MISUNDERSTOOD MR. COLTON
The widely misunderstood and misinterpreted Mr. Charles Caleb Colton ( (1780–1832) is well-known for his eccentricities. An English writer held up by scholars as an example of someone often quoted, yet rarely understood. Colton’s forgotten work includes books and collections of epigrammatic aphorisms and short essays on conduct, like Lacon, or Many Things in Few Words, addressed to those who think., Lacon, Vol. II, The Conflagration of Moscow, An Ode on the Death of Lord Byron, and an unpublished poem of 600 lines called Modern Antiquity, all of which has phenomenal popularity in Colton’s time. In the present-day Colton is one of the most quoted author since the twentieth century, and on the book Lacon, volume I, no. 183 is one of my most favorite quotes of all “Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.”
Like the Englishman, Mr. Colton I feel I am widely misunderstood and misinterpreted sometimes, and I seek refuge on books, books give me a high that no opium in the world can ever give, no critic in the world can ever sabotage, books don’t judge, it’s just there to nurture you, and to heal you, now I sound like a hippie, but being a “photographer” who shoots men with six packs or eight packs (its fun) like the rest of the fashion industry, I can’t help but feel “shallow”, especially when most of the people around you quotes “Madonna” and “Ana Wintour” like their “Jesus Christ” or “Buddha”, excuse the pun.
ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES, TOMORROW’S ANOTHER DAY
I’m working now on a novel that channels my creative energy, my life experience (though limited), my fantasies, my hopes, and my secrets, I’m working with a ghostwriter and an editor to help me polish what I wrote and just hope it pays off. I remember writing about my mother for a short story contest back in highschool, if it’s any sign at all, I bagged the first prize, and I remember the judges actually thought it was written by a senior when I was a sophomore at that time, it was the same ART WEEK, I also got the first prize for a painting competition. And now I am a photographer who is trying another chance into that route I never took back in highschool. Filipino’s are known for being over-achievers, and thats how I grew up, to always give my 100% in everything, to be the best version of me, and it is, I assure you, a bittersweet struggle, the story of my life. Another thing Filipinos are known for, “they are all fighters”, they thrive on adversity, “Roll with the punches, tomorrow’s another day.” like in the movie Jerry Maguire. The greatest and the most literal symbol of those punches is the island nation’s great 21st century hero, he is a fighter who always roll with the punches of life, known to boxing fans and aficionados of the world as “Pac-Man” and the cover boy of the latest Time Magazine Asia Edition, the unstoppable force in the boxing world, Manny Pacquiao. One of the inspiration for the latest cover of MATE MAGAZINE that I took in L.A. and out this month as their year ender for 2009, with the actor/model Marco Dapper.
NAVO: COPYCAT OR PAYING HOMAGE
I also love the sadomasochistic film “Fight Club” (1999) based on the Chuck Palahniuk novel that starred Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden and Edward Norton as The Narrator, also the David Cronenberg car-crash fetish film “Crash” (1996) based on the J.G. Ballard novel starring James Spader as James Ballard. Fire is also an important element in the novel that I’m working on, obviously I’m in the mood of burning things, creatively I’m on my “arsonist mode”. The Steven Klein Cover of Justin Timberlake for Arena Homme Plus that never got published to respect the 9/11 attack, they published an alternate cover without the US flag icon, and noted that along with the first cover choice on the inside page with this explanation. Now the million dollar question is, am I a copycat or paying homage? Let the years where my true inspirations talk, Fight Club was released 1999, Crash was 1996 and the Steven Klein’s “Alternate” Arena Homme Plus Cover was on 2001 (a pivotal year for most of us), whether Mr. Klein have seen Brad Pitt’s Fight Club and David Cronenberg’s Crash, one thing is for sure, Mr. Klein worked with Brad Pitt several times and I’m 100% sure he has seen it. Does Film, Magazines, Books and People inspire me?, YES. Do I love Steven Klein’s work?, YES. Is there a lot of “COSMOPOLITAN Magazine educated, PEREZ HILTON wannabee bloggers” out there? YES. Did I pay homage or I ripped off a Steven Klein? You’ll be the judge of that, along with the people who judged, misunderstood, and misinterpreted the man who coined “Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.”
http://www.stevenkleinstudio.com/www/index.html
http://www.mate-magazine.com/
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