Another Queer Jewish Buddhist

Zen and the art of advertising real estate in New York

So there I was just coming from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art (outside of which Wim Hof was sitting in a tub of ice to demonstrate the powers of Tibetan tantric practices to regulate body temperature — and that's a whole other story) when I turned onto 7th Avenue and found myself staring up at this billboard:

I stood there and wondered how the meaning would be changed if it read "impeccably Christian." But then I realized that Zen is a sect (of which there are several sub sects) in Japanese Buddhism. So I wondered how the meaning would be changed if the billboard read "impeccably Presbyterian"  or something like that.

The Japanese character for the word Zen, 禪, means meditation in one of its readings. It can also be read as Shizuka, which means quiet. The word itself came from China, where it was pronounced Chán, which was in itself a Chinese pronunciation of the Sanskrit (and possibly Pali) Dhyana, which was a word used to describe highly advanced states of meditative concentration, of which 7 were recognized. What any of this would have to do with a luxury condo in Chelsea I have no idea.

Certainly the Zen monks who take vows of poverty could not afford (and would not be allowed to "own") a condo in Chelsea, or anywhere for that matter. Of course, few people who buy a condo in Chelsea can actually afford it, and I suppose the real owner is the mortgage lender (which may find itself with a lot more real estate on its hands as the economy spirals down). So perhaps that is the hidden meaning of this billboard — we don't really own anything.

Of course, I realize this headline is meant to refer to the Zen aesthetic. Okay, so just what does that mean? I ask simply because the this very real aesthetic sense has been ripped from its context and used to sell a product. And while some Americans have a vague sense of what a Zen aesthetic looks like I can bet you dollars to onigiri that most haven't a clue what it means.

The title of this post is a reference to one of the best selling books of 1970s, Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. This book was one of the more successful routes for Zen to enter the popular consciousness in this country. And in this way Zen became indelibly connected to quality in workmanship among other things. Certainly it helped that at the time Japan. after years of being the butt of jokes about quality, was kicking US butt in automotive quality. So dedication to quality has become part of the meaning of Zen in our culture.

In Japan, the Zen aesthetic certainly has a connection to the highest quality craftsmanship.  But first and foremost it is about simplicity — doing things in a basic and plain manner to connect with what is the essence of the work. Another way of thinking about this is by looking at the Japanese word for tool - dogu. The "do" in the word means "way" or "path" and is the same character used in "dojo" which is where one practices the path of the martial artist. Dogu is the way of the tool — and speaks to the path of craftsmanship, how using a tool with mindfulness is a path towards enlightenment.

This is very far from a condo in Chelsea. Or the world of New York real estate. Though one would hope that the minimalist decor that passes for luxury in such a condo is at least an expression of the highest craftsmanship available. One would hope. 

There is also the concept of Sunyata in Zen — emptiness. And it is true if you walk into a loft apartment that is what you will experience. Empty space and if you're buying, an empty bank account. But that isn't the kind of emptiness that Zen is about. This is about the insubstantial nature of self. That in fact there is no self, no thing to hold on to. And that with this realization one connects with Buddha nature.

All right, I confess. I want at large loft apartment in Chelsea. In that way I am empty, or at least shallow. Desire has me. Or to paraphrase Jimmy Carter, there is real estate lust in my heart.

Yes, clearly this billboard was impeccably Zen. It brought me to another awareness of my aversion and desire. Probably not what the copywriter intended, but then as any good storyteller will tell you, the story one tells is never the story your audience hears.

 

Found in Trans-lation: Queer Advertising from Israel

This TV spot from Grey in Tel Aviv uses the classic technique of misdirection: it leads the viewer to believe/expect the ad is about one thing and it turns out to be something else entirely. What's nice is that the use of the transexual character in this spot is both appropriate and respectful. The character is not a joke, in fact the joke is on the viewer.

Oh, and a welcome to all the students in Professor McGinnis' class at Wayne State! Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to comment.

Sunday Morning Cartoon: Jollity Farm

Long before the now iconic Simpson's opening sequence with Homer heading home from the nuclear power plant, pulling out the  radioactive rod that fell down his shirt and throwing into the street there was a cartoon called Jollity Farm, set to the music of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.

The band was a dadaist musical version of Monty Python (whose members they worked with on a British children's show in the mid '60s). And Jollity Farm is an upbeat number that seems perfect for kids — all the animals on farm make their appropriate sounds — not unlike Old McDonald Had A Farm. Except that in the cartoon, well, there is the rather unfortunate effect for the animals of living next to a nuclear power plant.

The cartoon begins innocently enough, with the music and the motions on screen reminiscent of so many cartoons from the '30s where it seemed all of nature was dancing to a jazzy rhythm. The kind of music you hear on Don Byron's Bug Music, his marvelous tribute the to music of Raymond Scott, some of whose music you have heard in Warner Brothers cartoons. If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, go right now and listen to Powerhouse. You'll know it in a second, but it wasn't written for a cartoon. Scott was a serious Jazz composer. It just works well in so many cartoons. But I digress — except to note that many of the Bonzos were also originally serious Jazz musicians who also channeled the English music hall tradition.

Watching this cartoon you can see the influence of Warner Brothers, Disney and Scott. And you can see how it may have influenced Matt Groening. And you should wander over to youtube and take a look at all the Bonzo's songs. One of my favorites is their absolutely insane Sound of Music.

What happens when cute teen aged boys don't use condoms

Bet you weren't expecting that. From the BVK agency in Milwaukee. Where they obviously have some very cute teen aged blond boys.

Sunday Morning Cartoon: Achilles and Patroclus

To call this 11 minute claymation telling of the Greek myth of Achilles and Patroclus a cartoon does not feel right, regardless of the fact that this is certainly animation. It brings together so much that I love — Greek mythology and folk tale, animation and queer representation in media. This is not for children to watch. I mean, naked men in claymation? There is a rape scene in this cartoon that is intense and horrific. It is the story of the violence of war writ small. Yet this little film is really about the love between these two men. As the narrator asks: What makes a leader of men — the armor or the heart? Made in 1996, it is narrated by Derek Jacobi and was nominated for a BAFTA award. Be patient though, because it's long it takes a little while to load, but believe me it is worth it.

Japanese Competition for The B-52s: Jun Togawa

When I first saw Jun Togawa sing Radar Man all I immediately though of the wild sounds Kate and Cindy brought to rock and roll. What is really interesting is the cylon like robotic limbs Togawa wears in some performances along with her schoolgirl Lolita get up. But this is one schoolgirl not to mess with. I love this video, hope you do too:

Hot Gay Jews: Men I Haven't Seen On Jdate

 

Okay, there are lots of hot gay jews on jdate. But you gotta admit, this TV commercial appeaing to gay tourists to get them to Israel certainly is, uh, welcoming. Hey, he had me at Shalom.

By the way, not only is this one of the finest commercials to appeal to a gay audience out there, I don't think you'll see anything like this out of Egypt, or Iran, or Syria, or Saudi Arabia anytime soon.

Gay Sex Sells: Except You'll Never See This Commercial on TV

Not that it matters. If this hasn't rocketed all over the gay blogosphere then there is no such thing as viral marketing. So how come I've been in advertising for almost 35 years and I've never been on a photo shoot like this? What am I doing wrong?

Agitated about gay men and washing machines...

Okay, I understand the desire to collect old machines. In the last year I fell down the ebay antique typewriter rabbit hole and have yet to emerge. In an small Manhattan apartment I have more than a dozen machines ranging from a Franklin circa 1892 to the typewriter that's part of the Museum of Modern Art's design collection — the Olivetti Lettera 22, circa 1959. But washing machines? I mean, it's true I've met some Speed Queens at the Saint but this?

Clearly you've got to live in the burbs. And permanently set on spin. I jest. Who am I to throw mud at people who are certainly just a little compulsive about cleanliness when I've gotten more than one shirt dirty with typewriter ribbons and oil. Over at Automaticwasher.org you can see just how serious these guys are. And most of them are indeed guys. And yes, many of them gay guys. Hey, when you can buy a detergent called Fab for camp value, collection value and stain removal I have to shut my lid. In fact, I really should come clean — I'd be happy to marry a man with a washing machine collection. If he could stand the ink stains.   

Hot Sexy Male Models — Dumb Dizzy Male Models

Here's an ad that gets your attention with Swedish beefcake and makes fun of the shallow, dizzy nature attributed to so many models. It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul. Well, clearly it's time to draw the shades on the windows to this hot body's soul. And it gets to the reason so many people do wear sunglasses — by shading one's eyes one isn't as vulnerable or open to others. Not to mention the likelihood of going blind by tanning on a beach while looking straight up at the sun.