The Pressures of Fitting In....and Not Fitting In

For all teenagers, there's always been the pressure of fitting in, or to be a part of the in crowd. We've all been down that path before; just some of us choose not to conform to what the media considers "cool", "trendy", or "the latest fad."

Teens are always concerned about the latest trend in everything; from bright American Apparel sweatshirts, neon coloured sneakers, silly bandz, and keds, to Formspring, iPhones, and Blackberries (and no, I ain't talking about the fruit, but you already knew that didn't you? My point exactly). Buy the right pair of shoes and BAM you're in the cool crowd all of a sudden. It's pretty crazy when a single materialistic object can change one's social status at school.

But in recent years, there's been a new trend...of not following the trend. And no, that was not a typo, you heard me right: not following the latest fad. Yes, ladies and gents, I'm talking about hipsters. Suddenly you're too mainstream, listening to Katy Perry and wearing a Hollister hoodie just like everyone else, and you're not that cool anymore. You're cool if you listen to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, buy your groceries at organic food stores, and wear slouchy knit hats, unlike everybody else. It's funny how the world works, isn't it?

It's actually kind of ironic. You don't want to try too hard, and yet you're trying too hard to not try too hard. You don't want to follow the latest trend, and yet you're following the latest trend of not following the latest trend. I can respect hipsters who do their own thing because they want to, and not because they want to seem cool, or "hip" I should say, because of it. It's always annoying listening to the guy criticize others because they wear the latest fashion trends or listen to radio stations like 104.5 CHUM FM. I sometimes follow trends, and sometimes I don't. I would not consider myself a trend follower or a hipster. I wear and listen to what I want, not because it's in style or cool to do so. But hey, if everyone else happens to like the same band or pair of shorts that I do, then that's cool too.

Fashion: It's a Culture

I would consider myself quite the avid reader, as I enjoy reading works from a wide range of genres. From Harry Potter to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I would say that I'm pretty well-read. But I also enjoy reading fashion magazines. Yes, reading fashion magazines. My friend got me a Teen Vogue subscription for my birthday and ever since then I look forward to picking up the mail.

The magazine is not comprised strictly of clothes, shoes, and accessories, as most would assume, but more of fashion as a whole. Fashion as a culture. Teen Vogue also includes new indie music and articles about designers/journalists/artists/models that talk about their life ambitions and dreams. Fashion isn't just a bunch of random clothes put on a model; it's an art form that artists(designers) use to express themselves and show the world.

And it's not just the content of the magazine that is intriguing, it's also the actual layout and design of the magazine. The bright and bold colours invite you in along with headlines screaming out at you in block letters or pretty cursive. The magazine delights all of your senses; you see the glossy bright photographs, you smell the Givenchy perfume escaping from the middle of the magazine, you touch the smooth feel of the pages, you hear that satisfying flipping sound from turning the pages, and you can practically taste that ice cream sundae that's in the background of the photo shoot.

I love how the magazine often features models of different backgrounds wearing clothing reflecting another culture. In a recent issue there was a model wearing a dress influenced by the people of Africa and another issue had Selena Gomez wearing a kimono which is obviously inspired by the Japanese. I also like the way the teen models are portrayed in Teen Vogue. It breaks the stereotype of snobby anorexic models who worry about their hair and makeup 24/7. Instead the models shown in the magazine have dreams (not necessarily relating to fashion) and have normal hobbies like horseback riding, singing, dancing, ice skating, and listening to music. I would encourage more teen girls to give this magazine a go; it's not "girly trash" as most would think. I'm not a sparkly pink loving girly girl, and neither am I tomboy, but I love Teen Vogue.

The Fashion Industry Wears the Pants (and designs them too)

It's hard to believe apart from designing clothes, shoes, and accessories; the fashion industry can also manipulate and influence the public as well. The fashion industry creates a huge impact in our society, sometimes without us even realizing it. People are fascinated with keeping up with the latest trends and must-have items. Even if it's an ugly fur miniskirt or mustard yellow liquid leggings, fashionistas are bound to conform, no matter how ridiculous the garment may look. But then again, fashion is art, so it may appeal to some and not to others. If the designs weren't associated with fashion houses like Gucci, Prada, or Louis Vuitton, people would view them differently and with a more open mind. The public is also inspired by notable designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander Wang, and Marc Jacobs. Fashion designers can be seen as iconic to many people interested in pursuing a career in the fashion industry, or who are simply just interested in fashion. Similar to actors or musicians, it's pretty amazing when a designer starts off at design school and later on becomes a style influence for the world.

Personally, I enjoy the designs from Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and Louis Vuitton. Even though these brands are contrasting, in terms of style, they all still appeal to me. Marc Jacobs' designs emit a fun, bold, and quirky essence, while Alexander Wang's work has an effortlessly cool and edgy feel to it.

It's a diverse place out there in the world of fashion and we can quite easily be swept away by it.

THE BOOK OF AWESOME

Sometimes we just need to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Come on, let's just chill for a minute and forget about essays, assignments, and all the other things that worry us. And let's just pick up The Book of Awesome...

This book is truly, well, awesome. The idea to write a novel entirely comprised of a collection of the little pleasures in life is so simple, yet so genius. The author, Neil Pasricha, has successfully managed to put a smile on the faces of all his readers. Say you failed your math test, fallen out of a relationship, got into a fight with your parents, or are just having a bad day; The Book of Awesome can make you forget it all. Even after reading one entry, you automatically feel a sense of relief and start to feel the smile spreading across your face. I love Pasricha's down to earth and comedic sense of humor reflected in his writing. Sometimes we take too many things for granted and we don't notice all the awesome things in life-until someone points them out. So I thank you, Mr. Pasricha for making our lives that much more awesome.

And now for some of my personal favourites:

When you're watching one of your favourite movies and you realize you don't remember how it ends

You get to relive the excitement, the drama, the suspense, the action...

The smell of the coffee aisle in the grocery store

After the fishy smell of the seafood section, you suddenly inhale the fabulous

smell of coffee beans. Mixed in with hazelnut and hints of vanilla, you pause to enjoy that heavenly scent.

The smell and sound of a campfire

The relaxing crackling sound and smokey fumes drifting around the air as

you sit in a circle with your friends and family...

Remembering what movie that guy is from

The moment in a movie when it dawns on me that I know that actor or actress, but sadly can't figure out who it is yet, bothers me for the whole movie. I'm not even kidding; it's like an annoying person constantly poking you in the back. But then the missing puzzle piece kicks in your brain and you figure it out-YES!

Stomping dry crunchy leaves on a sidewalk

CRUNCH TIME.

Correctly guessing if the door is push or pull

You just saved yourself from 2 seconds of humiliation there, partner. Congrats!

The moment after you wake up from a nightmare and realize it was all just a dream

You wake up with a jolt and feel your heart pumping like mad and feel the sweat glistening on your forehead...and then look at your alarm clock. "It was just a dream, it was just a dream..." and peacefully slip back under the covers.

Seeing a liscense plate from home when you're somewhere really far away

"Look! LOOK! They're from CANADA! NO WAY NO WAY..."

(Annoyed sleeping guy in the passenger seat: "And I'm supposed to care, why?")

The moment on vacation when you forget what day of the week it is

You totally erase your work-filled schedule from your mind and lose your sense of reality. Sit back, close your eyes, hear the sound of the ocean, and sip your ice-cold drink. It doesn't get any better than this.

The universal fry-sharing policy

Just make sure you don't take the one perfectly sized fry sticking out of the box; that one's off limits buddy.

Typing in your username and password at the speed of light

Suddenly you're this temporary computer whiz-SKILLS.

The moment on a roller-coaster when you get to the big hill and before you go down it

Just so you guys know, I probably won't be the best person to sit next to on a roller-coaster; just ask my friends. Well, unless you want to be deaf in one ear for the rest of the day.

Taking a spin on a shopping cart

Suddenly you're a little kid again with both your hands on the bar, foot underneath, and back leg hanging out like a figure skater.

The sound of water lapping against a dock

Close your eyes and take it in.

Passing under a bridge on the highway when it's pouring rain

Enjoy those 2 seconds of blissful silence.

AWESOME!

To Infinity and Beyond...

"You've got a friend in me, you've got a friend in me..." Toy Story 3 clearly had a friend at the 83rd Academy Awards. And that friend came in the form of a little gold statue. Without a doubt, Toy Story 3 outshone all the other nominees for the Best Animated Feature Film category. I mean; do you honestly think that a movie about a kid training a dragon could beat this classic Disney film series? Get real.

I think it's pretty amazing how the Toy Story movies managed to be so successful; from the very first film in 1995-all the way to the 2010 last movie in the installment. The really intriguing thing is how-how did it manage to stay at the top?

Well for one thing, the storyline definitely contributed a whole lot to the success of the series. When Toy Story came out in 1995; the concept of toys coming to life excited the general audience. This idea sparked an thought in our minds: what if toys really did come to life as soon as we weren't looking? I mean you never know... Just kidding. (Unless you actually believe that theory, then that's cool too). There wasn't a lot of movies at the time that played around with this idea, so the Toy Story creators reached a whole new level on the imagination scale.

The details in the animation also helped the film franchise gain all its fans. Toy Story was the first full computer-generated animated movie created! All the little details that the movies include really give it style. I've always liked how classic toys; such as the barn animal sound effects wheel, Etch A Sketch, play-doh and monkeys in a barrel; are shown in the flicks. It's pretty cool that the audience is able to spot board games such as Monopoly and Sorry in the movie; you have to admit it's pretty legit.

But the one thing that sets this Disney movie apart from the others is the characters. The characters just have so much depth to them; and that allows the audience to get more attached to the story. As the movies progressed, the audience was able to relate better to the characters. If we all didn't love Buzz Lightyear so much, we probably wouldn't care at the scene where he figures out that he's actually a toy. We would have been like "Ha, the loser can't fly. Big whoop. This movie sucks, when is it over..." Yeah, you guys get the picture. And of course all the characters add their own sense of humor to the story-they're honestly all quite hilarious. Whether it be Rex being silly or Ham making yet another sarcastic remark, it still gets me every time.

So if any of you claim to be too old for a Disney movie; just know that you're never too old for Toy Story. There's always something for everyone; and in our teenage years some of the pop culture references or jokes we didn't get when we were younger now start to make sense. To all the "big kids" out there, I encourage you to give these movies another chance. "...But the thing that makes Woody special, is he'll never give up on you...ever. He'll be there for you, no matter what."

Harry Potter vs. Twilight

It has come down to this question: Are you a pothead or are you a twihard? We are talking about two of the biggest phenomenons here in pop culture history: Harry Potter and Twilight. People today are having difficulty deciding where their loyalties lie. I however, have no trouble choosing my side. Boys and girls, I think we can all agree here that Mr. Potter wins this battle. Twilight fans may beg to differ, but I assure you; after reading this post your views are bound to change. Now before Team Edward decides to bite me (or Team Jacob decides to rip me to shreds), I will admit that I am not completely against the whole Twilight franchise. I mean I've seen the movies and read all the books, but that of course does not make me a fanatic. But then again, that makes it fair game for me to compare the two series...

First off, J.K. Rowling is an exceptional writer, and a much better one than Stephannie Meyer at that, because her books are more rich in detail and much more believable (as far as fantasy goes). Even Stephen King said: "The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephannie Meyer can't write worth a [darn]." Now that's a little harsh, but at the same time completely true in some ways. I don't want to spoil Breaking Dawn (the fourth book in the Twilight series) for anyone who hasn't read it, but the ending is a complete waste of time especially after reading 700 and something pages in order to reach it.

The Harry Potter series is better aimed towards both genders as an audience. There is a good mixture of humour, adventure, mystery, and even sometimes a love story on the side. It is also better than Twilight because there are morals in the story worth following by. I'm talking about: courage, sacrifice, love, good conquers over evil, the power of friendship, and that all heroes have flaws. It is harder for me to find morals in the Twilight series (except love I guess). Another point is that I for one find Twilight quite sexist in terms of the characters because Bella is always the damsel in distress and she is constantly relying on Edward to save her. It is particularly annoying in New Moon when Bella is practically a zombie due to moping her head off just because the so called love of her life leaves the town. On the other hand, Hermione Granger of the Harry Potter series, is a clever young lady who is able to take care of herself without clinging to Harry or Ron every minute of the day. Hermione is a character that girls should look up to, not clingy Bella.

Now let's talk about the film adaptations of the two books and the actual talent involved. I'm not saying the young actors involved in Harry Potter are the Clint Eastwoods and Meryl Streeps of our generation, but they sure are better than the Twilight young actors. The audience was able to grow with them throughout the movies because the characters had so much depth. Although maybe I should cut the Twilight cast some slack; it's not their fault they have to follow a cheesy script. I hate how in the Teen Choice Awards (which isn't even a legitimate awards show in my opinion) Twilight wins a countless number of times just because they have good-looking actors. But then of course Twihards will argue that the Twilight cast is actually made up of talented young actors. Oh really? What are the acting qualities that teenage girls find exceptional in the Twilight saga? Is it Taylor Lautner's forced intense expression, Robert Pattinson's beady eyes, or perhaps Kristen Stewart's constant frowning and lip biting? I didn't think so.

Now I don't mind if you enjoy the Twilight saga because of the plot and characters, but if you prefer the series over Harry Potter just because "they have hotter actors," then that is despicable. Choose what you want to believe after reading this post, but Harry Potter will always be the better series in my mind. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, vampires and wizards; my work here is done (for now). Mischief Managed.