David Hockney - Nottingham Contemporary

Nottingham has always been a forward thinking city, unhappy to be looked over due to its relatively small size. Its grand plans often work out, from the tram system to the latest and long awaited development of Nottingham Contemporary.

And what artist could better represent the cheeky nature of Nottingham than David Hockney. He understood Britain, Yorkshire and its quintessential reserved nature back in the 50s and 60s. His sexuality and tongue-in-cheek humour feature in his paintings, and the artwork description cannot help but bring a smile.

Life Painting for a diploma, (value: >£1million ), probably expresses his rebellion and humour best. Uninspired by the constrained nature of college life drawing, he paints a man from the front of a body building magazine and an anatomical skeleton. This satirical piece, is a personal favourite.

Many of his paintings feature naked men in positions which reference homosexuality, a brave move considering the illegal nature at the time. Many of the works are set in San Francisco and often in water. Water is possibly more of a notable theme than homosexuality as his main experimentation is the manner in which he paints the water.

Shelter (2007)

Procrastination from revision, is pretty high at the moment. Any and all distractions are given an opportunity. So whilst flicking through webpages to avoid any more revision on glaciers, i ended up downloading a couple of 'gay' films.

Gay Cinema, has never really been my thing, its pretty niché anyway. I think it may have been lack of exposure but i ended up enjoying three i've watched.

I won't write much about 'Another Gay Movie' nor 'Eating Out: All You Can Eat', i think most straight people would find viewing too uncomfortable. The leading romance in Eating Out begins with the two guys lips meeting on the cock of a faghags boyfriend. Another Gay Movie, is camper than celine dion's christmas. A disturbing scene involves a father giving his son a book on 'getting to know your ass' and giving him a 8" wide buttplug. Both films offered cringing campness at its finest.

However not all gay films are camp as chirstmas, some films do portray a gay relationship as the main story without some pink festival extravaganza. Some do offer a great plot, a strong dialogue and brilliant soundtrack rather than producing the gay equivalent of American Pie.

'Shelter' (2007) is a fine example of such a combination film. Set in California, this beautiful romance blossomed hidden from the people that matter most. The film has all the makings of a great film, the plots is multi-layered, presenting poverty against wealth, a dysfunctional family, youth issues, sexuality and fulfilling your destiny.

The gay stereotype is missing, avoiding clogging up the beauty of this film. Two childhood friends, reconnect over surfing and slowly form a unique bond. This is certainly a film i need to buy, following the january student loan.

Its a definite watch for anyone that can handle viewing a male on male kiss.

Watch Shelter on MegaVideo

The Club Kids

The New York Club scene of the late eighties; was one of the most decadent distasteful expressions of 20th century extravagance. Led by the notorious Michael Alig and James St James, they gave birth to a group of reckless individuals who indulged in heavy drug use and extraodinary costume.

As Michael Alig & the Club Kids notoriety grew so did Alig’s influence, he was often paid to attend clubs with his entourage to ensure a new influx of customers.
However popularity and fame are inherently linked to the vices of jealousy and violence. The film ‘Party Monster’ details the rise and fame of Alig. The film progresses through his string of impromptu parties, club performances and TV interviews. During this time James St James becomes growingly jealous of fame he believed he deserved. Their subsequent disputes were the first signposts to trouble in paradise.

With a psychedelic excess of drugs Alig became be crazed with his own self importance. Ultimately this led to the murder of Angel Melendez from 3 blows of a hammer to the head and then bleach poured down his throat. 3 days later, motivated by the disgusting smell, Alig indulged in a shot of heroin before chopping the legs off the corpse stuffing him in a box and throwing him off the Hudson River.

Alig confessed to this murder to many of his disciples yet his boy who cried wolf nature and the drug excesses led to no one believing him. The body was subsequently washed to shore several months later and Alig was finally highlighted as the perpetrator and was sentenced for 10-20 years for manslaughter. Alig is still serving this sentence.