Individuality

Today I was on the train feeling lazy half way into my bike commute to town. Looking around, I noticed that everyone seemed to have some type of branding in his or her t-shirts. (How I pick up on stuff like this; anyway) Everywhere I looked it was Nike, Timberland, more Nike and even an MTV shirt.

All the different brands coming at me made me think about this company I used to skate for back in the day called Raped Inc. Before a bunch of people left the team (and the company called it quits) Shawn Beeks had a deck made up with all of our names on it. Also, it had a message about the lack of individuality among people today. Here is that message:

"Raped inc. was started in the fall of 1996 as the result of an everyday conversation with a friend about the lack of individuality among people in America. Most of it centers around beliefs, cultures, or lack there of, and the ethics of everyone. Living in Athens, Georgia has made me realize more than ever that those who lack an identity of their own tend to sample the identities of others. This is evident throughout American "culture," and especially in matters of money. Basically, if an image or work can produce feelings from people, it can be sold at any cost. There are times when the "have's" abduct objects, or ideas from the "have not's" and mass produce them for the general public simply for profit. Unless you consider yourself a "have not" I do not expect you to understand the theory stated above. But, next time you are at the mall, or watching television, pay attention to the images that are being thrown at you and think about where they are coming from".....

Just food for thought. What do you think?