Passion Becomes Lifestyle

Morgan Gusby perfecting his craft.

History on Display

Mannequins date back to the ancient Egyptian times where they were used as imitations of kings and other forms of gods. Contrary to modern day purposes served by mannequins of today, these held deep religious and historical significance. Having evolved from shapes and sizes of all kinds, mannequins have come a long way. 

Charles Worth created the first recorded mannequins for the use of display in Paris, France, during the 1840s. His goal was to make mannequin forms that resembled his customers so that they could truly observe the clothing from an exterior vantage.  These forms developed into forms made from wax, wood and heavy fabric that were kept standing by heavy iron feet. Sometimes they were shaped with papier-mâché or filled with sawdust. With the fashion industry booming, the demand for mannequins climbed bringing the use of mannequins to center stage. 

By the 1920s, mannequins had wooden expressions, which is why they were called "dummies." Mannequins began to emulate realistic portrayals of humans. In the silent film age, there was more focus on the face than the body. With the popularity of Hollywood movies, mannequins acquired more realistic features and animated facial expressions that mirrored those of famous stars like Mary Pickford and Rudolph Valentino. To complement their movie star looks, they were displayed with aspiration in make-believe situations such as having cocktails at the country club.  Mannequins followed right along with the shift in women’s roles in the 60s. On one end, there were the housewife mannequins with hopeful gazes. At the other extreme was the active, assertive woman, posing casually and confidently. This decade also gave us the Mod look which consisted of skinny, leggy figures epitomized by the Twiggy mannequin. With the 70s came the introduction of Black, Asian, and Latino mannequins, reflecting the growing ethnic mix of the country. To capture the times of the decade, mannequins started having facial expressions of pain, worry, and stress. In the 80s, a fad for exercise broke out in the country so mannequins began taking on running and leaping poses. Mannequins of the 1990s were athletic, with great body tone, firm abs and calves.

Today, the mannequin is an essential to any retail store display. They have shifted from mere dummies to iconic displays of today’s fashion trends. Walking through any department store, you’re bound to pass a myriad of different mannequins modeling the latest fashions. Looking at how mannequins have evolved through the years, we can see that they have reflected not only the ideal of how we should look, but how we should live. When it comes to mannequins today, the old rules are out, and anything goes. Mannequins have come to be different colors, crystal clear, headless, backless, and any form of concept. There is no ideal form, probably because there is no longer a consensus on an ideal vision of beauty. While we know that fashion design and mannequins are intertwined, it's fascinating to see how much these "dummies" can show us about our culture and history.

Advertising vs. Volunteering

    The last purchase I can recall in which I was particularly pleased about would have to be my oil change at Midas. I had been in need of an oil change for a while by then, but I was on a tight budget, so a deal was in order. I am not from Hampton Roads, so I was not sure of any of the suitable service shops around. I was pleased to receive a coupon in the mail that seemed to top all of the competition. I decided I was going to wait on my next paycheck to utilize the coupon and get my oil change.  

In the meantime, I received an ad in the mail as well, and saw a commercial.   These two forms of advertisement added reinforcement and convinced me that Midas would be the place I would go to for my car service needs from then on.  Once I actually received the oil change at Midas, I realized how friendly its service was and that it was trying to offer me more deal packages on various services that I did not really feel I needed. Alongside that, the coupon called for four different free services combined with the oil change deal. After I waited for the completion of the service, the mechanic came out and told me that they could not perform certain services the coupon had offered without the purchase of another. At that point, I felt as though Midas was in it for the money, and that its generous customer service was not all that genuine. However, that very same mechanic did make a courtesy call the day after my service was complete, but it was not only to check up on me, but to encourage me to refer my friends and associates to them.

            When compared to my most recent volunteer experience, the idea of Midas being “in it for themselves” really sticks out. I last volunteered in December for the Salvation Army and was a bell ringer standing outside Farm Fresh. I do recall the website’s advertisement tugging at a heart string or two beginning with its simple slogan of “Doing the Most Good” written above a picture of volunteers at work in a soup kitchen. The picture in the ad was very simple, yet the description included in the ad of the activity was able to instill a sense of warmth and positivity. I remember the actual act was an ad in itself. Once the people saw me out there in the cold dedicating my time to raising money for whatever the cause may have been, they were extremely pleased and expressed such. Most of them wanted to let me know it was a good thing I was doing or that they felt like they should be doing the same, given the season.     

The difference between the two experiences is apparent in that the purchase with personal gain as the result was more of a physical reward. The volunteer activity resulted in a more mental and emotional gain, which some may consider a far more rewarding experience in the end. With the Salvation Army’s advertisement, you can sense that all the organization is really after is an act of goodwill. However, there is a similarity in that just as advertising can be seen as pushy, some may see the Salvation Army’s advertisement as a technique of pushing guilt and obligation. Lastly, the oil change purchase advertised falsely by reeling me in believing I was receiving several things, yet I only ended up with two. The Salvation Army informs you of all expectations. It is easier to trust a volunteer service whose aim is to do good for others than it is to trust an advertisement of a business out for money.

Passion becomes lifestyle

All the greats began singing at a young age.  Michael Jackson started at the age of five. Mariah Carey started at three. A name that is destined to be mentioned in that same light years from now is Morgan Gusby. Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Gusby was casted into the world of music at the tender age of four. His mother, Kim Gusby, says when she was younger she too was involved in a church singing group with her brothers and sister and this inspired her to do the same with her three children. 

Kim says his first audience may have been about 500 people. “My mom made me realize it a while back. She had us form a little group for our church by the name of G3.  I feel like she made my voice the way it is today-deep. Because I was the only boy, she made me bass. We sang as a group until I was about 13 or 14. That was around the time my voice started to change and I didn’t like my voice anymore so I stopped singing until recently.”  Along with his change in voice came his shyness. His mother doesn’t remember him as a shy little boy; however, she does agree that after his voice changed he shied away from singing in the spotlight for a bit. “Morgan can be very competitive; if you have an A he needs an A+,” Kim said. This may have been what kept him on the back-burner only for so long. He picked back up with his talent when he stepped up to sing for his great grandmother in front of his family. Kim remembers a time after he stepped back out. “He surprised the family again around Christmas time at our church program for jazz music day. By the end of it, the pastor came up and said, ‘“Man I didn’t know Morgan could sing; he was great!”  That was a memorable day.”

Fellow Hampton University classmate, Karyn Gibson, says she’s known Morgan for two years and didn’t find out about his hidden talent until later on. “He’s the type of person to keep his talent hidden until the right time. I didn’t find out about his voice until he said he was doing a tribute for his grandmother and he sang for me before his first choir audition here at HU.”

Being accepted into the Hampton University’s choir is what got Morgan back into his passion for singing. Since then, he has been hard at work practicing and striving to perfect his craft in any way. This includes long hours of singing to the tune of his playing the piano in the practice rooms; but he doesn’t mind.  It reintroduced the meaning back into his talent. He feels all the hard work and practice is worth it in the end. To Morgan, singing is more than just something to do, it’s a way of life. It adds so much more to his daily life and has opened up a doorway to a possible career option.  He expressed that he may even want to go into music production. “The way you can express yourself I guess [musically]. It helps you convey your feelings and emotions. If you’re in a sad or depressing mood you can sing a happy song to express what you’re feeling.” That’s what makes it so enjoyable for him.  

It All Started When...

Walking onto that set upon a tour of backstage was one of the most invigorating experiences of my life. I believe that was the moment that determined what I was going to do for the rest of my life. While the bright lights blinded my eyes and the thunderous applause pounded in my ears, I dawdled on up to Oprah herself and gave her a big bear hug. With my heart drumming its way out my chest, I looked to the audience to see my mom, aunt, and older sister cheering me on. The show cued up and at that point, millions of eyes were on me! That experience made it to the top of my list of inspirational moments.

The Vicious Cycle of History Repeats Itself: Does the impending oligopoly of social media have potential to become as much an influence over its publics as newspaper and television has in the past?

Media’s presence in today’s society plays a big role on how things are perceived nowadays. It surrounds us and our everyday thoughts and actions, through the television shows we watch, the music we listen to, and our use of the Internet. With the media becoming embedded in our modern day society, we have now adapted to its various ways of carrying out different tasks and retrieving information. With our lives now virtually dependent on media and technology, it is becoming more and more difficult to picture our day-to-day activity without it.

      The media today includes television, radio, film, newspaper, magazines, and the Internet and its various forms. The progressive form media has taken on today has caused us to center it in our decision making process. It effects how we gather, process, and distribute information. Television, radio, and Internet reach mass amounts of different types of audiences so I would have to say these media outlets are of most influence. The media now has the ability to persuade and expose mass amounts of audiences to different issues in the world. 

Growing Internet outlets such as Facebook, blogs, and the ever so popular Twitter have given people access to quick and simplified information or communication with another at the touch of a button. In the beginning, new forms of media can be very helpful to us as a people. The media and its different outlets accomplish an array of things for us. It saves us students plenty of time in researching. It helps us as citizens stay aware of what’s going on around the world, in our society, and with our government. 

Amongst an immeasurable list of things, the media’s current state ultimately simplifies life for us as we know it, but this can be a threat to the freedom, fairness, and accuracy of it as well. Various occurrences in the history of media will prove to show that with the formation of an oligopoly of the industry, comes a rise to the one in power’s pockets but a setback to not only the freedom, fairness, and accuracy of the industry, but to the consumer. A prime example of this is the oligopoly of the industry held by sellers like Disney, CBS, Comcast, Time Warner, and Rupert Murdoch.  In recent years, the question of Rupert Murdoch’s FOX news corporation’s fairness and accuracy has increased. His corporation has hurt reputations on a bias basis yet it remains one of the most popular news stations and continues to sway a mass of people’s opinions. This is similar to what already occurs with social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook. Everyone from your “average Joe” to celebrities to the president of the United States have a Twitter account. The immediacy and overwhelming popularity of Twitter has hurt many reputations in the past. People have tweeted very incriminating statements that have the potential to ruin careers or the reputation of others. For example, Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner lost his position after a Twitter controversy this past summer. Imagine if FOX News Corporation had the opportunity to take over Twitter and regulate as they do on their cable network? Significant events such as the presidential election would be greatly affected considering a wide range of age groups now depend on Twitter as one of their prominent sources of information.  Nowadays, a reputation could be ruined at the click of a mouse. Opinions can be swayed by a simple Facebook post or advertisement. Solid facts aren’t even necessary anymore on social media forums. With the option of “re-tweeting” or reciprocating one’s post, information, whether it is fair or accurate, has the potential to reach millions in a matter of minutes. If the social media industry becomes an oligopoly, it could be the end of fair and accurate reporting.           

The constant flow of information in today’s society is necessary for the formation and development of people’s ideas and opinions. However, media’s allowance of freedom and accuracy is definitely important as well. With the rise of oligopolies in the social media industry, freedom and accuracy will become a thing of the past.

Malcolm Scott: A Dream Deferred

     Prince, Michael Jackson, The Isley Brothers—these greats can all be seen as an inspiration for musicians everywhere. South Carolina native and aspiring musician Malcolm Scott hopes to one day have an impact on the music industry such as theirs with his music.            

Currently in his junior year at Hampton University, his major has gone from music engineering technology, to psychology, to graphic design, and now back at psychology. As a child, Scott had career dreams like any other child; becoming an astronaut, veterinarian, or doctor were all aspirations of his. 

After realizing he could carry a tune, he didn’t really see himself in music until he was much older. From that point, he worked on perfecting his voice by singing a little more each day, trying to develop the small voice he had. “My voice was never that deep so my singing voice was always a little higher than my peers,” said Scott. Factors like these discouraged him as a child. He claims that when he was younger he felt about his singing every other day. The first talent show Scott performed in his mother came to see him. “She told me she couldn't hear me singing at all. Other people who sat even further behind her told me they heard me and I sounded good but the fact that my mom didn't, hurt my pride. To this day I still don't really feel comfortable singing around her,” said Scott. 

By the time he became comfortable with his singing voice, he claims he always found someone better than him. He used this as motivation to be that much better and work that much harder. “I hated not being able to do as much vocally as others around me could so that pushed me to work on it. Not to mention how negative people can be about your career choice. Eventually I just learned to block it out,” Scott said. 

Scott feels that his past experience playing with the band felt like a full-time job and as a result, prepped him for his expectations of the music industry.   “Going to practices after school, meeting on the weekends, it was just so hard to keep up. I was younger then though, so at this point with singing I feel like I'm ready,” Scott said. 

Currently, Scott believes riding under the radar is his best option because when he does come out, it will have been unexpected. He feels the combination of the element of surprise along with his best work, will make people love it all the more.   Scott doesn’t have any particular preference in who he signs with in the future. “Whoever can offer me the best deal and allow me to have creative control over the work that I do, that's who I'll choose. I wouldn't mind signing with Interscope or Def Jam though, they're track record is undeniable,” Scott says.      

He is currently working on collaborations with producers on campus and up and coming talents on campus as well. Scott says his performances have been scarce-few to none to be exact. “But in due time, it'll all be ready. I've held back from performing simply because my music wasn't ready and I always hated the fact that singers performed other people's songs. If I want to be a singer, I want to be able to perform my own material. I have nothing against singing someone else's songs; but I want to show my talent by performing something I composed,” said Scott.

Scott has work stockpiled from his freshmen year to today. The fuel behind his work now was the group of people he was around. “It was harder to have creative control back then. The opinions of others drove the kind of music I made.  It lacked substance, most of it seemed sex driven. But now I've moved on and found better ways to convey my feelings. I only write and record what I feel, something that anyone can listen to and be able to connect with,” Scott says.

Eventually, Scott hopes to branch out into other genres. Just starting out, he believes he is still developing his sound and trying to figure out the kind of music that will define his career.