Comments on: A living doll

A living doll

madamjujujive — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:26:13 -0800

The Decorated Bride - "In Lubinje, a small, picturesque village of 3500 inhabitants, a few hours from Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo, members of the Trebesh community live in colorful houses. They also have a colorful custom - or rite - of beautifying brides on their wedding day."

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:33:44 -0800

Btw, took the name of the town from the blog post, but a Google search gives the name as Ljubinje, so there might be variance in the spelling. Here are some pics of the town of Ljubinje from TrekEarth.

By: ocherdraco

ocherdraco — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:33:45 -0800

Wow. How intricate.

By: supermedusa

supermedusa — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:43:10 -0800

WOW!! not what I was expecting. its really beautiful! I wanna be painted like that :)

By: carter

carter — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:52:08 -0800

Fascinating, thanks mjjj!

By: aramaic

aramaic — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:53:04 -0800

I want to look something like that every day. ...and I'm a guy, who works in a regular office. It'd be neat. People might think I was a superhero or something, and then they'd be afraid of me. Or they'd think I was insane. Either way, they'd be afraid of me, and I'd look awesome. Which is sufficient, I think.

By: Renoroc

Renoroc — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:53:56 -0800

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:54:01 -0800

Beautiful!

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:54:41 -0800

By: chairface

chairface — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:00:07 -0800

In an artist's statement, the director said "focus rings and tripods are tools of the oppressor."

By: TheWhiteSkull

TheWhiteSkull — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:02:08 -0800

Very intricate indeed, but I bet the groom gets to have his face unadorned so he can eat and communicate unhindered on his big day. This is another example of female subjugation disguised as "beautification." Having worn a similar amount of make-up on several occasions, I never had a problem eating or communicating.

By: supermedusa

supermedusa — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:02:15 -0800

By: katillathehun

katillathehun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:03:22 -0800

By: Bulgaroktonos

Bulgaroktonos — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:04:13 -0800

I think if women in that culture were required to adorn themselves like that everyday, it would be oppressive, but if its just for the wedding day, its somewhat different. and the bride is certainly smiling! Come now, we musn't let whether or not someone enjoys something get in the way of telling them it's oppressing them.

By: katillathehun

katillathehun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:05:10 -0800

Okay, derail out of the way, she looks beautiful! And I love the shot of other people smiling as she drives past, like they see her decorations and know she's on her way to her big day. Made me smile, too.

By: The demon that lives in the air

The demon that lives in the air — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:09:14 -0800

I'm one of the butchest, most un-makeup'd female-bodied people you could meet anywhere, and I think this is really beautiful. (And I'm with katillathehun - the knowing smiles on the passersby were really sweet.) And honestly, she's wearing no more makeup than, say, your average drag queen - which has never stopped any of them from having a really good time.

By: nickjadlowe

nickjadlowe — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:29:11 -0800

I like the idea of "beautifying." Anything. Period. And if it involves the whole community...I like it double plus.

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:31:57 -0800

I am looking at this purely from the artistic, decorative and folkloric angle and I find it mesmerizing and gorgeous. But I think Renoroc and Ad hominem have valid points. There is something a bit weird and off-putting about women being all dolled up like packages on wedding days - although this is but one example. I like this better than what I see in Modern Bride. Costume, fashion and ritual can have their places - as long as they don't own us. And maybe more men need to get in on the decorative body arts.

By: longsleeves

longsleeves — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:47:46 -0800

Help I glued sequins to my eyebrows and they won't come off.

By: Specklet

Specklet — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:50:55 -0800

Lovely!

By: Gwynarra

Gwynarra — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:51:48 -0800

For me Halloween involves just as much make up plus latex prosthetics and I never have any difficulty partying and socializing. I wonder how old this tradition is and if it has pre-christian roots.

By: NiteMayr

NiteMayr — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:09:05 -0800

Thanks for threadshitting what appeared to be a lovely wedding day/dressup day video. I liked the dreamy focus loss and floppiness of the video work, at points the sharp focus that would just snap in were all the better for it.

By: MissySedai

MissySedai — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:29:07 -0800

Holy cats, that is such fine detail! I've worn similar amounts of makeup for bellydance performances, but never so ornate. This was a great find, thank you for sharing it.

By: ooga_booga

ooga_booga — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:33:29 -0800

I wonder what they used before sequins came on the scene. This troubles me to no end.

By: Safiya

Safiya — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:34:17 -0800

That is beautiful, and interesting. I was hoping to find more info/photos online to see if the makeup is always the same for every woman, but can't find anything else at all related to this group. Weird.

By: The 10th Regiment of Foot

The 10th Regiment of Foot — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:42:10 -0800

"I don't care if it is our honeymoon! Do you know how many hours I had to sit there to get this shit on my face?"

By: mochapickle

mochapickle — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:51:53 -0800

This makes me happy. She's breathtaking and obviously pleased. I like how her hair is down in the end.

By: supermedusa

supermedusa — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:16:46 -0800

the woman who does her makeup uses both hands (at same time even) with complete ease and assurance.

By: Tomorrowful

Tomorrowful — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:23:59 -0800

. Conceptually, how is being covered from head to toe in brocade and pain any different than a niqab Well, for example, it doesn't prevent you from being able to express yourself, verbally or otherwise; it doesn't inhibit facial expressions; it doesn't prevent you from eating or otherwise interacting with the world; it reflects a desire to beautify rather than obscure; I don't know why you assume it's painful to wear; it's only done for your wedding day, whereas the niqab is worn at all times in public. So yeah, other than all those differences, I guess it's basically the same.

By: BlueHorse

BlueHorse — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:29:02 -0800

The makeup is absolutely exquisite! Nusja seems very happy, and I hope her happiness extends throughout her marriage. I sometimes think that for many eastern woman the marriage day is the pinnacle of their lives, and it's nothing but work and subjugation after that. The bonds she has with the women in Nusja's life will most likely last her lifetime.

By: jake

jake — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:05:41 -0800

I find the ritualized beautification of people kind offputting. Conceptually, how is being covered from head to toe in brocade and pain any different than a niqab. This isn't any sort of enhancement of supposed natural beauty, this is a complete paint job enforced by societal customs. My wife wore makeup on our wedding day for the second time ever (first was her senior prom). It was probably a karmic misstep to laugh at her obvious misery, because I then had to wear a tuxedo, outdoors, in Miami, in early September. The terrible indignities we suffer for tradition.

By: Canageek

Canageek — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:55:18 -0800

I was about to say, that doesn't look that much heavier then what some goths and Larpers I used to hang out with wore. Much more detailed, but they managed to enjoy life without being hindered; doubly so the LARPRS who ran around in the woods hitting each other with foam sticks in that level of makeup.

By: supermedusa

supermedusa — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:13:05 -0800

like Kim Kardashian wasnt wearing that much makeup on her wedding day!!! hopefully Nusja's wedding will be longer and happier :)

By: Foam Pants

Foam Pants — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:45:18 -0800

The costumes worn in Mardi Gras parades are even heavier and more elaborate. You can't tell me those people aren't having an awesome time. Getting dressed up is about marking a special day with the extraordinary. I like the filmmaker's capture of the warm, knowing expressions on the faces of the people on the street. I got that feeling I get when I see a woman with a newborn. It's one of the most important moments of her life and she is radiant.

By: lollusc

lollusc — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:36:02 -0800

Holy Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, Batman!

By: sonic meat machine

sonic meat machine — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:20:14 -0800

Things like this are what give different cultures identity and meaning. Don't get offended because every group of humans doesn't conform to your ideals, people. Admire the obvious care that goes into this, the beauty, and the pageantry. A wedding is an important ceremony; a culture without traditions connected to weddings would be a pathetic one.

By: puddinghead

puddinghead — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:34:06 -0800

Wonderful, and I loved the music. Thanks for the great post.

By: Lynsey

Lynsey — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:57:59 -0800

So very full of wonderment, MJJJ! Thank you! ♥

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:18:23 -0800

The demon that lives in the air: And honestly, she's wearing no more makeup than, say, your average drag queen - which has never stopped any of them from having a really good time. Very fabulous indeed, but I bet the emcee gets to have his face unadorned so he can eat and communicate unhindered during the performance. This is another example of transgendered subjugation disguised as "beautification." Conceptually, how is being covered from head to toe in sequins and pain any different than solitary confinement of political prisoners?

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:25:39 -0800

BTW (and seriously this time), it's interesting to me that after undergoing this intense and presumably fragile make-over for her Big Day, she then drives herself to the wedding. Myself, I'd ask someone to do that for me, and sit like a fricking statue! (The street light posts indicate the oncoming traffic lane is to the left, which means the driver is on the left, just in case you're wondering about Kosovo driving sides.)

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:27:24 -0800

I wonder what they used before sequins came on the scene. This troubles me to no end. ooga_booga, "bangles" (essentially sequins) made of precious metals have been around for hundreds of years.

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:33:32 -0800

I was hoping to find more info/photos online to see if the makeup is always the same for every woman, but can't find anything else at all related to this group. Safiya, here you go. It's individualized.

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 12:06:58 -0800

Thanks, IAmBroom, that got me digging a little further and I found a page by a British wedding photographer who has photos and narrative about his experience taking photos at a Bulgarian wedding in which the bride was painted and costumed similarly. "The tradition of artificial make-up layering stretches back centuries to the time when men worked as shepherds in the fields. When the groom arrived to greet his new bride, he might never have had any contact with girls before. He would see his future wife covered in make-up and then have to remove it slowly – therefore learning to appreciate her beauty slowly and treat her gently."

By: Katjusa Roquette

Katjusa Roquette — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:32:12 -0800

Actually, the people in this village in Kosovo take the bride to the groom's house by horse, someone leads the horse. As to the pictures of the Pomak wedding in Bulgaria, that was interesting. The bridal make-up makes me think of the bridal makeup worn by Hindu and Muslim brides.

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:36:07 -0800

madamjujujive, that in turn reminds me of an erotic story, in which the narrative voice relates that, in order to prove his gentleness and patience to a new lover, by tradition a man must feed her all the seeds of a pomegranate without breaking any of them.

By: EvaDestruction

EvaDestruction — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:48:57 -0800

More on decorative wedding customs in the Balkans. Nusja Jone is the name of the song in the video, by the Maramanga Trio. *goes to see if anyone has done a post on jazz in the Balkans yet.*

By: supermedusa

supermedusa — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:16:08 -0800

also I have since fallen in love with Marimango Trio, you can check out their album for free here