Black is clearly [still] not the new black

Ifashion.co.za recently posted an article about the lack of black models at a fashion show in Rio (that's in Brazil for those of you from East London).

Read the rest of the article here.

Meanwhile, Charlize Theron's insensitive and patronising remarks to Viola Davis regarding her inability to find good acting jobs because she is a black woman, has sparked another race debate in Hollywood. (Remember the furor over Halle and her Oscar?) How long must the world wait for black women to play a dynamic role that isn't in a Tyler Perry film and that might actually be produced by a major, mainstream studio?

If you have philistine-like tendencies and have not been a privy to the latest race-row, check out indiwire.com for a scathing attack on Charlize. Check out The Washington Post if you'd like to hear the blonde beauty bathed in even more light.

We Are Sushi

For those of you who went to Rhodes, Saleem Badat is no stranger. For the plebs who missed out on the purple experience, Badat is Rhodes University's Vice-Chancellor. I will not attempt to provide a Wiki account of the guy because I don't know enough about him to do him justice, however, I will say that one of the things his presence at Rhodes impressed upon me during my four years there, was his determination to change the face of Rhodes from that of a white, liberal-arts institution for affluent lily-skinned, private-schooled kids to that of a place of acceptance for those of all races, sexual preferences and backgrounds.

Check out his input at the Dispatch Dialogues here, where he can be quoted as saying today's youth view politics as "as stepping stones to eat sushi".

PS. On a lighter note, I found an amusing (and pretty accurate) description of Rhodent.
Check it out here.

This week in headlines

Getting my Big Girl panties on.

I have come to the end of my first week at my first post-varsity internship. The lucky establishment (guffaw/ choke) has been Espresso dbn, a smallish (but superbly-cool) advertising agency that has stolen my week and, if I let go of my pride, my heart a little.

I have one more week here and although many of my (far-too-cool) peers and fellow designers refuse to intern/ work for no to little cash-dollars, I feel like I should be paying Espresso for all that I have learned in the space of five days.

As intern , I am (obviously) little more than pool scum here, but all the fab guys & gals here have been nothing but patient and eager to teach me their skills. SO friends, the moral of the story is to INTERN, INTERN and INTERN!!! The knowledge and experience you gain is irreplaceable and CANNOT be learned in varsity. '

Besides finally getting over my fear of phoning people, I have had to hustle a shitload of cash this week from sponsors, make an envelope, suck up to nearly every brand manager in South Africa, go to several model castings (DBN has a HOST of eye candy!), help oversee production, brainstorm ideas for product launches and pick out pretty faces from Z cards.

That being said, I am far more confident and prepared for the working world than I was a week ago. When, in all honesty, I was sitting in a dribbly pool of my own self-pity, wondering how I'd ever make it in this cruel, cold world.

So kids, a little advice from your Aunty Meg - get off your ASSES and go intern. It sucks, but it's kinda cool too.

P.S. I borrowed this sexy photography from iheartalice.
Go check out her blog.

Peace Bitches

There is no hope left. Especially in TV. Absolutely no hope there!

So the stupid douche bags at HBO cancelled what was probably one of the most groundbreaking, intelligent and real series they ever made:

How to Make it in America.

I will not use this blogpost to tell you about the series, because anybody worth their pop culture noddy badge will have watched both seasons of this series.

And if you haven't, please go and download (whoops did I say download, I meant rent from your local DVD store) and watch it immediately!

The point that I am trying to make, is that if HBO, the series that brought us Entourage, is being so blindsighted by ratings and cash-dollars that they refuse to see how effortlessly cool and thus relevant this series is, there is no hope for the world and the Mayans may have been right after all.

It's a hot Thursday morning in the Eastern Cape. That is all.

Magic.

The only way for me to feel as if I am not being pulled into a black hole of work-related deadlines and irritation at the growing number of people who are getting excited about wedding planning is to make a list of the things that make me feel truly myself.

Forgive the slight self-indulgence and feel free to add to the list.

1. Watch 'Almost Famous'. Take note of William and his mom, the rock stars and Penny Lane.
2. Listen to all of Led Zeppelin's albums (the LPs).
3. Write. (This is more difficult than it sounds).
4. Wake up at 5am and go to the beach for a dawnie swim. Even if it's 17 degrees!
5. Meditate. (Also known as "the listening part of prayer" - which is really great and all but I may just be too afraid to hear what is said to me.

I sort of just got over making this list now. So just a thought before I go and do something else with my semi-unemployed self (as a freelancer, I do not really know if I am 'truly' employed. Then again, truth is an unknown quantity [Foucault et al]) from a beautifully-crafted film, 'Beginners':

"Anna: People like us, half of them think it will never work out. The other half believe in magic."

Summer Vibes