Elaine:
"O" Magazine:
It was an ad for "instant deep wrinkle filler." The word "wrinkles" stood out to me on the
page. It made me think of how people's (North American especially) preoccupation with
youth and beauty has gotten beyond out of hand. The ad, being in this magazine, suggests
to me that it isn't solely directed at older people either, but also to the younger market.
Likewise, more and more women (and men) are drawn to getting "botox injections" to
eradicate unwanted lines and wrinkles. This procedure was once used exclusively by
older, wealthier, Hollywood types. However, nowadays it's as if everyone is getting it
done-- young and old. In other words, it's become a trend - "who hasn't gotten it done?"
It's baffling to think that people would endure such pain inflicted on their bodies, not to
mention paying the exorbitant costs involved, all in the name of "beauty" and "youth.".
Scarier still: do we really understand the long-term effects this beauty gimmick has on
our bodies? (I have heard of some cases going horribly wrong!).
Where is all this beauty craze leading us? Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying showing up
in public a rumpled ragamuffin [hah!] is endearing either. But when a beautiful and
talented singer like Shelby Dressel is rejected from being in the top 24 contestants of
"American Idol," for reasons I think are more physically-related than skill-related (Shelby
has a birth defect which prevents the right side of her face from moving), it says
something about the North American public. They loved how she sounded, just not how
she looked. And when being an Olympic gold medallist also means posing suggestively
in skimpy clothes for "Sports Illustrated" magazine (e.g. Lindsey Vonn [aka means “also
known as”]), we have to question what message we are sending to our youth. I thought
the Olympics was about being a top athlete, not a "top model"?
I believe our priorities are out of whack. But then again, I don't sing and I can't ski.
Interesting ramble on this topic Elaine. You might read Catalina’s essay on beauty at The
Pearson Buzz.
From Kay:
BCAA Westworld Magazine
I knew when I picked up the magazine it would be something to do with a travel location,
usually in B.C.
And there it was-- a beautiful picture and description of a old cannery on the B.C. coast.
The so-called buildings were more like little white houses, red-roofed, with green
window trim, standing smartly on stilts at the ocean shore line. [lovely description here
Kay]
The North Pacific Cannerywas located near Prince Rupert BC. Thank heavens for
historians that the site is now a tourist attraction.Its [a possessive; it’s means “it is”] warm
history speaks of local natives being employed and housed on site, Japanese and
westcoast natives manned the fishing boats, bringing the fish directly to the cannery.
There was no refrigeration in those days, so the process was done directly, by the females
of the family.
I believe that must have been good times for family and friends. Kids played at the
water’s edge, food was plentiful and the canneries paid them fairly well. I think we all
thought the abundance of the ocean would last forever, but alas nothing lasts forever-- the
people being slightly self sufficient was doomed .
The First Nations people cannot wait for the abundance of salmon to return , so they have
turned their talents to other areas and will survive.
I, myself, would like to visit Alert Bay. Oprah visited there last year on Jim Pattison's
boat, so I figure it must be a good attraction, It was also an old cannery site.
I opened a magazine (The National Geographic) and saw images of tribes in Africa and
British Armies, dated back to the 1800s. The tribes--men and women were wearing
clothes made out of straw and other indigenous materials. Their breasts were exposed but
it seemed, based on their amiable gestures and expressions, that it didn‘t matter to them.
They looked innocent, or rather, indifferent. The children were gathered closely to the
British soldiers, some touching their uniforms, which were adorned with luminous pins,
and colourful belts.
Nowadays, clothing is not only as important as food, it costs more than our food.
Marc:
Last week, I was in a mall to look for bargains. I found a store with a fifty-percent-off
sign, so I went inside and looked. There was a twenty dollar shirt (after the discount) but
I thought it was still expensive. So, just not to go home empty handed, I went to Zellers
and bought my favourite shirt: Hanes. (Four shirts for fifteen dollars!) [amazingly
inexpensive]
Back at my place, my friend was waiting. We were going out that night and he had
spilled a drink on his shirt, so he wanted to borrow one from me. He looked through my
cabinet and was disappointed because most of my shirts were plain black and plain white.
He couldn’t my believe my sense of fashion and how limited my clothes were. “You are
so ‘old-school,’” he said, “and unbelievably cheap!” [nice use of dialogue here Marc]
About two years ago, I decided not to buy anything expensive, especially clothing, and
for a little more than a year, I am glad to say that I’ve spent less than a hundred dollars on
clothes (including socks and underwear). Aside from saving money for a DSLR, I
decided to abstain from shopping for clothes, simply because I hate spending a long time
deciding what to wear. I concluded that if I have fewer and simpler clothes, I would also
have minimal options, and therefore, have a small amount of time to waste infront of a
mirror.
For hundreds of years, fashion has been dictating one’s place in society. It is a concrete
manifestation of our vanity.
Let me leave you a great quote by Thoreau: “Every generation laughs at the old fashions,
but follows religiously the new.” (Walden: Economy)
[and sometimes fashion brings the old ones back, but always slightly different so you
can’t wear the old clothes again!]