a berlin blog


Saturday, October 15, 2005
 

In the Neighborhood


This strange image of a calavera comes from a hand-drawn poster for a rock show that was up in Prenzlauer Berg last month. I have no idea what the Russian says, but obviously Posada's revolutionary ghost is still alive and well in the Ostblock.

With each of those links you have to read or scroll down some to learn about Jose Posada and his calaveras. Thanks to Rick and Kuchen for the snapshot.

posted by Michael Scott Moore | 4:27 PM
Comments:
I saw that poster and it had some non-Cyrillic on it which stated the band being advertised was Russian Death-Rockabilly.

One of the many genres floating around town, no doubt.
 
Death-Rockabilly from the east! Kickass. Berlin has a world-class surf music scene, too. I asked one band where they were from, and the bassist said, "St. Petersburg." Florida? "No, Russia."
 
This is horribly late (found this image via google image search), but the picture is a Russian criminal tattoo and has been taken from the 'Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopedia Volume 1' if I remember correctly (could be from Volume 2), my Russian is very poor so I don't know what it says.

Everyone loves the button accordian.
 
Well, unfortunately this has nothing to do with Posada. This one comes from a collection of Soviet prison tattoo designs and - taking into account the Iron Curtain factor - nobody knew about Posada in the Gulag.

However these designs are very similar due to their mutual belonging to what is commonly called the 'collective unconscious'.

This particular tattoo was copied from a rapist. The skeleton recites a misogynistic poem (or a song).
 
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