priyanka23393

[priyanka23393]

The Big Bad Homo-Economicus

        My Google Drive is running out of space again and I don’t want to pay for more storage, but I don’t want to let go of these gems from college either. Here’s yet another writing assignment from my Art History class, freshman year, about Little Red Riding Hood through the ages. Enjoy!

        The first recorded version of the story was that of Charles Perrault, Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (The Little Red Riding Hood), published in 1697. The major, striking aspects of the story with respect to the prevailing economy of seventeenth century France, are the contents of the basket, the location of the grandmother’s house, and the presence of woodcutters. Perrault had produced this story for the ostentatious halls of King Louis XIV, better known as the Sun King. At this time, France was pursuing the plan for a centralized economy that had been laid down years before, by the deceased finance minister, Jean Baptiste Colbert. As per his manifesto, production of normal goods was decreased and production of luxury goods was increased. This was primarily to maintain a standard of French goods for foreign trades. However, this led to an increase in taxes, which also facilitated the luxuries enjoyed by the royal authorities in Versailles while the rest of France remained in poverty. It was at this hour that the reigning Queen, Marie Therese had said exasperatedly to a group of angry and hungry peasants, “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche”. While a rough translation would mean “Let them eat cake”, brioche is actually a type of cake or bread with high butter and egg content. It is intriguing as to how Perrault chose exactly those ingredients to be in the little girl’s basket, i.e., cake and a small pot of butter. One can only assume that Perrault’s reference may have been intentional, but the relation is, nevertheless, uncanny. If this was a satirical reference then it reflects the failure of French absolutism that prevailed.

Once upon a time, in seventeenth century Paris, the supervisor of Royal Buildings, Charles Perrault decided to publish an oral folktale about a little girl being deceived and eaten by a wolf.  A century later, two folklorists, the Grimm brothers, hailing from Germany, published their own version of the same tale. As the years passed, more renditions of The Little Red Riding Hood, emerged by various authors from all over the world, and it continues to be so. The plot of this popular children’s story remained the same, but the characters evolved with time and the contents in the story were often manipulated. The reason for this has been credited to the socio-economic conditions of the respective time period in which each of the versions were published. As the Grimm brothers would call the story, it was “poetry of the people”. It’s true that the surrounding situations have influenced the evolution of the story over centuries. The Little Red Riding Hood in itself is an anthology of economic concepts and issues, and its various versions substantiate the difference in economic thought and action in the time period and location in which the respective story was published.

 The first recorded version of the story was that of Charles Perrault, Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (The Little Red Riding Hood), published in 1697. The major, striking aspects of the story with respect to the prevailing economy of seventeenth century France, are the contents of the basket, the location of the grandmother’s house, and the presence of woodcutters. Perrault had produced this story for the ostentatious halls of King Louis XIV, better known as the Sun King. At this time, France was pursuing the plan for a centralized economy that had been laid down years before, by the deceased finance minister, Jean Baptiste Colbert. As per his manifesto, production of normal goods was decreased and production of luxury goods was increased. This was primarily to maintain a standard of French goods for foreign trades. However, this led to an increase in taxes, which also facilitated the luxuries enjoyed by the royal authorities in Versailles while the rest of France remained in poverty. It was at this hour that the reigning Queen, Marie Therese had said exasperatedly to a group of angry and hungry peasants, “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche”. While a rough translation would mean “Let them eat cake”, brioche is actually a type of cake or bread with high butter and egg content. It is intriguing as to how Perrault chose exactly those ingredients to be in the little girl’s basket, i.e., cake and a small pot of butter. One can only assume that Perrault’s reference may have been intentional, but the relation is, nevertheless, uncanny. If this was a satirical reference then it reflects the failure of French absolutism that prevailed.

            Another intriguing aspect of the story is the Grandmother’s house. Red Riding Hood describes it as the first house in the village next to a mill, which is very far away. Given the economic manifesto provided by Colbert, it can be assumed that the mill in question was for a specialized good. However, the product of the mill is not mentioned and is open to interpretation. The presence of the mill suggests the changing technology in production, which would eventually lead to the Industrial Revolution in the coming century. 

           Agriculture has always been a predominant occupation in France, especially in the given setting of an early modern French village. But Perrault chose woodcutters over any other laborers. The reason for this is more psycho-sociological than economic. The woodcutters, with their arms not only intimidate the wolf, but also render Red Riding Hood’s character passive, i.e., by implying the dependence on men for protection. However, from an economic perspective it is curious that if the wolf was hungry indeed, why didn’t he feed on the woodcutters and wait for Red Riding Hood? The opportunity cost of not feeding on the woodcutters was quite high. Not only did he have to starve for longer, to wait for Red Riding Hood, but he also had to go to great lengths to actually be able to eat her. The utility that he’d have gotten from eating the two woodcutters would have been equal to the utility he received from eating the grandmother and the girl. This may be because the wolf was able to assess the risks of eating the woodcutters. It would have been one against two armed men. As the first principle of risk management states: the gain must exceed the pain. The wolf might have realized that the margin of risk with Red Riding Hood is much lesser than that of eating the woodcutters, which could increase his probability of being killed. Thus, the wolf represents a true Homo economicus or “economic man” who only caters to selfish motives while making a rational economic decision. The wolf abides by economic laws while making this decision but fails to do the same later when he contradicts the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility which states that with every successive unit of consumption the utility derived from that additional unit decreases. The wolf is more satisfied by eating Red Riding Hood than he is by eating the grandmother even though he was hungrier when he ate the latter.

             This discrepancy was addressed in the version published two centuries later by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Rotkappchen (Little Red Cap) in 1812. In this version the wolf specifies that the little girl would be much more satisfying than the old grandmother, because the girl’s flesh is tenderer.The wolf wishes to capture both to satiate his hunger, thus treating the grandmother and the little girl as parts of a single source of utility. 

            The Grimm brothers were German philologists whose expertise was in collecting popular folktales. The time the Grimm version of the Little Red Riding Hood was published; France was dominating the European economy and facing a revolution. The Germans were lagging far behind in economic development. Their economy was feudal and traditionalism was widespread. Germany had yet to catch up with technological advancements. This probably explains the location of the grandmother’s house being so deep in a forest as Germany was more of a rural society than urban at the time.

            This was also a time of poverty and poor health across Germany. This makes the grandmother’s illness more credible. J.J. Sheehan , an American historian, notes that “even in the best of times the poorest families spent most of their income on food; when prices rose they bought less, ate less, and became susceptible to typhus, typhoid, and the other infections that raged throughout these years.” This explains why Red Riding Hood’s mother gave her a basket full of food to take to the grandmother instead of medicines. However the food items in the basket were cake and wine which are considered luxury items. Luxury items are goods that are purchased upon an increase in income, unlike necessities which are not as affected by income. This helps to hypothesize that The Little Red Riding Hood came from a comparatively better off background. Her velvet red cap also supports this theory as velvet used to be associated with nobility. However this contradicts the feudalism spoken of before. 

             This can be explained by the history of the Grimm brothers themselves. They were raised in the bustling town of Hanau, and the Grimm family was among the cream of the society. Despite living a life of comfort, Jacob and Wilhelm, as Jack Zipes records, were very much familiar with things relating to rudimentary lifestyles such as farming, peasant customs and superstitions. This depicts the aforementioned traditionalism that prevailed in the German society. It also provides a better understanding of Red Riding Hood’s character. Her character can be easily related to the lives of the Grimm Brothers. 

             In the Grimm version of the story, the little girl’s credibility was still suppressed by the hunter who saved her life. But Roald Dahl allows Red Riding Hood to have her moment of bravado in Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf. This poem was published in 1983, which was the same time when Margaret Thatcher had taken up the seat for Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for the second time. This was a time when women were making a difference in various occupational fields during the second wave of the Feminist Movement. Margaret Thatcher strived for a modernized economy and used uncompromising techniques to implement economic policies that saved the United Kingdom from its recession. Her methods earned her the nickname “the Iron Lady”.

         Roald Dahl is renowned for his satire, wit and humor. His poem of the Red Riding Hood Story may have been his own interpretation. However, the facts of the time period in which it was written allows me to infer a relation between Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood and Margaret Thatcher. In 1983 Margaret Thatcher was re-elected as the post of Prime Minister after she picked herself up from the recession in the beginning of the 1980s. Similarly Red Riding Hood had been in a low point of her own in the previous versions of her story wherein she was killed, saved by someone else or identified as a sex object. Roald Dahl gave her the opportunity to take control of the story without compromising her dignity or sovereignty and she proved herself to be an Iron Woman by killing the wolf. In this instance Red Riding Hood becomes the Homo economicus. Without letting any other emotions override, she shoots the wolf. The opportunity cost of letting it live would be the price of her life and many others. Many behavioral economists believe that the opportunity cost of selfish behavior is rather high that they might encourage unrelated motives. For example, like most female protagonists of fairy tales, Red Riding Hood could have shown compassion towards the wolf, which could have unreliable consequences, i.e. good or bad. A rational economist would ignore nonegoistic motives, like the Homo economicus or Red Riding Hood. Thus, Red Riding Hood, for once, has been described as the ideal role model not for her morals but for her actions.

          Thus, every development in the story of Little Red Riding Hood, in all the versions, has some kind of economic dimension to it that can often be derived or integrated into the real world at the given time period. The different versions show the changing economic perspectives. In Perrault’s version of Le Petit Chaperon Rouge we see a reflection of the early modern French society, where the male figure (the wolf) makes rational economic decisions. In the Grimm version, we see an influence of a better standard of living through Red Riding Hood. And finally, in Dahl’s poem, we see the woman making the rational economic decisions. The evolution of the Red Riding Hood story helps to map out the economic development of the society over centuries and hence, may even serve as historical evidence.

[My Bibliography was 3 pages more so I thought I’d spare you. Rest assured it’s available on demand]

[priyanka23393]

Playlist of My Life

So I’ve been watching a lot of these Teen Vogue videos on YouTube where artists make a Spotify playlist of their life. And I really wanted to make my own too. I did, obviously, but I also wanted to explain myself like the others did (not that anybody asked, or anybody cares); but every song has a story to tell not just within the song itself but also about the listener. I find that intriguing. I have a whole other soundtrack to my life too (like if my life were to become a motion picture) but that’s a whole other post.

1. Fireflies - Owl City

This song represents so much to me. I was 16 when I heard the song. It was just when I began junior college (junior and senior year of high school/ 11th & 12th grade). It was when I had my first taste of independence. So this song really reminds me of that feeling of freedom.

It also represents youth and first love to me, because I was introduced to it by my crush. I asked him “What’s up” and he said he was listening to ’“fireflies”’ and I totally made an idiot out of myself by saying “the mosquitoes might feel bad”. But then we fell in love, and went through this whole journey together, of many firsts and youthful adventures. We broke up, but this song will always be special to me and I’m never going to get sick of it. I haven’t in a decade, so that’s something.

Favorite lyric:

I’m weird ‘cause I hate goodbyes

That line just gets me

2. I Can Be Somebody - Deorro ft. Erin McCarley

I actually don’t listen to this song as much as I’d like. I heard this song when I was graduating college and moving to New York, and this was just the perfect song for the occasion. It still is. It always gets me pumped up. It’s not a regular party song, nor is it too happy, but it’s perfect for painting the town red all night with someone you love or your friends, and just appreciate life, especially your 20s. Yes, this song is definitely representative of my 20s. I think this song was aptly picturized in “We Are Your Friends”. Heard it before the movie, though.

3. Something New - Axwell /\ Ingrosso

This is definitely one of my all time favourite songs. Also heard it around the same time as I Can Be Somebody. Maybe that was just my EDM phase, come to think of it. I actually heard this song for the first time in the middle of Times Square for a Beats ad. I couldn’t get the rhythm out of my head. I desperately searched for the ad immediately to get the name of the song. The positive vibes of this song are just so infectious. It’s also the perfect airplane take off song. I also imagine this to be the opening credit song for my movie.

4. I Decide - Lindsey Lohan

I’m surprised how much this song impacted me. It wasn’t just because of Princess Diaries, I was going through a Disney phase in general back then, emulating Hilary Duff and Lindsey Lohan and the likes. This song, however, really made me feel empowered. I didn’t know that songs could do that to you till I heard this one. I was a kid, and a good kid at that, just doing what I’m told/ supposed to, and this song (in a very positive way) made me realise that I had a choice to do otherwise, or at the very least have a different opinion. This song gave me a voice I didn’t know I had.

Every lyric in the song is very relatable, but of course the chorus takes the cake.

Favorite Lyric:

I decide how I live, I decide who I love, Choice is mine, and No one gets to make my mind up I decide.

5. The Climb - Miley Cyrus

Another surprisingly impactful song. It’s surprising because, while other Disney songs also seek to inspire, this was quite mature and deep for its audience, and it definitely touched a chord in my heart. I can’t mention I Decide, and not this. Because while, I Decide started this internal revolution, this song exposed my insecurities, better yet, it taught me to embrace them and move on, and really get some perspective in life. It’s not a karaoke song (depends on the mood I guess), but when I’m down, I softly sing this under my breath, to pick myself up, and console myself that it’s going to be ok. This is just a part of a great journey.

Also, this song feels so relatable to me especially the lyric,

There’s always gonna be another mountain, I’m always gonna wanna make it move

I do that all the time! I push and I push and when I fail I feel dejected. This song is a reminder that I shouldn’t feel that way.

Hard to believe this came from the same album as Hoedown Throwdown.

6. How to Save a Life - The Fray

It would be unfair to have a playlist of my life and not have this song. I feel like every kid of my generation has had some connect with this song. For me, it was not only my introduction to the flourishing alternative rock phase of the early 2000s, but also THE best live experience I’ve had. I was fortunate enough to see the Fray live in concert in Cleveland, and I may not be a concert connoisseur, but I don’t think there are very many times when the entire song is sung by the audience, and the band just stays quiet, and plays the instruments. The ENTIRE song.

I hadn’t seen Grey’s Anatomy when I heard this song, but then I did see Grey’s, I couldn’t stop myself from crying when they used this song for Shepherd’s farewell.

7. Over You - Daughtry

This will always be my favourite break up song. Daughtry was my first concert ever and this was the first Daughtry song I’d heard. I remember a friend recommending it. I was instantly hooked. I was 12 when I first heard it, but it’s still so relevant. A lot of break up songs are either sad, or motivational, or angry, or catering to a specific emotion in general. This song actually encompasses all of it. When you break up with someone there’s a tsunami of emotions, this song let’s you be angry, and hopeful for the future, while accepting the past. It’s bloody brilliant.

Favorite lyric:

The day I thought I’d never get through, I got over you.

8. Club Can’t Handle Me - Flo Rida, David Guetta

I grew up as a dancer, and I was a huge fan of the Step Up series growing up. This song really brought the screen and soundtrack alive. It’s been my jam ever since. It’s such a happy song, it’s hard not to jump to it’s beats. This was like the High school Party staple, along with Give Me Everything in 2011.

9. Superbass - Nicki Minaj

Once upon a time there was a lot of buzz about this Nicki Minaj. I watched this bubble gum video called Superbass, and I couldn’t for the life of me understand the appeal of this crazy eyed lady. I absolutely hated the song. Later, Selena Gomez put up a video rapping to this song. I figured, if she can do it so can I. And then I religiously studied Superbass for 3 days. Years later, Nicki Minaj continues to slay, I’ve become a credible rapper in my friend group, and Superbass continues to be my go to karaoke song. I walk in to karaoke bars, rap to Superbass, impress the fuck out of strangers, drop the mic and call it a night. Thank you for this gift, Nicki.

10. Euphoria - BTS

Aah my gateway drug to K-pop. This is very recent, but I know already that I’m not going to be forgetting this song anytime soon. It really reminds me of some of the other songs mentioned above. It’s been a while since I’ve heard such a chill feel good song actually. I’m sure there have been many, but I’ve not come across good electronic rhythms that have pulled me in this way as instantly. Maybe a few Chainsmokers songs. But the reason I mention this one is because it’s opened up a whole new world to me. Not like I was living under a rock or anything, but K-pop and K-drama were not even remotely in my scheme of business, until I randomly came across this song on YouTube. I always knew BTS to be like this colourful, androgynous, dancing, boy band. But this song really broke those prejudices, and opened me up to a plethora of music and entertainment. Now I’m obsessed. I purple this song.

Bah! 10 is not enough!!! There are so many more artists and songs I want to mention that mean a lot to me and have shaped me in one form or another. I can’t believe Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Chainsmokers, Little Mix, Backstreet Boys, (ok I could go on) aren’t on the list. But this is quite an eclectic list too no? What’s your top 10 for life (so far)?

[priyanka23393]

Why be sexist, racist, homophobic or transphobic when you can just be quiet? We need more political satire here. Oh wait....🚩 I'll stick to 🍰 #yellatacake #sweetnothing #lemonislife #snl @nbcsnl

[priyanka23393]

Because I just saw #CarriePilby and I miss this place. Not because I want to go back or anything, but because I could just be left alone, no questions asked. Even though that loneliness is exactly what I wanted to get away from, I also find some sort of solace in it. Just 'cause I don't want it to be a permanent arrangement doesn't mean I want it completely discarded from my life. Sure, I find beauty in misery sometimes, but if I don't then that's all I see. Does that seem ...Sad? Well, whatever. I don't want to have to constantly conceal and pretend that I'm normal and channel everything I'm feeling into a secret #tumblr blog so that I can keep up the facade. So just leave me alone. I'm not being angsty or rebellious or rude, I'm just asking for a little space. When I'm plugged in, I'm not ignoring you, I'm simply resting my ears for later when I can lend them to you better. Please understand my predicament. I have never put up a long ass, preachy status or anything. I've only vented at people who dismissed it. So...This.. deal with it or scroll on down, whatever. But if you did make it to the end of this, I'm glad you got to know me a little better today. ❤️ #goodnight

[priyanka23393]

Vanilla Twilight 🏮🏮#lights #lanterns #colors

[priyanka23393]

You do you, bruh

I read an article about this coming of age movie I like, wherein readers are advised not to take life lessons from it. At first I thought I’d post the article and list counter arguments. Instead, I figured I’d address the issue from a broader yet highly relevant stand point of millennials.

1. That Restlessness Inside

Don’t deny it, we’ve all felt it at some point post graduation. That hollow feeling when you feel like you’re meant to be someplace else, yearning and fidgeting for the greener grass, is not that uncommon. As a generation, we have developed a beautiful sense of wanderlust, and it’s not about how much we hate our jobs or ourselves, it’s the idea of exploring, discovering and learning. Not everyone has the balls to drop everything and explore, though. It’s not the most practical decision in life, understandably.

However, if you do have the pair and you do get out there, you don’t really get the full experience without having to overcome familial and financial stress. More often than not you feel the need for some space and you want a break from your friends and family. Despite the socially confining rules of such a misdemeanor, let me tell you, it’s not the worst idea. More importantly, you should know that you are neither selfish nor a bad person. You are a grown up individual who wants to figure shit out for yourself on your own terms and that’s totally okay...

2. Makeovers are not always sexist

Post school and/or college we learn so much more about the world outside the bubble, and the more we grow we learn to appreciate ourselves a little more. That awesome feeling, coupled with a decent income, warrants a better standard of life and a higher standard of self. So yeah, the glasses come off, and the hotness level rises, doesn’t mean that you are a sell out. You are just a girl/guy who feels beautiful inside and out. 

3. We are possessive about our friends like jilted lovers

This time of our lives, friendship is a very different concept from back in the classroom, behind the bleachers or at sleepovers. As grown ups, you’re learning to create your own path and your best friends may not be on the same path, thus not by your side all the time. You will make new friends at work or at bars, and your friend will too. That has nothing to do with the friendship and history between the two of you. That being said, that sinking feeling when your friend’s too busy for you or has been hanging out with someone else more, is perfectly normal. Sometimes you may act on it, just remember not to beat yourself up over it or your friend. It’s a passage of life. Grow up, move on and deal with it in your best man speech.

4. Love Can Prevail (for some)

I just returned from watching Me Before You, so trust me when I say that I know that realistically, love doesn’t magically solve everything and in some circumstances it’s not enough. Nevertheless, its power mustn’t be underestimated. People may think you’re crazy for moving across the country or leaving a job for someone special, but you’re really not! If you don’t make these impulsive decisions now, you’re going to be telling a very disappointing story about the one that got away. 

5. That Thin Line Between Friendship and Not Family

It’s so easy for scriptwriters to design these undying bonds between two people - diapers to death and all that. But let’s get real for a second...there are friendships, no matter how close you are, that can spiral. Your friend may be struggling with finding a job and you can see him failing; but you also know there’s only so much you can do for him. In the real world, you’ll also be worried about feelings and you will enable their poor choices. Let’s not disregard your own shit to deal with. Sometimes, you’ll also want to disassociate yourself from them, because they might be dragging you down. It doesn’t mean you care about them less...Some people grow up faster than others, but they get there eventually. What’s important is that you don’t forget the foundation of your friendship. As horrible as it sounds, you don’t have to feel obligated to anyone, if you don’t want to. 

In conclusion, I know a lot of this seems harsh, but is it though? Just because nobody says it out loud? Don’t be so hard on yourself....Live young, wild and free...no judgement.

[priyanka23393]

It’s the kind of plot twist you can’t help but give a shady nod to whether you agree with it or not.

[priyanka23393]

Fuller House Review

RATING: As an old fan - 4/5...As a new fan - 2/5

What ever happened to predictability? Fuller House did...

Full House has been such an incredibly prominent part of my childhood that Fuller House successfully provoked the same sense familiarity and happiness. The first episode was too much of a flashback overdose but the subtle throwbacks through the remainder of the series were most welcome! I knew before going into it that the content would not be compelling so I didn’t have high expectations. Therefore I can safely say that Fuller House met them quite well. 

Candace recalls DJ well but I see more Danny in her now. Turns out, that is intentional when she referenced herself turning into her father (while cleaning before a party). Stephanie has always been my favorite sister and Jodie Sweetin portrays exactly what I’d want grown up Stephanie to be. She is probably the highlight of the show because she adds flare and wit, with jokes that really show that her character has grown up with us and not stuck in the 90s like the other characters. Personally, her boobs have gotten way too big but I love the jokes about ‘em! Andrea Barber hasn’t changed physically at all which is freakishly amazing. 

From the trailer I knew that she would be as talented as ever but I don’t believe her potential was met. As much as Kimmy Gibbler annoyed me, I admired her lack of inhibition as an actress and as the character. I hoped that the similar absurdity would give the new series the boost of energy it needs. But she’s old and mature now. Which is nice, I guess, but not complimentary to the show. It was Steve, by Scott Weinger, that really uplifted the episodes he was in. He really did his best with the mediocre material he had. His comedic timing was great! And I was on team Steve all the way!

The kids seemed insignificant to the progress of the story which is unfortunate because they had potential. I really liked Jackson, who is the perfect boy version of DJ - a good older brother, growing up doing stupid boy things. Max is a really good actor and gets better with every episode. The baby is cute and I liked the part where he kept looking up at the ceiling and confused Stephanie. However he didn’t get as much traction as the Olsen kids did as Michelle. I had high hopes for Ramona when she came on in the second episode. I was looking forward to some more Latina pizzazz, but she was as normal as normal can be - quite underwhelming.

Speaking of the most famous twins in the world, I appreciated the shout outs throughout the series and especially Kimmy’s reference to the Elizabeth and James line. I kind of hoped that Elizabeth Olsen would take the offer to play Michelle if Ashley was too camera shy, but I also understand how that wouldn’t be very authentic to the returning series. Danny, Joey and Jesse are nice to see together in interviews and Jimmy Fallon specials, but they didn’t excite me on Netflix. That’s probably because their dialogues were forced references to the original series, which was kind of unnecessary since they were mostly out of context. 

There are significant numbers who haven't shared the joy of Full House, and unfortunately for them, they can't hop on board the bandwagon. I can't say they're missing out. The jokes are quite PG13 rated which was fine when I was a kid and the show was about the kids. But now, when the focus is on the grown ups, the childish gimmicks are a little outdated. I would want to see another season though, but as a fan of the original series, not the new one.

[priyanka23393]

B: Dee, what’s the Speed Limit? D: Probably like 25…But you’re white, you should probably go at like a 15.

Dayumsexy

[priyanka23393]

Q: Was he your first? A: No…Jesus was…

Dayumsexy

[priyanka23393]

Best game ever! #barcade #crazytaxi #original #notthefacebookbullshit (at Barcade)

[priyanka23393]

This is genuinely the perfect hymn for the weekend. The video was shot in my hometown, Mumbai. Mumbai is best described as a parallel to New York City. But there’s more to it than that. Through inconspicuous gullies you will find unparalleled joy and color that you may not find on a tourist brochure but it exists. It’s humble and unfortunate but a reality you can’t ignore and hideaway. What Coldplay does is highlight this. 

So I have no idea what the fuck everyone has an issue with? It may seem like Slumdog Millionaire had a holi sequence but in no way does it berate my culture. I don’t see the poverty, I see the silver lining that those kids were break dancing too.

You don’t think Chris Martin attended all those clubs and high flung B-town parties when he was in India? Of course he did! I know because I read about it in the Times of India pretty much every day of the week he was there. Instead he chose to highlight something we try so hard to ignore, and he showed it in a positive light. So STFU and just enjoy the wonderful music video for what it is. It’s colorful, happy and beautiful. 

[priyanka23393]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Priyanka (@priyanka23393)

Jonas #blizzard2016 #nyc #snow #winterishere #thecoldneverbotheredmeanyway (at 126th St @ Old Broadway)

[priyanka23393]

TBH I know that I should feel sadness and sympathy at such a tragedy, but this letter just leaves me disappointed. I have felt heartbreak, maybe not one filled with such violence and misery, but it hurt nevertheless. I was a teenager then, and you know us millennials would “literally wanna die” for even the most obscure reasons. But then, now and always, I have known what’s more important. When I care about someone I invest myself completely in that relationship, but the way I see it is, a relationship makes life better, but it’s not life itself. So as I read the letter, the aftermath seemed so unnecessary. Especially after reading the last line “I am so much more than this.” Hell yeah you are (were, always will be). Love is a word that is beautiful and filled with both joy and pain; and so is the word ‘Life’, but love is just a subset of the larger life everyone deserves to live. There’s so much to do, so much to see! It’s bad enough a majority of people waste that behind a desk, I’d hardly want to waste it behind a douchebag. 

[priyanka23393]

View from the forbidden floor #woah #ilovemyjob (at Central Park)

[priyanka23393]

These concert finger lights are awesome! #multipurpose #lettherebelight #bedtimestories

[priyanka23393]

à nuit #midnightinnewyork #neverforget (at One World Trade Center)