Whose feet might you kiss?

[Guest]

MAMMA ROMA—Anna Magnani. This is one of the great women of the 20th century. I watched this Pier Paolo Pasolini film, which I'd never seen, in absolute awe of her power. By what right did this average-looking 54-year-old woman manage to be incredibly, devastatingly sexy in this film, and in a way that makes conventional beauties look obvious and not even worth the time? I don't have the answer, but I think it has something to do with a glorious and absolute lack of fear, which also permeates her acting. See her in the first scene, making a vulgar spectacle of herself at a wedding. How good is she? The minute I stop writing this, I'm going to go and watch that scene again. Such abandon, such life force. Here was an actress of genius. The film is about a middle- aged prostitute who tries to reform and make a better life for herself and her son. Pasolini misunderstood the point of his own movie. He thought that Mamma Roma's embrace of petit bourgeois values was her big mistake. The film is really about what a cruel climb it is from nowhere to somewhere. When Mamma Roma prays, she asks God why he's King of Kings but she's a nobody—and Magnani makes you feel it. The transfer is wonderful. Everything Criterion does is first rate. It comes with a second disc, containing interviews with people who knew Pasolini, a documentary about Pasolini, and a Pasolini short ("La Ricotta"). Mick LaSalle (SF Chronicle, 6.20.2004)

I read the above and was immediately excited to know someone else appreciated Anna Magnani. So many people under a certain age have not heard of her. I was only nine or ten when I first saw her in “The Rose Tattoo” (written for her by Tennessee Wms.) and still recall the power of her sexuality and life-force. I could not have told anyone about it at that age, but I know now that is what it was. Another film I’d recommend is “The Fugitive Kind”, based on an early Tenn. Wms. play (Orpheus Descending), and also starring Marlon Brando (as Valentine "Snakeskin" Xavier) and a young Joanne Woodward as a Beat-kooky-alcoholic. Very over the top drama, sexual symbolism abounds.

Another woman I admire as an actress, Helen Mirren, says this: "Anna Magnani, the only actress that I'd really bow down and kiss the feet of.”

So, what’s my point? Anna Magnani, her presence—the life force everyone recognizes—helped form me. I took to her partly because my mother and aunts were disgusted by her (thought her dirty, vulgar, ugly). They spoke similarly of Maria Callas (for having an affair with a married man).

Magnani and Callas—only two life models for me. How about you?

Perdita

Magnani pics

 

[rgraham666]

Socrates, of course.

The man spent his whole life trying to be wise and helping others along their own paths to wisdom.

He set the course for Western Civilization.

In a thousand years, Socrates will still be remembered. All that will remain of Bush is as a word for an idiot. As in "to pull a bush."

Assuming there are any people left in a thousand years.

 

[haldir]

All true. But what about Catherine Deneuve, Juliet Binoche. Shit seems to be a francophile edge coming in here. But - add to that list Susan Sarandon and several others from the US and UK and you've a pretty impressive list of powerful women playing powerful roles.

 

[Guest]

Haldir, I adore Deneuve (today's Deneuve too), but my point wasn't to put forth Magnani as merely a great actress. I am interested in 'famous' persons who might have had a more than ordinary influence on you (as I tried to express above re. Magnani). Callas and Garbo were others, along with Rudolf Nureyev). Ok?

Perdita

 

[matriarch]

Haldir, I adore Deneuve (today's Deneuve too), but my point wasn't to put forth Magnani as merely a great actress. I am interested in 'famous' persons who might have had a more than ordinary influence on you (as I tried to express above re. Magnani). Callas and Garbo were others, along with Rudolf Nureyev). Ok?

Perdita

Perdy,

You know my choice already. Kathleen Ferrier. I have no idea why, or how, but the moment she became known to me, I devoured everything I could find to read about her, and the more I read, the more I came to appreciate and be in awe of her incredible personality, humility, humour and kindness, and at the end of her life, personal bravery that left me breathless. There is archive film material, around, not seen too often, and this year BBC Radio did a series on her life, to commemmorate the 50th anniversary of her death. She is still remembered and revered by music lovers of all ages.

The voice, the stunning, ethereal, velvety voice was pure icing on the cake.

I wish I'd know her.
I would have happily worshipped at her feet.

Mat

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Dita, I think it's safe to say that you've forgotten more about art than most people (me included) will ever know about art.

If I ever get on Supermillionaire and they ask an art question, I definitely want you to be on my phone a friend list.

 

[haldir]

Sorry for the delay -time fucks us all up I guess!

Mmmmm - a more than ordinary influence on us. In what way?

I would argue that by the nature of the craft those who act have a more than ordinary influence over us all.

At it's most basic we all feel attracted to those actors/actresses who excite our deeper feelings. My ex had a real thing for Johnny Depp (and Mel Gibson but we'll not go there!) and I can understand that completely.

My lovely Perdita you'll need to be more explicit in your views for this celtic backwoodsman to understand.

 

[Liar]

There are historical behemoths, and classic icons in the arts, so many that they drown out in each other's chatter. And I don't know them as well as I probably should.


But here's a selected trio from my personal list of fall-at-feet persons (there are many more):

Sergei Rachmaninov - For making me understand music.

Tim Burton - For making me love cinema.

Louise Rhodes - For something that I can't quite describe, but when she sings, my toes curl.
Plus, she probably have nice feet.

 

[herecomestherain]

Great question Perdita.

I've admired people who develop and present new methods for thinking about thinking such as Tony Buzan (Mind Mapping) and Ed De Bono who amongst other achievements, lobbies to have philosophy taught at a primary school level and encourages people to consider thinking as a skill that can be developed. Both men developed thinking tools that I use on an almost daily basis so yes I'd say they've influenced me.


I also love Sir David Attenborough, who through his work over 50 years in broadcasting, has brought the amazing wonders of the natural world into my living room.

On a really personal level, Nancy Friday and her incredible work on the sexual fantasies of men and women, My Secret Garden, Men In Love, Women On Top, enlightened, reassured, and excited me (and still do!) I'd gladly kiss her feet in thanks.

For glamour role models I've admired Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren.

 

[Clare Quilty]

There are any number of women whose feet I would kiss in a sexual context. Limiting my answer to esteem inspired foot kissing of recent historical figures;

• Mother Teresa of Calcutta; The one human being known to me of whom I can say, she believed in god.
• Eleanor Roosevelt; She was a woman far ahead of her time. She truly embodied the egalitarian spirit to which America only pretends.
• Susan Sontag; She is an unqualified genius and the intellectual goddess of my Idolatry (think of her as Perdita on steroids). She has written scores of critical essays, novels, non-fiction on a staggeringly wide rage of subjects and written and directed both movies and plays. In short, she is everything to which I aspire.
  
• Ella Fitzgerald; The most beautiful sound I've ever heard was Ella's voice, period.

"I didn't know our songs were so good until Ella sang them." -- Ira Fucking Gershwin

 

[Guest]

HCTrain: It's wonderful to see you and hear from you, esp. on a thread of mine. I wish I had a large photo of your AV, it would brighten any wall it hung on. Thank you for your post too, P.

Quilty: nice list but how 'bout the reasons why?

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Ray Bradbury for the genius of his craft, his amazing personality, and his writing skills which I hope to one day have a fraction of.

Douglas C. Wallace for his work on mitochondria which is the top work in the field (I cried when I couldn't get into the grad program under him), his Mitochondria Eve theory, and his theories about antioxidants which got me into the field I am now in.

Maritza Campos for getting me into webcomics and helping me learn more and decide to start my own and doing all this with a head cold, two hours of sleep, and a voice three halves the way to froggy. Plus she is a nice person which is always a plus.

The entire Ancient Greek civilization for captivating me in a way no other civilization has, getting me interested in the world of mythology, and for all of the principles, studies, and practices that they brought to the world.

I think after all that my lips would be a bit worn and I'd have to take a break before I developed a foot fetish.

 

[Guest]

Socrates, of course.

The man spent his whole life trying to be wise and helping others along their own paths to wisdom.

He set the course for Western Civilization.

In a thousand years, Socrates will still be remembered. All that will remain of Bush is as a word for an idiot. As in "to pull a bush."

Assuming there are any people left in a thousand years.

ah rg!.. plato, student of socrates.. what he had to say inspires me and makes me want to know more, ask questions and learn..

rene descartes: his work , Elementary Treatise on Polyhedra explaining the three dimensional plane made it possible for me to make it through calculus...god bless ya..

ben franklin: a genius, a lech.. man before his time. "beer is gods proof that he loves us and wants us to be happy." one of the zillion reasons why i would kiss his feet.

bette midler: a woman of strength. she clawed her way to stardom, from gay bath houses to film. stellar, take no shit personality

Dave A. an old friend who said.. "vella, you write good smut.. post it on literotica".. if i hadnt, i wouldnt have met you all.

 

[bg23]

Clarence Darrow.

 

[herecomestherain]

Perdita wrote

HCTrain: It's wonderful to see you and hear from you, esp. on a thread of mine. I wish I had a large photo of your AV, it would brighten any wall it hung on. Thank you for your post too, P.

P, I think your tootsies and my lips have a date!


You are so gooood for my ego. I was feeling a little flat until now, you've buoyed me no end. Thank you.

I've been thinking of other folks too, David Suzuki, for his unending optimism about the environment, Enid Blyton for turning me on to books as kid, the designers of century old botanic gardens for their forthought and planning...I could go on.

Thanks again Perdita, keep posing the questions!

 

[Guest]

Susan Sontag; (think of her as Perdita on steroids).

Quilty, I am compelled to respond. Re. Sontag (very funny remark re. me ), my most literary brother calls her the Mother Teresa of Literature (but he meant it as an insult).

Re. M. Teresa: she was the only Catholic who ever put forth a truly Christian reason for being anti-abortion, a real pro-life arguement (vs. the negative judgmental kind). She said something like, 'Every human being should have the right (or chance?) of knowing love'. My quote is not really that, but I think it's the gist of what she said. {Of course she believed a fetus was a human 'being'.) Anyway, the old lady really gave me pause for thought. I am very much pro-choice, but her focus I still find profound. She utterly embodied her faith, it's a thing for me to envy only.

I'm with you on Ella and Eleanor too. Thanks, P.

 

[Guest]

P, I think your tootsies and my lips have a date!

Rain, that's one of the nicest thoughts ever. Mwaah!

Perdita

 

[Svenskaflicka]

The late author/actor/stand-up-comedian Lasse Lindroth, for having the balls to stand up against racism, even after being beaten up by a gang of neo-nazis.

Madonna, for having the guts to live by her own rules, and not fall into some mould about How Girls Should Behave.

JKR, for being an incredible author with a great intelligence and a sharp mind when it comes to paying attention to tiny details and plotting a story in 7 parts at once.

 

[Liar]

The late author/actor/stand-up-comedian Lasse Lindroth, for having the balls to stand up against racism, even after being beaten up by a gang of neo-nazis.

AH yes. A cheer to Lasse.

Got me thinking, the poeple who have meant the most to me are local and not very famous outside our borders. My foremost rolemodels in all things creative. Their names probably don't ring a bell for any of you, but they deserve a shout-out more than anyone else I can think of:

Tage Danielsson, Maria Blom, Charlie Christensen and Claes Eriksson.

I would care piss all about creative writing, poetry, literature and theatre if it wasn't for them.

#L

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Hasse & Tage! How could I forget them! *slaps forehead*


I cried for hours when Lasse died. He was a brave man. I hope I'll be able to stand up for my ideals like that.

 

[Guest]

Svenska and Sven, would you two Svenskis say more about those people, please. The point is to tell how they influenced your lives, or at least why you admire them. thanks, P.

 

[psychocatblah]

I know he's a bit pop culture, but as a little girl my father would take me out of school and to downtown Houston to an old fashioned theatre to see rereleases of Alfred Hitchcock movies. It was brilliant to get to skip school, fantastic to spend time with my father, and thought I was a little young to completely comprehend what I was watching.... Oh to have these awesome, sweeping mysteries infiltrating my brain while others were on a steady diet of Scooby Doo.

Rear Window, Vertigo, The Man Who Knew Too Much, North by Northwest: these were my favourites. I think of all that it's inspired me to. To writing, particularly fascination with drama and solving things. My photography inspired by such beautiful cinematography. And travelling, how he'd pick the location and set the scene using the very nature of the city to enhance the story. These are obvious things, maybe. But this is where I first learned about them.

Of course, dad never took me to see Psycho.

 

[Guest]

Psycho, that's wonderful, and Hitchcock is not pop anything. I adore his work, it influenced me too, still does. Thanks for the post, just what I wanted to read.

best, Perdita

 

[psychocatblah]

Psycho, that's wonderful, and Hitchcock is not pop anything. I adore his work, it influenced me too, still does. Thanks for the post, just what I wanted to read.

best, Perdita

I'm glad, it did inspire some warm thoughts for myself. My dad died in December, so a lot of those sorts of things are pretty easily within reach right now. He was a pretty major influence, as all parents are and should be. I was lucky that he had such great taste in movies and music. He wasn't a big reader of fiction like I am, but he did read a lot of religious texts, mostly of the new age variety. It made for a rather interesting childhood, especially in such a heavily Christian area like the suburbs of Houston. He wasn't a perfect man at all. But he was a great father. I count myself lucky to have known him.

 

[haldir]

At last! This Scottish backwoods hick has finally understood an' feels a richt daftie.

There are sooo many people I could choose but here's just a few.

John Donne - his metaphysical awareness first brought home to me the power of poetry to describe and record "the moment".

Sylvia Plath - in darkness there is beauty and power.

My ex-wife for throwing me out and forcing me to see that life looks sooo much better when I don't see it through the bottom of a glass. Thanks.

Richard Feynman for his genius in quantum physics - forget Einstein, Feynma's the man. That and he loved to play the bongos in his local bar.

Mozart who was a genuine one-off. His melody lines and exquisite harmonies seep under my skin and populate my moods. His music has moved me more than anyone elses.

Marylin Manson for being who he is and for giving a voice to the nihilistic and the excluded (and for writing fuck-off good songs).

Vincent Van Gogh for showing me the difference it makes to art to put all of yourself into it.

That'll do for now.