Houselights from The State News

On this week's episode, our two co-hosts and two guests talk about their checkered pasts, brat summer and whether or not Kamala IS brat. 

What is Houselights from The State News?

The State News discusses issues and the cultural impact of entertainment news including TV & film, fashion, music and more.

Liz:

Welcome to House Lights, your one stop shop for everything you need to hear about this week in the world of entertainment. As always, I'm your host, Liz Nas, joined by co host

Claire:

Claire Donnel.

Liz:

We're also joined today by our wonderful, wonderful life editor, Kendra Gilchrist. Hi. Sorry. I just assumed that people are gonna be like, hey, and then the mic afterwards, but then I sometimes it's, like, weird if you don't do it, but it's fine. And also, politics supporter Emilio Perez and Barquin.

Liz:

Hey. Oh, hey. So, yeah. Today, we're gonna talk about a whole list of things. But one of the things so I feel like I always say that I have, like, sort of just like a tangent intro, but it happens every time.

Liz:

So I feel like it's not a tangent anymore because it's just, like, sort of assumed that I'm gonna have, like, something, like, random to say on the pod for the first, like, 5 minutes. But I realized the other day about my music taste is that I'm starting to, like, listen to all my old music again because I'm creating this playlist called My Checkered Past. And I cannot come I cannot, like, take credit for that because my roommate, Mia, actually was the one that first created her checkered past playlist. And, so I'm actually stealing it from her. So I've been listening to a lot of, like, my old, I made I made, like, a a list of rules and one of the rules is, like, only 7th through 10th grade.

Liz:

And wow.

Claire:

It's, like, dark. It's, like, really

Liz:

It's, like, really dark. Crazy boundary on that. So I had to, like, split it up into, like, Liz's 8th grade emo phase and then everything else, which I already had before. So I've been listening to, like, really embarrassing stuff like 21 Pilots, Panic at the Disco, like, real like, MCR.

Claire:

You don't need to feel bad about that. I

Liz:

mean Halsey.

Claire:

Okay. Well, people call things a guilty pleasure, and I once heard that, like, if, you know, it brings you happiness, don't feel any guilt except for Halsey.

Liz:

But Except for Halsey. What about Melanie Martinez? I mean, worse. That might be a lot worse.

Claire:

Going along Pilots is fine.

Liz:

See, and that's why I had to make the rule. Like, one of the rules in my checkered past playlist was, like, no Broadway, and then another one was, like, only 3 to 4 songs per album. And that and, like, only the ones that are, like, that are, like, passable on it that, like, aren't too embarrassing. So I've kind of, like, broken that list for like, I tried not to break that rule for 21 Pileups because it's, like, I can't put, like, the worst ones, like, Migraine by 20 Pounds because that's, like, really that's just so bad. Like, it doesn't hold up whatsoever.

Liz:

You know what I'm saying? So I had to make some some deep cuts. But I was wondering what everyone would put on their checkered past playlist.

Claire:

Well, I knew that it was a blank. No. Skip me. Come back to me.

Liz:

Kendra, what would you put on your checkered past playlist?

Kendra:

Probably, like,

Claire:

a lot

Liz:

of fun directions. Yes. This is a little,

Kendra:

like, debut era Taylor Swift.

Liz:

Yeah. I don't know if

Kendra:

that's really checkered.

Liz:

It's not checkered. No. You're right. I guess that's not that's not a rule though. It doesn't have to be bad.

Liz:

It's just that my music taste in particular is well, was and is bad. So that's why it's a little checkered. It can be good because I because I made the rule of myself 7th through 8th grade, I only have the last One Direction album on mine. So made in the AM post Zane, that was the 7th grade vibe. Because I was, like, if I'm doing, like, all one direction, like, obviously, I was I was a big one direction stand.

Liz:

That's its own playlist. I have a different playlist for that. But that would just, like, take up a whole space on the playlist, and I can't I can't do that. You know? Amelia, what about you?

Emilio:

Well, the truth is I think I have to confess something to you guys right now.

Claire:

Okay.

Emilio:

I really didn't listen to music until until very recently. So definitely did.

Liz:

If I

Emilio:

had to if I had to really talk about what I was listening to from, let's say, 6th to 8th grade, I'm thinking the NHL 14 soundtrack. What?

Liz:

What? This is crazy.

Emilio:

And the Super Mario Galaxy 2 soundtrack.

Liz:

This is So you're just you're just playing video games. That's

Emilio:

I was just playing video games.

Liz:

I I

Emilio:

had no time for music. I was too busy, you know, gaming.

Liz:

Music in the background.

Claire:

To come on. That's insane. Wow. Wow.

Liz:

Just no music. Not even, like, your parents' music or anything. Like, just, like, chilling. Did you have a favorite

Claire:

song, like, in middle school?

Emilio:

Like, a favorite song in middle school. That's a tough question.

Liz:

I I

Emilio:

have to reflect for a little bit. I just I just no. I just think that, you know, some people choose different mediums to express themselves through. And for me, music wasn't that. Like, it just Okay.

Liz:

Wow. Yeah. I'm scared. Okay. Get off the mic.

Liz:

That's so scary. Claire, did you have time?

Claire:

I just think that I like, my big three in middle school, which made me start laughing really hard. Tears almost can't. My eyes

Liz:

were you

Claire:

guys know Gavin deGraw?

Liz:

Yeah.

Claire:

Him? John Bellion? You know him?

Liz:

Oh, yeah.

Claire:

And then Nicki Minaj.

Liz:

That's an insane let up.

Claire:

Like, I ran track in middle school, and I have just distinct memories of, like rotation. It was just, like, those 3 artists on one playlist all the time. And I don't know if, like, that would be are you talking That's checker. Is it checker because, like, the artists are like,

Liz:

or just, like It's I guess okay.

Claire:

I just think,

Liz:

like, if I

Claire:

saw that playlist now, I would be like, woah. That's a lot for me. That's what I mean by checkered. Like, I'd look at it and be like, ugh.

Liz:

I think part of the part of it is that. Also, just like I think it's cool to have a checkered past, and I think that that phrase is cool. So I've just kind of adopted always had bad music taste. It just so happens that I act and I, like, I say that with, like, the most confidence whatsoever. Like, I I truly think that at

Claire:

all when you said that.

Liz:

I truly believe, though, like, I have, like, a pretty bad music taste. Like, I still It's really weird

Claire:

in hell to,

Liz:

like, go out and down. To a well, that's something you can't feel bad about it, though. You know what I'm saying? Like, if that's the music that I listen to, I really enjoy it. Like, I guess you could say my checkered past before my this is not what the the podcast episode is at all, but we're just gonna keep going.

Liz:

Like, my checkered past before this was, like, my dad would always play Nickelback in the car. So, yes, I still listen to Nickelback, and I'm afraid that it's gonna be on my top 5 Spotify route.

Emilio:

Well, I get it right now.

Liz:

I've been

Emilio:

listening to Talk Talk the past week nonstop. Like, it's it's becoming a bit

Liz:

of a problem.

Emilio:

I don't think I've gotten anything done without listening to that song. It's the only thing I can be productive to.

Liz:

So real. I actually have a playlist called noise music just to focus to, and it's just a lot of a 100 gigs where it just and I know. But I feel that because it's very much, like it's just, like, radio. Like, it's just, like, pop music. There's not really a lot of meaning to it, and so you can just, like, find

Claire:

out your end. The other type

Liz:

of thing. Yeah. Exactly. No. I see that.

Liz:

I see that.

Claire:

So on that

Liz:

So on discuss Wow, Emilio. You are a natural. You are just

Claire:

Keeping us grounded.

Liz:

Keeping us grounded here. We're gonna talk about Brad Summer, and we're gonna talk about seasons in general. We're gonna make it real general today as as is by the fact that I started out with a 10 minute tangent. So now that it's fall, the air is getting colder. We have relinquished Bratz Summer to, you know, to just the sweat tour, which is sweeping the nation.

Liz:

But I think that most people have closed their Bratz Summer chapter. I wanna talk about if you guys think you had a Bratz Summer, and why do we think that what do we think a Bratz Summer means? Clary, go for it. Put it

Claire:

on the line? Yeah. I this is my time to be vulnerable. I didn't really know a lot about Bratz Summer until summer was, like, ending. Wow.

Claire:

And You had double wasn't really listening, like, to the album. I just didn't know. I was in the dark a bit.

Liz:

So you are, like, a Charli XCX fan?

Claire:

Not particularly. Like, I like Mhmm. The songs I have heard. They're, like, 3. So I'm really coming into this.

Claire:

I'm excited to

Liz:

hear for Brett?

Claire:

Off of Brett. Okay. I'm excited to hear what specifically our guests have to say about this today because I'm still learning about Brett Summer myself.

Liz:

So Kendra, tell me your experience with Brett Summer.

Kendra:

I was also very late to Brett Summer. Like, I had heard of Charli x 6, but I would wasn't really listening to her. So it was not until, like, in August when I first actually listened to the album because I had heard, like, piece of it on TikTok. You know, like, people doing the apple dance

Claire:

and stuff like that.

Liz:

So the apple dance inspired you.

Kendra:

And so I liked it. And so I listened to all of Brett, and then

Claire:

I also crashed the album.

Liz:

Oh, it's such a good album.

Kendra:

I literally had those 2 albums, like, went through, like, 2 or 3 times in one day. Like, I just became hooked on it. But that was also the very end of the summer. So What

Liz:

do you what do you think it is about Charli X's music that just makes people absolutely get hooked and, like, lose their minds, especially, like, Brat? Does anyone have thoughts on this?

Claire:

I feel like every summer, people, like, there's always a I don't know. There's it always seems to be this way where, like, some type of trope kind of, like, hot girl summer, like, brat summer, like, this type of energy that always comes back. And I think her like, she came in at the perfect time with this and, like, the apple dance even. Like, it trended at the right time. And, like, it all just kinda came together because every summer, it seems to fit, like, that type of spunky fun energy.

Claire:

I don't know.

Liz:

What about this summer is giving, like, party summer? Like, is that that was, like, one of my one of my questions gonna be, like, you know, I think it it means a lot about, like, embracing, you know, your youth, embracing being kind of weird, partying, like, I I mean, I guess, is it just the vibe of summer or is it, like or is this a new sort of thing? Is it, like, escapism? Does anyone have any thoughts on those?

Kendra:

I mean, I personally didn't really have much of a brat summer because I'm, like, at my parents' house with 2 jobs. But, like, listening the album was kind of like Yeah. Escape from that into the Brat, like, kind of aesthetic.

Liz:

Yeah. No. I see that because I think that's I think that was part of, like, the joke online too. It was like, you know, everyone out here having a Brat summer, but I'm just like, you know, sitting at home, whatever sort of thing. And it's like but that was that was everyone who was listening to the album.

Liz:

So it is. I think it's kind of like an escape sort of album where it's like Yeah. It makes you feel like you're having fun even if you're just, like, in your bedroom.

Claire:

Yeah. It seemed like a good way to connect on, like, the idealized like, the ideal version of summer. Like, yeah, what we wish we could all be doing Yeah. But it's still fun to, like we all agree on that, and we've all set this, like, trend we're gonna follow, but it's fun and cool. Because I think the thing that's unique about, like, the Brat summer, like, Brat aesthetic is that there's lots of ways you could go about approaching it, which I think is appealing to people.

Claire:

And so I think that makes it easier. Like, even if you're not having, like, the most fun summer ever, so to speak, that's fine because the, like, boundaries of bra are loose, which I think is why it was easy to, like, like Kendra, you just felt like you got hooked on it so fast. Like, once you're there, it's like, okay. It's an easy acceptance into that, like, aesthetic.

Liz:

Yeah. So I

Claire:

feel like it works for anyone no matter no matter the summer that they've had, really.

Liz:

Yeah. Well, now that I'm other than when I'm thinking about my checkered past, I do think that, like, this sort of music has, like, taken over my music sense recently, like, my music taste recently with Pratt. I mean, I've always been a fan of Troye Sivan, but that's who she's on tour right now. And, like, he definitely changes his music over the last couple of years. You know?

Liz:

He used to he used to do kind of, like, bedroom pop in the ish music with, like, blue neighborhood, but now he, specifically does, like, party ish music. I will say I did go to sweat tour. Best night of my life. Number 1. 2nd, Troye Sivan still has a very different vibe than Charlie x 6.

Liz:

And when you put them next to each other, they're they're very different. I think a lot of people lump them together because they're like friends. And, also, why did I think they did more songs than 1999 together before talk talk? Because, like, that was the only other song they had and I was like, oh, yeah. Like, why didn't they perform more together?

Liz:

They only have that song. But, anyways, I didn't realize that because people just always kinda lump them together. But they're very, very different musically. That was its own tangent. That actually has nothing to do with the rest of what I was saying.

Liz:

But, also, I've been listening to the dare a lot recently who produced Guess by Charlie xcx, and he had he's gaining a huge following just because he's making, like, these, like, very, like, grungy DJ beats about really nothing. Music about nothing. He has a whole song about his $5 perfume that he bought on Amazon. That's just to a really, like, just, like, hitting beat and, like, that's, like that, like, has over a 1000000 listens to on Spotify. And I don't know.

Liz:

I just think that this is a trend that's really caught on, and I I don't see it going away even though brat summer's over that everyone's, like, listening to, like, crazy DJ Beats, and that's sort of the vibe right now.

Claire:

Yeah. That's a good point about it going away. Like, I hadn't thought about that just because I don't know. Like, it wouldn't just stop just because it's fall or, like, there's a new Right. Trend, like, on the way in.

Claire:

So, yeah, that's an interesting point. But will it just morph? Like, will people just start to I

Liz:

think people will pick up a new artist who's doing the exact same thing.

Claire:

And then make it the fall version? Like

Liz:

Well, that's what Katy Perry tried to do, and then I saw a really funny headline that was one so her new album's called 143. And the New York Times review of that album said 143 sounds like it's a 143 years old. Wow. So I think Oh my god. Isn't that, like, insanely, like like, they read her?

Liz:

They read her?

Claire:

That is, like

Emilio:

Is that allowed? Like, that should be, like, a crime.

Liz:

What do you mean

Emilio:

is that?

Liz:

Is that allowed?

Emilio:

To put that in print.

Liz:

That should that should

Emilio:

be like a felony.

Liz:

I think Katy Perry's gonna, like, lock them up for sure. She has those connections. I know she does. She's mobbed up. Wait.

Claire:

Can I ask something? This is kind of gonna segue into our discussion about Kamala real quick. But Nice.

Liz:

Segue wind.

Claire:

Is it true that Katy Perry offered her a song for her campaign and she denied it? Is that I don't know that.

Emilio:

I've heard similar things. I don't know if we have a way to verify it.

Claire:

Yeah. I don't know. I just heard But

Emilio:

I wouldn't

Claire:

how embarrassing Katy Perry, like, with full confidence was like, yes. You can use my song for your commitment because they think it's about, like yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Liz:

Yeah. Wait. Really? Women's World's, that was tough. Would also not use that.

Claire:

And I think maybe it was just some joke I'm reading way too far into, but I was like, if this is true, this is really a crazy way to go down. Like, getting shot down on a political campaign, like, that's horrible for Katy Perry, not for the rest of us. But

Liz:

well, that's what you get for working with doctor Luke. But, anyways, that's what happens. But, yeah, I wanna open the floor to Emilio who we brought on here specifically to talk about, more of the political side of Brad Summer, which is, a recent article that Emilio has written about. So tell us a little bit about that article.

Emilio:

I mean, where do you even start? Brad Summer. Right? I mean, if we if we

Liz:

I think that's where you start.

Emilio:

If we really wanna go, we have to go back to the day that Joe Biden dropped out. Crazy day. I remember where I was, I was on an Amtrak all the way heading towards East Lansing.

Liz:

I was in Austria.

Emilio:

Good for you. But by 9 PM, the day that Joe Biden dropped out, Charlie xcx tweeted out, Kamala is brat. That's a hell of an endorsement if I've ever heard one.

Liz:

She is brat. And I really I would say not. Not to get Paul at

Emilio:

the door. It's debatable whether Kamala Harris is actually brat. But Charlie said she is, and that's that's all she needed. Because from there from that point onward, she's been Brad for all intents and purposes. It's, you know, it's in their messaging.

Emilio:

It's in their memes. It's it's in everything they do. I a couple weeks ago, Tim Wells came to campus, and kids were carrying out signs that said Kamala is Brad.

Liz:

They at the sweat tour, they had people, like, recruiting like, not recruiting for Kamala Harris. Not not recruiting. Campaigning sword. Campaigning for Kamala Harris outside the Sweat Tour, which I think is so funny. I'm like, babe, who do you think the people that are coming to Sweat Tour are voting for already?

Liz:

You know what I'm saying? Like, I I just I I have to be frank about it. Like, I don't think there's any campaigning need unless your story tells us otherwise.

Emilio:

I don't know. May maybe there's people out there who maybe it's too much for them. You know? They're getting it's it's too much brat. And and like you said, at this point I I think at this point, everyone's kind of already bought into the idea that Kamala's brat, and now we're running the risk of, is she too brat?

Emilio:

Or are they trying to convince us too much that she is brat?

Claire:

And Like, is it becoming Right. Like, this is overdone. Is that what you're saying? Exactly. Yeah.

Claire:

It is crazy how fast that happened. Like, how much Kamala is brat content is out there.

Liz:

Just, like, because embraces it.

Claire:

Well, yeah. Just because Charlie was, like, yeah. This is happening. And everyone was, like, yes. That's almost a little scary to me.

Claire:

I mean, it it's working. It's I don't know. Maybe a little too well to your point.

Liz:

Can I say something? Probably a lot more or I know I don't know. But probably a lot more influential than Taylor Swift's endorsement. And people went on and on and on about, single cat lady, you know, endorsement, Taylor Swift's doing that. What do you guys think?

Liz:

Do you think Taylor Swift or Charlie xCX at this point has a little bit more had a little bit more influence with their endorsement?

Claire:

Taylor Swift is just late. She's too late. There's so many things she should have spoken about so much earlier. I was tired of her not doing it. I was tired of people talking about her not doing it.

Claire:

I just think Charlie was like, yeah. Joe Biden just dropped out. It's time. Like, you said 9 PM that day. Like, that's crazy.

Claire:

I mean, I don't know when Taylor Swift posted her thing, but I feel like timeline wise, like, I don't know. It just seemed a little more, like, pointed when Charlie did it. I don't know.

Liz:

Yeah. Anyway, it was a it was ahead of the curve.

Claire:

Yeah. Yeah.

Emilio:

I mean, really, Charlie took a risk in a sense, endorsing Kamala that early. You know? Taylor waited until after the debate. And at which point, you know, people had kind of already made up their minds as to who won that debate. And it feels to your point, it feels a little less genuine, I guess.

Emilio:

It feels more like a prepared move on her part.

Liz:

Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah. And the risk is what brat is all about, isn't it? Being risky, being out there.

Liz:

Yeah. Yeah. Totally. But, like, will it translate to votes? Like, will people vote the brat party?

Emilio:

Woah. Calling it the brat party is wild. I'm gonna have to take that from you.

Liz:

I'm like, don't worry. I did not think about that on the spot. I wrote it down and I was like and then I kept

Claire:

is that better or worse?

Liz:

It's worse. Really?

Emilio:

I think for people who already cared about politics, I highly doubt that Brett is gonna push them to vote one way or the other. Right. But I do think that, especially among young people, there are a lot of people who say, you know, screw it. I'm young. I don't have a lot, or I have a lot going on right now, and I don't have the time to vote.

Emilio:

And they might view it as, like, a second or third priority. But with just the volume of, like, how how salient Kamala and Brett is right now, especially online. Right? I wouldn't doubt if there are a lot of people, young people who are saying, well, at this point, I pretty much have to vote. I mean, it's it is everywhere.

Liz:

Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. I yeah. I totally see that.

Liz:

However, I will say no. I won't say that. But there was, like, the people the the old people on CNN that were talking about Taylor Swift's endorsement after the debate. They're like, there's a lot of young girls that are gonna be persuaded by Taylor Swift endorsing. I was like, that's a fake person that you're talking about.

Liz:

I don't really know if there's a person that's persuaded to vote one way in an election because of, celebrity endorsement from Taylor Swift, but I do think that you're right that it could just get someone who already wasn't going to vote to vote. You know? But I don't think it's like suiting a a supporter of someone else.

Emilio:

There are very few single issue Taylor Swift voters, essentially, who are saying, I will vote whatever Taylor Swift tells me to do.

Liz:

Yeah. Yeah. Right. Exactly. So yeah.

Liz:

Changing changing gears a little bit, I do wanna talk about you know, obviously, we talked about Bratz Summer. But I wanna talk about changing your aesthetic every season because I think that's, you know, what Brant Summer really is and now people are saying goodbye, Brant Summer. Hello, whatever, fall. Or as the same news said, I think it was hello, media literacy fall. Oh, yeah.

Liz:

Someone Super important.

Claire:

Someone was telling me they just read about that the other day. I was like, oh, awesome. Read about it?

Liz:

Like, it was just like a media

Claire:

literacy fall?

Liz:

Like, saw it.

Claire:

Like, they were like, I heard it's media literacy fall. And I was like, how did you wow. Okay.

Liz:

They're just, like, really, like Our influence. Their voice were influencers. Yeah. But yeah. Yeah.

Liz:

Why do we do this? Why do you think that we feel the need to change our aesthetic every season? And this is for anyone. I'm gonna turn

Claire:

it to Kendra because I feel like she's got some notes over here that I want her to Yes. To really dig into.

Kendra:

Yes. I think part of why it's become so popular is because, like, bigger things are changing in our lives, like, with new seasons, like, you go to college in the fall or, like, things things are changing in your lives. And those kind of changes are, like, out of our control, which is scary. But, like, smaller changes, the style of your clothes or, like, the color scheme on your Instagram, those are, like, completely within the bounds of our control. So they feel a lot safer and more comfortable, but they're also, like, fun and new

Claire:

to try, like, embrace these things. So it's kinda like the best of both worlds

Kendra:

in that sense. Boom. Super potent. That was awesome. No.

Kendra:

That's

Liz:

so true. That's a really good point about, like, the discomfort of change because sometimes I'm, like, I'm, like, I'm, like,

Claire:

And that's a really good point about, like, the discomfort of change because sometimes I'm like, wow. We're cycling through the trends really, really fast, which would be ironic. Like, if people didn't like change, why would we do that? But if you view it as, like, the opposite reason, they're doing it to cope with other bigger, more personal feeling change, and it's a choice. Like, they're choosing to set these, trends or, like, aesthetics to follow.

Claire:

Yeah. It definitely becomes more fun, so I like that point a lot.

Liz:

Yes. Yeah. Has anyone ever done this? Changes their like, change their aesthetic for a certain season? And I don't even know what I mean, I guess you guys can answer it however you want, but I'm not really even sure what an aesthetic really means to people.

Liz:

Like, is that, like, your sense of style? Is that, you know, what you're watching, what you're reading? Because, personally, the way that I might change my aesthetic for a season is, like, what I'm watching, like like, movies wise. Like, I'm a very much a seasonal watcher. I think a lot of people are.

Liz:

So in the fall, I like to rewatch Gilmore Girls because I'm, like, super basic. And then, like, during Christmas time, I really like to watch some of the old Harry Potter movies. That always feels, like, very cozy to me. Like, just like, yeah, like the first couple ones, especially Chamber of Secrets. But it's a little bit different than, like, oh, I'm watching a Christmas movie for Christmas.

Liz:

It's like, oh, this show, like, feels like fall. Like, around Halloween, I was watching Pretty Little Lie like, around Halloween last year, I was watching Pretty Little Liars.

Claire:

Yeah. Well, it's also something, like, we all, like, strangely kind of just agreed upon. Like, a Christmas movie is, like, overtly, this is a Christmas movie. Right. But, yeah, so we kind of have agreed, like, the whole, like, rewatching Gilmore Girls in the fall or, like, Harry Potter.

Claire:

Like, even when you say that, like, I'm like, oh, yeah. But, like, I associate that with fall. Right. Just we've, like, decided that. I would agree, like, music or movies or TV, clothing as an aesthetic so much, I mean, you have to change it because we live in Michigan.

Claire:

Like, you you must change your clothing aesthetic You must

Liz:

work with it.

Claire:

With the seasons. But you can still make that fun and, like, different. I don't know, obviously. But, yeah, I would say the biggest ones are music and movies and stuff.

Liz:

That is so true. For music, I always make a summer playlist, but I don't make a playlist for any other season, really. I think I've made one fall playlist, like, my entire life, I guess. I don't know. But, like, every summer, I make a new playlist to, like

Claire:

Summer just seems different. I don't know. This is gonna go all the way back to Brat really quickly.

Liz:

No. But, like tie it in.

Claire:

I feel like how we were talking about, you know, like, why why does it come on so strong? Like, okay, I heard about, like, hot girl summer and, like, brat summer, like, these things that are, like, exclusive to summer. I think it's just because we view it as, like I don't know why we put, like, way more weight on that as a season Yeah. Or, like, the function of summer. So maybe that has something to do with the aesthetic that you choose to change for and why not.

Claire:

Like, if people are, like, it's just fall, just winter, but, like, summer is, like, the big one. Like, that's kind of a

Liz:

I feel like a lot of people put a lot of, like, weight on fall though too. Yeah. Because it's like there's always, like, more fall activities and they're like, oh, it's gotta be you know, you gotta do your your pumpkin carving, your cider mill, your hayride if you go to Michigan State. Like, that's your, you know, that's your fall activities, and I think that's, like, part of an aesthetic, but it also I think it's just, like it just has to deal with, like, your expectations of what you want a season to be, and I think those usually coincide with what your aesthetic is Yeah. If that makes any sense.

Claire:

Thoughts on this?

Liz:

Thoughts on this table? Table?

Emilio:

I just feel like when we talk about aesthetics, I feel like the word that I'd rather think about is, like, it's our brand. Like, it's the it's the it's the outward image that you're portraying to the rest of the world. Right? You're talking about I mean, don't get me wrong. You can definitely have a fall and do all your fall activities.

Emilio:

Mhmm. But part of it is also when we're talking when we're talking about crafting an aesthetic is letting the rest of the world know that you're up to these activities.

Liz:

That's so true. Just have

Claire:

the fun. The presentation is a really, really

Liz:

important part of it

Claire:

all. Especially, Kendra, as you're talking about, like, an Instagram feed, like, you cultivate that. Not only are you in charge of it, but then you're in charge of, like, who sees it, when they see it, and then, like, their reaction to it is equally as important almost as the, like, creation of it.

Kendra:

Exactly. Yeah.

Liz:

I do wanna talk about the the sustainability aspect of it all. Take care of it. It's like I don't I I again, I'm I'm afraid I'm creating a fake person, but I do think there are some people specifically, maybe people who are more on, like, are very in tune with their social media. Maybe, like, maybe we're talking about, like, the influencer world. And it's simply just not sustainable to invest in a new wardrobe every season.

Liz:

Because I can imagine there are, like, there are people online that, like, bought clothes specifically to fit for Brad Summer. Right? So we're looking at the dark and grungy whatever. But they're also, like, maybe that summer they or, like, the last summer they were into, like, pastel girl. You know what I'm talking about?

Liz:

Like, what was it last summer? It was like it was some stuff. It was, like, chill girl, like, whatever.

Claire:

There's always something.

Liz:

There's always something going on. And you're right.

Claire:

Like, it's

Liz:

Like, brain rot. It's way

Claire:

too hard to, like, keep up, and it feels exhausting to keep up, in my opinion, unless you agree with it, and you're, like, trying to control it yourself. Like, brat summer might look or feel exhausting, like, oh, here's another trend, but then if you're a part of it, quote, unquote, like, it's more fun. It's not just some, like, dumb trend. It's like, no. No.

Claire:

No. Like, I chose to do this. It's like a more voluntary thing. So I wonder if, like, that could some people would disagree that it's sustain like, this is an issue of sustainability or not. Because they'd be like, no.

Claire:

This is fun. What are you talking about? I personally think it's yeah. It's probably Sometimes it goes a little too fast, but

Liz:

Yeah. I don't know. Is it true this is something I wrote down that I actually don't know what it means anymore. Is it truly aesthetic if it's so easily changed? What does that mean?

Liz:

Like, is it like okay. I think what I was trying to get at was like, it like isn't it an aesthetic like something that you, like, sort of it's like an aura, you know? Woah. You got your 1,000 aura points every season and then you decide to increase or decrease it. But, like, if if that's like your aura, how can it be so easily changed?

Kendra:

Yeah. Like, anesthetics is supposed to be, like,

Liz:

a part of who you are, but then you can switch up who you are

Kendra:

that easily as any of it actually.

Claire:

Like, really who you are.

Kendra:

Is it all just a persona, like, all fake?

Claire:

Woah. Kendra's made me speechless. Like, every time she speaks, I'm like, oh, that was that was good. I have no follow. I mean, I agree.

Liz:

So This is true. Do you think that aesthetic is just simply for, like, outward consumption from other people then? I think at this point,

Claire:

it is more like that than not. Mhmm. I think because of social media and because it's so quick. Maybe in the past then you're bringing in, like, nostalgia and, like, the whole thing people are trying to, like, recreate. It in the past, they probably didn't even regard it as, like, an aesthetic.

Claire:

It was just, like, this is what happened. I think an aesthetic and if okay. If we think about fall specifically as the example, the, like, nostalgia, the, like, coziness you're talking about with, like, Harry Potter, all that stuff, we're looking to other things, namely, I guess, in this instance, like, the past or, like, this ideal version of a simpler time or, like, a better time, and we're basing our decisions to further this aesthetic off of that. So at that point, also, once again, is it even real if you're just, like, trying to mimic the past? Do you know is this, like, making sense?

Liz:

Like It's making sense.

Claire:

It just yeah. The line of, like, when is this genuine is really interesting, and I think that, unfortunately, it's becoming a little bit less and less genuine as years go on because it's moving way too fast for it to be actually a part of who someone is or actually an interest all the way through and through.

Liz:

That's all. I I do think, unfortunately, it's time to wrap up, so I do wanna open up to everyone if they have, a final conclusion. And my conclusion that I think that I've taken from everyone's, arguments is phone bad and phone hurt my brain. Claire, do you have any I feel like you wrapped it up.

Claire:

I don't have anything

Liz:

else, so

Claire:

I'll turn it to you 2.

Liz:

No. I don't have anything in here. Emilia, you gotta take us home.

Emilio:

I like to formally retract my statement on not listening to music in middle school. I did listen to actually one artist. What you guys know about Mumford and Sons?

Liz:

Oh my god.

Emilio:

Good old stomp clap music. You know? They're yelling, hey's and hoes.

Claire:

That's not what I thought you were gonna say.

Emilio:

That's real music. I don't

Liz:

it's real. Yeah. Real fedora wearing music. Like, super suspenders wearing music. Music.

Liz:

And on that note, thank you guys so much for coming to House Slides this week. Next week, we actually do know what we're gonna talk about.

Claire:

Yeah.

Liz:

We're gonna talk about the secret lives of Mormon wives. Alright. So, I'm very excited for that. I can't wait. See you guys soon.

Liz:

Bye. Bye.