Spring '08's Fashion Faux Pas: Irony

In the January 31 New York Times Style Section, in an article ominously titled "The Newly Uptight", Stephanie LaCava predicted that a "meticulously tailored look that evokes the White House years of Jacqueline Kennedy" would not only find its way onto Fashion Week's cat walks, but might even have enough staying power to replace the slightly unkempt, Warhol-esque looks that have recently dominated American fashion.

While it may or may not be interesting or even relevant that some trend-setters are wearing a new (or at least refurbished) silhouette, what is interesting is the spirit with which these styles are reportedly being designed and worn. These retro flourishes apparently do not come with wry commentary, whimsy, a wink or a nod. That's right, they are Non Ironic. LaCava alarmingly describes one sedately dressed fashionista who "has embraced the fashions of the Kennedy years without irony" and quotes a retail analyst that explains that these fashions are "harkening back to a day before there were issues." Before issues?

LaCava explains that the past "calls strongly to the present, as the country grows nervous about possible recession and a diminished role on the world stage, even as Americans seek optimism through their presidential candidates" and that the 50s and 60s call so loud because "in retrospect[they were] interlude of prosperity and stability". Hmmm. Maybe we can all just ignore the paranoia, repression and turmoil that defined that 50s and 60s and nostalgically look back, thinking fondly of how nice it was to have money to spend on Opera gloves. It seems to me that many Americans (Presidential candidates especially) have created a genealogy of American Values (aka "Family Values") and have (ironically) located the 50s and 60s as a time when these ideals were exemplified. I guess it was only a matter of time before we all started dressing that way (again).

While LaCava explains how bandeau bras, circle skirts and cinched waists reflect the "seamless appearances and tony aspirations of midcentury Middle America" she does not attempt to critique the figure of the 50s house wife or think about how corseting as a fashion trend might relate to cultural attempts to control womens bodies (did our mothers and grandmothers burn their bras for nothing?), or even ask, isn't Jacqueline Kennedy as Ironic as she is Iconic? Can you do White House Jacqueline Kennedy straight? In retrospect, aren't those buttoned up jackets and white gloves just a little bit sad?

I get it, thats not really LaCava's job. And, really, for a fashion article, this one has a surprising amount of context, and is a pretty good read. The scary thing is that it seems she did a fine job of reporting this trend. The interwebs are filled with tailored, demure images from last weeks fashion shows: retro looks offered earnestly, like quotations without puns. The tastemakers have spoken, and irony is out... and I suddenly lose all interest in fashion.

Romney drops out of race, I lose all interest in national politics

Mitt Romney dropped out of the presidential race yesterday. I knew he couldn't win, but I really liked having him around. He's the type of candidate that former senator Rick 'homosexuality = incest' Santorum endorses. He's the type of candidate who lets your baby spit up on its future. He's the type of candidate who believes in a religion that has magical mystery unicorn underwear. And now, most importantly, he's the type of candidate who is not going to be president of the United States.

Enjoy this picture of Jenna Bush epitomizing the term "drunken cliché."

Supa Dupa Fly

It's Super Tuesday again. A name perhaps more properly attributed to a department store's bargain basement blowout sale is instead assigned to one of the most important days in our ever so democratic nation. I know we're all supposed to look at (cue ear muffs for Kucinich) viable candidates like Obama and Hilary in an effort to save our sorry nation from another 4 years of republican rule but wouldn't it be great if voting in politics didn't involve so much...politics?

Fact!: there is another democratic candidate left in the race. Mike Gravel espouses and practices ideals most closely in alignment with such political powerhouses as MoveOn.org yet we see the same politicking as always in our Target or Walmart presidential races. Gravel is a bit too likely to actually fight for things like women's rights, environmental preservation, drug reform and universal healthcare. His mom and pop shop is easily steamrolled by the corporate backed juggernauts. In a perfect world Gravel would be a viable candidate and an African American woman.

Drink for thought: PBR an enemy of fun ...

Recently, I was told that PBR, my beer of choice, has some super-shady labor practices. Apparently Pabst Brewing Co snatched up a bunch of struggling breweries and runs them in a way that would make Upton Sinclair roll in his grave. Determined to squelch any erroneous rumors, I turned to the Googles.

While I couldn't find anything on labor practices at Pabst Brewing Co, I did come across multiple articles on the Pabst marketing scheme. Most of the articles focus on how Pabst rose from near ruins to become the fastest growing beer in the top-50 domestic market. Pabst pulled this off by focusing on the counter-culture.

An article in the New York Times Magazine wrote: "P.B.R.'s embrace by punks, skaters and bike messengers make it a political, ''social protest'' brand. These ''lifestyle as dissent'' or ''consumption as protest'' constituencies are about freedom and rejecting middle-class mores, and ''P.B.R. is seen as a symbol and fellow dissenter.'' Eventually all of this sounds like satire, but the punch line is that it isn't really that far off from P.B.R.'s strategy. "

I must say I totally embrace the idea of "consumption as protest" but when I become the target of a marketing scheme I feel like somewhat of a drunk cliche.

All of this brings to mind Anne Elizabeth Moore's "Unmarketable: Brandalism, Copyfighting, Mocketing, And The Erosion Of Integrity". "Unmarketable" examines what happens when cultural resistance becomes just another marketing platform.

So, what now? Do I finish the last few beers in my fridge and turn to local breweries to assuage my insatiable desire for cheap, domestic beers? Do I give up on beer altogether? Or do I just give up on my labor-loving, anti-corporate, idealistic ways?

Kucinich drops out of race, I lose all interest in national politics

Dennis Kucinich dropped out of the presidential race today. I knew he couldn't win, but I really liked having him around. As the only true progressive in the race, he brought progressive ideas to mainstream Democratic politics. When he was given the opportunity to sit at the big kids table it became clear just how moderate everyone else was. Kucinich was the only candidate who supported equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.

In a speech today, Kucinich announced a new initiative that will focus on pedestrian issues like peace, equal rights and universal healthcare. He called on his supporters to mobilize around these issues and "make the American dream more than a dream". All three of his supporters thought it was a pretty sweet idea.

I'm not a racist, but...

If you enter Martin Luther King, Jr. into "the google" the eighth result that appears is the website www.martinlutherking.org/. It sounds innocuous enough. Kind of like www.family.org
which is host to Focus on the Family, one of the leading anti-gay marriage groups. A thirty second scan of the page reveals links to pages like "Black Invention Myths".

I haven't had the time to explore the veracity of the claims on this page but I am quite confident that there are better things to do than debunk any myths about things African-Americans have or haven't invented. I guess this author is in it for the greater good, though. I can't tell you how tired I am of blacks taking credit for everything white people do. I mean next thing you know they'll be staking claim to the idea to enslave themselves in order to benefit the U.S. economy.

My favorite section is the downloadable flyers list. Students are encouraged to download and distribute the flyers as well as use the information in school reports. The flyers include such gems as Martin Luther King, Jr. is a "sexual degenerate, an America-hating Communist..." and quotes from upstanding, righteous America-loving freedom fighter, J. Edgar Hoover such as "King is a tom cat with obsessive degenerate urges."

This shit makes the internet as dangerous to the fresh-faced fifth grader as the guys who end up on "How to Catch A Predator."

bringing back archaic words: more than meets the eye

gar·boil (gärboil)

n. Archaic

Confusion; uproar.

---

[Obsolete French garbouil, from Old French, from Old Italian garbuglio, perhaps from Latin bullre, to boil.]

The discovery of this word last week on thefreedictionary tickled my brain. It's practically onomatopoeia.

Upon further research I discovered that Garboil is also the name of a decepticon. Methinks someone should start a feminist punk band by this name.