Entry #1: The Century Of self

https://watchdocumentaries.com/the-century-of-the-self/

Edward Bernays did influence American culture in such ways that shifted and created the society that we live in today. The way he went about reshaping our cultural aspects is simultaneously fantasizing and repulsive due to their controversial nature. For example, shifting the focus from a need base to the desired base shopping habits using human psychology resulted in making a foundation for capitalism that will eventually be linked with democracy. Bernay’s thought process for creating these concepts talked about seeing people as groups of thousands rather than individuals. Happy machines, people that are oblivious to what is going on in the world distracted by consumerism. These happy machines are easily manipulated if poked and prodded in ways to trigger the desired response that will deepen the pockets of American corporations. He singlehandedly broadened the demographic for cigarettes companies by introducing women to the mix. By pretending to care about women’s issues for freedom and equality he exploited these issues. This was a campaign titled “Torches of freedom” (torch being the cigarette) that disguised itself as helping women become independent when truly it was just another marketing scheme. After this successful marketing scheme, the infamous Bernays then went on to link democracy with capitalism with the notion of turning active citizens into passive consumers, making it easier to control the masses. Bernay’s argued, “It’s not the peoples who are in charge it’s the people’s desire that are in charge” (52:52 –53:26). He believed if he could trigger people’s instinctual unconscious desires since he believed humans to be irrational creatures, he could shape a democracy that is for the people but made for capitalism to thrive. These core values that Barneys intertwined with American society can be the cause for our downturn as a civilization and proves not to be self-lasting. These ideals are leading to the downfall of modern America with people being unhappy materialistic and shallow.  

 

Entry #2: Informal Proposal for Small Assignment II

I want to burrow down into the topic of physiological disorders, specifically society’s obsession and fascination with these mental health disorders. I want to explore how mental health is being exaggerated and stigmatized in media for entertainment purposes. Why is there so much demand for watching strange and abnormal behavior? These shows compel the audience to become more judgmental letting them feel better about their current life situation. One of the major networks that capitalize’s off of these illnesses is  TLC. They are a network known for enticing their viewers with shows capturing the world of a hoarder, an extreme cheapskate, a strange addiction, or someone struggling with a compulsive disorder. As competition between other networks increases TLC has converted itself into a modern-day freakshow. This can also be tied to the over-saturation of mental illness in my generation and young adults feeling left out of many conversations. Some take things to the extreme of faking disorders like Tourette’s syndrome or DID to be a part of that community on online platforms. The oversaturation of information can lead people to become ignorant towards these issues, by watching exaggerated versions on their screens. This epidemic has only gotten worse with the rise of the pandemic. It would be an interesting approach to take a look to see if we became more susceptible to these disorders because of Covid.  Did the boredom of quarantine lead us into a rabbit hole of self-diagnosis and therapy visits?

 

 

Entry #3: Childhood Collections

I use to move around a lot when I was really young so I never thought of collecting things that could possibly get thrown away during our moves. Luckily, just as I finished the second grade I moves to Long Island in a small town right up against the ocean. The beach was a measly two blocks away from my apartment complex and is where I would be allowed to go and play on nice days. One day my mom was picking around in the sand for a while and then showed me all the unbroken seashells she found. My younger sister and I were ecstatic when she told us we could keep them and help her look for some more. Once I got home I would neatly order them in a line across my windowsill so the colors would catch the light as the sunsetted each day. I became a bit obsessive and it became a ritual every time we went to the beach to collect the prettiest seashells showing them off to each other. One day I would stumble upon abandoned a random crab shell specifically the spiraled looking ones. My mom told me they were called mollusk shells and told me if I were to put it up close to my ear and focus I could hear the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. So no matter how far away I was if I had one and put it close to my ear it was like being at home with my family again. From that day on, they became my favorite thing to look for at the beach now and then catching myself reminiscence.

 

Entry#4: American Icons

I come from a family who all immigrated from the Dominican Republic to America specifically to New York. I chose the statue of liberty as my icon because my family like many others still believes in the idea of the American dream. Back in time, immigrants came to the states from around the world by boat so they too could live the American dream. On their voyage, they would pass the Statue of Liberty which then became the personification of the opportunity to become successful and give their children a better life. My family is still holding up this  “tradition” in more modern ways now that we have planes. They came to New York with nothing and gave me the opportunity to live out my dreams of going to college. Education is a big part of living the American dream because it opens doors that you could have never imagined. I believe the statue of liberty continues to be a timeless icon from many around the world especially immigrants wanting to start anew. Even though immigration to the states has become a controversial topic throughout the past couple of presidencies

Entry #6: Kitsch & Fetish Objects

The example of kitsch I chose was Shein is a very popular online clothing store. It’s known for making cheap and low-quality clothes (also known as fast fashion) as an alternative for those who are on a budget but want to look trendy. It was founded in 2008 based in China but only started to gain traction in recent years. It is very popular amongst teenagers, many customers will post videos, hauls, and reviews on their social media serving as Shein’s main marketing strategy. The appeal is the price tag however Its been in some controversy due to their environmental impact encouraging a throwaway fashion style. Its been interesting to see the hype and controversy around the brand because I never thought that cheap clothes would be the “new thing” replacing the old trend of spending more equals better fashion taste.

I chose  Racial Fetishzaition for my example because as a POC I would see trends about racial preferences, hearing music lyrics about the hypersexualization of certain races, and being deemed as desirable because of your race/ethnicity. None of these examples are brand new however the realization of what it was and understanding that it isn’t something to be taken positively is new. A fetishization is making someone an object of sexual desire based on an aspect of their identity, here being race/ethnicity. For example, studies have been conducted revealing that black women’s bodies have been eroticized by European colonizers leading to modern-day stereotypes and hypersexualization. Some recent examples could be, when dating having a racial preference, glorifying lighter skin tones or eurocentric features to even one stating that they wish they had mixed kids with light eyes and skin. We must become aware of these phrases and understand that it shouldn’t be taken as flattery but only pushing out racist stereotypes we are trying to eradicate. 

 

Entry #7: Fashion & Identity

I chose to look into Harajuku street fashion more specifically Lolita fashion style, which usually is an adult woman in their late teens or early 20s dressed up like a doll. They dress in a cute and dramatized way with huge bows, big frilly dresses, and knee-high socks taking inspiration from not-modern Japan. There are so many styles and subgenres that fall under this category which include Sweet, Classic, and Goth Lolita. Lolita style and other subcultures alike originated from a fashion movement in 1980s Japan in response to growing societal pressures on young men and women. Rather than dealing with this difficult reality of rigid social systems, rapid commercialization, and increasingly body-focused fashion norm, a select group of young adults decided to rebel with bows, lace, and ribbons.

Compared to a more western approach, according to Lolita: Dreaming, Despairing, Defying “Rather than challenging ‘The Man’ through angry and sexually charged forms such as Punk and Rock which were favored by Western youth, Japanese mainstream culture simply refuse to grow up”. Compared to the western perception of adulthood being a time of exploration and freedom Japan views this as a period of heavy burdens restricted by responsibility to family, work, and social obligations. Women in particular face many expectations to be married, bear children, and are discouraged from having a social life when they inevitably become a mother. Lolita combats these expectations by creating an imaginary persona to be freed of adult life and simultaneously contradicts nearly every single “traditional”  Japanese value. It is fascinating looking into what at surface level claims to be a cute fashion style is more a personification of the concept of choosing your own path and providing a space for others who share these beliefs and values to come together. If you are interested in becoming a Lolita or seeing what goes into their over-the-top outfits click here. 

 

Entry #8: Objects/Materials of Desire

 

I’ve chosen to look into the desirability man has with extreme wealth and how the mindset of constantly trying to maximize one’s wealth inevitably leads to the destruction of our planet. When posed the question, “Would you like to become rich?” the obvious answer would be yes. There is nothing wrong with wanting money to live contently in this system we have been born into. Nevertheless, the mindset of wealth maximation is where the problem truly lies along with the lavish approaches accompanied with it. Many dream of the lavish lifestyle of flying on private jets to go on vacation or owning multi-million houses and cars, being able to afford anything unbenounced of the damaging effects it has. Mant private jets like a Boeing 737 leave airports only carrying one passenger instead of the 174 built to seat, 25,000 litters of fossil fuels used in a single trip for one passenger is not eco-friendly in the slightest. Studies have shown that about 0.54% (40 million people) are responsible for emitting 14% of green horses gasses compared to the bottom 50% of income earners who contribute only 10% of greenhouse gases. On the same note, another study has shown that the top 10% are responsible for at least 25% –43% of the negative environmental impact mankind has on the planet. Yet, the mindset of wanting to be rich and materialistic still runs rampant in our communities. I do believe we can thank capitalism for these successful marketing strategies but I would like to introduce a differing concept that could help shift one’s standpoint on this matter called; limitarianism. A term used by a Belgian philosopher Ingrid Robeyns suggests a cap be placed on the limit of wealth an individual can obtain to sustain life on earth. We cannot all become independently wealthy, the rich can only survive if the poor stay poor, if everyone behaves in the manner the ultrarich do we would have no planet to trash. 

 

Entry #9: Bizarre Collections

The first thought that popped into mind when I came across the infamous gnome enthusiast and collector Ann Atkin was Gnomeo and Juliet. One of my favorite children’s movies growing up was one of the first times I came across what gnomes were, I can definitely see the appeal of these wonderful forest creatures. I wondered if such a place existed where gnomes lived in these grand communities coming alive at night and to my surprise there was. In the United Kingdom, Ann Atkin had provided a refuge for Garden Gnomes on a four-acre Gnome Reserve and Wildflower Garden located in Devon, England where 2,000+ gnomes comfortably resided. Founded in 1979, the garden was open to the public free of charge, however, to avoid the gnomes getting frightened by the giants constantly invading the forest. Ann provided the visitors with gnome hats and fishing rods upon entering to camouflage themselves as visiting gnomes. Many of the gnomes were custom made by Ann who studied for three years at the Royals Academy Schools, many different types resided in the garden including reclining, reading, gardening, musical gnomes, and more.

The Garden was in operation for 42 years but then moved to their new home at Merry Harriers Garden Center near Bideford, England, which took 30 trips over six months to transport. Ann expressed her love in an interview with The Drunk Gnome where she said, “Gnomes represent a very real force in nature. Little children naturally imagine and can become a part of a world of gnomes and fairies, but as they get older the pressures of the outer technological world crowd in so that it can become difficult for them to retain their vision into adult life. It makes me happy if I can bring little glimpses of the land of gnomes, presented in a tangible form, to share with children and adults.” I really admire the desire to keep the imagination alive and encouraged through the love of gnomes and what childlike worlds are associated with them. By sharing her passions with the world she became the founder of the Gnome Club of Great Britain and Gnome international. To see more of Ann and her garden of gnomes here is a BBC interview featuring the tours of these whimsical creatures.