Y'know, living in the U.S., it's hard to appreciate just how much Mod culture has infiltrated the public consciousness in the U.K. I once thought that Mods had fallen beneath the radar, even out there, but this commercial proves me wrong.
I find it pretty funny, myself, but I'm curious as to what the thoughts were when this first aired. Are Mods in the U.K. pretty much a common, well-known culture to be spoofed like this much like Haight-Ashbury hippies would be in the U.S.? Is Quadrophenia as well-known in the U.K. as, say, Saturday Night Fever is out here?
Also, what are YOUR thoughts on the above video?
Showing posts with label Mod films. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mod films. Show all posts
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
British Style Genius - The Street Look (Mod Section!)
[Mod Male is on vacation at this time so won't be able to respond to any comments.]
The below videos are from a BBC series called British Style Genius and, trust me, the whole thing is great! You can find these segments on the YouTube, but if you want to skip to the Mod stuff, hit the 4:30 mark in the first video, then continue on to the second. And keep an ear out for the ingredients of a Mod.
The below videos are from a BBC series called British Style Genius and, trust me, the whole thing is great! You can find these segments on the YouTube, but if you want to skip to the Mod stuff, hit the 4:30 mark in the first video, then continue on to the second. And keep an ear out for the ingredients of a Mod.
"Mod was aspiration." It doesn't get much truer than that. So many great interviews in here to back that line up.
My other favorite line from this segment: "Friday night clothes, please. That just wasn't what we were about." Hearing statements like these from some of the originals brings a huge smile to my face!
Honestly, there's not a whole lot for me to add today, what with the documentary saying what needs to be said. So I'll leave it at that. Enjoy!
Monday, September 26, 2011
The 1990s 'Mods' Documentary
Things will be a little slower around here over the next 3 weeks or so. In the meantime, word-lite posts should still be going up and if you see anything you like, feel free to share it on Facebook or wherever else things are shared online since the Mod Male Facebook page will be quiet during this time. (Oh, if you haven't yet, just look over to right-hand side of your screen and click the "LIKE" button to get on the Facebook page!)
So, for today and the next few Mondays, I'm taking the easy way out and letting videos do the talking for me (for the most part). Today's video is a Mods documentary, directed by Rob Poswell and filmed in Sacramento and Berkeley, CA back in the early 90's. I'm sure many of you have seen this on YouTube already, but it's worth checking out again.
When I first moved to the Bay Area, this video was passed around on VHS and I was really taken with it. Not only did it feature people I knew and looked up to, but it was the first film (other than Quadrophenia) that captured the Mod thing for me at the time. It was filmed well, had great music, great quotes, and looked all-around cool to me.
It begins with the great intro: "I was a mod back in 1963. It was a bit different. Much different than rockers or teddy boys." It gave the film a feel of authenticity since an original 1960s Mod was quoted on tape. My fave part of the film, though, featured the Berkeley Mod scene of the time dancing to local Mod band, the Motives. I'd sit there picking out people I knew and wondering where others had gone. And the Motives on stage... they looked slick! It made living in the Bay Area more exciting just to think that this was stuff going on. Granted, this had all been filmed the year before I moved up, with things and people having changed since then.
Since that time, my own thinking and opinions on Mod stuff as changed or, hopefully, grown. That said, this film still really holds up for me. It looks stylish, as a Mod film should, and carries with it ideas that still hold well today. My only criticism of the film is that new music plays over the main scooter scene. The director of this film is a great guy, but he pulled a George Lucas re-dux for that part! NOOOOOOO!!!
When I first saw this, there was a quote in there that really struck me, and watching this film again today, it's one that still resonates: "To be a Mod, you have to be a Mod 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. The whole bit. You're just not a Mod on the weekends."
At my age, I'd sound a little cheesy talking like this and I don't think I am that guy walking around shouting "Mod! Mod! Mod!" all the time (contrary to the impression left by this blog), but I still believe in the idea of doin' this thing 24/7 and always looking to improve.
So, for today and the next few Mondays, I'm taking the easy way out and letting videos do the talking for me (for the most part). Today's video is a Mods documentary, directed by Rob Poswell and filmed in Sacramento and Berkeley, CA back in the early 90's. I'm sure many of you have seen this on YouTube already, but it's worth checking out again.
When I first moved to the Bay Area, this video was passed around on VHS and I was really taken with it. Not only did it feature people I knew and looked up to, but it was the first film (other than Quadrophenia) that captured the Mod thing for me at the time. It was filmed well, had great music, great quotes, and looked all-around cool to me.
It begins with the great intro: "I was a mod back in 1963. It was a bit different. Much different than rockers or teddy boys." It gave the film a feel of authenticity since an original 1960s Mod was quoted on tape. My fave part of the film, though, featured the Berkeley Mod scene of the time dancing to local Mod band, the Motives. I'd sit there picking out people I knew and wondering where others had gone. And the Motives on stage... they looked slick! It made living in the Bay Area more exciting just to think that this was stuff going on. Granted, this had all been filmed the year before I moved up, with things and people having changed since then.
Since that time, my own thinking and opinions on Mod stuff as changed or, hopefully, grown. That said, this film still really holds up for me. It looks stylish, as a Mod film should, and carries with it ideas that still hold well today. My only criticism of the film is that new music plays over the main scooter scene. The director of this film is a great guy, but he pulled a George Lucas re-dux for that part! NOOOOOOO!!!
When I first saw this, there was a quote in there that really struck me, and watching this film again today, it's one that still resonates: "To be a Mod, you have to be a Mod 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. The whole bit. You're just not a Mod on the weekends."
At my age, I'd sound a little cheesy talking like this and I don't think I am that guy walking around shouting "Mod! Mod! Mod!" all the time (contrary to the impression left by this blog), but I still believe in the idea of doin' this thing 24/7 and always looking to improve.
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