On being an individual

-
It seems to be the "thing" of this generation to strive to be different. Which is somewhat confusing to me, considering we are all intrinsically different, so all we really need to do is be ourselves. Or am I over-simplifying something far more complex?

One example that comes to mind is the "hipster" movement (I don't know if movement is the right word, but you get the drift):

The hipsters

I fell down that rabbit hole otherwise known as Urban Dictionary trying to find the definition of hipster. Side note: it's great entertainment, do it.

Hipsters to me seem to want to portray an anti-mainstream culture attitude. But in doing so, they create a subculture that is then embraced and followed by those who want to be seen as being of the same mindset.

If I put together an outfit which coincidentally matched the vibe of a hipster, do I wear it and accept being perceived as a hipster? How do hipsters feel about non-hipsters who looked and dressed like them? Now that ripped jeans are fashionable, do hipsters refuse to wear them?


Me, myself and Irene

Perhaps it is part of my introvert nature, and also my ripe old age, but I am so comfortable with my internal environment and "culture", that I am now not so much fazed or overly influenced by external culture.

This wasn't the case in my younger years. I guess I could probably be describe my younger self as somewhat of a hipster. I despised popular culture. I scorned people who enjoyed pop music, and thought little of fashion. I listened to "alternative music", and thought of myself as the tortured, moody type. To be fair, the majority of the time it truly was a clash of tastes, as I'm a bit of an old soul and probably was living in a time that wasn't mine. But my mistake, I think, was when I would purposely disregard something I would have enjoyed, on the basis that too many other people enjoyed it. So (feel free to hate on me) I hated Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, Britney Spears, the whole lot. What was I thinking? I love Britney now! If you have something to say about Britney, you better be prepared fo deez hands!

Back to the point. The point is, every single person is unique in their fundamental makeup. Music genres and "body types" and even clothing sizes are defined as finite blocks, but we really shouldn't feel the need to fit squarely in one or another and most of the time, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we probably don't.

We are already different. By not even trying.


Comments

  1. TanyaJanuary 9, 2018 at 11:07 PM

    I've also thought about this. It's great if everyone felt comfortable to be themselves whether it's a hipster, an emo, a cultured elite (hahaha jokes I gill you c.e's) or a wild child turned conservative nanny. Do you!!! (I hate this clique but it's spot on).

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On purpose

-
As one who left her country for higher education, which followed on to years of work experience overseas, the return home naturally came with a strong desire to "give back". Having been here for about six months now, the challenge has been to define what giving back actually looks like, and balancing that with the " why " of our return. The obvious way that I envisaged to give back to the country was to be employed in Samoa, in either the private or public sector. That would mean getting taxed here, and contributing to the development of the country, not only financially but also by contributing my professional skills. This has not been the reality though. The path that God has provided means I still work a New Zealand company, and pay tax to New Zealand. As a remotely working contractor, I sit in my own office and contribute nothing to the development of local knowledge in my professional field. That has been somewhat of a challenge. For someone who is a doer, m...
Read more

On a better life

-
The resounding theme amongst Samoans who have migrated to New Zealand is their search for a better life. This usually means better jobs and better education. But what is better? And what is it better than? I have lived all my childhood years in Samoa (until the end of Form 7), and all my adult years in New Zealand, and offer the following observations from my own migration journey. The cost of time What people in Samoa might not appreciate when migrating to countries of Western cultures, is how time-demanding the lifestyle can be in general. All activities are run by the clock, and time is accounted for and given frugally. In Samoa, time is usually seen in a more relative manner, for example using night time instead of 7:35pm. It lends to a more relaxed outlook when it comes to scheduling, but in turn in provides for a generous giving of ones time when needed. I look at how I need to have most days planned out to the hour, weeks in advance. There is not much wiggle ro...
Read more

On why

-
The most obvious question we get asked about our move from New Zealand back to Samoa is "Why?" There are a multitude of reasons why we had wanted to move back, and our usual response would be to reply with one of them, for example: "We are very homesick" "We want our children to have the same childhood experiences we had" "We want our children to know more of their culture as Samoans" "We want to be with our family back home" "We want out of the rat race" However those reasons by themselves, and even the combination of them, although all true, do not form the complete picture. To understand the real reason, we must start at the beginning. Once upon a time, there was a girl who left her home and family in Samoa to study at the University of Canterbury. There she met a boy who had also left his home and family in Samoa to study at the same university. It was likely they fell in love, although neither of them would ...
Read more