I bet you never knew that the meaning of life had a Wikipedia page. I personally, did not find it very helpful. So, it's late and I can't sleep, and I am sitting here with my browser open knowing that the Internet has boundless possibilities... with such boundless possibilities you would think that I could find at least a small shred of peace for my restless state of mind, but no. The Internet, which was originally invented to help aid the conception of a collective consciousness by aspiring academics is now merely wrought with 'do-it-yourself' YouTube videos, advertisements and other much much more questionable content. For those who say that the world is shaped by the pursuit of knowledge, I would show them the Internet. This fantastic tool with practically limitless social power has been doused in desire. I won't judge, I just find it intriguing to observe the way we shape our tools, and how our tools shape us. So many of our tendencies are so very instinctual. But I am getting off topic.
Upon perusing the google machine for something to help me make sense of my steadfast conundrum I happened upon a fascinating page. Now this page might not be fascinating to anyone else, just myself, in this particular state; but it instilled in me a rather epiphanatic (I know this is not a word, but I will use it anyway) notion. This page was simply a list of quotes on the meaning of life. Unfortunately I did not happen on anything extraordinary, I found most of these quotes rather plain written by people I had never met or ever even heard of. They all dithered about, committing to everything and nothing at all. Their meaning of life was often a question, or sometimes something mildly metaphorical. Not once did someone ever give you an outright answer, to be honest I would have been much more content if someone had just gone out on a limb and said that the meaning of life was cheese. At least then I might smile, or at least smirk, and feel far more enlightened. If i had my opportunity on the tabulators of the world, I would say that the meaning of life is cheese.
But no, the meaning of life was a journey, a search, a starry sky, or the meaning of life is what you make it. It was then that I suffered an epiphany; who are these people to lecture me on the meaning of life? What chastising remarks they had in store! To even think that you are big enough to break down one of life's mammoth questions, is in my mind a sign of insanity. So you may take your bowl of cherries, and your box of chocolates, I would rather stare at the sky and wonder why it's blue.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Fiction and False Pretenses
Accosted by confusion; that is often where impulse lands me. I would like to say it's a small boat, but the Titanic could not suffice to hold all of its passengers. Such tangents of woe befall me when I seek to lend and ear. I cannot sum up human discourse in these few short words, but let me express to you how human interaction baffles me.
No one moves in straight lines, you would have to be a simpleton to not know that. I just can't help but wonder how different we would all be, if our minds were open like the pages of a book. If you are willing to read, you would not be stopped by mazes of brick walls backed by trap doors and sink holes. Sanity often seems the price we pay when we try to reveal the answers to mysteries we have no right to solve.
Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we were all animated. Which is to say we were all drawn in a stereotypical fashion of some sort. Perhaps if we abandoned all notions of existentialism and became the very blatant preconceived notions that we are constantly at war with. I am not saying this would be politically, or morally correct, I just enjoy pondering the implications. There would certainly be a huge loss in uncertainty avoidance; if everyone moved in the straight sequential trails as once illustrated in children's fairy tales. You could literally take everything at face value. But as many science fiction films, books and comics have taught me, any attempts to limit the quirky unpredictability's that make humans, humans often lead to Armageddon ensuing consequences. Or at least a horrible bloody revolution.
Afterall I was just pondering.
I find it kind of funny that the trials and tribulations of real life often turn me to fiction. Suppose you could write your own ending? Would anyone even want that power? For even if you seek nothing but your own happiness and fulfillment you have the potential to cause a domino effect of misery and suffering, but how would you ever know? The steady march of technological progress has led to so many delicate constructions of illusion. I used to believe that such cultures as the gaming culture were a waste of time. I stand corrected. Is my perpetual drive towards the enthralling lives of made up characters in the guise of movie and television stars any different than their own obsession? I would have to be a snob to assume that fiction conquers all. A romantic I am, assuming I am not. So even though I find myself increasingly eager as the night of new episodes approaches, I can't help but find myself somewhat pitiful knowing that I am watching them and their adventures rather than having ones of my own.
But I know why...
It is because they, the beautiful constructions of idealism within a human design, represent all those "animated" (if you take the definition of animation loosely) stereotypes. There are true heroes, and people whom actually fit the role of protagonist. It is only within the context of story that these 'people' can say all those things you miss in real life, do all that you wish people would do. They dedicate, devote, act deranged or fallen. We wish them, quite literally, on occasion. We love them, we hate them, we become part of them; it doesn't matter. If we want them they are there, if we don't they aren't real. It's a win win situation.
I turn to them when the individuals who frequent my day to day seem poised on a knife's edge, and slipping becomes inevitable. No one ever intends to make mistakes, but everyone does.
It is within these tangled webs of broken words, stifled blunders and blinded consciousness that we choose to interact. How Brilliant. =S
No one moves in straight lines, you would have to be a simpleton to not know that. I just can't help but wonder how different we would all be, if our minds were open like the pages of a book. If you are willing to read, you would not be stopped by mazes of brick walls backed by trap doors and sink holes. Sanity often seems the price we pay when we try to reveal the answers to mysteries we have no right to solve.
Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we were all animated. Which is to say we were all drawn in a stereotypical fashion of some sort. Perhaps if we abandoned all notions of existentialism and became the very blatant preconceived notions that we are constantly at war with. I am not saying this would be politically, or morally correct, I just enjoy pondering the implications. There would certainly be a huge loss in uncertainty avoidance; if everyone moved in the straight sequential trails as once illustrated in children's fairy tales. You could literally take everything at face value. But as many science fiction films, books and comics have taught me, any attempts to limit the quirky unpredictability's that make humans, humans often lead to Armageddon ensuing consequences. Or at least a horrible bloody revolution.
Afterall I was just pondering.
I find it kind of funny that the trials and tribulations of real life often turn me to fiction. Suppose you could write your own ending? Would anyone even want that power? For even if you seek nothing but your own happiness and fulfillment you have the potential to cause a domino effect of misery and suffering, but how would you ever know? The steady march of technological progress has led to so many delicate constructions of illusion. I used to believe that such cultures as the gaming culture were a waste of time. I stand corrected. Is my perpetual drive towards the enthralling lives of made up characters in the guise of movie and television stars any different than their own obsession? I would have to be a snob to assume that fiction conquers all. A romantic I am, assuming I am not. So even though I find myself increasingly eager as the night of new episodes approaches, I can't help but find myself somewhat pitiful knowing that I am watching them and their adventures rather than having ones of my own.
But I know why...
It is because they, the beautiful constructions of idealism within a human design, represent all those "animated" (if you take the definition of animation loosely) stereotypes. There are true heroes, and people whom actually fit the role of protagonist. It is only within the context of story that these 'people' can say all those things you miss in real life, do all that you wish people would do. They dedicate, devote, act deranged or fallen. We wish them, quite literally, on occasion. We love them, we hate them, we become part of them; it doesn't matter. If we want them they are there, if we don't they aren't real. It's a win win situation.
I turn to them when the individuals who frequent my day to day seem poised on a knife's edge, and slipping becomes inevitable. No one ever intends to make mistakes, but everyone does.
It is within these tangled webs of broken words, stifled blunders and blinded consciousness that we choose to interact. How Brilliant. =S
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Blizzard
I can write sarcastically about the androgyny of pop culture, or the post-modern allusions that perforate media in human sized holes and make everyone chuckle from time to time. I can write about that which is superficial, cheeky, or derisive. I can write about films, or anything else that anyone with Wi-fi can 'connect' to. I can most certainly write about fashion and still be safe, hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet and the knowledge that fashion is an art that anyone can critique. I cannot however, talk about my feelings, or that which drives me to be the intellectually inquisitive version of Lois Lane.
It is kind of like my own personal Romantic period, without the preclusion of Enlightenment. I have never believed that rationality would be able to solve all my woes. Therefore it is my own post-modern romantic period, where the outcry of feelings too 'dangerous' to be displayed outwardly are ushered through a new medium. One that is suppressed and subversive, even the most contemplative minds tend to dismiss it as just art. I however, having overdosed on Hollywood plot lines always wish they could somehow translate to real life. You know, the moment where the protagonist spills their true feelings via song, confession, or sometimes even by accident and everything that was going to go wrong suddenly goes right? That beautiful moment of clarity, peace and justice that never seems to quite happen in real life.
The secret revolutionary messages that were interlaced into the art of the Romantic period have gone extinct. In their stead stands the fragmented society of new media, alight with various sub and counter cultures. So similar and so very different are we, all striving for division all wanting to belong.
I have tried to blog about the abstract, and it has always left me feeling a little bit unconsoled. So now, I will try something different, and take things a little deeper into the true nature of humanity.
So I sit in my room and watch the blizzard outside same as the blizzard behind my eyes. The snow whips around the lamp post in a wild torrent. Without regard for direction or order the snowflakes hurtle towards the banks below. From behind the heated pane it looks so beautiful, but if I was caught up in it, I would be thinking otherwise. But honestly the blizzard is inside too, crowding around rational discourse clouding it like a thick veil. Right now my mind seems impermeable to order, driven by wild chaos dipping in sadness like a single melancholy breath.
That is when I realize I am not the only one in the storm.
It is kind of like my own personal Romantic period, without the preclusion of Enlightenment. I have never believed that rationality would be able to solve all my woes. Therefore it is my own post-modern romantic period, where the outcry of feelings too 'dangerous' to be displayed outwardly are ushered through a new medium. One that is suppressed and subversive, even the most contemplative minds tend to dismiss it as just art. I however, having overdosed on Hollywood plot lines always wish they could somehow translate to real life. You know, the moment where the protagonist spills their true feelings via song, confession, or sometimes even by accident and everything that was going to go wrong suddenly goes right? That beautiful moment of clarity, peace and justice that never seems to quite happen in real life.
The secret revolutionary messages that were interlaced into the art of the Romantic period have gone extinct. In their stead stands the fragmented society of new media, alight with various sub and counter cultures. So similar and so very different are we, all striving for division all wanting to belong.
I have tried to blog about the abstract, and it has always left me feeling a little bit unconsoled. So now, I will try something different, and take things a little deeper into the true nature of humanity.
So I sit in my room and watch the blizzard outside same as the blizzard behind my eyes. The snow whips around the lamp post in a wild torrent. Without regard for direction or order the snowflakes hurtle towards the banks below. From behind the heated pane it looks so beautiful, but if I was caught up in it, I would be thinking otherwise. But honestly the blizzard is inside too, crowding around rational discourse clouding it like a thick veil. Right now my mind seems impermeable to order, driven by wild chaos dipping in sadness like a single melancholy breath.
That is when I realize I am not the only one in the storm.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The Vanishing Art
In this day and age we are getting used to hearing about the “endangered.” Whether it’s save the whales, or the penguins, the pigmy spider back monkey, the ozone, the rainforest, or the children, it seems that our society is currently obsessed with extinction, fatalities and those who have been hard done by. There are so many things worth saving that sometimes we can’t even keep track of them all. A sad state of affairs in my opinion, but as long as there are doomsday films and national geographic documentaries we shall never completely lose sight of the global situation.
I hope, and if all else fails there is still Michael Moore.
In light of all these serious global issues that we leave in the hands of international bodies and world leaders, I have come upon a new endangerment one slightly less imperative; the book. The physical paper back or hard covers with palpable pages, and a musky pulp scent, are becoming endangered. Well not literally of course, Chapters stands as a testament to the thriving publication industry, however, the art of the book is being lost.
Many may laugh at me considering there are still thousands of novels lining the shelves of book superstores across the country, (at least five hundred of those books are copies of the twilight saga.) But the trend I am noticing more and more is that a book is not considered successful until it exists as a cinematic feature film. I am not just talking about the bookstore blockbusters, I am talking about all manners of books; from Swedish crime fiction, to the popular teen novels, real life accounts and science drama. One need only hear the title of a ‘good’ book before you see it coming out in theatres. It makes me wonder if the screen writers ran out of ideas, or if it’s just easier to get authors to do all the legwork. Half the work of publishing a novel is coming up with the idea. Writers will often bash their head against the wall for weeks or even months before discovering some inkling of inspiration. And finally after exhausting months of typing, moving commas and excessive editor scrutiny the book sits for weeks on the shelves before being snapped up by a Hollywood producer.
The ultimate compliment to writers and authors alike is of course money; but after labouring over your artistic baby for nine months or maybe more, you must give up all creative bearings. It’s not a bad sacrifice for a life of fame and fortune; I mean ask J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter mastermind who is currently the second wealthiest female in the United Kingdom. But is the loss of artistic medium really worth the wealth? If you asked Marshall McLuhan, decorated communications doctorate, he would be throwing his hands up in despair. According to McLuhan film is a form of hot media; a medium of media that requires none of the human minds capacity for cognitive thought. Hot media has all the answers; it takes care of sounds, background, the appearances of the characters, in an undeniable believable setting, there is absolutely no imagination required. The beauty of CGI has made even the most impossible of sci-fi worlds possible. Look at Avatar, everything from the plant life to the appearances of the actors is fabricated and computer generated, but if I walked out of my front door into the world of Pandora, I would believe it existed.
McLuhan presents the argument that the human races appetite for mass media is turning us into zombies. An accusation I find kind of harsh, however I will continue to mourn the imagination involved in reading a book. For when the movie comes out it is impossible to un-see what has been seen, so dies the imagination involved in reading. And relating yourself to the hero or heroine, I mean the moment you try to compare yourself to a Hollywood starlet your doomed.
That being said there are some shows/movies that would not be the same without their graphic components. Case and point “Sex and the City” exists as one of those girlie indulgences that sticks right up there with pedicures and Cosmo. As much as I love Carrie Bradshaw’s, novel like narration I have to admit Sex and the City the book would lack lustre no matter how much glitter was on the cover. I love Sex and the City for the fashion, the high rise New York apartments, and chic night clubs, and I don’t care how many words there are to describe Gucci or Gabbanna, it’s just not the same as watching Sarah Jessica Parker stroll down and upscale street in New York, in sky high heels, and a sexified LBD.
Just watching that movie makes me want to be a writer. The cars, the restaurants, the apartments and of course the designer clothes; Carrie lives the fast paced life that many suburban housewives drool over. But is it really tangible? I mean, most of the writers I know live in someone’s basement, skipping meals and waiting tables to make rent. But then again they don’t look like Sarah Jessica Parker, and Calgary isn’t exactly New York.
It seems that to be a successful writer, what I really need is a mini skirt. But I’m sure if I met the real Carrie Bradshaw she would be a little less street savvy and a lot more nerdy since most writers spend more time tearing their hair out than doing it up.
But that will not be me, no; my encounter with Sex and the City has inspired me to be a female ball busting, temptress with three inch stilettos and an unquenchable hunger for power. Because that is where the tangible pages of books will eventually land you; in the safe arms of a film contract watching Jessica Alba play your main character.
While YOU sip your appletini at a ‘members only’ bar in downtown New York.
I hope, and if all else fails there is still Michael Moore.
In light of all these serious global issues that we leave in the hands of international bodies and world leaders, I have come upon a new endangerment one slightly less imperative; the book. The physical paper back or hard covers with palpable pages, and a musky pulp scent, are becoming endangered. Well not literally of course, Chapters stands as a testament to the thriving publication industry, however, the art of the book is being lost.
Many may laugh at me considering there are still thousands of novels lining the shelves of book superstores across the country, (at least five hundred of those books are copies of the twilight saga.) But the trend I am noticing more and more is that a book is not considered successful until it exists as a cinematic feature film. I am not just talking about the bookstore blockbusters, I am talking about all manners of books; from Swedish crime fiction, to the popular teen novels, real life accounts and science drama. One need only hear the title of a ‘good’ book before you see it coming out in theatres. It makes me wonder if the screen writers ran out of ideas, or if it’s just easier to get authors to do all the legwork. Half the work of publishing a novel is coming up with the idea. Writers will often bash their head against the wall for weeks or even months before discovering some inkling of inspiration. And finally after exhausting months of typing, moving commas and excessive editor scrutiny the book sits for weeks on the shelves before being snapped up by a Hollywood producer.
The ultimate compliment to writers and authors alike is of course money; but after labouring over your artistic baby for nine months or maybe more, you must give up all creative bearings. It’s not a bad sacrifice for a life of fame and fortune; I mean ask J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter mastermind who is currently the second wealthiest female in the United Kingdom. But is the loss of artistic medium really worth the wealth? If you asked Marshall McLuhan, decorated communications doctorate, he would be throwing his hands up in despair. According to McLuhan film is a form of hot media; a medium of media that requires none of the human minds capacity for cognitive thought. Hot media has all the answers; it takes care of sounds, background, the appearances of the characters, in an undeniable believable setting, there is absolutely no imagination required. The beauty of CGI has made even the most impossible of sci-fi worlds possible. Look at Avatar, everything from the plant life to the appearances of the actors is fabricated and computer generated, but if I walked out of my front door into the world of Pandora, I would believe it existed.
McLuhan presents the argument that the human races appetite for mass media is turning us into zombies. An accusation I find kind of harsh, however I will continue to mourn the imagination involved in reading a book. For when the movie comes out it is impossible to un-see what has been seen, so dies the imagination involved in reading. And relating yourself to the hero or heroine, I mean the moment you try to compare yourself to a Hollywood starlet your doomed.
That being said there are some shows/movies that would not be the same without their graphic components. Case and point “Sex and the City” exists as one of those girlie indulgences that sticks right up there with pedicures and Cosmo. As much as I love Carrie Bradshaw’s, novel like narration I have to admit Sex and the City the book would lack lustre no matter how much glitter was on the cover. I love Sex and the City for the fashion, the high rise New York apartments, and chic night clubs, and I don’t care how many words there are to describe Gucci or Gabbanna, it’s just not the same as watching Sarah Jessica Parker stroll down and upscale street in New York, in sky high heels, and a sexified LBD.
Just watching that movie makes me want to be a writer. The cars, the restaurants, the apartments and of course the designer clothes; Carrie lives the fast paced life that many suburban housewives drool over. But is it really tangible? I mean, most of the writers I know live in someone’s basement, skipping meals and waiting tables to make rent. But then again they don’t look like Sarah Jessica Parker, and Calgary isn’t exactly New York.
It seems that to be a successful writer, what I really need is a mini skirt. But I’m sure if I met the real Carrie Bradshaw she would be a little less street savvy and a lot more nerdy since most writers spend more time tearing their hair out than doing it up.
But that will not be me, no; my encounter with Sex and the City has inspired me to be a female ball busting, temptress with three inch stilettos and an unquenchable hunger for power. Because that is where the tangible pages of books will eventually land you; in the safe arms of a film contract watching Jessica Alba play your main character.
While YOU sip your appletini at a ‘members only’ bar in downtown New York.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Why YOU should eat and sleep!
It may seem like common sense, that eating and sleeping would just be basic survival skills; ones that most people in the Western world would practice without a second thought. However, you might be surprised how many people are ignoring these basic needs. So I thought I would spread some awareness.
According to the Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness:
Eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans, and 70 million individuals worldwide.
One in five women struggle with an eating disorder.
10-15% of those who struggle with an eating disorder are male.
According to the CDC (Center for disease control and prevention) of America:
11.1% of adults don't get suffecient sleep for periods of up to 30 days.
Approximately 29% of adults in the U.S. get less than the alotted 7 hours a night.
So I asked myself, where is all of this coming from? And I found a fairly universal answer: stress.
This prompted another question, why are we so stressed?
I was answered with a rather comprehensive list:
Jobs, school, sports, children, finances, insurance, reliability, punctuality, worries that the cool-aid jug-man was going to bust down your wall and then you would have to fix it, basically life in general.
So I came up with a rather mind numbing revelation; it is stressful to live. And according to life insurance advertisments, it is stressful to die. So, basically, no matter what we do we cannot escape stress. sigh.
Well that is just a bit of a downer, I'm glad I could brighten up your morning.
But then it all made sense, people are not eating and not sleeping because of stress! Duh.
But then it made even more sense, not sleeping and not eating is adding to the stress we place on our bodies! urgh.
Thus we have our viscious circle of stress:which I am sure many of us can agree is just short of being one of the circles of hell.
So, for all you thinkers out there:
If decreased sleeping + decreased eating = increased stress
decreased sleep + decreased eating to = increased Stress = humans are irrational.
According to the Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness:
Eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans, and 70 million individuals worldwide.
One in five women struggle with an eating disorder.
10-15% of those who struggle with an eating disorder are male.
According to the CDC (Center for disease control and prevention) of America:
11.1% of adults don't get suffecient sleep for periods of up to 30 days.
Approximately 29% of adults in the U.S. get less than the alotted 7 hours a night.
So I asked myself, where is all of this coming from? And I found a fairly universal answer: stress.
This prompted another question, why are we so stressed?
I was answered with a rather comprehensive list:
Jobs, school, sports, children, finances, insurance, reliability, punctuality, worries that the cool-aid jug-man was going to bust down your wall and then you would have to fix it, basically life in general.
So I came up with a rather mind numbing revelation; it is stressful to live. And according to life insurance advertisments, it is stressful to die. So, basically, no matter what we do we cannot escape stress. sigh.
Well that is just a bit of a downer, I'm glad I could brighten up your morning.
But then it all made sense, people are not eating and not sleeping because of stress! Duh.
But then it made even more sense, not sleeping and not eating is adding to the stress we place on our bodies! urgh.
Thus we have our viscious circle of stress:which I am sure many of us can agree is just short of being one of the circles of hell.
So, for all you thinkers out there:
If decreased sleeping + decreased eating = increased stress
why do we?
decrease sleep + decrease eating while stressed?
The answer:
If you don't believe my fool proof equation, I refer you to any Star Trek episode or movie that contains an interaction between Human and Vulcan; preferably Spock, and Dr. McCoy. (Got to love the classics!)
Moving on..
I thought for a moment that I would try to dissect the psychological reasons for human irrationality; then when google spit out hundreds of different psychcosis and narcosis and many other -osis's I couldn't pronounce I decided to leave psychology to the professionals.
And move to my field of study, pop culture.
There are more examples than countries in the world of irrationality in pop culture so I thought I would at least name a few commons:
1. The charming habit that women possess that allows them to be angry even before the event that is supposed to make them angry has occurred.
ex. Women who get angry about rain, before it rains. This is not a purely female characteristic, but I most often see it in women.
2. Wearing shorts on a cold day, or wearing pants on a hot day.
humans have very irrational reasons for dressing against the weather, far too many for me to get into. But just a tip: a fresh wax job, covered in goose bumps kinda ruins the effect.
3. Wearing sky high heels and a LBD to a club, is highly irrational, and here is why:
First of all, you run the risk of twisting your ankle while dancing; not hot. Second, high heels make it exceedingly more difficult to run away from heavily drinking, primate like males who are literally running after you. Third if you do need to run away, a dress is the most likely candidate for indecent exposure. There is nothing more embarrassing then booking it to a cab because King Kong is after you, and then flashing your hoo-ha to a crowd of onlookers as you make your escape.
4. Following couture fashion, is a huge huge recipe for disaster. (See my previous blog.)
5. Okay, here is one for the guys: NHL playoff beards. I hate to spoil it for you gentlemen, but your beard really isn't making a difference. Just like the players can't hear you when you yell at the TV in overtime, sporting a beard really isn't making a huge contribution to your teams success. So unless your Crosby or Ovechkin, shaving is still a requirement in my books.
I am sure there are many many more examples, especially in film, and music, but for now I am going to return to my original topic and recount irrationality in pop culture later.
Reasons you should eat and sleep. Well if you don't eat and you don't sleep, you are going to be cranky, which will make the people around you cranky and eventually the whole world will be cranky (which means your crankiness will eventually make it to me) and I will blame You!
So if a cranky person comes up to you complaining that they can't eat or sleep because they are stressed, I invited you to show them the equation above and perhaps give them the patented v8 slap to the forehead for ignoring logic (and good health practices).
Furthermore, if you eat and sleep, chances are you are going to feel more regenerated, so that you can drop-kick that little vicious circle we like to call stress, and move on with more important things in your life like, eating and sleeping. Plus YOU will not be cranky which means I will not be cranky and that makes everything better.
So conclusively, since stress is an unavoidable PITA, its best to avoid it with a little triumph I like to call procrastination, (which is what I am doing right now to delay the stress I feel when I realize I wasted my time teaching you how to be less stressed.) and if that doesn't work, try Yoga, because trying to turn your body into a pretzel isn't the least bit stressful, especially for those of you who haven't stretched in over ten years.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Failures in Fashion
Its blogging time again, and this blog is unfortunately inspired by late night fashion television and women who lack eyebrows.
Fashion is one of the most puzzling industries I will ever encounter, I mean there are other industries who pride themselves on ignoring practicality but sometimes the fashion industry takes things to a whole new level.
Case, point, match: Prada's hip wader high heel boots.
Now for those who do not follow the seasons of fashion, you may not understand the pressures involved in creating a unique, cohesive and appealing line. Actually most people don't understand the couture fashion world at all. I would like to say I am one of them, however, I seem to harbour fashion as a guilty pleasure, and indulge in fashion television from time to time. This does not mean that I understand fashion, but I do enjoy some of the creative or overall ridiculous attempts at clothing.
The simplistic intention of clothing is to cover your body, but fashion is an entirely different beast. Fashion can be an expression of individuality, conformity, class or lifestyle. Fashion is a social construct whereas clothing is a basic need, that is a human adaptation to regional climate. You don't see someone in the arctic wearing a bikini on main street. But if you wikipedia why we wear clothes, you find the following results: clothing functions to a) serve hygienic purposes b) address environmental conditions c) to establish personal identity.
All of these reasons for wearing clothes make sense, whereas fashion on most accounts does not. But this addresses a sociological perspective towards fashion.
Looking at fashion from a logical perspective, is a little more depressing, and a lot more impossible. Fashion is an artistic expression, and sometimes doesn't fit into the activities of daily life. For example, hip wader high heel boots. I think in order for anyone to rationalize wearing high heeled hip wader boots, they would need to be a competitive fly fisher or at the very least a sewage worker.
However, fashion becomes intriguing if you try and apply it to real life. I know that if I wore many of the outfits from this years spring collection of Gucci, or Valentino, or Dolce & Gabbana I would have difficulty walking, eating, and keeping on a lot of the clothes I tried to wear.
What I would like to commend though, are the people that do ridiculous things in the name of fashion (this is where the lack of eyebrows comes in.) Fashion composition is so much more than just clothing, shoes, and accessories (which seems like a lot to begin with) but fashion also includes hair, makeup and aesthetics in general. But one thing I will never understand is how eyebrows can go out of style.
Most women, and some men participate in some form of eyebrow maintenance.It is a task that has been common practice for at least a few generations; but lately I have been noticing a trend that I thought was kind of peculiar. People have started to shave their eyebrows off and then redraw them, in various shapes and colours. Now I may be wrong, but to me, this is just a demonstration of faulty logic, I mean if they were there in the first place why get rid of them to redraw them? I know everyone who practices this tedious aesthetic task could give me a myriad of reasons as to why this is a better method of eyebrow maintenance, however, I can think of a pleather or reasons as to why this is a bad idea.
1. I think it would be exceedingly time consuming, what if you only have time to finish one eyebrow?
2. I also believe it would be exceedingly difficult to match them in length, shape and height.
3. What if it starts raining and your eyebrows start melting?
4. Every time you shave them your eyebrows grow back thicker and bushier, plus there is the awkward growing out phase.
5. You run the risk of looking surprised all the time.
6. You have the potential to scare small children, or have people tell you, you look like Cruella De Vil.
7. You run the risk of looking angry all the time.
8. You run the risk of looking "unnatural" aka like an alien.
9. People will judge you.
So there you go, nine slightly exaggerated reasons to why "hacking and whacking" is a bad idea. Because face it, people without eyebrows look strange. I am sure this is a very intriguing, and complex topic that takes up a lot of your mental capacity (not). After listening to the topic of my blog, a guy friend of mine sarcastically commented that he thinks about "powdering his eyebrows for at least an hour a day."
So although this isn't a high intensity topic, its amusing, and out there. So beware of melting eyebrows, and hip wading couture.
Fashion is one of the most puzzling industries I will ever encounter, I mean there are other industries who pride themselves on ignoring practicality but sometimes the fashion industry takes things to a whole new level.
Case, point, match: Prada's hip wader high heel boots.
Now for those who do not follow the seasons of fashion, you may not understand the pressures involved in creating a unique, cohesive and appealing line. Actually most people don't understand the couture fashion world at all. I would like to say I am one of them, however, I seem to harbour fashion as a guilty pleasure, and indulge in fashion television from time to time. This does not mean that I understand fashion, but I do enjoy some of the creative or overall ridiculous attempts at clothing.
The simplistic intention of clothing is to cover your body, but fashion is an entirely different beast. Fashion can be an expression of individuality, conformity, class or lifestyle. Fashion is a social construct whereas clothing is a basic need, that is a human adaptation to regional climate. You don't see someone in the arctic wearing a bikini on main street. But if you wikipedia why we wear clothes, you find the following results: clothing functions to a) serve hygienic purposes b) address environmental conditions c) to establish personal identity.
All of these reasons for wearing clothes make sense, whereas fashion on most accounts does not. But this addresses a sociological perspective towards fashion.
Looking at fashion from a logical perspective, is a little more depressing, and a lot more impossible. Fashion is an artistic expression, and sometimes doesn't fit into the activities of daily life. For example, hip wader high heel boots. I think in order for anyone to rationalize wearing high heeled hip wader boots, they would need to be a competitive fly fisher or at the very least a sewage worker.
However, fashion becomes intriguing if you try and apply it to real life. I know that if I wore many of the outfits from this years spring collection of Gucci, or Valentino, or Dolce & Gabbana I would have difficulty walking, eating, and keeping on a lot of the clothes I tried to wear.
What I would like to commend though, are the people that do ridiculous things in the name of fashion (this is where the lack of eyebrows comes in.) Fashion composition is so much more than just clothing, shoes, and accessories (which seems like a lot to begin with) but fashion also includes hair, makeup and aesthetics in general. But one thing I will never understand is how eyebrows can go out of style.
Most women, and some men participate in some form of eyebrow maintenance.It is a task that has been common practice for at least a few generations; but lately I have been noticing a trend that I thought was kind of peculiar. People have started to shave their eyebrows off and then redraw them, in various shapes and colours. Now I may be wrong, but to me, this is just a demonstration of faulty logic, I mean if they were there in the first place why get rid of them to redraw them? I know everyone who practices this tedious aesthetic task could give me a myriad of reasons as to why this is a better method of eyebrow maintenance, however, I can think of a pleather or reasons as to why this is a bad idea.
1. I think it would be exceedingly time consuming, what if you only have time to finish one eyebrow?
2. I also believe it would be exceedingly difficult to match them in length, shape and height.
3. What if it starts raining and your eyebrows start melting?
4. Every time you shave them your eyebrows grow back thicker and bushier, plus there is the awkward growing out phase.
5. You run the risk of looking surprised all the time.
6. You have the potential to scare small children, or have people tell you, you look like Cruella De Vil.
7. You run the risk of looking angry all the time.
8. You run the risk of looking "unnatural" aka like an alien.
9. People will judge you.
So there you go, nine slightly exaggerated reasons to why "hacking and whacking" is a bad idea. Because face it, people without eyebrows look strange. I am sure this is a very intriguing, and complex topic that takes up a lot of your mental capacity (not). After listening to the topic of my blog, a guy friend of mine sarcastically commented that he thinks about "powdering his eyebrows for at least an hour a day."
So although this isn't a high intensity topic, its amusing, and out there. So beware of melting eyebrows, and hip wading couture.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Turtle Trauma
I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, or if I am the only one ready to stand up for the Turtle population; but Turtles are being abused in the animated world. The Disney Corporation is the worst offender when it comes to animated Turtle abuse. In general, animated characters suffer with ease the pains that a living human being could not dream of, but, Turtles seem to be the class nerd of the animated creature; and as such get bullied by the other more competently animated woodland creatures.
Sure for years the animated world has been surviving personal bombings, fires, arrows, jousting, and other violent tendencies without much in the way of consequences. That being said, in the Disney world, I have also seen a fox shoot a bow and arrow (Robin Hood), an owl impersonate a human (Sleeping Beauty), and woodland creatures clean house (Snow White). These are all tasks hardly acceptable or possible for woodland creatures; but with the power of animation the animal perception can be given human qualities and characteristics. One of the more perfect metaphors between people and their animated doppelgangers.
This says a lot about the way that society views the animal population; we either enslave them into our daily chores and rituals, or enlist them as our companions. Truly though the intentions of animation for the most part are innocent, animators look to make the world more friendly and perpetuate the ideals of a fairytale, for the entertainment of young children. An unexpected phenomena in relation to this intention, is how the animation is received. Often people develop a familiarity with the ideal perceptions that animation creates, and the pure innocence depicts a type of fairytale that every young soul lusts for. These happy warm idealist sentiments often stay with us long past our ascent into adulthood and can further tell us alot about the inner workings of societal relations.
The Turtle is the perfect example of woodland bullying. Slow and somewhat awkward looking, the turtle often gets picked on in many Disney feature films. The first portrayal of a "class nerd" type turtle, appeared in Snow White. The Turtle is used as a washing board, trampled over, and knocked down the stairs more than once, all because it can't keep up with the more fleet footed woodland creatures like rabbits, deer and raccoons. Can you say metaphorical Capitalism? or perhaps Darwinism, and "survival of the fittest"?
Disney could be forgiven for this single offence, I am sure the Turtle wouldn't mind taking the fall in the pursuit of humour in this isolated occasion. However, the awkward Turtle stereotype is perpetuated in Disney's new release; The Princess and the Frog. In the Bayou a poor defenseless turtle is nonchalantly tossed around, by a musical gator and a couple of human turned frogs. Then their is the scaredy cat turtle portrayed in Robin Hood. A perpetuation of the "class nerd" turtle, this Turtle even wears glasses in the fourteenth century. Once again the Turtle is sacrificed for the pursuit of humour, a perpetuation that does nothing to stop the stereotypes of turtles around the world.
The Only Turtles I can think of that have escaped the stereotype of the nerdy inefficient Turtles, are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Who had a short lived Ninja career in the early nineties, a time of pop culture unrest; including the emerge of Grunge and the hiking boots and mini skirts fashion trend fiasco.
But now, a decade into the new millennium, the turtle stereotype stands. Pop culture has even seen the emergence of the "awkward turtle" a hand gesture symbolic of an awkward situation or an event often used by teens and preteens (for the time being).
Most of us are unaware of our Turtle oppression, the animators especially. For the most part the use of Turtles in animation is uncontroversial, and why would it be, a drawing of a turtle is a simple merge of animation and nature. It is when we give turtles the characteristics of a human that they instantly turn into a metaphor.
I am not asking animators to discontinue their abuse of Turtles in feature length films, I do realize that it is all in good fun, I am asking you as the viewer to be aware of animation stereotypes so that defenceless animals are not turned into pop culture scape goats. Or soon we could have the "awkward turtle" (Symbolic of an awkward moment), "The pesky chicken" (reserved for people who will not shut up), or the "mad cow" (for females during a certain time of the month.)
Honestly though, protect the Turtles =)
Sure for years the animated world has been surviving personal bombings, fires, arrows, jousting, and other violent tendencies without much in the way of consequences. That being said, in the Disney world, I have also seen a fox shoot a bow and arrow (Robin Hood), an owl impersonate a human (Sleeping Beauty), and woodland creatures clean house (Snow White). These are all tasks hardly acceptable or possible for woodland creatures; but with the power of animation the animal perception can be given human qualities and characteristics. One of the more perfect metaphors between people and their animated doppelgangers.
This says a lot about the way that society views the animal population; we either enslave them into our daily chores and rituals, or enlist them as our companions. Truly though the intentions of animation for the most part are innocent, animators look to make the world more friendly and perpetuate the ideals of a fairytale, for the entertainment of young children. An unexpected phenomena in relation to this intention, is how the animation is received. Often people develop a familiarity with the ideal perceptions that animation creates, and the pure innocence depicts a type of fairytale that every young soul lusts for. These happy warm idealist sentiments often stay with us long past our ascent into adulthood and can further tell us alot about the inner workings of societal relations.
The Turtle is the perfect example of woodland bullying. Slow and somewhat awkward looking, the turtle often gets picked on in many Disney feature films. The first portrayal of a "class nerd" type turtle, appeared in Snow White. The Turtle is used as a washing board, trampled over, and knocked down the stairs more than once, all because it can't keep up with the more fleet footed woodland creatures like rabbits, deer and raccoons. Can you say metaphorical Capitalism? or perhaps Darwinism, and "survival of the fittest"?
Disney could be forgiven for this single offence, I am sure the Turtle wouldn't mind taking the fall in the pursuit of humour in this isolated occasion. However, the awkward Turtle stereotype is perpetuated in Disney's new release; The Princess and the Frog. In the Bayou a poor defenseless turtle is nonchalantly tossed around, by a musical gator and a couple of human turned frogs. Then their is the scaredy cat turtle portrayed in Robin Hood. A perpetuation of the "class nerd" turtle, this Turtle even wears glasses in the fourteenth century. Once again the Turtle is sacrificed for the pursuit of humour, a perpetuation that does nothing to stop the stereotypes of turtles around the world.
The Only Turtles I can think of that have escaped the stereotype of the nerdy inefficient Turtles, are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Who had a short lived Ninja career in the early nineties, a time of pop culture unrest; including the emerge of Grunge and the hiking boots and mini skirts fashion trend fiasco.
But now, a decade into the new millennium, the turtle stereotype stands. Pop culture has even seen the emergence of the "awkward turtle" a hand gesture symbolic of an awkward situation or an event often used by teens and preteens (for the time being).
Most of us are unaware of our Turtle oppression, the animators especially. For the most part the use of Turtles in animation is uncontroversial, and why would it be, a drawing of a turtle is a simple merge of animation and nature. It is when we give turtles the characteristics of a human that they instantly turn into a metaphor.
I am not asking animators to discontinue their abuse of Turtles in feature length films, I do realize that it is all in good fun, I am asking you as the viewer to be aware of animation stereotypes so that defenceless animals are not turned into pop culture scape goats. Or soon we could have the "awkward turtle" (Symbolic of an awkward moment), "The pesky chicken" (reserved for people who will not shut up), or the "mad cow" (for females during a certain time of the month.)
Honestly though, protect the Turtles =)
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