One thing that was running through my mind as I read the articles on advertisement was the connection between Tumblr and various cheap fashion websites throughout the internet. A certain popular wing of tumblr takes on this sort of grungy, high-fashion kind of vibe that embodies each individual user’s “aesthetic,” and they all try to reblog as many things as they can adherent to their personal aesthetic motif. In terms of fashion blogs, this usually means a very polished yet rustic aesthetic, kind of like an article of clothing you’d buy at a thrift shop but a lot more polished and maybe even a little snootier.

One thing that accompanies this aesthetic, though, is promotions from various different tumblr users for sites like Romwe and Shein, which offer the clothes shown in pictures like these for an absurdly affordable price. Although it seems very individualistic and edgy, it instead acts as a direct pipeline between what’s thought of as “edgy” and “different” in terms of fashion and common people on tumblr. The result is generally a large group of people taking pictures in the same shirt and uploading them to their blogs, which could be as much of a blessing as it is a curse.

One could say fashion and art is half complete without the advertising component. To the creator it may be a masterpiece, but to the general audience it could just be another item that their eye glances over without the notion to stop and stare.

I was particularly fond of O’Brien’s remark, “The fusion of advertising and art is adding another dimension to culture,” because it rang true of our contemporary society today. I think that in earlier times, people appreciated art and fashion more because it was just becoming popular in its new and raw form. Today, art and fashion have lost this sense of tradition because people have lost it too. Thus what appeals to younger generations today, is not the same as from what did of years ago.

Much like these ads from Urban Decay

The one on the left with Gwen Stefani, is an earlier ad and is in no doubt a stunning portrayal of the model, but it is simple and traditional. Her blond hair, deep red lipstick, and her apparel, reminds me of a doll type of look: simple, elegant, and clean, much like the makeup presented. There is nothing out of the ordinary being advertised.

The more recent ad on the right by Urban Decay featuring Ruby Rose,  (known for pushing the boundaries of gender stereotypes in Orange is the New Black), embodies a more dramatic and dangerous look, which pars well together with the company’s new lipstick collection of bold and unique colors.  Her tattoos and shorter hair cut stray away from the conventional manner of portraying women in makeup ads but in a way that would attract a diverse group of youngsters. The unzipped leather jacket to me spoke out as liberated and carefree, not to mention how her mouth is slightly opened and the model is holding an eyeshadow brush in her mouth like a cigarette, which all contribute to this rebellious ambiance.

Overall, the ad on the left speaks to me as, look beautiful and play it safe today, whereas the ad on the right says, look sexy and be dangerous tonight.

These two types of ads portray two different types of women, as well as two different styles of makeup, and will therefore attract two different followings when viewed.

From the first article, Abloh’s statement “We’re all individuals; we’re all critics; we all look at things from a discerning eye,” coincides with the idea that a piece of art/fashion can not satisfy everyone because we all see things differently. Thus advertisements help lure those stragglers who are not enticed by first glance, or are unsure of what they are truly looking at.

When talking about possible career choices , people would ask, “What are you interested in? What are your hobbies?” Depending on the person, I would either shrug or tell them I like art mainly drawing. When I chose to say the latter, the person I’m talking about would say, “Have you thought about Graphic Design? Or going into advertising?” These would be the most practical  paths to go to with art when thinking about a future with a job besides architecture. It is difficult to find a stable job much less make a name for yourself. To Glenn O’Brien, advertising wasn’t what he imagined to be the career that will connect him to art yet it is through this line of work that he was able to feel the recognition as an artist and as a member of society. But to get yourself a name in the art world is tough unless you have connection and influences. Kanye West and Virgil Abloh both state how they wouldn’t have been acknowledged as they are now if they didn’t have these connections with other famous people, if there line of work didn’t appeal to famous icons in  the media that promoted their work. I learned that art is considered art by three agencies: the artist, the audience/viewer, and the critic/curator. Thanks to the influence of famous celebrities wearing fashion products or praising  works is then caught by the media/critic which then impacts the artists’ brand name which leads to a desire for these brands, products are distributed and so forth.

When I was thinking of a connection between art, fashion, advertising, and commerce, I remembered a scene from the movie, Medianeras, where the artist who worked as a window shop designer and it showed one of the designs she had made where the outfit’s artistic sense was brought out more in a creative way. It caught my interest and I would most likely go in the shop and possibly buy clothes. The use of color, as Kanye West stated in his article, is important.

I was also reminded of the late Harvey Ball who was a graphic artist that created the smiley icon which became an international symbol of happiness and goodwill incorporated in countless products. He was a freelance artist when he created the symbol and never asked for it to be trademarked or copyrighted which was interesting considering the significance of one’s name and work being recognized as discussed in the three articles.