People always (sometimes) ask me how I learned to do my makeup. Compared to the average person, I have skills but not compared to the girls at Smokin' Makeup. Back in the day, when I was about 15, Live Journal was a pretty big deal among my friends and I. This was before MySpace and Facebook and the recent surge in blogs (even in 2003 people thought that everyone cared about their thoughts, feelings and actions. Even in 2009, no one cares). When I wasn't complaining about how miserable my life was on LiveJournal, I used the website to help me be not miserable. The plan was to live vicariously though internet punk rock chicks and emulate them in any way possible. For me, makeup was a tool that made me feel confident, made me stand out, and had the potential of making me part of an elite group of bad, dirty kids. If I won the lottery, one of the first things I would do (apart from buying a Golf) is raid the MAC store for all it's goodies.
I guess my point is that if you want to be good at something, get inspired and practice. Don't get discouraged. And if learning to do your makeup well is on your priority list, please check out the book that changed everything for me, Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin (rest in peace).
Showing posts with label consumption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consumption. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Worst Commercial Ever
On a road trip to Pittsburgh, my friends and I got coffee from McDonalds, from their new McCafe menu. I have to say, their cappuccino's aren't bad. It's no Starbucks, but what do these women in this commercial care? They're obviously too dumb to tell the difference.
The problem with this commercial is that it contributes to the trashy image that McDonalds has and promotes ignorance. Oh no, Not jazz music! What the fuck is Paraguay? Gossip magazines are way better than literature! I hate to pull the feminist card here, because this is totally open to interpretation but: perhaps this commercial is promoting an image of femininity that is passive, apathetic, and obviously ignorant. While these women upon first glance appear to be antithetical to the negative stereotypes of women frequently seen in the media, underneath it all they're much the same. So put on your heels, ladies, and head to McDonalds and be the object of the male gaze that the media wants you to be. God forbid you be able to carry on an intelligent conversation about music, literature, or geography.
On the other hand, it could be argued that McDonalds is promoting acceptance of the working class, which might be a good angle in these tough economic times. While cafes like Starbuck's provide a myriad of delicious caffeinated beverages, they come at a premium accompanied by an image which the upper middle class may relate to better. Thus, a working class person may feel the need to put up a front and pay a hefty price to consume good coffee. Still, to connect ignorance to the working class isn't a good selling point. It's never a good idea to make fun of your target market.
In my search for this commercial online I came across an advertisement for McCafe which I have never seen in Canada. It's along the same lines, but it's a little more tame and doesn't make the subjects of the commercials look dumb. Is it because the subjects are men?
Even if you don't agree with the feminist deconstruction of this advertisement, you've got to admit: it's pretty dumb.
The problem with this commercial is that it contributes to the trashy image that McDonalds has and promotes ignorance. Oh no, Not jazz music! What the fuck is Paraguay? Gossip magazines are way better than literature! I hate to pull the feminist card here, because this is totally open to interpretation but: perhaps this commercial is promoting an image of femininity that is passive, apathetic, and obviously ignorant. While these women upon first glance appear to be antithetical to the negative stereotypes of women frequently seen in the media, underneath it all they're much the same. So put on your heels, ladies, and head to McDonalds and be the object of the male gaze that the media wants you to be. God forbid you be able to carry on an intelligent conversation about music, literature, or geography.
On the other hand, it could be argued that McDonalds is promoting acceptance of the working class, which might be a good angle in these tough economic times. While cafes like Starbuck's provide a myriad of delicious caffeinated beverages, they come at a premium accompanied by an image which the upper middle class may relate to better. Thus, a working class person may feel the need to put up a front and pay a hefty price to consume good coffee. Still, to connect ignorance to the working class isn't a good selling point. It's never a good idea to make fun of your target market.
In my search for this commercial online I came across an advertisement for McCafe which I have never seen in Canada. It's along the same lines, but it's a little more tame and doesn't make the subjects of the commercials look dumb. Is it because the subjects are men?
Even if you don't agree with the feminist deconstruction of this advertisement, you've got to admit: it's pretty dumb.
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