DeepGlamour: At The Intersection of Imagination and Desire

REVIEWED BY: Ms. Cairo

MY RECOMMENDATION: Yes

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: DeepGlamour, Virginia Postrel, Kate Coe, Randall Shinn, Kit Pollard

WEB ADDRESS:

BLOG DESCRIPTION: DeepGlamour explores the magic of glamour in its many manifestations, from movies, fashion, and advertising to real estate, politics, and sports.

MY REVIEW: The authors of this blog talk about random topics, all unified by the theme of glamour.

What is glamour? According to one of the authors: "As critics who denounce movies that "glamourize violence" or "glamourize smoking" [or glamourize babies out of wedlock, ed!] understand, glamour is much more than style. It is a potent tool of persuasion, a form of nonverbal rhetoric that heightens and focuses desire, particularly the longing for transformiation (an ideal self) and escape (in a new setting). Glamour is all about hope and change. It lifts us out of our everyday experience and makes our desires seem attainable. Depending on the audience, that feeling may provide momentary pleasure or life-altering inspiration."

This is a thought-provoking blog, even if you dont agree with some of the opinions presented. Highly recommended.

Sample post:

Are Cell Phones the New Glamorous Accessory?
Randall's post below, “If Someone Glamorous Walked By, Would You Notice?” is about the things you miss when you’re on your cell phone. But the title made me wonder what the person walking by might look like.

When I searched Google images for “glamorous woman” and “walking,” I discovered a different connection between cell phones and glamour. The top three results were this stock photo, in which the woman is wearing sunglasses, the most classic glamorous accessory, while talking on a cell phone. (She’s also pushing a baby carriage, which may or may not be glamorous.)

Sunglasses, cigarettes, veils, hats, and fans are all classically glamorous accessories. All simultaneously attract attention and create distance. The audience gets an intriguing glimpse of the glamorous person, not a full view.

On a cell phone, the person is similarly present and distant, engaged with someone the viewer can neither see nor hear. The phone adds an aural dimension to the visual mystery of sunglasses. At the same time, like wearing jewelry or expensive clothes, talking on the phone signals status: Here is a person who is socially connected, who has friends, who is busy or important.

With cigarettes, veils, hats, and fans all more or less out of fashion, has the cell phone joined sunglasses as a glamorous essential?

RECENT ARTICLES:
--Wireless Glamour: Why Lamp Ads Hide the Cords
--Mao on Red Velvet: A Communist Twist on Kitsch Iconography
--The Velodrome: A Dying Luxury?
--Are Cell Phones the New Glamorous Accessory?
--Transformations: Perfume, Flowers, Butterflies, and Bugs
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Ms. Cairo writes two blogs of her own:
Winged Victory: Women in Aviation
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters