Confessions of a Material Girl

I had a nice self-absorbed weekend. I watched "Confessions of a shopaholic" on Saturday [Movie titles that begin with "Confessions of" always sound interesting for some reason. One just needs to end the phrase with something weirdly relevant like "material girl" or "wedding planner"]. I really liked it because it was a typical, not-too-sappy-and-annoying chick flick. I also liked it because it didn't have many of the sporadic, unbearably ridiculous spending the book version contained. I don't know why, but those just made me cringe. I'm not the most sensible shopper and I do go crazy every now and then but reading the book did make me feel like shaking her every now and then. I can't remember the book enough to make a comparison but I do know that it's extremely different. I must admit that when she threw the scarf under that table, all I could think of was "oh my gosh, go get the scarf, it cost a hundred dollars, what if someone else takes it..". That's a normal reaction, right? Or am I truly into the material?

An idol is something man-made or organisation-made, most often a replica of something that exists in the real world or a figment of one's imagination, that gives the heart some weird sense of happiness and dependency. I've had many such idols in my life. And many that I have coveted. One of the best I can remember is an art knife from an old Franklin Mint catalog. It was beautiful with a gorgeous jewel in the centre, Celtic designs all around, a wolf like carving on the handle and it was mounted on a velvet plaque. I doubt it was useful for much, besides, who'd use a knife like that to cut anything? Of course, it was expensive and I didn't bother about it much. But I kept the catalog.

What is it about beauty that draws us? Makes us want to claim it for ourselves? It's kind of scary how far people would go for something that appeals to their human senses, something "rare", "limited", "unattainable". People would pay any price for something that is off limits. Quite stupid. But I can understand our quest for beauty though. It's part of our history.

There's currently a mobile phone in the market that costs Rs.1,00,000. It doesn't have fingerprint access, laser pointers, tiny ninja star shooters or diamond studded braille keys. It doesn't even have GSM, Wi-fi, 3G or infrared. So what does the Motorola Aura have? A Grade 1 Sapphire crystal over the display. Because people are worth it.
I wouldn't buy it even if it costs Rs.5000 because I'm currently on the look out for the perfect full featured phone. I want to experience all (possible) the technology available in my generation while I'm alive. I don't want to die without having tried all the things that would be museum material to my grandkids.

But finding that great phone of the present future is a difficult task indeed. I want a flip phone (but for some reason India doesn't have any) or else a touch screen one would be nice. Until I sit on it or scratch it or drive a screwdriver through it. I remember when a colleague of mine got the first O2 phone and we were all oohing and aahing, another colleague was like "So, how do you dial a number?'. I want a phone that's that confusing.

Who said choice makes things easier? Five years ago, finding that perfect pair of shoes or jeans was like finding the right guy. Now, finding the perfect mobile phone is harder. You find a promising one and it won't have one simple feature available in all other models from that brand or will lack in something. Or you find one with all the features possible and they make it look so ugly that you'd have to dodge into alleys before taking a call. It's as if they're sabotaging a good thing on purpose. Is there some sort of consumer law that requires that nothing with everything should be manufactured?
They've done that to shoes here as well. There'll be one with the right amount of heel, lovely straps and then they'll go and add some cheap looking stones all over or an ugly sole. Must be to add "character". Character is relative, you know.

What about cars? Why do they even make ugly cars? Why stick to the whole "practical not pretty" box and make it unpretty just cos you want it to be called practical. That can mess with people's minds and make them choose ugly things because they think it will be practical. I know people who pick out awful looking luggage because they think that no one will steal them. I understand that there is there question of differing tastes and that each person is entitled to their own. But come on, it's not about red vs blue. It's about having a sickening blue option available. Or maybe I don't really understand.

I might have put this ad up before. Can't remember. Beauty, brains and Mercedes - have it all?