Ursula Neugebauer: Tour En L'Air at the Kunstmuseum Bonn

Ursula Neugebauer's installation Tour En L'Air (Circle in the Air) was the highlight at the recent exhibition of contemporary art in the Kunstmuseum Bonn entitled Luminious West (10.07. - 23.10.2010). 

Walking around the few meter high seductive red dresses evoked the senses and provoked the visitors to get in touch with their emotions. The striking red of each dress symbolizes the passionate, unrestricted and wild emotions of the inner psyche of women. While the rigidness of the lines and length of dresses, somehow embodies the social restrictions and norms that women need to follow when being in public. 

The effect of the symbolic meaning of the dresses is emphasized by the turning of the dresses with the aid of an electronic mechanism that makes them spin in the air at regular intervals. The pace of the movement when standing next to each dress while turning in the air make you feel the motion as the air moves. 

While the installation is simple, the effect that it has on the visitors, transcends the time and space spent at the museum. It stays with you days after the event, as it reaches part of your soul that makes you realize your deepest desires and unfulfilled dreams. The combination of stillness and motion become central to the work. Their represent the hidden wildness of women subjected to female objectification.  

Ursula Neugebauer: Nachlaß: Katalog zur Ausstellung in der Kunsthalle Faust, Harro Schmidt, Hannover und im Kunstverein Hamm in Zusammenarbeit mit der GEHAG GmbH Berlin (Gebundene Ausgabe)

http://www.ursula-neugebauer.de/Eseiten/install/tour/tour01.htm

Eastern European represented as gangsters and gold diggers

Background of Metropolis, an online media provider 

In the midst of the widespread access to content, a Dutch website takes video journalism and documentary filmmaking to the next level. With 50 correspondents worldwide, Metropolis attempts to cover the daily lives of ordinary people and showcase them to its international viewers. The various topics that the journalists cover are diverse. From polygamy to environmental issues, the main content structure of each Metropolis's piece is a strong character with a unique story in a unique setting.

Bulgarian men represented as jerks

In Milena's report "Bulgaria: be a jerk", the Bulgarian correspondent attempts to provide a portrait of the typical Bulgarian man. The piece is fun to watch and at moment shocking. However, the Bulgarian viewers commented very negatively on the content and the manipulated and distorted representation of reality. The journalist twisted the topic and portrays Bulgarian men as gangsters and the women as gold diggers. Even though, this segment of society exists in Bulgaria, it does not comprise the whole population. In terms of ethics, the journalist cleverly manipulates her subjects and the audience. Therefore, from a moral point of view, the piece is misrepresenting a whole nation in order to seek exciting content.

Contextualizing Eastern European image and media representation

It is understandable for a journalist to seek exciting content, no matter the means. However, Eastern Europeans have a certain image in Western countries. Due to the communist area, Western societies see Eastern Europeans as outsiders and individuals that you need to be aware of. The iron curtain created an inner fear of communication from both parts and established Eastern Europeans as the 'Other' that you should fear. The post-communist era, on the other hand, gave raise to Eastern Europeans' image of sex workers, gangsters and gold seekers. Associating Eastern Europeans with mafia attachments is due to the fact that just after the communism regime fell apart, the individuals involved in illegal activities increased. Mafia associates not only spread out all over the world, but terrorized the ordinary people in all the countries in the eastern block. 

As a filmmaker, I'm reluctant to dismiss this video material, as it has a good structure and strong journalistic approach. However, as a Eastern European woman, I am disappointed that the journalist choses to add onto the misrepresentation of her own society in order to gain popularity and international exposure. 

Watch "Bulgaria: be a jerk" and see for yourself.

Metropolis TV - Most viewed - Bulgaria: Be a jerk

Link: http://www.metropolistv.nl/en/watch/most-viewed/bulgaria-be-a-jerk

Mimi Chakarova: Sex Slavery from the Inside

A Bulgarian documentary photographer explores the issue of sex slavery from the inside by putting a face to this international phenomenon. This film is not only informative, but brings tears to my eyes, as to how innocent girls and women can be sold as slaves in the 21st  Century.

(apps+80171985597.524703522.780364125a79564475eea6bdcceae28f@proxymail.facebook.com) has sent you the following program from FORA.tv:

 

Mimi Chakarova: Sex Slavery from the Inside

W Hotel - San Francisco, CA

Photographer and activist Chakarova puts a face on global sex trafficking through "The Price of Sex," a project done in collaboration with the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Chakarova's momentum: "What inspires me to do this work is that knowing is better than not knowing; otherwise we're left in the dark on matters that need immediate change."