Stendhal Syndrome-The title given to the cultrue fearers.....more info stolen from the internet...
Stendhal syndrome, Stendhal's syndrome, Hyperkulturemia, or Florence syndrome, is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful or a large amount of art is in a single place. The term can also be used to describe a similar reaction to a surfeit of choice in other circumstances, e.g. when confronted with immense beauty in the natural world.
It is named after the famous 19th century French author Stendhal(pseudonym of Henri-Marie Beyle), who described his experience with the phenomenon during his 1817 visit to Florence, Italy in his book Naples and Florence: A Journey from Milan to Reggio.
Although there are many descriptions of people becoming dizzy and fainting while taking in Florentine art, especially at the Uffizi, dating from the early 19th century on, the syndrome was only named in 1979, when it was described by Italian psychiatrist Graziella Magherini, who observed and described more than 100 similar cases among tourists and visitors in Florence. The syndrome was first diagnosed in 1982.
The term is often used when describing the reactions of audiences to music of the Romantic period.
Thursday, 13 August 2009
The sun has got its hat on....
New my new faovrite highbrow newspaper 'The Sun' gave me this genuis peice of news yesterday....
A WOMAN flipped out and hurled a mug of hot tea at the Mona Lisa — because she is believed to suffer from a disorder triggered by CULTURE.
Stunned security guards at the Louvre Museum in Paris watched in horror as the Russian woman attacked the priceless portrait with the steaming brew.
The guards wrestled the lady — believed to be in her 30s and suffering from Stendhal Syndrome which causes confusion and irrational behaviour when exposed to fine art — to the ground after the attack on Sunday. She was immediately arrested and examined by doctors.
Leonardo Da Vinci's priceless masterpiece is surrounded by bulletproof glass and was not damaged in the attack.
A museum spokesman said: "There was no damage done to the painting whatsoever.
"It is protected by bullet-proof glass almost two centimetres thick, and also contained in a special sealed box to protect it from vibrations and humidity.
"It is one of the most well guarded works of art in the world, and it would take more than a well-aimed tea-cup to damage it."
The Mona Lisa was visited by 8.5 million people last year — and is no stranger to unwanted attention. In 1956 someone hurled acid at the painting. It also suffered superficial damage when an Italian museum employee stole it from the Louvre in 1911 before being caught two years later. In 2005 the Mona Lisa was moved to a supposedly secure, climate-controlled location in the Louvre's Salle des Etats.
Following the latest attack, a Paris police spokesman said: "A woman was immediately arrested on August 2. She is still being held and questioned following psychiatric tests. The attack took place on the first Sunday of the month, when works of art at the Louvre are open to the public for free. Crowds are naturally far larger, and everything is done to prevent these types of attack."
My intial response would be unless she is Lady Gaga why on earth is she carrying a tea cup round with her anyway?
Happier than a sandboy with something new to research off I go....
A WOMAN flipped out and hurled a mug of hot tea at the Mona Lisa — because she is believed to suffer from a disorder triggered by CULTURE.
Stunned security guards at the Louvre Museum in Paris watched in horror as the Russian woman attacked the priceless portrait with the steaming brew.
The guards wrestled the lady — believed to be in her 30s and suffering from Stendhal Syndrome which causes confusion and irrational behaviour when exposed to fine art — to the ground after the attack on Sunday. She was immediately arrested and examined by doctors.
Leonardo Da Vinci's priceless masterpiece is surrounded by bulletproof glass and was not damaged in the attack.
A museum spokesman said: "There was no damage done to the painting whatsoever.
"It is protected by bullet-proof glass almost two centimetres thick, and also contained in a special sealed box to protect it from vibrations and humidity.
"It is one of the most well guarded works of art in the world, and it would take more than a well-aimed tea-cup to damage it."
The Mona Lisa was visited by 8.5 million people last year — and is no stranger to unwanted attention. In 1956 someone hurled acid at the painting. It also suffered superficial damage when an Italian museum employee stole it from the Louvre in 1911 before being caught two years later. In 2005 the Mona Lisa was moved to a supposedly secure, climate-controlled location in the Louvre's Salle des Etats.
Following the latest attack, a Paris police spokesman said: "A woman was immediately arrested on August 2. She is still being held and questioned following psychiatric tests. The attack took place on the first Sunday of the month, when works of art at the Louvre are open to the public for free. Crowds are naturally far larger, and everything is done to prevent these types of attack."
My intial response would be unless she is Lady Gaga why on earth is she carrying a tea cup round with her anyway?
Happier than a sandboy with something new to research off I go....
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
The Panics (not a new band)
Not that I don't make work....don't get me wrong, but it is all too easy to get out of the habit of practise, I feel.
Anyway blogging. As I feel I have been slacking in the work department, I say slacking like its a choice, its more of a crisis. Engulfed by the panic I suppose everyone goes through, although everyone may not seem to. The panics include-what am I doing, why am I doing it, is it for want of a better word, shit? I decided to, after much sole searching to get back into the zone, not unlike Woody Harelson (spelling not accurate) in White men Can't Jump.
I have heard in various newspaper articles, lectures and peer to peer conversations that blogging is a good way to present your self, explore ideas and interests, whilst maintaining a structure and generally having an excuse to market yourself. So I am putting my flag in this small section of the Internet, and intend to use it to build the foundations of my contemporary art empire (so to speak). I have set myself the task of writing something everyday ( I have failed at this already as I didn't write anything yesterday).
I am not sure why I have chosen to do this as I aren't terribly sure I have that much to say.
Anyway blogging. As I feel I have been slacking in the work department, I say slacking like its a choice, its more of a crisis. Engulfed by the panic I suppose everyone goes through, although everyone may not seem to. The panics include-what am I doing, why am I doing it, is it for want of a better word, shit? I decided to, after much sole searching to get back into the zone, not unlike Woody Harelson (spelling not accurate) in White men Can't Jump.
I have heard in various newspaper articles, lectures and peer to peer conversations that blogging is a good way to present your self, explore ideas and interests, whilst maintaining a structure and generally having an excuse to market yourself. So I am putting my flag in this small section of the Internet, and intend to use it to build the foundations of my contemporary art empire (so to speak). I have set myself the task of writing something everyday ( I have failed at this already as I didn't write anything yesterday).
I am not sure why I have chosen to do this as I aren't terribly sure I have that much to say.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
So it Starts...
One day you find yourself watching an Alan Carr chat show, Peter Andre tells you his new single is out tonight, and that he is very nervous about it (he is also trying to clear up rumours about his cock size). You think I have never downloaded any peice of music in my life (even though I am 25) but I will go out of my way to get that song as I really want things to work out for him. Its then when you realise it really is about time to start making work again.
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