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Kaleidoscopic Armitage: An Actor of Shifting Colors & Patterns

Blogger’s note: I am short on sleep and long on pain (see previous entry) so I hope this all makes sense. At least the colors are pretty. Hope you have a good day/night wherever you are.

I remember being charmed by the vivid and ever-changing colors I discovered inside a simple metal tube as a child. Years later, I found one at the local Woolworth’s and shared it with my students at the School for the Blind. Contrary to popular belief, certain visually impaired individuals can and do have some usable degree of vision.

And those who did were completely captivated by what they saw in that inexpensive kaleidoscope.

Just to give you a little background on it, the kaleidoscope was invented by a Scotsman named David Brewster back in 1816. He was intrigued by many aspects of the physical sciences, including polarization optics and the properties of light. While looking at some objects at the end of two mirrors, he noticed that patterns and colors were recreated and re-formed into beautiful new arrangements.

To name his new invention, Brewster took several words from Greek: kalos, the Greek word for “beautiful,”  eodos, the word for “form,” and scopeo, the word for “to look at.”

Now, there’s the obvious link to Mr. Armitage I could make here–that he has a beautiful form to look at, which he does, and that I delight in watching it, which I clearly do.

However, I want to go in a different direction (surprise, surprise!)

I would say that Richard Armitage is an actor who brings many shades and colors to his characters; that he, himself, is a complex individual whose personality possesses an extensive color pattern (and far more than simply grey).

He could be described as kaleidoscopic, “of shifting colors and patterns.”  An acting chameleon, Richard Armitage gives us an iron-hard warrior dwarf king, a gentle, painfully shy Yorkshire farmhand, a sternly handsome Victorian mill owner fighting a “foolish passion,” a cerebral, enigmatic, dedicated spy, a smooth, silver-tongued, criminally attractive businessman, a tough, ruthless soldier still capable of compassion, a sweet, sunny-natured, cheeky accountant, a volatile, seductive medieval master at arms hungry for both power and love–so many characters, and each and every one believable.  Each one possesses his own colors and shades as Richard breathes life into them.

Each one looks different, and not just in terms of their haircolor or style, facial hair or lack thereof, or the clothes they wear.  There is something in the way they hold themselves, how they walk, talk, gesture, smile; suble differences, perhaps, but they are there, and they allow us to immerse ourselves in the character and to forget the actor playing the role.

Richard Armitage–a veritable kaleidoscope of talent, beauty and brains.

Hyperarmitagemania? RA & the Stendhal Syndrome

Stendhal Syndrome, also known as Florence Syndrome, Hyperkulteremia:  a pyschosomatic disorder that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations, when a person is exposed to art, particularly when the artwork is beautiful or a large amount of art is in a single space. The term can also be used to describe a similar reaction to a surfeit of choices in other circumstances, such as when confronted with immense beauty in the natural world.

Fainting (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The condition is named for French writer Henri-Marie Beyle, better known by his pen name Stendhal, who described his experience with the phenomenon during his 1817 visit to Florence in the book “Naples and Florence: A Journey from Milan to Reggio.”

Since the early 19th century, there have been many descriptions of people becoming dizzy or faint while taking in Florentine art, especially at the Uffizi. But the term “Stendhal Syndrome” was not termed until 1979, when it was described by Italian psychiatrist Graziella Magherini, who observed and described more than 100 similar cases among tourists and visitors in Florence. (information provided by Wikipedia)

If Mr. Armitage, with all his physical beauty, grace and natural elegance can be perceived as a work of art in his own right, my question is this: can being exposed to large amounts of such a gorgeous creature as Richard Armitage tend to evoke a similar response in those who admire him? Not that I’ve actually fainted or had any hallucinations–but I have felt discombobulated (confused) and more than a little dizzy at times.  Especially in recent months, when we’ve been bombarded with so much Armitage beauty in video interviews, in new photo shoots, red carpet events, et al. Overwhelmed by it all at times, but in a good way.

Which brings to mind that old pop song–with a slight change of wording.

“I’m so dizzy my head is spinning, like a whirlpool it never ends,

and it’s you, RICH, making it spin, you’re making me dizzy . . .”

“Dizzy” by Tommy Roe

Merry Christmas from “the catwalk”: RA, so sexy it hurts!

Just in time for the holidays, the nice people over at Muvee Reveal  Technologies got the grinches out of their system and allowed me to upload the Retro video style pack to this computer (thank you so much, Patrick Bello, for your able assistance. I hope Santa was good to you). And then my Christmas angel allowed me to not only make a vid, but to upload it from home without a single hitch! So here’s another little Christmas treat for RA fans. It’s very tongue-in-cheek fun featuring our reluctant sex symbol himself. I hope you enjoy!

WARNING: This “Catwalk” styling does feature flashing lights, stars and other effects that may bother some people

Richard, it’s all your FAULT

It’s gonna be a pretty miserable day here weather-wise, what with 90 percent chance of rain and a big temperature change on the way with it. FMS no likee these huge atmospheric changes. We really need the rain, however, and it’s been too unseasonably warm for December, so I am really not complaining.

Besides, I’ve got a certain gorgeous guy to drool over. Yes, I succumbed and was one of the 200 who pre-ordered my very own copy of the limited edition featuring Richard on the cover (as opposed to Billy Bob Thornton).

Here’s what the editor had to say on Facebook about the cover:

Morning all. Lots of excitement for our Winter issue launch, which is nice to see! Just thought we’d share some details with you about the limited edition Richard Armitage cover. The unique style and effect of the image is created by a particular technique of the photographer – Paula Parrish. She projects the original photograph onto a different surface – metal in this instance – and re-shoots it to get the final version. That is what gives the overall rugged effect – well, that and the subject of the photo, of course… from a Facebook entry for FAULT Magazine.

I found this interesting as I have used a metal overlay with some of my fanart to give it a grittier look–particularly with some of the images of Sgt. Portah.  I paid a ridiculous amount for a single copy of a magazine–especially when you factor in the postage costs–but it’s in support of the actor I do admire and adore. And hey, it’s a limited edition.  Heck, I can talk myself into almost anything where this man is concerned.

Oh, those crystal blue eyes brimming with humor and intelligence–those irresistible smiles and infectious laughs–all that charisma and manliness and gentlemanly nature. I just can’t help it. It’s all your fault, Richard Armitage.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

Lucas for Tuesday: Fanart & Vids

I have to confess I’m tired and not feeling terribly creative tonight. After Zombie Land Day yesterday, I didn’t sleep until I managed to catch a few hours this afternoon. So I am going to post some Lucas images and an old vid or two which I hope you will enjoy. Have a happy Tuesday, my friends.

Ogling Armitage: TAE Word for the Day

OK, when I opened this Dictionary.com email for the day, I had a sort of Beavis and Butthead moment. A stupid grin on my face. Giggling under my breath. Snorting a bit. Was this a word I would be using at TAE?

You betcha!

Ogle: (verb) to look at amorously, flirtatiously or impertinently. To eye, look at or stare at.

Ogle traces its origins to Lower German oeglen, “to look at,” but ultimately comes from a now extinct word for “eye,” oog.

Do I ogle Richard Armitage? Is the Pope Catholic? Does the sun still rise in the east and set in the west? Do I have a strange-but-lovable three-legged black and white tuxedo cat with a Hitler mustache?

A resounding “yes” to all of the above!  I mean, how can I, a sane, red-blooded heterosexual female with extremely good taste in men not do a bit (OK, a LOT) of ogling of such a magnificent specimen as this??

Both dressed . . .

And undressed!

And the rear view is awfully nice . . . *sigh* (click on photo if Sir Guy is not moving, ladies and gents)

Those amazingly long, lean, muscular dancer’s thighs!

Need I say more?

Look at me, I’ve got a case of body language . . . of body language . . . from ogling the fabulous Richard Armitage and his cast of ChaRActers. How about you? 😉

Miscellaneous Monday: Make a GIF!

I like that we get a nice glimpse of Mr. A in action–love those rear views, you know!–during Dwarf Camp.

Benny and I had a very lazy Sunday, the sort where you never get out of your pajamas and never feel as if you are quite “all awake.” He asked me if I planned to watch “the other zombies tonight (The Walking Dead) or just record it and continue to BE a zombie.” (I stayed alert enough to watch it and whip up another post whilst doing so.)

We  also got some laundry done and Benny put together some ham and cheese bake for supper, but that was about as industrious as the two of us got.  I swear I will load that dishwasher tomorrow.

Anyway, I have been piddling about with another photo editing site, one some of you Facebook users may know, Photomania, and combined the  results with make.a.gif.com for this. I saved it at slow speed, the better to savour all that Gizzy goodness:

I enjoyed it. Hope you do, too! And I never get tired of the mischievous side of our noble dwarf. Hurray for fish tossing!

Sunday Smorgasbord: Early Munchies

Enjoy all this alpha male hotness, my darlings. Even yummier than waffles with lots of syrup and butter, crispy bacon, fresh-squeezed orange juice and a piping hot cup of coffee.

 

It’s not just humans who have The Good Taste Gene . . .

There would be more artwork but unfortunately WordPress is playing Grinch.  However, this one’s got its charms.

Guyday Friday: ‘Cause it’s already Friday somewhere, right?

Why stop with the world?

OK, it’s technically a woman’s magazine . . .

But you’ve got to admit, he’s got some serious allure going for him. Not to mention sex appeal.