Comedian Marcus Brigstocke pokes fun at history television shows in ‘We Are History’ series (2000):

Comedian Marcus Brigstocke plays fictional television presenter David Oxley: a self-aggrandising English historian, who is defeated by inaccurate, unreliable data and his own unremitting errors of judgement — not to mention being a tad overzealous in his inquiries. A brilliant parody.

All 12 episodes of BBC‘s We Are History series (including King Arthur: Myth or Legend? above), can be found here on YouTube.

Crosswords: A charming, puzzle-themed modern day silent

The solitary struggle with problem-solving, depicted with wry comedy. Written and directed by Steve Simmons.

(via Silent London)

Theremin virtuoso Carolina Eyck plays ‘Après un rêve’ by Gabriel Fauré

A spine-tingling, theremin performance by Carolina Eyck.

(via richhickey)

Gap-Toothed Women (1987)

Les Blank’s 1987 short film is ‘a charming valentine to women born with a space between their teeth’.

Watch the trailer (I dare you not to smile at 00:33).

Werner Herzog on the set of Fitzcarraldo

Tormented by the incongruity of the beauty and the horror he discovers in the jungles of Peru, Werner Herzog delivers a sublime commentary to camera during Les Blank's extraordinary filming of the nightmarish production of Fitzcarraldo.

(For an exquisite feeling of schadenfreude, Burden of Dreams is highly recommended!)

Best worst transformation scene

(Thank you internet for serving up this first-rate stinker.)

Stravinsky conducts Firebird Ballet Suite (1965)

I'm mesmerised by this performance by Igor Stravinsky as he conducts the Firebird Ballet Suite at the Royal Festival Hall with all the fervour of someone who has devoted an entire lifetime to music.

Helicopter ride in Rio (1967)

Incredible aerial footage of the streets of 1960s Rio de Janeiro. Insane!

Blackboard at MIT

Fabulous.

Buster Keaton: The Scarecrow (1920)

I love this table scene from The Scarecrow — a comedy set piece played out by Keaton and Roberts in a one-room house filled with makeshift and whimsical space saving apparatus.

Spock’s Thoughts

(To my readers: have a long and prosperous weekend — strive to be happy!)

3D ASCII Animated GIF

This sweet, 3D animated gif from Japan caught my eye this morning. Awwww.

(via Rhizome)

YSL Ad Campaign

Against the charred landscape of contemporary broadcast advertising, suffering the ill effects of diminishing revenues and low-cost viral marketing, this simple, gorgeous black & white Spring/Summer 2011 ad campaign video from Yves Saint Laurent stands apart. The subtle art direction and sympathetic photography casually frame the breezy polyphony of texture, motion, beauty and garment which I find refreshing, engaging and visually arresting. Stunning!

(via VOS Factory)