Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll naci en 1977 en Colombia y desde los aos 1990 en Latinoamrica, y desde los 2000 en los Estados Unidos se ha convertido en una gran figura de la msica latina con estilo oriental que la destaca entre los dems artistas.

Ella es una exitosa cantante, escritora, instrumentalista, productora de discos y bailarina la cual ha logrado atraer los odos y corazones de la millones de jvenes y no tan jvenes que disfrutan de su msica original, creativa y rebelde.

Sus lricos son originales ya que escribe poesas inusuales en las cuales incluye frases como”Tu mordiste la manzana y renunciaste al paraso, y condenaste a una serpiente, siendo tu el que as lo quiso.”

Logra producir rimas de una forma nica que solo ella conoce y a su vez en sus versiones en ingles que comenz en el 2001, logro adaptar su propio estilo sin problema de idioma.

Su primer disco en ingles se llama “Laundry Service” Servicio de Lavanderia convirtindose en un hit impresionante con el cual gano la mayora de sus 10 Grammys ganados hasta ahora. Las canciones mas conocidas de aquel disco don “Underneath Your Clothes” debajo de tu ropa y “Whenever, Wherever” Suerte fueron los mas populares. Su msica incluye tiene un estilo de Pop con Oriental, Tango, Latino y otros nuevos ritmos originales.

Fijacin Oral Vol 1 and 2, fue su siguiente lbum que saco con Alejandro Sanz la cancin “Tortura”, con Wyclef Jean “Hips don’t Lie” y luego con Vellones “Beautiful Lie” otro gran xito.

Shakira tiene un origen descendiente cataln-Italiano mezclado con catlico Libans, la cual la caracteriza por tener un estilo oriental, latino que ha logrado obtener a lo largo de su popularidad que la diferencia de cualquier otro artista.

Shakira escribi su primer poema llamado “La Rosa de Cristal” a los cuatro aos y sigui escribiendo poemas que luego se convirtieron en canciones. A la edad de 8 cuando su hermano fue matado en un accidente de motocicleta Shakira escribi su primera cancin llamada “Tus Gafas Oscuras”.

Su personalidad por su puesto es expresada en sus lricos y poemas, as es como tambin polticamente mantiene opiniones bastante polmicas como comentarios “anti-israeles” salidos en alguna entrevista en la radio resaltando su origen libans frente al conflicto en medio oriente.

Tu actual novio, futuro marido es Antonio de La Rua, hijo del previo Presidente de la Republica Argentina, quien no es exactamente querido por la poblacin Argentina. A pesar de sus decisiones personales, su xito como cantante y bailarina sigue siendo un hit y aplaudido por Sudamrica, Estados Unidos, Espaa y dems pases.

Su estilo puede ser comparado al de Alanis Morisette, pero con una sensualidad y habilidad de bailar Belly Dance, que la destaca de las dems cantantes. Lo que la ha ayudado a despegar en el mundo Internacional fue cuando saco su disco MTV Unplugged, “Donde Estn los Ladrones” en 1999 el cual llego a las casas de millones de jvenes en Estados Unidos e Europa.

Las biografas de artistas visuales es un tema popular en el mundo del cine. Los productores de pelculas siempre estuvieron fascinados por las biografas de artistas visuales, especialmente si incluye locura, adiccin a las drogas u otros temas duros. De hecho, les da una oportunidad de mostrar obras de arte restauradas u originales en la pantalla grande.

Aqu, puedes leer a cerca de algunos de las ms interesantes pelculas a cerca de la vida de artistas visuales.

1″Lust for Life”, dirigida por Vicente Minnelli en 1952
La biografa de Vincent Van Gogh ha ganado varias adaptaciones cinematogrficas. Esta en especial es interpretada por Kira Douglas como Vincent la cual la ha hecho muy notable. La pelcula esta basada en un libro best selling por Irving Stone, quien tambin escribi “La Agona y el xtasis” a cerca de Michel Angelo, la cual tambin fue convertida en pelcula. Si disfrutas de las obras de Van Gogh, disfrutaras de “Lust for Life”, que presenta casi 200 pinturas originales del Van Gogh. SI eres familiar con Kirk Douglas, verlo como este torturado pintor es un poco extrao. Otra pelcula recomendable sobre Van Gogh es Robert Altmans Vincent y Theo de 1990.

2 Sobreviviendo Picasso, dirigida por James Ivory en 1996
Como Van Gogh, la imagen de Pablo Picasso lo convirti en una figura icnica fuera del crculo artstico. Mientras que Van Gogh simboliza la propia destruccin, maniaco depresivo el cual su xito apareci luego de su muerte, Picasso representa lo misantropito y mujeriego del artista. Las relaciones de Picasso con mujeres es el enfoque de esta pelcula. La historia es contada desde los ojos de la ayudanta de Picasso Francoise Gilot y caracteriza solo reproducciones de las obras del artista. El talentoso Anthony Hopkins interpreta a Picasso teniendo un parecido al artista muy increble. Esta pelcula logra crear un retrato tan cruel, egocntrico y genio como el verdadero.

3 Chica con el Aro de Perla, dirigida por Meter Webber en 2003
Comparado a Van Gogh y Picasso, la biografa de Vermeers es menos conocida y menos controversial. Por eso, esta pelcula es mucho ms restringida y delicada que las anteriores. La pelcula se focaliza en un corto periodo de la vida de Verneers en el que pintaba el retrato de su ama de casa de baja clase. A pesar de que la pelcula no evita convenciones cinematogrficas extra dramatizando el proceso de su pintura, vale la pena mirar la pelcula por su diseo artstico que logra evocar la percepcin de color y luz del pintor.

4 Basquiat, dirigida por Julian Schnabel en 1996
La critica mas comn en contra de pelculas que tratan de artes visuales es la manera en que expresan el proceso de las creaciones. Por eso, haba grandes expectaciones de Basquiat, que fue dirigida por el celebre pintor Julian Schnabel. Este logro expresar bien la subida y cada de Michelle Basquiat. De todas formas, la principal razn para mirar esta pelcula es David Bowe quien interpreta a Andy Warhol.

5 Frida, dirigida por Julie Taymor en 2002
Como la mayora de los artistas que tuvieron su biografa adaptada al cine, Frida Kahlo tuvo una bastante inusual, que incluye accidente de mnibus, matrimonio problemtico, y un romance con Leon Trotsky. Como Van Gogh, Picasso y Jackson Polloch, Frida Kahlo era un icono mucho antes de la creacin de su pelcula, pero los 123 minutos de ella ayudaron a esforzar su posicin como idola feminista y la pintora ms famosa del siglo 20. Este film intenta integrar a Frida con sus pinturas y el resultado es muy colorido y agradable. Muy recomendable.

Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at the some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.

The First Theft
The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.

The Most Famous Theft
The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.

It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 3021 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.

While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.

The Biggest Theft in the USA
The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.

As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime.

The Scream
The painting by Edvard Munchs, The Scream, is probably the most sought after painting by art thieves in history. It has been stolen twice and was only recently recovered. In 1994, during the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, The Scream was stolen from an Oslo gallery by two thieves who broke through an open window, set off the alarm and left a note saying thanks for the poor security.

Three months later, the holders of the painting approached the Norwegian Government with an offer 1 million dollars ransom for Edvard Munchs The Scream. The Government turned down the offer, but the Norwegian police collaborated with the British Police and the Getty Museum to organize a sting operation that brought back the painting to where it belongs.

Ten years later, The Scream was stolen again from the Munch Museum. This time, the robbers used a gun and took another of Munchs painting with them. While Museum officials waiting for the thieves to request ransom money, rumors claimed that both paintings were burned to conceal evidence. Eventually, the Norwegian police discovered the two paintings on August 31, 2006 but the facts on how they were recovered are not known yet.

The British Broadcasting Corporation also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it allows itself to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. During the years, many singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or bear the potential for offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.

In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.

The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je TAime … Moi Non Plus, translated I love you… me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.

The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime … Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.

Je TAime … Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.

Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the single’s explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.

Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.