Okay, guys, I know I wrote recently about how I don’t “get” romantic love.  But there is another type of love that I do get.  I’m always the type of person to find pieces of pop culture and fall madly in love with them.  Songs I’ll listen to until I can’t hear them ever again, movies I’ll watch until I know every line, hours spent on Tumblr looking at cast pictures and reading what other people have to say about my favorite TV shows.  I’m obsessive, and mostly unapologetic about it.

Case in point:  I went through a pretty intense “Star Wars” phase (we’re talking posters, action figures, books, an actual lightsaber, a fan club membership… everything).  I was ostracized and ridiculed for it (particularly by one “friend” who is actually just a miserable human being) but I always tried to be honest about my obsession.  It was the purest kind of love.  It made me have swoopy stomach feelings thinking about it, I daydreamed about being a Jedi in class, I drew lightsabers in my notes like girls might write “Mrs. Justin Timberlake” in their notes.  I have a framed photo of me standing next to a Darth Vader and R2-D2 made of Legos (it kind of looks like a prom photo, no lie).

Eventually my “Star Wars” fervor cooled down and I became interested in much cooler things.  Indie music, classic literature, foreign films, and all that pretentious shit.  I was still a pop culture obsessed dork, but I had diversified.

Except for when it comes to television.  I am in love with television.  I think it is the perfect artistic medium.  I think we’re in a Golden Age of television.  I think that television is a great way to bring about social justice and understanding.  When I picture my perfect job, I picture a job in television.  Let me expound on this.

1.)  Why is television the perfect artistic medium?

Well, mystery interrogator, television is perfect because of its format.  It combines words and visuals (and music and tons of other little bits) in perfect harmony, much like film.  But, the structure of a season of television, filled with six to 22 episodes, hopefully followed by one or two more seasons, is perfect.  It allows time for tension to build at the end of every episode and every season.  Rarely (if ever) can you use a cliffhanger in a book or a single film and maintain that delicious tension that lasts a whole week or longer.  I’d say most artists hope that they can stick in the minds of those who consume their work, but those who make TV are almost guaranteed that their viewers will think about their work even after it’s over.

Also, it allows a creator to write and develop wonderful characters and breathe so much life into them.  Think about this:  Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are two of the most recognizable faces in the western world, and yet they can flit from film role to film role and never really have to worry about being “type-cast” because they played one singular iconic role.  Now look at Michael Richards and Jason Alexander.  You might think, “Who?”  Exactly.  You might know them better as Kramer and George Costanza from “Seinfeld.”  The people they are have become eclipsed by those iconic characters they played, which is sad for their careers, but really speaks to the power of television characters.  If you love character (and I do), then TV is the place for you.

To read the rest of this post, head on over to the Chicklitz blog, right HERE.

Sharon Stone

“Oh, hey girlfriend, I think a vulture molted on your shoulder.  You might want to look into that.”  She kind of looks like she wants to steal a litter of puppies and make a fur coat out of them.

Russell Brand

Okay, I know I said last time that I love it when guys take chances on the red carpet AND when they wear navy tuxes.  So you’d think I’d be over the moon for this ensemble, right?  But no.  It’s the plaid that kills me.  He looks like a fancy lumberjack, like Paul Bunyan’s hipster brother.

Helena Bonham Carter

Helena, isn’t being with Tim Burton enough to prove your goth cred?  Must you always be wearing something crazy, black, and/or velour?  And the fan?  I just can’t.  She looks like her dress is made out of the lining of a jewelry box.

Christian Bale

Bale kind of looked like a stiff undertaker.  I hate the black-on-black-on-black look that some guys gravitate towards on the red carpet.  He’s got a black jacket over a black vest over a black shirt with a black tie.  Jesus, Marilyn Manson, we GET it.  Plus there’s the red beard, which makes him look like young Kris Kringle in that old Rankin-Bass movie, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”  But at least he combed his hair this time so he doesn’t look as homeless.

Gwyneth Paltrow

When asked who designed her gown, Gwyneth replied, “Reynolds Wrap.”

Melissa Leo

Did you know Melissa Leo is a Transformer?  Yeah, at the end of the night, she’ll transform back into a doily and return to her rightful home on your grandma’s coffee table.

Anne Hathaway

Whatever you think of Anne Hathaway the Host, she (mostly) killed it this year as Anne Hathaway the Dresser.  This Armani Prive gown she wore during the broadcast is a stunning blue jewel tone, and much different than anything other ladies had on that night.  I also love the off-the-shoulder look.

Sandra Bullock

Red complements Sandra’s hair color and skin tone, and this Vera Wang gown did the job very nicely.  It’s subtle, but with a great shape.

Hailee Steinfeld

For a red carpet newbie, Hailee has been killing it this awards season, opting for dresses that are age-appropriate but not childish.  The pink hue of this Marchesa dress is young, girly and fun.  I love the textured skirt with the light pattern.  Also, she opted to wear Chuck Taylors with the gown for the after parties, which is basically the cutest thing ever.

Mila Kunis

This romantic, ethereal lavender Elie Saab gown went perfectly with Mila’s dark hair.  I love the touch of lace at the bodice, and the texture of the whole thing.

Robert Downey, Jr.

RDJ can almost always be counted on to take chances on the red carpet.  He doesn’t always succeed, but I think this year he did.  I’m a sucker for navy tuxes, anyway, but paired with that white tie and the silk trim on the lapels, and I’m all a twitter for this.

Scarlett Johansson

I would’ve liked this gown without the texturing, if just for the color.  But this Dolce & Gabbana gown goes the extra mile with the pattern and texture.  Working with something burgundy, with a vaguely floral pattern, they took the chance that it could end up looking like upholstery.  But this turned out great.  I really love the sheer lace quality of the top of the dress, around the neckline.

Andrew Garfield

A lot of guys seemed to opt for more complicated tuxes last night – with vests and buttons all over the place (I think I even saw a few double-breasted jackets).  But Andrew kept it nice, clean and simple in a well-tailored suit with a single-button jacket and a classic bow tie.

Helen Mirren

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, but if you look as good as Dame Helen does when you’re the same age, then you must have done something right.  She consistently wows on the red carpet, and this elegant silver gown is no different.  Helen often opts for sleeves, I think, but I appreciate the chance she takes in doing so.  In fact, the sleeves and bodice are easily my favorite parts of the dress.

Cate Blanchett

This is the gown everyone is talking about today.  It could truly be a historical moment in red carpet fashion history.  Cate had balls to go out in something so strange, so very high-fashion.  I adore the texturing, I adore the shape, I adore the color, I adore the little embellishments.  All in all, this Givenchy Couture gown made Cate into a walking work of art.

Amy Adams

Adams hit the red carpet looking very old-school Hollywood.  From the sequined gown to the loose, softly curled hair, to the shape of the dress, she looked every bit the part of a screen siren.  The rich blue color looked tremendous with her hair, as well.  I’m a bit “meh” on the green and silver jewelry she chose, but it can’t really ruin the solid look she has going on.

Anne Hathaway

Like Sandra Bullock, Anne looks good in red.  This is a very structured Vintage Valentino gown.  I love the complex shape of the skirt.  If you look closely along the hemline, you can see the beautiful patterned fabric the skirt was lined with.

It looks like she’s wearing a galaxy.  I love the big poofy skirt on it.  In a sea of beige and tan, this dress definitely stood out.

Anne Hathaway

I was kind of split on this dress at first, but ultimately, the texture of it and the sleeves won me over.  Long sleeves were a trend on the red carpet this year, and Anne worked them well.  The color suits her well, too.

Angelina Jolie

Usually Angie wears shapeless sack dresses in boring colors like black or beige.  I like that she switched it up this year in a lively green, and like Anne, she made a good choice with the long sleeves.

Julia Stiles

Not a dress I saw on many lists – best dressed or otherwise – but I really loved Julia’s get-up.  It’s got a great shape, and she picked a perfect year to wear black (usually it’d be overdone, but this time around it was actually a stand-out).  It’s delightfully simple with just a smidge of texture.

Alex Pettyfer

I love a guy in a well-tailored suit, and British up-and-comer Alex really nailed it this time.  I hate seeing guys in baggy suit pants and jackets that swallow them up.  I also love the casual simplicity of the one button jacket.

Hailee Steinfeld

It’s tough when kids have to dress up for the red carpet.  They have to look elegant but not like they’re playing dress-up, they can’t be childish but they can’t be dressed too provocatively either.  True Grit star Hailee did a great job of ticking all those boxes.  I love the texture on her gown and even the color – it actually doesn’t look like a wedding dress!  Miley Cyrus could learn a thing or two.

Jayma Mays

It’s not so much that I ABSOLUTELY ADORE this dress or anything.  It’s a nice dress – slinky but classy, textured and layered.  But I really love the whole look.  With the beading on the dress and the shape, and her hairstyle and make-up, Jayma looks like she stepped out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.  This is the look January Jones was going for, but didn’t obtain.

Dianna Agron

Dianna was one of the many who wore a light, almost nude color on the red carpet, but she was one of the few who pulled it off.  The color complements her hair color and skin tone.  Her hair and make-up look great.  It’s just a nice ensemble.

Kyra Sedgwick

I’m shocked to be typing this, but I was very fond of the color of this gown.  It stood out like a beacon on the red carpet.  The ruffly, casual quality of the garment gave it an air of the bohemian.  Very nice.

Zachary Levi

Zachary made this outfit stand out with the vest.  Not many guys can rock a three-piece suit, but he pulls it off well.  Men would do well to learn that layers are always a good thing.

Mandy Moore

I just realized how much this dress actually reminds me of my prom dress.  I swear that’s not why I like it, though – I hated prom.  The color is great and looks good with her hair, the skirt is light and ethereal.  A great look, in general.

Leighton Meester

Rarely can someone rock a patterned gown, but the fabric of Leighton’s dress is so lightly patterned, it’s barely noticeable.  Instead, it gives it a stand-out quality.  Again, I’m loving the long sleeves.  I wouldn’t mind seeing more of that at the Oscars.

Robert Pattinson

R-Pattz scored so many points in my book with this ensemble.  His hair looks washed!  His suit fits wonderfully!  AND IT’S NAVY BLUE, BUT NOT OBNOXIOUSLY SO!  Good job, vampire boy.

Mila Kunis

Unlike Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mila rocks the green without looking like a Christmas tree.  It’s simple, but the texture adds a nice dimension to it, and the green is just gorgeous.  I’m also almost always a fan of the one-shoulder strap, asymmetrical look.

Colin Firth

Colin Firth is often one of the classiest male dressers on the red carpet, even more so since he paired up with Tom Ford.  The jeweled buttons on the shirt, the sleek lapels, and the pocket square all make this tux a unique one.  He accessorized too, as well.

Sandra Bullock

Everything about this look appears to be drooping or heading south.  The dress is saggy, it’s a boring color.  Her bangs are hanging down in her face.  She killed it almost every time last awards season, but this year was a disappointment.

Julie Bowen

I actually kind of like the structure of this gown.  However, I hate how ragged those little “flowers” around the skirt and the bust line look.  Like a bunch of wadded tissue.  Then there’s the color and pattern of the material.  It looks like the upholstery on a Goodwill couch.

Kevin McHale

Kevin always tries to go the extra mile to stand out on the red carpet.  Usually his choices are edgy but just classy enough to make him look dapper.  Not this time.  The polka dots on shiny material that make up the suit jacket are tacky tacky tacky.  Looks like he got a bottle of White-Out thrown at him.

Helena Bonham-Carter

Helena looking crazy, what’s new, right?  This outfit has multiple personalities – the top is a different print than the skirt, the shoes are different colors.  It’s not just unique, it’s insane.  She looks like the Wicked Witch of the Vivienne Westwood.

Natalie Portman

I was excited to see how the very fashionable Natalie would handle maternity wear on the red carpet.  It was a let-down, to say the least.  A bland ivory dress with a garish rose at the bust?  Not only is it boring, it’s ugly as sin and it kind of reminds me of a grocery store cake.

Emma Stone

This one was particularly disappointing, for me.  I love Emma.  But not only was her blonde hair a shocker (and it made me have Lindsay Lohan flashbacks), but she combined two of the biggest (blandest) trends on the red carpet this year – sleeves and a peach/beige color – to make one ugly outfit.  The color barely even registered on my television.  She looked like a nude smudge.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Girlfriend looked like a pine tree.  There’s really no other way to put it.  The texture, the color, the shape.  Catherine must have still been in a Christmasy mood.

Christina Aguilera

Is there a piece of this dress missing?  It looks like a fancy slip or maybe a doily from a coffee table.  It’s also the least-flattering dress I saw all night.  Gaudy and not good.

Heidi Klum and Seal

For a fashion model and host of “Project Runway,” Heidi consistently looks awful on the red carpet.  This year she decided to go for a print that screamed, “I look like an ugly Liz Claiborne purse that’s been sitting on the shelf at Macy’s since 1989.”  As for Seal… the suit’s shiny, messy and paired with a pair of nasty looking brown shoes that clash with the black of his suit.

January Jones

I like the flapper look that January is trying to pull off, but it shows too much skin.  The cut-outs on the bust are pointless and distracting.  She looks like Thoroughly Modern Millie in very ancient Greece.

Michelle Williams

Another disappointment from another celeb who usually looks great.  The flowers look like they were cut off of a Wal-Mart baby doll dress in the mid-’90s and pasted haphazardly onto a shower curtain.  Her hair looks great, though.

Halle Berry

“Yeah,  I just took this corset-y lingerie from Victoria’s Secret and sewed on some see-through black fabric and… yeah, that’s my Golden Globes dress.”

• While I initially cried foul at Sarah Palin and the Tea Party, it’s stupid to say those things before we know what Loughner’s motives and political affiliations are.  Besides, this may not be political at all.  However, the fact that one could so easily draw a line between the shootings and Sarah Palin’s Take Back the 20 campaign, in which she put gun targets on certain districts (one of which was Rep. Giffords’), is distressing.  We shouldn’t let this tragedy pass by without picking up on the political climate that may have – or at least, could have – led to the shootings.  Is it feasible that a map with gun targets and the phrase “Don’t retreat – RELOAD!” (a Palin favorite) could lead to violence of this sort?  Absolutely.  And this is something that Palin and her camp seem to know and acknowledge, considering how quickly she tried to erase any trace of the violent rhetoric.  If one good thing could come out of this disaster, it might be that popular politicos on both sides of the aisle will watch what they say.
• I’m a bit disturbed at how many people are quick to call Loughner “crazy.”  For one, let’s not blame this on the mentally ill.  Let’s not look at his YouTube page and say, “Oh, he must be schizophrenic, that explains it all.”  Not every person with a mental illness is volatile.  Some – MOST – lead perfectly normal lives.  Saying that his supposed schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or what have you explains his actions is like saying that all Muslims are terrorists.
• What’s more, if he weren’t a white male, would we still allow him the benefit of the “mental illness” defense?  If he were an Islamic man or a Mexican immigrant, and he (or she) had that very same YouTube profile page, would we still excuse their actions as that of a mentally ill person?  Or would we think that their religious or cultural affiliations were reason enough?  Why is it that we never expect white people to be extremists?  Any non-white person is treated as an extremist and a representative of an entire religion or culture, while a white person is a “fringe character” or a “lunatic.”  It’s a disturbing trend.

“Twin Peaks” by Surfer Blood from Astro Coast

“Dancing on my Own” by Robyn from Body Talk, Pt. 1

“The Ghost Inside” by Broken Bells from s/t

“Think Happy Thoughts” by Albatross from Bugs, Berfday, Gum

“Giving Up the Gun” by Vampire Weekend from Contra

“Boyfriend” by Best Coast from Crazy for You

“Brian Eno” by MGMT from Congratulations

“Let Me Dope You” by Childish Gambino from Culdesac

“Shampain” by Marina and the Diamonds from The Family Jewels

“Bees” by Warpaint from The Fool

“81” by Joanna Newsom from Have One on Me

“Here Lies Love” by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim (ft. Florence Welch) from Here Lies Love

“Lovesick” by Lindstrom and Christabelle

“F**k You” by Cee-Lo from The Lady Killer

“Rill Rill” by Sleigh Bells from Treats

“We Want War” by These New Puritans from Hidden

“Animal” by Jenny and Johnny from I’m Having Fun Now

“Brittany’s Back” by the Love Language from Libraries

“Power” by Kanye West from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

“ONE” by Yeasayer from Odd Blood

“He’s Not a Boy” by The Like from Release Me

“CP24” by Woodhands from Remorsecapade

“Everybody’s Out” by Dum Dum Girls from I Will Be

“hahahaha jk?” by Das Racist from Sit Down, Man

“The Suburbs” by Arcade Fire from The Suburbs

“Zebra” by Beach House from Teen Dream

“Crash Years” by the New Pornographers from Together

“Written in Reverse” by Spoon from Transference

“Heaven Can Wait” by Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck from IRM [I'm pretty sure the single is from 2009, but the actual album was released at the beginning of 2010, so it counts... in my opinion]

“Tightrope” by Janelle Monae (ft. Big Boi) from Archandroid

Finally, my “Don’t Judge Me, Guilty Pleasure” song of the year…

“Whip My Hair” by Willow Smith

*Clicking on the image at the top will – if I’ve done this correctly – lead you to a wondrous place where you can download all of these songs.  Like a mixtape.  Just sayin’.*

[NOTE:  I can't promise that the writing I present there will be as "clean" as I try to keep it here.  It's not my personal blog, and my creative writing can be a bit saltier than the posts here.]

Anywho, here’s my FIRST POST.  It’s about my junior high career as a golfer, and how it relates to the plight of female writers nowadays.

To Write Love on Her Arms is a “non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.”  They exist “to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.”  What’s funny is that I’m just now finding out about them, despite the fact that I’ve been in and out of therapy for depression for about a decade now.

I appreciate their general message, which is, “You were created to love and be loved.  You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you’re part of a bigger story.  You need to know that your life matters.”  That’s great.  I’d love to hear that coming from an actual person who cared about me.  But how do they go about facilitating and spreading this message (assuming that they do at all, considering that I never heard a thing about it)?

Well, I know they sell merchandise, so you can buy a shirt that says, “I care about your depression,” basically.  In fact, this is how the organization began, with a group of kids selling shirts to raise money to get therapy for a friend who was struggling with some mental issues.  I think that’s awesome, too.

I’m not too pleased with what I see on their website, though, and what I know about their organization.  I don’t like this trend of commercializing issues, like pink bracelets, shoes, blenders, shirts, dishes, cheese graters, socks, etc., for breast cancer.  It’s great that you want to give to an organization, it really is.  But must you get something in return?  Why can’t we just give to do something nice, to support a cause we supposedly care about?  We don’t need to receive a shirt or a bracelet in return so that we can wear it around and say, “I care that some women get breast cancer,” or “I care that some kids get depressed.”  Where’s the humility in all that?

From what I can tell, the To Write Love on Her Arms movement is very much tied up in the music scene, particularly with (*cough* reallycrappy *cough*) psuedo-Christian rock bands like Switchfoot and Anberlin.  They support the cause and encourage their fans to do the same.  Here’s my problem with that:  I don’t want people feeling obligated to fake “care” about my mental issues because some awful band told them to.  I don’t want their support to become clouded by or to completely rely on their love of that band.  I don’t want it to just become a form of showing their allegiance instead of actually caring.  I worry that depression, suicidal thoughts and self-injury have become a source of credibility in some circles.  It makes you more “hardcore.”  They’re really not issues to be fetishized or appropriated by people who want to “rock” harder.  What a great way to say, “I’m not taking your problems seriously!”

I feel like we’re creating this strange world of commercialized philanthropy.  We’re consumers, so why not tack on some charity just to make ourselves feel good?  To make us feel like we actually did something worthwhile, and we didn’t even have to try?  When did charity and caring about the issues become so selfish?  It’s all about appearances now.  For example, we’ve all seen those Facebook statuses about what color a woman’s bra is, or where she likes to put her purse.  Supposedly this is to raise awareness for breast cancer.  I don’t get it either.  I bet maybe 1% of the people who post these things have actually given to the cause of breast cancer awareness.  I think most people are aware of breast cancer.  But that doesn’t mean they’re giving money or time to the cause, and that’s the real issue.  The same goes for depression.  TWLOHA sponsors a day when those interested in their “cause” (a.k.a. “the people who follow them on Facebook”) will write the word “love” on their arms, like so:

Don’t you feel more aware of the issues I and other depressed people face now?  And, bonus points, because these kiddos and their Magic Markers get to feel like they actually did something non-selfish for once.  But not really.  What this does is draw attention to THEM, the the words on their arms.  It doesn’t blatantly have anything to do with depression, just like a Facebook status about my bra or my purse has nothing to do with breast cancer.  I don’t look at this and feel that people care about my problems.  I don’t see a bunch of people who would like to hear about my depression, who would listen without feeling uncomfortable if I told them about the times I was on the ledge.  I look at this and see a bunch of people who want to feel like they did something charitable, but don’t want to put time, effort, or money into it.  I look at this and see a bunch of kids who probably enjoy the attention they get for having scribblings on their arms for a day.  Sure, I’m making assumptions about these people.  But they’re not doing anything blatantly proactive, and I’m mad.

I’m not even asking that they give money.  We’re all poor, I get it.  I’m not asking that they volunteer at a youth shelter or even hand out pamphlets on the sidewalk.  But we can do so much more than write a word on our forearms.  Why don’t you look at your own social life and the way you treat people?  How can you know that the girl you ignored in class today doesn’t have depression?  How can you be sure that the clumsy boy you laughed at in the hall isn’t suicidal?  If you must make these issues about yourself, then turn a critical eye on your interpersonal relationships and social interactions.  Reach out to a lonely person, and try not to act like you’re a saint for doing it.  Reprimand a friend if they tease someone.  Listen to your friend’s problems.  Put a stop to meanness, in general.  Be kind and respectful.  Don’t stop at writing a word on your arm, or a Facebook status about bras.  Go one step further to say you actually care.

Pic source 1.

Pic source 2.

Amount U.S. women earn for every dollar earned by men: 77 cents

Amount African-American women earn for every dollar earned by a white man: 61 cents

Amount Latinas earn for every dollar earned by a white man: 52 cents

Amount women living in Southern states* earn for every dollar earned by a man: 75

Percent of U.S. voters who in a recent poll expressed support for a new law to give women more tools to get fair pay in the workplace:  84

Percent of U.S. voters who said they strongly support such a law: 72

Percent of Democrats who strongly support such a law: 83

Percent of Republicans who strongly support such a law: 61

Month when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act, a measure designed to remedy income gender disparities:1/2009

Bipartisan vote by which the House approved the bill: 256-163

Date when the Senate considered the same bill: 11/17/2010

Number of votes the Senate needed to end a Republican filibuster against the bill: 60

The Senate’s final vote to end the filibuster: 58-41

Number of Senate Democrats who voted against the bill: 1**

Number of Senate Republicans who voted for the bill: 0

Portion of U.S. families in which mothers are the primary breadwinners or co-breadwinners: 2/3

Percent by which the number of married couples with children depending exclusively on women’s earnings rose last year: 36

Words can’t really express how angry I am about this.  How is it that, in 2010, we are still trying to tell women that they aren’t worthy of equality?  It’s absolutely ridiculous.  But here’s the kicker:  absolutely no Republicans voted in favor of the bill.  Not really shocking, considering that their main strategy nowadays is just to say “no” to absolutely everything the Democrats propose.  What really kills me is the contradictions.  Republicans want to force women to have babies (many of them want this even in cases of rape and incest), and yet they refuse to take the appropriate steps to ensure that these women will make enough money to support these children.  Isn’t this something that Sarah Palin and her Mama Grizzlies, who want so badly to call themselves feminists, should be fighting for?  As Nancy Pelosi said, what will these people who voted against equal wages tell their daughters?  What this says to women is, “You’re not worth it.”  You’re not worth taking a pay cut for, you’re not worth stepping over party lines for, you’re not worthy of equality.  And they say we don’t need feminism anymore.

Info source.