Artifact 3: Personal Adornment
Objective:
– Evaluate personal values and paradigms around body decoration and physical beauty
– Investigate how physical appearance affects definitions of identity and belonging
– Analyze values and belief systems of physical appearance across culture, sub-culture, and generations
ORIGINAL POST:
#First person
I saw an interesting man when I was studying in the first floor of library. He has long brown hair and “unkempt looking” (but it is clean) and nicely trimmed moustashes. He wears fringed leather vest and hip huggger, bell bottom jeans with wide leather belt. Shaking his body while singing at leisure. I think he is a typical hippie in America, leading a enjoyable life and following his own life rules. I feel like he is a cheesy guy who cares more about the happiness than money. He can do whatever he likes no matter the art painting or truck driver. Besides,my first assumption is that he might not be a student in UO because he looks over 40 years old and he just checking books about music history in the library when I glanced to him unconciously.
#Second person
A beautiful girl came into my eyes when I ahead to Duck store at noon. She wears a exqusite makeup which gives a complete coverage for all kinds of skin imperfections. Wearing a khaki color coat and fashion shirt inside, black knee boot and a delicate handbag makes her like a pretty lady boss. I am thinking she is a Chinese girl who comes from an affulent family because Asian girls are good at fashion in school instead of the simple sporty hoody among the American students. And she has a traditional round face with a pair of intense eyes. She is serious about her academic work as I heard she is making a appointment with advisor afternoon. And my assuption is correct when I heard she speak Chinese with her friend in front of the Duck store. It will not happens a lot that Chinese people love to have body piercing and exaggerated tatoo in obvious position.
#Third person
The third individual is the one I met on the way to the gym. I saw a sunshine young man wearing a pair of running shoes, shorts and sport T shirt which is the typical American student in my mind. In my point of view, American boys love doing sports and weight exercise, which make them look more strong and handsome. The man probably has a positive emotion towards the life, which will not only makes them excellent in sports but also on relationship and study. Because the one who loves sport has the belief standing out of the crowd.
In sum, it looks like we live in a colorful world with different kinds of people. It makes our lives harder to some extent because we have to learn how to get along well with different characteristics. However, we can summary some features by the outside adornment because people dress in a certain way to convey what they want to be seen by others. Like McShane mentions that “My parents- everytime I come home with something new, they are freaked out. That shock factor probably has a lot to do with. I love watching the reaction” (1995 p.20).
REFLECTION:
It is very interesting to value others from the personal adornment. I found my perspective and my classmates’ assumption on interpretations of people’s appearance are different. It was great to understand the difference that people holds and it made me interested in the background the growing experience that brought them to the point today. However, it is enjoying to see that people dress in a certain way to convey what they want to be seen by others. And I enjoyed the assignment because it allowed me to look at my personal adornment.Actually, I feel unaccepted to wear exaggerated adornments like skull tattoo on my arm or ring earrings. I believe the personal values should be related with family beliefs and influenced by peer community due to my own experiences.
FUTURE:
There is no doubt that the personal opinions on the adornment will change with the days going. And it will be a good experience to find the changes with the time and trends change. I will continue to look seriously into my personal values and find the best style for myself.
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