KALTBLUT-HONK! 02 The Fairy Tales

Marcel Schlutt Alexander Stoddard Nina Kharytonova Amanda M. Janssen Suzana Holtgrave

Drew Eastman TL Stiegler visualdrugstore Arcin Sagdic Haniball Saliba Asha Mines

Polys Larissa Cataño Mike A. Rattigan Bartholot Robert Klebenow Polly Balitro Tudor Naparu

Stephan Springer Bruce LaBruce Shelbric A. Fuller Christo Mitov Mitsuko Naguno Emma E.K. Jones

Claudio Alvargonzalez Brice Hardelin Silvio Hauke Nicolas Simoneau Daniel Ellmenreich

Shel Fuller Haikal Noyes Coverphoto by Robert Klebenow Model Philip Milojevic

H NK!

#02

1ART PHOTOGRAPHY MEDIA

ONCE

UPON

A TIME

THE

FAIRY TALES

ISSUE

2

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ality that are strikingly d

and shared by others aroun

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that no one remembers?

they go the way of dreams

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3

a may have perceptions of reifferent

from the reality seen

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delusions, individuals with

htened, anxious, and confused

4

#01 #02

Chief Editor

Marcel Schlutt

Editors

Christo Mitov, Polys, Amanda M. Jansson, Stephan Springer,

Nina Kharytonova, Claudio Alvargonzalez

Production assistant

Silvio Hauke, Nicolas Simoneau

Translators

Shel Fuller, Drew Eastman, Anton Z Risan, Thomas Langnickel-Stiegler

Layout

Haikal Noyes, Marcel Schlutt

Web design

Nicolas Simoneau, Daniel Ellmenreich

Published by

Marcel Schlutt & Nina Kharytonova

HONK! is based in Berlin

5

Once Upon A Time …

Who doesn’t know those words? As a child you grow

up with the Grimm Brothers or Disney, and you get enthralled

by their fantastic worlds. However, the older you

get, the more influential fairy tales will become. Be it in

books and motion pictures, be it in politics, religion, or

arts: fairy tales are omnipresent. Stories often get misused

to influence people.

Let’s be honest, sometimes it would be nice to be a child again,

wouldn’t it? To be able to let one’s imagination run free, to forget

about space and time. Right? Well then: welcome to HONK!’s Fairy

Tale issue!

We, the team of HONK!, have recently found ourselves in a fairy

tale of our own. A few months ago, I came up with the idea to initiate a new online magazine. A

magazine that wouldn’t be elitist, edifying, or mindless. A periodical publication to be great fun,

and to bring together topics of a classical magazine, without making one subject area or another

stand in the corner waiting to be noticed. HONK! is made by creative people from within

a diverse online community, and it’s a magazine for all those who are interested in arts, music,

fashion, or photography.

The vision of HONK! has since been prospering. We are still astonished by the amazing success

of issue #001. And we would like to thank all the artists, contributors, and friends, who have

done their bits to make it become reality. Thanks a lot to all you HONKS! out there! We appreciate

you making our world a fairy tale of its own. Issue #002 is dedicated to you, thanks to whom

we can keep up our vision.

It’s quite a glorious experience to be going online with HONK!#002, now. To see our concept

work out. For the second time we invited artists to engage themselves with a specific theme in

their own creative way. The result has been a true potpourri of photography, terrific texts, interviews

– and tons of fun.

And now – I wish you loads of fun with our current issue. Join us on a trip to the colourful world

of fairy tales, myths, and legends! Plus, I hope you’ll read us again in two months’ time.

Enjoy!

Marcel Schlutt

6

C NT

#02

Photo

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62

72

120

136

168

172

Natural Born Talent

Self portraits by Alexander Stoddard

A bunch of outsiders

Photos by Emma E.K. Jones & Amanda M Jansson

Light Muses

by Visualdrugstore

L.I.A.

by Marcel Schlutt

Atlantis

Photos by Bartholot

Inteview: Polly Balitro

Interview: Mitsuko Naguno

Clock Work White

by Brice Hardelin

Topic

20

70

86

112

158

178

202

216

226

228

Fairy Tales are the soul of Russian culture

Text by Nina Kharytonova

Pop’d to death

by Drew Eastman

Fairy tale 9595

Shortstory by TL Stiegler

Who is the pervert?

by Mike A. Rattigan

1001 Nights

by Tudor Naparu

Letter from Madrid

Don’t you believe it

by Stephan Springer

Last Fairytale

by Shelbric A. Fuller

Revenge of the nerds: Self-exposure for dummies

The X-Insider

ENT

7

Fashion

24

94

116

118

142

188

168

218

Horse Princess

Photos by Arcin Sagdic

Rick Owens

Photos by Asha Mines

A woman should wear

A man should wear

The Elf

Photos by Suzana Holtgrave

Snowqueen’s Kay


Must Have

The Young Knight

Photos by Robert Klebenow

Art/Media

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55

83

100

132

161

180

198

206

208

232

Interview: Olaf Hajek

Who the hell is Madonna?

Music reviewed by Polys

Pop Art Heroes

Mama

Interview

Oscar’s Curse

Movies discussed by Claudio Alvargonzalez

Life Automat

by Nicolas Simoneau

La Llorona

Artwork by Larisa Cataño

Interview: Billie Ray Martin & Hard Ton

ACMI Dreams Come True

Interview: Bruce LaBruce

What Where When

by Christo Mitov

8

NATURAL

born

talent

Selfportraits by

Alexander Stoddard

9

10

NATURAL

born

talent

11

12

13

14

15

16 NATURAL boRN TALENT

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18

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I don’t want to just exist. I want to live!

Interview with Alexander Stoddard by Marcel Schlutt

HONK!: Alex, we love your photography. and

your project 1/365. When did you start with the

project? And why?

Alex: I started the project in April of 2010.

There were several reasons why I undertook

it. Firstly, I really wanted to see growth within

myself as a photographer. I had seen the 365

projects of others on flickr and how much they

had improved, so I wanted that to happen to me

as well. A big influence in starting my 365 was

Rosie Hardy. Seeing how much effort she put

into her images each and every day made me

strive to do the same. I think I’ve grown tremendously

so far, but I still have a long way to go.

Looking at your pictures. We can see , that

most of them have something to do with nature

and the other ones are very poetic. Is it part of

your personality? Are you a poetic guy?

Yes, I do think my natural photos have a lot to do

with my personality. I really enjoy my solitude,

being alone, and I think that relates to nature. In

the natural world, there isn’t a society to judge

you, there aren’t other people to influence or

irritate you -- It’s just you and the trees and the

earth. There is so much beauty in forests and rivers

and all of these places that most people overlook

in their everyday lives. Everyone is always in

a rush. Sometimes I just like to stop and appreciate

the little details in the world.

You are 17 years old and i think, doing a project

like yours needs some time every day. What do

your friends and family say about your project?

My project takes up so much time! It’s insane.

Between high school, my job at a restaurant,

and my project, I barely have enough time to

sleep. My friends and family are so incredibly

supportive of my photography. They have

helped me set up and shoot several of my photos..

Whenever I ask them to help out, they do --

whether it is tossing a bucket of water over my

head while I snap a photo or scouting out abandoned

houses for pictures, they have always

been there to aid me. My friends and sisters love

that I take photos, as it gives them the opportunity

to model.

Do you have a favourite photographer? Who is

your icon?

Tim Walker! His whimsical photographs and so

imaginative and wonderful. He blows my mind.

I got his book for Christmas, and I spend hours

just lying in bed with it, in awe of his work.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years ?

In ten years, I hope to be shooting for major

fashion magazines like Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar.

I want to be traveling the world, soaking

up gorgeous sights and meeting all kinds of

people. It’s such a cliche answer, but it’s what I

truly want. There is so much of the world to see

that it would be a waste just to live your entire

life in the same city with a boring office job. I

don’t want to just exist. I want to live!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex-stoddard/

20

Fairy tales

are

the

soul

Russian

culture!

OF

Text by Nina Kharytonova

What would humanity be without their myths, legends,

tales and stories? Fairy tales are the soul of our culture.

They belong to our continued development.

Everyone knows them and everyone loves them.

We suck and digest them simultaneously with our

mother‘s breast milk; a childhood without fairy

tales is hard to imagine. They are our first encounters

with the environment, and through them, we

become familiar with them. Each culture has its

own. They reflect the diversity of our nations, our

fears, our joys and our dreams. They are the priceless

heritage, each generation passes on to the next

and are as old as humanity itself.

One country has a particularly deep and wide

range of fairy tales and stories to offer. We are

talking about Russia. Since the beginning of their

culture, the Russians have created a unique fairy

tale world full of evil and good: the witch Baba

Yaga, the strict Grandfather Frost, the swan

princess, the immortal Kostschej, talking animals

and plants, werewolves, witches and wizards, the

forces of nature. These recurring figures come

mainly from pre-Christian Slavic mythology and

therefore, reflect major differences to the sagas

and traditions of the Western world. Each generation

contributed something to the tradition; to a

diverse and complex world of myths based upon

Russian history that is deeply connected with

their life experience and their sense of self. The

Slavic gods were worshiped almost exclusively

in nature and so this love of nature is reflected in

the characters.

Witches in Russian fairy tales play an equally important

and frequent role like in Middle European

fairy tales but their positioning and function, be-

21

Illustration by Larisa Cataño

22

cause of their Slavic background, is notably different.

While still ugly, evil and cunning, they often

help the hero and are groundbreaking key figures

in the events of history. First and foremost is the

Baba Yaga, who lives in a home on stilts made of

chicken legs, and flies on a broom.

Princes and princesses are not defined by their

wealth but rather by their beauty, kindness and

purity of character, precisely the qualities, which

at that time, were still very highly regarded. This

usually meant that the Prince was often called

Ivan and Princess - Vasilisa.

Probably the most famous fairy tales, however,

are those which take place during the harsh Russian

winters and the main protagonists usually

are Father Frost and Snegurochka (in German:

Snow Maiden). These figures have survived long

enough to have even made it into the present day

and deliver the gifts for the forthcoming year since

Christmas in the Slavic calendar is not celebrated

until January 6th.

Without the fairy tale collector, many of these

fairy tales would have never seen the light of day

and thereby, would have never been part of our

generation. Just like the German-born Brothers

Grimm, there were Russians fairy tale aficionados

who devoted their life to the collecting and

cataloging of fairy tales. The most famous among

them are Alexander Pushkin (who was himself

a great writer too), Lev Tolstoy, and last but not

least, Alexander Afanasyev.

But it was another Alexander, that made Russian

fairy tales well-known, far beyond the borders of

the Soviet Union; although he was born approximately

100 years later - Alexander Rou (1906).

His father was a migrant worker, came to Russia

to work as an engineer, in the then burgeoning,

grain industry. However, the carefree childhood of

Alexander was already over at the age of 10, when

his father left the family and returned to Ireland.

Now it was Alexander’s responsibility to take

on the financial burden for the family. He sold

matches and took small temporary work. Adher-

23

ing to the advice of his mother, he applied at a

technical college but the economic charm of art

gained the upper hand and Alexander began

his studies at the Chaikowski film school. With

luck, he was hired as Assistant Director at “Mezhrabpom

Film”, the studio that was then in

charge of children’s films (later renamed Gorky

Film Studio).

He was the first that used living actors to bring

fairy tales alive on the silver screen. Until then,

the genre was always done in animated form.

His work has always been extremely creative.

His entire attention was paid to the costumes,

the scenery and decorations, the elaborate

makeup and especially, unprecedented special

effects. Actors were however given very short

directions and therefore often fell flat on their

faces. Alexander, however, made it up with a

good cup of tea. There was always lots of tea on

the set and everyone who garnered his respect

and admiration was honored with a cup. He

was greatly appreciated and loved by all his

colleagues.

It is no coincidence that Alexander Rou is

acknowledged as one of the founding fathers of

the fantasy genre. For Fantasy, Horror and Sci-

Fi, as we know them now, were born out of fairy

tale films. He was awarded several times for

his life’s work. He shot over 16 films and wrote

most of his screenplays himself. His films not

only culturally sweetened the heavy existence

during the Soviet era, but also illuminated the

lives of many over the continents of our planet.

He died on Dec 28, 1973 in Moscow, but his

work is immortal, exactly like the tales themselves,

which he filmed so lovingly.

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HORSE

PRINCESS


Creative Direction/ Styling/ Production Diana Nagler www.diananagler.com

Production Assistent Verena Wolf

Make-up / Hair Sofie Ühla www.sofieuehla.de

Model Clara Hoffmann (Seeds) www.seedsmodels.de

Photographers Assistent Conny Kirste

Location Riding Farm Rüdnitz www.foxtrotter-online.de/

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Jacket One Vintage

Skirt Erdem

Top Hendrik Vibskov

Gloves Belstaff

Headdress, Necklace Weekday

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Dress Paula Immich

Headdress Hanna&Demetrios

Tights Palmers

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30

Jacket, Pants Paula Immich

Top Vince

Boots Belstaff

Stockings Palmers

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left page

Jackett Paula Immich

Wig Sofie Ühla

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Photos by Emma E.K. Jones & Amanda M Jansson

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When looking back into childhood, a period

of time when everything seemed possible and

the belief in magic and trolls and fairies was

still vaguely existing, there will always be at

least this one fairy tale, or the remnants of one,

haunting your mind, engraved in it forever.

Now if you try to locate this strange faint image

stuck in the back of your head and seemingly

forgotten in time, you will be surprised to

discover that most of the times it isn’t a brave

valiant hero/ine or a damsel in distress but one

of the more sinister figures, one of those that

SEA WITCH

from Little Mermaid

“I know what you want.”

36

A BUNCH OF OUTSIDERS

could keep you up at night or at least make you

laugh violently. And yet, how surprising that

there has always been such little mention of

these antagonists, these evil, seductive, ugly,

creepy, old, disfigured, demon-like or even

death related outcasts. Perhaps that can be

traced back to their role in the story, to everything

they stand for and to the power they hold

as characters in themselves.

First of all, it is the very existence of an antihero

that makes it possible for the fairy tale to exist. The

villain is what brings the story to life, what adds

CARABOSSE

from Little Briar-Rose

“The king’s daughter shall in her fifteenth year prick herse

lf with a spindle, and fall down dead.”

37

flesh and bones to a nebulous idea, he or she is the

key that turns an empty picture into a fairy tale to

excite the wildest of imaginations. In the strange,

far away land of the tale resides a multitude of evil

guys and devilish dames and what they all hunger

for really is causing some serious trouble. Some of

them might be there just at the right moment to offer

some precious help to the despaired hero/ine in

the form of a potion or some advice, but who would

imagine that a tiny piece of the endless wisdom of

all evil would be given away for nothing?

IDLE

from Mother Holle

“That is the reward for your services.”

38

A BUNCH OF OUTSIDERS

The price to be paid is most of the times far too high

to leave the protagonist unharmed. There is others,

others of hurt pride or simply of a malicious nature

that wish to satisfy their vices in tricking the good

and innocent people, in laying the most horrifying

curses on them, in imprisoning them, in murdering

them, or even in devouring them. And then there’s

those who are plainly and simply ugly and lazy and

rude, those who just can’t be bothered and of course

spite the beautiful capable ones hoping to make

their lives a living hell. From the most horrifying

sea serpent to the most artlessly lazy daughter, all

The Godfather

“...I peeped through the keyhole of a door,

and there, godfather, I saw you,

and you had long,long horns.”

39

these creatures creep up from the same obscure,

misty well, strange as it might seem. The place they

all emerge from is a place that has been thought

well sealed, that has been trying to hold them in for

hundreds and hundreds of years, and yet there they

are governing over the primary expression of all our

secret fantasies, the fairy tales. The pagan demons

of the past, as much as our subconscious drives, are

way too powerful, actually growing strong on man’s

flesh, to be wiped out. Thus, they have to be allowed

to sneak into the narrative, yet remain highly feared

and condemned.

WICKED WITCH

from Hensel & Gretel

BABA YAGA

from Vasilisa the Beautiful

“Oh you dear children, who has brought you here?

Do come in stay with me. No harm shall happen to you.”

“Well, what are you standing there for

as if you were dumb?

Have you nothing to say to me?”me?”

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ROTATION BOUTIQUE BERLIN

Weinbergsweg 3

10119 Berlin-Mitte

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42

OLAF

HAJEK

DARK

CLOUDS

ARE

GATHERING

Interview by Marcel Schlutt

The Berlin-based illustrator Olaf Hajek is one of the

few Artists of this city, who is recognized internationally

and with his art he is well known all over the world.

Each of his paintings has a certain magic that no one

can´t resist. They are colorful, they are beautiful, they

are a piece of Hajek.

HONK! asked Olaf Hajek for an interview, to talk about

his life, his work and the up coming Exhibition „Dark

Clouds are Gathering“ in South Africa.

Olaf, you are on of the leading illustrators our

times and not just in Germany, but worldwide.

How did you discover this passion for drawing?

As a child i was already drawing and painting

a lot and i discovered that passion quite early

on in life. My mother told me many times that i

spend hours on end in the day just hidden in my

room being busy with drawing something. Obviously

Arts & Crafts was also my favorite subject

in school.

In my spare time i was visiting drawing classes

and from an early age it was already clear to me

that i wanted to something art related in my

later life the problem only being that my parents

43

44 DARK CLOUDS ARE GATHERING

45

46

DARK CLOUDS ARE GATHERING

kinda forbid that i studied Art and so i managed

to get into a graphic design studies.

He was a few classes further ahead of me and

just about to sign into FH Münster for Graphic

Design Studies so he took a map of my drawings

with him and passed it onto them.

Thanks to this little stunt they already reserved

a study place for me while i was in 10th class

and commented on my “Outstanding artistic

abilities”.

Graphic Design Studies are not Art Studies so

how did this help you along?

Oh Well, Graphic Design is very concentrated

on advertising, typography and business related

studies. Illustrations where not really the focus

here. All in all the practical part of these studies

really helped me as well because as a illustrator

you are not just a creative person you are also a

business man,

After studying i moved to Amsterdam and just

spend a whole year just paniting and drawing

and copying my work then sending it all to

magazines.

This is how i was discovered by SZ Magazine

who printed my work and the jobs followed and

since then i am making a living from it.

When you look at one of your pictures its pretty

clear right away that one is looking at a “Hajek”. I

think you have you own signature which is recognizable

right away. Did you have this from the

start or did you develop this while you where

studying ?

No, i had a certain identity right away as artist

and this just evolved over time. Which is very

important especially if you want to work globally

you need a unique style and identity your

own signature!

I try to let all my passion and aesthetics flow

into my works.

When a magazine approaches you to commission

something to a certain theme how does the picture

evolve ? Do you start with drawings or do you

just let freedom reign or do you work strictly within

the bounds of what the magazine dictates ?

I always have an idea right away, especially if

you work for magazines you have really tight

deadlines and i usually have more than one job

on the table so you gotta be abel to multitask

and be really organized.

You just gotta be abel to come up with new

ideas naturally and fast. I read the text and i

usually have an idea right away to which i to a

draft drawing which i send onto the commissioning

magazine to look at and sign off, once

47

they done that i start painting the picture, Every

commissioner is different from the other some

are more open and some are giving you less

freedom,

how was it for you when you saw your work in a

magazine for the first time ?

This was very exciting, naturally. I was living

in Amsterdam at the time and my first job was

for the Dutch Playboy and i was super proud.

Shortly after that i started work for SZ Magazine

which was a big deal. A few weeks later i did

the “Sommerriddle” for them and because they

where so excited about my work they also asked

me to do the cover.

I still remember how i was waiting for my local

News Agent to open up to see “my” Cover.

Yes, this was a very special moment especially

since this was at the beginning of my career.

Well now you have been douing this for a number

of years can you explain why Illustrations do not

have the same status and importance as lets say

in the USA ?

There are markets that just have totally different

traditions, especially in Illustations.

48

DARK CLOUDS ARE GATHERING

In America illustrations have a far higher status

and they have been working with them for much

longer.

It is changing a little in Germany though here Illustrations

are more trend releated and not used

in so many ways as they do it in the US or UK.

There they have “The New Yorker” which always

uses an illustrated cover and this leaves a completely

different status on how people recognize

illustrations.

In the times of the internet alot is being copied

and stolen,. Did this happen to you so far as well

with your art?

I believe my style has been copied before... especially

young illustrators let themself be inspired by

other artists and idols. It becomes difficult when

my paintings are being used in on the internet,

Print or in Advertising material without a license

or copyright.

I find your pictures very surreal, everywhere you

look on them there is something happening,

often very dreamy, often very playful but then also

very tough. Which artists have inspired you in

becoming who you are?

I been inspired by manny artists especially

when you are young you are always on searching.

At about 10 - 11 Years i was a big fan of Impressionists

which for me was more about the colors

rather than the shapes.

Later it was Gustav Klimmt and Egon Schiele

who inspired me a lot.

After my studies i was a huge fan of American

Illustrators. There is a book “American Illustration”

which was and still is produced very

49

extravagant. I always stood in front of it and

thought “WOW” !!! This is Art and this is how

Illustrations can be done.

Today i know many of these artists personally

who inspired me and for a few years now i myself

are now in these books.

These days i am very much excited and inspired

by “American Folk Art”, African or Indian Art.

The haptic, the imperfection and the textures

are what really interest me and the aesthetics

are what i incorporate in my paintings and

drawings.

Unfortunately i am not very creative when it

comes to painting and

drawing. I sit in front of a

white piece of paper and

all that i come up with is

with doodles. Are there

any guidelines for hopeless

cases like me so

that even i can come up

with a decent picture?

(Laughs) You have to

overcome the fear for the

piece of paper. Getting

over the anxiety to create

that perfect picture.

When i was young and

visiting a nude and portrait

course the teacher

was giving us the courage

to see the whole picture

and not to concentrate

too much on how to make

the ‘Nose’ look perfect

“Leave it out” as long as

the picture is right and the

energy comes across!!

Thats what its all about,

a painting has to be good

because good pictures are

often the ones in which

nothing is right.

Do you also do private commissions? Say if i

want to gift my grandma a painting made by

you?

I am asked all the time but it’s my prices that scare

most people away (Laughs)

Let me put it this way, i really prefer not to do it,

As illustrator most of the work i do is commissioned

work where i already have text and some

kind of idea to what i am about to do. But if

someone wants a portrait, they usually have

their own ideas and own vision of how the final

result should look like and all i am thinking is:

Oh God, i have no artistic freedom here. Which i

find very restrictive.


51


I am exhibiting my works at Galleries so if you

want anything i did you can always buy something

there.

Picking up on that, you are exhibiting worldwide

and your next exhibition is this march in Cape

Town. How did that come about and how did it

happen that you are showing your works there?

That is correct, the exhibition starts on March

16th at the “whatiftheworld” Gallery n Cape Town.

About 2 years ago i met the curator of the gallery

at the ART BASEL in Basel. It’s one of the cool

new galleries in Cape Town. There is a lot happening

in this regard over there and since i been there

a lot for the last few years it has been really fantastic

meeting these people over there.

But it was only a year later that they asked me if i

could envision showing my works over there.

I was excited right away but also in a little panic

that i had to prepare a whole exhibition.

The theme of the exhibition was suppose to have

be african orientated, which obviously i did but

naturally : Olaf Hajek - African Style !

“DARK CLOUDS ARE GATHERING”

BY OLAF HAJEK

WHATIFTHEWORLD / GALLERY

First Floor, 208 Albert Rd.

Woodstock 7925

Cape Town, South Africa

16 MARCH - 16 APRIL 2011

There are about 14 Paintings at about 80cm in size

and a few smaller ones that i did for the Documentary

“Pray the Devil back to Hell”. This film is

about african themes like:

Child Soldiers, Blood Diamonds, Rape and Woman

who demonstrate against the war in Liberia

and with that move quite a lot of things.

When someone is painting this much and this

beautiful do you gift a lot of paintings and drawings

to family and friends and / or do they actually

expect them at holidays like christmas ?

I certainly have gifted many paintings in my

life (He Laughs) oh yes, i gotta be careful that it

doesn’t become a regular thing and doesnt take

over :)

But No, they certainly do not expect it and huge

paintings i do not gift anyway.

References:

Apple, United Airlines, Macy’s, The New Yorker,

The New York Times, Playboy, Forbes, Wallstreet

Journal, Architectual Digest, GQ, Shape,

NZZ, Bolero, SZ Magazin, Qvest, IO Donna,

MAN,

www.olafhajek.com

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coloured: #001- 10,00€ + 2,90 € postage

white: #002 - 8,00€ + 2,90€ postage

order : bags@honk-mag.de

Designed by

Natalie Reichmann

55

Who

MADoNNA?

ThE hELL Is

MUsIC

Music reviewed by Polys

His taste in music is legendary in Berlin.

No dance floor is safe!

He loves music and music loves him!

Now the top of the top of Polys playlist!

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MEN

• MEN is a band and art/performance collective

• It was left to JD Samson to carry the flag when,

Le Tigre announced they were going on hiatus on

2006.

• She (JD) is a cult icon and leader in the LGBT

community.

• MEN started out of two different projects. One

of those was a DJ/remix/production team that

was formed by JD and Johanna. They started

writing original music around the same time that

Ginger, Michael, Emily and JD were playing in a

band called Hirsute.

• JD and original Hirsute members Michael and

Ginger now comprise the core of MEN, with

Johanna and artist Emily contributing as writers,

consultants, and producers.

• They have also already completed US tours with

both Peaches and Gossip

• Main goal in Le Tigre was always to reach the

queer kids and that stayed the same.

• MEN’s debut is the best of the niche area where

gender politics and dance music intersect.

• Their infectious, arty, punk-tinged disco house

sounds won’t allow you to stay still.

• The Band speaks to issues such as trans aware

ness, wartime economies, sexual compromise,

and demanding liberties through their lyrics and

an exciting stage show.

• Credit Card Babies, for instance, contrasts a gay

couple’s desire for a child with the effect it would

have on the environment

• ‘Who Am I To Feel So Free’ shouts out support

for gender and sexual orientation awareness and

equality and talks of ‘radical surgery’ and ‘prosthetic

sex’.

• MEN have been selected from a shortlist of 500

to represent today’s youth for the first edition

(called “Younger Than Jesus”) of the exhibition

“The Generational” held in the New Museum of

New York.

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Interpret: MEN

Album: Talk About Body

Genres: Disco, Reggae, Punk

Label: IAMSOUND

Origin: Brooklyn (NY/USA)

Released: 1. February 2011

Line-up: JD Samson, Michael O’Neill, Ginger

Brooks Takahashi, Johanna Fateman,

Michael O’Neill

Interpret: Cut Copy

Album: Zonoscope

Genres: Alternative dance, Dance punk, Electro-pop

Label: Modular Recordings

Origin: Melbourne (Australia)

Released: 8 February 2011

Line-up: Ben Browning. Dan Whitford, Mitchell

Dean Scott, Tim Hoey

CUT COPY

• On the live show, JD’s girlfriend – the visibly

pregnant Sia – joined in on “Credit Card Babies”

with its twin motifs – Fuck Your Best – Fuck Your

Friends – urging procreation!

• The first single “Off Our Backs” nods to a lesbian

feminist journal that ran from the 1970s to the

early 2000s, combining political activism with a

down to earth mission to ‘liberate all peoples’.

• The official video features a tug of war on between

butch women, hairy-chested bears, skaterdressed

transmen, women who aren’t so butch but

more athletic. JD Samson dances around in the

front like a boy band idol.

• Favourite tracks: Credit Card Babies, Life’s Half

Price

• Cut Copy started in 2001 as a solo project by

songwriter, producer and DJ Dan Whitford.

• Zonoscope -> the 3rd album of Cut Copy

• Zonoscope is a well thought and good produced

complete recording! Exactly the opposite

of the flop of the year “Blue Songs” from Hercules

and Love Affair!

• The album touches on many facets of electropop

while continually kicking in unique diversions

influenced from 80s new wave, synth-pop,

and post-punk that lend nearly every track an

identity of their own.

• The band recently rejected offers for supporting

Lady Gaga, Nine Inch Nails and Coldplay on

their tour!

• Cut Copy deserves some plus points for the

album artwork, which was created by the late

Japanese artist Tsunehisa Kimura. The cover

features an image of New York City being destroyed

by a massive tidal wave.

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• Another Plus point goes to Cut Copy for their

courage (nerve) to such a progressive concept,

which will first be noticed from the vinyl listeners.

• The arrangement of the songs allows a successively

non-stop play of the vinyl

• The typical cracking noise of the record player

will add a nostalgic element to the sound, as

from the band probably desired.

• „Blink and You’ll Miss a Revolution“ with his

bold bass line and the interesting hollow wooden

sounding percussion, has one of the most beautiful

disco-melodies i’ve heart for a long time.

• The last song (”Sun God”) with its 15 minutes

breaks out of the familiar Cut-Copy-pattern.

The song transitions through a variety of individual

stages, opening to the cry of “Please,

please, please, please, please won’t you give

your love to me,” before reaching its moment as

the vocals yield “You got to live, you got to die.

So what’s the purpose of you and I?” From

there, nearly half the track drifts away into instrumental

and electronic bliss. It’s quite beautiful,

really!

• Favourite tracks: Blink and You’ll Miss a Revolution,

Sun God

The Hundred in the Hands

• Delicate gloomy moments and a hint of club

atmosphere, dressed with a trendy electronic

garment.

• Overwhelming, impulsive sound wrapped up

with the gentle and distant delicate voice of

Eleanore.

• Their sound could be placed somewhere between

Goldfrapp and Client.

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Interpret: The Hundred in the Hands

Album: The Hundred in the Hands

Genres: Disco House, Indie-Pop, Psychedelic

Label: Warp Records

Origin: New York (USA)

Released: 20. September 2010

Line-up: Eleanore Everdell, Jason Friedman

• They manage to deliver a clarified mix of

electronic, post-punk, pop and influences from

the 80s, without letting their music sound like

being ripped-of.

• They write the songs together. Writing as the

record, offsetting the precision of electronic

production with analogue machines, combining

live loose guitars, vocals and percussion with

stiff and exact programming.

• If “Hundred in the Hands” stay this diversified

and undistorted, then I’m sure that we are going

to hear more nice things from them in the future.

• This record is a really good production. Everything

is mixed-up in a right way and the sound

is clear and clean but not sterile.

• They don’t restrict to a single style. So that every

song could be classified in his own mini-niche

• Dance floor meets bedroom.

• Extra bonus points for Eleanore’s incredible

voice, which is clear as a bell!

• All the German reviews I’ve read till now

named “Dressed in Dresden” as the best song of

the album (just because Dresden and Berlin are

mentioned in the lyrics). Dear reviewers: You

are so pathetic!

• Favourite track: Commotion, Pigeons

THE NAKED AND FAMOUS

• 2008 -> Alisa and Thom met each other during

their studies at the Music and Audio Institute

(MAINZ) in Auckland. After breaking up their

studies they formed the band “The Naked and

Famous” and produced at the same year two

EPs, supported from Aaron who was studying

Audio-engineering.

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Interpret: The Naked and Famous

Album: Passive me, Aggressive you.

Genres: Alternative, Electro-Pop

Label: Fiction Records

Origin: Auckland (New Zealand)

Released: 13. September 2010 (NZ)

Line-up: Aaron Short, Alisa Xayalith, David

Beadle, Jesse Wood, Thom Powers

Interpret: Amiina

Album: Puzzle

Genres: Ambient, Post-rock, Instrumental

Label: Amiinamusik

Origin: Reykjavík (Iceland)

Released: 27. September 2010

• 2009 -> David and Jesse enter the band.

• They took their name (The Naked and Famous)

from a song of the band “Presidents of

the United States”

• TNaF are more than just an electro synth-pop

band. They’re reinventing the genre and have

come up with something unique.

• Thom describes their music in a previous interview:

“It’s popular music, and to some super

pretentious indie dickheads it is pop sell-out rubbish,

but to most people on the planet it’s alternative

music, even if it is part of popular culture.”

• In their homeland they already wrote history.

Their single “Young Blood” reached immediately

place 1 on the charts and so did 3 months

later the whole debut album “Passive Me, Aggressive

You”

• They received furthermore the Australian

songwriter award “APRA Silver Scroll” for the

song “Young Blood”.

• BBC took them in the list “Sound of 2011” for

the most promising newcomers for 2011.

• The songs are mixed by Billy Fish in LA who is

part of the studio process of “Garbage”.

• It would have been easy for the Naked and Famous

to take their heavenly pop hit to heart and

write 12 more for the album - but they didn’t.

Instead, they retained the mix of minimal and

steely electronic rock and dream pop they conjured

up on the EPs.

• Favourite track: Young Blood, Punching in a

Dream

AMIINA

• Amiina, the masters of beautiful and delicate

ambient sound and half-sung operatic ballads

are back!

• Amiina was formerly the string section for

Sigur Rós and they frequently perform live and

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in the studio along with them.

• Their first commercially-available recording

was the four-track EP Animamina

• 2007 -> They went on to release their debut

album “Kurr”.

• Puzzle is their first release after expanding

from a quartet to a sextet by the addition of a

drummer and an electronic artist.

• They make powerful and brooding music with

a plethora of unusual instruments.

• They use instruments like: Compact synthesizer,

Digital piano, Baroque guitar, Solidbody

electric guitar, Celtic harp, Harmonium,

Melodica, Celesta, Glockenspiel (which they

sometimes bow), Cello, Viola, Violin, Gideon

harp, Call bells, Glass harp, Kalimba, Mandolin,

Musical saw etc.

• The eight tracks which make up “Puzzle”, show

a slightly stronger emphasis on synthesisers

than its predecessor.

• The music contains elements of minimalistic

style, contemporary classical, ambient, and

electronic loops.

• In fact, the band Amiina brings to mind more

than anyone Efterklang, the cloudy, Danish,

post-rocking quintet.

• In their performances, each of them plays

from the large range of instruments, moving

from one instrument to another mid-song.

• On a sheer technical level, Puzzle is stunning;

understanding the amount of studio time and

rehearsal work it would take to make something

like this happen is truly mind-boggling - and it

demands a certain level of respect.

• Favourite track: What Are We Waiting For?,

Assin

COCKTAIL D’AMORE

• The Italian duo Discodromo (Giacomo Garavelloni

and Giovanni Turco) and DJ Boris

(resident at Berghain, Berlin) extended recently

Interpret: José Manuel, Miss Plug Inn, Hard

Ton, Ichisan

Album: Cocktail D’Amore Sampler 1

Genres: Disco, Nu-Disco, Electronic, House

Label: Cocktail D’Amore Germany

Origin: Div.

Released: 21 February 2011

Line-up: Remixes from Discodromo, Bottin

and Massimiliano Pagliara

the crew’s monthly Berlin party with the name

“Cocktail D’Amore” to an imprint and make

now their first steps with this sampler.

• I’m not gonna start writing the typical complicated

shit others do, just because I can’t! ;-)

• What I know is that I wanna dance every time

I put this record on!

• Also digitally available!

• Buy this tracks and dance to the beat of Cocktail

D’Amore.

• “The apocalypse takes the form of a cocktail

party” (Cocktail D’Amore)

•Track list: A1: José Manuel - Vampyros in

love (Discodromo Remix), A2: Miss Plug Inn

- Chanson d’amour (Bottin Energy Tango Mix),

B1: Hard Ton - Earthquake (Massimiliano Pagliara

remix), B2: Ichisan - Neli

• Favourite track: Miss Plug Inn - Chanson

d’amour (Bottin Energy Tango Mix), Hard Ton -

Earthquake (Massimiliano Pagliara remix)

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by Visual Drugstore

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Susann Bosslau studies fashion design and

lives in Berlin, Germany. Traveling around the

world a lot she is always busy catching new

trends and lifestyles in the most important

fashion metropolises this planet has to offer

and translates them into her own designs.

New York’s East Village, Tokyo, Music and

ballet as well as video art and intriguing characters

define her inspiration.

Markos A. Kern aka Mar-K.os is a passionate

visual artist from Munich, Germany. He

remains one of the few who develops visuals,

designs and performances all by himself.

With 10 years of experience in this field,

Mar-K.os is keeping his eyes peeled to catch

everyday, for others maybe banal scenes,

to redefine and reflect them afterwards with

artistic competence.

HONK!: How did you come up with the idea?

The Light Muses are a recreation of the white

muses which were dancers wearing white skin

tight catsuits that were used as screens for

video projections by VJ Mar-K.os at events like

Time Warp, Nature One or Cocoon In The Park.

Designing the light muses the idea was to go off

screen with an actual physically present visual

and not just to create a new outfit but a new abstract,

nothing to compare to creature so beautiful

in its way that viewers would be awestruck.

What’s your vision with the project??

Making the light muses so enormously tall that

they make an 8ft guy look ridiculous is part

of its enigmatic looks. Viewers are supposed

to look up, be confused gazing at its faceless,

organic figure and fail to identify themselves or

anything with it.

H-Booking

Usually the light muses perform together with

VJ Mar-K.os (myvisualworld.com) who sets up

a whole show and stage design with and around

them but you can book them separately as well.

Find us at www.lightmuses.com or www.visualdrugstore.com

for more information.

Future Projects

We are constantly working on new and better

ideas.

The next big thing is in the works and might as

well be seen at HONK!MAG very soon

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PoP’D To DEATh

by Drew Eastman

The lights are going crazy around you, the

music is building up in a pulse like just

before a stroke, Marco Schreyl (Germany’s

Ryan Seacrest) is counting down to announce

the winner of this seasons DSDS

endlessly interrupted with more ad breaks

to crush your nervous system then you

could imagine.

Standing on this huge lit up stage, there you are

full of hope of what may or may not happen to you

in just a few minutes.

You endured endless weeks of singing and bunking

with other contestants that you honestly would

rather see drown in their own piss than compete

here with you.

But you wanna win this so you show yourself from

the best possible angle, well mostly anyway.

Now the time has come and the moment is near,

could you be the winner?

BOOM! There you are … - You made it!

The crowd is screaming and you are close to tears,

not the last tears you will be crying too.

Once again you perform your winners song and

then you are rushed to do your first round of interviews

it should be start of something huge considering

that millions of people been watching the

show the last few weeks.

BUT it’s over faster that you can digest the first

champagne you had that night.

The Dream of becoming a real POP star via a casting

show is just that: a DREAM.

At least when it comes to Germanys DSDS or

POPSTARS with the latter being especially good at

picking the ones that not even make it into the top

ten with their winning singles or albums. Do you

remember Some & Any? No? Well that’s because

their claim to fame didn’t last a whole week.

There is currently a new series of DSDS on German

TV and wouldn’t you know it from the Final

TOP 10 the one that was giving the leaving papers

is in fact the one with the best voice and singing

abilities. Still remaining are the ones that forgot

their lines or the ones that are more famous for

treating the female counterparts like cheap servants

or such.

Germanys talent shows are on the air to entertain

rather than to really find the next big thing to have

a great career in pop and become a world wide

known celebrity like it happens in the UK or the

USA. In Germany you also count as a failure if you

do not have an Album ready to go within hours or

days of winning the show.

In the UK at least they give the artist a year till the

next season of X-Factor to work on the album and

the whole package that is the artist him or herself

to launch into a full career.

This has worked for many of them but in germany

we groomed the audience and media to

expect everything within days and then they all act

surprised that the result is more an insult to ear

rather then a full on start into a long career.

No one is making an effort to teach the audience

that all this should take time.

It really is all about viewing figures and a quick

buck in advertising monies.

It seems to work for RTL, PRO 7, VOX and the

labels behind this, otherwise why would they keep

on casting and not caring about what happens

after the show is over when the show should really

be starting?

WHY? Well because after knowing all this there

are still more and more teens and young adults

coming to the castings and singing up to be in

these shows so why would they want to stop if we

keep watching?

I guess what I am trying to say is we should shut

the hell up and stop watching it or just enjoy this

circus for what it is: A FAIRY TALE GONE POP.

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lock-in amplifi er

A lock-in amplifi er (also known as a phase-sensitive detector) is a type of amplifi er that

can extract a signal with a known carrier wave from an extremely noisy environment (S/N

ratio can be -60 dB or even less ). It is essentially a homodyne with an extremely low pass

fi lter (making it very narrow band). Lock-in amplifi ers use mixing, through a frequency

mixer, to convert the signal’s phase and amplitude to a DC—actually a time-varying lowfrequency—voltage

signal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock-in_amplifi er

Photos by Marcel Schlutt

Hair/Make up/Styling by Tanja Hennings

Model Lia May

special thanks AXEL HOTEL BERLIN www.axelhotels.com

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Fairy Tale

9595

A dystopian short story by TL Stiegler

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Aeons ago, most of the beings across our cosmos 1

still believed they where alone out there. It was

almost as if their worlds were each trapped within

a pocket of black air causing the various species to

drift on the immeasurable cosmic ocean without

having the slightest idea of the endless waters

of which they were but a drop. However, it was

merely the cage of their own narrow-minded

perception of reality that prevented the species

from seeing things the way we are able to see them

today. Like all the other species, our ancestors

used to live within their own dark bubble of

reality. Four-dimensional thinking was the only

way of perceiving reality they had ever known, so

they weren’t able to conceive the events that were

happening beyond their threshold of perception.

Furthermore, they did not have the slightest idea

of the things that had been and gone long before

their reality had come to existence in what had

been but a by-product of a blip between two minor

strands of the cosmic plot. Thus, sidelined by their

limited ability to comprehend the ungraspable 2 ,

our forebears were confined to the relative infinity

of a star system in the outer arm of one of the

billions of galactic vortexes whirling all across

their universe 3 .

At another shore of the cosmic ocean, at a time

that is incompatible with our current chronology,

there will exist another universe. It will be there,

within the realm of the Sha’ddars of Izarthu, that

the disastrous events will start to unfold. An alien

creature, which we might be tempted to prematurely

label an old man, will grumble the words:

“Kl’llvn Tr’rhn, have you come before the elders

of the Izarthu’shu’Sha’ddar to complete the ritual

of shc’chan?” His long, pale blue hair as well as

his beard, which might best be described as a

blue-green designer stubble partly turned white,

will emphasise what we would consider a most

dignified appearance. “Yes, honourable Thk’krn,”

a little being lacking any characteristics that would

make it possible to pigeon-hole it into one of the

gender categories that we know of, will then reply.

“I’ve come here today to request the nomination

for the final stage of aspiration. In order to honour

the one whose presence I lack so much.” “Your

request, Tr’rhn,” the elder will return with a low

voice, “has been granted. Inhale now – breathe

the nucleus of the human reality.” And thus it will

begin ...

In their limited capability of grasping the dimensions

of time and space, our ancestors considered

the year 2031 to be what they back then called the

present. On their home planet our forebears had

by then managed to unite the once quarrelling nations

of the world under the banner of one federal

government. However, despite the fact that their

planet was no longer segmented into national

realms, our ancestors were hardly any closer

to living in serene harmony with the lacks and

abilities the cosmos had given to them. Quite the

opposite, the allegedly joint global society split up

into several factions that were each convinced they

were destined to control the fate of the world’s

population. Known as the Regulators, the Believers,

the Emittents, and the Adepts, those factions

didn’t take each other especially seriously. Nor did

they care about each other most of the time – as

long as what the other factions were doing would

not affect their own agenda in a negative way.

Thus, the factions lived within their own fields of

expertise, in which they claimed to have the prerogative

of interpretation: The Regulators made

1

In order to avoid possible confusion, I shall use the term “cosmos” to refer to the concept of a “multiverse” (which

hypothetically consists of various universes); cf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse

2

Cf http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_our_queer_universe.html and http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=vioZf4TjoUI

3

One single bubble within the multiverse (referred to as “the cosmos” within this story)

88

FAIRY TALE 9595

the rules that would guarantee security and public

order, the Emittents would provide the population

with audio-visual entertainment programmes,

the Adepts concentrated on calculating what they

would then call scientific knowledge, while the Believers

were busy enthralling their followers with a

well-balanced suppressant of both threats of punishment

as well as comforting ideas of salvation.

There had also once been a fifth faction, known

as the Cogitators, but those had long lost all their

advisory influence. The main reason for their descent

was the fact that the other factions had little

to interest in having their laws, their content, their

progress, or their faith scrutinised. Therefore, the

Cogitators were considered the pariah of the faction

system. Meanwhile they had become almost

a myth – one that nobody was even interested in

hearing about any more.

Within the shrinking remains of the Cogitators’

realm, there lived a little girl – the last of their

faction. Having studied our ancestors’ other factions

for years, the little girl knew their ways. She

had long understood the social phenomena that

were playing a major role within their societies.

What’s more, she was aware of the discursively

constructed concepts of good and bad, right and

wrong that determined the other factions’ perception

of reality.

Most of the time the little girl, however, was busy

studying the floods of scientific data the faction of

the Adepts would constantly come up with. Being

a keen thinker, she had soon come to the conclusion

that in a universe consisting of trillions and

trillions of planets the idea of Earth being the

only one blessed with intelligent life was a highly

irrational hypothesis. What if those species one

day decided to visit our planet, she wondered.

And even if none of them could ever reach us – or

even if none of them might exist at all – wouldn’t

it still be wise to re-evaluate our ethnocentric selfimage

for the reason alone that it has been based

upon such small-minded ways of self-perception?

Those were the thoughts the little girl would ponder

over day in, day out ...

One night, something strange happened to the

little girl while she was asleep. After what felt like

a surreal dream about gigantic rainbow bubbles

that first turned black, then collided with each

other while bizarrely drifting in the waters of a

gigantic ocean – an ocean that was actually flying

in the sky above Earth – she woke up, her mind

enlightened by the things she had seen. She felt

as if she had looked into the heart of the cosmos

itself. Suddenly, she realised how narrow-minded

her perception about the universe had been. For

what she had considered to be reality was only

one single sphere of perception among billions of

bubbles of reality drifting across the cosmic ocean.

But there was something else the little girl had

witnessed in her dream, and she could still see it.

Flashes of reminiscence were showing her what

looked like the body of a genderless child absorbing

blueish energy from a gigantic black bubble

that seemed to be deflating.

Although the girl suspected that the Regulators,

the Believers, the Emittents, and the Adepts would

probably not care about her insights, as long as

it did not acutely affect their accustomed daily

routine, she decided she had to share her visions

with the other factions. First, the little girl tried to

advise the Believers of the moment of enlightenment

that was about to come. Unsurprisingly,

the Believers did not want to hear a single word

about what she had to tell them, amen. When

they started accusing her of heresy, the girl left the

Believers behind. Second, the girl tried to advise

the Lawmakers of the imminent excitement. “I

have news that might affect the fate of this planet,”

she told them. Our politicians listened carefully

to what she had to tell them. They then replied:

“Well, that sounds quite interesting indeed. We

shall consider carefully, what you have told us.

Good bye for now!” Being under the impression,

89

they hadn’t taken her too seriously, the the girl

left the Lawmakers behind. Third, the girl tried

to advise the Emittents of the upcoming events.

Yet, when they had listened to her with half an

ear for 13 minutes, they told her, they liked the

plot of her story, yet unfortunately they were no

longer able to change the production schedule

for tomorrow’s histortainment. “Let’s talk again,

soon – farewell!” Fourth, the girl tried to advise

the Adepts, who had meanwhile begun to degenerate

into mere custodians of scientific data, of the

situation. “Well, that’s quite an interesting thesis

you’ve got there,” they said. “However, what’s far

more impressive is this data corpus that we’ve just

finished receiving. We have to compile it as fast as

possible, so we can collect additional data. Good

bye, little girl.” Having been refused four times,

the little girl went back home, disillusioned with

her fellow humankind.

When the following night, after only 6000 years

of recorded history, our kind was facing their final

curtain, they had not even an idea whom to blame

for their horrible fate. Our ancestors were running

around all over the planet, screaming, not knowing

how to escape the destructive forces they could

neither see nor comprehend in the slightest. The

little girl, however, was lying on her bed, cannily

smiling to herself, while she mentally zoomed in

on the events that were being mirrored into her

mind, and she could see billions of galaxies crashing

and collapsing inside of the bubble that was

fading out into nothingness. The little girl knew

there was nothing left to do other than to accept

the end of all things. The end of the things that

humankind had ever cared about, that was. Then

came … the dark.

In a distant future, myriads of event horizons

away from the dying universe’s point of space and

perception, the elders of the Izarthu’shu’Sha’ddar

will by then be finishing their conjuration. Speaking

slowly and in a sacred tone, the one with the

blue-green-white beard will declare: “F’lk b’g’

ww’dwu, ‘nga s’nn’chs’n th’nkus’m’ch – don’t

you weep no more about that what has been lost,

Tr’rhn. For those who had nothing left to lose except

for their interest in themselves will soon have

nothing left at all. Thus, it is them who shall shoulder

the torment of your soul. May their sacrifice

make your mind a fortified haven of tranquillity

again.” And while the young one will be falling

into the half-conscious state of shc’chan, in his

fluctuating appearance it will seem to us like a living,

transparent stone sculpture. And as the elder

will say: “Let there be light,” there will be light. Exhaling

stardust through his mouth, the child will

begin to shimmer with bluish opalescence, while

only moments later, in some distant universe, a

whole civilisation will have ceased to exist, as if

they had been but a homoeopathic agent within

the eternal stream of the cosmos.

Fairy Tale 9595 is the prelude to The Eschaton Paradox, a dystopian short story cycle

by Berlin based writer TL Stiegler. Further episodes are to be published until the release

of his work-in-progress novel A Late Summer’s Discourse. Holding an academic

degree in Language and Communication, TL Stiegler aims at critically reflecting on the

unconscious patterns that underlie today’s systems of public dialogue.

Visit http://tlstiegler.com/ to stay tuned for his upcoming works, and follow his short

stories on http://eschatoncycle.blogspot.com/.

Photo © 2011 Brijbag/Wollgarten

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By Sébastien Sistebane

www.facebook.com/sistebane

http://www.sistebane.com

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92 PoP ART hERoEs

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94 POP ART HEROES

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96 POP ART HEROES

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Come bitter

rain,

AND wash the

saddest of all

words

from my

heart.

HOME

Photo Bernhard Musil www.be-musil.com

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Interview by Polys

Photography Suzana Holtgrave

Production assistence Natalie Reichmann

Mama wears SADAK www.sadak.de

It’s only a matter of milliseconds to fall in love with Mama

after meeting her! She is an exceptional talent with a really

beautiful, strong and penetrable voice. We met her in

Berlin one day before the Batty Bass Album Launch Party

and i had a great time with her and the lovely photographer

Suzana. Talking, laughing, eating the tasty food

Natalie cooked for us, shooting some awesome photos

and of course laughing again!

Watching her live the day after at the Batty Bass party

(which kicked ass!) confirmed my opinion about her:

WOW! This girl definitely has to find a producer!

So my lovely Honks, let me introduce you to : MAMA!

Polys: So tell us about you… Who are you? And

where are you from?

Mama: I’m MAMA and I’m from London (Great

Britain). South London, to be more specific. I’m a

singer, songwriter, producer, club promoter, party

monster and lover!

What’s the music scene like in south London?

South London has a great history of urban music

such as drum & bass, jungle, dubstep, garage, UK

funky and I grew up in with these rich urban influences

which I’m sure has done me good. Well it

taught me how to dance anyway.

You were born there and grew up there?

I was born in London but up to the age of 7 I also

spent my early years in Nigeria where my father

is from and a few years in Martinique the French

West Indies where my Mothers family are from.

I was a little exotic jet setter from a young age; I

love to travel!

When did you move to Berlin?

I moved to Berlin a year and a half ago, but I’ve

visited Berlin the first time 6-7 years ago because

of a gig I had with a band I used to be in and I fell

head over heels in love with this city. The second

I arrived at Schönefeld airport it felt like I’d gone

back in time, seeing people with mullets and 80’s

clothes on but then I walked into Berghain and felt

like I had stepped into the future or some kind of

secret world that I had never experienced before.

What kind of a band was it?

“Mama Shamone” was an electro-pop band I

fronted with full on live bass, guitar, drums. Hardcore,

heavy and hi-energy. We had a top 20 UK hit

song and lived the dream for a while, headlining

a tent at Glastonbury etc. I had some of the best

times of my life in that band, traveling, true rock

n roll tours around Europe where we’d lost members

of the band, caught infections, laughed until

wet ourselves. It really gave me the knowledge to

push my solo career.

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MAMA

to describe it I would say it’s simply the Mama

sound; a delicious concoction of music.

When did you start making music?

I decided to work on a solo project two years ago

when I was in London, I wasn’t in the band anymore

so I searched high and low for a producer

to help kick start my dream as a solo artist but

that special person was no where to be found so

instead of waiting around I packed all my shit

and just moved to Berlin to do it all by myself. I

got a book and sat in front of my computer and

just learned how to use the logic music program;

locked my self away for three months and wrote

an album.

Is the album finished?

I’ve done the best that I can with it and I still need

to find that genius producer to give it the finishing

touches, turn the record into an absolute monster.

If you’re out there, show your face!

So how did living in south London influenced you

as an artist and the music you make?

London is great because it buzzes with a melting

pot of cultures and sounds from all over the world.

I grew up with neighbours from Ethiopia, Egypt,

Jamaica, Ireland, Nigeria and Greece so I naturally

developed a taste for world music. Having

an open mind about different genres can only do

you good. Throw me in a jungle with some natives

beating on drums and I could probably get down

with them. I’m pretty prepared for any musical

collaboration.

So how would you describe your music if someone

would ask you…?

I’m not quite sure how to describe it. I guess it’s

just a little bit of everything that I like. Some

people say it’s too poppy and then some people

say it’s too minimal and not commercially

worthy… too this and too that… If I really have

Have you done any releases till now? Any singles

maybe?

Yes, I released my first solo EP ‘Renegade’ in August

2010, with a remix from Jay Haze (Bpitch).

My second single is out now, it’s called “Horses”

out on the Batty Bass Compilation Album.

Is there also a music video for this single?

Yes. It was a really fun video to shoot despite

the -2°C weather. I had to dance in a swimsuit

on a rooftop of east London. We also filmed in a

friend’s Shed. This is not just an ordinary garden

Shed but a ravers shed, sound proofed with a

disco ball, banging sound system, smoke machine,

lasers and a hot tub. 95% of the people in the

video were still up partying from the night before

so it gave the video a trashy effect which I love.

What is the song “Horses” about?

It’s a trippy song about hallucinating in the name

of love and obsession for a man. When I first

moved to Berlin I loved the space and how peace-

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MAMA

ful and safe it was, so I used to walk up and down

Schönhauser Allee late at night, skipping around

creating song ideas. This is how ‘Horses’ was

born. I sang the entire structure of the song into

my iPhone then ran home to record it in my

bedroom.

How many songs do you have on the Batty Bass

compilation Album?

One of my own songs ‘Horses’, ‘Shake it up’ with

Hanna Holland. And then I do the dark, hypnotic

voices for the intro and the outro of the album.

It’s a really unique album with tracks from Hannah

Holland, Posh the Prince, Pilocka Krach and

more, out now!

From your early age you was always involved with

music. Was it always your dream to make music?

Yes, I never doubted in my mind that this was

the path that I would take. I used to make up cute

little songs about taking a poop and would record

them on cassettes tapes. From around the age of 6

or so I used make my own little radio show where

I would sing and talk about murdering aliens. So

funny, I think I should reinvent those shows.

How do you produce your music?

I use Logic on Mac with a very basic set up; drum

pads and a keyboard. I don’t play instruments but

I just trigger synth sounds and layer them up, go

with the flow, doing whatever captures how I feel

at that moment in time.

Can you name some songs that inspired you the

most until now?

Hm… difficult… I would say Kate Bush “running

up that hill” and lots of Disney songs! I love Mary

Poppins and little Mermaid not forgetting gangster

rap music… Snoop Dog and the beats of Dr

Dre.

If you had the chance to collaborate with one of

your favourite artists, who would you choose?

I suppose I would choose someone like Tricky

from Massive Attack or Dr Dre. I think that

would be a beautiful collaboration, the birth of a

new sound.

What brings the future for Mama?

I will continue making music for me and if people

appreciate it then that is a bonus. If I find myself

drinking tea with Oprah Winfrey then the universe

just might have a mission for me to complete,

who knows? Let’s talk again in 10 years.

Buy Mamas music and the Batty Bass compilation

album on iTunes and all good stores!

Watch Mama´s new video „Horses“

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6QY_-6Wm4k

www.myspace.com/mamalondontown

www.soundcloud.com/mama-1/northern-line-demo

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RICK

oWENs

MEN’s

UNEDITED

Photos by Asha Mines

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108 RICK OWENS

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110 RICK OWENS

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WHO

THE?

IS

PERVERT

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Text by Mike Rattigan

Illustration by Philip Latz

Once upon a time Red Riding Hood went into

the dark forest. She was heading for her grandmother’s

house. It was a late afternoon and

hardly any sunlight came through the dense

treetops. She was all excited to see her granny

again. To mark the occasion, she had put on

her new red leather boots, covering her legs

from heel to knee. They perfectly suited her red

miniskirt and cloak, all made from the same

calf leather. Step by step, they made wonderful

creaky sounds. She liked its smell, too. The

sounds perfectly harmonized with the crickets

and birds.

It was late summer and still warm. A cool breeze

caressed her bare legs and thighs. What a welcome

relief! It kept her from sweating too much.

Sweat stains were not to be tolerated in any

way—especially not on her new white lace panties

of light, soft linen. Her magical black triangle

showed through, nothing more than a hint. The

linen held the faint memory of her herb womanly

odours. This thought aroused Red Riding Hood

and made her crisp nipples go hard and tight. It

just had to be a wonderful day.

Some people may find fantasies like these offensive.

They combine the immaculate world of

infant fairy-tales with adult imagery of the raw

exchange of bodily fluids. However, such notions

are more common than you expect. Settings similar

to the one described are an essential part of a

series of comic books called “Grimm Fairy Tales”,

published by Zenescope Entertainment, one of the

world’s biggest publishing houses for comic books

and graphic novels.

These stories are dripping with sex and violence:

death, splatter and lust are the main characters in

those tales. All female characters wear corsages,

hardly covering their huge bouncing boobs. The

same goes for Red Riding Hood: Not only does

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WHO IS THE PERVERT

she display a lot of leg underneath a skirt hardly

worth its name; she now and then stretches her

white linen panties toward the reader. Sexual allusions

could hardly become less subtle.

Sex sales fairy tales too

While further exploring the combination of sexuality

and fairy-tales, it becomes apparent that this

is a widespread phenomenon. Thousands of pictures

that show grown-up women impersonating

sexualised versions of Cinderella, Snow-white, Rapunzel

or Red Riding Hood can be found online.

Many of these images play with stereotypes of the

innocent untouched school girl and the always

lusty, man-eating and never-to-satisfy slut.

The mix of fairy-tales and sex is especially popular

with the Fetish and Gothic scene. With it is obsession

for death and the night, Gothic style is driven

by a strong romanticism that corresponds to the

dream-like feeling of many fairy-tales. This surely

has to do with the eternal nostalgia of the “once

upon a time”, the yearning for a better time that

has never been and will never be.

The connection to the Fetish scene may seem less

likely. However, perverted forms of innocent fairytale

figures is quite common here. The version of

Red Riding Hood in lace boots and red leather can

be counted for as such. As implied, this relates to

the childlike naivety and innocence often associated

with fairy-tales.

In our heterosexual societies, the female stereotype

is also strongly related to innocence, weakness

and submission. In contrast, the zest of

fetishism has a lot to do with spoiling the innocent

and pure body, to taint it, for example by soiling

it with bodily fluids. This also has a strong link to

the general function of eroticism: Tempting and

overwhelming the apparently innocent is one of

the strongest motifs in the history of eroticism. It

can be found in movies, literature and the arts.

The stimulus from eroticizing fairy-tales is especially

strong. For what could be more innocent

and non-sexual than the world of fairy-tales? It’s

the world of pure princesses and brave princes,

of speaking—sexually neutral—animals. By putting

them in touch with the adult world of sex,

the pureness of fairy-tales is thereby crossed with

the impure—thus transforming them into erotic

objects.

Stories for everyone

Looks, however, can be deceiving: Although they

nowadays appear to belong to the pre-sexual

lives of children, most fairy-tales in fact contain a

strong hidden link to sexuality. Yet this link has

been buried or even denied throughout the centuries.

Originally, fairy-tales were not only told to children,

but to adults as well. Both gathered together

in small groups to listen to the stories, which have

were traded on from generation to generation. By

listening to and remembering fairy-tales, children

should be prepared for their adolescence. Adults,

on the other hand, would remember their own

troubles and problems as teenagers. They would

perhaps laugh at the one or the other sexual allusion

which the children could not understand yet.

The important role fairy-tales played—and in

some sense still play—for the preparation of

children for their adult lives is a reason why many

protagonists are in fact young women or teenage

girls. More than for boys growing up to be men,

the female adolescence has always been considered

especially risky—due to the dangers of rape

and unwanted pregnancy.

The connection between fairy-tales and sexuality

already begins with one of their most common

plots: a young woman, mostly a princess, is rescued

by a young man, mostly a prince. This widespread

figure is known as the “damsel in distress”.

It is clearly related to a common stereotype of

heterosexual relationships. It is the prince—the

man—who rescues the passively waiting woman.

It is also the man who activates their slumbering

sexuality with the cathartic kiss.

By this form of initiation, Sleeping Beauty and

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Snow White for example, transform from maidens

to full-fledged women. But before this can

happen, most princes must pass dangerous and

difficult tests. This stands for the difficulties of

male courtship on the one hand, and the moral

firmness of women on the other.

Many symbols in this context deal with the overcoming

of female frigidity. One especially outstanding

example are the thorn hedges in “Sleeping

Beauty”. For centuries Sleeping Beauty sleeps

behind these thorn hedges, thus keeping away

unwanted and unfit princes. This sexually inactive

state prevents her from maturing. Only the

one prince bold and stubborn enough will be able

to overcome her protective state and unlock her

sexuality. The fairy-tale “Rapunzel” tells a similar

story. Here, the thorn hedges have changed to a

solid—and literally impenetrable—tower.

Blood plays a crucial role in many fairy-tales as

well. It can either symbolize defloration or the first

menstruation: After Sleeping Beauty pricks her

finger on a spindle , she falls asleep. This can be

read as a symbol for her first menstruation. Now

fertile, Sleeping Beauty remains in her asexual

state until she finds the right partner.

The red cloak of Red Riding Hood also stands for

menstruation. From this moment on, the young

woman can become pregnant and must therefore

protect her virginity . The wolf, on the other hand,

is a symbol for the wild, untamed male sexuality.

He tries to trick Red Riding Hood into sexual

intercourse. The violent act of eating can thus be

understood as a metaphor for the rape of Red Riding

Hood.

Now, who’s the pervert?

One may find such interpretations far-fetched. In

fact, the sexual allusions in fairy-tales are not as

evident as they used to be. This has to do with the

fact that the well-known versions of these stories

have only little in common with the original ones,

which had been published in the first edition of

the fairy-tales collected by the Grimm brothers.

Maybe somewhat surprising, the stories had not

been considered suitable for children by contemporaries.

There had been too many outright

sexual allusions for the prude audience. Thus

x-rated by the public, the brothers Grimm censored

all offensive parts and increased the degree

of violence instead, particularly when villains are

punished.

On that score, the fairy-tales we know today are

merely trivialized versions without the archaic,

sexual spices they once had possessed. Only one

century later, the kitsch film adaptations by Walt

Disney ultimately purified and sterilized them.

That way, Disney created visual icons so strong

and sticky that they often are the very first images

that pop into our minds whenever we try to think

of a fairy-tale. Nothing could be further away from

sex than this prudery.

Re-awakening the sex in Sleeping Beauty?

All things considered, fairy-tales, in fact, have a

lot to do with sexuality—if it’s not even their core.

They provide stories surrounding the blossoming

and the dangers of sexuality. From this point of

view, many fairy-tales are in fact very sex-positive

and not prude at all. For in the end, all strands

culminate in a wedding, which of course is nothing

more than a preliminary stage to the first of

many nights of marital sex.

Bearing this in mind, one could ironically conclude

that the sexualisation of fairy-tale figures

actually brings them back to their essence. Although

the charm of fairy-tales, of course, lies in

the fact that they usually insinuate without saying

explicitly.

Either way, fairy-tales are not innocent. With

them goes a great responsibility. They have a

strong impact on what children will consider a

normal sexuality or gender identity. Thus, the

perversion of fairy-tales may help staying aware

of their subliminal messages. For the question of

who rescues and kisses Sleeping Beauty is not a

trivial one at all.

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The perfect dress for the HONK!LADY

A WOMAN

SHOULD

WEAR

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Lena Hoscchek

Ziad Ghanem

Vivienne Westwood

Thom Brown

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A MAN

SHOULD

WEAR

The perfect dress for the HONK!GENTLEMAN

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Vivienne Westwood

G-Star

Ziad Ghanem

Jeremy Scott

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Fotos & Styling Bartholot

Model & Make-up Harm Neitzel

www.bartholot.net

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www.peterpapenberg.de

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by Claudio Alvargonzalez

Oscar’s Curse… Are you afraid? I

think you should…

After a long awards season from all over

the globe, The Hollywood Academy

Awards celebrated their 83rd edition

this year. By the time you are reading

this article you already know that The

King’s Speech (Tom Hooper, 2010) is

perfectly spoken and Colin Firth and

Natalie Portman have take all the possible

awards from north to south.

The Academy Award is supposedly the greatest

honor for an actor all over the world. It means

respect, success and a long career. Really?... no

way man. But why? It is true that there is only

one Meryl Streep (2 Oscars and 16 nominations)

and one Jack Nicholson (3 Oscars and

12 nominations) or one Tom Hanks, one Clint

Eastwood or one Jodie Foster but it is also true

that some other actors didn’t have the same

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luck. I repeat the question. Why? Is there some

kind of curse that ruins the career of the

winner?

Let’s see…

I´m writing this

after coming from my

therapist (that’s how I call my

fortune-teller) asking her if there’s

such thing as a Curse ( according to the

dictionary a Curse is an appeal or prayer for

evil or misfortune to befall someone or something).

Of course her answer was positive and

I may have one so I would need a rose quartz

stone, a four leaf clover and a rabbit foot… all

together. But as I am my own demon I won’t

need them right now so I think I will send them

to Natalie Portman in case she needs them.

The truth is that some careers tend to stall,

freeze, go into reverse, or sputter out afterward.

This is more common in women than

men but speaking about male actors I can find

some good examples like Cuba Gooding Jr.

or Timothy Hutton. Remember them? Yes,

the black guy from “Jerry Maguire” (Cameron

Crowe, 1996) with one of the longest acceptance

speeches ever and the boy from “Ordinary People”

(Robert Redford, 1980). Of course they are

still working but are they stars? Could you name

one of their movies from the past 5 years?... me

neither.

And what about Adrien Brody? He is an amazing

actor. He won the award back in 2002 for

“The pianist” (Roman Polanski), great film and

better performance.

He

made memorable

turns in more independent

fare like in “King of the

Hill” (Steven Soderbergh, 1993),

“The Thin Red Line” (Terrence Malick,

1998) and “Summer of Sam” (Spike Lee,

1999). But since his win he has done nothing really

remarkable, specially “Predators” (Nimród

Antal, 2010). Yeah, he looks more muscular but

apart from that not much.

But let’s talk about women. The Oscar jinx

for them is devastating. For reasons that are

not totally clear (but at the end I will tell you

my opinion), the Oscar doesn’t affect the lives

and careers of male actors the same way. But

although I love gossip too, I don’t get paid for

writing about Sandra Bullock’s divorce or Reese

Whiterspoon’s love life. Put If someone want to

pay me double I’m all ears.

Anyway, consider some of these big Hollywood

stars: Charlize Theron, the gorgeous South African

became very popular after a long modeling

career. We all remember “The Italian Job” (F.

Gary Gray, 2003) and “The Cider House Rules”

(Lasse Hallström, 1999). But she decided to do

something braver and she uglied herself up to

win the Oscar in 2003 as the serial killer Aileen

Wuornos in “Monster” (Patty Jenkins, 2003),

lesbian love included. But her next move was

nothing really interesting, including a movie

with my fellow citizen Penélope Cruz (with an

Oscar on her own too so we’ll see what happen

with her role in the 4th part of “Pirates of

the Caribbean”) and a total monstrosity called

“AEon Flux” (Karyn Kusama, 2005). He’s back

on track and she has some projects in production.

But the only one that really interest me is

the Alien prequel called “Prometheus” with Ridley

Scott and Michael Fassbender. We will see.

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OSCAR’S CURSE

Now one of my favorites. Gwyneth Paltrow. Yes,

I know 50% of you people hate her but I love

her and as I’m the one writing this… two cups!

Ok, my dear Gwyneth won for “Shakespeare in

Love” (John Madden, 1998). And after that?

Nothing. Yes I know, she played Sylvia Plath

or an insane mathematician in “Proof” (John

Madden, 2005) but to me that was nothing.

And don’t make me talk about “Sky Captain and

The World of Tomorrow” (Kerry Conran, 2004)

because I’m in a good mood. Thanks God she’s

thinking wiser lately and back to the right track

with “Two Lovers” (James Gray, 2008) and

“Country Strong” (Shana Feste, 2010). By the

way, if you haven’t seen Shana Feste’s first movie

you are taking too long, a small but delicious

melodrama called “The Greatest” with Susan

Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan at their best.

Want more? Rachel Weiz and Reese Witherspoon

won the Oscar the same year, funny, uh?

But for the American actress things went much

worse. She became the most bankable female

star in Hollywood after Julia Roberts, but after

her perfect performance in “Walk the line”

(James Mangold, 2005) she vanished. To me

filming something like “Rendition” or “Four

Christmases” means exactly that… to vanish.

And believe me her next projects are nothing to

write about, maybe her next “Water for Elephants”

(Francis Lawrence, 2011) with the extremely

boring Robert “Twilight” Pattinson has

something to show but I don’t see myself paying

8 euro to watch it so I’ll wait for the dvd.

The British Miss Weiz seems to be clever. She

was becoming quite a star after “The Mummy”

saga and after the Oscar her star was much

brighter but for reasons I can’t explain se decided

to take part in “Fred Claus” or “Definitely,

Maybe”… two movies, just one word… “trash”.

But she learned the lesson and came back to

Europe to film the Spanish movie “Agora” (Alejandro

Amenábar, 2009) and some other British

films. And still more to come, the Terrence Malick’s

new project and “The Danish Girl” (Lasse

Hallström, 2012) with Nicole Kidman. And

Speaking about Keith Urban’s wife, she has decided

to finally forget everything about Botox and

show the great actress she is. She was nominated

again this year for “Rabbit Hole” (John Cameron

Mitchell, 2010). Just watch the trailer on You-

Tube and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Still more? Ok, Mira Sorvino (“Mighty Aphrodite”,

1995), Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”,

135

2001), Kim Basinger (“L.A. Confidential”, 1997),

Helen Hunt (“As Good As It Gets”, 1997) or Renee

Zellweger (“Cold Mountain”, 2003). What

happened with the big movie star from “Chicago”

or “Bridget Jones’s Diary”?? Well, a big

cold mountain is what defines her career after

the Oscar. Only one good film called “Appaloosa”

(Ed Harris, 2008) but I bet no one went to

watch it and what it’s worse, she has no projects

from 2011. Her weird faces like eating chewing

gum drive me mad but she’s an excellent actress

after all.

And last but not least, one question? How is it

possible that someone with 2 Oscars has such a

terrible career? The answer has one name: Hillary

Swank. What she did in “Boys Don’t Cry”

(Kimberly Peirce, 1999) and “Million Dollar

Baby” (Clint Eastwood, 2004) makes me love

her forever. She’s a gifted talented actress. So

what is the problem? Why is it that her next film

called “The Resident” is something Jessica Alba

should be doing? Believe me if I say I have no

answer.

But I’m telling you my conclusion. To speak

about a Curse is simply idiot. A real Curse is to

watch Megan Fox acting if that is what she does.

The truth is that being a woman in Hollywood is

hard. And if you turn 40 it’s even harder. How

many good roles can you find? And how many

Meryl Streeps can it be? Yeah, not many. So if

you are not as talented as Cate Blanchett, Jodie

Foster (who is also a director and producer) or

Annette Bening, you have to think clever. Even

Julianne Moore and Julia Roberts have problems

finding good roles so you can have two

golden men in the middle of your living room

and a lot of free time to look at them.

Now look at last year’s winner Sandra Bullock.

She doesn’t act like Katherine Hepburn or

Judi Dench but no one can say she is not very

intelligent, specially looking at the box office.

But take a look at her moves after winning

the Oscar. She’s filming with Stephen Daldry

(“The Hours”), Tom Hanks and Alfonso Cuarón

(“Children of Men”), three of the most gifted

minds in Hollywood these days. I told you she

was clever.

So my advice to Natalie Portman is simple.

Just do what you have been doing and wait for

“Thor” (Kenneth Branagh, 2011) to be a big hit.

But if the meantime if you have any problem

give me a call. I can always give you my therapist’s

number or lend you my rabbit foot.

136

POLLY

BALITRO

by Amanda M. Jansson

www.pollybalitro.com

137

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PoLLy bALITRo

I happen to know that birds have a very special

signifi cance for Polly Balitro (much like they do in

fairy tales). Can you go a little into it?

First of all, I have to say that each animal holds

a very special significance for me - but you are

absolutely right about birds: they are my favourite

among all creatures. Especially small birds,

like the very common house sparrow - are a

great source of inspiration for me. The house

sparrow is such a tiny creature but it’s oh so

smart when it comes to survival skills! It manages

to triumph over the pigeons and even over

the seagulls, since eventually it is the fastest

one to get food leftovers. I also really appreciate

birds’ colours and sounds - it’s amazing that

they are never “wearing” something inappropriate

for the season and that they are never out

of tune! And above all they can fly! If we were

birds, we wouldn’t need to use any means of

transport at all because we would just fly - it

would be so convenient for our planet. Seagulls

are also great - and all the birds that are searelated.

And owls!

Is there a fairy tale you relate to a lot?

I have thought about it for quite a while and

then it hit me - the Moomins (MUUMI) of

course! I know this probably doesn’t come as

a surprise - after all I moved to Finland for a

reason - but I am sure that whoever has come

across some books, comics or cartoon about

the Moomins must understand why. I personally

believe that Tove Jansson is a genius. Each

Moomins story has many fictional and creative

elements but it is still somehow so much related

to real life, it makes it hard to believe that

Muumipeikko, Nuuskamuikkunen, Pikku Myy

and the others don’t exist somewhere. What

makes Moomins so special is, above all, the

serious topics in it - which makes it something

adults can relate to. The fact that Nuuskamuikkunen

has to leave Muumipeikko every winter

and the complex relationship between the two

of them makes me wonder about how kids deal

with friendship and how “grown-ups” do. I also

like that the Moomin Trolls sleep for the whole

winter - they never have to go through the coldest

and darkest months but they always get the

best adventures in summer time.

What elements of a tale do you see in your life?

My life is full of elements of a tale! First of all,

birds wake me up in the morning when they

come to eat at my window. When I look outside,

I see birch trees and the ground covered in

snow all winter. I live by the Baltic Sea - which

is a very special sea, that tastes more like a lake

but it’s still a sea. And last but not least, I get to

eat the delicious Finnish baked goods anytime

I want - if I have to name one, voisilmäpulla

is one of my favourite and I could translate its

name into “butter-eyed ball”.

What inspires you?

Birds. Whales. All the other animals. Birch

trees. The sea. Old photographs. The smell of

antique papers. Snow. The forest. In no particular

order.

How does the environment infl uence your work?

The environment extremely influences my

work - and my behaviour in general. I really

need to feel comfortable to start producing

something and the search for an ideal environment

to settle has been an on-going process in

my life for many years now. I have now lived in

Helsinki for over 6 months and I feel like Finnish

surroundings have worked wonders for my

inspiration - I have found myself much closer to

nature than I have ever before - especially after

the last 4 years in Milano. I’m quite restless

though and I am starting to wonder if an experience

even closer to nature could create that

ideal environment that I have been looking for

- at this stage, I am dreaming of a life on a small

Finnish island. I also have this other dream of

living in the Finnish countryside among fields

and forests - but I think I would miss the Baltic

sea too much in that case.

In a fairy tale, what would be your bad quality and

what would be your good quality?

I think someone else should answer this question

- but if I try and look at myself, I would

probably say that my bad quality is cowardliness

- which is an extremely bad quality for a

character in a fairytale. I guess I could really use

some courage, even in my everyday life. Ah, if I

could only be like Pikku Myy in the Moomins!

Speaking of good qualities, I would say honesty.

I am not so sure if in real life honesty is considered

a good quality anymore, but I know for

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POLLY BALITRO

sure that it is an important trait belonging to

the good characters in fairytales.

If you could have any super power, what would it

be?

Even though my answer is quite easy to guess

after all that bird-mentioning... Obviously, if I

could choose to have a super power it would be

the ability to fly - for all the reasons mentioned

above and because it would be so much faster to

get to places and I could get to photograph the

earth from above. I would also be much braver

because of that, I am sure.

What was it that got you interested in photography

in the first place?

As a kid, photography interested me because I

thought it was the best way to remember things

- the face of an old friend, the places where I

went to. A way to hold your memories “forever”.

I used to get really upset when someone’s face

turned out unfocused in a photograph- because

I thought I wouldn’t be able to remember that

moment properly. Years later, I got re-interested

in photography because of that slightly

uncertain aspect of it. I want things to appear

different in photographs because they no longer

have to be an everlasting portrait but on the

contrary they must be the portrait of a second.

Then I realized that a single element could have

such different forms and aspects, being still the

same element and that would make it more special.

I simply like the fact that a photograph will

never be exactly the same a second afterwards

- because of the light, because of my hands,

because of my mind.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am living a transition at the moment - I have

moved to Finland and have decided to start

anew. I have challenged myself into something

that I have never experienced before and have

decided to try different ways of art making - that

is why I am now getting closer to environmental

art. At this stage, photography is becoming

a way to document a process: I am trying to

visualize my attempt to settle down into a new

environment and into a new field of art - even

though I usually don’t like to label what I do.

Whatever comes up now is going to be for sure a

product made of birch trees and the Baltic sea.

One well known project of yours is Project Recollection.

What does recollection mean to you?

In Project Recollection, I wanted people to

share a story related to a specific moment - to

explain what a certain photograph meant to

them. When I look through all the stories and

photographs I have re-collected so far, I feel like

I was given the special gift to see through my

own eyes what other people have experienced.

Of course, what I see is not what they have seen

- but that’s what makes a recollection so interesting

- there is no rule of interpretation, but

just two very strong guidelines: the photograph

and the written paragraph.

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ELF

Photography / Concept / Styling / Hair & Makeup by Suzana Holtgrave

Models Blandina @Cento Scouting, Laura @seeDs.management,

Mike musican, Jonathan

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left page

Sequin Top BCBG Maxazria

this page

Leather Top Moga e Mago

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THE ELF

this page

Fur shoulder pieces & head piece Moga e Mago

right page

Necklace Lanvin for H&M

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148 THE ELF

Dress Asos

Leather harness Audra Jeania

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THE ELF

this page

feather cape-ASOS,

fur schoulder piececs Moga e Mago

right page

Top Gucci

Leather shoulder pieces Moga e Mago

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left page

Top Gucci

Feather cape Kate Moss for Topshop

Leggings Alexander Mcqueen

this page

Stylist own

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this page

Shirt Dolce e Gabbana

Necklace H&M

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THE ELF

this page

Top Gucci

Dress Stylist own

right page

Dress ASOS

Leather harness Audra Jeania

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1001

NIGHTS

or Democracy In

The Arab World

by Tudor Naparu

The past couple of months the Arab uprisings

captured the news and most of my attention.

True, it is my job but I saw it happening to

others around me.

From the comfort of a democracy, having more

than others, less than we want, yet enough to

keep a decent balance between complacency

and complaining, sipping beers and lattes

(hopefully not at the same time) checking the

news, Twitter and Facebook, we were and still

are a bit enthralled with what is going on. Admiration

and tweets of encouragement poured

from all over the world. And why shouldn’t

they? Uprisings against oppressive leaders are

to be admired and encouraged. But was it simply

the admiration of such an event or did the

fact that it has happened THERE have something

to do with it?

Hypocrisy aside, is not uncommon for many of us,

emulating some intellectuals, pundits, public figures

and what have you, to think that in that part

of the world democracy simply won’t stick. Mostly

we blame it on Islam. We blame it on a system of

laws that collides with what we are taught, and

mostly, with what we enjoy. Freedoms and rights

that we believe are as desirable as they are universal.

And now, we like to think that young Arabs

are finally getting it. In full swing of Egyptian

protests, Arabnews, a Saudi English daily, wrote,

acknowledging both sides of the coin: “Suddenly,

it’s cool to be an Arab, easily the most vilified, dehumanized

and demonized character in Western

popular culture”. 9/11, burqas, Sharia law, honor

killings and the list could go on, all things that for

us definitely won’t stick. But beyond all that, democracy

is about basic needs and freedoms. And

that is what the young Arabs in northern Africa

and Middle East are fighting for.

Before politics, ideology, religion and anything

else, there is life, or the lack of it. While we were

busy with Christmas shopping and New Year’s

Eve plans, a Tunisian man set himself on fire.

That particular self-immolation of a highly educated

young man working as a fruit and veggies

vendor is still seen as the spark (pun intended)

that set the Arab world on fire. Tunisia, Egypt,

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1001 NIGHTS

A recent STRATFOR analysis warned against the

danger of having the impression that there is a

domino effect under way citing the differences

between different countries and the political and

religious struggles and planned transitions in the

making for quite a while. Maybe it is so, maybe it

isn’t, but one thing is certain: there is a red thread.

And that is the socio-economic factor. In Tunisia

unemployment stands at 30 percent in the 15-29

age group. Similarly, in Egypt, is 25 percent and in

Algeria, 20 percent. Libya gets the crown on this

averaging between 40 and 50 percent in youth

unemployment. So, then, what to do? There is no

CDU, Torries or UMP, with a 4 year term that you

simply punish with a vote coming elections. Leaders

for decades, oppressive regimes and

isolation. Uprisings seem like a natural

and only way for a change. Whatever

that may be.

For now, change for the sake of change,

seems like a good bet if you ask me.

When leaders in power for decades,

who had the time to make it better

for their people, are adding insult to

injury, offering them money, as Ben-

Ali tried in Tunisia, Mubarak in Egypt

and Gaddafi not a few days ago, then

it is time to respond in kind.

Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, Libya and the flame is

still burning.

The image of the Egyptians waving

their shoes at Hosni Mubarak on

February 10th during his last speech

as president signaled the beginning of

the end. “It’s not over until the fat lady

sings,” goes a saying; but when shoes

come off, the time for curtain calls has

passed. The harshest insult in Arab

world (throwing your shoe at someone)

could easily be a new symbol for democracy

and fight for freedom. So, yeah, I say it´s

cool to be an Arab.

But I can’t help wondering how long will the coolness

last? Until the bad leaders are ousted? Until

the most-likely scrapings and political turmoil of

the new regimes (formed by old faces) will start

showing the same predilection for corruption and

lack of will for real change, just as it happened in

Eastern Europe after the fall of communism? Until,

the newly found, as expected, political reform

will bring to power Islamist movements that will

push the Western rhetoric back to square one?

What will happen when the other shoe drops?

And what should the West do? After decades of

supporting Arab rulers it is time to turn the page

towards new responsibilities. Maybe it is time for

Obama to start earning that Nobel Peace Prize. Of

course, as interests dictate – no time for illusions.

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Automat

by Nicolas Simoneau

162 1001 NIGhTs

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164 1001 NIGhTs

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166 1001 NIGhTs

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by Christo Mitov

Photography Mitsuko Nagone

www.nagone.com

Mitsuko Nagone would challenge your expectations and perspectives

on Asian art. Her photographs carry a hidden yet

not so obvious message and represent Nagone’s passion for

detailed perfection.

Mitsuko grew up in a small southern city in Japan. She moved

to Tokyo and studied photography at the College of Tokyo

Visual Arts. She then moved to New York City to continue her

studies at LaGuardia Community College. Her photographs

appeared in magazines published in NYC and Tokyo.

Currently, Mitsuko resides in Japan, works as a freelance

photographer, and contributes to Getty Images, La-vie Factory,

and so on. She also graduated with a BA in Photography

from Kyoto University of Art and Design. Photography remains

her passion where she currently exhibits her personal

work in area galleries. Her latest work is displayed online in

Nagone’s latest project - Unpublished Magazine

http://www.unpublishedmag.com

Mitsuko and I talked about the challenges of being a female

artist in patriarchal Japan, East and West and nomadism. Oh,

and she told me a traditional Japanese fairytale.

When and how did you start making art?

About 10 years ago, I took photography class in

Tokyo, and it really showed me that I can make

art.

Why are you hiding your model’s faces?

They are all self-portraits. The human face seems

to emphasize “who” a person is and gives some

insight about the individual. This may misinform

the audience. I would like to challenge the viewer’s

misconceptions and stereotypes.

Why hair?

To hide a face, the hair is just the closet thing from

the face. In some of the photographs, I use my

hair or a wig purposely to hide my face, but also in

the others, I just face down then it comes over my

face, or just turn back.

Do you plan your work or is it more spontaneous?

Yes, I do plan especially what materials to use in

the photographs, but sometimes I alter the plan

during a photo shoot.

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MITSUKO

NAGONE

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MITSUKO NAGONE

Do you find inspiration in Japan or in other cultures

for your art?

Wherever I live, I get different kind of inspiration.

Since I live in Japan now, I guess I am under the

inspiration of Japan culture.

Do you think Japan artists get enough exposure to

the Western art scene?

Unfortunately I am afraid not. There are so many

great artists in Japan. I wish people in the world to

know more about Japanese artist including ME!

Do you follow the art development in the West?

Yes, I follow and love the western art development,

but I always try not to be limited to the

Western. As an Asian woman educated in a Western

way, I try to put myself in a position of diversity.

What is your top 3 artists right now Western from

Japan?

I like the works of René Magritte, Henri Matisse,

and Wolfgang Tillmans!

Your top 3 Japanese artists?

Shoji Ueda, Genpei Akasegawa, Nam June Paik.

What is your day job?

My one and only job is freelance photographer.

For example, I sometimes make a living by licensing

my images to photo stock agencies. They have

recently used my images in the movie trailer of

“The Social Network”.

Is it challenging to be a female artist in a patriarchal

Japan society?

Not really. There are so many acknowledged female

artists in Japan. Yayoi Kusama, Yoko Ono

How did you have to change yourself while moving

form a smaller city to Tokyo and later to yet another

metropolitan city, New York? How did your thinking

change?

I actually think the large cities I have lived in are

very influential to my work, but I don’t know how

or what exactly catches my attention and which

part of mine was changed by life in cities. I guess I

naturally embrace the changes and not really notice

them. I can say that the cities really made my

171

eyes open to art, life, and people in general. New

York will always remain a very special and attractive

place to me.

What is the next city you want to embrace after Tokyo

and New York? Somewhere in Europe maybe?

I am moving back to Tokyo soon, but also I hope

to visit in Berlin and Munich soon. Germany is the

country I would like to go to the most in Europe

right now.

Tell me a Japanese fairy tale.

Kaguyahime (The Bamboo Princess)

Long, long ago, an old man who was a bamboo

cutter found a shining bamboo in a mountain.

He cut it, then there was a baby in the bamboo.

He didn’t have a kid, so he took her home and he

and his wife took care of her. She grew, became

the most beautiful lady, and called her “Kaguyahime”,

the bamboo princess. Many great men

visited her to propose to her, but she always gave

very difficult questions which they never can

answer, then she rejected their proposals of marriage.

Actually, she was the Moon Princess. Finally,

she had to leave to the moon.

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CLoCK

WoRK

WhITE

Starring actor Pedro Cunha

Photos by Brice Hardelin

www.bricehardelin.com

Paper accessoires and drawings Pedro Cunha and Brice Hardelin

Make up and facial hair Susana Correira

Special thanks to Paulo Cesar in Lisboa for the last minute help.

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174 CLOCK WORK WHITE

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176 CLOCK WORK WHITE

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178

I change pigeons for seagulls. No, it’s not a

math problem like the one with two trains

leaving from somewhere and when are they

going to cross each other in the middle. No, I

don’t sell birds on Ebay either. To me, it’s just

a new reality.

I moved from my old apartment in one of the

trendiest areas of Madrid to one close to the

river in the south of the city. “Why?? Are you

nuts!!” (I’m being theatrical but that’s what

some people said). My answer is simple: Do

you want to put a face to the economic crisis?

Well, just look at mine because I am the whole

global economic crisis in one person. So, yes,

the flat is cheaper, if that is what you are asking.

But I have a terrace!!... Ha!... Look who’s

laughing now. No one?... whatever.

Well, yesterday morning, a really loud scream

woke me up. I thought someone was dying or

something. The noise became much stronger

and it was coming from my terrace. “Shit!

Where’s my gun?” “Shit! I don’t have one!”. I

got up and took an umbrella (that’s the most

dangerous weapon I have at home) and like

Mel Gibson in “Braveheart”, I decided to fight

the enemy.

But when I opened the door, there was a huge

white seagull staring at me. What the hell was

a gull doing 500 miles away from the sea? And

why has it chosen my terrace?... Is this some

kind of revelation? Is it telling me, I have to go

back to Church after 15 years? No, I bet she is

hungry. “I don’t eat fish lady (I’m sure she was

a female), but I can offer you something organic”

(that’s my new eating trend). “Have you

tried tofu?”. She looked at me thinking: “Poor

boy” and she left.

What a mystery, huh?... I’m taking about the

bird, not about the tofu. I decided to do some

research (I know, I’m terribly bored some

days) so I went to the river because my gifted

mind told me it could be a great place for a

gull… and because I saw a bunch of them on

the way but that was just a small coincidence.

Sherlock Holmes was an apprentice compared

to me.

Anyway, I still have nightmares about what I

saw there. Hundreds of gulls were all over the

riverside. They had built their own republic.

Their own Kingdom of Terror. The rest of the

birds were their slaves, especially pigeons. Do

you think a pigeon is a dirty, filthy animal?

Well, you haven’t seen a gull stealing a sandwich

from a baby and then fly away laughing. I

could see horror in the pigeons’ eyes. I felt sad

for them somehow…. Naaah… they deserved it.

After too much Hitchcock drama, I decided to

go back home before I had to build a pyramid

for the gulls. When I opened the street door, I

heard the same voice like every morning: “Don

Manuel??”. That’s my old neighbor living in

the basement . She’s an old lady from the Dominican

Republic. She’s quite creepy actually.

She never leaves the flat and she likes to live in

total darkness with all the curtains drawn but

with the TV on watching South American soap

operas. She’s like Norman Bates’ mother but

with a Caribbean accent and a bum five times

mine… or maybe eight.

She repeated: “Don Manuel?” I could only see

the shadow of her profile through the door.

And again: “Don Manuel?”.

“Listen lady, for the third time today, my name

is not Manuel and I definitely don’t want to be

your Don Manuel”. No answer, just the bright

of two eyes… Ok, time to go then. I have to

drive my own Miss Daisy.

I forgot to say that I’m the only European on

the block apart from a gothic guy living on

the second floor but he could fit perfectly with

the old lady because they both like living in

179

by Claudio

the dark, not too sure about the soap operas.

Anyway, to find a neighbor not talking to me

is quite common but you get used to it. To me,

they are the Salsa people and to them, I’m that

weird, skinny, white boy living in the attic.

When my friend Christian came to visit from

NYC last month, he thought I was living in

Spanish Harlem. But you know what? I kind

of like it. And the best thing is, I can learn to

dance salsa or get a Caribbean hairdo in the

blink of an eye… you never know when you will

need one.

So what do you think? Not bad for a white guy,

eh?... but did I mention I have a terrace? Ok,

but did I mention it is really cheap?... Never

mind, I’m used to being misunderstood (ask

my neighbors).

I’m leaving you now, I’m out of fresh tofu to

feed my new pet before she calls me “slave”.

But you know what they say…. “Once you go

organic….”

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LA

LLoRoNA

181

The classic legend of La Llorona is a very popular one which for more than three centuries was instilled in the memory of the

citizens of Mexico City. It has its roots in Aztec mythology and dates back to the time of the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. The

legend tells us that the goddess «Cihuacoatl» appeared in the city of Tenochtitlan at night as a woman dressed in white, accompanied

by deadly omens which foretold the conquest of Mexico. One night, her voice was heard, weeping loudly: «Oh, my poor

children, their destruction has arrived, for we must soon depart!» Other times the voice would cry in desperation: «My children,

where shall I take you? Where could I hide you?» This was interpreted as an omen for the fall of the Aztec Empire.

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/history_mexico/58848

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LA

LLoRoNA

Soon after the arrival of the Spaniards to the American continent, the

Aztec Empire of Tenochtitlan was conquered. As you will most certainly

remember from one of my previous articles, the Spanish conquistador

Hernan Cortes was aided immensely by Doña Marina, better known

as «La Malinche». Now, some say that La Llorona is La Malinche,

mistress of Cortes, endlessly lamenting her betrayal of her own Indian

people to the Spaniards.

You will also remember that Cortes and La Malinche had a son, but

after the Conquest, Cortes went back to his wife in Spain. The legend

183

tells us that they had twins... One day a beautiful Spanish lady convinces Cortes to return to Spain with his two sons. When

La Malinche finds out about his plans to leave her and taking the children with him, she escapes with the babies. Soon Cortes

and his men set out to find them. They are able to surround her at the lake that Mexico City now rests on, but when they try to

capture her, she pulls out a dagger, stabs her babies in the heart and drops their lifeless bodies into the water... Up to the time

of her death she was seen and heard near the lake weeping and wailing for her children, which was why she was given the

name «la Llorona».

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/history_mexico/58848/2

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LLoRoNA

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As time went by, the legend grew. In Mexico City, in the middle of the sixteenth century, the inhabitants claimed that they could

hear the cries of a woman afflicted with terrible grief. Some even claimed that they could actually see her at midnight on nights

during a full moon, wandering the streets wearing a white dress with a thick veil covering her face. Her agonizing cries would

terrorize everyone who sees or hears her.

The legend continues and extends to other parts of the country showing itself in many different forms...

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La Llorona was a beautiful woman by the name of Maria who killed her children by drowning them in order to be with the man

that she loved, but was subsequently rejected by him. Then she killed herself. When Maria reached the gates of heaven, she

was asked, “Where are your children?” and she replied, “I don’t know, my Lord.” She was not permitted to enter heaven until

she found her children. She now wanders the Earth for all eternity, searching in vain for her drowned offspring.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Llorona

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LA

LLoRoNA

Artwork by Larisa Cataño

188

we are not tolling for little kay,

we do not know him.

we sing our song,

the only one we know!

snowOueen’s

kay

Photos by Arcin Sagdic http://www.arcinsagdic.com/

Model Adrian Bleschke (Modelwerk)

Styling Marina German

Hair/Make up Katharina Franke (Nude)

Location VOO Shop

Jacket DRYKORN

Chain with Feathers VINTAGE

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190 sNoWQUEEN’s KAy

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“Are you still cold,” she asked,

“or I should kiss you to death.“

Jacket DRYKORN

Chain with Feathers VINTAGE

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193

194

SNOWQUEEN’S KAY

Hans Christian Andersen

(1845)

Suit DRYKORN

Shirt AMERICAN APPAREL

Shoes ZARA MEN

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every

free

spirit

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needs a

mask

198

Billie Ray

Martin &

Hard Ton

Sold Life EP (Disco Activisto Records, Berlin)

Interview by Polys

Photos by Christos Kapralos

http://homoanarchy.tumblr.com

Billie Ray Martin comes up with a very interesting

and fresh collaboration this year. The “Queen of

electronic soul” meets “The biggest disco queen of

the 21st century” Hard Ton. Billie Ray Martin is a well known artist with

a unique voice. She first came to prominence leading the acclaimed deep house act “Electribe

101” (1990) and has in the meanwhile a plethora of Albums, EPs and Single releases. Her song

“Your Loving Arms” became a worldwide number 1 and is now considered as one of the alltime

classics of dance music.

Hard Ton is composed of two incredibly charming Italian boys, Max and Mauro.

They signed to the legendary label “Gigolo Records” of DJ Hell. With their music combining

Disco, Italo Disco, 90es House and Chicago House, the brilliant falsetto voice of Max and their

outstanding live shows filled with pure erotic and tons of positive energy they found the perfect

way to fascinate people all over the globe promising to become something really big! We had

the luck to meet the guys before their live show in Berlin and spent some really nice hours with

them where they answered us to some questions about their work in general and the collaboration

with Billie Ray Martin.

Honk!: You are the new discovery of DJ Hell, how

did that came about?

Hard Ton: Through Abe Duque. We gave him

some demos and he opened the gates to Hell! ;-)

How you two did meet each other and who “gave

birth” to this new project (Hard Ton)?

Hard Ton: We met through a chat-room. It soon

became obvious that we had opposite musical

199

backgrounds but also felt the same need of coming

up with something new, camp and fun.

You spent about 15 years as a heavy metal

singer and you are actually still singing in 2 heavy

metal bands. Now you are also the biggest

disco queen of the XXI century! How did that big

change happened?

Hard Ton: It was simply a matter of changing

wardrobe.

And what is that, that heavy metal music gives to

you that Disco doesn’t? Or the other way round,

what does being a Disco queen offers to you as an

artist that heavy metal doesn’t?

Hard Ton: Heavy metal means machism, being a

disco queen means queerness. I’m bipolar...

Who is responsible for this new collaboration with

Billie Ray Martin? Tell us everything about it! Who

wrote the songs? Where was the recording made?

And when is the EP coming out?

Hard Ton: Billie got in touch with us via mail,

looking for underground producers. We

met in Bologna, where Mauro lives and where

our recording studio is. It has been an interesting

challenge working with such a unique voice,

also so different from mine. We’ve recorded

4 tracks, two for her and two for us. The E.P.

is due out in March, also featuring a remix by

Snuff Crew, our favourite jacking house act.

What brings the near future for Hard Ton? Are you

planning something now?

Hard Ton: We are working on several new tracks

for the album. We also had plenty of

featuring requests from other artists. So expect

tons of Hard (T)on’s. And a cover of Vogue soon.

200

What have you being up too the last years? Tell us

something about the new projects you are running

at the moment.

Billie R. Martin: I had come collaborations out

with DJ Hell and various other people and I did

some touring and Dj’ing around the world. But in

terms of releases 2011 will definitely be my year.

As to my current projects: my new single ‘sweet

suburban disco’ is out now and it’s beginning to

do really well. Radio is picking up on it and all the

tastemaker Dj’s have embraced it. So let’s see. It’s

an exciting time. Next in line is my collaboration

with Hard Ton which comes out on the 26th April

and after that the full length album by a project

called “The opiates”. The opiates are me and musician

Robert Solheim. We already played a gig at

rough trade and released an EP and have become

a minor cult band in the UK already. Next in line

is the much awaited album, which our fans have

been driving us crazy about. Wolfgang Tillmanns

has provided 8 unseen and unpublished images

for this CD so this is exciting on the musical level

as well as on the art level, with Wolfgang involved.

Honk!: You are also Dj´ing around the world with

growing success. How did that come about and

where are you Dj´ing in the near future?

Billie R. Martin: I have been Dj’ing a lot in Italy,

south America, all over really. It’s been fun as it

allows me to travel to a lot of places I’ve not been

before and also allows people who have never seen

me before to hear me sing as well as hear me Dj.

Most of the shows are Dj sets with a live show on

the same night, so everyone gets the best of both

worlds... and I get exhausted.

Why you choose Hard Ton for this collaboration?

Billie R. Martin: I think what connects us is the

love for old school house and techno and we both

continuously explore new ways to explore that. I

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really liked their EP on gigolo and played it in my

sets so I had the idea to contact them. And they

were as excited as I was. I think they are great

songwriters, above and beyond everything else

and because my approach is also to write real

songs, I knew it would work. I also am featuring

on two songs for their forthcoming album.

This project with Hard Ton is for you a return to

your classic house beginnings. What led you to

this decision?

Billie R. Martin: It’s been on my ‘list’ of things

to do next. I did a lot of electro and electro-disco

in recent years but I feel that real house with it’s

warmth and space allows the real voice of mine

to shine through. When I heard ramadanman’s

mix of Jamie Woon’s ‘Night Air’ I made the decision

that this was going to be it (again). So I’m just

writing and recording songs like this now.

What brings the near future for you? Are you planning

something new now?

Billie R. Martin: Yes I guess I already mentioned

above what comes next. The next two years are

definitely going be spent releasing material and

touring and promoting it. Because I run my own

label it’s hard work on every level so I’m going to

be busier than ever.

Hard Ton @

www.myspace.com/hardtondiscoqueen

Billie R. Martin @ www.billieraymartin.com

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Don’t You

It!

Believe

Text by Stefan Springer

Illustration by Larisa Cataño

By what right do you call yourself life, what’s the

reason for you to present yourself in such infinity,

why do you keep changing, yet still stay the same?

Where do you come from, and where do you go?

Myths and fairy tales, they say, are as old as humankind

itself. They are the origin of any philosophical

experience, the true nucleus of religion.

Their belief drawn upon the observation of the

ever-recurring cycles of nature, they aim at finding

out what holds nature together at its very

heart. Born from a fantastic, inner world, formed

by stunning imagery both vaguely colourful and

abnormal, mystic symbolism serves the interpretation

of our surrounding world. Thus, myths and

fairy tales probably have laid the foundation stone

of our cultural evolution. In today’s time, though,

it is common belief that fairy tales are merely

baseless entertainment for children. However,

apart from the stereotypically ever-present collected

works of the Grimm Brothers, there are

so many more; for example the ancient Greek

mythology – and the idea of a six-year-old taking

classes in Humanities sounds rather like a fairy

tale itself, doesn’t it?

So, what is it that makes Greek history such an

interesting field for Psychology, the study of

the mind? According to the men of science, the

Greeks created their gods in their own similitude.

Therefore, they were formed as figures

featuring all-too-human characteristics. Implemented

in inter-divine events full of passion

and desire, elevation and tragedy, which in their

rich extent could hardly be more obvious.

However, the Greeks haven’t been the only ones

to personalise their gods, giving them a human

face. The Christians have also rendered homage

to their great god, the father of everything

that exists. It was him who created humankind

in his image. That god is without any vice, without

tragedy, without fallibility. A good Christian

will try to emulate his example. It’s better not to

get involved with the tragically sinful – a field of

expertise that’s been left to the devil. True to the

motto to have blinders on, finding salvation in the

Everafter is preferred over managing one’s life on

Earth. That might as well be the source of Christian

discomfort towards primeval fairy tales.

The portrayal of temptation, on the other hand,

has always been less modest. At least as far as

sexuality is concerned. It wasn’t possible to simply

ban it from everyday life. With a body of thought

so deeply rooted, even a sentence to the stake will

prove useless. Adapting it slightly according to

the respective moral values, has already been a

more adequate solution of the problem. That in

fact differentiates Christianity from other cultures

and their religious point of view, e.g. Buddhism

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or Hinduism. Some of

them are built upon a will

to reign through suppressing

the allegedly destructive

properties inherent in

nature, especially in one’s

own. Others regard themselves

as inexpugnable; as a

part of a greater whole.

Frederic Vester, a professor

of biochemistry, and

a renowned researcher in

biocybernetics, once wrote:

“Even navigating the ship

one is still part of the system.”

Francis Bacon says:

“He, who wants to control

his own nature, first has

to learn to obey it.” Franz

Vollenweider, professor of

psychiatry and leader of the

research unit “Experimental

Psychopathology” at the

University of der Universität

Zurich, in a 2003

interview about the modes

of effect of LSD, said: “No

other substance causes

such extensive change to ego

limits. It begins with the dissolution of the borders

between the body and its environment. Perception

gets severely altered. One is under the impression

to be at one with the surrounding world, even to

merge with the cosmos itself, and to experience

a certain kind of ecstasy. The whole thing being a

far reaching experience, they had no clue how it is

achieved.”

Such quotes will, of course, result in speculations,

to whose religious ideas’ advantage the cards are

stacked. Blind enthusiasm won’t protect from

the consequences of mental silence. Or, will it?

Everybody knows of the so called placebo effect.

Faith might after all be able to move mountains.

All in all, there’s one thing you can say for sure:

fairy tales, be it those applied to everyday life by

the Grimm Brothers, or be it those of the minor as

well as the major religions, they all have one common

thing in mind. The aim at conveying comfort,

where it needed, they evoke a feeling of safety

where there is utter discontent. They want to warn

of those dangers that come soft-footed. They want

to point out mistakes that, since the beginning of

time, have been made again and again.

To put it briefly, they want to impart wisdom.

Unquestionably, fairy tales have their raison

d’être. And, as fas as their veiling symbolism is

concerned: it’s simply not advisable to take metaphors

literally.

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Frank Christian Marx Actor & Producer

Mister C. Marx is definitely a big multitalent. The 31 years old German can sing, dance

and act. He studied acting at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Stuttgart.

He is not only a feast for the eyes, he is always on the lookout for new tasks.

2011, he founded a film production company and he will produce the movie „Men

who Cuddle“. Frank also plays the main role in the film. He is just back from India,

where he held a role in the new film of super star Shahrukh Khan.

Future Germany’s number one mister charming and a big star of German cinema.

www.frankchristianmarx.com

Stereon / Dj

Stereon (aka. Mark Hardbone) was born in Vienna Austria and is involved in djing,

music and parties since 1991.

After winning captian comatose’s “$100 worst remix contest” with his electro live

project “Divinyl feat. Seven”, he relocated to Berlin in 2004, djing in most known clubs

of Berlin since.

Though he has always been working on some own tracks aswell, he never released

anything of his own stuff... YET!!!

Future international DJ , Dancefloor Killer all over the world.

www.stereonberlin.de

Alexandra Elisabeth Starnitzky / Actress

The beauty and the beast. She can play everything, from the shy lady to the murdering

vamp.

When ever you will see her in a movie, you will immediately fall in love with her.

Miss Starnitzky was born in Israel but grew up all over the world. So it is no wonder

that her career began as a successful model. 2011 will be her year, because she is

the star of a major motion picture. Watch out for the beautyful Actress!

Future Leading roles in the film of the biographie of Joan Collins and kicking Sandra

Bullock from the throne of romantic comedy movies.

www.starnitzky.com

Bianca / Model

The 16-year-old beauty is the newcomer of the German fashion scene.

For almost a year, the Berlingirl is under contract with the model agency IZAIO-Models.

Bianca will continue the tradition of German supermodels like Claudia Schiffer, Nadja

Auermann and Toni Garrn. She is born to be one of the most succesful models ever!

Future:

Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, London, Milan, New York, Muse of HONK!magazine

www.izaio.de

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The

Future

Berlin

faces

you

Should know

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A unique institution at the heart of Melbourne’s

iconic meeting place, Federation Square, the

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)

celebrates, explores and promotes the cultural

and creative richness of the moving image in all its

forms - film, television and digital culture.

Through a vibrant calendar of award-winning

Australian and international exhibitions, films,

festivals, live events, creative workshops, education

programs and Collection resources, ACMI

provides diverse audiences with unsurpassed

ways to engage with the moving image.

As one of Victoria’s major cultural, tourism and

learning attractions, ACMI is an integral element

in Melbourne’s position as one of the world’s truly

creative cities.

Starting life as the State Film Centre in 1946,

ACMI evolved from being a Collection based institution

to an internationally recognised national

hub for screening and advocacy, screen education,

industry engagement and audience involvement.

Driven by the desire to fulfil its vision to become

the world’s leading moving image centre, ACMI

has now carried out the most significant phase

of its development and growth since the doors

opened in 2002.

With the support of the Victorian Government, a

suite of new production and exhibition spaces and

refreshed public offers were introduced at ACMI

in 2009, providing audiences of all ages and abilities

with diverse, stimulating and creative opportunities

to actively engage with the moving image

and screen culture.

The centrepiece is a new, free entry, permanent

exhibition charting the journey of the moving

image and, in particular, Australia’s engagement

with screen culture as consumer and creator.

Screen Worlds: The Story of Film, Television and

Digital Culture is a unique, interactive and immersive

exhibition that dynamically illustrates

how each of the forms of the moving image have

emerged and evolved as a powerful creative medium.

The exhibition is the cornerstone of the major

development project which also includes a second

special exhibition space, two new state-of-the-art

production studios, a new national screen culture

resource centre - the Australian Mediatheque -

and a unique external exhibition space, the Video

Garden.

Adult $16, Concession $12, ACMI Members $11

Family (2 adults, 3 children) $50, Child (aged

4-15) $9, Unlimited entry: Full $40,

Concession $30, ACMI Member $25

http://www.acmi.net.au

DREAMS COME TRUE

Discover the artistry behind Disney’s timeless

animated films.

ACMI hosts a unique exhibition drawn from the

archives of the Walt Disney Animation Research

Library.

Dreams Come True is a rare opportunity to see

original concept art, story sketches, drawings, maquettes

and final frame cels from some of the Walt

Disney Studios’ most celebrated animated films.

An Australian exclusive, the exhibition features

artworks from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,

Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid,

Beauty and the Beast, Princess and the Frog, and

Disney’s latest animated feature, Tangled.

Walt Disney began adapting fairy tales for animation

in the 1920s, inspired by the traditional tales

of the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, and

Hans Christian Andersen. The exhibition explores

developments in story and animation techniques

and showcases the work of artists such as Mary

Blair, Kay Nielsen, Eyvind Earle and Glen Keane.

Fall under the spell of Disney’s classic animation

till Tuesday 26 April 2011 Exhibition open daily

10am-6pm

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208

BRUCE

LABRUCE

Text by Christo Mitov

Photos by Sean M. Johnson www.seanMjohnson.com

Combining independent cinema is just one of

the things Bruce LaBruce is famous for. Besides

being a successful, provocative director,

the 47-year-old Canadian is a photographer,

journalist and theatre director based in Toronto.

He is also a diva – not in terms of extravagant outfits, but in terms of attitude and self-confidence:

you can literally hear his eyes roll.

Before becoming an underground gay icon, he had a shockingly pastoral childhood: Justin

Stewart grew up in a small family farm together with his four siblings in Ontario, Canada. He

approached cinema very systematically, pursuing film studies in Toronto and film theory at New

York University. In the 1980s, Justin became Bruce LaBruce and launched the independent

queer punk zine J.D.s, giving the finger simultaneously to the punk and the mainstream gay

scenes at the time. He practically gave birth to the so-called Homocore or Queercore movement,

which corrupted a whole new generation of homosexuals.

Bruce’s career as a director started with a series of short, low-budget movies. He gained international

acclaim with Super 8 1/2, a bio-pic about his rise to cult stardom that became a favorite

in high-profile festivals like Sundance and Berlinale. In 1996 he directed Hustler White - the

flick that reinforced his initial success, proved his great talent and featured a sex scene with

an amputee gigolo. The movie paid homage to classic Hollywood and combined porn industry

aesthetics with classical cinema techniques. With his following flicks, Bruce LaBruce officially

became a movie-genre supercollider, mashing up revolutionaries, skinheads, deaf gay hairdressers

and terrorists in detailed, close-up sex scenes.

Bruce’s latest passion is the zombie-horror genre. The “melancholic gay zombie picture” Otto

Or Up With Dead People premiered at Berlinale in 2008 and became his most commercially

successful project to date. It was followed by LA Zombie, the story of an alien zombie who

wanders around LA’s ghettos, fucking dead people back to life.

Oh, and by the way: every year Bruce LaBruce stages a play in Berlin. Since 1998 he has contributed

as a journalist/editor/photographer to diverse magazines like Dutch, BUTT, Index

Magazine, Dazed and Confused and Vice. In the beginning of March 2011 premiered his new

theatre play Pierrot Lunaire by Arnold Schöneberg starring Susanne Sachsse and Luizo Vega

in the main roles (see portraits). Bruce invited me to the last dress rehearsal where we talked

about Canadian urban legends, reality TV and Lady Gaga.

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210

How have you been spending the time in Berlin

except working on Pierrot Lunaire?

Besides directing I was a celebrity DJ while I

am here. I haven’t been out that much, because

we have been rehearsing 6 days in the week.

This has been more of a work trip. I’ve been

here already 5-6 weeks.

How do you feel as a celebrity DJ?

I actually feel embarrassed, because I know

what art it is to be a DJ. I just select songs and

play them. I only mix when I am with a real

DJ partner - we ping-pong back and forth. The

last time I did this was with Joel Gibb from The

Hidden Cameras and Matt Sims, too. He is an

amazing gentleman... and DJ.

Let’s talk about the play. Who is Pierrot Lunaire?

Pierrot Lunair is a comedia dell’arte character. Arnold

Schöneberg a musical melodrama based on

Pierrot. Pierrot Lunaire is an abstract character in

this melodrama. The part is a male character written

for a female actor. We have Susanne Sachsse

playing Pierrot. I’ve turned her character into a

female to male transsexual.

How is that coming out?

She is a very complex character. She becomes dellusional

and in the same time a murderer. So it’s

certainly not a politically correct character. First of

all, it is totally politically incorrect to apply a narrative

to Pierrot Lunair, because it is based on 21

poems by Albert Giraud so it’s totally non-narrative,

imagistic and symbolistic. The narrative I’ve

applied is based on an urban legend from Toronto

date in the 70s or 80s. It is about a woman who

lived as a man with a girlfriend who didn’t know

she was really a woman. When the girlfriend’s father

finds out that his daughter is dating someone

who is really a woman, he forbids his daughter

from seeing her. So the female to male hires a taxi,

goes to the outskirts of town, murders the driver,

cuts off his genitals, glues them to his pussy and

goes to the father to show him he has a real dick.

211

So it is a bit darker than comedia dell’arte which is

already darker genre.

Pierrot Lunaire are extremely grotesque and

violent. That’s not something I am adding to it.

And the music is grotesque and violent as well. In

our research we found out that Schöneberg was

heavily influenced by Grand Guignol theatre from

Paris. The movies that I always associated with

Grand Guignol like Sunset Boulevard and Whatever

Happened To Baby Jane are very melodramatic,

hysterical and extremely violent - so I took

inspiration from them too - for Pierrot.

Are you nervous about staging a play at HAU 1 (a

102 year old classical theatre in Berlin)?

I was initially I’ve done two productions at HAU

2 before. I was very intimidated by the stage

here. But, you know, once you begin to work

with it, you adjust yourself to the stage. The

opening is already sold out - there will be about

500 people - this is also kind of intimidating. I

will be there for the premiere - very high up; in

a private booth with my hands on my face. I will

be looking through my fingers.

You and I talked already last year about Pierrot -

when did you decide to stage the play?

I can’t remember when it came up, but it was the

conductor Premil Petrovic - a Serbian up and

coming strong young talent, a friend of Susanne’s

- who suggested that we collaborate on a production

of Pierrot Lunaire. I imageine it was about

a year and a half ago. I was really ignorant of

Schöneberg and Pierrot Lunaire, so for me it was

just out of the blue.

When are you going to stage a play in Canada?

It is very difficult to stage experimental theatre

plays in Canada. It’s even hard for me to get

financing for my films in Canada, because usually

if I have sexually explicit content, it is very

difficult. I have a new script for a movie that will

be shot in Canada.

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So Gerontophilia is happening?

It’s Gerontophilia, yes. It’s set in Montreal. I have

3 or 4 different scripts in development and this is

only one of them.

Why is it easier to find your funding in Europe rather

than Canada?

It’s about a sensibility against non commercial art

in North America. USA and Canada seem to be

really focused on the narrative based commercial

movies. Europe and other parts of the world are

more open to non-narrative and experimental

films. There isn’t the same predominance of one

form of filmmaking.

Do you find any inspiration in contemporary

pop culture?

In a way, yes. I’ve never been a snob in terms of

pop culture. I’ve always been influenced by it in

various ways. For me personally the new Hollywood

from the past 20 years becomes less and less

interesting to me.What I like is reality TV - narrative

fiction. It’s not so much about the content, but

the pure pace and accelerated information that’s

more interesting. The standard reality TV show is

cut so dynamically that every shot lasts no more

than 3 seconds. I find it stimulating - you process

information so fast that it has the same effect as

a video game. That’s also what we are doing with

Pierrot Lunaire - a lot is happening for the short

duration of 45 minutes. The pace is super fast.

I will give you a couple of key words or names and

you will tell me what come up in your mind:

Black Swan?

My favorite thing about Black Swan was the

pace. It was so fast, there is no time to catch your

breath. I wasn’t so interested in anything else.

the performances were good, but that’s not what

intrested me personally.

Lady Gaga?

Why do you have to ask me about her? My only

reservation about her would be that I think it’s

kind of bringing the avant-garde to the masses

213

and I’m not sure that is necessarily a good idea.

Things that are avant-garde and abstract should

not be made massively accessible. It can make the

ideas too popular and I think sometimes certain

things should be left under ground. Like graves...

(laughs) The other thing is... I can’t say too much

about her, because I have too many friends who

work for her.

What TV shows do you watch?

The most amazing pop culture thing I saw in the

last year was called Dead Set - it’s a British mini

series about zombies on the set of Big Brother.

They shot it in the actual set of Big Brother

using former Big Brother contestants from the

show. there is a whole narrative around it - it is

the best zombie movie! It’s even better than The

Walking Dead. Dead Set makes Walking Dead

look hilarious.

Did you watch the Oscars?

No, no interest. I usually guiltily watch them, but

this year I was in Berlin and I had a good excuse

not to watch it. I watch Hollywood movies on airplanes

now. The last one I saw was the movie with

the blue people... Avatar.

How do you feel about 3D?

It’s too gimmicky for me.

One last question - when do you take off your

glasses?

Well... I am not wearing them now! (laughs) For

photographs I am keeping them on because I want

to hide the bags under my eyes. But my friend

Billy Miller tells me that I have to let go of my vanity,

but this hasn’t happened yet.

Bruce la Bruce www.brucelabruce.com

Luizo Vega www.luizovega.net

Hau 1 www.hebbel-am-ufer.de

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Valentino Handbag Totes

yoU CERTAINLy CAN LIVE WIThoUT ThEsE ITEMs,

bUT LIFE Is so MUCh MoRE bEAUTIFUL WITh ThEM.

215

Gold Half Frame Aviators Topshop

Grace Jones Nightclubbing Album

Peacock Stretch Wristwear Topshop

Michael Kors Shiny Rose Golden Watch

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LAST

FAIRY TALE

THE

by Shelbric A. Fuller

Painting „Pele“ by Michael Shapcott www.michael-shapcott.com

The words “Once upon a time...” for many of us

is just a vague childhood memory. Memories...

...of innocence. Memories of a time when our

parents wrapped us up warm and cuddly at night,

murmuring dreams of hope before we went to

sleep with the promise of a bright new morning.

Those were the days when the idea of being the

next Rupunzel was a real possibility. Some of us

wanted to be the knight in shining armor that gallops

over the hills, just in time to save the princess

from her inevitable fate.

Who will save us now? Today, we are far more

interested in the reality of the present. We have

swarms of information at our fingertips which

attempt to dispel the fantasies of yesterday. We

have lost our suspension of disbelief because we

have simply forfeited our ability to be interested in

such things. Our new heroes are made up of modern

day, public relations driven, pop icons who

can only promise us new trends or controversial

crotch photos taken by a paparazzi who probably

can’t remember the last time that the morals of a

beautifully woven fairy tale ever touched his life.

In the past, our dreams and hopes were passed

along through candlelit whispers, not like today

where social networking, blogs and the news

scream them at lightening speeds. Who really

needs so much information? What morals do we

have to pass on and how will we deliver them? The

oral traditions of storytelling which allowed us to

remember that ancient civilizations existed have

now become the new internet super highway of

today.

Fairy tales were not only about the stories. They

were about the sense of security and optimism

that they delivered us. They were about the experience

of closeness that came when your parents

sat with their arms, air tight around you and sent

you to slumber. The beauty of fairy tales was that

it removed our fears, taught us how to believe in

ourselves and taught us how to treat other people,

thereby building the moral foundation on which

we would later stand.

With almost 7 billion people on this “blue wonder”,

a sense of loss hangs in the air. So many

people and yet, we are all so alone, wandering

aimlessly, searching for the next covenant. I,

personally, wish that someone would whisper a

story in my ear, just like those whispers I heard

as a child. I wish Sleeping Beauty would wake up

and show me the new way. Somehow, we are all

in mourning. The last fairy tale was told a long

time ago. We can only hope and wait for the day

when someone put pen to paper; turns sounds

into words and opens up our doors for a new day

of aspiration.

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THE young YOUNP knigHT KNIGHT

Photographer Robert Klebenow www.klebenow.de

Production, Concept, Styling Haniball Saliba www.haniballsaliba.com

Hair/Make-Up Mischka Hart @ Basis using MAC

Model Philip Milojevic @ Seeds Managment

Photographer´s Assitance Judith Johns

Tank Top Weekday Trousers Hugo Boss Gladiator Hat Stylist own

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Sacco Joop Trousers Tiger of Sweden Knight Shield Stylist own

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Sweater Wood Wood Trousers Hugo Boss Chain Belt Stylist own

223

Shirt Jack and Jones

Crown stylist Own

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Cardigan Drykorn Knighthood Stylist own

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Jeans Calvin Klein Belt Bellstaff

Knight Saver Stylist own

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SELF-EXPOSURE

FOR

DUMMIES

Start a blog! Give your talents a well designed

platform of display. Whether it’s drawing, taking

photos of yourself with what you consider funny

faces or documenting the growth of your hair,

beard, nails and other growing things. Tell people

what music you like, what videos you watch, what

designers inspire you, where you go, which party

you attend, what shirt you wear every day. Don’t

forget to document everything with the appropriby

Christo Mitov

There are two really good reasons to celebrate. The

first one is, that you are reading issue number two

of HONK! which automatically means that issue

number one was a tremendous success. The second

occasion is that Revenge Of The Nerds is becoming

a constant part of HONK! and in this way my personal

tool for mind control and agenda setting. Yet

another small step on my own roadmap to world

domination.

This is, by the way, one of the main goals in an

average self-exposer’s life. Self-exposers or selfpublicists

are people on a never-ending quest to

conquer your attention and make you one of their

devoted fans. They mostly create an image for the

crowd that presents only their virtues and none of

their vice. They are your friends on Facebook, you

follow them on Twitter, you read their blogs in your

RSS reader. You follow every step in their lives and

you love it. In other words, you are doing nothing

different than your grandmother who is watching

Columbian tele novellas at 3 in the afternoon.

Technologically mediated identities is what social

researchers call those web personas, but I’d

rather spare you the science jabber. Social media

has made it possible for self-exposers to stream

their lives 24/7 - from their morning glory to their

good-night tweet. Don’t get me wrong, I am myself

addicted to social media and I’ve made it my job as

well, but I don’t find staging my life and playing a

role on my top list of things I want to achieve in life.

And yet, if it is on yours, let me guide you through

the process of transforming from a desperate attention-seeker

to an experienced self-publicist. However,

keep in mind I’ve gathered that knowledge

only by observing the self-exposers (lat. Attentiones

Desperados Vulgaris Irritantis) So applying any of

those techniques is exclusively your responsibility.

Bloggers

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ate amount (over 15) of photographs. Categorize

your posts, tag them appropriately with the hippest

words in your slang. Make posts with no text - post

only one picture of you laying in the grass, you and

your fedora, you and a famous person, you, you,

you. And don’t forget the most important ingredient

for everything - arrogance.

Twitter

Now it’s time to create a Twitter profile! Choose a

short name. Be creative - nobody likes nicknames

like @miranda_365. After you have chosen the

shortest nick that best describes your colorful and

rich personality, it’s time to tell your fans and readers

that you are now on Twitter. Here you can post

everything that you thought was excessive for your

blog - pictures of your breakfast, drunk videos of

you at home, at parties; thoughts from the toilet;

post coital revelations; express your anger against

your boss; boast about your new shoes or gadgets;

ask your followers whether to buy a certain T-Shirt

or not; post philosophical quotes pretending you

just came up with them, etc. Simply post every

thought that goes through your beautiful head. Be

more arrogant than on your blog. Especially when

you criticize politicians without having a clue about

politics; breaking up with your boy/girlfriend;

expressing your hatred against the color orange or

your love for birds on random pieces of clothing.

Facebook

What used to be MySpace in terms of ego boosting

is now called Facebook. It has better design and

algorithms for organizing and streaming information.

Germans doom it for its privacy issues, but

you have nothing to be scared of. People are going

to find out just about everything about you if they

are really devoted to their search.

Facebook is the Mother Queen of ultimate tools of

self-exposure. You need to change your status at

least 3 times a day. Some of them can be just oneword

expressions of appreciation for a certain food;

others song lyrics; or just random thoughts that

you couldn’t fit in your Twitter stream. Links you

post have to be mostly to music videos or cool stuff

you find on other blogs (that you secretly follow but

would anytime deny of doing so) Boastful facebooking

should become your tool of expression.

Photos, photos, photos! This is the only way to true

success as a self-publicist. Here you have to gather

all the photos from your blog, all the photos from

your Twitter and on top of that you need to make

extra photos for Facebook. Change your profile

picture every week (or even twice a week if you are

ambitious) Photoshop your images if needed. Add

mobile pictures - at least 5 every day. Tag yourself

in every picture you add. By now you should’ve

mastered the art of arrogance and there must be no

need of intentionally thinking about it. However, if

you need a little push for impersonating arrogance,

just put a dirty smirk or raise an eyebrow on every

profile picture.

One more thing... videos! As a respected selfpublicist

you have a Mac and your iSight camera

is your mirror and window to your friends. Dress

up properly, have your best clothes on, accessorize.

Record the video and add after effects. Lip syncing

to a song, a TV show or expressing your humble

opinion on the crisis in the Middle East should be

your first topics for videos.

Comments, Likes, Shares - the ultimate expression

of appreciation. Make sure you comment on your

friends’ links, but don’t exaggerate. One comment

per week is enough. Let your friends comment on

your pictures and profile escapades. Having 15

people comment on your status and 32 like your

new profile picture feels good, doesn’t it? And let

me remind you, this is just the beginning.

Unlike a mirror, which reminds us of who we really

are and may have a negative effect on self-esteem

if that image does match with our ideal, Facebook

can show a positive version of ourselves. This will

make your brain produce more and more endorphins

(the hormone of happiness) which will make

you feel ecstatic. So Facebook is not only good for

your ego, but also for your health! Just like those

funny smelling pickles in the Asia shop say on the

label.

So now you have mastered the art of self exposure

and your desperate seeking of attention should be

wearing off with every day that has past. Remember,

if you want to achieve optimal results, you have

to make this your everyday routine, your life. That

way, when someone comments with “get a life!” on

your beach photos or party pics, you will know, that

you actually have one and that you are living the

fairy tale. Right there, online.

228

A mother and 2 girls .. sweet and innocent!

It sounds like a fairy tale. But

it is not. Being a mother is not easy

these days. Our X-Insider this time is

Katja, a young and modern mother

from Hamburg.

HONK!: You are a single mother of two girls.

Katja: The dream of many women out there.

Are you living your own personal fairy tale?

K:I had the thought completely different! I

never wanted children! But now I am glad that

the two monsters are here! Magical is usually

the time between 21 und 6 clock - because they

are sleeping! No, i was kidding - I have a full

time job and enjoy every minute with the girls.

But, being a mother is not like living in a fairy

tale? No way!

Your two kids are 6 years and 10 years old. They

are exactly in the age where children have the

greatest imagination. Are your children in 2011

still excited about the classic fairy tale by the

Brothers Grimm? Or must it be Harry Potter?

Harry Potter, they only know the books by

name. Sure, when they were small, there was

once a classic tale - but then told more by

Grandma and Grandpa or a Christmas story in

school. I had never been such a fairy tale fan.

My children love books like „Mio my Mio“ or

„The Brothers Lionheart “. My older daughter

also writes stories already on the PC, she has a

lot of imagination.

When I was a kid, my mother has read to me

a fairy tale before going to bed. Do you do the

same with your two children? And if so .. Which

is the favorite book of them?

We have read - but books like “Lilly the Witch”

or “the Olchis.

Every child has a dream, what they wanna be

when they grow up. What is the dream of your

two children?

My little girl wants to be a horse rider! The

nanny has 3 horses - well, that’s for a little girl

a real fairy tale, or? And my older daughter

wanna be an eye doctor .... there rather attracts

a fabulous salary!

But never forget: the world is not pink.

There are so many different TV programs for

children and so many bad once.

What do you let your children see on tv?

They love Cosmo and Wanda, Hannah Montana

and iKarly! That’s ok - Pokemon or something

similar does not exist in our home, because

I find that totally stupid. Lotte would like

to see CSI always - but I think with 10 years

of age she is too young for that. Laughable,

but certainly not educational value of course,

shows like „Farmer wants a wife „ then we

laugh for hours.

The whole life is a fairy tales and lies. Did you

clean up your kids on what will happen in life

one day? Or are you one of those mothers protecting

their kids as much as possible?

My children do not even know how to write

protected - laughing! I call my children „little

monsters“ - I think that makes no “supermama”!

My girls are very independent and

they know that the money from the vending

machine is sometimes empty. They know you

have to work hard for success.

If I have to work, they make the dinner by

themselves, they leave their things clean. They go

to bed when i want it! I am sure my two girls will

grow up as strong, young and modern women.

In some years, the oldest of your children will bring

her first boyfriend home.Have you ever thought

about how you will educate your children?

Oh, she already knows - she has learned in school

about it and then she asked me. We talked about

it and she thinks it is totally disgusting and boys

are arghhhhh! and honestly, if you wanna know

something about sex, just google :-)?

229

If you imagine your dream son-in-law. How would

he be?

OH .... well, maybe the same way then I imagine

my dream man ... Tall, dark, handsome ... Down

to earth, good job, independent, honest ....

Why not another child? A boy? On a sunday you

can go with your son to the football fi eld and

when he is older, he will look after his sisters?

No way! I am so glad that the chicks are out of

the woods - again all this shouting and trouble?

No! And you know the ladies play football too!

Were you playing football, when you were a

child?? laughing !!!!

230

231

232

WHAT WHE

WHAT, WH

to the most interesting hand-

RE WHEN

ERE and WHEN are the questions that will guide us in this issue

picked music festivals for 2011. The first one starts tomorrow,

so you better hurry up or follow it online. Bon voyage!

233

234

WHAT WHERE WHEN

by Christo Mitov

SXSW

What: The SXSW Music and Media Conference

showcases hundreds of musical acts

from around the globe on over eighty stages in

downtown Austin. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary

in 2011. One of the most important

festivals for music industry insiders, in 2010

SXSW welcomed over 13,000 industry reps

and over 2000 performing bands.

Where: Austin, TX, USA

When: March 15-20

More info at: www.sxsw.com

Lollapalooza Chile

What: Lollapalooza has decided to make a

move into other cities, in addition to it’s current

home base in Chicago. Enter Lollapalooza

Santiago, in Santiago, Chille. Lollapalooza organizers

chose Santiago because it’s a cool, hip

city with a good musical backdrop and a space

that works for up to 100,000 people. They’re

calling it the “first Lollapalooza International,”

so maybe it’s a sign of more to come?

Where: Santiago, Chile

When: April 2-3

More info at: www.lollapalooza.cl/en/

Sonar Japan

What: Sónar is Spain’s mashup of music and

film and video, all rolled into one big multimedia

festival. Now they’ve branched out to

Tokyo, Japan; the dates are April 2 - 3. You get

installation art, audiovisual concerts, and medialab

presentations next to DJ sets, electonic

music, film and more. It’s the new media jet set

in the heart of Asia. The SonarSound Festival

has started to name its 2011 lineup, check back

for more details! Line-up includes Boys Noize,

Die Antwoord, M.I.A., Nicolas Jaar, A-Trak,

Paul Kalkbrenner, Steve Aoki, etc.

Where: Tokyo, Japan

When: April 2-3

More info at: www.sonarsound.jp/en/

Coachella

What: California’s flagship festival is Coachella,

a large outdoor event that mixes together

fans of rock, hip hop and electronica under the

beautiful Indio Valley skies. Taking place over

three days about two hours east of Los Angeles,

Coachella boasts five large stages, an epic

campground and an open-minded crowd that

is ready to party. New for 2011: Listen for the

massive rumblings of a Pure Filth stage both

during the festival and at the wild afterhours in

the campground. Line-up features Jay Z, Muse,

Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem, Faith No More,

Kanye West, Kings Of Leon, Arcade Fire, PJ

Harvey, etc.

Where: Indio, CA, USA

When: April 15-17

More info at: www.coachella.com

ATP curated by Animal Collective

What: For ten years All Tomorrow’s Parties

has set itself apart from other festivals by

embracing seemingly disparate artistic genres,

with events featuring art exhibitions, cinema

programmes, spoken word performances and

stand up comedy. Since then the festival has

appeared every year and has expanded across

the globe continuing to set itself apart from

large scale corporate festivals by staying intimate

and fan-friendly. The line-ups are chosen

by significant bands or artists which results

in eclectic events that combine performances

235

by legendary and influential acts with appearances

by the latest crop of experimental artists

from any (and every) musical genre. This year’s

ATP is chosen by Animal Collective. Artists

so far: Group Doueh, Vladislav Delay, Big Boi

(Outkast), Terry Riley, Kria Brekkan, etc.

Where: Minehead, UK

When: May 13-15

More info at: www.atpfestival.com/

Mutek

What: The Mutek Festival puts Montreal on

the Techno map. It features minimal techno

artists from all over the world in a 5 day festival

of beats and workshops. They’ve got about

40 performers and panels, workshops, and

events at a variety of locations, all set to start

on Wednesday and continue through Sunday.

Last year, Mutek launched DIGI_SECTION, a

series of discussion sessions, panels, and workshops

centered around artists, technology and

media. The 2011 Mutek Festival has not named

a lineup yet. They have, however, closed their

call for artists, so a lineup is due at any time

Where: Montreal, Canada

When: June 1-5

More info at: www.mutek.org

Pitchfork Music Festival

What: Love or hate their snarky, snooty reviews,

no one can deny that Chicago-based

Pitchfork.com has an affect on the evolution

of music and art culture. The website started

throwing its own event in 2006, and so far the

Pitchfork Music Festival has made as big of as

splash as their website by booking both hot-asfire

new artists and those on their way up. This

year: Girls, LCD Soundsystem (one of your last

opportunities to see them still together), James

Blank, Animal Collective, Das Racist, Cut Copy,

amongst many.

Where: Chicago, IL, USA

When: June 15-17

More info at: www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com

Sonar

What: Just in case you needed another excuse

to visit Spain except food, climate and men,

Sonar Festival just might be it. This three-day

event draws in people by the thousands with

huge acts from a wide variety of new sounds.

In 2010, Sonar took place in Barcelona with a

satellite event in A Coruña in northern Spain;

for 2011 watch for a stage curated by Mary

Anne Hobbs, an experimental bass bad ass formerly

of the BBC Radio 1. Line-up features Air,

The Chemical Brothers, Hot Chip, Salem, etc.

Where: Barcelona, Spain

When: June 17-19

More info at: http://2010.sonar.es/

Roskilde

What: The 2011 Roskilde Music Festival has

been rolling out its lineup in waves of announcements.

The newest additions to Roskilde

2011 include PJ Harvey, Matthew Dear,

Kurt Vile, Anna Calvi and Kloster, added on on

Feb. 9. Check back for more details and lineup

additions. Tickets are just €190 Euros / $240

U.S. for a 4 day festival, or you can sell your

soul to the work camp to get in for free. The

Roskilde Festival is holding an architectural

competition called “Build What Here,” with an

opportunity to design and build a structure and

also win tickets for you and your team. There’s

also a Roskilde Lounge, which will feature electronic

acts from across Europe and strippeddown

singer-songwriter performances in a tent

for smaller crowds.

Where: Roskilde, Denmark

236 WHAT WHERE WHEN

When: June 30 - July 3

More info at: http://roskilde-festival.dk/

EXIT

What: One of the most important festivals on

the Balkans is called EXIT and takes place every

year in Novi Sad. This year’s line-up includes

Beirut, Petrol, Tiga, Carl Craig, Hadouken!,

Pulp, Portishead, etc. It is the cheapest possibility

to combine a great fesitval experience with

an exotic vacation in Eastern Europe if you are

based in Europe and want to leave your city and

yet not spend more than 300 euros.

Where: Novi Sad, Serbia

When: July 7-10

More info at: http://eng.exitfest.org/

accommodate 30,000 people. They can also

take the gondola (renamed the ‘Dragondola’

for extra special local flavor) to the top of the

mountain to hang out in the Day Dreaming &

Silent Breeze area for a break and some great

vantage points to the surrounding mountains.

The Fuji Rock Festival has not named its 2011

lineup yet.

Where: Naeba Ski Resort, Yuzawa-machi, Niigata,

Japan

When: July 29-31

More info at: http://www.fujirockfestival.com/

MELT!

What: Surrounded by Lake Ferropolis, this

three-day festival literally takes place in an iron

museum; its stages are surrounded by large

coal mining machinery that has fortunately

been dormant for as long as the 13-year festival

has been running. Its organizers describe it as

electronic meets rock. This year, marvel at the

likes of: Hercules and Love Affair, Miike Snow,

Friendly Fires, Delphic and Tiga

Where: Ferropolis, Germany

When: July 15-17

More info at: http://www.meltfestival.de/

Fuji Rock Festiva

What: The Fuji Rock Festival is set on a ski

resort on Mt Fuji in Japan in what has got to be

one of the most ideal settings for a music festival

- it takes place in a thicket of lush forests,

streams, and hills. Festival goers can watch

music on 7 different stages, and the largest can

237

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Photo by haikal Noyes

238

H NK!

#03

IS Coming

MAy

15 th ‘11

KALTBLUT-HONK! 02 The Fairy Tales

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