Comments on: Mermaids

By: John

John — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:00:34 +0000

I saw your mermaid on a bicycle but missed the merman’s genitalia. I remember coming across an assertion once that mermaids must be expert at oral sex. Not quite sure that has to be the case; if streamlined meant lacking gonads then dolphins wouldn’t do much breeding, would they?

For an exploration of the mermaid in 19th century culture (and other things), I recommend The Artificial Kingdom: A Treasury Of The Kitsch Experience by Celeste Olalquiaga:

http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/o/olalquiaga-kingdom.html

By: Silent Porn Star

Silent Porn Star — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:42:40 +0000

I’m sure you recall my thoughts on mermaids… It’s the improbably conquest dealio. ;)

By: John

John — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:52:52 +0000

PS: for more of that haunting quality (although the rest of the album doesn't match it), I recommend A Prayer by Madeleine Peyroux from her Dreamland album. Used to devastating effect at the end of an episode of Deadwood.

By: John

John — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:41:28 +0000

Oh I love The Grey Funnel Line on that album! I was a bit disappointed when I heard Springtime Can Kill You that it didn’t quite have the same haunting quality. Still a great album though.

By: Meg

Meg — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:32:41 +0000

That’s a beautiful piece, thanks for bringing it to my attention. I’m actually familiar with the Hal Willner compilation, because of Jolie Holland. The cover art was an excellent choice.

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:57:24 +0000

Hi Alyx , hi John
Thank you – that is the very one and a perfect description, much appreciated.

By: John

John — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:45:36 +0000

Robert: is it the sun or the moon? I’ve never been able to decide that either. I’d guess the rising sun for the way the rocks are lit at the top. The Delaware note says the sailor is being rescued but that seems ambivalent too, she could just as well be dragging him into the sea.

Sue: as Alyx notes the Böcklin picture is this one. One of his less graceless mermaids. I think it was Böcklin who also did a really terrible painting of Sirens with huge chicken legs.

Yvonne: thanks for those and good to see the mention of Pauline Baynes whose work I’ve considered featuring here. I like the Clark Kent merman, in fact I think I’ve seen that on a gay site somewhere, he’s rather cute after all.

By: Alyx

Alyx — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:03:59 +0000

Sue – I think the Bocklin you are looking for is called Calm Sea, it features a large red-headed mermaid who has clearly had rather a rough night, with auks perching on her tail.

By: pe-jota

pe-jota — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:43:30 +0000

I think that the Mermaids are a mythical fascinating figures, but don’t leave you to catch for her songs, they can be your ruin.

jejejeje

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:35:19 +0000

Apparently all mermen are Asian. Either that or they look like Clark Kent underwater. This one is quite sweet in a faintly Pauline Baynes kind of way but he seems to have a bit of a problem finding his assets. There's a faintly Victorian one here, but it's by David Delamare, 2001. I guess there's no Victorian ones because Simeon Solomon didn't turn his hand to the subject.

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:06:49 +0000

Thanks for that, it is quite gorgeous. I am reminded of Boecklin mermaid I have just been fruitlessly trying to find! She lounges on a rock with some seabirds and looks – well – rather more flabby and fish-like than would be usual! I think a deceased merman may float under the water? Not sure. I do know it is a bit of a haunting image….

By: Robert Stone

Robert Stone — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:28:05 +0000

John, do you think the moon is rising or setting? Marooned is fantastic. Mermen? Is that what women want? Robert