106) OG Theory 8:00 AM

It's common knowledge that we use comparisons to try to make sense of the world around us. When we are faced with something unfamiliar, our first instinct is to try to compare it to something we know. How many times have you heard someone you've recently met say, "You remind me so much of this girl/guy I knew..." Or to help someone understand a neighborhood - "It's sort of like [insert doppelganger neighborhood] in [insert familiar city]." (Silverlake is the Williamsburg of LA, for example.) People, places, things - we liken them to things we know in order to grasp them. In my head I call this the OG (original gangster) theory. For example, LA is my OG city that I compare every other city to. (Photo of one of my favorite places to sit and read in Santa Monica.)

This month in Barcelona has been full of comparisons. The city, people and culture have all been measured against Los Angeles at one point or another. I do the same thing when I think about moving to New York. I try to compare what my life would be like there versus how it is now. What I've realized is that sometimes it doesn't make sense to make comparisons. How can I try to weigh a life in LA against a life in NY, when LA is all I know? There's something to be said about appreciating people, places and things sans context, and being open to the possibility that these things have the potential to become part of our comparison system - to become an OG.

Adios, Barcelona 8:15 PM

It's 5:15AM in Barcelona. Since I have to leave for the airport around 6:30AM, I've decided to just power through and catch up on sleep during my very long flights home. Saturday's entry is written and scheduled to post so there won't be any break in The Plan.

I thought about writing a reflection of this past month in Spain, but I think it will take some time to fully process. It will most likely come out in pieces here and there. I can say that I learned a lot about myself (it is as corny as it sounds), and am coming to terms with the person that I am, good qualities and faults included. And while I've had an amazing time here in Barcelona, I'm strangely anxious to get back to LA.

Thank you for putting up with my Barcelona-centric posts. Hopefully they were quasi-interesting to read, even if you weren't here. It'll be interesting to see how the things I learned in my coolhunting class affect the posts from here on out.

See you on the flip side aka LA aka home.

105) Public Displays of Transportation 11:57 AM

I have a question for all the New Yorkers and Chicagoans (Chicagans? weird word) out there - or anyone with regular access to a subway system for that matter. Do you notice a lot of couples snuggling up on the trains? After a month taking the TMB every day, I feel like I'm never more than 5 yards away from at least two sets of sweethearts, who make the status of their relationship very clear to everyone standing awkwardly around them.

Now, I'm not talking about full on public displays of affection that include cameos of their tonsils - it's more subtle than that. Most often, the male has one hand holding onto the pole and the other wrapped around his lady. Said female circles both of her arms around her man to simultaneously steady herself and convey affection. Insert periodic back rubs, meaningful stares, and spontaneous smooches as necessary.

No judgment being passed here. What the world needs now is love, sweet love, but I wonder if this is something Barcelona-specific, or if it's seen in underground tunnels all over the world. Perhaps in a crowded, lurching train surrounded by strangers who are all covered by a fine layer of sweat, it makes sense to gravitate towards the familiar and the adored. And maybe couples driving together in their cars act the same way, but we can never observe them way we do on public transportation.

As a side note, when searching for the photo for this post, I found a ton of engagement and wedding photo shoots done in the subway. It seems like there's a romanticism around being with your loved one, someone so personal and close to you, while being surrounded by the impersonal, public bustle of the subway and its strangers.

104) The Final 5:46 PM

To all the people who chose to go to grad school, I salute you. After two blissful years of no assignments, homework or finals, I found myself faced with one very massive final presentation due, well, today (it's 2:48AM in BCN). Sure, the content has theoretically been a month in the making. But I'm talking about the sit-your-butt-down and crank it out part. The analyzing, piecing together and the polishing.

Maybe I'm just out of practice, but procrastination levels were high. It could also be that I'm in a gorgeous city on a one-month getaway, but surely I can spend a few hours away from the sights and the eats? Apparently not, because I stress-ate my way through a box of cookies (count: 12. But they were those square ones with the piece of chocolate on top) and a package of Special K bars (count: 6) today. In my defense, consumption was spread out over 12 or so hours and other than that I didn't have any real meals, though I guess that doesn't make it any less gross.

I'd forgotten what it was like to be a student, in the most basic sense. And now that I'm reminded, I'm not sure if I like it. I know I was gushing at the beginning of the course about how interesting it was, and it still is. Somehow my enthusiasm couldn't override my general aversion to this final product. Why is that? I remember having this same conversation about work. They say if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. That's all well and fine, but are those people really immune from the day to day stresses of the job?

In any case, it's done, and I'm rambling. It's definitely time for bed.

103) Lo. Lee. Ta. 2 4:24 PM

In Japan, Lolita fashion reinterprets this famous nymphette. According to Wikipedia, the trend started in the 70’s, but resurged in the 90’s and continues to have a loyal following today. And while there are similarities between the Western and Eastern interpretations - namely, the infantilization of a woman - there are also some stark differences. In fact, it is generally accepted that the name “Lolita” fashion (in Japanese - Rorīta fasshon, roughly) doesn’t actually refer to Nobakov’s pubescent protagonist.

Interestingly enough, the aim of Japanese Lolita fashion isn’t to be sexy at all. Instead, Lolitas dress like Victorian children or dolls in order to look “cute” or “beautiful”. According to the article, it can be considered a counter-trend to more mainstream fashion trends:

“The name is ironic since the fashion was created to fight the growing exposure of the body and skin in today’s society, specifically in regard to young women. Lolita fashion can be even considered a movement where girls ranging from pre-teens to late 20s fight the current fashion with modesty. It allows a girl to feel young, cute, beautiful or off-limits, depending on which type of Lolita a girl chooses to be.” (Visual references here.)

Fascinating that “Lolita” can be viewed in entirely different ways depending on the cultural lens through which you are looking.

(Mini aside - Again, a pick up post for you today. A build of sorts off the last Lolita post. Bear with me (I'm always tempted to write bare with me), but final projects are due for our course on Friday. One final push and then I'm due back in LA on Saturday!)

102) Undress Tony 9:14 AM

Ah, the wonders of augmented reality. As the tool's applications become more common, we are simultaneously wowed and disappointed. I'd argue that AR has yet to reach its tipping point, and until now has only been effectively used by a handful of advertisers. Other attempts rely too much on the novelty of the medium itself, and less on an actual idea. Gone are the days where simply making your product "appear" will suffice. And too often, an application sans an idea combined with rudimentary AR technology equals a glitchy, unsatisfying end result.

In class this morning, we were shown a slew of recent, clever campaigns including some augmented reality examples. Despite general oohs and aahs, the example that impressed me most was campaign above, informally known as "Undress Tony." Launched earlier this year for Wrangler Europe's Blue Bell SS10 collection, it involved an interactive website where one can manipulate model (among other things) Tony Ward. Ladies...you're welcome. Fellas, there are also some interactive action sequences that don't involve bare chest, so don't be shy.

You might be thinking, this isn't AR. To which I would reply, exactly. It's such a simple concept - filming these short vignettes and then allowing people to interact with the clothes just by dragging (essentially, rewinding and fast forwarding). And the execution is flawless. You can check out and play with the newest version of the site for the FW10 collection here.

I realize that my opening was a little ranty, but the point isn't to be anti-AR. But sometimes, in addition to looking for what's next, it pays to rethink what's already been done.

101) Vintage or Junk 4:36 PM

This past Saturday morning, I went to the Mercat del Encants, a bustling flea market maze confined to the area of what looks like a large parking lot. It was sensory overload. Just the pure amount of stuff that was laid out was mind boggling. It reminded me of the flea markets back in LA. While the Mercat del Encants is open most days of the week, the big LA flea markets only occur once a month. I consider myself a moderately enthusiastic treasure hunter - I especially enjoy looking for vintage jewelry, bags and shoes, or anything that would look cool mounted on my wall. But most of the time when I’m browsing, I find myself thinking, who actually buys this junk?

After visiting the Mercat del Encants, I know at least a partial answer: tourists. Even though most of the wares were clearly old junk, in the light of a foreign, bustling market they seemed like rare treasures. How neat, I thought, to bring home some vintage souvenir medals from the ‘92 Olympics. Or, how special to bring back some old (and used) Barcelona postcards. Etc., etc. Things that I would never consider buying at the Pasadena City College or Melrose flea.

That’s the funny thing about vintage. In one light, it’s an amazing find. But look at it from a different angle, and it’s just old junk. When building a business based on vintage, so much of it is about finding the right lens for consumers to look through.

Happy 100th 4:30 PM

I didn't want to hype up the 100th post since I didn't write anything special for it. That being said, this is the 100th entry mark, which means I'm almost one third of the way towards the goal of one entry per day for a year. There's something special about the number 100 isn't there? Even just the way it looks with those double 0's dutifully following the 1. It's so round and important, yet friendly looking. Sort of wide-eyed and eager.

Here's to the next 265 days. Thanks for following along.

100) Dressing the Body 4:04 PM

This morning I took the Metro out to Palau Reial to see the Dressing the Body exhibit at El Disseny Hub's (DHUB) Museu Tèxtil i d’Indumentària. It’s a gorgeous, well laid-out exhibition that explores the way that fashion has morphed the body in various ways based on socio-cultural events and historic styles. The gallery space served as a timeline that moved through the different eras of waist cinching, hip padding, chest flattening (or enhancing), arm baring (oh the scandal), etc. In addition, the exhibition made connections between modern re-interpretations of past aesthetic biases. For example, Spanish fashion designer Mariano Fortuny's (1871–1949) influence on modern designer Issey Miyake's signature pleats.

Among other things, it made me stop to consider what I myself was wearing, and whether there were any socio-cultural reasons for my choice of attire. In a world of women's liberation and free choice, are we still influenced by forces outside our own will when we face our closet in the morning? Yes, there is the old argument that society has a certain definition of beauty and that the media fuels this standard - thin, long and slender, big breasts, small waist. But I'd argue that even that is evolving. There's certainly something to be said about the more frequent use of androgynous models, or the shapeless, less form-fitting fashion trends.

99) Barcelona Té Sang 6:40 PM

I picked up this little free takeaway at an art show I went to a couple weeks ago. Earlier this year, Barcelona was chosen as the international host of World Blood Donor Day 2010, which fell on June 14. As such, the city launched a local social campaign called, ”Barcelona Té Sang,” or “Barcelona is Full Blooded” to encourage blood donation. Inside the packet is a specially designed bandage to symbolize support for the cause.

What struck me most about this piece is the use of design to drive a movement, as well as the sponsorship by Tiritas de Hartmann (from my understanding, the equivalent of the Band-Aid brand in the US). The teal “x” is like a revamped version of the classic looped cause ribbon. It stands out like a tattoo on the arm of a revolutionary holding up a peace sign on the front of the packet. Suddenly, the act of donating blood is likened to a rebellious act (teenage/young adult target, anyone?). Furthermore, by making it a functional bandage, the campaign infuses it with meaning beyond the design. And Tiritas’ choice to sponsor is a great PR move. What looks like a standard, unemotional bandage brand is suddenly hip and relevant when attached to the campaign. More broadly, the takeaway reflects a global trend of increased social responsibility.

(Mini aside: This is a shameless pull from the blog I have to keep for class, and even worse, it's a couple weeks old. Apologies, dear Plan readers, but it's 4AM in Barcelona and nothing remotely intelligent is coming to mind. Buenos noches!)

98) Street Struck 5:26 PM

Earlier today I had the pleasure of attending a small party thrown at Tallulah B. Atelier by ubercool owner Claudia and her boyfriend, street artist Zosen. I’d gone to his exhibit opening at Galeria CMTV earlier this month, so I was excited to meet him in person. It’s not everyday a fan of street art like me gets to meet an international artist like him. He and Claudia have a Barcelona-based clothing line called Animal Bandido that’s wonderfully loud and reflective of urban street art.

At one point Zosen and I had a conversation (mini aside: it was such a pleasure meeting him! completely down to earth and eager to chat) about street art culture in the US versus in Spain. He noted that in the US, street art has evolved from an illicit act into a mainstream market. The works of famous street artists such as Banksy are now protected by cities instead of painted over. Another example: in LA earlier this year, a Banksy piece appeared on the side of a metal panel on La Brea. A couple days later, it had been cut out by someone who undoubtedly sold it for a hefty sum. In the US, street art is now auctioned off for millions.

In Spain, Zosen said that street artists still have to watch their backs. He mentioned Franco’s reign, and a lingering culture of oppression. Ironically, I feel like Barcelona is brimming with street art, whereas in LA, it’s confined to certain areas. Perhaps by pursuing street artists, Spain only fuels the original spirit and passion of street art.

97) Lo. Lee. Ta. 12:38 PM

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.

The subject of yesterday's lecture was Lolita and her influence on fashion. The novel will always have a special place in my heart, as I've yet to read anything more deliciously perverse, yet simultaneously beautiful. Nobakov's choice of words, the way he strings them together to describe little Lolita. The opening above is just perfection.

Whether you experienced Lolita through text or through film (or both), she is nothing if not iconic in a visually stimulating sense. One thing this class has taught me is that fashion so often draws inspiration or makes references to old classic movies. When you really stop and think about it, many of the fashion trends today can be linked back to Lolita. The knee high socks with heels, the oversized bow headbands, and of course, the heart-shaped sunglasses. All serve to infantalize women, to return them to a time when they didn't necessarily know what to do with their inherent sexuality. It's coy, it's youthful - it's simply Lolita.

I leave you with a few visual representations, both old and new.

Sue Lyon in Stanley Kubrick's version of the film. The epitome of Lolita.



Kate Moss in Vogue Italia, 1992.





Most recently, Emma Watson shot by Ellen Von Unwerth. Notice that Lolitas always draw attention to their mouths.

96) Indie Sweetheart 1:16 PM

Yesterday I went to la Universitat de Barcelona to see Maria Coma play a free show in the Edifici Històric. Maria has the same makings of an indie darling that Zooey Deschanel and Regina Spektor enjoy. Adorable face with big, doe eyes fringed with bangs. In the video above, she plays around with unconventional percussion in addition to accompanying herself on keyboard, all while rocking what looks like a secondhand sweater. In another one of her videos, ”Gat”, she employs stop motion manipulating various materials just as Regina did in her “Us” video (both play on cardboard pianos!).

Is there something to be said about the universal ingredients of an indie sweetheart?

95) Tech Deck 2:49 PM

On Sunday, I stopped by the Tony Hawk & Friends European tour event in Barceloneta. Towards the outer edge of the huge crowd there was a tent set up by Tech Deck. Kids were crowded around “riding” their fingerboards around the mini skate park. Even with a simple, almost rudimentary design, Tech Deck was able to engage their consumers in a meaningful way. There were no salespeople hawking the toy - they simply provided a service that they knew Tech Deck fans (who are already toting around their favorite fingerboards) would enjoy. A great example of behavior as branding. What the company does or provides says as much (if not more) about them than their product.

The history of fingerboards also links back to the ideas of mass customization and to collaboration that we’ve been discussing in class. Not only was Tech Deck the first to mass produce “rideable” miniature skateboards, but they also were the first to license pre-existing urban brands, as opposed to creating their own designs. From Wikipedia:

The licensed boards drove the Tech Deck brand into licensing strong urban brands, rather than simply creating their own designs. In the late 1990s, as fingerboards became more prominent outside the skateboarding community, X-Concepts’ Tech Decks licensed ‘actual pro graphics from major skateboard brands’ riding ‘the 1999 fingerboard wave right into Wal-Mart and other major outlets.’ In 1999 there was a Tech Deck fashion of collecting one of each design similar to the Beanie Baby fad months prior.

Here I thought that Tech Decks were passé. But then again, I'm not a pre-teen male so what do I know.

94) MOSA 4:58 PM

I spotted this on C/ de Sant Pere Més Baix today. I’ve never seen street art involving a stencil on foil before. The image is a Roy Lichtenstein reference. I’ve been trying to Google the artist’s tag to see if anyone is known for that style of work, but no luck yet.

Lately I’ve been thinking that someone should create an online directory of street artists. In the past it may have been that only people in the know could appreciate a piece of street art. But I think with the global celebrity status of some of these artists, it’s gotten mainstream (gasp!) enough to warrant some sort of categorization, or archival system. But perhaps that would run contrary to everything that street art stands for, and its ephemeral, unpreservable nature. It also brings up the whole debate about making street art for art or message sake versus creating it for artist cred and fame (see: Exit Through the Gift Shop). If street art is now being displayed in galleries and being auctioned off for thousands of dollars, should it not also be archived, if only online? Sometime in the distant future, can we imagine a museum of street art (MOSA)?

93) You'll Be Missed 12:56 PM

My brain isn't functioning properly tonight, so here's a quick (and very partial) list of things I miss about LA, and things I'll miss about Barcelona. Consider it some cultural comparisons, if you will.

1) My Brita filter. I consider myself an embracer of the tap. Back in LA, purchasing water in a plastic bottle is unthinkable, a monstrous sacrilege reserved only for the most dire of situations. Here in Spain, the tap water is plain nasty, so it's common for people to buy multiple 1.5 liter bottles, or those big plastic jugs of agua. I have a steadily growing collection of empty bottles on my desk, and every time I look at them I think of my Brita back home. So far, I haven't seen anything like a Brita here. It could very well exist, but from what I've seen on the street, the plastic bottle reigns.

2) Not having to figure out which direction is upwind. Sometimes in California, I'll see someone smoking on the street and think, really? It's become such a rarity (other than late night social smoking) in my everyday life that when someone lights up it seems out of place. Now I realize that California, or Los Angeles, or even Santa Monica is just an exception to the rule. Here in Spain, I am constantly inhaling cig smoke on the street. I am one of two out of 19 in my class that doesn't smoke. And not just socially after a few drinks. Constantly, anywhere that it's allowed (which is basically everywhere except the Metro). It's a completely different mentality from the states.

3) A fully functioning public transportation system. I've become a huge fan of the TMB, or the Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona. Fast, prompt, intuitive, air conditioned and clean. What more could you ask for? In LA, a public transportation system. Enough said. The Big Blue Bus doesn't count. I know this will never happen in my lifetime, so this is more just me whining than anything culturally significant.

4) Churros con chocolate. Whoever the genius was that thought dipping churros into melted chocolate would be a good idea...I'm drooling just thinking about them. How would one create the next foodie trend in LA? (Note to self - future blog post) Let's kill the cupcake (though Magnolia just opened in LA...) and introduce churros con chocolate as the next big thing. They're mostly sold late night as drunk food, so we could team up with those women who sell bacon wrapped hot dogs on the sidewalk.

Regarding the photo. Earlier this evening, I went out to this Tony Hawk & Friends exhibition tour in Barceloneta. It was open to the public and drew a huge crowd. The hype man made a comment that the weather and the beach combined with the halfpipe made it feel like California. My sentiments exactly.

PS - That's Tony Hawk in the air in the picture! At 42, he is still so talented.

92) The Devil is in the Differences 5:52 PM

Today I went to the Museu Nacional D'Art de Catalunya, or MNAC. Their four main permanent art collections - Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance/Baroque, and Modern - are massive. Room after room after room, until you wonder if you'll ever get out. The Romanesque and Gothic sections were especially heavy, featuring a seemingly endless number of ways to portray Jesus on the cross, and the Virgin Mary. Art pertaining to religion isn't really my thing, but I did find the above picture really interesting. Of all the representations of the Virgin Mary, this was the only one that included a small ring on her middle finger.

A minute, yet significant detail. Surely the artist had some reason to include some modest finger bling on the carving? As neither a student of religion or of art history, I won't even try to hypothesize. But to me this one little discrepancy reflects a way of thinking about culture in general. We all do things - anything, from the significant to the mundane - a certain way, rarely stopping to question why. Is it simply habit, or is there some practical or emotional reason? Until one day, someone does it a little bit differently. Someone else notices and starts to question why, using this difference to push off of the status quo.

I feel like I'm writing really abstractly, and maybe it's because it's 3:13AM here in Barcelona. Time for bed.

91) Now Back to Me 5:52 PM

Today we had a lecture on "below the line" communication, which in countries other than the US refers to viral and guerrilla marketing efforts. It immediately made me think of the Old Spice phenomenon that has gone crazy viral in the states in the last couple of days. The original commercial was passed along more than the average commercial (it has over 13 million views on YouTube). In response to the campaign’s viral success, Proctor & Gamble decided to ride the word of mouth wave by creating consumer-specific response videos and posting them on Twitter in a never before seen two day marathon of advertising production. Augie Ray’s blog on Forrester said it best -

“This program couldn’t have happened had Proctor & Gamble not ceded control to consumers and to a smart team of marketing professionals. A typical ad takes months to plan and execute—the content is carefully created, production values are high, and many edits are required prior to the campaign launch as different executives and committees weigh in. Compare that to the way this Old Spice campaign worked. Consumers were asked for their input, then a team of social media pros, marketers, writers, videographers and (of course) actor Isaiah Mustafa were sequestered to produce over 150 different video responses over the course of two days.”

You can view all the video responses here. The effort has the social mediasphere buzzing. Notice the spikes below.

Twitter (via Trendistic):


Blogs (via Blogpulse):


The success of this viral campaign demonstrates two points. First, below the line communication doesn’t necessarily exclude traditional forms of media. Let’s not forget that the original content was a TV spot. It was the integration of TV and online social media that propelled it to viraldom. Secondly, as Augie Ray mentioned, the relinquishing of control to the consumer, while seemingly risky can be hugely rewarding in the end.

I included the video above for good measure (the lecturer presented it in class). It's nothing groundbreaking - we all know that social media has been on the rise - but it presents some great ways to look at it number-wise. Enjoy.

90) Polaroids in Fashion 2:55 PM

As part of my class, I had the opportunity to go to 080 Barcelona, which is basically Fashion Week here in BCN. We had access to the main village, the showroom and even a couple runway shows. In the showroom one of the designers had a Polaroid lookbook displayed on one wall. I found it not only visually appealing, but also incredibly effective in selling product. Most booths dressed just one mannequin to show off the clothes. Here, one could see easily see every piece modeled.

The display also made me think of the use of Polaroids in fashion. They've long been a standard back stage at runway shows, but more recently, they've been creeping out from behind the scenes. Champion of the Polaroid lookbook is Scott Sternberg, and his brand Band of Outsiders. His story-telling series of pictures featured Michelle Williams in Fall 2008, Marisa Tomei and Jason Schwartzman in Fall/Winter 2009, and most recently Leslie Mann in Spring 2010. Urban Outfitters Europe has a Flickr set dedicated to Polaroid photo shoots they've done in the past.

Each grainy, washed out photo emits an effortlessly casual sense of cool. No matter that the images of the clothes are imperfect - the effect is nostalgic, like a preserved piece of the past. It's like the test shots you're not supposed to see. They're more authentic feeling - the antithesis of a polished fashion magazine editorial.

89) Cool? 4:14 PM

As part of our course, we are expected to pick up any free magazines lying around on the streets or at events, so we can keep up with the going-ons of the city. I was surprised to see how many of them there were - more often than not, I come home with my tote digging into my shoulders. I'm also always surprised at just how cool these magazines look. Sure, I can't read what's written in them. But the layout, the visuals all ooze urban cool.

I've never dared to think of myself as cool, or design oriented in any way. I'd like to think that I have good taste, but I've never considered myself on the forefront of cool. And I'm not saying this in the ironic way in which people who are effortlessly cool claim that they aren't cool. In a lot of ways, I think that I am more of a trend follower than a trend discoverer. So when I flip through these magazines, sometimes I hear Wayne Campbell saying, we are not worthy! in my head. I feel a little like a voyeuristic outsider trying to understand something a bit foreign.

I don't say this as a lament, but more as an observation about myself. This coolhunting class isn't meant to be a class on how to be cool. In fact, one of the first things our teacher told us was that you don't have to be cool to be a coolhunter. And I'm beginning to realize that being cool may just be a matter of walking the walk. When I get back to LA, there's no reason why I can't continue to pick up ubercool free pubs, to get familiar with them, to be (or at least feel) worthy.

88) Type. Face. 5:21 PM

Typography is one of those things that I love noticing, but never took the time to really study. That is, I like to think that I’m able to recognize brands’ fonts (i.e. - that’s the Volcom font, that’s the Rolling Stones Magazine font), but I’m unable to name the font, or talk about its characteristics in any meaningful way. Today’s lecture dealt with expressing identity and emotion with type, and was a great step towards better understanding the nuances and complexities of typography.

I spent part of this afternoon searching the web for some fonts that already exist that reflect my group's target, the Upcycle Tailors (part of a homework assignment). In the most basic sense, these are independent tailors who use vintage materials to hand-sew new clothes. I found a few typefaces, but this was by far the most appropriate, in my opinion. The font, Balearic Thread, combines the organic, handmade essence of thread with a more modern, minimalist lines. I think this is the spirit behind the Upcycle Tailors - breathing new life into something old.

(Mini aside - I can't believe it's July 12th already, and my time in Barcelona is already almost half way through!)

87) Peck Peck 1:55 PM

Here in Spain, it's customary to give two kisses to the cheeks in greeting, even if it's someone you've just met. It's casual enough - two kisses and you're done. The other day, I tried to explain to one of my European classmates how unthinkable this was in the US (correction - parts of the US). I think the phrase I used was, "an invasion of personal space." In general, we Americans like to keep our distance until we've established that the other is germ and crazy-free. Casual or not, lips getting anywhere near one's face carries some social weight. In order to be appropriate, it requires a certain relationship (i.e. girl friend: yes. teacher: no) or situation.

I wonder then, what the equivalent would be for Europeans. If strangers are greeted with cheek kisses, then what does one do to signal interest? Is it just a different kind of kiss? How torturous to greet the object of your affection with casual, seemingly neutral kisses. Maybe I'll ask some of the Europeans and South Americans in my class. Just something I've been thinking about.

86) Social Art 4:41 PM

I’ve gone to two art show openings in this past week - Bouil’hot at The Vallery and Super Natural Zosen Show at Galeria CMTV pictured above - and both times was struck by the number of people standing outside of the gallery versus inside. In observing the attendees, many of them did a quick circuit around the gallery before grabbing a beer (pretty standard offering, it seems) and heading outside. The openings seemed to serve more as a social gathering than an exhibit.

Obviously, these events rarely involve people silently looking at the art. Openings strive to create a social atmosphere with music, food and drink. However, in the US, the socializing generally happens inside the gallery. There is value placed on being seen inside an art opening. It will be interesting to continue to note where the crowd is hanging out here in Barcelona, to determine whether it’s a cultural thing or just a matter of convenience.

(Mini aside - VIVA ESPANA!!!!!!!!)

85) Snapshots 5:42 PM

On Friday, we had a lecture on photography and coolhunting with photographer Jorge Rodriguez. Most interesting to me was the discussion of the value of snapshots. A snapshot is a picture that is taken spontaneously, fueled by pure instinct. According to Jorge, the term “snapshot” is derived from hunting, where a snap shot is a hurried shot taken without deliberate aim. In photography terms, Jorge called it "a direction connection between our unconscious and our trigger finger." In this way, snapshots are loaded with meaning - what one chooses to quick-shoot speaks to some emotional, subconscious pull.

This made me think of a picture I took the day we walked around Raval (above). Much like animals that hide and flee from hunters, street art is often both out of sight and temporary. As seen in the photo, surfaces are in constant flux. By snapping a picture, we are able to preserve an art form that is not meant to last. Appropriately, this particular snapshot features a painting of a doe-like character by Miss Van.

84) First Impressions 10:29 AM

Hello, my dear indulgers of The Plan! I thought I'd write a little more personal post today, seeing as the entries this week have largely been homework assignments from class. A little stuffy in the writing, no? I guess I have yet to learn the appropriate voice to use when writing about trends.

Today in class we were talking about photography's role in coolhunting. As an exercise, we got into our small three person groups and each took a picture of the other two. Then we wrote a description of each person, based on an analysis of the photo we took, and regardless of whatever we did or did not already know about our classmates. After, we exchanged papers so we could see how people saw us - to see what kind of person we made ourselves out to be in the picture.

Here's what the two other girls in my group wrote about me, based on an informal photo:
- responsible
- hardworking, committed to her job - a future business woman
- organized, a perfectionist
- has a taste for fashion
- calm, a rational person
- likes to party, but likes laid back activities like movies and museums more
- lives a healthy lifestyle - works out, eats healthy food
- a family person
- serious, but friendly
- independent
- keeps a few, really good trustworthy friends
- intelligent

The exercise was so interesting me. We all have an idea of who we are, of the person we try to present to the world, but how often do we get to hear an outsider's first impression of us? The description of me was really eye opening, but not because it was completely off - actually, it was spot on. It was more the realization that this is the personality that I've created, the person I've become at this point in my life.

The two that really hit me were the "likes to party, but likes laid back activities like movies and museums more" and "keeps a few, really good trustworthy friends." I'm not sure if my classmate is just really good at reading people or what, but she was dead on. She picked out something that even I am still coming to terms with. As much as I'd like to be the outgoing, bubbly party girl that has tons of friends, that's just not who I am. I do choose wandering museums and catching movies, even if it's by myself, over a bar or club. And it's true that I keep only a few close friends.

Somehow, however accurate, it's hard for me to not see some of the descriptions as faults. Obviously, first impressions are exactly that, and I'd like to think that there's more to me than this. But what if there's not? Do I just accept the fact that I am a responsible, intelligent, hard working, calm, rational, organized, independent introvert? (Ugh, listing them all out at once makes me sound like some sort of robot.) Or is this a springboard for change, or at the very least, self-improvement in certain areas? Can I make myself appear more warm, creative, and passionate about life? Or would it just be a front for my aforementioned true self?

83) Antiphotojournalism 1:33 PM

Yesterday, on my way to La Boqueria I stumbled upon La Virreina Centre de l’Image, a contemporary art center focused on the exhibition of cultural policy. It is self-described as, “a site where images and culture reveal the circumstances behind their very production and distribution.” I can’t think of a better description for their current exhibition, Antifotoperiodisme, or Antiphotojournalism.

The collection, curated by artist and art critic Carles Guerra, is a fascinating self-reflection and questioning of modern photojournalism. The works, which span several different types of media, examine the ways in which new practices, strategies, viewpoints and technology are challenging the seemingly unquestionable way we receive news. As Guerra describes, there are certain mores of photojournalism - the stereotypical “hero” photographer who puts himself in the middle of the action in order to bear witness, sending truthful reports of sometimes terrible events back to a distant public. The idea of the faithful capturing of the “reality” in the hopes of creating an iconic image to which the rest of the world can relate. Antiphotojournalism - a phrase coined by American artist, writer and critic Allan Sekula - is a systematic critique of these cliches.

Besides showcasing some evolving attitudes of the photos esthetics (for example, increasing acceptance of out of focus images), the exhibition demonstrates how new technology and distribution methods are democratizing the field of photojournalism. One example is crowd-sourced videos, which often allow for a more up close and unedited recording of an event. In their rough execution, they provide a level of raw transparency that traditional photojournalists cannot match. Proliferation of crowd-sourced news can be seen in CNN's iReport, ABC's i-CAUGHT, Fox New's UReport. The fact that every news source has a corresponding user generated news site is reflective of the antiphotojournalism renaissance and its questioning of the status quo.

82) Invader in El Raval 9:49 AM

I spotted an Invader piece on the side of the FAD building on our walk around El Raval today. As a fan of street art, I was ridiculously excited, but had to keep it under wraps in front of my coolhunting classmates. According to Wikipedia, Invader carefully choses the locations for his mosaics, ensuring that their placements are either aesthetic, strategic or conceptual. By displaying his space invader next to the sign for FAD (El Foment de les Arts i del Disseny - Fostering Art and Design), Invader makes a statement about street art’s rightful place in the art and design world. His pixelated art is further juxtaposed against the old stone surface of the building, emphasizing the artist’s “invasion” messaging.

NYK in BARCA 2:42 PM

In class we are required to keep a daily journal of interesting things we come across, and our observations/analysis of said things. Seeing as I've been aiming to accomplish this with The Plan, it makes sense to merge the two, at least for the month of July. While my daily journal will be kept separate (mainly so my professors won't see what I thought coolhunting was before...), there will be some overlap in posts. Not every day - I'm sure things will come up outside of class. But moving forward, some posts on The Plan will seem Barcelona-centric and less relevant to the everyday American reader. But hopefully it will still be interesting to read.

Thanks for bearing with me. This exercise just became even more of an exercise. But in the best way possible.

So to summarize:
The Plan will continue as usual, but with some posts lifted from my daily class journal, NYK in BARCA.

81) la-a in Gràcia 2:23 PM

My group (our class is split into 3-person groups for projects) stumbled upon a store called la-a while wandering around Gràcia this afternoon. Its bright, minimalist interior of grainy, unstained wood and white-washed walls stood out amongst Gràcia’s more traditional store fronts. One of those impossibly adorable stores full of recycled cardboard, retro prints and twine. All of la-a’s products are all-natural, sustainable and artisan-made. When we talked with the store owner, we learned that today was their first day open for business.

Earlier, we had noticed an abundance of herbologist stores in the neighborhood that sold all-natural supplements and toiletries, each with an older, slightly hippy feel. la-a is a new take on all-natural, sustainable and artisanal - a fresh way to package these concepts. Like those of the herbologist stores, its offerings - from soaps to journals to tote bags - are a response to the local demand for quality products, and a healthful benefit for both the consumer and the environment. But the specific products chosen, together with the store’s design details speak to a more modern customer.

80) That Feeling 1:09 PM

I entered UCLA as a wide-eyed comparative literature major. Having taken (and loved) AP English and AP French Lit, I came in with conviction in my choice. My first quarter, I selected a couple requisite comp lit classes, but also enrolled in the Intro to Communications course. I can still remember the day our lesson plan included "Intro to Advertising." It was the most basic of overviews, but the whole lecture I was sitting at the edge of my seat, leaning forward, nodding furiously. I had never felt such complete absorption in any subject before. The very next day I filed the paperwork to declare myself a Communication Studies major. I put myself on the path to advertising and haven't looked back since.

Today in my first Coolhunting class, for the second time in my life, I felt it again. The complete fascination, every neuron in my brain laser-focused on what the professor was saying. I can't even begin to explain in any coherent way what I was experiencing. It felt like new channels were bursting open in my head - new ways of thinking, of connecting things, of seeing the world. And this was Day 1 - all we went over was the syllabus, and some basic terminology.

They say that if you find a job you love, you'll never work a day in your life. The same can be said about subjects in school. If you find something you love - that is truly fascinating and inspiring - class ceases to feel like class.

79) The Fourth 2:02 PM

I hesitate to write about this, since my sample size is considerably small, but it's relevant so here I go. This year, there seems to be an increase in the number of "Happy 4th of July" related status updates on Facebook, at least among my friends. Perhaps I'm especially sensitive to such messages, since I'm in a country where July 4th is just another day. But maybe (just maybe) it's a manifestation of a larger cultural upswing in patriotism. Again, I'm wary to draw any real conclusions from this observation, but the very idea of measuring patriotism year to year by the number of July 4th shout outs is intriguing. And given Facebook's wealth of demographic info, the measurement can be tailored by region, age, etc.

Just some quick thoughts before bed. Turning in early because class starts tomorrow. I spent the 4th at the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueras. Amazing museum chocked full of Dali work, eccentricities, genius, etc. Pictures soon, promise. I hope everyone back in the states had (or are having) a great fourth celebrating more traditionally.

78) Language Barrier 3:46 PM

Given that my class doesn't start until Monday, it's been a little tricky figuring out which residents of the well-sized Residencia Onix are also part of my program. Though I've seen and heard a handful of people in the hallways, they've all spoken Spanish muy rapido. Having chosen French over Spanish my whole life, I'm now paying the price with a serious language barrier. By day 2, I was starving for English. Sure, the people at reception speak enough to help me with all the logistics. But what I craved was conversation. The easy back and forth banter that comes from true understanding, not a "no entiendo" in sight.

Walking the streets of Barcelona, an element of my gorgeous surroundings is lost, as almost all the signs are in Spanish or Catalan. Reading is such a stimulus for me, whether it's a book, a street sign, or a clever wildposting. The lack of comprehension begins to wear me down, and at the end of the day, you can find me at computer devouring English news sites, blogs, anything and everything I can think of with a fervored interest I've never known before.

Thankfully, this tale of two tongues (well, one tongue) has a happy ending. The other day I went up to the rooftop pool of the complex. Two minutes after I sat down, a guy came over and mistook me for someone else. In English. I've never made a faster friend in my life. I've been known to be a bit reserved when I first meet people, but words were spilling out of my mouth in a constant stream of self-disclosure. Later, he introduced me to some other people in his group, undergrads from Georgia Tech doing their semester abroad.

Even better, I got to meet my suite-mate (we share a kitchen) today. Her name is Florencia, and she's from Argentina. She is part of the IED program, which means her English is very good. And as a bonus, she's been helping me with my Spanish.

Dealing with the language barrier made me think of the people who make it their business to demand that Mexicans living in the US should speak English. I understand that the situation is a bit different - I am only here for a month, not settling here for the rest of my life. And while learning English would certainly be beneficial to Hispanics living in the US, I can now see why people seek out and cling to their first language. In a sea of foreignness, to hear, read and speak it can be a life-saving gasp of air.

77) Jet Lag 7:18 AM

It turns out that I'm not as hardy a traveler as I thought I was, because I've been battling some serious jet lag today. I'd like to think I'm just out of practice, having not been this far away from CA since I graduated high school (oh, the shame). Mainly, I'm tired at all the wrong times, and wide awake dreadfully early in the morning. There's also some unsettled stomach action, which makes it difficult to adjust to meal times. Someone poetic once said that jet lag is just your soul catching up to your body. Damnit, soul, hurry up.

But this got me thinking. While it's been a great comfort to check in to Facebook once in awhile, could it be contributing to the jet lag? Seeing the natural rhythms of the day mirrored in status updates - not only content, but also frequency of posts - keeps me in the mindset of PST. Just as it's advised not to keep calculating what time it is back home, could the continued use of Facebook be hindering my Spanish circadian rhythm?

I'd like to think that jet lag is more physical than mental. Hopefully this is just the musing of a jet lagged traveler, because I have no intention of banning Facebook. Ask me again in a couple days once class begins and when this inconvenient lag has passed.

76) Security Blanket 8:22 AM

This may be the understatement of the century, but our reliance on the internet is astounding. And like so many other crutches, we never fully appreciate it until we don't have it. Having left my cell phone in LA, I arrived in Barcelona internetless. I arrived at the residence where I'm staying a few hours early, and had to hang out in the computer lab with my bags. I quickly jumped on one of the computers and checked all my usual interweb haunts - Gmail, Facebook, LA Times, NY Times, etc, carefully navigating the Spanish keyboard. Tired and malnourished (I wasn't kidding about the saltines, Sour Patch Kids and Milanos diet) in a foreign place, it was a great comfort to be online. With access to the internet, it was like, hey, this isn't so different.

Then after I got into my room, there came a momentary panic when I thought I couldn't access the internet from my room. This may sound like not a big deal - I'd already established that I could pop down to the computer lab if need be. However, I realized that I use the internet self-consciously as a verifier. That is, aside from email, social media and news, I'm constantly looking this up. Namely directions, definitions, restaurant reviews, and very likely in Spain, translations. I use the internet to verify things for myself, things as obvious as the current time in Barcelona to make sure my clocks were all correct. Sure, I could stop and ask someone on the street for directions or for the time. But I've gotten so used to the self-sufficiency that the internet provides. It's like this definitive voice that quickly assures me, yes, this info is correct. So the thought of having to go down to the computer lab every time I needed a shot of reassurance freaked me out.

Eventually, I was able to get online in my room (and typing on my own laptop, whew) thanks to an ethernet cable I purchased at the front desk for 5 euro. The woman who helped me made it sound like it was a huge sacrifice. "Oh," she said apologetically, "we don't have wifi, so if you want internet in your room, you have to get a cable. It's...5 euro." In my mind, it was a very small price to pay for what amounts to the biggest security blanket ever.

(Mini aside - I'm HERE!! After finally getting into my room, I passed out for a few hours [the timing was perfect - my first siesta!], my back a mess having sat upright for the past 20 hours or so. My apartment is great, a lot more spacious than I had imagined. Once I'm all unpacked I'll take some pictures to share. I keep poking my head out of my window. I'm excited to explore the neighborhood over the next couple days before class starts.)