While 1962 continued the trend in global politics towards civil war, skirmishes and upheaval, it also marked a time where vassal nations were achieving their independence. America felt the world getting just a little bit smaller with the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis yet still managed to look to the stars with their nascent space programme and the launch of the first commercial communications satellite able to transmit a Trans-Atlantic television signal. Youth were also starting to expand their horizons with Andy Warhol exhibiting the now infamous Campbell’s Soup Can, 007 getting a hit film with Dr. No and the Beatles recording Love Me Do – 3 convicts figured they could ride the tide of firsts and successfully escaped from Alcatraz. Many of the ideas and trends put forward in that year have become embedded in our reservoir of cultural consciousness – 50 years later, Booker T. & the M.G.’s crossover hit single shows us exactly how relevant they still are…
Tensions at home and abroad seemed to be the order of the year as the Cold War continued throughout 1961 – turmoil in Africa, South Korea and the Middle East left no doubt that a new world order was in its infancy. While Freedom Riders rode the bus to racial awareness in the US and the European Social Charter forged a guarantee of positive civil and political rights, Etta James crossed the barrier to bring lovers together in one fluid slow dance.
Whenever one needs a reminder of exactly how things looked and sounded at any point, in say the last 75 years, all we have to do is surf through virtual reality. The closest repository of all manner of trend, fashion, vogue and design, simple searches can bring back very particular memories – whether it is the sinewy curves of a buffed e-type jag, the pout of a hollywood icon, the grandeur of a world-class opera house or a melody long-forgotten, every bit is like a prompt out of the past.
Pull out your red shoes… and let’s dance
We all have ways of expressing ourselves and pretty much everything we lay hands to becomes impressed with a personal, distinctive hallmark. Across the Bored marvels at so many ways of seeing and the manner in which we put our stamp on this world and so the Two Cents Tuesday Challenge topic spotlight is on – Style.
“What is style to you?” – can it be acquired, assumed or inherent, is it old or new, the tilt of a hat, swagger in a walk or lilt in the talk, styling or stylish…
We would love to see your vision.
For all those who are new readers to Across the Bored, here are some guidelines for the challenge: HOW DOES THIS WORK?
I will post some commentary on a random topic that pops into my head (such as the above) and then ask you to respond on the same.
Your point of view on the current week’s challenge can take any form: a quote, a motto or saying, an essay, poem or opinion of yours or attributed to someone else, a piece of music, a song, a video, a work of art, photograph, graffiti, drawing or scribble – but it has to be about the topic!
Please, don’t just link to an old post… challenge yourself.
The Challenge will be open for 6 days after it is posted upon which I will post another.
ENJOY, have FUN and TELL your friends and fellow bloggers.
SO – Create your Two Cents Tuesday Challenge post
Then add a link to your blog in my comment box.
To make it easy for others to check out your post, title your blog post “Two Cents Tuesday Challenge” and add the same as a tag.
If you would like your reader to see what others are presenting for the same challenge, add a link to the “Two Cents Tuesday” challenge on your own blog.
Across the Bored dedicates Where’s my backpack?’s Travel Theme: Couples to our ancestors. In a case of true love’s triumph over language and culture in a time when the world put up barriers rather than removing them, these two forged a bond so strong that it would last them a lifetime. They were inextricably intertwined, and as clichéd as it may sound, they lived for each other…
Whatever happened to the art of illustration on packaging? In this day of clips, bits, feeds and sound bites perhaps many eyes cannot fully appreciate the beauty and complexity of labelling that is not generic. Where’s my backpack’s Travel Theme: On Display gives us the perfect forum to change that…
ACROSS THE BORED 