THE KNOWLES WOMEN TAKE ON CRYSTAL METH CULTURE WITH THE LAUNCH OF MISS TINA FASHION LINE

I love Beyonce Knowles‘ P.R moves on the celebrity and merch chess board lately. They’re smart, to both make bank and also to speak into an accelerating drug culture as people escape in recession to avoid the reality of a scaled back American dream.

The last week in Hollywood has been insane for people aged 20 to 45 being wasted on stuff-not-alcohol, at some bars. On a level, I’ve never seen before, in terms of the amount of wasted people, has quadrupled.

Don’t get me wrong, like Hollywood is not a convent, so drugs are a part of it, but the level of people wasted, is oppressive. Not because of them being wasted in higher numbers (no pun intended) but because it’s a sign of these economic times, that crushes peoples spirits. That pisses me off. It’s like a silent but present bully, weighing heavy on a generation of Americans psyches. It’s sad to see occurring.

What sucks, is that no one looks happy, either. Like, it’s not like the hippies were happy and cool in the 70′s, rebelling for a social cause. It’s not that look at all. The look is dark and scared.  They look glazed and beaten up, in that state. Did I mention, that these California people are incredibly gorgeous though, so it makes the tragedy even more gutting, from an ‘aesthetics’ stand point.

I think of parent artists, who created these canvases called their American children. I don’t think these artists, bled on canvas to tell this kind of American picture. That irks me too. This is inter-generational art, under threat. Being eroded. Gutted. From within the soul. It has to stop. Then there’s the foreboding feeling, that there’s still more knocks to come. They know it too. So perhaps, they are leaders of the next wave of challenges, if they get through these temporal ones.

Wonderland is definitely in reverse. It’s a bit off putting. Like surreality, gone lopsy. A tad bit odd.

As we know, crystal meth drug culture is a big issue. Especially in many L.A communities (not to name hoods). Put simply, crystal meth culture exists for people who can’t afford the culture of diamonds and chandeliers. They’re shut outside it, yet all the role models being held up, are dripping in both. There’s a disconnect, so crystal meth culture exploits this – and the masses get hooked in. It’s a very social drug.

Thankfully in New Zealand we had a crystal epidemic a decade ago. I have a niece named Crystal, who developed her own strategies as a babe, to avoid it, when it hit her generation hard. She’s instinctually smart and an amazing person. And I think of her, when I look at these 40 year-old kids on it. Knowing, that teens and the 50+ set who are most at risk of it, are not even present in the room.

It’s a trip to watch, strip people of their ability to fight back, at what’s costing them their dream in the first place. That one, is going to be around for a while.

When Lady Gaga came on the scene – her Bad Romance video has many crystal symbols in it. In fact, many of Gaga’s fans get her crystal symbology. The same way red wine drinkers do. She’s a marketing genius at producing symbols, to attract and cyphon markets. Beyonce is too, but needs more symbols generated – to now compete at the level Gaga has been with symbols generation.

Since Beyonce switched it up with a good P.R team – her marketing is set to take on drug culture. This week, we saw Beyonce take her diva self to the block – for a block party. This positions her brands within reach of the little people who first made her a star (safety in Beyonce whiplash aftermath from the public that swung to now Gaga-flavored fickle times), but the positioning of Beyonce on the block, also declares her war for community issues and concerns, that happen in neighborhoods, that need an angel (or advocate).

And, she’s now – launching her statement against “tina” culture   (more…)

October 2, 2010 | Categories: Beyonce Knowles, drugs, Family Vs Fame, Fashion, Fashion Designers, Lady Gaga, Life, Like A Prayer, Tina Knowles | Tags: Beyonce Knowles, drugs, Family Vs Fame, Fashion, Fashion Bites, Fashion Designers, Fashion Profile, Lady Gaga, Life, Lift Up America, Light, Like A Prayer, Marketing & Branding, Miss Tina, Tina Knowles | 1 Comment »