11.19.2006

feedback and requests

it has come to my attention that an anonymous blogger is unsatisfied with the commodified, and has asked me to enlighten my readers as to what i'm going to bring to the table and it occured to me that i haven't yet set out to state exactly what my purpose is with this blog. So, i think i'll take the opportunity to do that now.

We live in a society which is cluttered by corporate messages that have taught us to communicate our identities through the conspicuous consumption of commodities. That is, we tell stories about who we are through the things that we buy. We've learned to construct our identities with tools the market has given us: clothing, brand names, foods, you name it. The purpose of the commodified is not to impose one particular judgment as to what is "stylish," "trendy" or "fashionable" on anyone in vancouver or the world, but rather to identify those people who have found ways to use the momentum of our consumer culture to say what is different or unique about themselves given the milieu in which they exist. For example, what is unique on Robson Street, is far different from that on Main Street, or even in a Suburb. The geographic and cultural contexts in which people (co)exist are inevitably influential in determining their disposition towards "fashion" and our society and also towards themselves.

I'm not advocating we comply to the corporate agenda and engage in a mass consumption of goods. But, I do feel it is important to acknowledge that this is the foundation of contemporary western society, and regardless of whether we want to or not, this is how we live. I feel as though we have become active as consumers in our society, but complacent as citizens, as we often neglect to question the fabric (excuse the pun) of our way of life. Thus, I encourage people to engage themselves in this discourse, even if their only means to express themselves are through their dress.

Normally, I try to refrain from responding to comments, but if I have illicited any kind of response from the individuals reading this post, then I encourage you to please articulate your opinions; I will gladly respond. And don't be afraid to indentify who you are, even with just a name. You are fully entitled to disagree and if you feel strongly, then you should be empowered to take ownership of your opinions.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just want to say I really enjoy this blog and I think that purpose is fantastic, especially now that you've made it clear. I personally just enjoy seeing style from around the world (the way people dress tells so much about them) and don't really understand what that person's complaint was.

Anonymous said...

Maaan I wish you hadn't gone on like that. Clearly that anonymous person is just a poohead. As far as I perceived it, this site was about showcasing fun clothes - no one was claiming to be an authority on fashion and I liked it like that. Please don't feel like you have to write an essay to explain yourself. It's your blog: post what you want, fuck that guy.

~kate

Anonymous said...

Yeah, fuck that guy. I have one request, though: post more often!

The blogs you point to as inspiration are great partly because they're updated almost daily -- you get a sense that the writers have their eyes open all the time. I know it's hard when everyone's bundled up in rain gear, but you should totally post more often.

Anonymous said...

Just post shit and stop looking into it so deeply, we don't need whiny fashion blog.

Anonymous said...

PLEASE POST MORE PICTURES!
I AM EXCITED TO SEE MORE!

Anonymous said...

CRAIG!!!

vancouver fashion is tres rad.
but post more.
facehunter posts posts and posts.
i understand u have school and whatnot. but....its always exciting to see u post new shots.
u shoud hire photographers to go scout ppl for ur blog and take pics of em!

Anonymous said...

I agree with most of the other people. Just post more often if possible and forget the other guy. Blogs dont need to have a "PURPOSE", they are what they are. I'm so happy to see a fashion blog about vancouver street style. keep it up!

The Commodified said...

Thanks everybody. I'm flattered to be compared to the facehunter, but let's keep in mind one thing: Yvan has been doing this for a lot longer than I have, and he's built himself an incredible reputation. He gets invited out to a lot of swanky events (ie. NY Fashion Week) where he generates many of his pictures. I can only dream of that, for now. Nevertheless, I'm happy to see I have so much support. I will try my best to post more often because you enjoy what i'm doing!

[ps. sorry for going all academia on you all -- but it is something we ought to consider!]

Anonymous said...

YOU should focus your energy more on fashion and help further the frenzi that is hot vancouver fashion and take alot more hot fashion shots, of hot fashionable vancouverian's, and try to catch them on their most hottest fashion look days. Less on unfashionable unfriendly fashion haters. k cause its not only fashion its your fashion. Not someone else's place to say what fashion is and if there's enough fashion already in the world already, well then say screw it, the world can never have enough fashion, more fashion is goodfashion. It helps curve the follwer's in the wrong directions.

Anonymous said...

It' your blog. 'Nuff said. If someone has to bitch about it, they should be reading something else.

Anonymous said...

The only reason this blog exists is because it's your ticket to scenester notoriety. I do, however, applaud your efforts in translating that into a pseudo-intellectual, self-aggrandizing rant about culture and consumerism. Next time, try to be a little less obvious.

Anonymous said...

*snicker* ok that guy's pretty funny
~Kate

Anonymous said...

It would be cool if you posted pictures of different styles. All the pics I see are of scenesters and the like. Just a suggestion.

Anonymous said...

there's a lot to making a statement. to getting out there and saying 'this is me, take it or leave it' and then there's being fashionably unfashionable. i don't know where it went wrong.

but somewhere along the road there was a fork, and the 'cool' kids picked one thing, and everyone else moved on. move on. this isn't about 'what's uniquly vancouver' this is what all the cool hollywood kids are and what everyone is wearing.
don't call it unique if it isnt.
i like the photos. i like the blog. but seriously. don't call it unique. as some other 'anonymous' said, we don't need another whiny fashon blogger

Anonymous said...

so much e-drama!
shh, relax, it's a blog.

the simple fact remains that if you don't like the content in this blog, don't read it.

can we all shut up now? i know this is all i'll say.

Anonymous said...

too much american apparel and too much hipster

search.

M About Town said...

"The only reason this blog exists is because it's your ticket to scenester notoriety" um- guy- have you ever met this person, I don't think your judgement is very correct.
As for all the posts being from "the scene" -Unfortunately, the average Vancouverite (35 and below)is copying scenester fashion right now, so it makes scense that most of the people look like hipsters but not everyone is (hello- international student on robson).
For my part I really enjoy what you are doing- please try to post more and just a friendly hint don't limit your subject matter- (ie. try to capture as many generations of fashionable people as possible). Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

i'm your biggest fan.

Anonymous said...

Weeelllll this is coming off sounding a little self-righteous if I do say so my self. Guy. You take pictures of, ostensibly, your friends mixed in with a few randoms. This is no great social experiment. It's a goddamn blog, let's not get our panties in a twist over it. We all understand the need for defending your self, but that diatribe just came out sounding, well, soft. Remember what the GZA said: "too many songs, weak rhymes thats mad long; make it brief son, half short and twice strong".

Probably just dated myself on that one, oh well. You wouldn't understand.


At any rate, Maier, hate to call you out, but your robson international student comment? Give me a fucking break, how is that hipster trash? It's a dude who just spent 49 bucks at a zara. Done.

Anonymous said...

this is insane that some mo fo's can spend there fashionable time bad mouthing this blog..geez i just wasted time complaining about the complainners! geez... wake-up, be happy with what ur wearing...but no 725 please.

Anonymous said...

I for one am glad to see asses again. Fer like, 10 years we've been gettin Vice bitches prowling around with fucking man pants (aka square asses). Maybe it was the low rise shit that predicated it, or maybe it was all them Eastern Euro immagrotties toting over their 80's jeans from the motherland. However you slice it, I for one am glad to see round glutties and hips again. Hurrah for womens asses - and just in time for winter!

Anonymous said...

Also.. one last thing.. can you dump the people commenting who talk like they have big dicks, a 5 octave range, criminal records, are really good at basketball and tap dancing and whose feminine members are often portrayed as fat and sassy in the media?
I mean I'd love to hear what black people are saying about fashion in Vancouver, but would the wiggers kindly take their poser act back to fucking Whalley?

Anonymous said...

i heart whalley

Anonymous said...

i heart whalley

Anonymous said...

chalkedup (L) thecommodified!

M About Town said...

"Give me a fucking break, how is that hipster trash? It's a dude who just spent 49 bucks at a zara. Done."

I said it wasn't hipster trash as i was responding to someone who said that only scenesters get photgraphed. Also- that kid most likely spent $29 in Richmond or somewhere to buy what he was wearing. Who cares if it is from zara anyways- you dont have to handcraft your shit to make it look good. Just wear it with confidence.

shallomj said...

Hello!

I've just discovered your blog and love love love it! I don't think there's anyone else covering street fashion in Vancouver and you fill that void very nicely. I'm suprised that I haven't come across your blog earlier, actually!

*secretly hoping that one day you'll take a picture of me on the street...*

I've linked you in my blogroll. Feel free to check out my site and link me back, if you choose!

mcslo said...

You should be charging a fee for this blog. In marketing, it's called a trend book, and shitty jerks pay a huge amount of money to see what the kids these days are wearing, so that they can better and more accurately pillage our identities.

Way to give it to them for free.