A Letter.

Dear boy in my Anthropology class,

I recognize that Anthropology is a lecture, meaning an endless sea of faces all facing away from one another. I recognize that you seem to have a friend in this class, because you try to sit by her everyday and you try to engage in conversation that seems to have more breadth than depth.

I don't know your name, or even  how tall you are. But I know that if I were a boy, I would want your hair.

The Comng of Autumn.

My darlings, time seems to fly so quickly when you're away from home! Just the other day, I felt a slight nip in the air and I know it won't be long before Autumn sweeps onto our doorsteps.

To be honest, I cannot wait for the thick bulk of my wool coats, the mountainous bulges my scarves create when tucked into my wool coats, the appearance of free flowing hair tucked into the streams of scarf fabric.

I cannot wait for boots the color of the leaves falling on the quad just outside my dorm room, and hot cider, and neatly lined pumpkins.

I could marvel about the subdued reds and oranges and yellows of the leaves gradually welcoming the changing of the seasons endlessly. But now, my only hope is to purchase another pumpkin spice latte from the library Starbucks where I will be calling home for the next week (hibernation for the exam week zombie).

The employees have already been acquainted with my name (sans correct spelling), so the hard part is out of the way.

My Favorites of FW of yet.

 

From Left- Clockwise: Prabal Gurung, Prabal Gurung, Prabal Gurung, Helmut Lang, Jill Stuart, Rag & Bone

Oh Hot Damn.

So, remember when I published this post?
Well, I couldn't control myself anymore.
I had to get another index card organizer.

I don't think of it as a replacement. I just think my previous organizer was too stuffed of supreme court cases and literary devices, that a clean slate is best for college, you know?

 I also bought Pablo Neruda, translator included. Then again, maybe I should just learn Spanish.

Cultural Communications in America

America, being a highly egocentric culture, emphasizes on individuality. Yet, sometimes, I question to what extent, to what degree our individuality exists. One fascinating aspect of socialization is its ability to permeate and mold us into our cultural standards; motivation to succeed comes from what our culture considers to be successful, and considers to be goals. So how original are our dreams? How original is our reality? Are our thoughts on everything around us shaped by the type of society we are introduced to?

Then, I pose the question of dystopias. Popularity of the works of Huxley, Zamyatin, and Orwell transcend mostly in Western culture because we are aghast at the notion of this death of originality and free thinking. But then, how free is our thinking now?

The best way I can explain it is that in order for social values to be standard and independent of any one individual, we must all accept these terms. Yes, social influence can sometimes be difficult to combat, however, in a moment of absolute loneliness, we recenter ourselves and become analytical of outside influences.

Our freedom lies in the ability to formulate social proposition, which, if popular with others, gradually become an integrated aspect of our culture; they could be similar or contrary to the social obligations we live by now.

 Today in Communications, we perused an excerpt from the May 1955 edition of Housekeeping Monthly, focusing on a little snippet called The good wife's guide. This serves as a prime example for "radically different" social standards. Of course, a change in social dogma relies heavily on not only the world of social thought, but also physical factors such as industrialization, and technological advancements, etc., but the general idea is present.

As you can guess, the uniform reaction in the classroom was not pleasant; we all nodded to the dramatic transformation of society, and we all wanted equality in the household; but is our society performing at full capacity to change this standard?

Open any page of Cosmopolitan, and we see the same standards translated into 21st century jargon. We provide a list of guidelines to please the opposite sex in sex. Well then, how much has our society changed? How respectful has it become?

This question can be answered in a college setting; I see girls become so dependent on boys, adjusting their appearance, running for second opinion, crafting perfect messages just so they can, too, be a key player in the game of infatuation and teenage angst. How ironic it is then for these same girls to be repulsed by The good wife's guide when they are checking off item-by-item what needs to be accomplished to lure in the opposite sex.

It is in the constant questioning of our beliefs and values that makes us understand ourselves, for nothing is steadfast. Simple reflection can make us realize that the society we live in may not be so unique after all; and simple reflection can make us realize that modern-day concerns are as antiquated and archaic as the existence of man.


Then again, I may be perfectly incorrect, but ,then, what is perfectly correct?

Man Repelling at Uni

As many of you may not know, I am a fan of The Man Repeller. I admire her extensive technique and methods to stay single and fashionable. So, like any rational person, I decided "Enough! Enough trashy clothing and bondage dresses!" I decided to be free.

This is example one of what I'm sure will be a collection of an amazing, amazing assortment of repelling dress:

 

This is me this morning, after my anthropology class. Notice the pensive face, the face of the ideal student. Notice how the underskirt speaks fuckable, only to be guarded by that conservative, grandmotherly lace. Doesn't that just dandy?

Not only am I a beginning repeller, I am a liar. All you Sarahs and Emilys out there, do you know the complications of an obscure name? The white man chinese girl's burden is immense. Cute barista from Baked & Wired, my name is NOT "Rosie?" So today, I changed my coffee shop name:

If you don't know Hamlet, you should not work in a coffee shop.

College

I could probably spend a great amount of time formulating an exciting title to this post, but "College" says it all, a new universe of thoughts and beliefs and experiences rush in and permeate your air starting the first day.

The structure, for one, is radically changed; no participation points (!), no hand-holding, no assignments, just tests and finals! Am I living in a dream? I am especially excited for my cultural anthropology class (it could be that my professor has a BRITISH ACCENT). 

In some ways, it seems college hasn't changed so far...the teenage angst becomes even more prominent when everyone's in close quarters. It appears rather juvenile, but perhaps the process is worthwhile for certain individuals from backgrounds unlike mine.

I'll see how everything flows through this month, but studying comes first, of course.