My mom is a funny person. Everytime the discussion comes around to fashion or how one presents themself, she will point out (usually after seeing my dad pop out of the closet donning one of his many dapper outfits): "You know, fashion doesn't say anything about the person. Anyone with substance need not worry about how they dress. Their true talents will come out in their actions."

I can already hear the laugh track in this family sitcom. Dapper dad fighting with the righteous Maoist mom on what it takes to "make it". There is a kind of naivete in the suggestion that fashion doesn't matter because humans are afterall visual creatures, and the entire industries of image-making still continue to entertain and append our own imaginations of reality.

When I was young I used to think this was her way of trying to save money and avoid having to buy us kids new fashions for each school term. But now I don't think of it so much. It's just as well. I feel my cleanest when I'm unadorned with the possibilities of visually expressing with my body. I look at myself in the mirror, exploring the nooks and crannies, posing sometimes, making faces, check out my own buttocks: "I'm not so bad."

The ability to create and recognize symbolism and metaphor is one of the gifts of cognition and sentience. Perhaps it's an illusion that we live in a meritocratic society. Image is about difference; it exists to be ingested. But it's comforting to know the family is still one refuge where the dynamics of image-making has not affected the ability to fit in and feel loved. It almost seems to go without saying that a family's unconditional structure of love and acceptance rings true for most everyone. Then what is it that makes us not extend that idea to other people? I know my consciousness is always wavering between this contradiction, a gap between the compassion and contempt. Hmm.. I'm still trying to figure out what to write on this post.. but for the time being...

In the words of the absurdly ironic and hilarious Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer: "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'm just a caveman. I fell on some ice and later got thawed out by some of your scientists. Your world frightens and confuses me!"



(images: James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins, Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer)