MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) Store is showcasing products that highlight Japanese lifestyle. These products are usually things you can only find in Japan - but MoMA is offering them to us. Below are a few of my favorites.
If you would like to browse MoMA’s collection for yourself, feel free to visit their website.
Some of you folks already know what a paper nerd I am. I have boxes full of dead trees in various colors, patterns, weights and weaves. I have a secret dream of opening a papery one day selling cards and stationary that were made by small letterpress shops all over the world.
Urban Bark Papers makes my toes curl - in the good way. They are based in Southern California and specialize in card collections for various special occasions. It appears that they will soon offer custom design wedding invitations.
What I like most about these cards (especially the baby collection) is the use of contrast. They use multiple fonts and colors to create artwork that is both nice to look at and intriguing. These are the kinds of cards I’m not embaressed to put on my mantle for everyone to see.
Urban Bark Papers can be found in limited places across the nation. If you would like to find a store near you check our their website.
Of the Twilight novels released, I have read two. I am on the cusp on acquiring the third. I’m torn. I don’t actually like the story or the way its written. Yet, I continue to read them hoping that Meyer will answer all the questions that have planted themselves in my brain and nag to be answered.
But I didn’t start this post with the intentions of discussing my problems with the many holes in Meyer’s storyline. I will wait until the fourth installment is released and if I still have questions - then I will rightly be pissed and will vent via my wordpress.
That said, I come to the point. I hate Isabella Marie Swan.
Colorless, immature, pathetic, helpless, dependent, and insecure are all character traits I would never have in my female lead. And yet, Meyer has done surprisingly well considering that her main character is utterly horrible. I inclined to think that the only reason why people keep reading these books is because she has successfully made her vampires mysterious (read above about unanswered questions).
Back to my focus of literary hatred, Bella. I usually expect by the second book in a series to have some grasp on a character. Whether it’s something as simple as their favorite color or as complex as their life goals, I expect something. Bella delivers nothing. Before she meets Edward she has no ambitions. I don’t even know what she likes. She’s empty space. How Edward manages to fall in love with someone so vacant, is beyond me.
After she meets the Cullens she finally shows interest in something - Edward. She also manages to acquire an ambition - becoming a vampire. Not groundbreaking stuff here, people. After she becomes involved with Edward she alienates herself from her acquaintances and old family friends. She threatens her long standing relationship with Jacob.
Edward’s character, on his own, would not have bothered me. However, when he’s with Bella, I suddenly feel transported to the early 50’s when women were meant to sit around and wait on their men. Bella is nothing short of Catherin of Aragon who despite having had her heart broken a thousand times still suffers her lover’s presence and doesn’t show any emotion regarding her mistreatment.
The sexuality in the book leaves much to be desired (no pun intended). Edward is always suppressing Bella, making it appear as though Bella were nothing but a wanton whore. It reminds me of the way women were viewed in the dark ages - temptresses to the virtue of men.
There is a group discussion at my local Borders about the Twilight series and I have told my husband that if I were to go join in I would likely be banned from ever returning.
Meyer pleads with us throughout the book that Bella is smart and interesting and everything a guy could want from a girl. I wonder who exactly she’s trying to convince. Bella makes stupid choices; she’s not rational; she has no personality. Clumsy, I can excuse. Magnet for trouble, I’m game. But out right stupidity goes against everything I find attractive about a female lead.
The books have done well though, despite being lackluster. Like Edward, they are shiny, pretty, romantic, and whisper sweet nothings in your ear before bed time.
If Meyer can write the Twilight series and become a successful, famous lady - then what’s stopping me from doing the same thing. I could write a thousand pretty, yet empty, stories about vampires and girls. Maybe I should do that. I bet I would have more chances in becoming a #1 Best Seller than winning the lottery.
For over a year, Design Robot served as a portfolio of my student work. I’ve decided to give it a makeover.
I’ve kept a Livejournal account for over 3 years now. I originally attempted to import those posts into this website via WordPress, but as I was editing and creating categories I realized just how random most of the entries were. This defeated the purpose of what I would like to do here.
Disclaimer aside, welcome to Design Robot - the receptacle for future entries about whatever in the hell I feel like posting will find itself.