You Are Tired (I Think) - EE Cummings

You are tired,
(I think)
Of the always puzzle of living and doing;
And so am I.

Come with me, then,
And we’ll leave it far and far away—
(Only you and I, understand!)

You have played,
(I think)
And broke the toys you were fondest of,
And are a little tired now;
Tired of things that break, and—
Just tired.
So am I.

But I come with a dream in my eyes tonight,
And I knock with a rose at the hopeless gate of your heart—
Open to me!
For I will show you places Nobody knows,
And, if you like,
The perfect places of Sleep.

Ah, come with me!
I’ll blow you that wonderful bubble, the moon,
That floats forever and a day;
I’ll sing you the jacinth song
Of the probable stars;
I will attempt the unstartled steppes of dream,
Until I find the Only Flower,
Which shall keep (I think) your little heart
While the moon comes out of the sea.

e.e. cummings.

Few things can compare with that of literature evoking images and memories of people you love, situations you have been in and emotions you've experienced.

Vogue is Boring.

Picture: Kate Mos by Mario Testino

Before I get stabbed by the clunky heels of a flock of Rodarte wearing fashionistas, let me explain myself. I am (or was) a big fan of Vogue. It is arguably one of the most influential, groundbreaking and inspiring publications. It's editorials are impeccable and all the contributors are astoundingly talented, but I recently realised that my relationship with Vogue magazine is going through a very rough patch. Mainly because Vogue has stopped surprising me. I have completely lost my interest.

I consider myself to be a big fan of the press, and although I follow blog after blog, nothing really compares to the feeling of a shiny, big magazine or the crisp, well folded newspaper safely resting in my arms as I move away from the newsstand. As I put down the latest issue of British Vogue though, I most certainly did not feel satisfied. Not being keen on jumping on the bandwagon and feeding everyone the "print is dead" or "fashion magazines give a detached, one sided view of fashion", I'm prepared to fully explain myself.

No offence, my old friend, Vogue but you are so fucking boring. Let me walk you through it. The first 20 pages are advertisements. Beautifully styled, well framed, meticulously photoshopped advertisements. As I flicked through the sea of models doing the "power pose" in silk blouses and semi naked sex kittens lustfully looking at perfume bottles, I stumbled upon the editorial. Great, I thought, let's read what Alexandra Shulman has to say this month. Snooze. 500 canned words about the issue and the "inspiring" jet-setting artists that it includes. I've come to believe that she submits the same editorial every month, and simply changes the names included. Flicking through the rest of the pages towards the end, there is literally nothing that catches my eye. That is nothing worth reading, since the pictures and the apparel and accessories are attractive enough. But as I reach the end (after reading a 2-page article about eyebrows), I realise that I'm only looking at pretty pictures.

Where have your magnificent writers gone, Vogue? Where are the interesting pieces? The reviews worth reading? Hell, I'd even settle for a semi-interesting catwalk review. Sure there was the Rodarte piece, and the spread on Dolce and Gabbana as well as a Kate Winslet piece, but none of that stuff was even remotely interesting to me. Mainly because they weren't relatable and at the same time didn't say anything that felt new or innovative.

For me, it's very rare to find fashion articles that are engaging, that contain a certain cultural background and demonstrate a certain point of view which distinguishes the writer. So oftentimes, I make excuses for fashion bloggers, when their actual writing becomes a self-obsessed snooze that repeats the phrase "I've fallen in love with...(insert new, seemingly obscure luxury brand). But I am not prepared to make any sort of excuses for Vogue articles, since they are expected to be nothing short of impeccable.

I ask myself, dear Vogue, since the editorials and photo spreads are magnificent, why is it that the articles have been going downhill? Why is it that the one fashion magazine that set all the standards that no other could live up to, has fallen in the predictable, target audience marketed rut? The times are a-changing for the press, and especially now, where suddenly everyone writes a damn fashion blog, it's no time for Vogue to stop splurging on quality and actual content. It's no time for Vogue to stop pushing boundaries.

Where's the inspiration then? Get out of your designer minimal office, hop on your Louboutins and take a walk down the POP magazine office, dear Vogue editors. Maybe you'll get a couple of avant garde ideas.

And on a last note, I'm not buying the magazine again unless I see a cover that even remotely reflects or evokes the epic Vogue covers of the past. I like to think you've still got it Vogue. It's just a little rusty.

I'm infuriated.

In my previous post, I mentioned Gala Darling's blog. Apparently, this bright young lady has written a sort of book so originally entitled "Love & Sequins", comprised by 12 10,000 word chapters. Now, all of you may be wondering, why do I give a shit that a blonde blogger obsessed with pink has written a book that tells girls how to "love themselves"?

Normally, I wouldn't give a shit to be honest. But, something compelled me to check out the price marked on these original pieces of literature, and my jaw dropped. One chapter costs 12$. Seriously? Last time I checked, works like Marquez's "100 Years of Solitude" or Hugo's "Les Miserables" retail at about 10-15$.

Can this lady seriously convince us that her musings on Love & Sequins are worth 144$?

Yes, this is a bitchy post. I can't help being a bitch, unless people start getting a grip and stop considering themselves God's gift to the world. You're a blogger. You comment, entertain, express yourself, understood! Your blog may be amazing, inspiring and people may be seriously interested in what you have to say but I can in no way be convinced that your "inspiring" prose is worth 144$ (if we can assume that one can place a price tag on literature). Simple as that. I'm in no way suggesting that one shouldn't follow their dream, or try to accomplish something - by all means, write a book. But as you probably encourage your readers to not underestimate themselves, I will encourage you to not overestimate yours.

On a second note, I might follow Gala's lead. "You're beautiful, strong and worthy of love. Try pink lipstick. Love yourself!" - That will be 12$ please.

I've been on a trip around the internet... And I stumbled onto GalaDarling's blog, which is in essence a style blog promoting self love. My opinion of that blog doesn't really matter - the point is, pink-clad Gala, does a post on the things she loves quite often. That's a somewhat interesting idea huh? Well, here's a post on the things I really don't like:

• I hate life coaching. I think it's self-indulgent, egocentric, vague, positivist, bourgeois bohemian shit. What makes the self-proclaimed "life coach" competent to tell you how to live your life?

• I find Paolo Coehlo nauseating to say the least. Dude wrote the same book about 15 times and nobody's caught on to it yet?

• I am annoyed by radicalism and extremism in all its forms. Since when does being shortsighted make you opinionated? This one's especially dedicated to the "political activists" at uni.

• On that note, I really despise and feel embarrassed about radical feminists. This constant, angry rant about how everything from airplanes to spoons is part of a male conspiracy to victimise women is just ludicrous. In fact, I'm just going to put it out there. Radical feminism for me is basically sexist. It sets the women's rights movement back decades! Stop ranting about how women are ALWAYS victims. I certainly don't consider myself a victim. I'm not that much of an idiot as to be constantly victimised. Why don't radical feminists take all that anger and devote it to practical issues, like actual equality in the workplace or closing the pay gap, instead of coming up with yet another stupid theory about how buttons or cables in appliances are sexist? Just saying...

Here it is then. Things that have been lingering in my mind for the past couple of days. Now I'll stop procrastinating and do some work.

Life Lessons 4

1) I'm just gonna put it out there, assuming the peril of being called a bitch: If you plan to go to a THEMED party, dress up according to the theme you boring idiot! And if you fall in the category of people that will say something along the lines of "ughh I don't like dressing up, it's stupid" I'll be forced to tell you what I think is stupid. People who go to THEMED parties and don't like dressing up accordingly. Funkillers.

2) Try leaving your house without a phone for an hour or two, just to see how it feels. And if you don't want to do that for safety reasons try putting it on silent and not looking at it for an entire night out. At first you'll feel like you forgot to wear pants.. But who knows, maybe it will prove strangely liberating.

3) Let's assume you've got a cold. Guess what? I don't have to witness you blowing your mucus into oblivion. Why don't you spare us all and blow away somewhere more private?

4) Even when you're too busy with obligations that people are typically busy with, try and find one hour to devote to yourself and take a walk. Or feed the ducks. Or some similar hippie bullshit. As much as I'd like to poke fun, it's strangely therapeutic.

5) When one of your neighbours is very loud, don't be a shady little shit. Call him/her on it. Tell them to shut up. If you say nothing and then call up the building manager/cops/porter you are immediately elevated to dickhead status.

6) Don't be afraid of doing pointless, stupid shit with your friends! Ultimately, those are the stories that will be grandchild worthy.

7) When you're at a good gig, dance and jump around for fuck's sake. Stuffiness, sweat, being pushed and shoved shouldn't even matter.

8) Let me fill you in on some bitchy etiquette: If someone's being a bitch to you, you'll think you have two options. Either be a bitch back, or take the high road and be the bigger person. Well, there's a third option! Say something really weird about yourself that will make the aforementioned bitch uncomfortable. HA.

9) It's a fact that everyone who's in uni basically lives of wraps and sandwiches. But at least once a week try having a decent meal (that includes a salad - you don't want to get scurvy!). As delicious and easy as they may be, sandwiches are in no sense glamourous.

10) Life's a bitch. We all know that. Some people will hurt you or act like bonafide assholes. I know it sucks. But this is why, at one point or another you need to develop a skill. Watch closely. Think about what's happened, and say "FUCK them". Truly believe it. And now you can move on. If they hurt you so bad, then they shouldn't be around in your life. Simple as that.

Dogtooth

Many may argue that this film is not for everyone. It's probably true; it's disturbing, graphic, gory and claustrophobic. At the same time though it's one of the few recent films that can actually lead to an interesting conversation or get you thinking. And even more surprisingly, its one of the few Greek films that deserve to be commended for everything from cinematography to writing and acting. It's one of those films that might for a second cause you to be proud and optimistic about the resurgence of Greek cinema. I sound like a smitten 14 year old going on and on about how amazing this film is, but I'm not the only one smitten; apparently, after the attention it got at Cannes, Dogtooth earned a nomination for an Academy Award. I don't plan to discuss the plot here, there are plenty of sites who do just that. I plan to recommend watching it.

Watch it. Grab a shot of tequila if you're a bit fainthearted. Watch it. With an open mind, thinking of all the possible meanings and symbolisms. Watch it. Let it shock you. Watch it. Let it impress you with the brilliant ending.

I'm not saying it is the best film ever made. That concept isn't even plausible. But it's a raw, brilliant and shocking depiction of a paranoid microcosm centred around the control of everything. And when that microcosm is a family living in the isolation of the country, things can get more deranged than one would expect.

Care to Judge?

We all judge people. It’s one of the ways we use to make sense of the world and others, I guess. Typecasting them, stereotyping them, judging the things they say, do or wear. Anyone who proclaims to have never judged anyone is a liar. Unless you’re Gandhi, at some point in your life you judged. It can be argued that judging someone is some sort of a healthy outlet of one’s fear of the unknown, jealousy or general feeling of uneasiness. It can even be a link between you and someone else. And besides, it’s fun to sit on a pedestal and point the finger at people, since it makes you forget about the things you’ve done wrong. The things you do that deserve or might lead to you being judged.

I struggled with the whole concept of judging for a while. I certainly have done it, and I bet other people have most certainly judged me. And what I came to realize is that in essence, it’s not a healthy outlet. Not by a long shot. It’s just one more of the things in one’s life that only bring about negativity, and I don’t just mean towards others, but towards us too. In reality, while judging others might give us an endorphin fix for a couple of seconds’ time, in the long run it just makes us feel shitty. Not because of remorse, but because we’ve filled ourselves up with negativity, whininess and vindictiveness. Truth be told, judging is a pointless and vapid pastime that only drains us. If someone is so annoying, unlikable and mean he shouldn’t be judged, because through judging he is awarded a huge chunk of attention that he doesn’t deserve. Flat out don’t include him in your thoughts and conversations; it only drains you of energy and good humor. And as for the people one holds dear and loves; well, they should never be judged. Even when we might not agree with what they do, even when they’ve got it wrong, even when they’ve pissed you off so bad that you fantasize about them fed to piranhas – you don’t judge the people you love. You support them, help them, and warn them. Hell, you just love them no matter what shit they pull (as long as they’re not serial killers or something). They’ll do the same for you, that’s what they’re there for.

We’re just human, and oftentimes we fall into patterns which we might not necessarily like, say things we don’t mean and do things we wish we hadn’t done. What I’d like though is to take all the redundant judging out of my life. It’s useless. Hell, it doesn’t even make me feel good. And as for being judged by someone; ignore it. Don’t even give it the time of day – don’t even let it bother you. If someone cannot accept you, love you and appreciate you the way you are or if you don’t feel comfortable being yourself around someone because you’re afraid you might be judged, then the hell with him. He can go whine somewhere else.

Why don’t we just keep the things that make us feel good and discard the ones that drain us? How’s that for a suggestion?