I wanted to quickly share with you all an article I just read about Britney Spears. This isn’t really a 90s post, but because it’s about a 90s popstar I thought it would be okay to include it here. Examiner.com just released an article about how Britney is releasing some un-airbrushed photos of herself that were taken for a new Candie’s ad. She wants people to see why women always look so perfect and un-real in magazines. She is proud of her body, cellulite, blemishes and all.
This is the first pose un-airbrushed.
Britney Spears un-airbrushed
Now check out the same picture afterwards. You can definitely see the differences! Smaller waist, thinner thighs, no bruises or blemishes.
Britney Spears airbrushed
Wow, if this doesn’t amaze you, look at the next set of pictures. Britney Spears’ backside before the airbrushing.
Britney Spears un-airbrushed
Britney Spears after the airbrushing. Wow. Check out the difference with her butt! And look at how smooth her skin looks compared to the other photo.
Britney Spears airbrushed
I am really proud of Britney for doing this. I think she has come a long way from her crazy days, rocking the bald look. She is taking responsibility, and showing her fans, especially the young women who worship her, that it’s normal not to look like the women in the magazines. Those women don’t even look like that in real life. Imperfections are beautiful, and it’s important to have a healthy body image of yourself. She is really setting a great example for girls everywhere with this ad campaign. Keep up the good work, Britney!
We all remember those two epic words. Two words that when apart are nothing, but when put together symbolize a part of 90s culture that will forever live on for generations to come. Cher Horowitz’ wildly popular phrase, “As if!” is but one memorable quote from the hit 90s movie, Clueless.
I wanted to live in this world. I mean, just look at these girls. They’re rich, young and good-looking. They can basically get whatever they want. Look at their impressive outfits, shoe collection, cars and Beverly Hills mansions. Anyone who has a wardrobe matching computer program complete with a rotating closet that seems to go on forever is cool in my book.
“Ooh! Project!” And who could forget the amazing makeover scene when Cher & Dionne take Tai in and change her from a socially awkward teenager into a beautiful, fashionable young woman.
Loosely based on Jane Austen’s novel Emma, Clueless is a teen comedy that follows materialistic teenager Cher (Alicia Silverstone) through her trials and tribulations of matchmaking. She and her best friend Dionne (Stacey Ash) makeover the new girl in town, Tai (Brittany Murphy), and try to fix her up with the newly single Elton. They also try to get two of their lonely teachers together, Ms. Geist and Mr. Hall. Cher is so busy trying to do good by matching everyone else up, that she doesn’t comprehend her meddling ways. So consumed by appearances and her rich lifestyle, Cher finally realizes how clueless she is and tries to change her ways. Oh yeah, and of course she finds love.
I own the “Whatever!” Edition of Clueless (pictured on the right). This edition has many special features that are not on the original DVD. It includes commentary from the writer/director Amy Heckerling, stories from the cast and crew and a feature that describes the filmmakers’ trend-setting fashion choices. After all, one of the things that people remember most about this movie is the killer outfits. While many of them are over the top with interesting patterns, outrageous Dr. Seuss hats and feathered boas, I’m not gonna lie, I would love to be able to dress like them. Maybe not out in public, but at least around the house.
Baggy pants boys? Ugh, as if! I love watching that scene in the movie. It makes me laugh every time. I also have to point out another trend that Clueless most definitely started…ladies and gentlemen, the feather pen.
Everyone I know had a feather pen. I was 6 when the movie first came out, but those pens lasted well into my elementary years. You could get them in any color. I think I had a pink one and purple one. I loved writing with it in school. I felt just like Cher. I probably even re-enacted that exact feather pen pose (yup, kinda loser-ish haha).
Clueless is also one of those movies that people quote all the time. Besides “As if!” “Whatever!” with hand gesture and the “Hait-i-an” speech, this movie delivered some famous scenes.
I couldn’t find a video of the scene, so this audio will have to do. Travis Birkenstock, played by Breckin Meyer, is a stoner skateboard fanatic who has a crush on Tai. Before this quote, Mr. Hall is reading off student tardies. Travis has the most, and he makes this speech:
“I would like to say this. Tardiness is not something you can do all on your own. Many, many people contributed to my tardiness. I would like to thank my parents for never giving me a ride to school, the LA city bus driver for taking a chance on an unknown kid, and last but not least, the wonderful crew of McDonald’s for spending hours making those egg McMuffins without which I’d never be tardy.”
This is my sister’s favorite quote from this movie. While there is definitely nothing special about it, this quote is a great example of Clueless‘s humor. Nobody would make a speech in class like this in real life, but this would be exactly what you would expect from a character like Travis.
One of my favorite moments includes the late Brittany Murphy (1977-2009). Her death was a surprise, and I am still in shock about it every time I watch one of her movies. She had a contagious smile and a certain flair about her that made you pay attention to her. Clueless was definitely her breakout role, and I know I will forever remember her as Tai Frasier.
Cher and Tai are working out to a Buns of Steel video, and Tai gets tired. She sits down and turns on the television.
“Yeah, I hope not sporadically.” Who could forget this scene? Brittany showcases her beautiful voice and exaggerated New Jersey accent. Besides her energy on film, I loved Brittany’s voice. She also sings in other movies, including Little Black Book and Happy Feet. I always thought she had something unique. I don’t know how much money Mentos paid for that product integration, but I definitely bought packs of Mentos after watching this movie and loved singing the song.
Clueless is one of those movies to which everyone can relate. Of course it’s about fashion and the life of the wealthy, but it is also about fitting in and finding yourself at a time when most people have no clue how to do either. Everything in the movie may have been over the top, and it may seem like a superficial chick flick to the naked eye, but Clueless is a pop culture iconic film for a reason.
Oh, Dawson’s Creek. I don’t know about you, but I simply cannot get enough of it. I own all six seasons on DVD and rewatch them every so often. I’m actually in the middle of the third season right now. Growing up, this show was the only thing that existed Wednesday night at 8′oclock. I could not miss any episode, and there had to be total silence while it was on. Who didn’t automatically start singing along when those credits started rolling, and Paula Cole’s familiar voice came on screen…
The show appeared on the WB network (now the CW) in 1998. I remember sitting in the den at home with my sister watching these two so-called 15-year-olds ramble on with their extensive, unrealistic vocabulary. Mostly filmed in North Carolina and based on the childhood of the creator Kevin Williamson, Dawson’s Creek takes place in the fictional small seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts. It begins focusing on four characters: Dawson Leery, Joey Potter, Pacey Witter and Jen Lindley. Other important characters are also introduced in later seasons: Jack McPhee, Andie McPhee and Audrey Liddell. The show follows their lives from sophomore year of high school through college and beyond as they experience the trials and tribulations of growing up.
Dawson Leery
Dawson, a film geek with his head in the clouds, is at first the show’s main protagonist. Played by James Van Der Beek, he is your typical over-dramatic, analytical good guy. He thinks every problem in life can be solved by watching the right Spielberg film. A big shocker, but he eventually figures out that life is not a movie, and you don’t always get the happy ending.
Joey Potter
Josephine Potter, played by the one and only Katie Holmes (now married to Tom Cruise with the most adorable baby girl Suri, might I add), is the angry girl next door. She is the epitome of teen angst. Although, who could blame her? Her mother dies from cancer while her father is too busy getting locked up by the police for drug trafficking, leaving her slightly older big sister Bessie to raise her and not to mention her own son Alexander. But it’s okay, because she always has her best friend Dawson to look out for her. Every show has a love story, well this show has the ultimate triangle. At first Dawson and Joey are best friends, but it takes the audience about 2.5 seconds into the first episode to notice Joey’s mega-crush on him. One of my favorite episodes ever is when Joey sings “On My Own” from the famous musical Les Miserables.
(Sorry for the subtitles. This was the best version I could find.) Ok so she’s not a singer, but this is the moment when Dawson really looks at Joey for the first time and sees her as someone more than just a best friend. Joey eventually becomes the show’s main protagonist, as she is the only one who appears in all 128 episodes.
Pacey Witter
Aah Pacey Witter, the last piece to the love triangle. Played by Joshua Jackson, Pacey is known as the town screw-up, the loser who will never amount to anything. It seems as if he doesn’t care about anything, least of all his grades. And he definitely proves this stereotype right when he has an affair with his sophomore year english teacher. However, the audience eventually gets to know a different, more sensitive and romantic Pacey during his relationships. After Dawson and Joey get together, break up, get back together and then break up again, Pacey and Joey start their own love affair. Growing up, I was a steadfast Dawson fan. I could not believe that Joey would pick Pacey Witter over her soulmate. However now as I re-watch the seasons, I definitely root for Pacey.
Jen Lindley
Jen Lindley (played by Michelle Williams), the experienced, wild bad girl from New York City sent away from mommy and daddy to live with her grandmother as punishment. Of course the minute she steps foot out of that cab she rocks the creek. One of the main story lines with Jen is her disbelief in god, as it clashes with the highly religious beliefs of her grandmother. As Dawson’s first girlfriend, she and Joey get off to a rocky start, but yes, they eventually become good friends. Sadly, just as Jen rocks the creek when she arrives, she rocks the creek when she leaves. In the very last episode, the show jumps ten years into the future, and Jen is a single mom. Unfortunately, the Capeside crew eventually finds out that she has an abnormal heart condition (cheesy, I know), and she dies. But before she dies, Dawson films her last goodbyes to her daughter. Her speech is so emotional and real, and one of my most favorite moments of the whole series that I had to share it with you all (This is the best version I could find. The speech ends around 3:40.).
Jack McPhee
Played by Kerr Smith, Jack McPhee moves to Capeside from Rhode Island with his twin sister Andie at the beginning of the second season. Originally cast as a love interest for Joey, he eventually comes out of the closet as Capeside’s one and only teenage homosexual. Throughout the series, Jack learns how to be comfortable in his own skin despite the close-minded views of some of his classmates. He forms a very close friendship with Jen along the way, as they bond over playing the outcast role and take each other in when they have no one else to rely on.
Andie McPhee
Andrea McPhee, played by Meredith Monroe, is Jack’s twin sister. She is your average uptight, obsessive-compulsive honor student. Of course she would fall for bad boy Pacey Witter. They have an intense, romantic relationship, and she helps turn Pacey around from a class clown to a decent student…until she has her breakdown. As it turns out, the perfectionist doesn’t have it all together. She tries so hard to portray the perfect family image, but in reality, her family is falling apart. After a car accident leaves her older brother dead, her father splits and leaves Jack and Andie to take care of their mentally ill mother. Andie has problems of her own. After she cheats on Pacey during her stay in a mental institution, Andie and Pacey are no more. I have to say though, as much as I love Joey and Pacey as a couple, Andie and Pacey’s relationship is well beyond their years. The way he stands by her when everything around her is falling apart is enough to make anybody melt.
Audrey Liddell
Played by Busy Philipps (Freaks and Geeks), Audrey enters the scene in season 5 as Joey’s college roommate. A pseudo-Jen character, Audrey is party girl living it up spending daddy’s money. She eventually forms a relationship with Joey and dates Pacey.
Dawson’s Creek generated a lot of publicity because critics were concerned about its “racy” (not so racy now) plots, concerning partying, drugs, alcohol, cheating and sex. Even though it was never a huge ratings success among the general public, Dawson’s Creek had a huge following with the younger demographic. It is known for the unrealistic yet intelligent complex dialogue of its characters, yet also it’s realistic portrayal of teenage emotions as they go through the experiences of growing up, such as love, heartbreak and divorce.
I watch this series over and over again because every time I watch it, I learn or see something new. Now that I am older, I find that I can relate a lot more to the story lines and the decisions that the characters make. Even though it is a 90s teen drama, the problems and experiences these characters face will forever remain relevant. Come on Dawson’s fans, what were your favorite episodes and experiences watching this series?
SocialVibe