"From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines, going where I list, my own master total and absolute, Listening to others, considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me."
Walt Whitman (1819-92)
"When I look back now over my life and call to mind what I might have had simply for taking and did not take, my heart is like to break."
Akhenaton (d. c.1354 BC)
And now, the current weather, from some random person we pulled off the street:
Friday, October 15, 2004
King of Vanity
nar-cis-sism Function: noun
Etymology: German Narzissismus, from Narziss Narcissus, from Latin Narcissus
1 : EGOISM, EGOCENTRISM
2 : love of or sexual desire for one's own body
3 : self decoration for self adoration
Now that I think about it, we've been heading this way for a long time. And now, here we are.
Yeah, let me explain that.
When I was younger, I used to joke that I would know I had "made it" as a musician when I saw my album in Eckerd's drug store. Well, Eckerd's no longer sells albums, but the idea was that they only carried the most mass market items. If you were odd, unique, you would not be on their shelves.
The same thing goes for chain stores like K-mart and the like. If your product is on the shelf there, then you are now pretty much mainstream.
Yesterday I was browsing in a CVS drugstore waiting on a prescription when I discovered that our culture had taken a left turn I wasn't even aware of.
Call me stupid and ignorant, or maybe just unobservant. The fact remains, it has happened.
I know, I know, what happened. Cut to the chase. Sure.
I discovered a product on the shelf named "XCD Improver Tinted Moisturizer" for men. Wanna see it? Here's the web page. Better yet, check out their description of the product line:
"XCD from King of Shaves is a remarkable range of 'enhancement' products that fuse high performance cosmetics technology [as used by women] into skincare products for men that enhance, camouflage and defend - creating a whole new 'look great' language for men."
This is makeup for men. Honest. The web site seems to devote a lot of space to making men less afraid of their products. That might be a smart move.
I, for one, am afraid. Very afraid.
It is going to interesting to see where this ends up. I know I would hate to be the project manager on this.
Then again, it will give some men an excuse to explain those makeup stains on their collars when they get home from work...
Those who live on vanity must, not unreasonably, expect to die of mortification.
Alice Thomas Ellis
