While no one is going to argue against the practicality of Old Navy (hey, even tech vests had their moment), it is clear that high fashion is often wearable (or in the case of The Devil Wears Prada — quite unwearable) art. But sometimes even these threads can get upstaged (theatrically speaking), and fashion shows become more about over-the-top production than the clothes. Case in point: Chanel’s RTW Fall 2010 show, which featured a 265-ton iceberg that was imported from Scandinavia and handcarved by 35 ice sculptors. In that spirit, after the jump we’ve rounded up some of the most outrageous runways shots we could find. Recession, what?

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Documenting Jack and Meg White’s ambitious 2007 Canadian tour, Under Great White Northern Lights is both a compelling film and the White Stripes’ first official live album.

The duo took director Emmett Malloy on the road for the trip, which included stops in every single province in Canada. Along the way, the pair played a series of surprise shows, met with tribal elders, dressed in Scottish regalia, and celebrated its 10th anniversary as a band. The film captures all the high and lows of the trek, while the album features 16 tracks recorded live on the tour.

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We tend to love reading about how the governmental bodies view art — depressing when you consider the federal budget, heartwarming when you hear that the Obamas picked Alma Thomas for the White House collection — but little did we know how opinionated the Federal Reserve chairmen could be on the matter. (Well, let’s not forget the Feds were all schooled before Bush’s No Child Left Behind policy neglected the arts as core curriculum for K-12 education.) Today, Mary Anne Goley — former director of the fine arts program for the board of governors — penned a piece for the Wall Street Journal about the tastes of various Fed chairs, and let’s just say, it’s pretty revealing.

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“To me, this was a normal movie, to me this is a movie I’d watch with someone,” says director Danny Perez of his first feature film, ODDSAC, a visual album co-created with Animal Collective. “I realize to the average person that it’s probably extreme.” One scene features a family camping in the woods. “Or out there.” The marshmallows expand, oozing viciously from their mouths. “Or weird.” A forlorn vampire, like a disfigured beauty-drained Edward Cullen, lurks behind the trees. “Or whatever.” He plunges his teeth first into the little boy, a curly-haired redhead.

All this is just five minutes of ODDSAC. But such is the madness that occurs when one is responsible for translating the brain-bursting, spitter spatter electronics of Animal Collective. Currently touring the country with his movie, Danny sat down with us to chat wombs, angry mamas, and cinematic philosophy.

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Kei$ha aside, 2010 is shaping up to be a good year for women in music. Lilith Fair has returned, Hole is making a comeback, Gaga is queen of the world (or at the least the world of product placement), and there are a slew of female artists poised to make a breakthrough over the next nine months. From garage rockers to soulful singer-songwriters, we’ve found ten really great ones — destined to wind up on playlists everywhere.

To make it easier to identify the artists and bands that might fit in best with your taste, we offer you a humble guide to our picks, complete with comparisons to some ladies you may already love. Read on for our complete list — and a healthy dose of girl power.

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German photographer Jurgen Chill’s work is all about perspective. With a bird’s eye view, he takes us into German prisons cells — seemingly dark places — that actually don’t appear as dark and decrepit as one would imagine. Upon studying the photographs, viewers may be overcome with the uncomfortable and exhilarating feeling of falling into the rooms — rooms that are frankly kind of appealing when lacking inhabitants and movement. More photos, along with commentary from Chill, after the jump.

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We love Gorillaz, so we couldn’t help but be a bit disappointed by the recent rumor of the group’s uncredited music stealing borrowing. (Seriously, is there something in the water?) Reggae artist Eddy Grant claims the electronic keyboard riffs from his song “Time Warp,” were used in the new Gorillaz song, “Stylo,” without any due credit. Although both Grant and the Gorillaz are signed with EMI Publishing, the label refuses to get involved and is letting the artists settle this dispute themselves.

Grant recently told NME:

In a properly configured relationship I would have gotten a call from EMI to say, ‘Damon wants to use ‘Time Warp.’ What arrangement can you guys come to? Would you claim 100% would you claim 60%, or 70% of whatever it is?’ That phone call never came.

Although nothing has been resolved, we’re curious to hear your take on songs that borrow. After the jump, compare Grant’s “Time Warp” to Gorillaz “Stylo,” and check out our roundup of other musical “homages.”

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Librarians have a bit of a reputation to live up to. We expect them to be kind and resourceful. Well-read. Soft-spoken. These days, the bun and glasses are optional, but if you ask us, still fun in a kitschy way. But have you ever wondered what real librarians think an ideal librarian should be like? And more importantly, who are the imaginary librarians that they look up to? To find out, we caught up with our favorite blogging librarians from The Desk Set. Check out the results after the jump.

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Last night at the Waldorf-Astoria The Hollies, Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, ABBA and Iggy Pop’s Stooges accepted induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For the Stooges, who had previously been named finalists six times, it was an honor a long time coming. “After the seventh time we were beginning to think we would have to take pride in not getting in,” James Williamson said in his acceptance speech. (Iggy had a different take: “Roll over, Woodstock. We won.”) After the jump we’ve rounded up videos of a few of the night’s performances — apologies for the poor quality in some cases, but we figure it’s better than nothing.

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1. Sony and Michael Jackson’s estate have set a music-industry record with a $250 million deal that covers 10 albums. The material will involve a mix of previously unreleased songs and new packages of old ones. [via WSJ]
2. Paula Abdul is finalizing a deal to host/judge an updated version of Star Search for ABC. This is interesting, because back in 2003 CBS tried to revive the same show with Arsenio Hall as its host. [via EW]
3. Did you realize that both women and big worriers are more likely to get songs stuck in their heads? [via NYT]
4. Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne made a brief appearance on Sunday night’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. (video) [via Pitchfork]
5. A new study by Austrian neurologists reveals the special painting technique behind the Mona Lisa’s ever-changing smile. [via Telegraph]

Bonus link: Hear the Lil Wayne and The Office Mash-Up Song