What the slap?

While on vacay recently I came across a product that caught my eye in a local Vinnie's store window. 

Lured by not only the name but also by the picture of the charming fellow on the box I was compelled to do a little research.

As the advertisement begins Vince introduces himself and promises that, 'you’re gonna be in a great mood all day cause you’re gonna be slappin' your troubles away with the Slap Chop'. I was hooked. 

He then goes on to say, 'stop having a boring tuna, stop having a boring life.' OK but Vince I can do great things with tuna and it certainly doesn't include an egg or a pickle that's for sure.

But my personal favourite was when he tells me that, 'you’re gonna love my nuts'... Vince you had me at hello!

So who the hell is Vince? According to Wikipedia Vince is not only an infomercial god appearing in such commercials as 'ShamWow', 'Slap Chop' and the 'Schticky' but he is also a writer, director and comedian who has sued Anna Nicole Smith and slapped a prostitute for biting his tongue. Curious indeed...

The watermelon imagery doubtless goes back into at least the early 19th century, in connection with the southern rural reality in which most black Americans lived. Whites put this mocking imagery into the white racial frame of that era. Articles on racism and popular culture, have commented on how old and pervasive this “watermeloning” of black Americans has been in white popular culture.

Imagine how surprised I was when walking around beautiful Boomerang Beach when the image below caught my eye. And it was quite a catch, through the bush, through a window and hanging on the wall facing the tiny road I walked along. There is a lot of this stuff online as you can see above from a quick google search. Both new and old.
Why the hell is this still going on?

Santaphobia

A quick google search to uncover the name for the phobia of Santa revealed Santaphobia (go figure!).

wiki.answers.com describes Santaphobia as 'an abnormal, persistent fear of Father Christmas' and goes on to say, 'A good way of avoiding the tears that so often ruin photos of kids with Santa is to back the child onto Father Christmas's knee.' This would also be a way of ensuring your child never trusts you ever again and that the nightmares are YOUR fault.

I don't have a Santaphobia as such. It's more of a dislike for the man. He felt up my Mum while my sister and I sat happily on his lap. Many years later I actually worked as a Santa Photographer. It was my birthday and Santa hugged me. His beard smelled like wet wool and I almost burst in to tears trying to hold back my urge to want to crash tackle and punch him in his big fake belly.

Looking through old Santa photos it has occurred to me that the Santa's all look like axe murderers and sadists. It makes sense. Why the hell else would a man wear a fake beard and loads of padding in Summer while parents 'back' their children onto his lap?

Weight loss program

Here's an image from a photographer I only recently discovered. Alec Soth has a curious and slightly melancholic view of the world and captures this view through his camera lens by way of a documentary style investigation. With a working practice similar to Stephen Shore and William Eggleston though much more directly interactive with his subjects.

In 2010 Alec traveled to England to complete a photographic commission for the Brighton Photo Biennial. Told at customs that he had no work visa and that he could face up to two years in prison if he was caught with a camera in his hands, Alec had to think outside of the square. He handed over his camera to his seven year old daughter who took on the commission.

This image taken (and in the spirit of sharing) from the self published 2008 book 'The Last Days of W', which documents the social decay and urban crisis evident by the end of President Bush's two terms in office.

feel like you're being watched?

Late 18th century Eye Miniatures. These are too fabulous for words!

Georgian Eye Jewellery c1790-1820