(no subject)
Been running into a lot of people I haven't seen since early in college. Funny how these patterns happen. Make small talk, catch up a bit, talk about how my daughter has grown, talk about their weddings... I have the sense that I am starting to measure up to some weird set of prerequisites for 30 somethings. I didn't know I cared about it (in fact, I have been mainly oblivious.) It's hard to talk about, it feels like such foolishness. I wonder if the suburban values are finally sinking in.
No, that isn't true. Artists and academics measure themselves against one another in a different way. It's not necessarily about the job you have now; it's about the jobs you have had over a period of time, and the job you are sacrificing to get into. It's acceptable to be poor, as long as you have a cool apartment, with a lot of things you found in the trash, especially things with peeling paint or finish. You have to have art by other people on your walls. If you have too much of your own, it looks like you haven't been selling any. If you're not poor anymore, it's better to continue dressing like you are, except for your shoes and glasses. You're not suppose to care about having new things, but you do, so you pretend not to. It's ok to have a nice car though. A hybrid, a Subaru, a Volvo or a VW. I once dated someone who said he hated Volvos because of the kind of people who drive them. I don't drive a Volvo, but I remember I laughed nervously, because I would, if it was an older one. I tell people I won't get an IPhone because it's only the first generation. But honestly, I don't give a shit about the new IPhone. I think it's kind of weird that people will save up for things like that, and I cannot fathom having the money and just dropping it on a piece of technology you don't need. I saw a couple pull theirs out at an event this weekend and start taking pictures. It seemed performative to me. Those kind of people own Volvos. (That couple really does.)
No, that isn't true. Artists and academics measure themselves against one another in a different way. It's not necessarily about the job you have now; it's about the jobs you have had over a period of time, and the job you are sacrificing to get into. It's acceptable to be poor, as long as you have a cool apartment, with a lot of things you found in the trash, especially things with peeling paint or finish. You have to have art by other people on your walls. If you have too much of your own, it looks like you haven't been selling any. If you're not poor anymore, it's better to continue dressing like you are, except for your shoes and glasses. You're not suppose to care about having new things, but you do, so you pretend not to. It's ok to have a nice car though. A hybrid, a Subaru, a Volvo or a VW. I once dated someone who said he hated Volvos because of the kind of people who drive them. I don't drive a Volvo, but I remember I laughed nervously, because I would, if it was an older one. I tell people I won't get an IPhone because it's only the first generation. But honestly, I don't give a shit about the new IPhone. I think it's kind of weird that people will save up for things like that, and I cannot fathom having the money and just dropping it on a piece of technology you don't need. I saw a couple pull theirs out at an event this weekend and start taking pictures. It seemed performative to me. Those kind of people own Volvos. (That couple really does.)