I've just got to warn you guys if you lovvveeedddd Twilight or Inception, please do not read this post. I'm just here trying to vent.

And then now we have Inception! Inception was supposedly an 'amazingly mind-blowing movie that will change the way we think' - I summarise from what I've been seeing through the net. Thus I paid for my ticket in high hopes, already geared with top focus because it was a 'highly intelligent movie that you probably won't understand unless you focus'. I agree on the second part of that, and mind you, even with full focus it was hard to understand what the Japanese man was saying what with the accent and no subtitles. But was it really highly intelligent? Err... now was it? Personally I didn't think so. I think there are far more intelligent issues around us. Even my university course readings are more intellectual.

Perhaps we have all been influenced by the hype that surrounds the movie and its claim to be intelligent, that we are afraid of telling people that 'it really wasn't THAT great' in fear of being thought of as stupid. Oh you didn't think it was good? You probably didn't understand it.

I don't think a 'highly intelligent' movie would even be that much of a box office success since most likely, 15% who watch it would think it's such an intriguing movie while the remaining 85 would walk out of the cinema and say 'well that was boring and I didn't quite get it but can't be bothered'. Well, this is of course with a hypothetical 'general' target audience.

If you have misunderstood me and thought I hated the movie, you are wrong. I think Inception is a good movie, with good plot, directing, acting, visual effects, action, etc. I just didn't think it deserves that much, and what with that label of an 'intelligent movie'. Think about it, wasn't it pretty much mainstream? Indeed it was mainstream, it was Hollywood. Where was the intellectual part?? It was more like listening to instructions for a game to me, enhanced with a bit of twist and uncovering of plots here and there. Which, is hey, smart and fun!

We feel good about ourselves after the movie because we were able to understand it. Everyone heard that it was like a puzzle piece, you needed to solve it and if you could get the plot, wow, you must be smart! (Yeah just like everyone else! And why is that? Because the movie wasn't that complex and it actually explained itself) Then as human beings we feel a sense of triumph, and we sing praises about Inception because we wanted to tell the world how great it is, and I could understand it! Perhaps a bit on the extreme side, but that definitely has an effect on the society's reaction to the movie. No matter how little a fraction of the statement I made, it is the fact. I believe it's undeniable.

Of course I'm not stereotyping Inception fans as people under the influence of the marketing strategies and psychological tricks bound around this movie. Really I'm not. If you loved it, great. You must have your reasons, and yeah I'm not going to argue on what your preference is because that is just stupid and what a complete waste of time. But this post is just my opinion on things. I know how it is, publishing my opinions on the web brings about lots of disagreement and I don't exactly enjoy having one of my friends read this and think I'm offending him/her. But I just need to say some things in my mind, and what's the use of the blog if not this?

So please don't get offended. If you have any opinion, feel free to discuss in the tagboard or wherever (note that I used the word discuss not argue). Till next time~

@Susan: I'm wearing the MAC purple eyeshadow you gave me ^^ thanks hun

Well I certainly did not expect to write another blog in such a short duration! This is good! So in this post I just want to make it short, really, since I have a lecture tomorrow morning. Here are some photos of my room!

I just tidied up everything, thrown out all the trash and all. Feels exhilarating to actually have empty space on my table. You have no idea what sorts of things were piling up there.

So from the left you see my lotion, room spray, kimidoll from Chu, mini drawer containing beads, strings and little trinkets, a used Moxie container where I put in my $1 coins for laundry, then a random bible that I got from some guy handing them out on the streets (I never opened that bible, but I thought it looked pretty nice on my table anyway), 'The Portrait of a Lady" by Henry James which I have yet to finish reading... honestly speaking I actually don't think I ever will (*cough* boring *cough*), "The Last Concubine" by Lesley Downer which I am reading at the moment and it's a great book, "Alice I Have Been" by Melanie Benjamin (done), "Can't Buy My Love" by Jean Kilbourne which is the advertising book I mentioned in the previous post.

Then on the little windowsill there's a seashell which I keep since it looks like a boob so I call it boobshell, a badge from Juen which apparently she thinks looks like me, 500 rupiah coin, 5 cent coin, 3d glasses, miniature mannequin which I shaped to look motivational! Next, hanging down from a pink string, are my keychains, from the top, is the alien from Tasmania's marketplace which my brother said looks like me. Sadly, I have just cut half its mouth off since the string came loose so now it's only half-lipped. I felt so guilty I pat the doll's head several times and apologised. Below it is the pretty pink bird presented as a gift from my brother who was considerate enough to think of me during one of his dates.

Beside the window is a printout of a Melbournian sunset. I think that was around Autumn where the skies were beautiful every single day. Then you see Gulo, my precious little doll from a quaint little lace shop in Tasmania. It's meant to remind me of Gucci and Polo. It's sitting above a pretty rose-patterned pillow from Index, Indonesia. Then there's my sleeping pillow which has a lavender sachet from Hokkaido inside it that helps me sleep sometimes.

How have you been?

Yes I do recall that once, a long time ago, I mentioned that I shall blog much more frequently when uni starts and yes I have been quite active (mentally) for the past few days. With a beautiful long to-do list on my wall, books and course readings that's been feeding my poor little brain, I am at a loss at what to blog about since the fact is: there is nothing to share with you all. gasp.

Well of course not honeys, I always have something at the corner somewhere that I could just rant on. :) Let's talk about... how I have just started my advertising elective this semester and for that purpose, as I was still motivated and fresh (we all know how that feels, that is before reality crushes our initial optimism), I borrowed a book about advertising from the library and this I did purely on my own will (I have become a diligent student it seems). Yeah, whoa.

So I thought this book would help me with my projects and what not, but as I started reading the first chapter of this book, I realised I was on the other side of the fence. The author was practically bashing the practise of advertising, labelling it as a manipulative force that portrays sexism where images of women were used, and promotes objects with highly desirable traits and emotions which thus dehumanises our society with a cynical outlook on human beings, and a love or dependency on products. That's... my summary of it. The first chapter at least.

Yeah I know it sounds like a lot of bull for those who do not believe in the powers of advertising. You're thinking, hey girl I see a whole bunch of ads every single day doesn't make me want to buy the things they're promoting. But really, the most successful ads are those that persuade you silently. It's like you're not even conscious that they are changing the way you feel and think. A piece of flyer that says 'THIS IS THE BEST SOAP YOU CAN GET AND IT'S CHEAP, ONLY $1! GET IT NOW!' in shocking red and yellow and bold texts will probably work, in a sense that it targets those who wants cheap soap. But it won't really help in building the brand of that soap (or attract lots of consumers for that matter). And if you want a long-lasting successful business, the brand image is crucial, right? Those kinds of ads won't help you.

That's why ads are so clever and engaging. Many humorous ads also make you laugh along, without you realising that it is influencing you greatly. Have you ever bought a product just because you liked its ad? I have, many times. Call me guilty but seeing those ads already gave me enough emotional attachment to buy the product even though I might not really like it. For instance, I'm not a big fan of how Flora perfume by Gucci smells, but I am so so so tempted to get myself a bottle because I think the magazine ads were just stunning and the TV commercial was mind-blowing. And the bottle looks classy and I love it! I love everything about it! Except... the scent itself. Design is important isn't it?

And I quote this from the book I borrowed:

Should I put in a reference? Sure...

Kilbourne, J 1999, 'Can't Buy My Love', Introduction p. 27 yeah I know the format is wrong and I didn't even have an in-text reference but whatever...! I am not writing an essay! I have done that yesterday :p :D

Bye guys till my next blog and hopefully this didn't bore you since it really isn't what I usually write about.

So as we know, I assume, I went back to Indonesia for the holidays and also visited Beijing where I shopped n bargained like mad. Hung out with Susan most of the time, which was great~ We made loads of *ahem* home videos. Which I won't upload.

I have finally made up my mind to cosplay Serah Farron (left). I actually wanted to cosplay Aya Brea (Parasite Eve), which I stumbled upon today. I really liked her a long time ago but I forgot about her and yeah. But since I don't have a blond wig and her costume is too similar to my Megurine Luka costume, which would be kind of boring, well, Serah it is.

At first I thought it was a good thing that Serah's costume was simple. But then I put on my wig and tried to tie it to the side... oh my. I looked just plain odd and the wig was too heavy. I would have to cut it and add some short layers to frame the face. I'm pretty sad that I have to cut my beautiful long wig, but...yeah. It's better than having it sit there forever untouched I guess.

So the thing about simple costumes, is that it might be easy to execute, but then the focus of the cosplay goes to your face... woops. The pressure's on if the character looks great (er Final Fantasy? close to perfection?) and even worse if they're already depicted in a very real style. Cosplayers would have to look exactly like that perfected 3d model. Which... is quite the task.

How the bloody hell would I have that snowy dewy skin Serah has? Photoshop, sadly. I would have to use a lot of it. I mean, look at that picture, her skin's almost white!

So yeah... I'm not sure now whether I should still cosplay as her ...

Uni is starting in 1 day and 50 minutes! *cries*

Aya Brea is hottttt!!!!!

Hair colours I've had: