Thepretentiousacademic - Quality And Beauty In The Everyday

❝i don’t want just words. if that’s all you have for me, you’d better go.❞ — f. scott fitzgerald, the beautiful and damned.

Inside the Perfume Wardrobe of…: Cher

Singer, actress, model, icon. Cher burst onto the Mod 1960s scene, and has memorized us ever since with her strong voice, poignant performance in Moonstruck (1987), sequin encrusted Bob Mackie gowns, and firecracker attitude.

- Ritz by Charles of the Ritz and Vanilia by L’Artisan Parfumeur When asked on Letterman in 1986 what perfume she was wearing, Cher states “It’s two together. One’s real cheap, it’s called Ritz and it’s like Tabu, good girls don’t wear it. And the other one’s real expensive, called Vanilia.” David Letterman replies, “The end result is quite effective.” They go on to discuss how she has turned down appearing on the show for four years, “Because you thought I was a-”, Letterman starts to say. Cher cuts in and finishes the sentence: “An asshole.” The audience boos.

- Uninhibited by Cher (1988) and Cher Eau de Couture by Cher (2019) Cher went on to create two fragrances: Uninhibited in 1988, and more recently, Cher Eau de Couture. Cher says the fragrance “makes you want to hold yourself,” because of the juice’s warm, gourmand blend.

(sources: 1, 2, 3)

the funny thing is that i don't think younger people - and i mean those under the age of 40 - really have a grasp on how many of today's issues can be tied back to a disastrous reagan policy:

war on drugs: reagan's aggressive escalation of the war on drugs was a catastrophic policy, primarily targeting minority communities and fueling mass incarceration. the crusade against drugs was more about controlling the Black, Latino and Native communities than addressing the actual problems of drug abuse, leading to a legacy of broken families and systemic racism within the criminal justice system.

deregulation and economic policies: reaganomics was an absolute disaster for the working class. reagan's policies of aggressive tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, and slashing social programs were nothing less than class warfare, deepening income inequality and entrenching corporate greed. these types of policies were a clear message that reagan's america was only for the wealthy elite and a loud "fuck you" to working americans.

environmental policies: despite his reputation being whitewashed thanks to the recovery of the ozone layer, reagan's environmental record was an unmitigated disaster. his administration gutted critical environmental protections and institutions like the EPA, turning a blind eye to pollution and corporate exploitation of natural resources. this blatant disregard for the planet was a clear sign of prioritizing short-term corporate profits over the future of the environment.

AIDS crisis: reagan's gross neglect of the aids crisis was nothing short of criminal and this doesn't even begin to touch on his wife's involvement. his administration's indifference to the plight of the lgbtq+ community during this devastating epidemic revealed a deep-seated bigotry and a complete failure of moral leadership.

mental health: reagan's dismantling of mental health institutions under the guise of 'reform' led directly to a surge in homelessness and a lack of support for those with mental health issues. his policies were cruel and inhumane and showed a personality-defining callous disregard for the most vulnerable in society.

labor and unions: reagan's attack on labor unions, exemplified by his handling of the patco strike, was a blatant assault on workers' rights. his actions emboldened corporations to suppress union activities, leading to a significant erosion of workers' power and rights in the workplace. he was colloquially known as "Ronnie the Union Buster Reagan"

foreign policy and military interventions: reagan's foreign policy, particularly in latin america, was imperialist and ruthless. his administration's support for dictatorships and right-wing death squads under the guise of fighting "communism" showed a complete disregard for human rights and self-determination of other nations.

public health: yes, reagan's agricultural policies actually facilitated the rise of high fructose corn syrup, once again prioritizing corporate profits over public health. this shift in the food industry has had lasting negative impacts on health, contributing to the obesity epidemic and other health issues.

privatization: reagan's push for privatization was a systematic dismantling of public services, transferring wealth and power to private corporations and further eroding the public's access to essential services.

education policies: his approach to education was more of an attack on public education than anything else, gutting funding and promoting policies that undermined equal access to quality education. this was, again, part of a broader agenda to maintain a status quo where the privileged remain in power.

this is just what i could come up with in a relatively short time and i did not even live under this man's presidency. the level at which ronald reagan has broken the united states truly can't be overstated.

Trees and fog. There's nothing better :)

I think I deserve to be flirted with. Just a lil bit. Wooed, courted, maybe even romanced? Is it fair that no one's sweeping me off my feet right now?? I don't think so.

Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh, 1945, First U.S. Release *LOOK AT PICTURES* #academia #darkacademia #vintagebooks #historicalfiction #literaryfiction #lgbtlit #classiclit #lgbtliterature #bridesheadrevisited #evelynwaugh #1940sbooks #worldwar2 #classicliterature #lightacademia https://etsy.me/3FSPbIh

Leila Chatti, from "Postcard from Gone"

Christ Church. x