraordinary spirit. From the start, the job was like no other, and Clint was by her side through the early days of JFK’s presidency; the birth of sons John and Patrick and Patrick’s sudden death; Kennedyfamily holidays in Hyannis Port and Palm Beach; Jackie’s trips to Europe, Asia, and South America; Jackie’s intriguing meetings with men like Aristotle Onassis, Gianni Agnelli, and André Malraux; the dark days of the year that followed the assassination to the farewell party she threw for Clint when he left her protective detail after four years. All she wanted was the one thing he could not give her: a private life for her and her children. Filled with unforgettable details, startling revelations, and sparkling, intimate moments, this is the once-in-a-lifetime story of a man doing the most exciting job in the world, with a woman all the world loved, and the tragedy that ended it all too soon— a tragedy that haunted him for fifty years.