вторник, 22 мая 2012 г.

The trials and tribulations of the everyday actor

Source: X

We all see them from time to time, be it on stage in their natural habitat or on cinema screens, crying, laughing, kissing, talking. And the most shocking fact is that although the purpose of our trip is always to see them, they never seem to notice us, even if they're looking us straight in the eye. 

Actors. The word that can be pronounced with both admiration and contempt, or even fear, fear of the emotions they can slip in and out of, slippery as fish. But today's post doesn't quite concern the literal definition, but the more figurative one, because I may have never met a renowned actor with movies to their name, but I know more than enough about the mundane everyday variety to be writing these words. That's precisely why I plan on telling you everything I know about these mysterious creatures as well as the various complications that come with this personality type? hobby? defect? Call it whatever you like.

Sophia Loren. Source: X

Appearance. It's virtually impossible to discern a lifestyle actor in a sea of faces, and it is that way for a reason - these people are often higher skilled professionals than the ones you see on your TV screen. However, common characteristics are enormous amounts of charm and charisma, an easy smile and a loud voice that can be heard several yards away even when it's supposed to be no more than a whisper. They enunciate all sounds properly. 

The other traits vary from actor to actor, for they come in all shapes and sizes. From your fifty-something English teacher to the blonde cheerleader chewing on gum vacantly to the quiet kid who always sits in back, headphones blaring - anyone can be one of the pretenders.

Source: X

The performance. They're called everyday actors for a reason - and that's because there isn't a single day they can live without performing. They might think through every single detail of their persona meticulously several days prior to the actual performance, or it might be just a spur-of-the-moment thing, but either way they never let themselves go out of character.

But doesn't this constant pretending take a toll on their energy levels? you may ask. Yes and no. Naturally, everyday actors are as human as the rest of us, which is why they generally need a lot of sleep to recover for another day of acting. And yet attention is what fuels them in every way. After a well-crafted act they feel rejuvenated, their joy depending directly on the size of the audience. 

Source: X

The curtain call. Yet what kind of joy can you get from simply pretending to be someone else? For many lifestyle actors, dramatics are a form of escapism. They get sick of their flaws, their dull lives, and eventually start inventing new stories for themselves. 

However, the highest point of an actor's day is belief. And the more ridiculous their story, the higher their triumph at playing their part well. And of course, the more they can get away with, the more they want to act in the future. That's why lifestyle actors hardly ever retire.

Source: X

After the show. So what are these people actually like when they aren't acting? The terrifying part is that most of them don't know the answer. After years of acting, lifestylers get lost in their many roles and forget everything about their own identities. This can lead to irrevocable identity loss. The only solution is for them to go back to the time before they started acting: ask their parents to figure out their childhood hobbies, contact elementary school friends, read old diaries... It's no easy path to take, but it's the sole solution to this twisted problem.

However, contrary to popular belief, everyday actors aren't always miserable misanthropists hiding under jolly masks because they don't want to display their vulnerability. In fact, you'll find that most lifestylers are content even away from the public eye, finding solace in books, music, movies, just like regular people. So don't hurry to sever ties with those of your friends who suit the above description: these just might be the most interesting people in your life.

Yours,
Alice

понедельник, 21 мая 2012 г.

When a fashion blog isn't enough

Have you ever considered the existence of other worlds beyond your own? Ever tried to escape your comfort zone, push open its cushy doors and get out into the open, exchanging its glossy peace for something raw, ugly and real? Maybe you've even dreamed of becoming a part of the real world, where anorexia is a problem, not a virtue, and the grey matter in your head is more important than the material wrapped around your body. If some or all of the above pertain to you, then you have come to the right place.

Contrary to popular belief, fashion hasn't always been my prime interest. As a child, I loathed shopping for clothing, preferring the company of my dolls, with which I could spend hours playing in a world all my own. If at six my parents insisted on pink, red and purple, with years they came to respect my polite indifference and bought me whichever clothes I wanted - mostly denim and black, navy or grey cotton. For a long stretch of time the ten year old me was a vegetarian who wore only black sweat pants and loose tees.

However, puberty soon struck, turning my focus to fashion magazines, which I spent hours flipping through in awe. I quickly became a slave to the industry that has almost all women at their knees. But only now, when I've written over twenty posts for a fashion blog all my own, did I realize how little it could give me.

I'm passionate about everything I do, which is why I was stark raving mad about my blog, Lookbook and fashion in general for several months. Now, however, I've come to a realization that it's a superficial hobby to keep as my primary one, therefore I've decided to...branch out a bit? INFINITY+1 is not a fashion blog. You'll find few photos on here and not much gushing about nail polish and skirts. But if you want to see my other side, the darker, deeper, more melancholy, more intellectual side of me that generally lies dormant while the sun's out, you can stay. I've stopped caring about followers ages ago. This is mostly a blog for me and me alone, a place for musings and philosophy, poetry and prose, indignant rants about modern society and alternative movie reviews. You've been warned.

This is what this blog is about, in a nutshell. It's not pretty, but neither is life.

Yours,
Alice