Integrity

Dedicating the month of December to the Honorable, Nelson Mandela, my encounter with him was only through movies, the media, and a recollection of once telling an old friend that the dictionary should bare a picture of Nelson Mandela next to the word integrity.  He earnestly agreed as we sat in silence admiring his unwavering convictions, while nearing his 27^th year of imprisonment.

Thinking about Mandela’s integrity provoked a sober examination of loyalty to a cause in context to choosing imprisonment over the renunciation of one’s ideas in exchange for freedom, as everyone knows the silent answer to this examination of themselves.  

Remembering Mandela

“Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savor their songs.” 

― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

Links to Excellence – “Versailles ’73”

For some, the ‘70s bring to mind the disco era of Donna Summer; Manhattan’s hottest night scene, Studio 54; Mahogany, starring, Diana Ross; and those Bob Mackie originals worn by Cher. 

While these and other trends were indicative of ‘70s American culture, a fashion revolution was emerging across the globe, known as Versailles ’73. 

http://www.youtube.com/ Versailles Trailer

Links to Excellence – Filming “Green Garden”

The production footage on Laura Mvula’s, Green Garden, unveils the inspiration behind the video treatment based on Mvula’s childhood exposure to greener surroundings.

From this back story, a cinematic vision unfolds, paralleling transcendent views of nature, deserving of man’s praise.

http://www.youtube.com/Production Set of  "Green Garden"

Links to Excellence – "I Can Explain"

There are two songs that I can definitively claim as top favorites, one of which comes from a voice that embodies artistic style with an emotional range that moves . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax_8ULuBxYo

www.rachelleferrell.com

Links to Excellence – Fashion One TV Features UCOF

Courtesy of UCOF

Great fashion is timeless; moreover when it’s driven by global service and efforts to empower the youth through fashion, as United Colors of Fashion dedicates itself to.

Highlighting the best at the end, here’s an inside look at UCOF’s mission to go beyond the aesthetics of fashion during the 2012 events of this charitable organization, along with added images from their 2013 Annual Gala, entitled, Faith Hope Fashion.

http://www.unitedcolorsoffashion.org/gallery/ucof-on-fashion-one-tv/

Courtesy of UCOF

Cultural Assumptions

Driving through one of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods – coming from the vehicle of a man whom many would assume a loyal fan of hard rap, based on his attire and early model ride – I heard an impressive version of a British pop song with the singer’s intermittent vocals fading in and out over lush instrumentals, creating an extended, soulful remix.  The musical effect was charismatic, as it inspired my interest in the song, which I have yet to hear anywhere else.

Soon after this encounter, I came across another vehicle blasting explicit rap lyrics, which I'd assumed to be coming from someone fitting the above profile, rather than what I saw after daring to look – preppy vehicle, driven by a clean-cut young man reflective of college status.

It’s common to assume that certain demographics gravitate to certain genres of art without consideration for the “individual” marketing dynamics that play into the marketing equation, based on individual tastes and/or personal experiences. 

As we are becoming a more globalized society, the standard demographic models used to define target markets will increasingly have to take the individual approach into account, predicated on the complexities of global interests, personal tastes, and consumer sophistication.