Freedom Of Expression?
When it comes to self expression, we can get easily denied and in trouble if we don’t follow the guidelines or rules in companies and with the principal. If we don’t meet the expected rules for the school clothing code. For me, at my high school to which I’ve graduated from as of October 2014, with my experiences in high school with the dress code, the only rules we had were the three guidelines: no butts, no boobs, no shoulders, (I think).
And even though in grade 9, I wore a basic colourful tank top from Garage near the office one day, I was told to put on a sweater. Heck no! I’m not cold, there’s no need for me to do so.
Anyway, expressing ourselves through clothing is something that you can make your own version, style and as long as you don’t let what anyone says or thinks affect the direction you’re going, nothing is impossible and you can do anything you set your mind to.
And for me, while watching “Were We Ever?” episode, it really got me thinking about how I would feel if I were in a scenario like that. If someone told me to wear different clothing to meet the school board’s dress code, I would do something like these three did! And no matter what comes their way, they never let it change their direction. They stood strong and with pride of what they believed in, no matter what anyone says or thinks.
And if I were in a situation like that, which I probably will at some point, I will create something way bigger and more powerful (in a great way) to help bring the main message across about self expression and freedom of speech and freedom to wear whatever we want (but appropriately and nothing showing too much cleavage.
Yeah, I may be stubborn and even quite loyal to my beliefs and with myself, but I know deep down, it will change lives and give others who can’t speak, a voice, or those who have had their voice taken away from them and are struggling to regain the voice back and with a fair amount of power for the greater good!
We all deserve to be noticed, to be heard, to be understood, to be recognized for doing something great rather than the opposite. For example like in the trailer for the movie sequel, called Step Up Revolution.
And it may not show the scene but here is the clip included before the beginning mob scene in the movie: opening sequence where Eddie, Shawn’s best friend says: “I’m telling you, there’s like a 50/50 chance we’re going to jail tonight.” And then there’s art in an art musuem: art gallery mob! Another with Shawn (Ryan Guzman’s character) and Emily (Katherine McCormick’s character) plays the lead roles in a restaurant. There’s also one making a real statement at the building where the meeting almost successfully made their plans to make changes to a whole strip area in Miami, protest art!
This is one of many examples to help backup my statement of how self expression through music, dance, and other methods using our voice and other props; are great ways and the real importance of how we need to be understanding of what other people want. They want to be noticed, recognized, heard and much more. They want to be able to express themselves freely in any form they want without anyone in our society holding us back. Though regardless of that fact, there’s many people in our society who can easily get into our heads and convince us otherwise. But regardless of that, we should do our very best to fight against that feeling and those words other people try to use against us to let go of what’s really close to our hearts!
To be heard and to be part of something special! I’m gonna make a list of a few other great examples of those who have made a real statement and stood by it regardless of what happens throughout the movies.
And then there’s one special one where it can teach those who watch about self love in a different way that encourages us to “accept ourselves just as we were born as”. If we wanna change anything about ourself, change it, but don’t do it to impress someone or to meet someone’s demands, expectations and standards: society!
So if you have been and still insecure about yourself, your body, your skin, etc: it’s time for you to watch this movie (Penelope) and let it transform your perspective on self love but more importantly: self acceptance! It’s about the flaws we find about ourselves that make us feel ugly, insecure, and just being at peace and accepted of all that we are as a human being. Because no human being is perfect, so stop listening to what society says and thinks.
I like myself the way I am!
One part that I really admire and love about the movie, is the part where Penelope goes on with declaring her own independence! To me, it’s about not letting society’s voices get into our heads enough to take power over and make us do things that we wouldn’t do ourselves and turn us into someone we’d never thought we’d be; and finally taking the power back and taking control over ourselves and our own life like no one ever has!
