the rebel sell

article: The Rebel Sell - Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter

I had to read this article for my english class and it's pretty interesting. It talks about American consumerism, how we're all SO tired of it but we still add and add to the problem. It mentions that, in the 1990s,

Anti-consumerism has become one of the most important cultural forces in millennial North American life, across every social class and demographic... [But look at] the non-fiction bestseller lists. For years they’ve been dominated by books that are deeply critical of consumerism: No Logo, Culture Jam, Luxury Fever and Fast Food Nation.

It uses examples from Fight Club and American Beauty. I didn't read all of it before class, so when my teacher asked "Who here doesn't care about brands?" and I was the only one who put up my hand, I knew something was wrong. He went into discussing a part of the article that says:

Of course, most sophisticated people claim that they don’t care about brands—a transparent falsehood. Most people who consider themselves “anti-consumerist” are extremely brand-conscious. They are able to fool themselves into believing that they don’t care because their preferences are primarily negative. They would never be caught dead driving a Chrysler or listening to Celine Dion.

And immediately I knew he was right. Not that I consider myself 'sophisticated' by any means but I know about brands, ones that are "good" and ones that are "bad," which are subjective to how I see them and the people around me impact that too. I know which are typical American designers and how to pronounce the European ones so I don't accidentally make a fool of myself.. I have a fixation on Betsey Johnson clothes and think they're some of the best, most eclectic things I've ever seen, besides couture things that aren't made to be worn in real life. Especially in vintage or second-hand store situations, I know what labels shouldn't be there and don't qualify as vintage. I know what 'kind' of people wear Ed Hardy and my friends and I joke about never being caught in such ugly things.

But it's interesting that this week that I've been learning and thinking about this, I also got a new assignment for my 2D design class loosely based on the history of Don Ed Hardy. I'll be honest- I never knew it was a real guy. What do you expect in a world where Ruehl 925, a Abercrombie sister store, makes up a story about the store's name stemming from a fictional German family living in Greenwich Village, NY? Anyway, we watched a video on the history of this SoCal guy that included drawings he did as a child, pen tattoos on he did on neighborhood kids, that he turned down a full art scholarship to yale (yeah, YALE), how he became famous for bringing Japanese tattoo ideas to America (at a time only sailors and I guess hookers were getting them) such as full back art, and he's now retired from tattoo art to focus on fine art and in 2000 completed a FIVE HUNDRED foot long painting called 2000 Dragons. Needless to say I was impressed by this guy and it changed my impression of the brand, the label Ed Hardy. So what if a certain KIND of people wear his clothes and maybe don't know who he is either. They don't reflect the artist behind it.

Basically, this week I've been thinking about 'labels,' may it be on clothing or people. They're useful for identifying things but they don't define them.


If you want to watch the video on Don Ed Hardy, who's a pretty cool guy, here's the one I saw: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9gGbJ9J-cA

my most recent project

this is the most recent video project i've worked on.. the last time i edited something was about........ 7 months ago, in mass media (or 'video production.') even though this is just a silly project, i started it a few weeks ago and worked on getting more footage here and there. finally on Saturday after 5 hours i finished it, then tried for so much more time to actually get it online. working on this made me realize how much i really miss editing videos and that windows movie maker is the absolute worst. i first used it when i was a freshman wanting to create an elaborate picture slide show for everything in high school, but it got pushed to the side as i actually got involved in things. i really miss final cut pro, the program i got really skilled on in video production. i know it sounds really lame to say i miss a computer program, almost in the stereotypical AV nerd way, but for 2 years at TO High, that was my 'thing' (or 'thang', as i've come to see i pronounce it strange.) some people in the class were lazy, didn't care, and just sat through to get an easy A, to each their own, but i really found something i love... and now that i don't have a Mac or final cut, i don't get to practice it everyday like before. we were using pretty nice HD handheld cameras and now i'm reduced to just my camera's video setting... i wish i had enough money to get all 3 components but its just not feasible right now. anyway, i hope ya'll like the video!

oh and 2 sites i think you should all check out:
Found Magazine
and the Multi Color Search Lab
both are great!

Lessons Learned in 2008

There is value in having friends of all ages. In just this last year, I’ve been really blessed to have friendships grow with people ages 12, 14, 17, 20,22, 26, 27, 31, 38, etc. At the tail end of summer, I found a job essentially being a nanny for a 7 and 10 year old. So for about 12 hours a week I’m around them, waiting at elementary schools and driving to soccer practice. It’s strange to be taking care of kids doing things I did not so long ago. They still giggle about silly words, fight over small things, and try to protect the other from certain subjects. It’s pretty funny when I can have intense conversations about which Sponge Bob episode it was when such and such happened… In about October I began being a jr. high leader at church. I forgot until that first Sunday I helped out that, Oh yeah, Junior High is terrible! I think I blocked out the intense judging, cliques, backstabbing, physical/emotional changes and prolonged absolute awkwardness that happens during those years. Now on Sundays and Wednesdays I have to think back to how I dealt with the same problems. I also love the people in my life that are older and can give advice to me as I attempt to do for the younger. Before this year I think I just secluded myself to people my age because I thought life would be too complicated with friends in different grades because then we’d all be split apart come college and whatnot. Now I realize it’s an amazing privilege to have friends of all ages to see life from different perspectives, on different time lines.

Everyone’s got their own problems and their own ways they deal with it, so it’s ridiculous to judge. Some people can handle everyday pressures and others cannot. One’s home life, friendships, relationships, work, are places that impact all cultures’ daily attitude. A hole in one of these can cause repercussions in every other. People crack under the pressure, try to fix things with dangerous actions, and ultimately make mistakes. E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. In no way does that mean they should be shoved aside. In this year, I found a quote that doctors don’t help healthy people, because duh, nothing’s wrong. They take in the sick people and give them a remedy on how to get better. It’s not that hard to take the role of a doctor (or just being helpful instead of an obstacle). On Sunday morning small groups, we discussed the stereotypes people have of Christians. I think we’re seen as people who go out into the world, acting holier than thou, imposing our beliefs on others who are fine with their way of life, and when we come home, feel just so proud of what we’ve done, and feel that’s sufficient so we forget these things as we carry on everyday. What I like about the congregation is, for the most part, we’re pretty open and accepting of all people. It’s been great to learn more about people who accept each other just as they are, right now. Leaders I’ve had definitely influence the way I treat people. In the way I’ve seen them interact with people of all different economic backgrounds and in varied situations, it sounds corny, but it shows me how Jesus would’ve treated people. We’re called to love everyone. E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E.

Don’t house sit for people you don’t know.

Some of the best fellowship happens on mission trips. I think when a group of people is working towards a common goal and has to work together, real bonding can occur. Both the person (people) receiving the effort and the team benefit. Its money and time well spent when both can be used for someone else. Certain elements have to be in place, like openness of people involved, generally good physicality (or a minimally-complaining attitude... or has to be charming when complaining), and genuine interest in the task. Again, it’s why I like my church because I feel like we take more mission trips than ones to conventions of sorts. There is of course great value in hanging out with friends, going all kinds of places. But some of the best things happen in the simplest of locations.

Yes, the economy is terrible, but maybe it’ll produce things that wouldn’t have been possible if everything had remained the same. My family’s been hit, and we do have to pull together. Honestly, it feels like finally we’re chipping in, pulling our own weight in the family. Hopefully it won’t be isolated to financial situations, and that things do improve.

Life minus high school equals real and great.

Getting to know friend’s families is amazing, hilarious, emotional, and one of the greatest things I started working on this year.

My powers? My dreams really do depict situations that occur several months later, and I get legitimate vibes from clothing sales.

Some of my favorite quotes from this year:
"We can do no great things, just small things with great love. It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into doing it." – Mother Teresa

“If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” – again, MT

“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?” - George Eliot

Favorite 2008 songs (with help from iTunes play count) :
Rocky Took A Lover – Bell x1 [87]
I Just Do – Dear and the Headlights [88]
You Remind Me of Home – Ben Gibbard [67]
Why You’d Want to Live Here – Death Cab for Cutie [25]
Location – Husband and Wife [56]
Ten Cent Blues – Eisley [62]
Change – Tracy Chapman [48]
Coney Island – Good Old War [47]
Stay for Good – Carly Escoto (off the clock version) [46]
1979 – Smashing Pumpkins [80]
Ripe – Ben Lee [41]
A Praise Chrous – Jimmy Eat World [40]
Penelope – Pinback [38]
Birds/Nicest Thing/Foundations/Skeleton Song – Kate Nash [whole cd is so good]

this past year has been absolutely insane with 3 mission trips, a first plane ride, first throw-up event since i was 12, graduating, mini-road trips, turning 18 in a most ridiculous way, getting my license, many many crushes from the summer to now, countless new, remarkable people and escalating friendships with older acquaintances. thank you all for contributing to everything.

"i'm a black belt in gift wrapping"

"they don't give out black belts for things that are stupid."
well, kim had the idea and it took 5 of us 2 1/2 hours to execute, but we marty's office gift wrapped like Jim did to Dwight on the office!

so good! and yep, i'm free for about 3 weeks now, but i've been offering my babysitting and house sitting services up to people, and many seem interested. i just woke up to a new voice mail from my friend's coworker who we house sat for a few weeks ago, and i'll probably watch their place on Christmas and a few days after. maybe k-dar is onto something with this vibe-you-put-into-the-earth thing. anyway, i have to finish last minute gift tags and presents, so in case i don't see you later, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.


OH and merry christmas thursday, happy hannukkah through the 29th and kwanzaa friday through jan 2 :)

a green christmas

i can't take this economy anymore.. everyone's hurting, Christmases are being cut down. the positive maybe with less money, people are getting back to the truth of the season, cutting out the commercial, consumerist crap. i can't really afford to get many people gifts and for some reason i haven't thought of any cheap solutions for that. i blew a lot of money over summer. A LOT. i had saved most of every paycheck i got from both photography studios and the ceramics store i worked at. and after i paid for college classes in august, i finally realized how dumb all of my summertime spending was. pretty much everyday i worry about when my payment for car insurance will be taken out of my account; i feel extremely guilty when i buy food and know that i should be putting it aside for my Compassion girl. i got a parking ticket in September, which i thought i paid off but in the mail i received a bumped up notice in which i owe $15 on top of the original fine now. my dad forgot to renew the registration on the car, so i got pulled over and given a fix-it ticket. i took care of it that next day, but now i'm not sure if i have to still appear in court or what. i'm extremely happy gas is cheaper now, but that's almost the only positive to see.. the family i babysit for won't need me for most of 'the season.' i didn't think far enough in advance and look for a seasonal/second job in november.. it's just my fault and it sucks. thankfully i have friends who are happy when we can all just take night hikes, hang out at different homes, or go to playgrounds. i had a filling done this morning at 9:45 so i'm equally tired and annoyed at everything, and sorry that it effects the tone of this but i just want things to improve. at the same time, i'm blessed to live where i do with things like health care, a car to get to the dentist, clothes to keep me warm.. but in past Christmases, i've gone ALL OUT for people. i just really like to give my family and friends gifts, and it's hard to accomplish that right now. any any any cost-conscious ideas are welcome :)

how do you spell roller blades?

as a child heather spelled it as roller blads, as discovered in her and her sister's punishment book.

and i just discovered an old star project that listed my talents: bike riding and roller balding.

hopefully i didn't take a roller full of hair removal and run it on people's heads..
thankfully no one really roller blades anymore besides people along the beach front, so children will no longer have to rack their brains to figure out how to spell it.

on another note, it is supposed to rain all week. i am oh so excited!

quotifer

this was a thing i made back in may before i went to outdoor school. each counselor was encouraged to make a small item that would remind the kids of them, so i made this. it originally included a preface as to what its about and on the front i wrote a personalized note to each girl, and they seemed to like it.




oh, and the background was created partly by this website that is INSANE. it allows you to make jackson pollack type of designs simply by moving the cursor around. so entertaining! check it out: http://www.manetas.com/pollock/jacksonpollock_by_miltos_manetas.swf