Is it too late?

I haven't written in a long time. Anyway, the previous post seemed to provide such a nice little ending: not literal but obvious enough to appeal to my kitschy notions about art. (God, a pop song nearly had me in tears yesterday. I would say which one but that would only add to my embarrassment). But I hate to read a blog and see an haunting post from six months or a year ago, followed by a cessation of communication. It always seems like a suicide note. So I choose to continue this semblance of a narrative where I left off. It may be stuttered or stammering (I like the parenthesis and the semi-colon; they allow me to indulge my digressions while still demarcating the narrative itself), but you can chalk that up to laziness or artifice, whichever you prefer.

So where to begin anew? How about some artwork? Here are some works by Leon Bakst (1866-1924), costume designer for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes dance company.


My girl Ida Rubenstein as Helen of Sparta.


And here as Cleopatra.


Vaslav Nijinsky in L'après-midi d'un faune.


Sketch of a model from 1905.


Oil of a dancer in costume.

The sheer variety of Bakst's work is amazing; these are just a few costume designs and a sketch. You should see his set designs (Just do an image search for "Bakst" and you will be blown away). To the modern eye some of it may appear to be garish, art nouveau Orientalism that was dated even in its time. But it's ballet, and it's fabulous, so enjoy it.

2/15

Man and woman seated at table, facing each other, in public space (bar or cafe).

Woman: So you believe in being straightforward. At all times. You won't even pretend to consider it? For the sake of decorum?
Man: No. Better to be consistent and truthful all the time. Then everybody knows where you stand. For example, if I asked you to sleep with me, you would say...
Woman: [Pauses, shrugs]
Man: That's your cue to say, 'Not in a million years,' or something to that effect. And then I would know where you stand. Wouldn't waste time trying to sleep with you.
Woman: And what if I did want to sleep with you?
Man: [...]
Woman: [Shrugs again]
Man: Well, I would think that the audacity of my question would render any such feelings moot for the time being.
Woman: [Getting up from table] You're probably right. But that disproves your original point. Sometimes subtlety is necessary. Sometimes even decorum comes in handy.
Man: [Paraphrasing Woody Allen] Don't you wish life was really like this?
Woman: [Shrugs and exits]