Who are you, we, me, us?

I'm sure people have figured out by now that I am rather an eclectic individual, in the sense that I really don't confine myself to many bounds in terms of what i find interesting.  I would go so far as so suggest that i detest those people who enjoy being boxed in, labelled and forever living their lives under the pressure that is this pseudo-identity that they've created for themselves, slash not really- as realistically such identities are chiefly constructed for the benefit/admiration of others.

The construction of identity is something that we all do, yes- I do think identity is constructed rather than innate, whether subconsciously or not.  In the digital world the construction of such identities is made somewhat more easy or rather accessible I guess.  In the physical world the construction of identity is monitored or at least judged by those around you- you are Gothic because you dress a certain way, listen to a certain type of music etc, but you cannot simply decide just to become Gothic and therefore suddenly are Gothic without some external input that warrants you as a true and unquestionable Goth.  Similarly you can't just decide that you are a certain religion, I can't just casually declare myself Muslim as much as I cannot authenticate myself as a cat or a fairy or a mountain or a man... 

What this is all coming down to is a question that was posed in a lecture this week, is our identity and in some sense therefore our consciousness (of ourselves and others) limited by the language system that we are forced to operate in?  And if so, how is consciousness changing in the digital age? It's an interesting question.  Do we operate in the digital age within the same language system that we do in 'normal' life, that is, everyday conversation and writing?  Sure computers use code to communicate messages in the digital space, but the reality of the average person being able to interpret and use the code (whether binary or otherwise) to communicate effectively is limited- we still rely upon words, sentence structure, connotation etc that we continue to use in everyday life to communicate on the Internet.  Obviously certain technical jargon has developed as the digital world grows, wiki's, tweets, blogging etc.  Largely, however, it is obvious that we have remained tied to the existing systems of linguistic communication that have been used for over 2000 years now.

So.... returning to the notion of identity in a digital age, the difference then does not lie within the system in which we construct identity, but rather in the form or medium.  The 'facelessness' of the digital age, allows anonymity- for people to establish and construct themselves with little concern for the effects of such construction- you no longer have to prove yourself.  It's not the first time that the issue on anonymity was seized upon as a way to seek freedom from labels and stereotypes- one only needs to look to the works of George Eliot and Curer Bell (Charlotte Bronte) and earlier examples of women authors seeking freedom through male nom de plume's. 

So has our consciousness and identity changed in the digital age?  Perhaps, I don't think that I personally have sought to create a personality outside of my own through this blog, however some might disagree... Certainly I have attempted to maintain some degree of anonymity but it is not because I am attempting to create something that I am not, or more deviously hide who I truly am.  In a world where avatars, virtual lives and realities through facebook, twitter and blogging become more and more pervasive in society does who we are and what we stand for become more or less important?

Anyway all very interesting and mind boggling stuff... or just a bunch of Wednesday afternoon nonsense!

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Jellies to make you Jelly

So I have been a wee bit absent from ze blog of late, apologies, I have no excuse to offer other than plain and simple laziness...  I have decided, with some prodding from friends, that I should really resume posting, not for any other reason than that it seems rather useless to give up this here blog, given that in reality I have very little else to fulfil my time.

Well... that is not strictly true, however let us say that my other pursuits are not as... hmmm, constructive perhaps (?) as the blog.  Note:  I have spent (not entirely out of indulgence i add in my defence) a significant amount of money on shoes in past four days on two pairs of shoes, one pair of which there was below-zero need to purchase.  Shopping, obviously is not a constructive filling of my time, in fact appears to be rather destructive- to my bank balance and my moral sense that I should be saving, at least.

I have been admiring the 'melissa' range of jelly shoes for some-time and I concede that I have a particular affinity for foot encasement's of the jelly variety, as my childhood photos show- Jellies were my fave fashion option from age 2-7, ending only at age seven as my feet grew too large to fit the children's sizes (obviously Jellies had not yet reached the level of retro-cool that they now have to be made into adult sizes).  My jelly fetish was indulged when I was coerced by a well-trained and spectacularly engaging shop assistant in Jaime Boutique to purchase some Melissa by Jean-Paul Gaultier Jelly heels (there are also, more commonly, Melissa by DVF kicking about too).  These are perhaps going to be the ONLY piece of Gaultier that I will even encounter in my life, and given my current rate of saving, ability to get a job and levels of self control, may be the last pair of high heels I will ever purchase.

Do I care?  No!  Defiant as ever, I protested to my mother that my unfulfilled childhood longing drove me to purchase the shoes and it is all part of the growing up process (more of which- later this week..).  Anyway, I thought I'd re-ignite your passion for the plastic fantastic footwear too, so, without further ado, an homage to Melissa

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Ye Ole time Glam

I wish I had been born decades earlier.  Forgo the fact that women had way fewer rights and there were a couple of wars early in the century and you're in dream land...

Carole Landis (loveyourplace.blogspot.com)

Mary Pickford (loveyourplace.blogspot.com)

1940's vogue shoot (loveyourplace.blogspot.com)

Little Edie Beale (of Grey Gardens fame)

Katherine Hepburn

Natalie Wood (filmnoirphotos.blogspot.com)

Need I say... Marilyn Monroe

Ahhh sigh.  Such inspiration is enough to make me want to actually make a decent effort to make myself appear, well, decent.  Alas, I simply can not be bothered!

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Esmeralda me stat

Ok ok, so I concede I have utterly failed in my promise to blog everyday this week however, guys, this is big news, HUGE in fact- I have discovered my dream wedding celebration nay event wait... no wedding spectacular is really more of an apt description.

I wouldn't want to detract from the written aspects of this post so will complete the post sans a picture and allow my words to create the picture in your mind.

So we begin:
Pink, taffeta, sateen, polyester shiny-ness, ruffles, diamantes, layers, crinoline petticoats, tiaras, enormous pageant-esque hairdo- curls (crimping if i'm feeling adventurous), tan in a can (heavy on the orange hue), blue eyeshadow, dress weight in excess of 30 kg's, hair pieces, feather attachments,  10 foot long veil, pumpkin like carriage, 12 bridesmaids (at least), performing midget, 20 tiered wedding cake, potential fountain attachment... i could go on.

If you're as bored as I am I suggest you search google images- Gypsy Wedding.  Amazing

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Blah Blah Blog

I've become pretty useless at this posting business and so the current aim of the week is to post every day in the hope that returning to the habit will make me more likely to stick to it in the months ahead!  I often wonder if all the other bloggers in the world have way more interesting lives than I and are full of inspirational nonsense with which to fill their posts. 

I, on the other hand seem to be lacking any current inspiration.  I could always resort to a good old rant, but I kind of feel that these make me seem like a bitter and twisted person and imparts a Mrs Dubose-ian image to those of you who don't actually know me personally...

I am in fact not bitter and twisted, rather just extremely intolerant of foolishness- am I drag?  Probably.  Do I care enough to change? Nein.  I have been frantically trying to find some inspiration with which to fill my post today- god knows there is enough controversy in the world that I might find one thing in which to channel my energy- the BP oil spill (terrible, tut tut BP!), Robin Brooke and the sex scandal (nice to see it's not a league player I guess...), Julia Gillard ruthlessly axing the Ruddster, the prevalence of stockings as leggings as pants, Germany taking the World Cup by storm, the shock exit of Federer at the Tennis (go Rafa p.s.), the release of Eclipse (spew), Joe Cotton displaying some decidedly whoreish behaviour at a movie premier (trash-y)... the list goes on.

If anyone finds any points on which I may be able to focus my currently lacklustre attention please let me know!

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