Reality TV - Iraqi Style

What would Baudrillard say? A clip from the documentary, TV Iraqi Style, which screens 06/05/07 at the Curzon Soho in London. Previously aired on More 4, the film looks at the birth of a new media following the end of Sadam's broadcasting monopoly (outlined well in a 2004 New York Times article here) as a result of which the country now has its own simulacra Pop Idol, and most poetically, its very own version of Extreme Home Makeover (with a conscience), entitled Materials and Labour and hosted by 'The Iraqi Oprah.'

As the director of Materials and Labour states; "In the rest of the world reality TV is a kind of entertainment...This is reality TV with the flavour of Iraqi pain."

An amazing phenomenon and an important piece of journalism. See a further 10 minute excerpt from the film here.

As a morally corrupt counterpoint, the campest element of the US military's atrocities in Iraq yet, can be viewed by clicking on the image above, in a piece of renegade spoof film making from the most sophisticated fighting force on the planet. Ethically highly dubious.

A Musical Catsuit Double Bill

Awaking CoutureTV from its temporary slumber at the hands of other commitments, comes this Italo Disco riposte to Chan Marshall's whimsical Southern lilt below. Lovingly posted as a comment on the previous post by an unidentified internet-er, Rose's 'Magic Carillon' suddenly turns this section of the blog into a Musical Catsuit Double Bill. Enjoy. With many thanks to 'M'.

If you still need more Italo audio-visual stimulation and are download savvy...Try this.