M.I.A. – When Democracy Comes To Town

Young video warrior Maya isn’t the most exciting performer out there and she certainly isn’t someone whose music I turn to, but she and her crew have gone a bit beyond. This new video of hers has a bit more of a kick to it than what I’m used to from her; what makes it interesting to watch, though, is how she has constructed a world that escapes the boundaries of culture. What I mean by that is Maya has given birth to an apostatic abomination that history is threatening to vomit into a wormhole. Actually, this video is so beautiful that I don’t know how to describe it so I will once again shut up.

UPDATE! After doing a little research I’ve discovered that this is no fantasy world; this is the reality of modern Arab life. Witness the following videos and know that find more you need only go to youtube and type ‘arab drifting’ or ‘sandal skating’.

 

 

Published by Pol Rosenthal

Pol Rosenthal has been working in Seattle's theater and music scenes for over 20 years. He used to publish a cultural arts journal then moved to Seattle to be in a rock band, TCHKUNG. This lead to him working with DK Pan's senses altering Butoh company, the P.A.N. In the late 90s he worked for sonic conspiracy company Muzak and while walking out the door helped found radical street art/action group the Infernal Noise Brigade. There he befriended and became a member of multi-disciplinary effort The Degenerate Art Ensemble. Eventually, he moved in next door to Seattle theater company Implied Violence (now St. Genet) and has enjoyed a multi-year, unhealthy relationship to their demanding work and philosophies. Last year he was in Curtis Taylor's 'The White Days' as an "actor". Presently he's wrapped up dancing in Paige Barnes' modern dance piece 'Lead Bunny' (Oct 2012) and is working on Dayna Hanson's rock musical 'Gloria's Cause'. In October he collaborated with Real Change editor Rosette Royale on a wonderful installation, 'JungleBox', for City Arts Fest.