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My Lonesome Cowboy

The Japanese artist Murakami made an interesting life-sized sculpture of an anime-looking character spinning a lasso of semen that is shooting from his penis. What’s more surprising, though, is that it sold for more than $15 million at a Sotheby’s auction. Here is a video from Murakami’s Los Angeles exhibit where he talks about My Lonesome Cowboy. (Via Japundit.)

The Library

I went to get some books on phenomenology for independent readings with Martin, but one book I wanted was not there, and the section the other books were in was closed. One more task to perform before departing.

This, That, and Shortbus

I packed a little, looked for more books, and watched Shortbus. I really enjoyed the utopic uplifting sexual space that was presented in the movie, and also enjoyed the acting and production, but felt the movie would have functioned better as a television series, given the number of narratives and the way they advanced, if that makes any sense.

Either way, I was glad to see the manifestation of John Cameron Mitchell’s idea to have sex in a movie that was part of the overall narrative, rather than simply being present for the purpose of salacity. Along those lines, at least, I think he did a great job, though those who are not so desensitized to such explicit displays of sexuality might think otherwise.

My favorite scene was with the old man talking about New York. The most humorous scene for me was when the dominatrix cried about quitting her job, just painting, and yet still affording to live in New York — you’d have to see the scene. It reinvited the fear that I am missing out by not living in a large city.

Minutiae

• Doumitra was upset that Paradiso was closing early. She said they should have given her a 67-hour notice.