Dancing the melancholic tango

Article: Anyone for tango?

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20100901-anyone-for-tango



Street dancers in San Telmo, the oldest neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.



The headline of this article has grabbed my attention in the first place. The question ‘Anyone for tango?’ has lured me into the body text to find out more.  As a tango learner, I was naturally attracted to this article. I will put my cursor over the story whenever I see the word ‘tango’ or a picture of people embracing on the dance floor. Nevertheless, this question headline is not compelling enough to capture the interest of those who know little about tango. A good question headline must do more than simply ask a question. It must be able to make the readers empathize with or eager to read the article for answers. ‘Anyone for tango’ does not promise anything.
 
But the story has not failed. There is a very descriptive picture in the first paragraph – a scene that shows the normal setting of an Argentinean street.  Imagine seeing some old men dealing cards in corner bars while hearing Carlos Gardel’s singing out of a transistor radio. On the other side, a child is playing the bandoneón for tourists in the subway and people are dancing in tango music that comes from a beat-up sound system. Readers experience every detail that draw them in and make them feel as if they are actually living the story. I could hear the songs of Carlos Gardel and the music from the bandoneón while sitting on my couch. I have never been to Argentina, but the scenes arise in my mind unconsciously.
 
 

The video below shows the tango dance scene from the movie Scent Of A Woman (1992). The music is "Por una cabeza" by Carlos Gardel.

Readers are ‘dragged’ into another scene by ‘walking past the Sunday night milonga in San Telmo's Plaza Dorrego’ and ‘seeing eager young travelers putting their first tango lessons to the test’. The milonga is a place where you can find young tourists dancing cheek-to-cheek with experienced partners who are three times their age. Knowing that foreigners are truly entranced by the melancholic tango in this way is more far interesting than reading a boring sentence stating the fact that tourists are enthusiastic in tango.
 

It is these vivid and descriptive sentences that give the readers a truly memorable way to digest the message that the writer tries to convey.  The descriptions and scenes are exciting enough to keep the attention of the readers.

Other sources:

http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/history-of-tango-dance-6309.html

Photo courtesy of:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/tango-photos/#/san-telmo-street-dancers_11312_600x450.jpg

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBHhSVJ_S6A&feature=related

Jersey Boys to rock Sydney

Article: Memorable mix transcends the jukebox
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/musicals/memorable-mix-transcends-the-jukebox-20100919-15hsj.html?autostart=1


Living in a city with a vast array of artistic and cultural attractions, knowing that Jersey Boys has come to Sydney was no surprise. The writer has, however, used an interesting way to introduce the performers at the beginning of the article. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons are described as caesars of '60s pop who were spawned by the triumvirate of the blacks, the Jews and the Italians. For those who are not familiar with the musical, this gives them a bit of background information of the show and the history of American popular music.


The book itself is described by the writer as having snappy dialogue and bullying one-liners, which has in turned created a number of unique characters with distinct voices. This uniqueness not only appears in the four leads, but also in the supporting cast. Valli's wife, Mary, for instance, possesses a trait of sharp tongue that makes her irreplaceable by anyone else.

Jersey Boys performed in the Princess Theatre, Melbourne.

If some of the acting lags slightly behind, one should devote his attention on the singing, which is how the show is defined. The writer was frank at this point, arguing that a little failing on the acting is not enough to drag the show down. The best hits such as Big Girls Don't Cry and Walk Like a Man were described as bursting onto from the stage with verve, polish and conviction, that adds vividness and colour to the article. This has recalled my experience while watching the show in Melbourne. The charm of the performers and the power of the music and lyrics are still lingering in my mind.


I agree with the writer that the inadequacy of pop songs in the musical does not evade emotional angst and trauma of the audience. I was touched while hearing the Fallen Angel, which describes Valli's feeling after his daughter's drug-overdose death. Some songs are certainly emotionally moving. I like the way the writer concluded the article. 'I'll bet many memorable songs were being sung on the way home by many a smiling face'. Undeniably, I am one of them.


Jersey Boys is now playing in Sydney. The video below shows some of the best hit songs in the musical.




Other sources:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/holiday-deals/jersey-boys-hits-sydney/story-fn561c52-1225927321012

Photo courtesy of:
Blogger's photo collection: Jersey Boys at the Princes Theatre, Melbourne (taken on 30 June, 2010)

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNbu3U-_AAU

Fighting a battle with pirates

Article: Movie pirates not winning the war

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/movie-pirates-not-winning-the-war-20100812-121a5.html

While there is a general belief that illegal movie downloading is killing the entertainment industry, the article has pointed out an interesting fact that there is a steady rise in the annual box office. As a frequent moviegoer, I do admit that I have downloaded copyrighted movies free from the internet. The answers to this ‘stealing’ act are simple. It is too easy and it is unlikely that you will get into trouble.

Knowing that 30,000 files of Inception had been downloaded on a single day on a week in August, the readers are aware of the seriousness of movie piracy as soon as they start reading the article. Timeliness is shown by citing other newly release films such as Toy Story 3 and the Twilight series, Eclipse, which are also at the top of the pirates' shopping lists.

‘Leeching off’ is a very good description on the way how illegal movie downloading kills the entertainment industry. Leeching, in the context on the use of computer resources, means ‘to download without giving anything in return’ and ‘to suck dry, as a leech would’. It is a vivid depiction on the downloading act, giving a rough account on the consequences of this act to the entertainment industry.

30,000 illegal copies of Inception were downloaded in a day.

The writer has given sufficient figures on the number of movies downloaded illegally by Australians and its subsequent cost to the entertainment industry. It is therefore interesting to know that the movie business is prospering despite all obstacles.

In explaining the reasons for the recent boom of the industry, the writer has cited the views of several authoritative figures in the industry. Mike Baard, chairman and managing director of Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia, said the advance of technology has played a crucial role. Films are now more visually challenging than they used to be. For instance, the 3D effects in films such as Avatar and Toy Story 3 cannot be recorded by a camcorder and replicated into a pirated movie that is found on the internet. The comparative advantage of an authentic movie is further explained by Neil Gane, the executive director of the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft. According to Gane, good-quality movies always outweigh inferior copies, especially at a time when superb viewing experience is being promoted at cinemas and enjoyed by most moviegoers.

The writer has given a general view on the opportunities and threats to the entertainment industry, as well as credible justifications from authoritative figures of the industry. There is a strong argument that ‘authentic is the best’. Contrary to popular belief, the article conveys a message that cinemas will not die in this intense battle.

Other sources:

http://apcmag.com/movie-cammer-walks-free-mpa-disappointed.htm


Photo courtesy of:

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/movie-pirates-not-winning-the-war-20100812-121a5.html