Capitalizing on current trends

November 2, 2009 by Bryant Nguyen 

From Obama to Kanye, social trends are often used for good or greed

Supporting a good cause never goes out of style.

As part of the screenings offered by UNLV’s Movies That Matter this Friday, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” is a tale of Liberian women armed with only white T-shirts uniting and fueling the fight for peace in their war-torn country.

Thousands of Liberian women were able to force peace talks between the two sides through their actions to end a 14-year civil war.

Aside from the apparent display of peaceful activism, the movie raises an issue that many young adults are not aware that they are affected by.

The white T-shirts in the movie were a look that represented the growing number of activists and helped spark a movement.

With that in mind, the movie is reminiscent of today’s situation with young adults. A growing number of trends and fads have come and gone that were sparked by the media. “I just think they’re norms,” said UNLV sophomore Hanna Korn. “They are just normal everyday things. Trends come and go, can’t help it. Something becomes a trend usually through the media, movies and music.”

Everyone is guilty of following along with a trend whether it is too embarrassing for them to admit or they are unaware of that fact.

Let’s look back on some trends that captured the attention and money of unsuspecting people over the past few years. Some had the right intentions and others were just simply marketing genius.

Campaigning is one of the certainties in life when you are a presidential candidate. Barack Obama and his camp took it to a whole other level through merchandising.

A Google search result for Obama merchandise turns up an Obama cell phone (available only in Kenya), Obama can opener, Obama toilet paper and a limited edition Obama Hennessey 44.

“Oh that was lame,” said UNLV junior Ryan Osborne. “I mean I wasn’t the biggest Obama fan, but that was because a majority of people would be like, ‘I got Hope on my shirt and I got Obama’s face. I’m cool now.’ They didn’t pay attention to the issues.”

Kanye West is probably happy for Obama and he’ll let him finish his term, but West would most likely consider his shutter shades fad one of the best trends of all-time. The shutter shades were one of many shade-inspired fads this year that included the 80s wayfarers and aviator sun glasses.

“Trends can come from music videos, celebrities and the clothes that they wear,” Korn said. “Like those sunglasses. Like the ones that look like the Blues Brothers’ sunglasses and the Kanye shutter shades.”

Trading cards go together with youth like losing goes with UNLV’s football team. People just can’t expect to have one without the other.

No trading card phenomenon was bigger back in the day than Pokémon.

“I remember in 4th grade when all my friends started busting out those Pokémon cards,” Osborne said. “I was like, ‘I got to figure out what Pokémon is now.’”

Apple products are now considered fads with its sleek design, multiple applications and tech savvy products. Maybe that was a little bit over the top, but Korn doesn’t think so. “I follow the Apple trend,” Korn said. “I got my iPhone, my Macbook and my iPod. Not only is it amazing but just because it is in a mall and that it is designer technology. Anyone who has it is considered cool so that’s why it is really trendy.”

Nothing says a good trend than a trend that is for a good cause. The Livestrong bracelets and Breast cancer ribbons are prime examples of it.

“I think majority of the people support that cause, but then there’s people who just buy it because their friend’s have them,” Osborne said.

Korn agrees, “I think more of the Livestrong bracelets are more of a trend because I know someone who has a Livestrong bracelet and they don’t know what it’s for. They just think it looks pretty on their wrist.”

Every worthy cause needs merchandise backing to get the word out. So, readers can expect a&e!
merchandise soon in an effort to gather support against the cancer that is fads. Well, everybody else is doing it.