The Flip Flop Girl

Here's another perspective related to my main theme the sensual/sexual nature of flip flops and the like in the current issue of New York magazine.

I think the very last paragraph speaks to what I'm working with. We love the flip flop way beyond what would seem reasonable, for instance, because maybe a lot of us find we're getting something from that flip flop experience that is hard to come by otherwise. We also want things fast and now and the flip flop is definitely instant gratification, isn't it? Cellphone + iPod + flip flops = happiness.

New York magazine, Dec 3, 2007 issue:

And yet there is also Hochschild’s question: Is something missing in our lives that we’re trying to replace with spa services? Kim and I talk again about why her clients want these treatments—why so many more, right now. “These days, people don’t have family, that’s the problem,” says Kim. “Because at least before, even though they don’t get married, they have their intimate partner, or they live with brothers or sisters, they always have company. These days, they travel a lot. Every family member is living so far away. And when they go home, they do their computer, they watch TV, then they go to sleep; that’s it. You don’t have your sister to say, I do your nails, I braid your hair—even with your family, you’re not really keeping company; people are so individualized.” She smiles and gazes out onto 72nd Street. “How many people do they have to do the braiding of their hair?”

Labels: a really bad foot fetish in a good way, blogs, feet, flip flops, foot fetishes, New York, sex, social commentary, society, spas, trends

We Love Britney and We Love Chris Crocker!!!!

I have been inspired to post! Your flip flop girl is still out there! It's been taking me awhile to get inspired but Chris Crocker is the real deal and got me off my ass to say something. He, if you don't know, has released an impassioned plea to all the media, and whoever else is profitting from hating Britney, to stop, stop, stop! You can see it on YouTube. I have a feeling you already have and, if that's the case, why not leave him a nice positive comment?

Britney Spears is a modern day goddess. We all used to worship at her feet. Now, that she's been having all these problems, the people with the so-called power to build up or tear down a star, are all too ready to knock her down. It was this need for greed from all the interests out there ready to profit from Britney that pushed her into the spotlight when she was vulnerable and not ready. Sure, Brit can take some of the responsibility but it's a whole different world she runs in and I can see where it would be easy to be led down the wrong path by all her advisers and handlers. I do hope that Britney can somehow find the right people for herself and do what she needs to do. The song, "Gimme More," actually is very good. And her body too is just fine. It's a natural look. It's up to her if she wants to tone up some more but there's nothing wrong with her body right now. And her talent is still there. If Madonna can remain a star, then there's got to be way for Britney to find her way back.

No more hating on people!

Chris Crocker you are an angel!

Labels: blogs, Britney Spears, Chris Crocker, pop culture, pop music, sex, society, trends

Why Do You Wear Flip Flops?

I have been conducting a very casual little survey about flip flops this summer among my girlfriends when we get together whether it be waiting in line for brunch, or while at a party, or just hanging out and this is what I've gathered. I've collected my samples and bring you what I've heard the most said about why us girls love our flip flops:



1. "They're the closest I can get to being barefoot."

2. "They're convenient. I just slip them on."

3. "They go with just about anything I'm wearing."

4. "They show off all of my feet. The whole pedicure on view."

5. "They are the most comfortable thing I wear."

I rank these basically in order with #1 being what I feel might be the biggest reason of all. We girls love to be barefoot. I know guys love to be barefoot too. But maybe girls like it more? What about any sexual stuff being added to the mix? Well, maybe it's the guys who fetishize the foot more than the girls. I fetishize the foot I'm very happy to say but maybe that's not the case with most girls. Feel free to tell me what you think. I can start a new list if I get enough responses. For now, I'd say it comes down to a top five list.

Labels: beach, fashion, feet, flip flops, foot fetish, footwear, gender, open toes, pop culture, sandals, sex, social issues, society, summer, surveys, trends

Random Nation Part Two

So what do we call ourselves this time? "The YouTube Generation" sounds about right. WIRED, in it's current cover story, comes close to saying, "The Bite-Sized Generation." I am still holding onto calling these times, "The Random Generation" or use the term, "Random Nation."

From the mailbag, I got this recent post that I'll go ahead and quote from. It's in response to my post, "Open Toes, The Beauty of it All!":

Talk about overcomplicating. Indeed, it is a pop song of the Nelly type, who has a similar poppy song devoted to open toeds, targeted at the -just wanna have fun- teen to 30 something female, and anyone who likes feet really. It should be known by now after countless mentioning of feet surrounding Mcphee, she loves them. I saw her on Tyra Bank's show and Trya (Chingy's foot girl) took off her shoes for some reason and showed them to Mcphee, then she said "you have pretty feet". Right then I noticed her eyes alone immediately turned to the crowd as her head followed in the same way when someone says something and they are unsure how or if they will be judged or also when ego is checking if relation is apparent, kind of like when someone lies but thats just because the crowd was directly to her right side. Well her expression was cheekier than usual and to me thats enough proof. I hear Tyra is pregnant and due, also think its Chingy's, also think they only hooked up because of her feet, now isnt that a stupid reason to bring a kid into this world

Well, this won't be the first time we have a child born from excess.

We live in an ultra-narcissistic age.

Reality and fantasy collide at more rapid intervals.

Here is where I think a discussion of Hyperreality would prove useful. And, if you're going to go to Baudrillard, then you must go to McLuhan as well. I haven't gotten any takers on views regarding Marshall McLuhan yet. I'm just wondering if people are familiar with him at all given that he once was truly a household name.

Here is where I think the foot becomes a far more interesting symbol. It can represent excess. But it can also represent a coming back to reality in a spiritual and grounded sense. If you think of the '60s, for instance, you can clearly see the foot back then as a symbol of the age: excess commingling with spirituality.

Labels: Baudrillard, blogs, celebrity, feet, foot fetish, hyperreality, images, Marshall McLuhan, philosophy, pop culture, social studies, society, television, text, video, Writing