Please submit 1,000 words on Gwen Stefani as an iteration of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American Dream, exploring notions of self-invention, sense of place (specifically east coast v. west), the fluidity of gender roles in American society from the nineteen twenties to the early twenty first century and the ever-changing American conception of love and lust, to us by Monday.
Emily: I'm having a really intense re-kindling of my love of Gwen
since were both naturally blonde Italians
Meredith: sounds so Seattle
and god said, let there be Gwen
...and it was good.
Emily: her coolness at that point was actually like, a force
maybe its like a freshman thinking all the seniors are cool, but WHOA
she was super beautiful but didnt seem like she even noticed. then everyone else did and it became all about how she looked
Meredith: EXACTLY
Emily: it was like she was this really beautiful person who also happened to lead a band, then it turned into "she leads this band because she's a hot blonde"
which detracts from everything
Meredith: well yeah, her image sort of contradicted the message. but it didn't matter because she was cool and hot
and still gave a shit, maybe
Emily: I remember buying an issue of YM- april 1996 with her on the cover and feeling powerful merely because i owned something with her likeness
I wish she stayed accidentally beautiful
but i actually still love her journally lyrics
shes just a girl
[LOLOLOL]
like, with crushes and stuff. and wants bro to love her, and then gets her feelings hurt
and shes ok with that
Meredith: and her heartbreak was almost touchable for us bc he's IN THE BAND
Emily: its like she's secure in her insecurities
but maybe shes too pretty for her appearance not to become an issue
or:! the 90s had more room for a female singer/pop star/ recording artist as something other than a sex object?
She came up in the age of Courtney Love but had to survive Britney Spears
Meredith: She could never be her now, like, without getting implants
why is that?!!
desensitization and hypersexualizing "people" aka celebs
Emily: meanwhile, after watching this,
im like I can't WAIT to get a white toner on my hair
WHAT THE FUCK
Meredith: DON'T LOSE THE OLD GWEN!
she is within you
she is within us all
Emily: at least she always kept her lil boobs
which are great
because shes great
Meredith: ALSO WHY IS THAT IN ITSELF REBELLIOUS
Emily: well, the most important thing is to be hot.
and there is only one way to be hot
thus the mold that we are all expected without question to pour ourselves into
I dont have an issue with people expected to be hot
its like, yes, do you! Be hot in the way that you can!
but when there's only one way, ie tall thin blonde with enormous fake tits, thats a human rights offense
Meredith: mmmmhm
man i loved Underneath It All
also i love that her interactions with the camera never ever ever changed
Emily: yes! it's actually a great, really honest love song
which i jut realized
No Doubt: suddenly filed under things that make more sense when youre older
vs 16 and listening while doing homework
I like the line about wanting someone more like her
Meredith: i like the part about riding through the rainforest with boom boxes and dyed hair
Emily: love her reggae phase
which i guess shes still in
via son named Kingston
Meredith: natch progression, given her ska background
Emily: love that she even has a "background"
Meredith: happens to the best of us
don't remember this one at all. Brunette!
Emily: she looks great but the song is forgettable
Meredith: that guy should be hot but isn't
Emily: he's too pretty to be hot
he looks like a stock model
she needs someone with a scar on his face
Meredith: or jaw length curly hair and piercing blues
Emily: and a dirty tank top
and stubble
and a record?
Meredith: ...
i think i just started crying
Emily: i think this is the first time i like felt sincere lust at age 9
Meredith: i'm not crushin' on him so much as i'm crushin on someone singing about a real thing
also he's fucking gorgeous
Emily: they dont make them like that anymore
Meredith: think he would have Cobained himself if it wasn't for gwen?
Emily: 1) yes
2) how is he british and so good looking?
Meredith: see: david beckham
Emily: i am experiencing real emotion right now
Meredith: string instruments
are so real
the realest
moreso than a french horn, even
Emily: this dug a really deep hole in my 9 year old soul
WHY
Meredith: even with that little plunger effect at the opening
well gavin's real
there wasn't a whole lot of this on the mtv
not overly saturated with FEELINGS
Emily: AHHH HIS JAWLINE
Meredith: SRSLY WHAAAAAT
Emily: even with 90s hair!
and hes like apologetic and in pain over failed love
AHHHHHHHHH
he's fucking the camera pretty hard
ok, hes worthy of Gwen
HIS MOUTH
Meredith:
he could make me comedown from anywhere
Emily: fjiuoerauvhbduilslvbudfilnvfudils
i am never saying an unkind word about this band ever again.
Meredith: this is like some Dark Knight shit
also: 90s music videos and the use of "weird rooms"
Emily: via cultural claustrophobia n shit
i cant wait to devote my life to studying 90s rock
i think this was the last time overt masculinity was appealing
Meredith: but it's sensitive
Emily: = ultimate panty melter
like hes ready to go but hes going to ask you first
because he cares
Meredith: OOOOF
grl
he thinks yr smart
Emily: i am crippled by a nostalgia for 1995
prolls gonna get RZRBLD SUITCASE tomorrow
THIS RIFF
built the 90s
Meredith: feel like this got me into air guitar
in the middle of the world on a fishhook, you're the wave, etc.
HAH
Emily: deaf dumb and thirty!
HAHAHAHHAHAHA
// holy shit
it really is amazing how transportive this is
like, i actually remember what it felt like to be ten
through this
Meredith: everything so zen right now
check that shirt
Emily: remember when bands were cool?
i dont think there are cool bands anymore
Meredith: same haircut for forever
because there is no cool
like this is definitely "cool"
Emily: it seemed vaguely dangerous
like, they got it harder than everyone else in a way
there isnt that wall anymore
because we all have blogs
Meredith: his hair, it's like he just didn't give a fuuuuuuck
Emily: "theres no sex in your violence"
Meredith: very simple songs
but yeah. just gettin' it
Emily: also, he was actually saying something
from what i can gather
ah lil choker necklace
so badass
if you look at "big" "legit" bands today, they're just sad, mostly
not pissed
modest mouse or something
everyone's tired
Meredith: sad because they know things will end soon and they are struggling to find authenticity
Emily: no one is thrashin
Meredith: but can't via soundcloud
Emily: ok this is why the internet is the devil
Meredith: no one likes them but everyone "likes" them
Emily: "culture" is music, etc, is so available. Its like a relationship-- everyone is shoving it down our throats and were over it.
nothing is hard to get
Meredith: it's like we get what we ask for
and no ones actually wants that
