A Question Of Fashion (What You Want Vs Society)

I hate fashion. I don't mind dressing myself well or buying clothes, but I hate the entire 'fashion' thing. I hate styling my hair too, and deciding on what style I will have it in next. At the end of it all I look good, but for what? Women do not fall at my feet, drooling, and I get little satisfaction from the procedures I have gone through to achieve this look. In fact, worrying about how I look drives my anxiety insane.

Everyday people make sure they look impeccable. Why? To impress, to avoid judgment and maybe for their own self values. I, just like a lot of people, am caught up in this rut of doing the same thing for the benefit of, if anyone, others, when in reality all I want is to dry my hair, style it how I like and go outside.

People may give you their own opinion, too: "I think you look best dressed like this" "Your hair is better like this" "No, that doesn't look good". Some people take this as advice, but it is only advice when you personally ask for it. If you want your hair sticking up and then someone you know supposedly 'advises' or rather 'tells' you it looks better the other way without you even asking, that is not advice.

Sure, certain colours don't suit you or me. Sure, that hairstyle generally looks bad. It is nice to have guidance when you don't fully understand something. But when that crosses over into telling or putting down (even in the slightest way that the person may not realise) then you have a problem.

I can draw many examples from myself. For instance, at times I wish to have my hair back, more windswept and out of my face as I have a fairly long fringe. I know for a fact it doesn't suit me as well as having it styled forward and to the side. People I know let me know that too. They call it 'advice' and 'their own opinion' but when those people directly affect your life, it is hard to ignore what they think and not take it on board.

I like it though. I like my hair like that. Sometimes I like having it forward, others messy. Sometimes I just let it dry naturally without any of my styling products invading its space.

The same goes for clothes. Dressing how you like is not enough. People barge in with their own opinions. Will society look at me weird if I wear this and do my hair like this?

Actually, high majorities of people you see in the street don't care about you. They are too busy with their own issues to spare a thought or judgment for others. So why worry?

Ads barge into our lives, creating false ideas of perfection and how we should dress and look. Everywhere you go everything is screaming out at you that you have to look your best and be the best to stand a chance.

The thing is, people never said it was confidence that lets you pull it off. I can pull off having my hair back because while it does suit me, just not as much as other styles, I don't care. If I did care, people would pick up on that and they would notice I look a bit weird. If you can strut your stuff and just do it, people respond with respect and they too will not care for your style.

Society as it should be

A good friend of mine often tells me to do what I want. It's the most common form of consolation there is when someone is concerned about something cosmetic or shallow, but he says it different. He himself, my friend, tells me to do what I want with such confidence that I question why I didn't view it like he does.

The thing is, even if you are confident, you may be worried still about the way you are dressed or styled. Looking good: it is something everyone has drilled into them by society. Sure, looking your best is always nice. Dressing well is great. But it doesn't, and it shouldn't, be a constant worry and concern. It is such a minor part of everyones' lives it is a wonder why we even care.

The wants and needs of the individual themselves are often blocked out by the insane fact that it is what society wants people to do that is what matters, not what the person themselves wants or needs.

In the end, it is what you want vs. what society wants for you. If society wins over, you get nothing. But neither does society. Who or what is society? Society is everything and everyone. Every ad, every corporation with posters up, every train and bus and every person, and they are indirectly affecting peoples lives. So even if society does win, society doesn't care. The only way to win is for you to win yourself. Then that really does matter.

All of this, though, raises the question of even bigger issues with todays society.

I'd like to give a shout-out to Michael Crichton, a legend of a guy who has helped me out a lot. He is a great guy and, of course, a gamer, who deserves all the bro hugs he gets. Follow him on twitter: @Mike__Crichton Follow me on twitter too: @mookyst

The comment box is your thought box so go ahead and use it!

Sinister Scared The Crap Out Of Me (Detachment Was Good Though)

I may use some bad language in this post - just sayin'!

I watched the film Sinister over a month ago. On my birthday actually. What a present that was; a sleepless night and terror for the next two weeks? Thanks a lot.

Nah, I'm just joking with you, it didn't really scare me to the extent where I couldn't sleep or go in my attic for a while. It did scare me in the moment though.

It's not that the film is even scary, as such. It's just creepy and gross. If you don't know, Sinister is a film about a guy, more precisely an author named Ellison Oswalt, who moves his family of wife and two kids into a house that was previously inhabited by a family who were brutally murdered through hanging in their own backyard. The crime was nasty and not very pleasant at all. Did I mention that Oswalt KNEW what had happened here as well? But he hadn't told his wife? Yep, what a weird bastard.

Oh and it gets worse too. Oswalt is only there so he can write a book about the murders and regain his lost fame and money. What a douchebag. What a total, selfish, douchebag. His wife and kids, as I said, are unknowing about the controversy surrounding this place.

Of course, at the beginning you get to meet the stereotypical 'creepy' and 'weird' 'I don't like you' character, in this case a cop. He dislikes Oswalt for various reasons and basically tells him to fuck off. Well there goes his invitation to the house warming party. I thought cops were supposed to be friendly and helpful?

So to cut a long story short; he investigates the crime, finds some tapes of other murders committed in the attic, does some shiz here and some shiz there, argues with his wife, does this, that and this and that and that and this, argues some more, blah blah blah and finds out some weird stuff about the murder and other connected murders and some creepy demon thing or whatever, that could be behind it all.

Forget the story though, this film is supposed to be scary. That is its purpose in the world; to scare people. And does it succeed?
Well, it is one of the 'scariest films' I've seen, but not in a normal way.

Sinister is just downright gross, weird, creepy, and disturbing. It doesn't have a lot of jumps or blood, so what exactly makes it so hard to watch? It's hard to explain but the fact that this guy, Oswalt, finds these old tapes basically made up of people getting murdered in very disturbing (not bloody, just disturbing) instances in his attic and then watches them like you would the Indiana Jones trilogy (seriously, he even did himself a nice alcoholic drink while he watched them, why not go the full mile and buy some popcorn too?) is just weird. The tapes are weird. The whole thing is weird and not right. The murders themselves are nasty. The things that happen are just creepy. The bad guy is weird and disturbing. The whole story and setup is just wrong. It has this horrible dirty sheen to it that just makes your stomach turn. It made me feel ill watching it.

Admittedly I was shaken afterwards, and didn't want to leave the room on my own for a good while.

It's a pretty good watch, though, with great performances by the actors. I would consider watching it again. It's not a bad film, just very odd and stomach churning and creepy. I felt like I wanted to shower after it had ended, like I'd just been watching something dirty and bad.

You should watch it if you haven't already.

Going in the complete opposite way though, is a film I watched called Detachment. It features Adrien Brody, one of my favourite actors, and is directed by Tony Kaye, the same guy who did American History X, so you know you are gonna be getting a powerful film with a strong message that doesn't hold back on content.

It is basically about the education system and society in general. It has some truly brilliant performances and is gripping, to the point and just truthful. I'm considering writing a proper review for it because, being so excellent but also lesser known, I feel it deserves some proper credit.

Yeah so those are just two movies I wanted to quickly jot down. I recommend both! If you have anything to add or want to say something then go for it in the comments! Peace Troops.