-
Fashion and Activism: The Natural Progression of Art
*warning: mild references to Nazism (more specifically, anti-Nazi sentiment) Art and activism are often synonymous, intertwined by both intention and action. From Banksy’s famous street art to Ai Wei Wei’s criticism of Chinese communism, art holds meaning, and that meaning is often political. Some of the oldest examples of political art can be seen in…
-
Rory Gilmore and Us
Rory Gilmore is undoubtedly the it-girl of fall. And while usually I’d find no issue criticizing Gilmore…today I won’t. The reason is simple: I love her. Rory Gilmore is a complicated character. She tends to body shame, she’s self-centered and upholds exclusionary ideals of beauty. And if she were real I wouldn’t even attempt to…
-
Style and Risk
If you look up “what defines style” the most common answer is something along the lines of a distinctive pattern of dressing. Commonly used as a synonym for ‘aesthetic’ style is known to shift from year to year. Because it exists on such a personal level, style is destined to be idiosyncratic. Finding one’s personal…
-
Venus and the Victorian: Saartjie Baartman
Venus, the Roman goddess of desire, was revered for her beauty. Saartjie was ridiculed. Though during a significant portion of Saartjie’s life, the two shared a name, they did not share the same level of admiration. Saartjie Baartman was subject to social mockery and kept as various forms of circus attractions until her death. Most…
-
Is Art For Everyone?
As a collective we all seek some form of art. We crave creation and perceived originality. Artists are held to a certain standard, expected to be raw while catering to the mainstream market. The starving artist stereotype is losing traction, the romance of the idea fading. Now its not enough to just be an artist.…
-
The Future of the MET Gala: My Ideas for the next Themes
Although the MET Gala has already passed, it’s never too early or too late to start predicting future themes. Often paying homage to an influential figure or period, the MET Gala theme is a clear indication of where mainstream fashion is looking. We’ve seen themes such as Haute Couture, Christian Dior, and Cubism and Fashion.…
-
What Happened to Hallie Parker?
American society can thank the 40s for the creation of the teenager. They were the pinnacle of materialism, designed to be cool, rebellious, and most importantly, lucrative. The entire category, designed by marketing executives cemented the up-and-coming youth culture and created the modern-day teenager. Teen culture has sought to exist separately from the world of…
-
Self Perception and Cringe Culture
Self Perception is a strange thing. Most people are able to perceive themselves, even if only in relation to other people. The majority of us suffer from some form of comparison, wishing we looked like someone else or had a skill that someone else does. While self-perception and self-awareness are different, the two are often…
-
Beauty Within the Myth
Have you ever wondered just how beautiful someone would have to be for them to be regarded as the definition of beauty? How beautiful in every sense did the Queen of Sheba have to be to command such adoration? To be the image of legend even now. How beautiful could a woman be that she…
-
The Pretty Girl Is A Myth
To put it plainly, there is no such thing as “the pretty girl”. She simply doesn’t exist, acting only as a figure of our fantasies, serving only one purpose. Our own delusion. The pretty girl is more of a reflection of our desire than it is a reality. That’s not to say there are no…
“you are altogether beautiful my love, there is no flaw in you”