I wonder... The Art Edition!

I wonder...

Would Edgar Degas be so revered if, instead of ballerinas, he chosen to do dozens of works depicting Parisians killed by the cholera epidemics of the 19th century?

Would Raphael find the humor in this?

How Peter Paul Rubens would feel about being most well-known for having his name used to describe fat chicks?

Does this photo of Salvador Dali and Man Ray disturb you as much as it does me?

Why isn't Pierre-Auguste Renoir's lament to friend Frederic Bazille, "Triple shit! You are stark raving mad bastard!" appreciated as being one of history's great quotes? Just in case you're wondering, it was an expression of Renoir's horror at having learned of Bazille's enlistment into the French service upon the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War. Bazille was killed in battle, by the way.

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his." -Oscar Wilde

I just saw an advertisement (by the way, I emphasize the second syllable in advertisement, not the third. I feel very strongly about this and, thus, was compelled to inform you of as much) for a stage production entitled "Menopause: The Musical", and it got me to thinking (which is always a dangerous thing... that's why I try to avoid thinking altogether)... fellas, we need a performance of some sort showcasing the beautiful metamorphosis that is the masculine manner of maturation. How about "Songs of the Sagging Sack"... or perhaps "Prostates a Poppin'!"... maybe "Ears, Nose and Back... Thar's Hair Up There!" would make a fine tragicomedy... "Infatuation, E.D. and Me" just screams poignant!

Yeah.

"And behold there was a very stately palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful." -John Bunyan

After a five-year hiatus, this week my family (thanks entirely to me) revived a longstanding holiday tradition and took in Houston Ballet's annual production of "The Nutcracker"... and it was wonderful. Behold, the lovely view from Founder's Box 3...



Sorry it's nothing but a curtain shot... they're understandably touchy about people recording images (moving or otherwise) of the actual performance... you know, copyrights and all.