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I attended Flora Bowley's workshop "Bloom True" in Seattle last week-end (November 2011).
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Show & Tell by Teesha Moore.
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Like all true mammals, baby bats are nourished with milk from their mothers. Bats bear live young—usually only one, although some species can have up to three or four at a time. But no other mammal can fly like a bat can.
Asta Nielsen: The Revolutionary Diva of Silent Cinema
Introduction to the Image Series
Asta Nielsen (1881–1972) was more than an actress—she was an artistic force who transformed the language of cinema and redefined the role of women on screen. Born in Copenhagen to a working-class family, she rose from humble beginnings to become the world’s first true film star. After training at the Royal Danish Theatre’s acting school and performing in Copenhagen’s theatres, she achieved her breakthrough in Urban Gad’s Afgrunden (The Abyss, 1910), a film that not only launched her international career but also revolutionised silent cinema.
Nielsen broke away from the exaggerated theatrical style of the time, developing a more natural and nuanced physicality perfectly suited to the intimate medium of film. She mastered the art of conveying emotion through facial expressions and body language—a skill that made her an iconic figure of the silent era. Her roles were vast and varied: from the tragic, lovelorn woman suffering unrequited love to the seductive vamp who defied the era’s gender norms. With films like Die arme Jenny (Poor Jenny, 1912), Dora Brandes (1916), and her groundbreaking portrayal of Hamlet (1921) as a woman, she proved she could do it all—from melodrama to comedy to psychological depth.
The Film Landscape: Denmark and Germany, Two Worlds, One Star
Denmark: A Pioneer of Silent Cinema
When Asta Nielsen began her career, Denmark was a global leader in film production. Nordisk Film, founded in 1906, was a powerhouse of silent cinema, and Danish filmmakers like Urban Gad and August Blom were pushing the boundaries of storytelling. Danish silent films were renowned for their technical quality, dramatic narratives, and often a social or moral message. Films like Afgrunden and Balletdanserinden (The Ballet Dancer, 1911) demonstrated that Danish cinema could compete internationally—and Asta Nielsen became its face. Yet, despite her success, the German film industry offered greater creative freedom, and in 1911, she moved to Berlin after only four Danish films.
Germany: A Creative Laboratory for Silent Cinema
In Germany, Asta Nielsen’s career flourished. She found a film industry that was more experimental and open-minded than Denmark’s. Berlin was a cultural melting pot, where artists, directors, and actors from across Europe gathered to create something new. Nielsen established her own production company and collaborated closely with her husband, Urban Gad, until 1916. She became known as Die Asta—a star who could carry entire films on her own. Her ability to portray complex female characters who defied societal norms made her a cult figure, and her films were exported worldwide.
Germany was also the birthplace of Expressionism, where directors like F.W. Murnau and Fritz Lang crafted visual masterpieces. Nielsen was part of this era, where film evolved from mere entertainment into art. Her influence extended far beyond her time, and she became an inspiration for generations of actors and filmmakers.
Asta Nielsen’s Legacy: A Woman Ahead of Her Time
Asta Nielsen was more than a star—she was a pioneer. She proved that film could be a medium for depth, emotion, and social commentary. She challenged gender roles, both on and off screen, and her career opened doors for other women in the film industry. Though she retired with the advent of sound, her impact endured. Today, she is remembered as one of the greatest actresses in film history—a woman who dared to break boundaries and create something new.
This image series celebrates not only Asta Nielsen as an actress but also as a symbol of an era when cinema became art, and a Danish woman stood at the centre of a global revolution.
Poem: "The Silent Diva"
In shadows cast by flickering light,
A face emerges—pale, yet bright.
No voice to speak, yet all is said,
In eyes that burn, in hands that tread.
A dance of fire, a glance so bold,
A story spun in black and gold.
No words to bind, no sound to chain,
Her silence roars—a storm, a flame.
From Copenhagen’s streets so grey,
To Berlin’s stage, she led the way.
A queen of grief, of love, of strife,
Asta Nielsen—cinema’s life.
Three Haikus
I. The Abyss
Eyes lock, hearts ignite,
a dance of fire, fierce, untamed—
silence speaks her name.
II. Berlin Nights
Lights dim, shadows play,
her face a map of sorrow,
starlight on the screen.
III. Legacy
Reels turn, time stands still,
her ghost in every frame—
film’s first queen remains.
BR Blue liveried Class 37 No 37109 runs out from Kidderminster station towards the diesel stabling area, whilst BR blue Deltic 55019 waits time in the headshunt for its next working.
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.....Too pure and too honest in aught to disguise The sweet soul shining through them”
~Owen Meredith
Note the imported beer and the martini. Of course they are both Ph.D.'s and have impeccable breeding and manners. Gentlemen all.
Male True-percula clown fish. This fish is over 9 years old and lives in a 120g reef tank with three mixed wild and tank raised percula clowns and four other friendly fish.
No lunch breaks allowed! Otherwise you ain't truely part of the intelligentzia, you hear me. Markus N reading in front of his student lunch. Besides starving in front of food makes you go nutty sooner, which is the highest level of enlightenment a philosopher can dream to attain.
The meaning of the banner is "The wish comes true if you make an effort".[MAP]
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