UBU

There was an ad campaign years ago- was it for Reebok?- that was geared to a younger audience in attempting to appeal to individualism using esoteric images and the slogan "UBU," which of course stood for "You Be You." However, most teenagers of the time apparently didn't understand the images and wondered "What's an ubu?" and the campaign flopped. On a deeper level, I wonder whether a lot of people, particularly young ones, understand the difference between being an individual and trying to present the appearance of being one.

Are unorthodox self-expressions, now so orthodox, thinly-veiled attempts to create outward personae to draw attention or, relatedly, cultivate a desired image, or are they the natural outcomes of individual character? I don't really know, but it seems that many will color or style their hair, pierce or tatoo, dress or act in unusual ways so that people will notice and think of them in particular and unique ways. A lot of people play these roles; you see these affectations all the time. And it's all harmless enough, but it sometimes saddens me to see people trying so hard. (With the exception of those that play the role of the "artiste," who is sensitive and creative beyond what we ordinary pitiful Philistines can possibly fathom. The artiste and his superior soul must suffer for his art/music/whatever, but in reality is just a self-absorbed and annoying bore.)

It seems that a lot of people so overtly self-expressive say they don't care what others think of them, when actually these are some of the people that seem to care the most. Everyone wants to be special and unique, but it's not cool to try to be cool, or try not to be cool. What's cool is not to try, to just be yourself, which assumes that you've taken the trouble to find out who you are (and, hopefully, want to be), and not worry so much about what others think of you. "Validation" comes internally, not externally. It's cool to be you.