Another photo from the "Gods" shoot. Click to enlarge. 

-C

Because He's Fabulous

The second shoot, done with the lovely Aleksandr Petrov. "Because I'm Fabulous"

Note: I have a ton more to post from both these shoots, I just haven't had time to edit yet.

More after the jump!

New Camera!

Hello, hello! I have a lovely new Fujifilm Finepix s400 14MP Digital camera, courtesy of my amazing boyfriend (Early Christmas gift!). So I wasted no time in doing up myself and two of my model friends and shooting the crap out of them. This first shoot is titled "The Gods Aren't Angry, They're Bored." All photos Copyright Cara Brennan 2011. Ask for permission to post! But feel free to shamelessly promote me. The second model is the amazing and ethereal Amanda Elizabeth Sawyer.

More after the jump!

Inspired by football? Why, yes!

Wow, been a while! I return with a little piece inspired by my youngest brother's kickass football win against their big rival. They are now UNDEFEATED district champs, and just won their first play-off game.  I wasn't in the mood to write, but I had not written in weeks and was very frustrated with myself. So I literally sat down, wrote "write something write anything," and I guess some little brain gremlin was all like "OKAY FINE," and then wrote this. So maybe I should do that exercise more often.

The Sun Never Sets On Fridays

"Stadium lights shine in his eyes like the most sincere promise he's ever heard. His sweat glimmers as it trickles down his face, soaking him and giving him the appearance of some brave, salt-covered sailor, caught in a typhoon but emerging alive. He smells, but he doesn't care. His body has begun to remind him that it needs rest, but he does not listen. He will have time for cleaning and resting later. He will never have a moment like this again. He will never have another moment so pure and clear and beautiful.  The roar of his peers as they rush the field breeds one overwhelming howl of triumph as they sweep from the stands, onto the green and throw themselves onto their players; all hands clapping backs and arms hugging, oblivious to the sweat and grime of the turf.  And the noise. Oh, the noise.  It fills up every part of him; a glass of cold water.  It is approval and love and worship. It is holy, and he doesn't even believe in anything. He just believes in this, this cacophony; the riot of victory. He is swept away by the tide, and his own voice has joined in the cry.  He will never forget this.  He will never forget what it feels like to win."

-C

Bus Boredom

[Edit: Still working out some kinks in the color scheme with the text...ugh.]

New color scheme! Halloweeny, no? I love Halloween. It is the best. I don't know what to be this year. Better start brainstorming.

They will see me and know fear.

 Speaking of storms, here is a poem I typed on my phone while waiting for the bus in the rain yesterday.

The rains came

And I saw myself

The wind brought memories

Of what was and

What will be

Known to me

Soon when I find the strength

To look up

Done a little writing, mostly in transit. Here's another rain inspired one, composed while I was on the bus to DC to visit my family; Hurricane Irene was on its way there.

Quick dark clouds

Today my friend

See them running

Far above us?

Racing to destiny

Damp shiny hooves

Their winnies shattering

the afternoon sky

Sounds like God

Trying to tear

Open the Heavens

It almost makes

Me believe again

As I was typing it out just now I realized I had a 3 word structure in the first few lines, so I tweaked the rest of the poem to fit. Yay for experimentation!

First post since June, trying to discipline myself and write more frequently. 

-C

Girl w/t Dragon Tattoo Poster (NSFW)

Okay. Okay. From my understanding, having neither read the books nor seen the Swedish films, Mara's character Lisbeth Salander is like this totally badass, punk-goth, technowizard, tough as nails broad, and also gets raped at one point. And that the books deal with issues of violence against women and specifically, rape. So, part of me is really NOT okay with this poster. Because it shows her all vulnerable, but in a "sexy" way, with the oh-so yummy Daniel Craig behind her (protecting? Comforting?), in short Hollywooding a character who is supposed to be sexy because of her essential "je ne sais quoi"/not-giving a fuck attitude, not because she's HOT. Plus, sexualizing a rape victim. So there's that. But then, it's also not good to define someone by their victimhood. With the I Spit On Your Grave poster debacle, this was an issue, probably more so because the protagonist's rape is the impetus for the entire film. So actively highlighting her fuckability on the poster is pretty, well, fucked up.


But then. But then.
This poster is so hot. I mean. Daniel Craig, for one. And then, Rooney Mara. 

Rawr. But then I feel like a bad feminist for thinking it's hot.  And then I'm like, "No, it's fine, they're sexy! I can't help it!" (which, yeah, I can't change what I respond to visually). Which is the absolute, horrifying brilliance of it all.  
This poster is problematic not just because it shows the female protagonist half-naked while the man remains clothed, not just because she's in a position vulnerable to his; it's problematic because of all of those things and the fact that it IS sexy. Something about this image is effective.  If it wasn't such an attractive poster, I might not give a hoot. But that's the brilliance of advertising; it uses images people respond to sell a product, regardless of the message that image might be sending and/or reinforcing.  So for me to say I'm not going to think critically about it because I like it is not smart and it's not going to solve anything.


We can't just ignore the unsavory aspects of pop culture when it has to do with a product we like.  If we turn a blind eye to our favorite artists, then we're hypocrites and we're not accomplishing anything.  Now, I'll probably see the movie.  I guess my point is, go ahead and like what you like, as long as you acknowledge the problems inherent in liking said thing and don't give something a pass because it happens to suit your personal tastes.  


-C

Canucks Fan WTF

This blog has photos of Canucks fans RIOTING after Game 7 last night. RIOTING. People.

What. The. FUCK.

Rioting? Really? Okay, I know I've told many of my sports fans friends that just because sports are not my thing doesn't mean I can't appreciate sports culture, but then something like this happens and I just....I just can't. I don't get the hero worship of accused rapists, I don't get why you would be a fan of the Yankees versus the Sox. Do you know any of them personally? Did you all grow up in the city you're supposedly representing? What makes one team better than another on that level? Yeah, they're all good at what they do, mostly. Which is cool. For example, I get really into the Olympics, because holy shit, the human body's ability is amazing. And I get that playing sports is fun. But. You didn't fucking see me starting a riot when Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring didn't get Best Picture at the Oscars. Why? BECAUSE IT'S NOT ACTUALLY IMPORTANT. It's not.

If you're so fucking angry, how about you riot about something that ACTUALLY MATTERS. Like the unemployment rate. Or the attack on reproductive rights. Or that fact that gay people still can't get married. Or the fact that our military is fucking intervening left and right and our families are DYING abroad for NO REASON. How about you put that anger to use?

But no. Your sports team lost. They lost a game that they could potentially win next year.

I hope several hundred arrests were made and those thoughtless dude-bro idiots are fucking ashamed of themselves.

Apologies to my sports loving friends and family. I know you're not all crazy. But sometimes I wonder.

-C