31 Aug 2008
Graffi-tee
When you can't do graffiti, you buy tees. With statements, meaningful or vague or queer or bizarre. Regardless, they attract attention and engage you. Some make for examples of good design work, some are loud, and some are bland. But it's only a few days ago that I realised some could be shocking too.
It was on my last two visits to a shopping mall that I spotted four girls - pretty, I must say, each of them carrying a guy along - flaunting the statements (prominently flashed across you know where) that shocked me. Thinkers who follow the leave-appearances-at-that school of thought may accuse me of being a pervert, but I found the statements obscene.
Statement 1: "36!"
Statement 2: "Dirty minds think alike"
Statement 3: "Look or you miss"
Statement 4: "Yummy! I love milk"
Given the perceived visual, I thought of... well, that's beside the point. Yes, it is possible to justify the statements by attributing their focus to other references, but that's a sheer idiotic exercise. That is denying the importance of context. Context is everything. If it was a drunk party or orgy, the captions would not have been out of place (literally).
It's not my business to question their rights to wear what they did, but I cannot help wondering if they are not going overboard. If they believe it reflects how bold they are in making such statements among crowds or how casual, "cool" they are in making them in such a matter-of-fact manner, do they also have it in them to take the gazes and comments of guys without any trace of discomfort, rage, or frustration? What exactly are they conveying by wearing such tees? Yes, tees have flourished as a medium for personal expression, but how good is it to exploit it to flash obvious references and religious/political allegiance (reminds me of a guy who flashed a pro-Nazi statement, complete with the Swastik symbol)? Is it not unfortunate that the young fail to find better examples than Britney or Paris or Hitler?
I don't pretend to know the answers to these and other questions that come up, but I am surely at a loss to see how their parents and siblings could allow such choices. Or do they think the girls are going to Mardi Gras? But then, maybe I'm just too conservative, because it didn't shock them or the girl herself. And when statements like "I am a bitch" are fast becoming fashionable, thanks to reality shows like Splitsvilla, this is, after all, a sign of things to come.
I reckon I have found the statement I will try on one myself: "If it's on the tee, it's on the mind".
Comments (6) Trackbacks (0) Permalink
By Shakeela:
15 Oct 2008, 5:57pm [ Reply ]
And yes, I've seen a lot of posts about Bookers - what do you have to say about today?
By Shakeela:
15 Oct 2008, 5:56pm [ Reply ]
Nice blog. How come there's been no post for such a long while?
By Vijay: Depends Perhaps on Who Is Commenting
10 Sep 2008, 12:29pm [ Reply ]
//do they also have it in them to take the gazes and comments of guys without any trace of discomfort, rage, or frustration//
Now, there! They not only have it in them to take the gazes and comments but also look forward to these; but, NOT from any or all the guys. That's the point.
It could even be a rape-with-eyes gaze, but as long as it is from a stranger they are favourably disposed towards, it's all perfectly fine for several of them. (Then, a 'lewd gaze' would suddenly take a romantic hue and become a 'loving glance'.) Not just fine, that's what they ask for, with those tees—but NOT from any and every stranger, you see. All strangers are not strangers, perhaps! :p
The point is, if a gaze or comment is from an unpreferred quarter, that's when they're suddenly reminded of their 'modesty', etc.
-Vijay.
p.s.: This, of course, may not be applicable to 'all' or even 'most' of them; only to 'many' or at least 'several' of them. But, it's a fact that the 'gazing' and 'commenting' also does not apply to 'all' or 'most' people, but only to 'many' or 'several'. If the latter could be abstracted and generalised, then the former could be, as well.
By Vijay: 7 :p
10 Sep 2008, 12:13pm [ Reply ]
//I reckon I have found the statement I will try on one myself: "If it's on the tee, it's on the mind".//
:D
May be you should try writing "7" (or whatever, as the case may be) on your trousers, and you know where! :p And there! you'll have the same people scream, "how vulgar!"
On a serious note, "if it's on the tee, it's on the mind" was beautifully said! So true! The motives of many of these people are not unquestionable in many cases.
By Portuguese Man-of-War:
1 Sep 2008, 8:53pm [ Reply ]
I agree - when in Rome, it's best to be Roman. You should conform to the culture of the part of the world that you live in if you want least problems - else, as Oblivion wrote, you should be prepared for problems. A girl with a Look Or You Miss tee won't get much crowd sympathy in Hyderabad if she gets into trouble.
And if I sound conservative, well, that's me being Roman in Rome.
By Script Writer :
1 Sep 2008, 5:58pm [ Reply ]
Oblivion, I like this post. However, I am not able to understand whether your views stem from idealism or ignorance. Yes, freedom of expression comes with the added sense of responsibly using that freedom but who is going to decide where the buck stops? Should it not be left to the individual to choose their role models? Just because their models differ from yours, it does not mean either of you is wrong or right.