In the past week, I’ve seen three films. This is highly unusual. Usually, I see three in a year, so I guess I’ve hit my quota in one glorious swoop, fueled by popcorn gas.
Ironman 3
The Great Gatsby (3D is a must in this case)
Star Trek Into Darkness
I recommend all of them. They’re different on the lightly scratched surface, but they share common themes and storytelling devices. Loud, brash, over-the-top heroes are forced to confront humility through sacrifice. Boldness! They are at their most bold and admirable at their weakest. The villains in the films are twisted into their forms because of pain. They destroy out of anger, heartbreak, and confusion, often used by forces beyond their understanding. Each film features characters who aren’t as they seem.
I have to say The Great Gatsby wins the Best Costume award. Best Sets, too. Maybe Best Soundtrack. Eye candy, ear candy, fast and plush and reeling—just wow. See it in 3D because 3D is actually a character in this film. The special effects are unspoken narrators, a start contrast to wooden Nick. There’s one moment in the film that is so cheesy, my brain nearly curdled. I couldn’t even look at the screen until it was over. I’m curious if friends who have seen it share the same thought. Guess what it was and I’ll raise a toast to you as fireworks launch behind me. Ahem.
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This has been a busy week. I have posts up at two of my other writing gigs.
How a Mom Can Tell It’s May at Mile High Mamas. It’s about how May is the true month of Madness. The end of school signals the end of a normal looking calendar. Every square is spoken for.
Love is a Choice at A Deeper Family. I wrote about advice my husband and I got during pre-marital counseling. Our romance was rather whirlwind, or maybe our whirlwind was romance. We have a good marriage and I’m blessed, but we’ve had rough times. We will again. This is where the choice to love becomes critically important. At our most unloveable we can be most-loved.
By now, you’ve heard what Abercrombie and Fitch’s CEO, Mike Jeffries, thinks about plus-sized women wearing their clothes. To put it kindly, he believes A&F clothes should only be seen on the thinnest of the thin, the most beautiful of the beautiful, the coolest of the cool. Not me. Statistically, not you. These comments were made in 2006, a first-grader ago, but have recently resurfaced. His opinion has created a new firestorm of righteous indignation.
Earlier today, I watched a video produced by a young man with a big idea. If you haven’t seen it, watch:
First, I want to say Greg Karber, the guy behind the idea and the entertaining and well put-together video, has his heart squarely in the right place. I agree Abercrombie & Fitch are a terrible company for many reasons, and not just because of this latest controversy. I’m not absolving them or letting them off the hook at all as I’m about to gently question Mr. Karber’s campaign.
In case you couldn’t or didn’t watch the video, his idea is for everyone incensed by A&F to shop at thrift stores or clean your closet of all A&F clothing, then give it to homeless people. On the surface, this seems like a small but grand gesture: Change A&F’s customer profile from cool kids to the poorest of the poor AND help someone in the process. Seems like a win-win.
As I watched the video with a smile on my face, laughing out loud at several points, I began to get a little uncomfortable. The homeless people living in Los Angeles’ “Skid Row” seemed confused by having clothing randomly left with them or handed off like footballs as they were secretly filmed.
I began to formulate an imaginary dialogue.
Rightfully Justified Abercrombie Hater:Here are some used pants made by a company I despise. They only like thin, young, beautiful, rich people and to drag down their brand, I am giving them to you because you are exactly the opposite of these qualities.
Homeless Person:Um. Thanks?
I’m not sure if they agreed to be on camera. Were they made aware they are a part of a campaign to shame A&F? Do they know they were chosen because their abject poverty and hopeless situations make them everything Anti-Abercrombie? (I would totally welcome any answers if you know)
In an attempt to “change their brand” we are encouraged to use the most downtrodden of our society to make a point. It’s estimated that 2/3s of homeless people have mental health and/or substance abuse problems. It goes beyond being poor and being out of CEO Jeffries’ dream demographic. We have the luxury to boycott and condemn A&F in any way we want. We can congratulate ourselves for sending a message to A&F and helping others at the same time.
But when the others are pawns, and statistically unable to understand—or even care—that the sweater foisted on them is to make a First World Problem point, it troubles me. A shirt is a shirt is a shirt. Give until it hurts, I encourage you. Is a vile brand damaged because an adrift, possibly drug-dependent homeless woman is now wearing the brand’s douche-bag shirt? It makes the woman a prop. It confirms homeless people are so low in society’s totem pole that the mere act of wearing a used shirt could bring a company to its knees. It’s hoped.
People are not picket signs or t-shirt slogans or hashtags. The homeless in this anti-A&F campaign were chosen as the recipients because of their status and their status only. Isn’t that the same thing CEO Jeffries is doing? He prefers certain customers because of their status and their status only.
The best way to fight people like Jeffries is to blur the lines between status. Change definitions of what’s beautiful. Don’t shop at Abercrombie & Fitch. Give away your A&F clothing, for sure, if that’s what you’re led to do. Maybe a better way is to sell it and donate funds to an organization that promotes healthy body image in women and girls—or the homeless? Maybe repurpose A&F clothing into diapers or kitty litter pan liners and brag about how well the cotton jersey from a former polo shirt catches your son’s poo. Good job, A&F!
Again, I truly believe Greg Karber has his heart and attention in the right place. Clearly, he’s a talented guy who is using his skills for good and not evil. I applaud him for doing something and inspiring others. My main wish is for everyone to be mindful when we target one group of humans (who totally deserve harsh criticism) by enlisting another group of adult humans without their full consent, without inadvertent insult. Dignity for all, right?
The next time you put a dinosaur on a shirt, consult my son. You are insufferable to him.
Warmly,
Gretchen
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Sam loves dinosaurs. He’s loved them since he was a toddler. At age four, he taught himself how to read. I think his motivation, for real, was so he could read about them without me interjecting my opinion: “Isn’t that a cute triceratops?” He’s spent years devouring information, facts, maps, and paleontological history. Some of his greatest heroes are paleontologists and other scientists.
He has credibility. Naturally, when I see objects with dinosaurs, I think of him. A few months ago, I found this onesie at Old Navy. Because it didn’t come in a Boys’ Size 12, I bought it for Ollie. It says “T-REX-ELLENT.” Get it? Get it? Heh.
RAWR
I dressed Ollie in it and showed it to Sam. He shrugged and went back to watching TV. I said, “Sam! Do you see what it says? T-REX-ELLENT!”
“That would be funny if that were a T-Rex.” he answered.
“Um, it is a T-Rex!”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“An allosaurus.”
“How can you tell it’s an allosaurus? Because allosauruses like green glasses and bow ties?”
“No, because it has three fingers. T-Rexes only have two.”
“Maybe this is a rare three-fingered T-Rex?”
“It’s an allosaurus.”
Old Navy can correct future editions of this garment by using “ALLOSAUR-IFFIC!” or “ALLOSAUR-AGEOUS!” Also, I have it on good authority they like neckties.
