"Anybody see the Mona Lisa? She was hanging there just a minute ago" How is it that the most famous painting in the world could simply vanish, its disappearance not noted for 24 hours, and then not be found until nearly two years later? As with most mysteries, the disappearance of the "Mona Lisa" is certainly stranger than fiction. It was August 21, 1911, when the painting's absence was first noted by Louvre staff. The museum was shut down for a week so that the entire 49-acre facility could be searched. All employees and administrators were ruthlessly questioned by Paris police and many staffers were fired. France's borders were closed and all international shipments were subject to search and seizure. In short, it was the "Crime of the Century" (and offered a convenient distraction from the international conflicts that would evenutally lead to World War I). When the "Mona Lisa's" disappearance became public, everyone had a theory as to the identity of the perpetrators. Could it be an obsessive American art collector? An angry anti-establishment poet? A foreign conman and art forger? Or maybe it was the world’s foremost artist, Pablo Picasso. Picasso was actually questioned by police after being implicated by his friend and fellow suspect Guillaume Apollinaire, but both were eventually exonerated. For hunt continued for two years, but the trail went cold. In late 1913, however, Italian authorities arrested a former Louvre employee named Vincenzo Peruggia. Peruggia had been turned in by two local art experts (one the director of the Uffizi Gallery) after he attempted to sell the "Mona Lisa" in Florence. Peruggia's motive was political: he was angered by the plunder of Italian artwork more than a century before during the Napoleonic Wars and was attempting to restore the painting to its rightful homeland. Peruggia was convicted by an Italian court, but served minimal time and eventually returned to Paris. Embarrassed by the publicity surrounding the painting's theft and rediscovery, French art authorities allowed the "Mona Lisa" to tour Italy before she was returned to the Louvre, where she remains to this day. Even today, the "Mona Lisa" continues to evoke strong emotions. In 1956, two separate vandals attempted to damage the painting by throwing acid and a rock at it. Several years later, the painting was encased in bulletproof glass, which helped protect Mona in 1974, when another vandal tried to spray her with red paint. And just last week, a woman gained publicity (and probably jail time) by hurling a ceramic mug at poor Mona. Meanwhile, the success of the book and film "The DaVinci Code" (as well as other books) has renewed interest in that enigmatic smile (not to mention other features) for whole new generations. The true story of the theft of the "Mona Lisa" may not be as exciting as something out of "The DaVinci Code," but it is certainly has its own elements that would make any mystery fan proud: scandal, celebrity, politics, and some good old-fashioned detective work. Suggested Sites... Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of the Mona Lisa - a new book by R.A. Scotti that explores the painting's disappearance and its widespread appeal. The Crimes of Paris - also new in literature. Dorothy and Thomas Hoober's fictional account of the theft of the "Mona Lisa," focusing on the efforts of a French detective to find it. The Louvre - official site for Mona Lisa's home. Virtual Tour of Le Louvre - take a walk around the home of the world's artistic and historical treasures.

Directory categories: Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci, Le Louvre, Stolen Art, French History

Archived under: 1910s, Anniversaries, Art Museums, Artists, Arts, Crime, Criminals, Da Vinci Code, Detectives, Disappearances, Europe, European History, France, History, Images, Italy, Louvre, Museums, Mysteries, Secrets, Tourist Attractions, Women

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"His Master's Voice" (What you don't see is that Nipper is sitting on the coffin of his dead owner) In company logos and advertisements, animals are a fairly common sight. So common, in fact, that you probably haven't given these mascots a great deal of thought. But those whose job involves selecting an animal representative for an organization or company face no small task. With their choice, they will be aligning themselves with whatever qualities people tend to associate with that animal. Once they’ve found their totem, they may forever be associated with it. A prime example of logo longevity is "His Master’s Voice," a design trademarked by the Victor Record Company on this day in 1900, sealing forever in our minds the image of Nipper the dog listening attentively to a Victrola, and connecting it further with the Gramophone Company (later known as HMV). In the ensuing century, plenty of other corporate critters have made their marks on our cultural consciousness. How many times have you heard Leo, the MGM lion roar? Financial institutions have adopted symbols of strength, including an elk and a lion, though Merrill Lynch was wise to select a bull rather than a bear. Animals in advertising have also provided memorable and humorous moments. Cuteness gives many animal representatives their appeal. The Geico gecko is pretty adorable, as is Snuggle, the Fabric Softener Bear. Some creatures are simply effective because they are cartoons, and appeal to kids, such as the Trix Rabbit and Sugar Bear. Turns out there’s a science behind the success of animals (or "visual identifiers," as the marketing analysts call them). While some wine critics may claim they avoid "labels bearing cute animals," the rest of us are drawn to these images almost against our will, according to researchers. Did you pick up that bottle of Syrah because it had a kangaroo, chameleon, or a cute dog or kitty on it? It’s not your fault -– you're a victim of your own "perceptual fluency." In light of the incredible sway these animals have over us, some mascots may not have been the best selections. Joe Camel, for example, the longtime rep for Camel cigarettes, was no longer depicted in cartoon form due to objections that he appealed to children too effectively, and Budweiser’s Spuds MacKenzie faded into obscurity before anyone noticed that a dog in a Hawaiian shirt was probably not the most appropriate spokes-animal for beer. After all, wouldn’t you rather share a tall one with a creepy penguin? Suggested Sites... TV Acres - Advertising Mascots - take a four-legged walk down memory lane. "Of Frog Wines and Frowning Watches" - academic study on why we select animal-endorsed brands and respond to other visual cues. Live-Animal Mascots Get an "F" - PETA argues that actual animals should not be used as mascots. "Dinner With the Mascots" video on YouTube - amusing reunion of several iconic mascots.

Directory categories: Advertising, Commercials, Pop Culture, Graphic Design, Phonographs

Archived under: 19th Century, Advertising, Animals, Anniversaries, Bears, Birds, Brands, Cartoons, Design, Dogs, History, Images, Mascots, Music, Music History, Nostalgia, Records, Society and Culture, TV, Wine

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Will Shakespeare -- too sexy for his collar The perception of William Shakespeare as a sex symbol has been something largely postulated by books and movies. On screen, Shakespeare has been played by such hunks as Joseph Fiennes, Colin Firth, Rupert Graves, and, um, Tim Curry. But in real life, the only accurate images of the Bard depict a chubby, balding man with a penchant for bad facial hair (though not as bad as others). This is a guy who looks like he spends his nights with a quill and parchment -- not Gwyneth Paltrow. But earlier this year, the discovery of a previously-unknown painting of Shakespeare changed the way many imagined the world’s greatest writer. Well-dressed with thick hair, an aquiline nose, and striking eyes, this Shakespeare is definitely attractive, even by 21st century standards. (One could even argue he bears some resemblance to the aforementioned Mr. Fiennes.) The authentication of the painting is still on-going, but the proper authorities seem convinced; so much so that the newly found painting is scheduled to go on display today (the 445th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and the 393rd anniversary of his death) at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon. So which Shakespeare is the real one? The nerdy writer or the charming courtier? Like so many other mysteries and theories involving Shakespeare's life, this is one question that is probably best left to the imagination -- not to mention all the future books and movies to come. Suggested Sites... Royal Shakespeare Company - world-famous Shakespeare theater ensemble, whose previous members include Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, and former Shakespeares Joseph Fiennes, Colin Firth, and Tim Curry. Folger Shakespeare Library - American institution dedicated to studying the works of the Bard. In Search of Shakespeare - PBS special about efforts to discover the man behind the myth. Soul of the Age - new biography by renowned Shakespeare scholar Jonathan Bate.

Directory categories: William Shakespeare, Theatre, English History, Stratford-upon-Avon, Painting

Archived under: 17th Century, Actors, Anniversaries, Artists, Arts, Authors, Birthdays, Celebrities, England, History, Images, London, Performing Arts, Sex and Sexuality, U.K. History, United Kingdom, William Shakespeare, Writers

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Obama "Hope" poster by Shepard Fairey The name Shepard Fairey might not be familiar to most people, but his artwork became internationally recognizable during the 2008 United States presidential campaign. Fairey created the "Hope" poster for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, based on a 2006 copyrighted image owned by the Associated Press. Fairley claimed his work was protected by the "Fair Use" clause of the United States Copyright Act, but AP filed a copyright lawsuit against Fairey in March for unspecified damages. The AP case raises a lot of questions, especially when it comes to the Internet and fair use of copyrighted materials. In 2006, a group of die-hard "Die Hard" fans called GuyzNite wrote a tribute song to the movie series and posted it on YouTube using clips from the Bruce Willis movies to make a music video. Studio lawyers at 20th Century Fox discovered the video and demanded it be taken down for copyright violations. Thankfully, studio marketing strategists recognized the potential buzz the video could create and paid GuyzNite to repost the video with a new verse promoting the fourth movie in the series, "Live Free or Die Hard." The GuyzNite case begs the question though: Did Fox even have the right to take the video down in the first place? All across the Internet, people are taking copyrighted content and appropriating it for their own use: mashups on YouTube, icons on Internet journal sites, even scribbled-on paparazzi photos on gossip sites. Typically, fair use is transformative in nature, meaning someone can’t just take a photo and slap it on a t-shirt to make a buck. But it’s difficult to figure out just where that line is drawn. Sure, parodies are protected, but what about fan videos? Or Machinima? Or even Iconic presidential posters based on news photos? Looks like we’ll have to wait and see. Until then, hoard your icons and avatars carefully. Suggested Sites... Stanford Copyright & Fair Use Center - current copyright cases, legislation, news articles, and resources for copyright information. Mashuptown - blog about music mashups (two or more songs played over each other to make a new sound). Macinima - site for sharing movies created from video game graphics. Anime Music Videos - forum for creating and discussing Anime Music Videos.

Directory categories: Copyright, Creative Commons, Mashups, Machinima, Intellectual Property

Archived under: Artists, Arts, Barack Obama, Censorship, Contemporary Art, Creativity, Design, First Amendment, Graffiti and Street Art, Homemade, Images, Internet, Issues and Causes, Law, Law Enforcement, Legal Cases, Mashups, Plagiarism, Society and Culture

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