jeanette joy harris

Swept Away: New Exhibit at Museum of Art and Design NYC

January 31, 2012 by Jeanette Joy Harris

More and more the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) in NYC is becoming a favorite of mine. Want to know why? They keep doing cool things. Things that normal people can understand. Shocking! The next show I am excited about is — Swept Away : Dust, Ashes, and Dirt in Contemporary Art and Design. I was talking to a friend of mine today about art and accessibility. By that I mean, why can’t people who know and love art […]

Categories: art • Tags: MAD Museum, Museum of Art and Design, Phoebe Cummings, Swept Away

Camellias and the Fallen Woman: La Traviata and Coco Chanel

January 30, 2012 by Jeanette Joy Harris

A woman’s virtue is a pretty transcendental theme in opera. A woman either has virtue, someone is trying to take it from her, or she’s lost it altogether. When I went to see La traviata at Houston Grand Opera this past weekend, the woman in question had lost her virtue. Completely. And a long time ago. In proper terms, Violetta was a courtesan and when she fell in love with a young, inexperienced, rich gentleman from Paris, it is needless […]

Categories: dance | theatre | music • Tags: Camille, Coco Chanel, Greta Garbo, Houston Grand Opera, La Traviata

Fashion and Politics – Jean Paul Gaultier at the Dallas Museum of Art

January 28, 2012 by Jeanette Joy Harris

To say that I love fashion is an understatement. When museums decide to deviate from their traditional concept of art and allow the catwalk to invade their marble halls I am always delighted. I look forward to a display of clothes that I will never fit in, clothes I have no place to wear to, and clothes that I can never afford. Call it an adult fairy tale or simply masochism, I try to see one show per year that […]

Categories: fashion • Tags: Alexander McQueen, Blonde Ambition Tour, burqa, Christian LaCroix, Costume Institute, Dallas Museum of Art, Fashion and politics, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Kate Moss, Madonna, Mario Testino

Jeez, he’s such a douchebag…

January 20, 2012 by Jeanette Joy Harris

**Please note: This post utilizes profanity but only in an objective and anthropological manner, not in the way I usually use it in day-to-day conversations. Your sensitive eyes have been warned.** In the past two years the term douchebag has made a real comeback. I remember hearing grown-ups use this word when I was a kid but for most of my adult life other words have been used, asshole or dickhead, for example. Why douchebag, why now and what, officially, is a […]

Categories: thoughts • Tags: douchebags

What is the definition of a lady, anyway?

January 19, 2012 by Jeanette Joy Harris

Feminists would say that a huge triumph of the women’s liberation movement is that the definition of “woman” has expanded to include much more than just housewives and hussys. It’s true, each year women continue to move upwards professionally breaking the “glass ceiling” which allows them to make more and more personal choices on how they see their future. This is, indeed, a blessing. But I have to ask — has the broadening of the definition of “woman” caused us […]

Categories: movies, thoughts • Tags: Ann Bancroft, Emma Thompson, Feminism, Greer Garson, Kim Kardashian, Liza Minelli, Marie Dressler, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Shirly Booth

Are the voices in your head demons or angels: The Devil Inside

January 16, 2012 by Jeanette Joy Harris

Many people adore horror movies. The gorier, freakier, demonic the better. This is not necessarily my movie preference, which is overly intellectual and obtuse but I went to see “The Devil Inside” this weekend anyway. This is a movie about demonic possession, the role of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, cover-ups, and, let’s not forget, it’s based on a true story. Of course, it is. But those things, notwithstanding, it actually wasn’t bad which makes me wonder — why are we […]

Categories: movies, thoughts • Tags: depression, exorcism, Gustavo Dudamel, Mental Illness. Bipolar, Psychotic breaks, The Devil Inside, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Exorcist

Should he analyze us or should we analyze him? Michael Fassbender in “Shame” and “A Dangerous Method”

January 10, 2012 by Jeanette Joy Harris

I admit that this time of year I am ready to don my black beret – but not because the weather in Houston is frigid. I pull it out of my tidy closet basket in order to feel like a true cinema-snob. Yes, folks — it’s Oscar season and though the nominations aren’t out yet, I have already started my race to see the major movies. Over the holiday I watched several (ahem, 5) movies and felt like I was […]

Categories: movies • Tags: A Dangerous Method, Carl Jung, Michael Fassbender, Shame

Can it get any sexier? Robin Thicke’s Love After War

December 13, 2011 by Jeanette Joy Harris

Sometimes you just need some sweet lovin’ music — the kind you listen to when you’re getting ready to go out to dinner with your man or to listen to while sipping cocktails. (Get your head out of the gutter!) Music can sometimes just make you feel sexy without it being sexual. So if you’re in the mood for something more along the lines of Marvin Gaye than Snoop Dogg, check out Robin Thicke’s new album “Love After War.” […]

Categories: dance | theatre | music • Tags: Love After War, Robin Thicke

Battle of The Nutcrackers: On Ovation December 12th

December 8, 2011 by Jeanette Joy Harris

Yes, boys and girls, once upon a time I was a little girl named Clara. A girl who had a bad dream and woke up being attacked my little mice soldiers and a big rat king. Thank my lucky stars — I had a Nutcracker Prince to save me from my turmoil. Being raised a ballerina, I cannot help but love and loathe The Nutcracker. I have danced nearly every role in both big and small productions and still have […]

Categories: dance | theatre | music • Tags: Mark Morris, Matthew Bourne, Maurice Bejart, Ovation Network, Royal Ballet, The Nutcracker