Thesis: Project Runway as Cultural Lens.

WARNING: Highly subjective, opinionated, sweepingly generalized and probably factually inaccurate (not to mention ridiculously long) blog post ahead.
As always, feel free to weigh in with your own opinion in the comments.
Also, this is like my 104th post! Somehow I keep missing the milestones. What luck that they're of no interest to anyone else.

I've been feeling homesick for my people. It started when I was watching the Australian version of Project Runway.

First of all, Aussies swear a lot. And swearing is much less restricted not only on network television but also on cable* TV. The Aussie Project Runway contestants were swearing their hearts out constantly. We're simply not that offended by it. I'm not saying preschoolers and old nannas are telling each other to eff off, but we just don't take it as seriously as Americans do. Particularly blasphemy, which is barely considered swearing at all, at least in terms of television censorship.

Not only that, simply the way Australians interact with one another is different. The difference is almost indefinable but I think this is what it is:

1. Aussies don't like putting themselves forward.
This is why the Australian version of Survivor failed and why the Aussie Project Runway contestants were dreadful at team challenges - no one wanted to tell other people what to do.
The Aussie Tim Gunn replacement didn't say "You have to pack your bags and leave", he said "I'm going to need you to pack your things and leave", thereby distancing himself from what was essentially an order. He made it sound like he wasn't telling them to leave, he was just letting them know that it needed to happen.
Americans tend to like trying things and are not afraid to take charge. Australians don't want to be seen as thinking they are better than you...

2. ... but they will never let you think you're superior to them.
American politeness involves a kind of deference that most Australians would choke on**. Americans tend to expect it should you be perceived as their social inferior in some way (like a waitress or a younger person). As a simple example, here in the South they are particularly fond of calling people "sir" and "ma'am", whereas in Australia you will often be called "mate", "darl" or "love" by people you've only just met (especially old ladies in fish & chip shops for some reason).

Aussies aren't rude exactly, they just don't kowtow to the idea of a class system. The working-class man is the idealized cultural icon of Australia, which probably has something to do with the current culture having been created by people from the lower echelons of the British class system... Oh crap, I think I just contradicted myself. I think what I mean to say is, there is some sort of class system inasmuch as there are different socio-economic levels in society but we place less importance on those levels in our interactions, and the highest level is definitely not the most respected.

We are appropriately polite, respectful to our elders and in professional situations, but there is an inherent understanding of equality as people that I believe flows through all Australian interactions.

One of the greatest sins in Australian culture is to be "up yourself" or arrogant, and if you are suspected of this great crime you will be mercilessly cut down - the downside of which is that often if you want to achieve great success you have to move somewhere like America where self-confidence and self-assurance are considered valuable and you can get a lot more arrogant before it starts grating on people.


*There are 5 free-to-air networks and cable TV exists, but is nowhere near as prevalent as in the US. Satellite TV is more or less unheard of, or at least was when I left.

**This may be why hospitality service in Australia seems to be a bit crappier than the US. Australians do not enjoy being in a position of servitude to other people, and compensate for it with a snotty attitude. Also they get paid a decent wage, so they don't need to kiss your arse*** for tips.

***I'm spelling it the Aussie way for this post; it seemed appropriate.

Thesis: The fall of Beyoncé.

I read somewhere recently that Michelle Obama took her two daughters to a Beyoncé concert and afterwards took them to meet her and told her that she was a role model for them. What was Michelle thinking?! I mean I still quite like Beyoncé's music, and she used to be quite the inspiring girl, but these days? I would not want any daughter of mine emulating her.

Back in the day, Destiny's Child were probably the first step I took to admitting to myself and the world that I enjoyed popular, and particularly "modern R&B", music. You could sing along (until they did their vocal acrobatic bits), you could dance to it, and it just sounded good.

Beyoncé was clearly the standout performer of the group, especially when they shed a couple of girls and became Beyoncé and the Other Two for the album Survivor. I loved that album, and I enjoyed the messages they sent in their songs that were all about being a powerful independent woman, able to take care of oneself and not relying on a man although enjoying their company quite a lot. I also found it quite sweet that they included an a capella gospel song bonus track dedicated to their singing teacher.

When Beyoncé's solo album came out, I wasn't as fond of some of the songs as I had been of the DC songs, but I still got the CD eventually. I grew to love most of the songs on that CD as well.
In particular the song Yes, about ditching a boy who tries to pressure her into sex, which I believe every teenage girl should listen to:

You said I moved too slow
I showed you to the door
You said you'd call me later
I said don't call no more
It is cool if you can't wait for me
I'm glad you let me know
Cause you showed me your true face baby the first time I said no

I said yes to your number and yes to you dating me
Yes we can be together but you gotta wait for me
The first time I said no
Its like I never said yes (like I never said yes)

There were other songs touching on such worthy topics as relying only on yourself rather than other people, ending toxic relationships and so on.

However, the shape of things to come was heralded with the clip for Baby Boy, a duet with Sean Paul, wherein she writhes around and gasps in the manner of a lady having an extremely private moment.

Fast forward to the present day.

Her current album doesn't seem to contain any "message" songs, unless the message is that only diamonds can secure affection (Single Ladies) and double entendres can be so obvious as to be almost single entendres (Ego). She's wealthy and successful, but she didn't do it by herself; her parents and particularly her manager father have masterminded every step.

Further, she is now married to a man whose musical record and personal history show very little respect for women. Jay-Z refers to women in his songs as bitches and hoes, and is known to have consorted with groupies throughout his career. Not only that but he proudly and publicly credits his current success as a rap mogul to his previous career as a drug dealer, particularly in the song Roc Boys:

I wanna thank my connect
The most important person
With all due respect
Thanks to the duffel bag
The brown paper bag
The Nike shoe box
For holding all his cash
Boys in blue who put greed
Before the badge
The 1st pusher whoever made the stash

What happened, Beyoncé?