DARK INSPIRATION

Kevin Aviance - Din Da Da. The video for this classic house/voguing song takes directly from Grace Jones/Jean Paul Goude with it's surreal imagery, oversize props, colors and multiplied images of the star. If you are going to be inspired, then be inspired by the best! Unfortunately, Kevin's video quality pales in comparison to the pure genius of the song.

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Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm. This is absolutely beautiful, artful and thoughtful video making. Mr. Goude's questionable use of negative black stereotypes (golliwogs, pickaninnies, overly sexualized black body parts, blacks-as-savages, etc.) has been extremely questionable, but I do consider it amazing art - visually, emotionally, audibly and mentally stimulating.

KISS OF THE SPIDER LADY

"The most unforgettable women in the world wear REVLON" ad campaign from Revlon during the 80's still stands as one of my favorite campaigns ever. They brought together the world's top models and entertainers and cast them as ultra glamorous beauty icons. One of my faves was this one of Ms. Oprah Winfrey. This was shot around 1988 when Ms. O famously lost 67 lbs. on a liquid diet and subsequently, to show off her new bod, wheeled 67 lbs. of fat out onto her stage. She counts this as one of the biggest mistakes of her career. She also says that these pics were altered in no way, but to me, it always looked like the heads were superimposed onto the bodies. In any case, the dramatic spiderlady-meets-Twyla Tharp imagery is forever emblazoned in my head.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Sometimes you have to just say "Hell No!" Even if it means being slapped in the middle of the street, cold cocked with the butt of a pistol, harassed by an angry mob leaving your skirt to blow up to reveal all your goodness, in prison and then having to work for a spoiled racist, just say "Hell No". Well, life doesn't have to be so dramatic, but the sentiment is the same.

When you are stretched too thin by loved ones, just say it. When you are pooped, need a rest and people still want more from you, just say it. When your boss takes credit for your ideas, just go ahead and say it. When that telemarketer keeps asking if you want to participate in a survey, please, for you and me, just say it. When your family expects more than you have to give, tell them the same damn thing, too.

It is nice to be a giving person, but when it is to your own detriment, commence to serving up a big ole' slice of HELL NO PIE. When you have had enough of people taking and never giving, clutch your pearls, cock your head ever-so-slightly to one side, look them square in their beady little eyes and confidently tell them "HELL NO!!!!". Then turn on your designer heeled feet, and with the gait and confidence of Naomi on a runway, sashay off and say to yourself, "HELL YES!!!".

Miss Sophia, thank you for these indelible words of wisdom.