Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Old School vs. New School Asain Style

So how you noticed in the media how Asian culture has been coming to the forefront. For the first time in like ever, there are Asian artist on the Billboard charts (Bruno Mars and Far East Movement) But there is another movement on the rise… Harajuku. This is a fun, crazy fashion worn by the rebellious teenage/young adult Asian population. It is a slightly more upbeat version of the American emo craze. It’s filled with heavy eyeliner, multicoloured hair, tutu’s, and a largely diverse wardrobe. Americans are start to embrace the culture as well. Between Gwen Stefani’s fragrance line, Harajuku Love,the line of school supplies inspired by the subculture, and Nicki Minaj being the self proclaimed “Harajuku Barbie”, the culture is becoming a mainstream hit.

 Harajuku Lovers Fragrance
But there was Harajuku there was another Asian culture that captured American. The style and elegance of a Geisha has often attracted Americans to the style. In Asian culture to be a geisha was to be desired, something that not only women in American want but women around the world. This style has catch the attention of outside cultures before, the result being a successful movie and countless books and novels. Although a very appealing and sot after lifestyle, there is only one true American geisha. In contrast to the freely expressive Harajuku girl and geisha is more controlled and procise, Geisha are NOT prostutes, contruary to popular belief. The word geisha is Japanese and means person of the arts. There purpose was to entertain business men in a non-sexual manner, which was through the performing arts and in Japanese culture that includes teamaking.

File:Geisha-fullheight.jpg

Questions:
1.) Which subculture do you think has become more mainstream in our society today? Give examples.

2.)If you were a young adult in Japan which trend would you be more inclined to follow? Why?

3.)Which of these two forms of expression will last longer? Why?

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Swoosh...


Basketball has experienced many changes over time since it has been invented. Those changes occuring in rules, accessories, shoes, and even the attire worn while playing the game. The original game started off with thirteen rules, way different than those of today. There was no dunking, dribbling, 3 pointers, or shot clock that was legal. As time passed more rules were added to the game, calls such as traveling, double dribbilng, and shot clock violation. Players who played the game did not have any type of uniform as the game became more challenging jerseys and shorts were added to the sport. They started off with really short shorts that did not pass the knee and later came to an agreement where long shorts were allowed to be worn during games. Long ago there were not shoes that can help prevent injuries or add grip or another piece to your game. But as time progressed and the world became more modern, the advancement in technology gave players the opportunity to wear more protective and longer lasting shoes. These shoes added grip and more ankle support while players played the game of basketball. To sum it up, the game of basketball has changed dramatically over time and may even change more in the future.


Questions:
1. Over time do you think adding more rules and style to the game of basketball makes it  more challenging?
2.Would you agree that the style or type of shoes are better than those worn long ago?
3.Why do you think the game , rules, and style of basketball has changed over time?

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Plugs Not Drugs


By: Abby ♥
Plugs: Body modification; a short cylindrical piece of jewelry commonly worn in stretched piercings. Not called gauges. Gauges are what the sizes are called. 
 















Plugs have historically been worn in ears.
  • -         - During the ancient Egyptian “New Kingdom” both females and males wore earplugs and large-gauge hoop-style earrings.
     - Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya and the Aztecs used ears pool.   Ears pool is an ornament worn inserted into the earlobe. The way the Maya and the Aztecs used it, usually stretched their earlobes. 

     Today, we have taken this concept of stretching the earlobes, and have made it our jewelry. Plugs come in all shapes, designs, sizes, and colors. Since their size is often thicker than a standard wire earring plugs, they can be made out of almost any material. Plug materials include acrylic glass, metal, wood, bone, stone, horn, glass, silicone or porcelain.  

 
There’s also a bad side to plugs: If you leave your plugs out for long periods of time they probably won't close back up. That's only because your ears are used to that size and are "fully stretched" to that size. But if the plug is too small, you should definitely be able to go back down, but it might take a while, and it probably won't go back to a normal earring size it might be a little bigger than that.

Questions:
  1. Do you think that stretching your ears is a way of expressing yourself?
  2. People usually don’t like plugs because once your earlobes are stretched out; they won’t go back to normal size. Knowing this, would you ever consider stretching your ears out?
  3. Referring to the history of stretching your earlobes, why do you think plugs have become part of our culture again? 
 Resources:
- Weheartit.com
- http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=plugs
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plug