The Cycle Thirteen Petites

So you'd think that after thirteen lengthy cycles of America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks's hit reality television show would have finally gone bust; but, if you thought that, you thought wrong. After seven years of cranking out this garbage, people are still watching it, including myself. If there's one thing that's always true about reality tv, it's got to be the undeniable addiction viewers find themselves with as they continually tune in.

As good as Ms. Banks's intentions may be, it's difficult to disguise the fact that ANTM is merely a sugar-coated version of the modeling world truth. I almost laugh at the critiques during judging as I force myself to sit through another round of high fashion, smize, commercial blah blah blah shooting out like bullets from Tyra's rose petal lips into an audience that thinks they've got a clue what the fashion world is like. I hate to sound like jaded bitch but, it's almost impossible to say this is reality. As with most programs that parade around as being an inside look into some facet of the real world, it's quite obvious that the show's projected perception of the truth is skewed. Every season is chock-full of the same clichés of poverty, rape victims, young mothers, and identity crises, all contributing to the greater theme of "rising above".
Not a single one of America's Next Top Model contest winners have gone on to become high-ranking models of the moment. Sadly, for most, the victorious and their claim to fame will remain within the confines of America's television sets. I have yet to see ANTM models anywhere else (with the exception of Cycle 13's Nicole Fox for Wildfox Couture's 2010 lookbook - which I am in LOVE with). So for now, let's just admire these nice photographs.

Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

It's crazy to think about the future, but I guess that's what I get for going through a Ray Bradbury phase. I love that his stories have this calm, eerie quality to them that makes you feel like you're floating around in his futuristic dreams. The amazing cover art is really just an added bonus. People always tell you not to judge a book by it's cover, but honestly, I can't help but get more excited to read when I see some spectacular cover art.

All this talk about the future reminded me of Walt Disney's vision for a perfect future world, his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, A.K.A. EPCOT. It always funny for me to think about how the man who created Mickey Mouse would also be so fascinated by ideas of futurism, but it's really not my place to pigeon-hole visionaries.

Reading about Disney's relationship with EPCOT is always something I like to revisit now and then. It's still difficult for me to fully wrap my head around the possibility that people could be living like the Jetsons. What I love most about this story is Disney's passion for the project and the strong element of technological fantasy that went with it. Sadly, Disney's dream was never fully realized, and EPCOT is now just an extension of his sprawling Disney World amusement park campus.

All the ideas about the future floating around in my head eventually lead to thinking about Lady Gaga. Nicknamed for her theatrical personality with reference to Queen's "Radio Gaga", Lady Gaga is best known for her outrageous getups and magnificent performances that combine music, fashion, art, and technology. It took me a while to jump the Gaga bandwagon, but after doing some research, I have come to really respect and admire her work.

Citing David Bowie and Andy Warhol as some of her references, Gaga manages to push the envelope and make viewers squeal and squirm as she makes every moment a part of one larger performance. With the release of her second album, The Fame Monster, more and more people are taking her work on popular culture themes more seriously.

I loved the duet Gaga did with Elton John at the Grammys, it was a near-perfect match in my eyes. This musical coupling made me consider Gaga's sources of inspiration, and I thought about other artists who were just as flamboyant such as Elton John, and Peter Gabriel. When I evaluate the situation, it's hard for me to believe that people give Gaga such a hard time about what she wears when you take a look at what David Bowie, Elton John, and Peter Gabriel wore.

I mean, if you thought Lady Gaga was "wierd", then ...