Materialism in Pink

[browngirl]

So, I was reading in the paper about an art exhibition whose theme is materialism: JeongMee Yoon, one of the featured artists, has done a Pink Project and a Blue Project, photographs of little girls and little boys with their pink or blue items respectively. This isn't the picture that was in the paper, but it's close to it:

http://www.artnet.com/Galleries/Artwork_Detail.asp?G=&gid=424670535&cid=113128&which=&aid=424791604&wid=425001855&source=exhibitions&rta=http://www.artnet.com

(Some background info/other pictures: http://afonline.artistsspace.org/view_artist.php?aid=4910 )

That little girl looks so cheerful and happy.

I suppose I'm meant to think that her possessions are excessive, that if we distributed them amongst seven penniless children the world would be better off. Maybe. But, for various reasons not entirely clear even to myself, I'm not as antimaterialistic as would seem to fit with the general tenor of my politics; sometimes I look at my full bookcases with a distinct feeling of contentment, and I adore WD's romance with his sexy German car. I understand that things alone can't make people happy, the problems with "keeping up with the Joneses" etc, but I think it's possible to want something and own it and enjoy it for itself, not to impress anyone else, and that this is not necessarily a bad thing.

This little girl looks so happy, and the one in the paper looked even happier. How can I begrudge them one roomful of pink things? I want to buy them both pink hair ribbons.

Comments

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

I wasn't thinking materialism. I was thinking clutter. At a quick glance, most of that stuff was not exactly EXPENSIVE stuff.

I get a feeling of warm contentment from some material things, too. I lurve my writin' chair, and my laptop.

[cornute.livejournal.com]

"This little girl is smiling because someone else is going to help her put all that crap up."

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*laugh* Yes, indeedy.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*nod* I had the impression everything was placed front and center; hopefully that's not how it's stored. :)

[flabosib.livejournal.com]

Like you, I am content when I look at the books that are all over my house. To be fair, I am not the sole source of new books coming into the house, but we are about equally unable to resist bookstores.

My daughter owns more books now than I did until after my first three years of college. My parents didn't believe in buying books--in a family of nine, the money had other places to go. When my first niece was born, I became the Auntie who gives books--said niece is at Oxford this year, still reading up a storm. Not a bad legacy.

We don't watch a lot of television which keeps us all from being overrun by the ads which tell us we "must have" this, that or the other thing. Seems like a fair trade-off to me, we are surrounded by books.

Give the girls the pink hair ribbons--why not? Maybe if every child was given one "I-really-want-this" thing, the world would be a happier place.
[My girl isn't a pink-type of girl. Never got into the baby dolls or Barbie (thank goodness!). For Christmas, she wants rocks to study--geology is the new fad. And that's okay by me--Museum of Science, here I come.]

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

This is such a great long thinky comment. I don't really have a response in words, so just picture me listening to you and smiling. :D

[cornute.livejournal.com]

Actually, those aren't that excessive.

What I see:
an umbrella
a bicycle helmet and, in the back left, a bicycle
a couple of playsets-- I mean, things that are like a dollhouse. Those can be expensive.
Half a dozen Barbies or similar dolls
I do see a pair of pink boots on the back left.

But look down in the front-- it's a camera angle thing, they have everything down to pink CRAYONS and pens and pencils, and headbands and bows. The background under those things is, I think, pink bedsheets; there are a few pink pants and shirts used as background here and there.

With the exception of the items I listed above, I don't see anything on that page that would cost more than $5-10, and quite a few things are a lot less (crayons, hair ties). We could purchase the items above, plus enough to fill our little girl's room with pink stuff, for $500 or less.

Also, I notice that these aren't just "pink toys"-- they are ALL kinds of possessions; who in their right mind would say that it's "materialistic" for a child to have an umbrella, or a bicycle, or a coat, because it's pink?

[mama-hogswatch.livejournal.com]

I did note that the contents weren't expensive, and the $500 figure was what popped into my head, too!

[cornute.livejournal.com]

Our child is a connoisseuse of the finest things the thrift stores have to offer!

[gloss]

I suppose I'm meant to think that...
While I'm not sure that art works that way, what I'm getting from the picture is - besides, yes, happy little girl - sadness that everything is gender-coded to such a degree.

[born-to-me.livejournal.com]

And we have no way of knowing if it's gender imprinting or just that she genuinely likes pink... I've certainly seen both. I don't plan to force blue on my son, but if he loves the color so be it. I'd also be happy if he loves pink. I might draw the line at chartreuse (Ow!). ;-)

[gloss]

I meant the artist's choice in concentrating on the colors.

[born-to-me.livejournal.com]

AH! Sorry, didn't follow that.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*nod* The monochromaticity, that was disconcerting (and the point of the series, I think). As a woman who likes (some) pink and who used to be a girl who liked pink, I always wonder how much of that is conditioning.

[born-to-me.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid we've come to a point where a lot of people see owning "things" to be excessive... even if you're judicious and loving about the acquisition. Most of Gabriel's toys and clothes come from the thrift store, and I'm the first to admit that he has too much (space-wise). However, he genuinely enjoys everything he has, and he's as happy with a $1.00 hotwheel car as anything else.

That's what is important to me - that he learns to love and appreciate each possession, and not be a histrionic bratling about his stuff. I'm far more likely to call "excess" if I see a kid with tons of stuff who freaks out when he doesn't get more stuff and more stuff and more... or even a kid who doesn't have much but is pissy and demanding about getting what he wants.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid we've come to a point where a lot of people see owning "things" to be excessive... even if you're judicious and loving about the acquisition.

*nod* Yeah, exactly. I could theorize why, but I think I'd end up being insufficiently diplomatic. :)

*blows kisses to Gabriel*

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

My goodness but that's a lot of pink stuff. It's like the inside of a pepto bismol bottle.;)

I like my stuff...and some of it absolutely makes me happy, like my mixer, which I wanted for *ages* and never actually thought I'd own. And my computer, which is all *mine*, and I don't have to share if I don't feel like it.

As long as the kid doesn't freak out if she happens to acquire a green lollypop or a purple hairbow, I think she's doing just fine. Sam's been in her pink stage for a couple years now, and I've been doing my best to go with it...while making sure she has things of other colors too...though, pink is one of the easier colors to spy in the toy piles at thrift stores. Lately, she's been mentioning that red is her new favorite color...but she still likes pink too! :)

Love you.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

My goodness but that's a lot of pink stuff. It's like the inside of a pepto bismol bottle.;)

*giggle giggle giggle*

Pink and red are two of my favorite colors too, so now I'm in great company.

*hugs you warmly* love you too. :D