Inspiration

Have a half written post on Marie Antoinette and Sofia Coppola in general, waiting to be finished, but right now it seems like too much effort, so instead I updated the box in honour of the future post. I’ve put up Gang of Four’s ‘Natural’s not in it’ (I’m pretty sure that was the opening song of Marie Antoinette- correct me if I’m wrong?). While we’re at it, I suggest you also listen to Rare Earth’s ‘I just want to celebrate’, it will put you in a good mood, trust.

Also, just a quick note: I recently read Steph’s post on lame bloggy infighting, and I’ve got to say, WTF? I still cannot understand why people spend so much time arguing in forums and blogs in a manner that cannot be classed as friendly, amusing, ironic or in any way productive. We’re not talking about constructive, heated conversations more akin to a dialogue, we’re talking unnecessary, primary-school-level shit throwing of completely no substance. I’ve immediately stopped reading a couple of blogs that have interested me, after coming across comments sections riddled with people taking pot shots at each other for no discernible reason other than to assert somehow that they’re better/smarter/more knowledgeable than the other person. Why bother engaging in these “my penis is bigger than yours” fests if you’re so sure of yourself?

This may also be a wankerish statement, but I’ve come to realise that almost all the blogs I read have a common sensibility of humanity, not matter what the subject matter. The fashion blogs I’m devoted to for example, are in the main motivated not so much about admiring ‘prettiness’, but about a search for beauty in their own individual senses. Up until this point, any fashion blog that has indulged in a lot of “that’s ugly, how could she have worn that/made that” etc. I’ve eventually let go. Whereas the ones I still read approach looking at things that don’t appeal to them largely in terms of “I’m not interested in that”, which is a completely different statement. What the latter sentiment conveys is a continual search for their own inspiration(s); for a celebration of the things they admire, NOT about imposing a universal statement of ‘good taste’. It’s why I’ve kind of fallen in love with Queen Michelle from Kingdom of Style, who I’d categorize as being one who takes inspiration from different sources and uses that to inform her sartorial choices in really interesting ways- I have a bit of a fangirl attachment to her…

With the exception of the blogs I read for informative/news purposes I guess I keep going back to them because on some level they inspire me. The commonality to that inspiration is generally, even in their snarkiest, grossest incarnations, essentially about what it means to be a ‘good’ person, in the sense of someone who thinks, who creates, who refuses to merely accept the world as it is, unquestioningly. Anyone whose motivation is to merely hate for the sake of hating is not going to be read by me. I’m far too romantic about all this stuff- clearly, I’m only about the love people.

Speaking of good blogs though, you should check out Random Vandal, it doesn’t update often, but it is still worth visiting regularly.

Finally, in regards to the Interpol/Joy Division stuff I wrote about a couple of posts ago- I re-came across something I’d read ages ago on the matter by John Darnielle (of The Mountain Goats), which might interest you, if you know, you’re Hayley: 101 things to which you can compare Interpol besides Joy Division