I realized I bought Lissa another purse with the Eiffel Tower on it yesterday, she already has one I bought her. If something has the Eiffel Tower on it, I will buy it and I don't know why. I've never been to Paris and probably never will go there and it's not a desire of mine to travel there. I know little of Paris except when it appears in books or movies and I don't seek it out. I know Princess Di was killed there and wasn't that awful? It made me cry. She seemed so sweet..most of the time. It's just this particular structure I can't get over. I got to thinking and looking around here and I have all kinds of touristy crap with the Eiffel Tower on it. There are purses and T-shirts and knick knacks and some old black and white prints of it framed and propped behind the couch because I have no place to hang them. My favorite Eiffel thing is an old Avon bottle shaped like it that I got somewhere, it still has stinky yellow perfume in it. I wonder what it is about this thing that hooked me? And when in the world did that happen? It's not phallic, so don't pull that worn out card out. I hate art people that think everything is phallic and all women have penis envy. Only men have penis envy, they made it up because so many of them think about their dicks all the time and think everyone else does too, which is so not true it would make them cry if they knew the truth. I can tell you the date it was made, because I paid attention in art history and back then you had to pass a secret test to get your degree, which had no class taught for it, it was just a requirement. The head of the art department would take you in a room by yourself and show a slide show of art and architecture dating from the Lascaux cave paintings (also in France) to modern day. There were 200 questions about who did it, when it was done, etc. and you had to get half of them right or you were disqualified for your degree no matter how many required hours you'd completed. That test has since been abolished as unconstitutional or some shit, whatever. I was a chick that never went to high school and wanted that degree so I studied all art, at night, in the library so hard for months that I only got a couple of questions wrong and I got the highest score ever given. It wasn't smarts, it was sheer desperation. I was tired of mixing drinks. Anyway, the Eiffel Tower was built during 1187-1889 and I didn't look that up. I didn't have to, I know I'm right. Some things just stick in your head, you know? I still don't know why I'm obsessed with this thing, it wasn't even a big part of taught art history. It only got a small mention in my classes.*
My favorite building in the whole world is The Chrysler Building, which I've actually seen, unlike the tower and I know why I love it. It's purdy. It's a great examaple of The Art Deco period and I'm a Deco freak. What's YOUR favorite piece of architecture?
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~Photo by 5348Franco~ And I found the Avon bottle picture on eBay, it closed at $16.00. What a treasuse, eh? Sarcasm.
~Photo by 5348Franco~ And I found the Avon bottle picture on eBay, it closed at $16.00. What a treasuse, eh? Sarcasm.
22 comments:
I'm more into baroque/gothic style....one of my favorites is the Holy Family Church in Spain...I find it fascinating... Actually most cathedral style architecture have someting that just takes my breath away...as for more modern architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright's house has got to be my favorite..
i LOVE art deco!!!
i don't know what my favorite piece of architecture is....i am fascinated with the pyramids....and i am totally intrigued how/why there was pyramids being built in s. america and in egypt at about the same time....how/why did both these civilizations come to build structures in this shape?? they couldn't communicate with each other....
i don't really like frank lloyd wright....i did a paper on his mentor louis sullivan though who is rather overlooked....there's a louis sullivan building in clinton, iowa....i wrote a paper on that in college (the first time thru)....
i think we sometimes have an affinity for buildings, places, that perhaps played a part in a past life....
GAWD. I have several 'obsessions', things I like to look at or collect...foxes, all things royal, fleur de lis and new orleans ..I also have an obsession with the eiffel tower. I have also never been but I hope to go one day. Sitting on top of my computer cabinet is a cheap Target (pronounced Tarj-ay) lamp shaped like it.
That top picture, is that a green glass bottle? I think I have the same one.
Meissa...St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans is GORGEOUS. I have always dreamed of a huge, decadent princess style wedding there. Or at St. Pat's Cathedral in NYC.
I have a similar thing with Machu Picchu. If I see a plate with Machu Picchu on it, I have to buy it, then break it.
I think it must be a phallic obsession.
I like New England fishing towns like Woods Hole. I like how they smell, the old looking houses and the early morning noises.
jarhead
I love St Pat's cathedral in NYC, and Bishop's Palace in Galveston, Tx. . . .and any haunted plantation in the south. ;^)
I like this a lot.
http://www.wright-house.com/frank-lloyd-wright/fallingwater-pictures/F1SW-fallingwater-in-fall.html
I've only recently grown to like Art Deco and the Chrysler building is what turned my attention to it and how it can be beautiful.
As far as a favourite architecture...while I like Wright's incorporation of nature in his work especially the one iambriezy mentioned - Falling Waters - I have to say I'm with Jarhead on this. Fishing towns are warm and comfortable and unpretentious and quaint. My favourite are Newfoundland villages with their bright colours and homey arrangements and you just know if you needed anyone in any one of those houses they'd be happy to help you out and give you a "cuppa tea in yer 'and"
http://www.butlerframing-gallery.com/newfoundlandArtists/KenPower/default.html
PS: I met Princess Diana once a long time ago. She looked far better in person than she did in pictures if you can imagine. She had the clearest blue eyes with long lashes and the most perfect skin I have ever seen. I was sad when she was killed. She was not without fault but I believe she did try hard to use her position to better the world and for the brief time she was here she was able to leave a lasting and notable legacy.
I don't know what my favorite building is, but I love the Craftsman style of homes.
I've been to Paris twice, Le Tour d'Eiffel is amazing! One hotel we stayed in had a view of it from the window. It changes colors all night long, until about midnight ,or so when they turn the lights out. Took the tour to the top and also ate lunch at mid-level. Paris is awesome as are most of the European cities I've visited. The buildings are old, very old, it really amazes me. I am particularly interested in the Renaissance right now and will be traveling to Rome, Florence and Venice in October. Can't wait! Just the thought of viewing Michaelangelo's, among others, masterpieces has me in awe.
I love my house ! It is a Cape Cod style . It is small but I just had the feeling when we walked in with the relator that I was home . That was 19 years ago . We have raised our family here ( with only 1 bathroom ) and have alot of happy memories !!
I'm not sure I have a single favorite piece of architecture, but I LOVE old bridges and churches..
Hi Corina;
Favorite bridge is the Biltmore House bridge. America's largest private residence. Many movies have been filmed there, but the shot of soldiers crossing it in "Last of the Mohicans" always had me staring at the bridge.
Blue Ridge mountains and the Tenessee Valley Divide are awe inspiring as well. One of the few times that I have looked at something and got teary eyed. (Unless empty bottles of Scotch count).
oh yeah!
jarhead above
Thanks, I have to look up every thing you guys mentioned mow!
Now that I've thought about it, my favorite piece of architecture is Stonehenge. I got to go inside the circle of stones and it was breathtaking. I went really early in the morning and as I drove up to it, the sun was just breaking over the horizon behind it. I was astonished to tears. You step inside the circle and it is so quiet and serene. It was something I will never forget.
I think it means that in your passed life something happen at the Eiffel Tower for you. Probably something good since it keeps coming up. Just my opinion
jarhead: thanks for the tip! I went and googled a pic of it. It is really stunning!! I'm sure no picture can compare to seeing it IRL though...
Stonehenge..mysterious and I would like to see it. Yep.
I love fishing towns and New England too and the cape cod houses. Peggy has a house in that capey style. It's so cute.
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