Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Symbols that have changed their meaning.
1. The Paisley Pattern.
Looking around my room I was trying to find something to start me off....I saw a picture of the rapper 2pac wearing hes signature bandana with the knot at the front...now i've always recognized the pattern on bandana's but never knew it's origin, either way if I saw the pattern on it's own my first thought would be 'gangster' as these are the people that most wear it whether it be a crip or blood they would always be sporting a bandana with their colours.
So I looked up the pattern and what it meant - It's droplet-shaped fruit/vegetable motif of Indian and Persian origin. The pattern is sometimes called "Persian pickles" by American traditionalists, said to have Hinduism and Zoroastrian ties it is supposed to be a sign of life and eternity. Kind of ironic really as most of the guys wearing these bandanas won't see past 25.
2. Script Writing / Lettering
Originally these type of typefaces were used for making/writing up such things as bibles / war posters and yes still newspapers....but a new type of form of expression has taken up these typefaces - tattoo's - now something that was seen as beautiful and elegant and authoritarian has now been tarnished by the people that would show off this art work more often in public (Rebels, Bikers, Gangsters) making them, 'bad', 'scary', and rebellious.
3. The Barber shop red and white spiral
Now from when barbers were barbers they have always had a red and white (sometimes blue) stripe the only difference is now is that we think it's just a spirally thing that is just supposed to catch our eye and nothing more.
In the middle ages though there was a lot more significance in it and you could say the meaning was lost as the modern barbers don't provide the old services anymore. These lines were meant to represent bloody bandages around a pole as barbers were the surgeons back then had to tend to things such as; tooth extractions, surgery and child birth (the blue part is said to be either a symbol of a freshly cut umbilical cord or homage to the american flag)
In Asia though it is said these poles are also used to signify a brothel or a barber shop posing as a brothel if there a 2 poles.
4. Beauty
It's been said before but look in any fashion magazine these days and the woman that is perceved as beautiful is one that pretty much weighs a quarter of what she is in height.
But you look back to the days of the rennaisance what was seen as beautiful then was a more vuloptous woman with a fuller and rounder face.
What exactly brought about this change i can't say for sure but my guess would be that a larger woman meant a more wealthier woman, a woman many would look up to and hips to bear a child....and who do women look up to now? the models that walk down the runway that have to squeeze there bodies into the new designer dress that reflects the new Independent woman of today's society.
5. Japanese School Uniforms
What was probably seen as a boring and stale form of attire for most people has turned into it's own fun fashion trend and has also gone mainstream by being perceived as 'kawaii' (cute).
J-pop and manga rocketed this trend as they also wanted to be perceived as 'kawaii' and or innocent by their fans and although their is some customization to their 'weekend' uniforms they are still uniforms, so japan has definitely left it's mark.
Looking around my room I was trying to find something to start me off....I saw a picture of the rapper 2pac wearing hes signature bandana with the knot at the front...now i've always recognized the pattern on bandana's but never knew it's origin, either way if I saw the pattern on it's own my first thought would be 'gangster' as these are the people that most wear it whether it be a crip or blood they would always be sporting a bandana with their colours.
So I looked up the pattern and what it meant - It's droplet-shaped fruit/vegetable motif of Indian and Persian origin. The pattern is sometimes called "Persian pickles" by American traditionalists, said to have Hinduism and Zoroastrian ties it is supposed to be a sign of life and eternity. Kind of ironic really as most of the guys wearing these bandanas won't see past 25.
2. Script Writing / Lettering
Originally these type of typefaces were used for making/writing up such things as bibles / war posters and yes still newspapers....but a new type of form of expression has taken up these typefaces - tattoo's - now something that was seen as beautiful and elegant and authoritarian has now been tarnished by the people that would show off this art work more often in public (Rebels, Bikers, Gangsters) making them, 'bad', 'scary', and rebellious.
3. The Barber shop red and white spiral
Now from when barbers were barbers they have always had a red and white (sometimes blue) stripe the only difference is now is that we think it's just a spirally thing that is just supposed to catch our eye and nothing more.
In the middle ages though there was a lot more significance in it and you could say the meaning was lost as the modern barbers don't provide the old services anymore. These lines were meant to represent bloody bandages around a pole as barbers were the surgeons back then had to tend to things such as; tooth extractions, surgery and child birth (the blue part is said to be either a symbol of a freshly cut umbilical cord or homage to the american flag)
In Asia though it is said these poles are also used to signify a brothel or a barber shop posing as a brothel if there a 2 poles.
4. Beauty
It's been said before but look in any fashion magazine these days and the woman that is perceved as beautiful is one that pretty much weighs a quarter of what she is in height.
But you look back to the days of the rennaisance what was seen as beautiful then was a more vuloptous woman with a fuller and rounder face.
What exactly brought about this change i can't say for sure but my guess would be that a larger woman meant a more wealthier woman, a woman many would look up to and hips to bear a child....and who do women look up to now? the models that walk down the runway that have to squeeze there bodies into the new designer dress that reflects the new Independent woman of today's society.
5. Japanese School Uniforms
What was probably seen as a boring and stale form of attire for most people has turned into it's own fun fashion trend and has also gone mainstream by being perceived as 'kawaii' (cute).
J-pop and manga rocketed this trend as they also wanted to be perceived as 'kawaii' and or innocent by their fans and although their is some customization to their 'weekend' uniforms they are still uniforms, so japan has definitely left it's mark.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
(Bolivian) Superstitions
I myself even though staying in bolivia for a year in 1998-1999 was not aware of the superstitions there.
Upon asking my parents though i found out there was a few but they are quite depressing. I should not be surprised though because these superstitions coming from the poorest country in south america, it makes sense that they look to something to blame for their bad luck.
1. Black Ants.
It is said that having black ants enter your house means that someone in your family will die.
2. Toad
It is said when you come near a toad and it enlarges its throat in and out its the toad blowing sickness onto you.
3. Fox
(I didn't even know there were foxes in bolivia!) though very rare. It said that is a fox passes infront of your car from left to right it is bad luck and the opposite way it is good luck... When i asked "what if your run it over?"..."impossible!" they replied.
4. Chicken
I was a bit sceptical about this one but my parents told me if a chicken crows like a rooster it's bad luck.
I actually found a youtube clip though!
5. Dog
If a dog digs up several holes around your property, it's a sign that someone in your household will die.
Upon asking my parents though i found out there was a few but they are quite depressing. I should not be surprised though because these superstitions coming from the poorest country in south america, it makes sense that they look to something to blame for their bad luck.
1. Black Ants.
It is said that having black ants enter your house means that someone in your family will die.
2. Toad
It is said when you come near a toad and it enlarges its throat in and out its the toad blowing sickness onto you.
3. Fox
(I didn't even know there were foxes in bolivia!) though very rare. It said that is a fox passes infront of your car from left to right it is bad luck and the opposite way it is good luck... When i asked "what if your run it over?"..."impossible!" they replied.
4. Chicken
I was a bit sceptical about this one but my parents told me if a chicken crows like a rooster it's bad luck.
I actually found a youtube clip though!
5. Dog
If a dog digs up several holes around your property, it's a sign that someone in your household will die.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Group Identifiers
1. Indigenous People of Bolivia and Peru.
On my trip to Bolivia 2 years ago I took this picture of some of the locals at the border town between Bolivia and Peru. While it was most common for the women to usually wear bowler hats with this kind of traditional dress, coming of the times has seen a little flexibility in this as you can see....nether the less the big dresses "polleras" and peticoats they continue to wear show pride in their indegineous heritage as it is not something european decented women of boliva would wear and sets them apart.
2. NSW Police Ranks.
I always wondered about the ranks of police officers because I always knew those triangles on their shoulders stood for their ranks so I found the following. It turns out that the ranks are loosely based on the ranks of UK police.
They ascend by superiority from left to right.
3. Car Enthusiasts.
Now their are the usual people that would just buy a car and leave it as it is. But these people take in one step further. This is usually seen with their cars done up with new mufflers, Engine customisations, chromo or alloy wheels, and maybe even a custom paint job...
Every year these people would come together to show off their 'work' in an event called "Autosalon" or even if you just walked along george street saturday night at midnight you would see a few of these cars.
4. Lads/ Chavs.
Generally these 2 groups are very similar but are from different countries. Lads from Australia and Chavs from England. I have put them in the same catagory as they act the same way as wikipedia puts it well "aggressive teenagers, of working class background, who repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour such as street drinking, drug abuse and rowdiness, or other forms of juvenile delinquency"
they also have a similar way of dressing which is usually a sports cap, striped polo tops, short shorts or track pants, nike TN's, a bumbag, and usually an item of clothing that is of the 'nautica' label.
On my trip to Bolivia 2 years ago I took this picture of some of the locals at the border town between Bolivia and Peru. While it was most common for the women to usually wear bowler hats with this kind of traditional dress, coming of the times has seen a little flexibility in this as you can see....nether the less the big dresses "polleras" and peticoats they continue to wear show pride in their indegineous heritage as it is not something european decented women of boliva would wear and sets them apart.
2. NSW Police Ranks.
I always wondered about the ranks of police officers because I always knew those triangles on their shoulders stood for their ranks so I found the following. It turns out that the ranks are loosely based on the ranks of UK police.
They ascend by superiority from left to right.
3. Car Enthusiasts.
Now their are the usual people that would just buy a car and leave it as it is. But these people take in one step further. This is usually seen with their cars done up with new mufflers, Engine customisations, chromo or alloy wheels, and maybe even a custom paint job...
Every year these people would come together to show off their 'work' in an event called "Autosalon" or even if you just walked along george street saturday night at midnight you would see a few of these cars.
4. Lads/ Chavs.
Generally these 2 groups are very similar but are from different countries. Lads from Australia and Chavs from England. I have put them in the same catagory as they act the same way as wikipedia puts it well "aggressive teenagers, of working class background, who repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour such as street drinking, drug abuse and rowdiness, or other forms of juvenile delinquency"
they also have a similar way of dressing which is usually a sports cap, striped polo tops, short shorts or track pants, nike TN's, a bumbag, and usually an item of clothing that is of the 'nautica' label.
t 5. Iphone Users.
Nearly everyone i know has an iphone and if they don't it's usually because they broke theirs and/or just waiting for the iphone 5 (like me :) ) but still their are other people around i see who have the other options: blackberry, htc, and other's who do not want to conform to the smartphone thing. Even so this still makes iphone it's own very strong group. A group that business have seen and have catered to by producing itunes apps for the iphone users.
A group that gives you weird looks when you say you don't have one and may even make you feel alientated as you can not communicate with the same apps as their other friends do.
Here is a pic of a stack of my friends
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