by yoyobeat » Sat Nov 15, 2014 8:04 pm
Individual pieces as icons are so weird. Sometimes they're ubiquitous and still cool or even cooler (stan smiths? converse chucks? timberlands) when put in good fits. Yes, I can get behind the idea of these everyman pieces.
What's weird are items iconic mostly in certain groups. Like Rick dunks or EG Bedford or maybe Wolverine 1K mile for a more popular example. It's like, do people even like these things for themselves? Or are they nudged towards liking them for social/group reasons?
--aside: it's a great feeling to use and enjoy something unique that both you and other people appreciate, but somehow you're the only one who has it (i guess, you discovered it; your taste shined through irrespective of brand)--
I am pretty sure it's not as straightforward as the status symbol of a Louis Vuitton bag or Hermes Birkin bag. Hmm, maybe it is, though, except instead of 'class' with the handbags, the currency is 'cool'. My friend was telling me after going to some gallery events the other week that she really hated some things about the art world (a lot of her friends are involved). The same social climbing etc. takes place in art, it's just disguised as being 'higher' and more complex.