Oddity Central |
- 5 Real-Life Dolls Who Have Achieved Internet Fame
- Tuvan Throat Singing – A Unique Mongolian Tradition
- Famadihana – Dancing with the Dead in Madagascar
- The Mind-Blowingly Realistic Wine Paintings of Thomas Arvid
| 5 Real-Life Dolls Who Have Achieved Internet Fame Posted: 04 Apr 2012 05:31 AM PDT
Dolls hold a strange power of attraction over little girls. I suppose it is normal, but is it really if the attraction turns into an unhealthy obsession as they grow older? Some grown-up girls seem to be so infatuated with dolls that they want to look exactly like their plastic playmates. And a handful of them actually manage to achieve these looks. Here we have a story of five girls who have achieved huge fame on the internet by looking exactly like dolls. We're not sure if it is because of makeup, Photoshop, plastic surgery, natural beauty, or a combination of all four. All we know is that looks don’t get a lot more doll-like than this. I don't know if you could categorize these looks as innocent or plain creepy. But I'll let you be the judge of that. Photo:Facebook Kotakoti Kotakoti was featured right here on OC a few weeks back. The 16-year-old's photographs went viral on Asian and Arabic social media websites, because of her uncanny resemblance to a doll. Although she seems to be quite a controversial Internet celebrity, with lots of people claiming her look is just photoshopped, Dakota Rose, or Kotakoti, has lots of fans who simply worship her. She is often called a real-life Barbie, but while she does look very pretty and doll-like, I'm not really seeing a Barbie resemblance here. Are you? To me, she looks more like the anime characters from coloring books that I used to fill in with crayons as a kid. She also reminds me of the classic line from Red Riding Hood, "Oh Grandma, what big eyes you have!"
Venus Angelic Venus Angelic is a 15-year-old from London, whose bizarre YouTube videos have made her an internet sensation. Her videos are tutorials on how to apply make-up to look exactly like an Asian doll, or BJD (Ball Jointed Doll). Angelic lived in Japan for two years and fell completely in love with Japanese anime. There is nothing wrong with doing a make-up tutorial, but you've really got to watch these to understand why they are considered bizarre, by some. Her voice and accent are so baby-like that people have wondered if it’s real. Angelic insists that it is. "I think it sounds that way because I speak five languages and all the accents mix together," she says. Angelic's make-up routine consists of three layers of moisturizer, two layers of pink concealer, pink eye shadow, plenty of mascara and false eyelashes. She puts on some circle lenses (for that doll-eye effect) and the transformation is complete!
Wang Jiayun Wang is a 17-year-old Chinese student who became famous overnight on Korean and Chinese blogospheres about a year ago, for her life-size doll looks. Her photographs received over a million hits a day. She was instantly nicknamed "Chong Qi Wa Wa", which in English means blow-up doll. Later, the secret to Wang's looks were revealed – makeup and Photoshop editing. Her natural pictures were leaked out on the internet recently, which hugely disappointed her many male fans and earned her severe criticism. Still, Wang continues to post photos of her in a doll-like state on her very popular Facebook page.
Russian Barbie Not much is known about her, except that she is from Russia, and looks exactly like a Barbie. Like all the other real-life doll girls, her pictures are pretty popular on the internet too. But it's not clear how she achieved these looks, or even what her name is. I'd have to say, she does look less Anime and more Barbie. Especially in this one photograph where she stands exactly like a doll, face devoid of any expression. Creeps me out! Angelyne The real-life dolls mentioned above are all very young, but Angelyne is probably the original version of a real-life Barbie. Unfortunately, reality has its downside and the years have left their mark on this Los Angeles icon. We posted some pics of Angelyne way back in 2009, but all we were able to learn about her was that she rose to pseudo-stardom after a series of billboards with her sprung up around LA. She drives a pink Corvette, dresses in pink and is a pretty rare sight these days. Although time hasn’t been very kind with Angelyne, she still retains that doll-like look, although I wouldn’t really compare her to Barbie these days. Photo: Splash News 5 Real-Life Dolls Who Have Achieved Internet Fame was originally posted at OddityCentral.com  |
| Tuvan Throat Singing – A Unique Mongolian Tradition Posted: 04 Apr 2012 04:44 AM PDT
As with any other piece of music, it is quite impossible to describe through words what exactly Tuvan throat singing is. I could try to explain to you the physics of how it is done, but then you could always get that information from Wikipedia. I could try to explain what it sounds like, but then you could just listen to it on YouTube. Oh, and while you are on YouTube, please don't go by Sheldon Cooper's version of it from The Big Bang Theory. It is funny, but it is in no way the real thing. Tuvan music is at best described as a variant of overtone singing. Its beauty lies in its traditional, rustic melody and it exudes an old-world charm. That's not surprising, given the fact that this form of music dates very far back in history. A music that came into being purely out of culture and geographic location, the ancient Tuvans used to look for specific spots to practice it. Given the open landscape of Tuva, sounds are carried a great distance. Singers often travel far into the countryside, in search of the right river or mountainside for the environment that throat singing requires. Sounds like a beautiful way to blend music and nature. Photo: Red Orange Tuvan throat singing consists of harmonized sounds that are produced from deep within the throat. The unique style of singing is further divided into several styles – Khoomei, Kargyraa and Sygyt – each of which contains several sub styles. The division of style depends on how the sound is induced. Khorekteer is a 'chest voice', while the popular Khoomei is soft on the ears. The art of Tuvan throat singing is predominantly male-dominated, although a there is mention of a few popular female singers in Tuva's history. Choldak-Kara Oyun is known to have throat-sang her whole life, singing lullabies to her children and also while milking her cows. I'm quite glad to have come across Tuvan throat singing. The music really is quite melodious, almost relaxing to listen to.
Tuvan Throat Singing – A Unique Mongolian Tradition was originally posted at OddityCentral.com  |
| Famadihana – Dancing with the Dead in Madagascar Posted: 04 Apr 2012 02:53 AM PDT
The people of Madagascar have a unique ritual to celebrate family ties called Famadihana, also known as 'turning of the bones'. It is a festival celebrated every 7 years or so, during which family crypts are opened up and the remains of dead ancestors are brought out to be wrapped in a new cloth. The Malagasy then dance with the corpses in great joy. Live music is played, animals are sacrificed and the meat is distributed to various guests and members of the family. The elders explain to their children the importance of the dead who are lying before them. Famadihana is viewed as a day to show your family just how much you love them. Extended families get together and celebrate kinship. According to Malagasy belief, people are not made from mud, but from the bodies of the ancestors. Hence they hold their forefathers in high regard. They also believe that unless the bodies decompose completely, the dead do not leave permanently and are able to communicate with the living. So until they are gone forever, love and affection is showered on them through the Famadihana festival. It is interesting to note that the festival is not an ancient practice of Madagascar. Its origins cannot be traced beyond the seventeenth century. Photo: Saveoursmile Conducting Famadihana these days is pretty costly affair, since it involves elaborate preparations including lavish meals for all the guests and new clothes for the living as well as the dead. Some of the poor do not have family crypts, so they save up for several years to be able to build one, and then hold a festival for their own dead ancestors. Traditionally, it has been considered a serious breach if a family does not hold a famadihana when they are able to afford it. Although, several of the Malagasy differ in opinions regarding this matter. A few of them believe that such a huge expense is simply a waste, and others believe that it is impossible to talk to the dead. Evangelical Protestants completely discourage the custom. However, the Catholic Church views famadihana as a cultural event and not a religious one.
Rakotonarivo Henri, a 55-year-old farmer, recently celebrated famadihana with his family. He danced with the remains of his dead grandfather and aunt. He said, "It is good to thank the ancestors in person because we owe them everything. I am asking them for good health, and of course if they would help me to accumulate wealth, this is also good." However, Jean Ratovoherison, a 30-year-old technology firm manager, has a different view of things, "We do not believe we can communicate with the dead, but we do believe famadihana strengthens our family between the generations." There may be conflicts in their beliefs regarding the celebration, but the people of Madagascar do participate with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. As the dead are brought out, tears are discouraged and people revel in the music, dance and joy that the occasion has come to represent. Famadihana – Dancing with the Dead in Madagascar was originally posted at OddityCentral.com  |
| The Mind-Blowingly Realistic Wine Paintings of Thomas Arvid Posted: 04 Apr 2012 01:59 AM PDT
If you’ve been hanging around Oddity Central for a while, you probably know I have a thing for hyperrealism. I find it amazing how some artists can simply guide a paintbrush to create photograph-like artworks that almost always fool the naked eye. Case in point, Thomas Arvid, a self-taught painter who creates wine-related paintings that look like professional high-resolution photos. In the past, we’ve featured amazing works by talented artists the likes of Alyssa Monks or Denis Peterson, but Arvid’s creations really are unlike any I’ve ever seen. His incredibly realistic compositions of wine completely redefine still life and put the Marietta-based artist at the forefront of the hyperrealist art movement. Thomas’ mastery of light, depth and reflection, as well as his ability to capture a traditional subject like wine in a completely new style have brought him international acclaim. What’s most surprising about the Detroit-native artist is he has had no formal training in the art of painting. Growing up in a blue-collar family, Thomas Arvid had always been drawn to artistic activities like drawing, sculpting or making murals, but following his calling wasn’t an option back then. It wasn’t until he left Detroit for Atlanta, and embarking on a tour of Europe that he discovered his true purpose in life. He realized he could be more than someone who created art on the side, he could become a true artist. Soon he discovered new techniques and inspiration to work with oils, and all there was left to do was find a subject to focus on. Asked what made him choose wine as the main subject of his hyperrealist paintings, Arvid says: "The hardest thing about being an artist is deciding what to create next, because really, the possibilities are endless. Early on, I knew I needed to focus, to not be all over the place, so I decided to paint things that were Red: Red Converse, Red Coke cans, Red Radio Flyer wagons. All those red icons we see around us, and red wine was one. That first wine painting had so much impact. I did another, and another. Then I realized. This is it. It has all the elements that intrigue and challenge me as an artist: Color, contrast, cool and warm surfaces, a range of color and texture, and an unlimited number of possible compositions." Thomas Arvid’s work has been showcased in galleries across America, and his creations are especially popular among wineries and vineyard owners who recognize him as today’s most talented painter of wine. If you’re a fan of wine, you might want to check out this list of incredible artists who actually paint with wine.
Photos copyright of Thomas Arvid The Mind-Blowingly Realistic Wine Paintings of Thomas Arvid was originally posted at OddityCentral.com  |
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