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ONLY BE ISTANBULITE
Only-Be Istanbulite
Love and Istanbul
Towards the end of the anti romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer (2009) by Marc Webb, Tom the protagonist of the story played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt holds a chaotic speech at the advertising company that he works for which specialized in greeting cards for all occasions right before he quits. In this speech he declares that he is incapable of writing something for a Valentine’s Day card because he doesn’t believe in love anymore. The reason for this defection is the discovery of the huge lie behind this concept, heavily imposed by movies, books and songs forming this belief of true love, a love whose kindness lasts a lifetime based on the existence of the perfect partner for every individual. To find this person is the key to happiness. When Tom thinks to realize that this idea is false he feels like a kid who just discovered Santa doesn’t exist. However, this illusion is falsely blamed on these movies, books and songs. In reality this idea has its eccentric Greek origin in the mouth of Aristophanes in the Symposium by Plato. Zeus punished the initial androgynous by parting them with his flash leaving us all doomed to walk the earth looking for the other half that we are missing. Although this myth has not completely diminished in our minds it is far from being an essential element in the western idea of love. Which is probably to be found in Love in the Western World by Denis de Rougemont, in Tristan und Isolde and the provencal poetry of the 12th century in general that not only links love and...
Lu Yao in Istanbul: New Landscapes
From January 19 until May 22 the Istanbul Modern, museum of contemporary art in Istanbul, takes us into the work of artist Yao Lu, one of the most important artists in China. Titled “New Landscapes” the Istanbul Modern presents one of the most recent Yao Lu’s works, winner of the BMW-Paris Photo Prize for contemporary photography in 2008. Like all his works, this work also prevents a formal classification, since it combines a number of techniques and media such as painting, photography and digital manipulation. Although it uses the conceptual line than the winning work in 2008, for exhibition at the Istanbul Modern he devised a unique and unprecedented series of 11 new works under the same title, which he presents us in a bleak apocalyptic landscape. To this end, he left pictures of mountains of garbage covered by a protective network to digitally manipulate them in a second step, introducing the typical characteristics of traditional aesthetics of Chinese art. Thus, the picture of apocalypses is invested in a bucolic air, creating a chimera between painting and photography, and between terror and calm. This tension serves to reflect on the mutations that have been affecting radical nature in its native country, whose ecosystems are in danger from the aggressive development of capitalist forces. One of the most interesting artists, he gives us an alternative and more authentic vision of the processes taking place in China today, without resorting to an imaginary and an overtly political symbolism. More info: http://www.istanbulmodern.org/en/f_index.html Heloise Battista For those interested in Asian art, and especially Chinese art, this exhibition is a revelation. We encourage you...
What is acupuncture and why does it work?
Acupuncture is one of the oldest medicinal practices of the world and represents, in turn, one of the great mysteries. Because although until today a (western) scientific explanation of how it works has not been found, the truth is that, whether you believe it or not, it really works. As we said before, acupuncture is an ancient medical practice from China, and today is part of the healing techniques repertoire in many western alternative medicine clinics. It is based on the principle of energy channels, called meridians, which flow -in case of sickness- has been broken. And what acupuncturists try is to basically re-establish the harmonious flow of energy between these meridians. By inserting needles at certain points, the acupuncturist can induce the body to send healing energy to those places that are in disharmony. In short, the needles stimulate the energy flow and relieve obstructions in it. From a western point of view, these meridians correspond to the nervous system which, through pressure or inserting needles, could release neurotransmitters and hormones that relieve pain and help regulate body functions. A study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience points to the same theory. And apparently the insertion of needles emits a chemical substance called adenosine, a natural analgesic to reduce physical pain. Heloise Battista Another way to boost the immune system and loosen the tension is visiting a Hamam bath, the Ottoman equivalent of the Roman baths. With a beautiful and impressive architecture, these bathrooms will give you one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences, especially if accompanied by a massage. Rent apartments in Istanbul and discover the...
Peter Murphy, what’s new?!
One of the sexiest and beautiful male voices that I had the opportunity to hear in my life, and probably in the lives of many, the great Peter Murphy, former lead singer of Bauhaus, the legendary band of the afterpunk English movement, is about to release a new album, and according to what we hear on the radio and myspace, it is a real musical gem…. It´s about time Peter! The new album from the elegant Mr. Peter Murphy, is entitled Ninth. One can appreciate by the themes we have been able to hear so far a mature work, with much Eastern influence, which is not new to his music, as he has previously worked with Mercan Dede, the Turkish artist who created the album titled “Dust” 2002, clearly inspired by the instrumentation and the deep feeling of Turkish music -remember that Peter has lived for many years in Istanbul. While Dust is an excellent album, very intimate and with very good reviews, it was away from Peter’s rock we were used to hearing: It wasn’t until 2004, when he launched the album “Unshattered” when he newly connects with his rock-pop vein. However, this new album is the successor to “Unshattered” and he has had 6 years to create the 19 songs that will be part of the new LP. The album, which does not have official release date yet, will be accompanied by a tour entitled “The Dirty Dirt Tour” which is underway and will expand through several countries of the old continent and the world. Concerning his new work, Peter has said on their official website and...
Orhan Pamuk: The Museum of Innocence
Everyone who was lucky enough to read Istanbul, City and Memories written by the Turkish author and Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk can certainly confirm that he has an extraordinary ability to describe this city by the means of his memories. And also how he encourages the reader to ponder the complex relationship between literature and reality and the different ways in which the first influences the second. If the aforementioned book mentions this differential characteristic of the city by describing its sights not in regards to their public presentation but as part of their surroundings where life happens then The Museum of Innocence reflects the similarities between novel and museum, both spaces to gather details of our lives that are doomed to disappear with time. According to Pamuk the purpose of gathering objects is to hold on to the past. Although the novel is about an extreme love and shows the same conventions just like a melodrama, a musical or a romantic movie that coined Turkish cinema in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, his novel is more personal and intimate without being too dependent on the experience of the author or the incidents that happen to the narrator. He is a member of one of the wealthiest families in Istanbul and is passionately in love with one of his cousins who is much younger than him and has lower social status. This love turns his life upside down and it seems like he is sleepwalking through streets, cafes, restaurants, bars, cinemas and houses looking for signs and things she might have left. With those he creates a museum,...
How to Survive the Holidays
The holidays can prove to be the most traumatic time of year. Experts point out that it is the season of the year in which the most couples break up, families fall apart or start feuds. On top of all the emotional stress, the overindulgence in alcohol and gluttony associated with Christmas and New Years can take their toll in the form of extra kilos, upset stomachs, and brutal hangovers and colds. Therefore it is not surprising that many people try to avoid the traditional Christmas family gatherings at all costs. Some flee the country and go on vacation to get away from the family chaos, others prefer to take the days off to catch up on work around the house, and also there are those who hide out at home in an attempt to wait out the holiday season, and ignore the mood swings between terror and stoic defeat. However, the holidays do not have to end up causing family drama, or take place on a deserted island in the Caribbean. Here are some tips for surviving the holidays with dignity. 1. Gifts are probably the most stressful part of Christmas, and most leave their purchases to the last minute. You have two options, either buying your gifts a month in advance, before the rush unleashes its terror in the shops, or maybe agree to do a “Secret Santa” plan in the family. These ideas can save you money and stress. 2. We know that this time of year is an excuse to eat all the junk food you would not normally allow. But to avoid the post-holiday...
Dogançay Museum in Istanbul
Enrique Vila-Matas illustrates in one of his books a Chinese tale as told by Italo Calvino, about the very skilled artist Chuang Tzu, who was required by the emperor to draw a crab. Chuang Tzu took five years and a house with twelve servants as a necessary condition for the order. Apparently this was not sufficient, when he met the deadline he had not yet undertaken the task. Tzu Chang asked for another 1824 days, and they were granted. Then he drew the most perfect of crabs. In a prose poem by José Angel Valente, the painter and the king are one person, Hui-Tsung, a Chinese emperor who paints “with the skill of an expert in the contemplation of nature,” a quail and a daffodil in the corners as neither a ” a bird or flower can be a center, they are merely a guide for the eye that looks to find the essence of a bird and flower inscribed” With respect to Istanbul, we know thanks to Kemal Bey, a character in one of Orhan Pamuk´s novels, that during the fifties and sixties there was not a single museum where you could see pictures in Istanbul. Fans of painting used to make do with black and white photographs of birds, which they would meticulously illustrate and paint over or use them as models. The photographs could also be of other things, but birds became one of the favorite subjects in Istanbul. They applied their strokes slowly and patiently, with scrupulous attention to detail that, in the eyes of the author of this article, “has some connection to the...
Shopping addicts
Given a good deal, both the most capricious impulse buyer, as well as the stingiest miser bust out the credit cards, hands trembling with excitement, to make that special purchase. A study conducted by the University of Westminster, scientifically confirmed what everyone already knew: shopping is as exciting as watching a pornographic movie and one of the most delightful activities there is. The scientists conducting this study examined the emotional responses of over 50 volunteers while doing various activities and exposed to various incentives. Volunteers responded with as much happiness as when he gave them a voucher or gift card as they did during other activities. In fact, their emotional response was measured as having the same intensity as when these subjects were watching a good erotic movie. When a person falls in love, the brain sends the neurotransmitter dopamine, which stimulates the release of testosterone, the hormone of sexual desire. The impressive thing is that scientists detected the same levels of dopamine in individuals experiencing a satisfactory Shopping session. Obviously, these results lead us to the conclusion that for most people, sex and a good session of Shopping are just as exciting! This leads to different but accurate deductions. For one, it explains why people like to spend much money, even if they can’t really afford it. On the other hand, it becomes obvious why we spend so much on purchases especially when we are depressed or stressed. Like a good session of sex, Shopping relaxes us. If you want to feel the pleasure to be had by shopping, but want to avoid economic ruin, why not take...
Jewellery, the symbolic objects that identify us. Part 1
For many people jewellery is nothing more than mere decoration, an accessory to enliven an outfit or something that we only use on special occasions. We might see a ring or pendant in a jewellery store that we like it we and buy it because it combines well with dress that we have, but did you ever think the meaning of jewellery in our culture or as part of our identity? In ancient cultures, especially in ancient Egypt, jewellery symbolized the status of the person, and had different meanings according to religion and its uses. The jewels were used in some rituals and were understood to give power as amulets or served on the other hand as links to different gods. Their power was believed in part to derive from the materials they were made of. Some jewellery also indicated official or military status, besides being a fundamental part of personal image and beauty. In almost all ancient cultures the use of jewellery symbolized the social status of the person, in addition to its religious and magical meanings, but it is only today that the use of jewellery, at least in Western societies, it shows our individual tastes and is part of our personal identity. Today there are many different types of jewellery and these are more often than not used as markers of social affiliation or as status symbols, especially in the case of the most exclusive jewellery and precious stones. Our jewellery speaks for us, and clearly defines our tastes and our lifestyles. Thus we find practices like piercing and body-modification used by urban subcultures such as...
