Arrests, scandals, outrage: Not everything is rosy in the world of animated porn. The grey area with Lolicon is that it is a genre aimed at the teen market, and is often not explicitly sexual, but more erotically romantic. Some adults who collect Lolicon claim it is an outlet for paedophilic tendencies, and prevents crimes against children. Others claim the opposite, citing cases where sexual crimes against children are directly associated with a large collection of Lolicon. The United Nations have weighed in to the argument, calling for a ban on all sexualised imagery of children. So far, Japan has refused to criminalise any cartoon erotica.
As in the case of the sexy Simpsons mentioned earlier, one fo the most culturally subversive kinds of cartoon erotica are those that appropriate popular cartoon characters and create erotica or straight pornography from them. Some of these are pretty gross, most are just funny: Watching Superman and Lois Lane get funky, or Snow White’s sexy adventures with the Seven Dwarves sure does put a whole new spin on your child-hood heroes!
Beside Japan, one of the world capitals of cartoon erotica is Germany. Here, there is a collector’s cult underground of buying, selling, trading and discussing cartoon erotica and porn. At certain times of year it can be well worth renting apartments in Berlin, as some of the world’s most avid collectors descend on this Bohemian city for expositions and gatherings of cartoon, erotica, and the ancient fondness for 2D porn.
Recently I commented on the surprising case of singer-songwriter Javier Krahe, who has been involved in a surreal trial for “attacking the religious sentiment” of viewers who in 2004 watched a fragment of a short film filmed in the 70´s caled “How to cook a Christ” .
This is not the first time religious groups have tried to use Article 525 of the Penal Code to criminalize “attacks on religion.” In 2002, in Seville, the brotherhood of Christ’s Great Power filed a lawsuit against JCSS, the young author of a video game called “Killing Cofrade”, in which the player faced Catholic zombies who carried crosses and wore the habits of the easter Brotherhoods. Finally, the defendant apologized and was acquitted … Luckily, because he faced a potential penalty of one year in prison and nearly a fine of nearly eight thousand euros.
A even more explosive case was the situation that occurred at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid in 2004, when two religious extremists stopped a performance of the play “Me cago en dios” ( A spanish expression which literally means “I shit on god” but is used like “For fuck’s sake” ) and attacked the director and lead actor, but thankfully, did not defecate on him.
In May 2010 the Blasfemia Show was held in Barcelona. The traveling exhibition, collected many works of art which were potentially offensive to devoutly religious folks. The poster for the exhibition doesn´t beat around the burning bush: an image of Jesus Christ is superimposed on an M-shaped McDonalds logo (see photo) , to call attention to the extreme commercialization of today’s religion by associating it with a recognized consumer brand image.
There is no guarantee that the Blasfemia Show again be held in other cities ( especially now, with the danger of running afoul of Article 525), but the artists who have been part of the show often exhibit their works in various galleries in Barcelona … So if you dare to run the risk of offending the divine powers that be, just rent apartments in Barcelona and keep track of the blasphemers!
A busy housewife in the kitchen pulls a Christ from his cross, washes it under running water and puts it in a baking tray, accompanied by potatoes and butter. The voiceover explains that after three days of cooking at moderate temperature, the Christ will walk out of the oven all by himself!
This short film is called “How to Cook a Christ” and is barely a minute long. It was made by singer Javier Krahe in the late 70s, and sprang out of the atmosphere of freedom, rebellion and provocation that followed the end of the Franco dictatorship. Krahe could hardly have imagined that this short was going to cause him problems more than thirty years later!
In 2004 the singer was interviewed by a Canal + program, which screened a few frames of the film during the interview. This outraged some Catholic viewers, particularly those associated with the Thomas More Law Center, which denounced Krahe and the program for “attacking religious sentiment”. This offense is referred to in Article 525 of the Penal Code, and it is an article which had never been applied in the democracy but is still on the books. Five years later, on May 12, 2010, a judge in Madrid ordered a rexamination of the charges, and the trial against Krahe and the producer of the television program opened in court. The Thomas More Law Centre is asking for an incredible sum of 192,000 euros in damages.
The case has raised a firestorm of controversy and brought to the fore the issues of artistic freedom and religious taboos in a supposedly advanced and secular country like Spain.
I´ll with you very soon to report on more cases of exhibitions and works of art that have been considered blasphemous, censored or prosecuted … Meanwhile if you want monitor the Krahe trial, rent apartments in Madrid and attend some of the events organized to support him.
Cartoon erotica? Isn’t that kind of a contradiction in terms? Well, yes and no.
Cartoon erotica, or illustrated porn, has been around since before Christ. One antique example is the illustration of the – still-popular – Japanese tentacle porn picture created a few centuries back. Given the slightly odd title The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife, this is a pretty graphic depiction of a woman having a seriously intimate encounter with an octopus.
In fairness, this kind of erotica was only hand-drawn in the past, as people didn’t have the kind of photographic technology we’re used to now, but the public appetite for cartoon erotica hasn’t diminished. Once again, the Japanese lead the pack, with hentai. Hentai has a lot of sub-groups, but is basically manga-meets-porn, and often involves a lot of violent sex – again, involving tentacles. Hentai is a pretty negative word in Japan, and is often used as a short-hand for ‘perverted’ but this hasn’t stopped its popularity.
As well as being pornographic, cartoon erotica can be politically and culturally subversive. The Tijuana Bible was a regular, eight-page publication that was most popular in the US during the Great Depression. Although sold for porn purposes, they were also a good way to poke fun at the celebrities and state leaders of the day, with the most unpopular of these always being shown in the most degrading sexual situations. These were completely illegal but sold by the hundreds of thousands from under the counters of barber shops and grocery stores across the continental US.
Is cartoon erotica less serious than photographed porn? This is a touchy area especially where the images of children are concerned. Lolicon is a genre of cartoon erotica that sexualises the depiction of kids (in a Lolita-like way, hence the name). Plenty of countries have legislated against the use of child-characters in any kind of erotica and porn, and one unfortunate guy in the US was arrested and imprisoned after investigators found sexually explicit cartoons involving the Lisa, Bart and Marge characters from the Simpsons. In Berlin, a world capital of cartoon erotica, there may be less scrutiny than in other places. Rent apartments in Berlin, and explore the erotic cartoon world.
In a TV ad for a famous alcoholic beverage, a beautiful brunette (or a muscular gentleman in another version) stares at the camera while whispering, “ I won’t tell you now how I got this scar, or what I was doing for several years in Africa, or what serenades I like to hear… You’ll have to wait for dessert.” Ability to arouse curiosity within seconds in the person you would like to seduce is the main skill needed to succeed in the ultra-fast world of dating known as speed dating.
The phenomenon of “speed dating” was born in the United States in the late nineties, thanks to an unlikely inventor: a rabbi called Yaakov Deyo! Looking for a way to promote relations between Jewish singles, this Rabbi matchmaker began to organize meetings out of which new partnerships could easily arise.
The operation of these events is simple: in a bar with quiet music and a chatty, relaxed atmosphere, a few women are seated at adjacent tables, and an equal number of men sit down, in turn, in front of each one of them. Each “date” lasts a few minutes, usually six or seven, during which it is forbidden to exchange personal data. In the end, each participant is given a questionnaire where they evaluate the candidates, and write who they would like to get to know better… Event organizers are responsible for matching up those who have chosen each other in the questionnaires.
In Barcelona there are several companies that organize of “speed dating” meetings, some of the most popular are 7citas7, DateClub or Cita2. Soon we will talk about the peculiarities of their system and how to stack the game for the best chance of success, so that you can rent apartments in Barcelona and go to one of these ultra fast events.
After several years in exile, a victim of its own success, Bread & Butter, the international benchmark trade fair for urban fashion returned to its hometown in 2009, when they were made an offer they couldn’t refuse: to hold the show at the historic Tempelhof Airport. The event attracts between 40,000 and 80,000 visitors, and is the largest fair of its kind in the world. Get ready to see the most “in” in Sportswear, from Street Fashion to Function Wear and Casual Dressed Up The dates for this edition, whose slogan is “Premier League” will be from 7 until 9 July.
Photo: Aart van Bezooyen
There will be more than 600 brands participating in the event, and this edition will include children’s clothing brands. It is important to understand that Bread & Butter is more than just a normal fair; there are concerts, events, and many opportunities to rub elbows with movers and shakers in the world of urban fashion. It is the meeting point for buyers, traders and representatives of the press and anyone else who is involved in the fashion industry. But as its title is Bread & Butter (aka “every day”) is not high fashion or quirky trends that never really meant to be worn of the runways, rather, its focus is casual fashion that we can enjoy everyday like jeans and sportswear.
The fair joins well-known exhibitors such as Diesel, Ben Sherman and Levi’s with smaller innovative brands like Pepa Loves, and provides an incredible opportunity for everyone to share their predictions about future trends. If you are interested in attending, check out the website - www.breadandbutter.com . See the newest fashion in the world in Berlin. For a comfortable stay, rent apartments in Berlin.
Call them Will. I. Am, Apl. De Ap, Taboo and Fergie or simply the Black Eyed Peas, the important thing to keep in mind is that this group will continue their European tour, and luckily for visitors to and residents of Barcelona, will offer their first solo concert in Spain. To this end they have chosen Barcelona as the host city for an unforgettable show and the concert is planned to accommodate 40,000 spectators.
The concert will take place on July 3, 2010 at the Stadium in Cornella in El Prat and it is important to mention that is the first time that the stadium is organizing a concert of this type.
There the American pop and hip hop group will present their fifth album called “The E.N.D”, an album that contains famous songs such as “I Gotta Feeling” or “Meet Me Halfway” which was the best selling single in the month of January on iTunes Spain. Although in 2007 they participated in the Summer Festival of Santander, this is the first time that Black Eyed Peas will perform solo in Spain.
With over 35 million albums and 40 million singles sold worldwide, six Grammy Awards, the U.S. group catapulted to fame in 2003 with “Where is the Love?” a single single that topped the charts around the globe and became the best selling song in the UK. As stated in an interview Taboo Talkfame.com, said the separation of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake influenced the recording of “Where is the Love?” because the group and Justin collaborated on this first success.
This was only the beginning of the success, since shortly after the Black Eyed Peas became one of eleven artists from around the world to achieve holding the number 1 and 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously. You have less than a month to be able to listen to their success live. Rent Apartments in Barcelona, get tickets and enjoy an unforgettable concert.
A living legend, rock iguana and godfather of punk, Iggy Pop, returns to the stage with the Stooges this summer. One of rock’s best known and loved figures, Iggy Pop has been steeping in the history of rock and punk for nearly 50 years, and at age 63 continues to move with the same explosive power and agility that has made him famous for over four decades.
Iggy Pop Concert Paris
The biography of James Newell Osterberg is peppered with some of the craziest and most amazing stories of debauchery and psychedelic romps in rock history. Iggy Pop is one of the most famous rock stars of all time. While the sound he developed with his band The Stooges has revolutionized rock and inspired countless punk rock bands, one of the most memorable things about Iggy Pop is his legendary stage presence. His actions have often ended in serious injury, and he was famous for the bacchanalian orgies filled with drugs and groupies, which in 1971 caused the break-up of the group. Luckily, one of his biggest fans, David Bowie, helped Iggy recover from his numerous addictions, return to the stage and keep writing music history.
Here are some curious facts about Iggy Pop
1. In his stage performances the singer sometimes smeared himself with peanut butter.
2. After the second break-up of the group, Iggy was living on the streets of Hollywood for a while.
3. In 1976 he lived for a time in Berlin with his friend David Bowie.
4. In 1997 he wore plastic pants during a concert that left very little to the imagination.
5. He discovered how to perform if he had taken LSD was a lovely idea.
6. Iggy Pop invented the Stage Diving, and in his first attempt he broke all his front teeth.
If you are a fan of the sound of the Stooges and you do not want to lose this chance to see one of the last iconic rock stars who is still standing, rent apartments in Paris and get your tickets for his concert that will take place on July 7th at the Olympia.
You know that walking in the sand makes your feet happy, that children love playing in it and that its has a special way of getting into each and every nook and cranny of your body, and hiding shells … but perhaps you didn’t know that it can be used to create giant sculptures. If you are in Berlin before 29 August, checkout the 8th edition of Sandsation, an event that fascinates both children and adults.
Sand from Niederlehme in Brandenburg and water are the only materials used to create this the sculptures in this show. An international and diverse group of professionals and artists come together, such as designers, restorers, sculptors and carvers. Some of them, like the Indian Sudarsan Pattnaik, studied at the Golden Sand Academy in Puri, where about 70 students study for 2 years to master this art form.
Sand sculpture is said to have been born during the 60s in California, with its flourishing beach culture. In the ’70s, Kirk Gary developed better techniques and turned professional.
This festival takes place in the federal state of Friedrichshain, on the grounds of the O2 World Complex from June 6 until 29 August, which may seem strange given that the sculptures should not have a very long life expectancy. But actually they can survive between 10 and 14 weeks and are resistant to rain! Some can even last up to 6 months…
So kick back in the sand and watch as artists create amazing works of art which measure several meters in height out of sand. It’s a great opportunity to relax with your kids under the sun. A delightful experience awaits you in Berlin, so don’t hesitate: Go to Germany and rent apartments in Berlin for an economic but amazing summer vacation.
Madrid Gay Pride has been compared to the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona and Valencia’s Fallas. It’s not just a “gay” event, it’s an event that opens its arms to all: homosexual, heterosexual, transsexual or intersex, basically anyone who support the rights of an individual to decide for themselves the best way to manage their own personal life. Over the years, this event has become much more than a political demonstration, and is a celebration of a broad spectrum of human identities and the and ways to find love and happiness, although its principal political agenda, to vindicate and protect the civil rights of all, remains important
The Gay Pride 2010 will be held this year on Saturday July 3, 2010, and coincides with the celebrations of the Chueca district, which will take place between 30 June and 4 July. The theme of this year’s edition is “for transgender equality,” and the march aims to support the need for equal rights for transsexuals, transgender and intersex individuals. Transsexualism is still classified as a Sexual Identity Disorder in Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual DSM-IV-TR, and part this year’s platform is call attention to the fact that transsexuality, while labelled as pathology, should no longer be labelled as such.
We should not forget that these labels, which can have strong legal and social implications, are often nothing more than a symptom of the morality of the times, for example, homosexuality itself was classified in the DSM as a mental disorder between 1952 and 1973. Fortunately (and thanks to the efforts of many activists, citizens, artists, etc…) this is no longer true. Celebrate 31 years of social evolution this July 3 in Madrid and support the rights of all (and have a ton of fun on an unforgettable holiday). For the best lodging, rent Apartments in Madrid.
