ginny t. 9/19

I walked out of class Tuesday feeling a little uneasy, and not because I found out that it was "Talk Like A Pirate" Day. Instead, the unease came from a creeping sense of recognition.... While I fully admit to being a platinum card-carrying member of the consumer culture these theorists are constantly touting as the downfall of society, I also realized that day that I am firmly entrenched in the "culture of distraction." When I'm not grappling with concepts for this class, you can often find me picking up a pre-made dinner on the way home from school, bidding for Louis Vuitton bags on eBay, and/or eagerly watching the latest episode of America's Next Top Model. As trite and shallow as that may seem, that is pretty much my life, in a tiny, glittery nutshell. Arg, matey.

Distraction is good, though. If I'm distracted by things like work and decorating my house and Tyra Banks, then I won't have to concentrate so hard on the fact that the world literally seems like it's going to Hell in a (designer) hand basket. And frankly, what can I do to change the course for all of humanity? Sure, I can be a conscientious consumer, and I try -- I didn't even try to win that LV bag from eBay, the guilt and blatant frivolity was just too much -- but really, what power do I have to make a difference? The only thing I can do is attempt to live an "authentic life," whatever that means.