For those who aren’t aware: I’m an avid YouTube viewer. I
can literally lay in bed for hours upon hours and view dozens of videos
without giving it a second thought. This past week I was doing just that when a
recommended video came up on the side and caught my eye.
What really grabbed my attention for this particular video was that in the thumbnail it pictured actress Caitlin Stasey, who most known for her role as Kenna in the
CW’s Reign. Caitlin is one of my favorite people to follow in Hollywood mostly because
of her blunt realness.
Whenever I watch any interviews with her or go through her
social media accounts I always see posts or comments on where she stands on a
variety of issues. Regardless on the question of if I agree or disagree with
her stances, I always hold people who aren’t afraid to freely speak their minds
in extremely high respect. So needless to say, it took me less than a second to
click on that video.
This specific video focused on Caitlin’s experience with gender
inequality and trying to follow women's standards in Hollywood, but the undertones were
centering in on a much bigger picture. Throughout the video, as she told her
stories and reflected on events in her life, she was slowly removing one
article of clothing after the other until finally she was just left in her
underwear. I didn’t really understand what was the point of having the person
being interviewed strip down but the more videos I watched the clearer it
became.
Those who are being interviewed are put in this unique
situation where they are discussing some of the most important details and experiences
of their lives. They’re talking about those moments that they’ll always hold
onto, the ‘make or break ones’, the ones that really fill the very essence of
who they are as a human.
They added to the rawness of that concept by having the
person take off their clothes. This can be viewed and taken in many ways. It’s
symbolic, talking about things that are deeply personal, getting more and more
comfortable while taking off one article after the other, as Shrek would put
it, peeling back the layers of an onion. But it’s also a statement, it’s saying
look this is my story, this is what makes me who I am and I’m comfortable
talking about it and in addition to that this is my body which has lead me
through these trials and make or break moments and I love it and am comfortable
in it.
Simply put, it’s self-acceptance in the rawest form.
Clothes and fashion are great. It’s an art form and it’s an
amazing way to express yourself and play around with self discovery. I am in
love with fashion and what it can do, I mean, I wouldn’t run this blog if I didn’t.
But what’s more important than that, more important than the
clothes and the makeup and the shoes, is the person who is putting all that on.
I
think sometimes we learn to put on the clothes and the makeup because we’re
trying fix or hide from something that goes a bit deeper.
My two cents is that everyone is beautiful without all of the gimmicks
society throws on us. In my opinion, you can walk out the door without a drop
of makeup on your skin and complete bed head and still in your pajamas and you
will still look beautiful.
Of course, I also know that it is no where near as simple as
that and we’re all insecure and mentally hindered by something. But acknowledging
our insecurities and working on them and through them is one of the strongest
things that we can do as humans.
If you’re curious about StyleLikeU’s movement, please head
on over to their Youtube Channel and watch a video or two. They have so many
men and women who come from all walks of life and I would be willing to bet
that there is at least one person you can identify with.
Also watch Caitlin’s video that I originally viewed, it’s
what got me interested in the entire movement.
I learn the most from listening to people who know more than
I do. Watching these videos is a way to learn, self-sooth, and most
importantly, open the mental door to your own self-acceptance. The questions
they pose are ones that anyone can answer, not just the person who’s in front
of the camera.
I hope you guys have a great day.
Love,
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think. You seem to have indirectly mined through the semiotics of StyleLikeU's interview anti-treatise, culling the 'naked to the world' figurative and literal interview style. That's really important — the thinking bit. Being able to parse the subtext of a piece. As I wrote, I like the way you think. And I do my homework on potential interns. Extensively.
I'd urge you, however, to proof your work. For instance "My two sense is everyone is beautiful," should probably be 'cents'. I also recommend you chunk your text to make it easier to digest on the web (after all, few folks read long form content these days). Small paragraphs are easier to sip on light-emittive screens (as opposed to light reflective reading from magazines and other print material). Keep in mind that optimal reading length is 50-72 characters per line of copy. And flush left typography is easier to read than centered.
The above? That's all design: the engineering of words in direct relation to how the brain deciphers them most effectively. Design is something you can learn.
You're well on your way with the thinking bit — that's the important part. Watch the Twitter feed, though. You know ... profanity. This is, after all, Miami University.
And we are thorough...
Hi Craig,
DeleteFirst, I would like to thank you for the compliment on the angle I took with this piece. Writing pieces that are more opinion based tend to be more nerve racking for me strictly because of not being able to predict how it will be accepted by others.
Thank you more so for your criticism. It is highly appreciated as I’m still learning and figuring how to communicate to others in the most efficient technique.
As for content on my Twitter feed… all I can say is that I’m really still learning that social media accounts, even though designed to be personal, should still hold an air of professionalism in them.
Please feel free to contact me further if you have questions about anything. I’d be happy to answer.
Best,
A