What would it take to overcome the cultural pull of irony? Moving away from the ironic involves saying what you mean, meaning what you say and considering seriousness and forthrightness as expressive possibilities, despite the inherent risks. It means undertaking the cultivation of sincerity, humility and self-effacement, and demoting the frivolous and the kitschy on our collective scale of values. It might also consist of an honest self-inventory.
Here is a start: Look around your living space. Do you surround yourself with things you really like or things you like only because they are absurd? Listen to your own speech. Ask yourself: Do I communicate primarily through inside jokes and pop culture references? What percentage of my speech is meaningful? How much hyperbolic language do I use? Do I feign indifference? Look at your clothes. What parts of your wardrobe could be described as costume-like, derivative or reminiscent of some specific style archetype (the secretary, the hobo, the flapper, yourself as a child)? In other words, do your clothes refer to something else or only to themselves? Do you attempt to look intentionally nerdy, awkward or ugly? In other words, is your style an anti-style? The most important question: How would it feel to change yourself quietly, offline, without public display, from within?
Cluttered walls of Istanbul. This side of the city is evidence of a city that grew so fast and so much that there was no time for design.
The treasure of my grandparents’ photo album. Honduras 1960’s - 1970’s
I wish I could understand better some parts of this experience in this exchange program I am doing. Not only I am in a very unique experience but I also outside and away from all my most loved people and sometimes I just feel coldness from people around me now. I wonder if i am not being nice enough or if I am being too creepy with the people that surrounds me. Somebody would tell me is just a cultural thing with the German people? I don’t think so, I know a lot of AWESOME people here. But there is not enough emotional sharing as I thought. Only work, work, work.
I have also been quite unlucky with girls lately but its ok because it let me grow friendships with more women without any sexual tension from my side which before was quite unlikely.
I did not have anything to write about but today is one of those in which I feel like I should. We went yesterday with a bunch of people and the bouncers asked us if we speak spanish, after finding out we did they did not let us in. I feel outraged about it and from the fury a thought was born: Would be healthy for a human being to pick or have actually a physical fight with another from time to time? I know this is maybe not political correct but sometimes I feel like I should. I feel like a couple of fists against other face would let people get out from them the hate or maybe a couple of fists against my face would remind me about the simpleness of the human life and its vulnerable condition in a emotional way (I know we are vulnerable but when you feel it from your chest instead of your mind is better I think).
I also want to finish the MBA since I am totally tired, bored and yucked at being told everyday how to get a job in offices using excel, wearing suits, drinking like a snob and networking. I want to DO stuff, talk to people, act, move, deal with issues. Sometimes I feel I would be happy working physically than rationally (so to speak) like doing photography for good or learning theatre or playing instruments or even serving people. I consider myself a detail oriented person so I also think I could be a good designer if I had somewhere to start with.
Maybe I just need a hug from mom or making out with a nice-woman-that-gives-me-fuzzy-feelings-in-my-chest or more followers here or some kind conversation (I could keep one with you here). I will photograph my friend Giulia on saturday sin I want more practice with portraits and that gives me nice expectations for this weekend.
Have a nice day and thanks for taking your time reading this!
