Thu Dec 22:

Kat was reading over the people who were buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery, Paris.  Many famous people are buried there, including Jim Morrison, and Picasso.

Sweetie went, “Ugh,” thinking about Picasso.  John asked why she didn’t like his work.

 “Ugh, cubism.  It’s just so cerebral, so intellectual.  It’s more head centered and less heart centered, and I think that art should come from the heart.”

John says, “I think he’s okay.  I like this,” and shows Sweetie this painting:

Sweetie googles the painting and finds this article:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernica_(painting)

From the article: Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians. This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed. This tour helped bring the Spanish Civil War to the world’s attention.

Guernica should be seen as Picasso’s comment on what art can actually contribute towards the self-assertion that liberates every human being and protects the individual against overwhelming forces such as political crime, war, and death.

“Wow,” Sweetie says.  “It’s a very political painting.  I’ll stop hating on Picasso now.  I guess it’s been a while since I’ve been to art school.”

“Yeah, me too,” replies John. 
Hah!  Touche.

Fri Dec 23 – email from Sweetie

I was thinking more about Picasso today.  Thinking, “Well Guernica is good.  But Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is awful”.  

It’s a bunch of French prostitutes with faces that look like African tribal masks.  As I recalled.  Kinda racist and sexist, right?  Like sexual savages, or something.

So John asked, “Why don’t you look at it again?”

So I looked it up:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Demoiselles_d’Avignon

It was very controversial when Picasso first exhibited it, because the women in it are sexual in a way that is not demure.  They stare down the viewer and confront him/her.

Then it occurred to me — these women are *powerful*.  Picasso saw strength and power in women.  It probably scared him, and he probably felt threatened by it, but he recognized it.  And French society saw it too, through his eyes and condemned it.  Damn.  It’s the Sacred Feminine.  They’re like temple prostitutes. 

I actually think John likes Picasso a lot, come to think of it.  If you look at his line drawings, there’s some influence there.

Dec 28:  Conversation between John & I

As I am reading the latest “In Touch” magazine…

John:  “You know, those people in the gossip magazines are real people too.  They have feelings and prefer to be private.  If they wanted those pictures out, they’d release them.”

*sigh*  I really enjoy gossip rags.  I come by it honestly, my mother was a fan of the National Enquirer.  I prefer the US Weekly or Star! and I tend to buy them when there’s some gossip on the celebrities I care about.

John: “Reading those magazines is like doing a reading on someone without their permission.”

Right as usual, John.  Which brought me to this entry on ethics.

Thu Dec 29:

Kat has been hearing John’s song, Mind Games, in her own mind.  Now I’m that person who posts song lyrics in her blog; but seriously, read it, and see if it describes telepathy to you too:

We’re playing those mind games together
Pushing the barriers planting seeds
Playing the mind guerrilla
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth
We all been playing those mind games forever
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil
Doing the mind guerrilla
Some call it magic the search for the grail

Love is the answer and you know that for sure
Love is a flower you got to let it grow

So keep on playing those mind games together
Faith in the future out of the now
You just can’t beat on those mind guerrillas
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind
Yeah we’re playing those mind games together
Projecting our images in space and in time

Yes is the answer and you know that for sure
Yes is surrender you got to let it go

So keep on playing those mind games together
Doing the ritual dance in the sun
Millions of mind guerrillas
Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel
Keep on playing those mind games together
Raising the spirit of peace and love
(I want you to make love, not war
I know you’ve heard it before)