European Queerness

Viva Romano Prodi!!!

2006-03-14T17:01:00.000-05:00

Tonight was the occasion of the first debate on TV between Berlusconi and Romano Prodi, the leader of the Italian left-wing coalition. The debate was dealing with economics and development.

I must say that PRODI RULES!

Indeed, while Berlusconi centered all his discourses on the past (especially the so-called failures of the previous left-wing governments), on the program of the left-wing coalition (named "l'Unione") and on the non appropriate character of the debate regarding the rules of the debate. It just acknowledged the vacuity of its own program. On the contrary, Prodi spoke about its program, about the future, respect (as Berlusconi does not know this word)and about HOPE. I was really inspiring, much more than Berlusconi that appeared tonight as the frightened Italy, the Italy that does not dare to move and go forward. Prodi spoke to the youth, expressing its will to give it more chances than it has now. He is looking forward, and as he expressed it, he has already been Presidente del Consiglio (the Italian Prime Minister) and President of the European Commission. He has nothing to prove, and we could feel that he was deeply interested in Italy's future.

Let's hope the elections of April, 9th will be in favor of L'Unione and Prodi.

Viva Italia!

P.S: The elections are concerning the Italian Parliament, which rules over the nomination of the Prime Minister. The Italian President is not elected by the Italians and he has almost no power. The Italian system is a parliamentary one. Basically the winner of the election will be the leader of the winning parties'coalition.

Happy Vday to you all non engaged people

2006-02-14T12:15:00.000-05:00

Get Fucked or Die Tryin'

2006-02-14T11:44:00.000-05:00

Why sex is fundamentally good:

1) Sex is an experience, understood in the Antic Athenian meaning of the word. Which means that, as all is about experience (social attitudes, education, sexuality, and so on), sex is an Art likely to be mastered. It's the foucauldian definition of Ars erotica, that is, society like the Athenian ones, which are dominated by pedagogy. Contrary to Scienta sexualis (our societies) which are dominated by the Christian heritage of the Confession, which has placed sex at the very core of societal control (associating it with negative values).

2) Sex is a performance, elevating the soul and the artistic part contained in each one of us. Threesomes, for example, due to their challenging aspect (to couple, to love,...) could be viewed as an artistic Art, as a performance.

3) Sex is pleasure. As basic as it may seem, I guess it is fundamentally good to allow oneself some pleasure in a society which tends to be more and more about self-repression and self-containment. The bedroom and sexuality more generally speaking tend to be more and more important places of freedom and Art marking.

2006-01-23T16:15:00.000-05:00

As I deeply fear a victory of the Conservative Party during the ongoing Canadian legislative elections, I can't help be hope that the Bloc Quebecois (and its leader, Gilles Duceppe, above) will win! I know it can sound weird but at least the Bloc Quebecois is left-wing, in the European sens of the word, contrary to the Conservatives and the Liberals, both economically at least right-wing. It would'nt mean the end of Canada as the independance of Quebec would be harder to obtain than it seems a priori as Quebec is deeply connected to others Canadian provinces, even Toronto! Lol, anyway, you go guys and try to make a choice which has meaning for you and your marvellous country. En ostie!

Brokeback Mountain.... I love you

2006-01-23T14:55:00.000-05:00

This movie is probably destined to be one of the best eveeeeer. Clever, subtle and NOT cliché, it combines and transcends the social subjects it raises. Homosexuality, heterosexuality as essentialized identities are highly questioned and challenged and this is as far as I am concerned, one of the most interesting parts of this movie.

This, and the love story between two human beings, filmed in a REALLY beautiful way, far from soap opera's prejudices. Jake Gyllenhaal is marvellous, Heath Ledger is almost a God (even though I'm atheist, there's something here I would worship wihout any problem).It is definitely a film to be seen and live. Enjoy!

P.S : This movie won a Gold Lion at the Venice International Festival Film. Italians have always have good tastes (I am not objective, I know, and then what?).

Familial Quarrel

2006-01-15T14:54:00.000-05:00

Speaking of Tarnation, a documentary/movie filmed, realised and produced by Jonathan Caouette about his own life, R. and I arrived at different points of view. While his main impression relied on the inconditional love Jonathan has for his mother despite all he has suffered and been through. On the contrary, from this movie, I focused much more on the destructive aspect inherent to families. I would (but only for myself) says that, briefly, this very good movie deals witht the self-destruction of an entire family and the subsequent destruction of its members. Love would only be a medication, a remedy to familial madness. I won't say more but you guys (who?) should see this movie. Nevertheless, prepare yourself on an emotional level. It's kinda violent.

An actor to be

2006-01-15T14:28:00.000-05:00

Jake Gyllenhaal rules. He is simply marvellous in Jarhead (2005). Despite the fact that I didn't really appreciate his play in Donnie Dark (2001), his interpretation of an american sniper during the first Irak's war of 1991 is surely both impressive and credible. I'm really expecting Brokeback Mountain, which I'll see tomorrow.

P.S : His sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, is to be seen in Secretary (2002).

Playlist - January 2006

2006-01-05T16:54:00.000-05:00

Madonna - Confessions on a dance floor
Camille - Le Fil
Camille - Le sac des filles
Tiziano Ferro - Centoundici
Depeche Mode - Remixes

2006-01-05T16:49:00.000-05:00

An almost perfect pop album, as usual since Ray of Light... She's the Queen : if you haven't got it yet, get used to it.

2006-01-05T16:40:00.000-05:00

The first film I've seen in 2006, quite good actually. Very erotic, sexuality is suggested and unshown, which is much more sexier as far as I'm concerned. It's an Italian movie, the story of an Italian guy who inherits a hammam of Istanbul (Turkey) from his aunt, who he hardly knew as she moved to Istanbul when he was very young. She felt in love with the city and so does her nephew as he discovers the oriental city. But, as he stays in Turkey, he also gets more and more distant from his wife, stayed in Italy. And he gets closer and closer to a young turkish guy, a member of the lovely family who takes care of the hammam. A wonderful and very subtle movie, you have to see it!

UK rules!

2005-12-21T12:51:00.000-05:00

Gay marriage has been granted for gay and lesbian couple.I was kinda surprised, did anybody know before it was announced? In France, it was totally unknown until G-day. Anyway, as I do not have (yet) any opinion on gay marriage, I'll just tell a few words. Is it possible, as queer theorists are saying it, that by acknowledging the importance of marriage, LGBT people could be reinforcing one of the main heteronormative institutions eveeeeer? I agreed first with this statement, and I think I still agree with this. BUT, the fact that people have been granted rights they have been denied since a long time (ever?) AND their simple happiness are facts that shake my convictions. Maybe mariage should just be replace by somthing guaranting the same rights and effects BUT deprived of its symbolism and its religious connotations. Maybe exactly what the British have done some days ago. Maybe what could become in a couple of years (hopefully) the French PACS.
P.S : kitsch and Elton John could have waited some more...

2005-12-20T06:15:00.000-05:00

As usual, the association Act-Up (fighting against AIDS and helping the infected persons) has been a real genius. Act-Up is specialised in small but largely mediatisable actions such as the one designed by this picture. It's a clear warning against the danger represented by Nicolas Sarkozy, the actual French "Ministre de l'Int�rieur" (Police Ministry). President of the most important right-wing political party and the French personality most likely to become President in 2007. The caption involves a clear amalgam between the ideas of Sarkozy and those of Le Pen, who is the president of the extreme-right-wing "Front National". Which is actually quite true. A lot of thesis of Sarkozy concerns immigration and security, which are the main subjects with nationality defended by Le Pen. Sarkozy is now a real threat to liberties in France because of its present (and, unfortunately, maybe future) positions. So, be warned, I'm going into exile in 2007 if this individual is elected President of the Republic.

Daily oppression

2005-12-06T18:10:00.000-05:00

When you are walking in the streets that seem so familiar and known to you,
When you are reading your favourite magazines,
When you are talking to your best friends or parents,
When you are interacting with your girlfriend or boyfriend or other,

Don't you think that you may help what is actually oppressing you? Let's just pose it simply : just try to wonder whether or not what you're looking at (movie, picture, adverts) is increasing or challenging clichés about masculinity and/or femininity. Is what I am looking at or hearing or hearing a stereotype or not ? Somehow, it can change your whole vision of your daily life.

I tried this, once. Just by looking at a beautiful picture, an add actually, for a new perfume. Despite my aesthetic judgment (gorgeous work, indeed), I couldn't help but felt myself disturbed by the way the girl and the guy on the picture were represented. I was trying to guess why the position of the girl looked both "normal" AND inappropriate to my own values. I found the word : SUBMISSION. The girl was deliberately represented as the object. Both for the guy of the picture AND the spectator. Gender's mainstream images (that is, submission and objectivisation of women) were enforced by this kind of Art. Personaly, I have always prefered challenges...

From this moment on, I couldn't help but questioned every day my perceptions of my direct environment and how it relates to my own perceptions of gender and sexuality (in its broad meaning). Try it, use it and challenge. You can call it "Day-to-day Resistance".

Have a nice challenging tomorrow.

Play list

2005-12-05T16:15:00.000-05:00

- C++, Orienté Objet
- Matafix, Signs of a struggle
- The Cardigans, Super Extra Gravity
- Goldfrapp, Supernature
- Françoise Hardy, Clair-obscur & Tant de belles choses
- George Michael, Older
- Arielle Dombasle, Amor Amor

Did you say good French music?

2005-12-03T15:38:00.000-05:00

I discovered this French pop band only a few days ago and it's just brilliant. Light on the music and hyper ironic within their lyrics. Chek it!

New postmodernist journal in Rennes (wtf?)

2005-12-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

Some weeks ago, Sijeka, Aurélie and myself decided to begin something quite unusual in France : a feminist and queer, postmodernist magazine (in the limits of Rennes). We're actually working on the first paper copy of it but the Internet support, a blog, is already available.

Name : Volte-face

Check it out!

It's mostly in French but some English articles will soon be available.

To sum up

2005-12-03T15:13:00.000-05:00

1) Came back from Bulgaria
2) Came back in Rennes (sic)
3) Came back in my French school
4) Got a McJob, quit it
5) Lost my bf
6) whatever

Surrealist wee-end

2005-08-16T11:31:00.000-04:00

This week-end, my coworkers (except the NERD) and I went on a road trip to Sofia. Beginning of a nice travel...we went through a lot of problems during all the zeek-end but they finally appeared more funnny than anything.

First, we had the good idea to leave Plovdiv without any reservation in a hotel...then no surprise if all the gloomy hostels that we visited were full! We searched during at least 2 fucking hours three places for the night and we finally found them in a dirrty, gloomy but free hotel called the Royal Hotel. We were already having a nervous breakdown, laughing for anything a little weird.

Then, after a good restaurant we didn't plan to go to (because the restaurant we wanted to go was NOT where the touristic guide was indicating it, of course), we came back to the hotel...I tried to sleep in a two-places bed with two girls. I said, I TRIED. It was fucking hot in the bedroom...then I tried to sleep on a coach, near the bed...no way, it was fuking uncomfortable. THEN, I tried to sleep on the floor (carrelage, don't know the English word). It was so fucking cold that, at something like 5.00am, I had to go back in the bed where I managed to sleep for one hour...

Guess what? I was fucking on my nerves the morning after!

We went to the Rila monastery, a beautiful building lost in the Bulagarian mountains, in the south of Sofia. I'm not religious but I must admit it was fucking nice.

I'm fed up...I'll tell you the end tomorrow!

First date with a Bulgarian guy...in 2 hours!

2005-08-11T08:53:00.001-04:00

It's official, my coworkers and roommates just put me on a date with a Bulgarian guy I don't know. Well, I almost don't know...

I've met this guy because he came at the French Alliance of Plovdiv, where I work, so as to meet French people and practice his French.

We just had a lunch two days ago, all together, and seemingly, the guy kinda felt in love with me...or almost.

What am I suppose to do??He's not my kind but I'm feeling kinda horny these days as I didn't have sex for 2 months...Fundamental question...

Websites of the moment

2005-08-04T04:15:00.000-04:00

Here are some websites I kinda like these times:

- yoox.com : best site ever for buying high-brand clothes to a "reasonable" price, even if I haven't yet ordered a single pair of socks with it.
- hi5: sympathetic site...OK, it's for dating but since I'm kinda single now...
- OkCupid: I love their stupid and teenager-spirited tests. Best stuff: the website is telling you who you're most likely to get along with. LOL.

Should I be ashamed?....Hell, no!

2005-08-04T04:07:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, something both funnny and embarassing happened to me.

My roommates and I were planning to spend some time doing nothing and watching the music videos I have in my computer.

I made the mistake to import in my WMPlayer all the videos I have on my computer.

I began to play some of them...

There was a file untitled 'Falcon blabla'. I was trying but couldn't remember what it could possibly be. What's this?

I made the mistake to click on "play". And guess what?

I had gay porn in my computer! I didn't remember that. As soon as the first image appeared on the screen, I thought "Bloody hell, ooooops".

It was one of the funniest scene ever! Of course, my roommates were laughing and I just didn't know where to hide myself... The thing is that the images were kind of VERY explicit.

Anyway, I had a blast and, just thinking about it make me smile now.

Best moment ever since a while.

When someone dares to tell you your truth

2005-08-02T08:51:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it hurts when someone you almost do not know tells you without any taboo what (s)he thinks about you... somethings you know but that you do not especially wanna hear about. From a conversation I had yesterday with one of my roommates and work colleagues, I know that I'm:

- "a whore". Because I have this particular "weakness" that is that I wanna be appreciated by a maximum of person, some people perceive my birthing friendship with other people as a betrayal. As a consequence, I'm an emotional whore.

- "a hypocrite". In the sale spirit than the whore, I'm a hypocrite because I get along with someone who's not appreciated. In this kind of situation, the lightest move is thought as a proof of complicity with the hated on.

- "easily influenced". That is, I've no personality of my own. This one was maybe the hardest one to hear...

While some of these remarks were partly true (I also have my defaults, I'm far from being perfect), to hear that from people who pretend to love U is quite hard, because you do not manage to hate them for that. You just wonder whether this is true or false. And in which proportion...

I'm still wondering...

Week-end in Varna

2005-08-01T05:36:00.000-04:00

This week-end was one of the best ones… We ran away from Plovdiv and its atmosphere (problems with work colleagues). I left the city with Meryl, one of my roommates whom I get along with, and Claire, one of her friends who just arrived in Bulgaria for some holidays.

The trip was quite weird…

We took the train to Varna at 23.05. We had to share our places, as we hadn’t reserved, with two British guys who were in holidays as well in Eastern Europe. They were quite cool: we had a conversation about the sense of the word ‘bourgeois’ in France, which is obviously different from its sense in Great Britain. While in France, it has a bad connotation, in England, it appears to be the contrary: it means classy, in the old-school way. For example, to have a coffee or French wine in London could be considered bourgeois, while in France it’s kind of normal. Anyway, in France, bourgeois means more ‘wealthy freak’. That is, someone who is rich, traditional, conservative, etc. Someone who don’t wanna know!

The weirdest part of the journey was kind of stressing. A policeman arrived in our room and, as he saw that we were obviously foreigners, he asked for our passports in the nice Bulgarian way (loudly). Of course, I didn’t have mine because I’m…. I’m too stupid I guess. Claire hadn’t it as well… The policeman, with whom it was quite hard to exchange because of the language barrier, made us understand that we would have to go through a police control at the next big train station…at 1.00am. This city was Stara Zagora. Of course, as we were kind of drunk, we didn’t mind: the idea to be blocked in a city lost in Bulgaria, in a Bulgarian police station where nobody speaks English at 1.00am while we were supposed to go to the beach was sort of cool… Mmmm, as we arrived in Stara Zagora, we weren’t happy anymore! Fortunately, we had the marvellous chance to have a cool policeman (the one who wanted to check our passport). Before we arrived in Stara, and as we were drunk, we made him laugh in the train; Claire was telling him absurdities in French and English, I was trying to speak in Bulgarian but wasn’t very successful but we were laughing and it just helped to relax the atmosphere, even if I was far from being relaxed…

Finally, at Stara, he just came to us (we were preparing ourselves to spend the night in the fucking police station as there wasn’t trains after…) and tell us to sit down. The train moved from the city: I felt soooo relieved! The guy came to us after so as to make us understand that we HAD to have our passport with us: he was cool afterwards…

We arrived in Varna at 6.00am and spend a wonderful day, lying in the sun, sleeping, smoking and bathing. On the Saturday night, we went to a Bulgarian club (the ‘Momo club’…no comment!) where Sandy Rivera, the Brazilian DJ was having a show. It was such a fucking great music. Drunk on the dancefloor, I enjoyed myself surrounded by fashionistas and wannabe-jet setters’ people. Not the kind of people I like usually but it was so surrealist that it finally seemed cool.

Sunday: shopping. After a few time on the beach, we had to come back at the hotel of Vladimir, a French-Bulgarian guy who became our friend. I felt sad to live this place where I spent such a good week-end…

Right now, I’m in Plovdiv, trying to write an article about L’Oréal and its success…my life is surreal these days.

Life in Bulgaria

2005-07-27T05:33:00.000-04:00

Life in Bulgaria

My life in Bulgaria is quite different from what I’ve known in Montreal.

First of all: my work. While in Montreal, I was working for a f***ing good music festival with a lovely boss (my dear Raquel, special thoughts for you!), here I’m working for a French cultural organization called ‘Alliance française’. While it could seem to be interesting, I’m just basically writing articles for its next magazine which is about…gastronomy. Just to let U know: I barely know how to cook properly. You can imagine the result! Well, it’s going pretty well so far so I can’t really complain but it’s becoming quite boring. I’m kind of fed up because the last magazine was about Europe and the next one is about fashion….I’d have loved to do it! I’ll just be preparing some of the articles of the next issue. My boss is ok…even if he’s in holidays right now which is sooooo damned practical when you want to know whether you’re doing what is waiting from you or whether you’re writing some stupid articles. Well, seemingly, I’m writing good stuff but too “serious” according to my colleagues. “You’re supposed to write for Bulgarians who barely know French…”. Ok! Basically, I have to write something for dummies. Great…

My roommates (which are also my work colleagues BTW) are ok. But as I barely know them, it’s quite hard to share what I used to share with my previous roommates of Montreal. Anyway, except one guy who is a total freak, the 3 girls I’m living and working with are nice. We’ve already gone to several places such as Varna and Sozopol, some place along the Black Sea.

The life here is so cheap, it’s almost weird. A pack of 20 cigarettes is 0.80€ while in France it’s worth 5€! It’s amazing! And the clothes are all cheap as well: a T-shirt Versace is 17€. Of course it’s a false one but, whatever!, I’m becoming crazy when I see that!

Bulgarian boys are not really good-looking (euphemism). They have a sort of problem… They have strong faces in the bad way. They look rude in fact, not the kind of people to whom you’d say “hello I love your hair cut”. They are all dressed in Diesel or Energie but they are wearing this kind of clothes with summer shoes and socks…We name this kind of people rednecks I think…

I think I’m going to enjoy myself…before my return in France and the 40 fucking hours of bus I have to undergo before that.

Email from Bulgaria

2005-07-27T05:31:00.000-04:00

As soon as I arrived, I emailed this to all my friends so that they could know what happened to me. Sorry for those who do not understand French:

"Salut tout le monde,

Je suis bien arrivé en Bulgarie après un voyage de 40 heures en bus
bien galère grâce à mes charmants amis d'Eurolines.
Je suis donc parti de Paris à 8h30 du matin à bord d'un bus avec des
chauffeurs ne parlant ni francais ni anglais mais seulement bulgare...
autant dire que ca se présentait bien...n'ayant ni argent mais
seulement trois paquets de biscuits et de bars de céréales j'ai dû
entamer une grève de la faim bien involontaire. Arrivé en Allemagne le
bus s'est rempli de Bulgares et j'étais donc le seul Francais du bus!
Par chance j'ai réussi à rencontrer des Bulgares parlant français.
Après donc un voyage de 40 heurs avec un voisin bulgare ronflant comme
un moteur hors bord et un passage par lq Slovénie, la Croatie et la
Serbie, je suis arrivé à Sofia puis j'ai pris un bus vaille que vaille
vers Plovdiv; la destination finale.

Arrivé; il n'y avait personne pour m'attenre vu que j'étais en avance.
Au bord de la dépression nerveuse j'ai donc pris un taxi jusqu'à
l'hotel le plus proche où j'ai passé ma soirée à fumer et à regarder
la fete de la musique. Pour une fois j'étais même content de regarder
les pires artistes français s'égosiller! J'ai bien dormi...

N'hésiter pas à m'écrire depuis que je suis arrivé sain et sauf en Bulgarie!!!!

Je vous aime, don't leave me alone; I'm begging you!!!!!!

Lovexxx

Boris"