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.