Look Sharp, Sconnie - Midwestern Fashion Nerd, Chronic Over-thinker

Are Our "Niches" Destroying Our Minds?

Are you guys over me?
Do you come here, looking for answers, to only get questions? 
Do you leave?

Well do you?
Or is it something else you crave?

It seems like every blogger and her sister are starting collaborative sites. Blogger co-ops, if you will, filled with different perspectives, different subjects, yet they're all channeled through one, holistic voice. One point of view, through which the countless articles and selfies are filtered. 

Is it humor? 
Is it "couture"?
 Is it lifestyle fashion, or emerging designer awareness, or shoe love?

Either way, there's so much categorization taking place in these desperate attempts to distinguish themselves from the rest. Which is understandable, considering our need to judge and stereotype and categorize. Considering our need to simplify. 

But is fashion always humorous? Is fashion always "couture"? 
How can we whittle down something so big into something so little? How can we assign an "angle" to something so open-ended?

I used to criticize blogs and sites that simply showcased photos. Their lack of text seemed . . . lazy. 
It seemed dumb. 

But I finally see the real appeal. I finally see why an image alone can engender more creativity and thought through innocent photography than through a simplified schtick aimed at engendering publicity.

For example, if I showed you the images above, sans commentary, what would you think? Would you be more inclined to scroll through without thought, or would you indeed develop your own train of ideas? Your own opinion?

Now lets say I filtered your thoughts through a 1. humorous angle. What if I decided to make fun of the fact that you can see my butt. 
Hilarious, right?
What if this were a solely 2. cultural blog? 
What if I addressed the legitimacy of the "tribal print"? Or the history of the open back?
What if it were a 3. philosophical one? (ehem). 
What if I talked about the reason I refuse to style my hair. Or why I feel more confident smirking than smiling?
Would I be evoking new thoughts, or squashing them? Would I be opening the conversation, or narrowing it?

We're always told to have an "angle", because that's what makes us unique. 
Because that's what makes us stand out. 

But could our gimmicks be narrowing our thoughts?


Cheers.







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6 comments:

  1. Katie @ Loverly SheAugust 21, 2013 at 7:05 AM

    This post made me think about a documentary I watched last night about Bill Cunningham - this old guy who takes fashion pictures for the New York Times. It was fascinating listening to him talk about the difference between what he considered banal conformity and true style. Definitely further food for thought, you should look it up! I think it was called "Bill Cunningham New York".

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    1. NorbyahAugust 22, 2013 at 7:26 AM

      Best. Documentary. Ever.

      xo
      n

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  2. NorbyahAugust 22, 2013 at 7:27 AM

    Wait, you can see your butt???

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  3. The PhotogrampsAugust 22, 2013 at 3:10 PM

    This is some heavy shit, Gabs. Alls I know is if I were to start a collab...you fer sher be one of my first choices to create a super blogging power puff girls scenario with.
    xo
    ashley
    www.thephotogramps.blogspot.com

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  4. AnonymousAugust 25, 2013 at 2:40 AM

    I think you should just do what *you* are interested in and not be concerned about what other people want. Then that will become your angle and other people with the same angle will find you.

    You ask a lot of questions, overthink things, and I have the same problem. The way I have found to get enjoyment in my life is to decide to do something, just focus on that one thing, and don't think so much about everything going on around me in the world. Some might call it "escapism" but it is working for me. I have to be able to tune out the noise and distractions.

    I don't know how to find what you should do. It is really hard isn't it? I have had a lot of trouble with it in my life - spending most of my life doing something for my job (computer work) which I later decided I hate doing, but now I am sort of stuck with it because I need a paycheck to survive.

    Just think about what you have had the most fun doing and try to focus on that.

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  5. PaulaAugust 26, 2013 at 3:52 AM

    O' oh - now my brain hurts from all the questions. I am the opposite of a niche blogger - I post about the most random stuff - some days its nails, others baking, always some shoes creeping in there.... I think as long as it's coming from you and your unique perspective people are receptive?

    ♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
    http://shoe-fiend.blogspot.co.nz/

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