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Does anyone else get intimidated by artsy people and yet simultaneously suspect them of faking it? I went for drinks with a group after a postgrad seminar yesterday and felt like the odd one out, in my blue fleece from Primark among these folk in their posh ensembles of deep V-neck tops, tastefully battered jackets and silk scarves round their necks. I also felt rather plebeian as the talk revolved around Shakespeare, jazz, discovering hitherto-unknown documents, and art movies. At the same time, I thought, "What a bunch of posers."
Ok, it wasn't that bad. I think I actually managed to get off some salient points in the conversation. And the people sitting with me were genuine in their enthusiasm and interest, and they also had a sense of humour about it. Maybe I was more intimidated by the fact that the majority of the people there were Renaissancists; the only non-Early Moderns were myself and a guy from the eighteenth century department. Also they all knew each other by name. Apparently they're "forced to interact." (That's a quote from the one Renaissancist I do know, Ashley.) But the clothing thing was an issue too; I did feel very underdressed and scruffy next to some of them.
Now I think about it, the "posing" thing only came to me much later, after I'd left and was musing on the whole event, and it wasn't so much about the people I had just been with, as about artsy folk that I've known in general. ( And now, we'll take you back to your childhood... )
...Wow, that reads like a session on the therapy couch! *puts it behind a cut*
A piece of advice: when visiting another country, do not ask locals what you should visit or see. We are locals. We know where to shop, where to drink and where to entertain ourselves. We have no clue about tourist spots, and the most likely way to make us completely forget what little knowledge we may have is to say, "So where do you reckon I should go?"
Besides which, it's winter. There is nothing to see here in winter, apart from rain, and sometimes snow.
Ok, it wasn't that bad. I think I actually managed to get off some salient points in the conversation. And the people sitting with me were genuine in their enthusiasm and interest, and they also had a sense of humour about it. Maybe I was more intimidated by the fact that the majority of the people there were Renaissancists; the only non-Early Moderns were myself and a guy from the eighteenth century department. Also they all knew each other by name. Apparently they're "forced to interact." (That's a quote from the one Renaissancist I do know, Ashley.) But the clothing thing was an issue too; I did feel very underdressed and scruffy next to some of them.
Now I think about it, the "posing" thing only came to me much later, after I'd left and was musing on the whole event, and it wasn't so much about the people I had just been with, as about artsy folk that I've known in general. ( And now, we'll take you back to your childhood... )
...Wow, that reads like a session on the therapy couch! *puts it behind a cut*
A piece of advice: when visiting another country, do not ask locals what you should visit or see. We are locals. We know where to shop, where to drink and where to entertain ourselves. We have no clue about tourist spots, and the most likely way to make us completely forget what little knowledge we may have is to say, "So where do you reckon I should go?"
Besides which, it's winter. There is nothing to see here in winter, apart from rain, and sometimes snow.
