Autumn Falls...

So, I think we can agree that whatever semblance of summer 2012 was offering up has indeed passed. Now, despite having about 4 sun-soaked days this year, I’m still not upset by the passing of the season; as with the changing times, brings Autumn (or “Fall”, to any Americans reading).

Autumn is my second favourite times of the year (the first being the Christmas period for obvious reasons). I’ve had many discussions lately about how excited I am for this time of year.

Autumn to me is putting on your coat, and scarf before stepping outside where the air isn’t too cold, but just icy enough to pinch your cheeks. All the trees suddenly burn with oranges and reds and when the leaves fall to the ground, even the most cynical person can’t help but smile at the crunch beneath their feet. Children rake up the fallen foliage and jump in the beds of leaves, then scramble to re-structure. Back at home, my favourite thing about Autumn in my village is one particular tree. I don’t know the name of it, but all year round the leaves are purple, and amongst the others, it just looks beautiful.

Autumn also re-ignites my love of cinnamon. Suddenly all warm drinks, be it coffee, hot chocolate or apple juice must be flavoured with it. Walking round Leeds at this time, the street vendors always carry some, and that smell just fills me with happiness. There is something about that taste and smell that is synonymous with those last months of the year.

Returning home at the end of the day and taking off coats and hats and scarves, then quickly grabbing the seat nearest to the radiator trying to warm up; it’s just a time that seems very traditional to me. I think there is something very nostalgic and classic about Autumn that reminds me that so many of the things that make us happy come from places that are so small, be it the colour of the leaves, or that sense of home. It takes away the need or want for “more” that summer brings. In a cliché-d, romanticised view of the world, Autumn humbles me, and reminds me that I don’t need a lot to make me happy. Just the falling leaves, and the smell of cinnamon in the air.

The Way The World Works

Me and my friends have been discussing the ideas of maturity lately, and those delusions of grandeur that come with youth.

Being a certain age and being surrounded by a lot of different people, I see a lot of people who think they understand the way the world works, or just that they think they know everything, and for the most part, I think this is a common trait amongst out generation, or just being twenty years old. You’re looking for meaning in things, or trying to make sense because the truth of it is, or at least it is for me, being twenty is scary. I’m going into my final year of university soon and after that it’s go out and get a job and “follow your dream”. This is fine if you want to be an accountant, or teacher, or something that offers a plan. I want to be a writer, and so the instability of that job means an uncertainty in my life for a long time.

But, back on track, people around me who act more ‘mature’ than they should are often the ones who appear most immature in my eyes, because there is also a misunderstanding there. The most mature thing a person can accept, in my opinion, is the acceptance that life is hard and you’re going to have to do things you don’t want to do, so you might as well get on with them. Does anyone really want to clean, pay taxes, or hold down a job they hate?

But, the more I talk about this subject, the more I find out that this isn’t necessarily limited to people of my age group. Many more mature people also either think they have a complete grasp on the world, or fully admit they don’t have a handle on things. Which prompts a question:

When it comes to understanding the world; is the acceptance of ignorance mature?

Again, this is one of those things in which I discuss it as a topic parallel from myself, but once more the truth is I do the same. The very notion that I’m trying to write a blog on the way the world works goes against everything I’m saying, right? But, this is my way of coping. This is my way of understanding that in my little room, on my tiny street in the smallest more insignificant part of the world, I have a grasp on things. Which I don’t. But I need to think that. So, I’m guessing we all do. Right?

"Killing Us Softly: Advertising's Image of Women"

So, firstly I apologise for another related around women’s rights, but it’s a topic I’m feeling very passionately about lately.

Secondly, I apologise because this isn’t going to be a blog. It’s more of a, “please watch this video because it is important”-kind of post.

I came across the video a couple of days ago and since then I‘ve been thinking about it a lot. It’s not a big expose or big reveal, but it’s talking about demand from women in the media in a very candid and openly honest way. But anyway, rather than discuss it, here is the video to watch.

The Cat, The Widow and The Mockingjay: The Plight of the Female Action Star

Whilst I am in no means the first person to say this, it is still something I believe that needs to be addressed. I truly hate the attitudes towards actresses in superhero or actions roles in today’s media. 

We are finally at a place where there are a plethora of strong female characters, not only starring but also leading action films. We have Katniss Everdeen, Selina Kyle, Black Widow, Evelyn Salt and Snow White; all strong characters in cast of men and showing they can kick just as hard as the boys. We see these characters pull off stunts that are, in most ways, far more impressive than those of their male counterparts. And in interviews when men are being asked about how they prepared mentally for their characters, and how their “Hulk is different from other Hulks”; women get:

“How do you fit into that costume?”

I shudder every time an interviewer asks this, and you can see the actress resent it. Why should Scarlet Johansson be asked about her figure when Tom Hiddleston is discussing the psychology of his character? Anne Hathaway was actually asked how much weight she had lost to fit into her Catwoman outfit! Not about the vocal work she did to lower her voice (Tom Hardy wasn’t the only one who had a vocal transformation. Yes, Hathaway’s wasn’t as prominent, but it’s hard work to lower your voice.) Another question Hathaway was asked was how did she run in her characters signature knife-blade heels, and if her role in "The Devil Wears Prada" helped at all? The only thing journalists seem to be interested in is the physicality of the actress. Not the strength, or psychology behind the exterior.

Another instance of this was the highly controversial discussion over Jennifer Lawrence’s weight in “The Hunger Games”. Now, the argument was that Jennifer Lawrence’s figure was too full to play someone who was supposed to be living in poverty. Now, I’m not going to discuss this argument but simply ask, why was nothing said about the weights of Josh Hutcherson, or Liam Hemsworth? Both of who added muscle to play their parts? 

 

Why is the media so obsessed with sexualising these characters and the actresses? Do they believe that this is what women want to read, or all that women care about? Because, even as a male viewer, I don’t care about how good these women look in skin tight lycra! I care about how they shaped a character mentally, and how they bring originality to roles. I care about the professional relationships with director and the fellow actors.

So, journalists and interviewers, please stop sexualising female stars, and start respecting them for the talented actresses that they are. Otherwise, what is the point of having strong female roles, if we are going to not treat them as equals?

If It Ain't Broke....

One of the things that bothers me about this generation is our obsession with perfection. Our film stars have to look a certain way, and our singers have to hit those notes perfectly every time. We’ve no room for imperfection. 

Take Florence Welch for example. I was never really a fan of Florence and the Machine until a few months ago, and the reason was Miss Welsh. There was something off about her voice to me that took a while for me to appreciate. What it is is that her voice isn’t polished. Her vibrato is often too fast and sometimes when singing live, you can hear her stretching for the high notes; stretching but hitting them. Her voice is undeniable, but because it isn’t perfect, I’d disregarded her.

Another case of this is Kristen Stewart. Kristen Stewart is by no means a great actress, but people seem to have made the decision that she is a bad one. I think Stewart has an awkward quality on screen and I don’t mean this as a bad thing as the characters she plays are in the most part introverted characters, and her own introverted nature works well. She isn’t groomed like other actresses to say the right thing or hold themselves a certain way. She’s not a star. And I think this is a lot of the reasons people have a problem with her. I think it also comes down to the Twilight films in which I am not a fan of her performance, but a bad performance does not make a bad actress. And because she doesn’t have the slick magnetism of someone like Charlize Theron, doesn’t mean she’s bad at her craft. I think Kristen has her own unique performance, and it will either be to your taste or it won’t, but it’s not right to disregard her completely.

I think the obsession with perfection comes down to beauty as well. Most people see beauty in the manufactured look of Nicki Minaj or Megan Fox, and the truth is that it may be ‘beautiful’ to you, but isn’t real. Take someone like Lady GaGa. GaGa uses make up and wigs to complete outfits, neither of which have to flatter her. In some videos, darker make-up doesn’t highlight her natural features, but instead crafts her into her outfits, instead of the other way around. Take all that away and you do have a beautiful woman. No, her face isn’t perfect. But she is beautiful. What I think this stems from is the media either highlighting these ‘imperfections’, or trying to hide them with Photoshop and airbrushing.

 I clearly don’t exempt myself from this; I do it with many things. I’m just saying that it’s a really unattractive quality that the media has moulded our generation into demanding perfection, because it then puts pressure on the people in the limelight. But the question I really want to ask is: 

“If something isn’t perfect, is it broken?”

Give and Take

If I have one pet peeve in life (sidebar: I use that as a cliché-d opening because I have many, many pet peeves in life) it’s the demand for reciprocity within relationships; relationships of any kind. Now, a reciprocal nature can be very vital to a functioning relationship. It means that one party doesn’t end up doing more than fair share of work, paying more than they should, or putting in more effort. I’ve had friendships where the reciprocal balance is paramount because one person had to put more of an effort in, and so in that case I felt I should give more so that person didn’t feel cheated. (Note: I know this may sounds confusing, or maybe it doesn’t but I’m confusing myself. It’s just hard not to name names.)

But what I detest is when a person refuses to give without taking. It’s a very unattractive quality to me if someone won’t “call them cause they don’t call me”, or something to the same effect. Now granted, people often do like to take more than their fair share of things and if we realise a friend/partner isn’t putting in the effort, then it is completely reasonable, in my opinion, to relinquish your own efforts. But to have the kind of nature where you only see benefit for yourself seems very immature to me.

                I think the reason it annoys me so much is because it eliminates the act of kindness. If you are only doing something for someone because you know there are benefits for you, then you aren’t performing a good deed, merely a selfish one. And as someone who was raised a certain way, I believe performing good deeds, and selfless deeds, is integral to relationships, whatever their nature.

                So whilst Mama Morton may have a point when she says “When you’re good to Mama, Mama’s good to you”, I’m going to adhere to Miss Emma Goldman:

“If love does not know how to give and take without restrictions, it is not love, but a transaction that never fails to lay stress on a plus and a minus.”

And no, of course I didn’t know that quote. I Google-d it.

The Fame and The Folly

Note: I do love writing blogs, but I hate writing essays. Unfortunately the latter needs more me right now.

I have a certain disdain of celebrity culture, or more the way celebrity culture affects people’s view of their talent.

As an avid Angelina Jolie fan, I am always annoyed when people disregard her because they have a preconceived idea of her from the “Brangelina” love triangle that may or may not have ended Brad Pitt’s marriage to Jennifer Aniston back in 2005. Quite frankly, if there was an affair; I couldn’t care less. And if there wasn’t an affair; I couldn’t care less. What I care about is that, because she now has a public image as a vixen (she does have quite a sexual image), or a home wrecker, she has been disregarded in the public eye for her work. Now, I also chalk this down to her more mainstream roles (such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, or Wanted) because, even as a fan I have no problem saying; they are quite trashy. But for all the bad films she has made, there are a large number of truly amazing roles in Angelina’s back catalogue that prove she is a phenomenal actress. Case in point: “Gia”, “Girl, Interrupted”, “A Mighty Heart” and “Changeling”. People tend to ignore these roles, or dismiss Angelina Jolie as an actress because of a simple rumour that, quite frankly, has nothing at all to do with them.

 Top left: "Gia" Top right: "Girl, Interrupted" Bottom left: "Changeling" Bottom right: "A Mighty Heart"

On the opposite end of the scale is Rihanna (I’m sorry, Jack.  If you are reading, and I doubt you are, please close the window now). Now, whilst I’m one of these people that hate singers that can’t/don’t sing live, rely on the heavy use of autotune, portray an explicitly sexual image and don’t write their own music, Rihanna has some damn catchy songs. But I truly believe that without Rihanna’s tumultuous private life with Chris Brown and the, um, I’ll say ‘incident’, and her other romantic conquests; I don’t think she’d still be in the public eye. Her music isn’t anything special, or ground breaking, and if her music is what is getting us talking, it’s usually for all the wrong reasons. Instead it’s her constant public presence that keeps her as a household name. Without it, I definitely feel she would not have the superstar status she does have today.

Another instance in which I feel someone’s fame has out-shadowed their talent is Justin Bieber. Now, whilst it is no secret that I’m no ‘Belieber’ by far, I also appreciate he is an incredible talent. I’ve seen some excellent performances of his, and he has truly proven himself as an artist (I’m unsure if he writes his own music, and quite frankly I can’t be bothered researching it). What I feel is his downfall, is his fans. If you want to put me off anyone, show me a bunch of screaming 12 year old girls crying because a celebrity winked at them. Or even worse, sending death threats to his girlfriend?!?! It’s things like this which sadly, turn people away from an artist.

And I will say, it’s not something I exempt myself from by any means.