Artist/photographer Henry Hargreaves has combined two of my favorite things: silent films and cake (well, technically cake frosting, but still). He recreated the iconic image from George Melies’s 1902 film Le Voyage Dans La Lune.
The original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrdVdKlxUk
What you see below is an actual ad for a Burger Chef hamburger (Mad Men fans, Burger Chef is a real company!). I think this is excellent; what you see is what you get. I’m pretty damn sure this is an accurate representation of the item. They didn’t even bother to strategically place the onions in a relatively even distribution. The burger is smaller than the bun. A lone pickle slice graces the nucleus of the burger structure.
Over 50 years later, fast food recipes have not changed all that much (save for much larger portions). But we DO have one secret ingredient that makes a monumental difference: PHOTOSHOP.
Enter the Burger King Whopper. Look at that flame broiled, juicy patty extending past the bun, residing under a veritable tower of fresh, shiny, crunchy produce. The edge of the tomato slice even has perfect little water droplets on it (has anyone EVER seen that in real life?)!
I find it fascinating that even FOOD is subject to the unrealistic ideals increasingly created/perpetuated by the media. It’s startling to view pictures of what was considered “attractive” just half a century ago, human or otherwise. There is an ever-widening rift between what actual humans and products look like and the fabricated hyperrealistic “paintings” that have taken the place of photographs (I was going to post some human examples, but you get the idea!).
This holiday, along with Christmas, lends itself to some spectacular cake disasters.
Speaking of…at first I thought this was a colorblind attempt at a Christmas tree. Nope. It’s an egg. “Oval” is such a hard shape to make though.
While as yet an uncommon treatment for psychiatric disturbances in domesticated fowl, here we see electroconvulsive therapy being administered to a newborn chick. This procedure requires extensive clinical supervision. Talk to your healthcare provider.
Hey now, this is a family blog, miss! Can I interest you in a t-shirt or modest shawl?
I thought this animal’s eyes were firmly implanted in the middle of its own ears, until I noticed the green arcs on the side which are…the actual ears?
This is a difficult cake to behold, existentially. The poor creature’s life is clearly flashing before its stunned eyes, a split second before an untimely demise.
If you’re going to get emotional on holidays, try waterproof eye makeup.
I got nothin’.
“Young lady, I TOLD you if you kept feeding glow sticks to the rabbit, something bad would happen!”
With the advent of modern meat production, some slight anatomical anomalies began to emerge.
And now my favorite: crucified carrots against a backdrop of a toddler’s finger painting. Now THAT, my friends…is how Easter is done.
Welcome to this edition of desktop goodies!
Would you buy Kellog’s corn flakes after seeing a child in the ad who looks like he’s be propped and posed postmortem?
Antique “eye massager,” for when your eyes need a little therapeutic squishin’!
AXOLOTL in a portrait! (See some axolotl info here, and an artistic interpretation here)
Don’t mind him…he’s really into that “sitting in a wall” thing.
The most complete system ever? Really?
I’m going to give you a great life tip here, folks. So listen up: be sure to set the iron to medium heat so as not to burn your crocodile.
The world’s most wistful butter substitute:
You can conveniently sell your sister by placing a check mark in the appropriate box.
Don’t say it, Dana…don’t say this piece of kitsch is…”corny.” D’OH!
Brace yourself for The Dayalets; an instructional (and I use that word loosely) “suiatable for framing” series of food beasts designed to hang in doctors’ offices.
The idea was the educate the masses about vitamin deficiencies and nutritional imbalances. Wasn’t there a pamphlet they could hand out?
While tempting to generate my own sarcastic commentary for each of these, I think it’s only fair to direct you to the source, where the curator has taken a good deal of time to display and write commentary for the entire series (featuring gems such gems as “This looks like some self-proclaimed sex expert circa 1951.”)
I actually went through the whole series and was repeatedly stunned by these creations. Who wants one on the food table at my next party?
I wasn’t joking when I said “suitable for framing.”
See the whole collection here.
Nekranea’s creations would satisfy any (plush & polymer) sweet tooth.
This is some expert needle felting (a technique I’ve been meaning to learn). She brings adorable little morsels to life!
Look at these expressive faces!
The most perfectly melted cheese I’ve ever seen…in a necklace.
Um, just throw enough leftover crap excavated from couch cushions, past holiday waste and candy dishes on top. VIOLA…festive cake!
Until now, I’m sure you’ve underestimated the sensual qualities of lettuce.
Sweet, sweet style.
I’ll finish with this sexy vintage shark.
I couldn’t find much written info about Neli Josefsen, but she is responsible for this i-can’t-believe-it’s-a-cake creation.
This is edible!
Anyone have favorite cake artists?
I suppose I’ve made more of a fuss over Valentine’s Day on this blog in previous years. Not sure why it kind of escaped me this time around, but since I didn’t do a countdown or themed posts, here are a few links to “Valentine” goodies (I use the holiday label loosely).
I may return with more as the day goes on!
Conjuruer’s Kitchen makes the most majestic macabre morsels I’ve seen.
Yes, this is a cake. They all are.
I find it very interesting…the crossing of gag-worthy subject matter with delicious confections. To eat or not to eat…
The Osteologist’s dream cake:
I was gifted a Conjurer’s Kitchen hand-sculpted white chocolate raven skull by the lovely and talented Tonya Hurley…it’s too beautiful to eat. I keep it on display.
SheWalksSoftly 