MOD C - Discursive/Imaginative Flashcards
paragraph 1 anecdote 1
The other day I went to Stockland Greenhills to get some dog food for my dogs after a gym visit. I was wearing the classic black bike shorts and top duo and, much like a deer that feels exposed in an open field, I was highly aware of my awkwardness and vulnerability, being consumed by the judging eyes of the people around me. However, as I made my way to the dog food aisle at the other end of the store, I spotted at least ten others wearing their own workout wear, looking nowhere near as sweaty as I looked and appearing to blend into the surroundings. This got me to wonder, can clothes that are labelled as activewear be worn as casual wear? That question occupied my thoughts for a good while.
paragraph 2
These days, we see a lot of people out in public wearing some form of activewear, be it be just sports bra and tights (also known as yoga pants) or a hoodie and bike shorts. It makes sense as it is has become a common fashion trend influenced by social media that has continued to evolve over the past few years. Plus, who wouldn’t want to be comfortable all day?
paragraph 3 tangent 1
These days, social media has an increasingly unhealthy grasp on our lives, influencing our everyday actions. Those include fashion and style choices, explaining the trend of wearing activewear. I mean, it’s mainly celebrities and influencers wearing certain clothes, with all forms of media commenting on their fashion choices, starting a new trend, just like Britney Spears’ with her velour tracksuits and Princess Diana’s viral bike shorts and sweatshirt combo for women. I have worn that combo a few times, but don’t worry, I don’t suffer from the illusion that I look like the Princess in that outfit. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen young boys and men wearing the number and name of many athletes: Lebron’s number 6 for the Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Lakers; and Messi’s number 10 for FC Barcelona and Argentina. Some may also say that the 2000s trend of skinny jeans and mullets has made a comeback – and to be honest, I don’t think many would be pleased by that (me included).
paragraph 4 tangent 2
In the past, social media had played a major role in starting clothing trends of items that are not environmentally sustainable due to having an unethical supply chain that causes environmental degradation. Some may call this the consequences of the production of fast fashion. It didn’t help that websites such as Shein and Temu have been advertised to their maximum extent on social media platforms such as Instagram – particularly the constant posts about $750 vouchers for the completion of certain quizzes. It is shocking to see so many become a victim to such advertisements, as they know that these clothes are way too cheap to remain in good condition for a decent period and decent period of time and most likely exploit their workers overseas but are blinded by the ‘under $20 deals’ in front of their faces. I also get sucked into those scams as someone who’s in the ‘extreme saving’ mode however, I at least try and see if the clothes are ethically sourced.
paragraph 5 tangent 3 anecdote 2
As I was walking to my car, dozens of black puffer jackets surrounding the shoulders of their wearers caught my eye. They were a specific type: the Kathmandu Epiq Women’s 600 that were on sale from $300 to $180. It wasn’t the best deal around, but once people saw that the famous Rebel Wilson was wearing it, they couldn’t resist to buy one for themselves.
That brings me to my next question: is this the start of a new trend with Kathmandu puffer jackets only? I mean, there are a multitude of stereotypes out on the internet that display how Melbourne residents move like a synchronised parade of caterpillars and blend into the urban landscape in the middle of winter as almost all of them wear the same outfit – the ‘highly sophisticated’ black puffer jacket and tights duo.
I mean, it doesn’t surprise me as around 30% of all Australian shoppers use media and celebrities to inspire their clothing choices, an increase of over 5% compared to last year. But what does surprise me is how much popularity the post received, considering the level of commentary on the low carbon footprint these specific jackets have in their production – their main material being recycled ‘pertex quantum eco’ and ‘mini ripstop polyester’.
paragraph 6 conclusion plus mini anecdote
It is quite amazing yet so embarrassing to see how the human race is completely blinded by the offers displayed on social media, feeling the need to change themselves for the purpose of aligning with collective viewpoints, completely eradicating any sense of authenticity they possess. A few years ago, my brother asked if I would be one of those people who imagined themselves to be sucked into “buying whatever social media stuck in my face”.
And, while holding a pair of converses of the exact style that Taylor Swift was spotted wearing, I said “Yes”.
imaginative planning
title: in the midst of life we are in death ..
a girl harley has just jolted awake after closing her eyes for a second as a result of her experiencing ptsd
short flashbacks are integrated
motifs - crimson/red representing blood - links to harwood’s motif of blindness of the owl.
