Shots of Soup

Last night, I borrowed Antoinette's Pentax cam and took several pictures of Campbell's Tomato Soup...

It was for our COM 201 AD CAMPAIGN assignment, where we have to create a panel for the Greater Boston Food Bank. I know we could've easily google image searched a pic of this iconic image, but I had too much fun experimenting w/ different angles and lighting (with the working light bulbs on our flex-arm lamp, and a backdrop made out of my white macbook and a couple sheets of computer paper). I think I want a high-res camera of my own.

I love this unchanged image:

One of Campbell's Soup Cans

only 40 years old

How will this affect fashion world?

Reflection on "Coffee House Reading" Memoirs

When I came to the memoir readings, I wasn’t sure what to expect, aside from coffee and cookies. But I was moved by almost every one of the readings. Every piece conveyed an individual, poignant message – in very different manners. The readings ranged from the seemingly mundane, comical to seriously shocking.

However, I did notice that the story structures were somewhat similar. Each had an element of surprise with expositions that kept audiences in suspense, until we found out what the actual event or twist to the story was. Also, the authors painted the scenery with vivid, tangible descriptions – in some instances I felt that I could have been there with them. Some instances I thought I could feel what they were feeling. They did a good job being relatable. But I have to point out the ones that touched me the most, and why (in order of appearance):

“The Fourth Floor Window” : Lee did the best in physically placing us in his perspective. His vivid, clear descriptions incorporated and permeated past the five senses to the point where I got chills hearing about the impact of such a transformative catastrophe. I could see the “cerulean skies” and the “paint fumes” pained me. I especially liked that he interjected a story about the encounter with the “husky” bully being the most nerve-racking point in his life up until then, juxtaposing the weight of September 11^th.

“Untitled”: Honestly, I was a bit teary eyed after this one. Even though Madeline talked about such a seemingly shallow task of removing acrylic nails, there was a beautiful sadness in her story. It was more about her painful pressure to be outwardly perfect: fake – than a story about simply tossing nails. I liked the synthetic imagery that she rips away to reveal her natural, liberated, moved-on self.

“The Impact of Inaction”: Anna was blunt and truthful. This story, in comparison to the others, reveals the most about her character. She acts (after all, her story regrets inaction)– she sticks to literal events and actions that had happened rather than dwelling on descriptions. I liked that you pointed out that she painted herself in a negative light; her story was straightforward and real. It takes a lot of courage to tell the story she told.

“My Airness”: Sam’s story stood out because it was funny, and I’m glad he ended the night on a sweet note. I loved his use of free association where he sporadically sticks in his comical streams of consciousness (ei his tangent about the greatness of fruitloops). Mainly, I loved that he somewhat paradoxically humbled himself in cocky manner, by comparing himself to the great Michael Jordan while also being able to make fun of his inability to make the team. I’m glad it ended with “Sam [last name].”

The Deal With T-Swizzle: An COM 201 Op-Ed Piece on the Success of Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s discordant, cacophonous attempted duet with the accomplished Stevie Knicks during last week’s Grammys spawned enough criticism that her record label had to defend her performance. “This is about a true artist and writer and communicator. It’s not about that technically perfect performance,” said Big Machine Record CEO Scott Borchetta in an interview with the Associated Press (USATODAY.com).

Personally, I believe “true artists” should also have perfect performances. Isn’t that the point of great music? I’m sure I could easily find many people who don’t consider Taylor Swift a good artist. However, I can definitely find many who do love her music.

There is a reason she was nominated for 8 Grammy Awards this year, winning the coveted Album of the Year Award. She defeated the “Fame Monster” of the visually stunning, pop (no pants) sensation that is Lady Gaga (my personal favorite), and she conquered the ferocity of Beyonce’s “Sasha Fierce.” Honestly, the vocal skills of those two women could shock the tone out of Taylor’s implied twang. However, Taylor’s album, “Fearless,” had more record sales than the albums of Lady Gaga and Beyonce combined (Perezhilton.com).

So what makes Taylor Swift so great? Initially, her simplistic songs may seem laden with horribly jejune lyrics about falling in love, like “teardrops” caused by a guy named “Drew.” Maybe, I theorize, that her success is due to the ease in which fans can sing along. Almost anyone can sing along to a simple chord progression with a vocal range of about five notes.

Nonetheless, the sophomoric themes in her music strike a resonant response. Maybe it’s because there are a lot of sophomores out there. There are a lot of teens that entertain that “Love Story,” about a forbidden paramour (though I’m sure Taylor misinterprets Nathaniel Hawthorne in her “scarlet letter” reference and disregards the bitter ending of Romeo and Juliet).

Anyway, I put my lyrical critic aside and connected with her biggest and most recent hit, “You Belong With Me.” “She wears high heels/ I wear sneakers/ She’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers/ Dreamin’ ‘bout the day when you wake up and find/ That what you’re looking for has been here the whole time.” She transported me back four years ago, to my frizzy haired converse wearing days of unrequited crushes. I’ll admit I was bopping up and down, nostalgic and rooting for the lyricist. Her songs are upbeat, catchy and hit relatable themes.

I don’t know if she is a “true artist and writer and communicator,” but I think T-pain puts it plainly, “Some of the stuff she talks about is really girlie, but it’s cool with me” (Perezhilton.com).

I Vlog

testing testing...

walk, walk fashion baby (but in a good romance)

I have been following The Sartorialist for awhile (as a part of my daily google reader routine!), but I only recently discovered his girlfriend and fellow fashion blogger, Garance Doré. She's great! While she "essentially" does the same thing as her beau by photoblogging classy style, she adds more of a whimsical, carefree touch to her posts. I love her feathery sketches, her fanciful cursive, and especially her photographs that present an artistic intimacy that Scott lacks. Her feminine tastes must have influenced it.

Her recent post about temporary tats by Chanel (cool idea! but i think, undoubtedly, that it'll be copied and mass-produced):

In Interview magazine, posing in front of a sketch (she's carefree enough to pose like this):

But what interests me most is their relationship. She wrote in one of her earlier blogs:

It was a good three years ago now. Like everyday, I was looking at his photos. I’d never met him. That day though, looking at one of the shots, I wanted to be behind his shoulder.

He communicated something about fashion that no one had to me before. For me, his photos were like a dream made out of reality. With him, fashion was an affair of grace and moment, then with something hidden in the bright light, the gaze of a child.

More recently, Scott blogged about grace and Garance. I love this post because he's actually expressing beautiful thoughts through words instead of photos. He's so classy :)

I'm telling you guys again, women notice the small stuff. They notice the gentleness/gentlemenliness more than if you use the right fork at dinner. I'm a very lucky man, Garance notices every little kindness I offer her, she doesn't miss a thing. Knowing that makes it so much more rewarding to do even more little things for her. I'll be honest, my biggest obsession in life right now is not better shoes, more suits or a bigger career but, to simply be a more graceful man for my graceful woman.

fashion and romance - what a fun idea.