1.25.2012

Things That Make Me Go Hmmm...Am I a Capitol Girl and Is That Bad?



The Capitol.PN's new website: Capitol Couture - for the fashionista in all of us.
  As I write this, Madonna's "Material Girl" is playing in my head.
  ...we are living in a material world, and I am a material girl...
  Yes, I am a "material girl." Or, I was. I did spend my teenage years in the 80s, so big hair, loud clothes, gaudy jewelry: all of these things defined me. But somewhere in the 90s, I realized material things really didn't matter as much to me.
  Of course, that's what will happen to you when you are poor.
  We had to give up material things to make sure we could afford the essentials like food and diapers. I'll admit, it was tough being frugal. But eventually, I grew into that person. And even though we both have established careers and make decent livings, I've never desired to go back to my material ways of the 80s...until Effie Trinket and her darned Capitol Couture website came along.
  I've been addicted to it before there was even anything but a login prompt. (You know you have a problem when you spend over an hour guessing passwords for a website that may or may not have anything posted on it.)
  Then, there was just a picture of Effie with the hashtag #lookyourbest. Still, it was mesmerizing. Her hair (so retro with the huge flower), her clothes (like a kimono that got a makeover from the 80s Madonna), her makeup. And now...her shoes.
  As the site went live this week, not only did we get a sneak peek at Effie escorting Katniss and Peeta to their 12th floor quarters in the Training Center, but we also get a peek at the shoes in "The Hunger Games" movie. And they are something else.
Effie's shoes from www.capitolcouture.pn
  But, here is my problem: I love reading Capitol Couture and looking at the amazing pictures. Does this make me as superficial as the Capitol citizens in The Hunger Games? Shouldn't I be shaming those who are so into the Games they don't see how barbaric their actions are? Are we supposed to be feeding into this consumerist behavior, or should we shun it, as Katniss would? Is Lionsgate sitting back and laughing at us, just waiting to tell us we ARE the Capitol? Will there be a message in this in the end? A lesson to be learned?
  Or, is it all about making money? Is this our bread and circus? Are we just as superficial as the Capitol citizens?
  I want to say, "No! Of course I'm not."
  But...I am.
  I've already purchased every edition to the series, including the collector's edition, the box set in hardbacks, the box set in paperbacks, and the newest: the movie tie-in edition; plus, I have every future edition of every book related to The Hunger Games on my Amazon and Scholastic pre-orders. I have the limited edition character posters. And I am contemplating buying the action figures, but at $17.99 a pop (with 27 to collect), it's a little hard to swallow. But I want them.
  I want all of it. I am a Capitol girl.
  So what does this say about me? Have I learned nothing from Katniss? Shouldn't I spend this money instead on helping those in need rather than feeding my material wants? Does it help that I share my posters and books with my students, so they can enjoy reading and looking at them?
  To try to offset my desire for the couture, I've decided that for every dollar I spend on "Capitol" goods, I'm going to donate a dollar (or more) to a charitable cause. I tend to favor those that my friend Shylah supports on her Literacy Revolution page, so here's a link to all the teachers/schools who are in need of classroom sets of The Hunger Games on DonorsChoose.org: The Hunger Games Classroom Projects Every time I purchase, pre-order, or receive an item I had previously pre-ordered, I'm heading to this link and randomly choosing a classroom in which to donate.
  What do you think? 
  Are you a material girl or guy? How do you feel about the Capitol Couture website? If you, too, have "Capitol" desires, will you help me in this cause to give to others?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...