Historic Heads
The Anglo-Saxon period, which, in respect of Art, seems to mingle both classical reminiscences and Byzantine traditions with a grandly fantastic native element, offers more interest. Christ is here more strictly separate; the disciples have one class of features, being chiefly given with classically formed profiles, the angels and archangels another, and Christ a third. This is of an abstract and weird character, conveying a strange sense of the supernatural, perfectly in keeping with the abstract nature of the more general conception, which represents our Lord in glory. The head rises grandly above the stony stare, the divided hair is cinctured with a fillet and jewel, and the beard is formed into three points. The lines are few and equal, as if by a hand accustomed to incise them in a harder material. Another form, with a bushy wig of hair, of which we annex an illustration (No. 11), is more fantastic, though not without a certain grandeur. This is taken from an Anglo-Saxon MS. In the British Museum, of the year 1000.
. . .Our next specimen (No 13, over leaf) is English in origin, taken from a psalter (Biblila Regia, 2 A. XXII,. In the Biritish Museum, of about the year 1250). This is reduced from a head half the size of life. Here the fact that the type of Christ’s head is the same as contemporary persons is strikingly borne out, for the head of Henry III (1216-72). discovered on the wall of the Windsor cloisters, is curiously identical in form an expression though more rude.
Affective Education (1)
Back in 1977, I attempted attending Bakersfield College, a.k.a. “the high school on the hill” or “Panorama High,” a two-year community college with free tuition. It was the only choice I had as a poor boy. I only made it for a year, even though I had what many teenage boys might call a dream job—I was paid to photograph pornographic magazines. I was an assistant to the P.R. photographer on campus, Al Noriega, but mainly I worked with instructional materials (specifically Swedish ones). After taking the usual panorama of psychology, philosophy, and art classes I dropped out in disgust when I was not able to pass even the bonehead English course. I could read, but I couldn’t write. So I jumped ship.
Rex called me the other day to inform me about their latest P.R. campaign distributed around the city on billboards. As with many things, location is the key to success. Where this billboard was placed is especially meaningful to folks of my vintage.
Strike the Profile
A Syracuse University graduate student taking photographs outside the VA Medical Center says she was questioned and ordered to delete several images by hospital security officers Thursday afternoon.
Mariam Jukaku, 24, of Michigan, said the officers also photocopied her university ID and driver's license and asked if she was a U.S. citizen. She wonders if her appearance played a part in how the incident was handled.
Jukaku, a U.S. citizen of Indian descent, said she is Muslim and wears a head scarf.
