Tuesday, December 27, 2011

"You think I'm pretty without any makeup on"......NOT?

I like Lady Gaga. Other than her catchy songs I've always thought Gaga was is an original. You know why, because she prefers to be interesting rather than typically pretty. Its like, she's not conveniently different but inconveniently different. Many other stars tried to follow and be outrageous, like Kesha, Rihanna? Epic fail I'd say. The only thing that comes through my vocal cords is the four letter word used to describe ladies with provocative extra curricular activities. Yeah, that's the closest I get to swearing. I wonder if PTA banned that too.

​But this is not about divas and their antics. This is about finding the fine line between being who you are and trying to be who you're not. This newfound quest of being "different". The reason Gaga gets away with her shenanigans is that's who she always was, from day one. Other regular ladies tried too hard to bring something to the exterior that didn't match the interior at all, thus they appear a bit "desperate". And no, not everyone can tell the difference. Also, those who can't wouldn't know what the hell I'm actually talking about.

Back in the day when we were young and without worry life was so simple wasn't it? As in, either you had or or you didn't and everyone lived with such facts. I remember how in A' levels, a welcome or farewell party was all special since everyone was excited to see everyone else all dolled up and suited up, respectively. Save for some, regular school days came with this rough and tough look. Those were the looks we ended up crushing on.

So what's up these days? Mass production? Its like this, the worse the country's situation gets the more extravagant we get with our shopping and choices. To rid self of depression in a time of recession? Vanity in a time of insanity? Every winter it becomes harder to just waltz in the general store with this hoodie inherited from the brother. What was once a sign of warmth, carefree-ness and comfort is now apparently some feminine fashion disaster. Gimme a break.

The sights and sounds around a general marketplace bustling with people, like say Jinnah Super has changed. No more variety of individuals. Its weird, you actually admire someone from afar, girl or guy both but then people like me wonder how much of what you saw was a lie. If a person can make that much effort in hiding all of their flaws what does that say about them? What of those sun kissed faces, unkempt flowing locks, casual careless demure replaced by walking talking Kens and Barbies. Perfect getting boring no? Call me weird but I believe in the slightest of flaws in a person, it kind of makes you see how unflawed the rest of them is. And when I say appearance i mean anything and everything that contributes to an overall outlook. The skin (caked so much that you might be needing a drill), the hair colour, the car, the clothes, the lifestyle, the gadgets, the education, the fake accent, the lavish eating, the stories of non-existent special connections. Everyone is fat these days. And this is not body fat, this is what everyone looks like when they're coated with all that materialistic sheen, real or fake. An epidemic, just like dengue?​​

When the guy sang "you got designer shades just to hide your face" it brings an anecdote to mind. My brother told me how once a group of guys in school followed two girls who came in for admission, all the way to the admin office (very long walk :P) and then came the about turn. Why? Because the girls took off them gigantic shades and the boys weren't actually thrilled. Frankly, that's a bit mean. Stereotyping at its height. It goes on to show how people can like and unlike a whole person like a status update. Where be the simplicity, the sudden rush of feeling, the infatuation, feelings that run skin deep? What is it now, a checklist? Loyalties anyone?

Weirdly, the "checklist" works differently for both sexes now. Most of the female population(take note guys) still goes for the old-fashioned/classy roughed up look rather than glistening hair products. *Points to self*. (And no, that still doesn't give you license to NOT shave orcomb hair for the rest of your days). However, even if you're an original, you're only partially qualified. The female mind is stronger in resisting attraction which is why​ they'd prefer a'package' deal any day. Like my brother once said :"Fine, I admit guys can never be as loyal as girls but girls are crazy for 'dough'".

Its scary right? How do you filter them out? What's real anymore anyway? Believe it or not, humans are weak. They see what they like, they like what they see. End of story. Its just sad that the nation has become even worse about passing judgements. And well we're all part of this. I know the difference. If I barge in a store looking significantly hot with a Fendi hanging on my elbow I am "madam" and if its a quick run, my hair's toussled and messy and I have a shawl wrapped around like an "amma jee" I'm treated like a homeless person until I produce the green or blue bill to get some attention. Did I mention I always end up meeting a gazillion people when adorned by the latter look and get major judgement stares?

Beauty is not in the eye of the beholder anymore. What is it then, our insecurities speaking?Are we THAT bipolar or is it just the result of these trying times we're going through, like there's no other entertainment anymore. There IS no obsession like self obsession right? Or maybe, you think, its not a bad thing to happen at all. If looking or appearing good has been made so easy then why not right? That's what my sis said when I showed her this. She said, so what if its easy and accessible for everyone to look nice these days, if someone thinks they look good with makeup on 24/7 its not actually some sue-able offense. I know she's right but I also know that whatever this is is getting way out of control.

The quest of being different made all of us look the same no? And like a drug we can't get enough of it. I wish that time would come back, when judgement was passed after you actually knew the person, when taking people seriously was not based on how and what they looked like, when people meant what they said and said what they meant, when words were not just words but actions waiting to happen. I wish I was born in the 60s (I say that a lot fyi). Music was good, food was pure, people were transparent and kind of hip too. Oh well.


​Until next time, originally yours,​
Sara Q.

P.S: I HATE winters.

7 comments:

  1. I think I can safely say that you've conveyed a point that I've been
    trying to make for a while now. These days, people have stopped being
    original and are now just trying to be original. Ironically they all end
    up looking the same. Originality is fading away everywhere I guess.
    Overly sampled music, nothing but sequels as far as movies ago, tv shows
    being revived and most annoyingly, anything actually original being
    considered too risky.

    Also, I'd pick the 80's, which Lady Gaga did
    as well when it came to sampling, fashion influence and music style :P
    And her latest video is VERY outrageous. I checked :P

    ReplyDelete
  2. originality is a myth now.... 

    P.S PTA banned by google.com.pk 

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting topic to write about.
    Vanity. In the words of John Milton in the movie Devil's Advocate (1997): "Vanity, definitely my favourite sin."
    Sin....., won't comment on that but it’s in human personality.









    Making oneself look good, look different, out of the ordinary has
    always been in human nature. If we look at ancient Egyptians, the names
    like Cleopatra and Nefertiti come to mind. They
    used copper and lead ore to beautify themselves. Ancient Greeks and Romans were also into makeup and cosmetics. We don't need to go
    that far...our own ancestors, i.e. the Mughals and the Persians all had a thing
    for vanity.









    It is now embedded in our daily lives. Our female counterparts
    have always been ahead of us in this regard. But dare I say, the modern
    metrosexual man has also fallen prey to the cosmetic industry. Now there are
    equal, if not more, male beauty products in the market as compared with female.
    The amount men spend on grooming products has sky-rocketed. What’s worse, there are men
    fairness creams! (remember those Shahid Afridi Maxfairness ads...) What
    happened to the good old Tall-Dark-and-Handsome thing?









    I am not anti-make-up or anti-cosmetics. I
    believe that the excess of anything is bad. And make-up is no exception. One
    should be confident and happy with how he/she looks. You talked about the fine
    line of being who you are and trying to be who you're not. Valid point. Valid
    point, indeed. People go to extremes when it comes to 'trying to be who you're not'.
    I think our society as a whole is responsible for that. Before you get any
    ideas, let me explain. We see these sexy size zero airbrushed models
    (obviously photo-shopped) in magazines etc. Same goes for hairless men
    with six packs...Where is the world headed. Real men and women are not supposed
    to look like this! It wasn't that far back when chest hair was considered manly
    and sexy. Now all the men are shaving their chests....damn.









    I think that my reply is getting a bit long so I
    must stop typing. All I would say is that you've touched on a very pertinent
    topic. And by the way I'd pick the 70's....  

    ReplyDelete
  4. With regards to tall dark and handsome, I'd just like to say, Rhett Butler is the man :P

    Also, shaving the chest? where are you stuck? They laser it off these days. I think people are to blame. They just believe someone when they tell them that they need something.

    Men are supposed to be manly, but that doesn't exempt them from grooming. Of course, that doesn't mean they dress up more than the "dulhan". Like you said, extremes are bad.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Its so true, when you're not dressed up like a "madam" the shopkeepers treat you like dirt, it happens all the time with me. Its like they dont want us there. And yes, I wish I was born in the 60s or 70s. 

    Also, boys actually need to read and learn from this, the "I'm too cool to wear stuff that isnt branded" attitude is very gay. 

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ok, I know I am unforgivably late, so late that i might as well have not bothered but i read somewhere that the worse thing you can do to a blog is not reply to the comments.
    So back to topic, guys, relax. Rest assured, real women still want real men though frankly I can't say vice versa since most men are like babies, they like shiny glittery toys. And yeah, grooming isn't a sin I guess. One can exfoliate I guess and believe me, guys are allowed to freak over pimples. They do that a lot because according to them it's more of a girl thing. It is the extreme of everything that frustrates to be honest.

    And I chose the 60s since the 80s and 70s are still close enough to this millennium :P

    ReplyDelete