The Tapestry
I
was repulsed to learn that the June ’07 Harper’sBazaar cover will
feature Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie. Is this what a major fashion magazine
with a 140 year history has sunk to? Featuring untalented, useless airheads who
love to publicly flaunt their self-degradation yet need to disappear out of the
public’s sight and get their miserable lives in order. These young and
disturbed women need to be institutionalized, flushed out, sober-up and come
into focus as they are causing too many young women to imitate their lousy
behavior…and educators like myself have to deal with their debris.
In the October 26, 1998 Tapestry
entry, I commented on how, “Mothers have failed, Fathers have failed,
families have failed…and each wants a scapegoat, failing to look within,
accept, purge and improve…it is a cycle that can be broken if each person takes
self-responsibility and stop blaming others for their shortcomings, problems or
failures.” I saw then the burgeoning next generation’s gravitation towards
valuing The Seven Deadlies more than their Seven Virtuous
counterparts. Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed, and Sloth vs.
Humility, Kindness, Abstinence, Chastity, Patience, Liberality and Diligence.
The latter outweighs the former- in a civilized society. These tenants are what
parents must not only teach, but embed in their offspring’s minds as “the first
teacher is home”. These misguided youths have no guidance and unfortunately,
when they are let loose on society, discord follows and thus delinquent and
criminal behavior ensues. What is attractive about that?
Harper’sBazaar magazine celebrates its
140th anniversary this year as “the longest continuously published
fashion magazine in the world”. Throughout the year, its gorgeous history is
being highlighted within each issue. My Mother was a subscriber, and now I am,
as it is important to keep abreast of the latest in fashion and beauty,
lifestyle and entertainment and well-being. Intelligent and sophisticated women
were always the intended audience and the cover featured true models. Which is
why I am repulsed by the upcoming Paris Hilton- out-of-control, vulgar,
ignorant and irresponsible heiress- and her Simple Life co-star and
equally troubled friend, Nicole Ritchie. I DO NOT ADMIRE YOUNG WOMEN WHO
PROMOTE SELF-DESTRUCTION!!! I DO NOT APPRECIATE BAZAAR FEATURING THEM ON THE
COVER…THEY ARE NOT WORTHY. (See August 17, 1999 Tapestry entry)
What have these young women accomplished other than being wealthy, spoiled,
clueless and offensive? What have they
contributed to society other than more sleaze? What type of example are they
setting for the next generation of young women who follow popular culture like
it is a religion? What purpose do they serve? Why are they on the cover of
Bazaar? True, they can afford the featured merchandise, they are excellent
customers; but money cannot buy class. It’s obvious. They are a disgrace
to Harper’s Bazaar’s history, past and present subscribers and many of
the accomplished and refined women who are never featured in its gilded
pages.
Instead of featuring actresses and singers
on the covers, it would be wise for the fashion industry to re-adjust its
tuning and resurrect the cover MODEL a la Iman, Carmen, Beverly Johnson, Lauren
Hutton, Gia, Linda Evangalista, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, et al. I am
sick of every fashion magazine resembling an entertainment publication rather
than what it is suppose to be about: FASHION. I have found more inspiration in
the kingdom of fashion and designers than in any actress or singer, as the
designer is more artist than manufactured robot that performs for a greed and
lust driven entertainment machine. It would also be wise to push the celebrity
to the back of more top fashion shows as their presence interferes with and
distracts from the fashions. I miss CNN’s Style with Elsa Klench, which
focused on fashion, beauty and decorating- a mainstay for Saturday mornings
back in the day.
Feminism is still evolving yet with the
continuous and rapid spewing out of pop-tarts and airheads on the masses, we
are experiencing a throw back: women are
not meat, candy or toys. Academia must flex its muscle, put this madness in
context with the world and its future and crush The Repulsive in all its
forms.
Gabrielle Lin