Reflections From a Murky Pond

Star Wars is definitely one of the most successful Sci-Fi franchises in history despite george Lucas’ apparent attempt to sabotage his own creation – Episodes I, II, and III anyone?

One of many indications of of Star Wars’ lasting success is the quantity and quality of fan art surrounding it, especially those that skillfully transpose Star Wars onto other genres.

Digital artist Clinton Felker provides us with a stunning series of Star Wars fan art depicting Boba Fett, Darth Vader, and a Stormtrooper as feudal Japanese warriors.

These are, to my mind, absolutely awesome images and I always thought that Darth Vader would have favored Sasaki Kojirō’s Ganryū school of swordsmanship, so I especially like that piece.

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It’s, by and large, a grim world that we live in. There are, however, things of beauty in it though: cute animals, pretty girls, and some art. Why not combine them in the most pleasing fashion?

With thanks and credit to Megan over at theBerry for these delectable pics. They brightened my morning a bit and I hope they’ll do the same for others.

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Art, when well done, is always evocative. It’s also very subjective and personal, drawing meaning and emotion from the beholder as well as the artist and, especially in the case of artist photography, the subject.

Take, by way of example, the photos below. To me they portray a beautified and romanticized vignette of the “fallen women” of 19th century London, especially those of the White Chapel district. Ethereal beauty, hope, despair, elegant style, an odd Catholicism to the fashion, and a certain tawdry sexuality combine and create a frisson that is, to me at least, very compelling.

Others would likely see the photos completely differently and within completely different contexts, but very few, I think, would see them merely as part of the fashion shoot which was their commercial purpose.

The above are photos taken of Anne Hathaway taken in London by Marcus Piggott and Mert Alas as part of a piece by Chelsea Handler of Interview Magazine. They also preview the upcoming issue of the magazine since Anne Hathaway will be on the cover of the magazine’s magazine’s September 2011 issue.

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