I don't mean Lincoln, Lincoln, Lincoln or Lincoln. I'm talking a sometimes insidious and vapid (although often stated/expressed as deep, enduring and meaningful) in things with historical (perceived or lent) significance, of or possessing some quality of "heritage" and/or "Americana" expressed variously through style (and 2), photography, decor and ethos.
On the surface, this is a problem of authentic personage vs. persona akin to the one discussed below re: Vampy, but that assumes a less than honest adoption of the aesthetic of Americana. To be sure, there are issues of the affluent adopting the trappings of the working class, but that's nothing new. And yeah, right now the Americana aesthetic is hip and trendy: "Affected? Absolutely. Still, how we dress says a lot about who we want to be, and that ache for authenticity—or, at least, the aura of authenticity—is revealing." via Newsweek.
I can't speak for the flannel clad hipsters or the ironic mustache, but personally I like history. I like when things are worn in, used or have some other indication that a human being has touched something, lived in it or with it. Before it fell apart, my first real wallet (not a Hawaiian velcro nightmare) was my grandfathers. I loved that every time I paid for something I thought of him, that I could feel the wallet in my pocket when I walked. The same feeling, albeit a step or two removed, exists when I use anything that evokes craft, or having been made by a person, be it clothes, furniture or anything else.
Posts
