The Best Emo of All
This excursion into comparative misery has been brought to you by a t-shirt I just saw stating "I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself". I love it. The definition of emo, at this time, is "hardcore emotional". It’s a style of music, a fashion statement, and an attitude expressed by half-closed eyelids and pooched lips. In every situation, the teenaged person is required draw attention to themselves by body language signalling desolation and woe. There are strict rules which must be followed to avoid being labelled a “poser“.
Since the beginning of time the onset of puberty has caused human beings to suffer for a short period of time before turning into adults, getting a job and proceeding to reproduce themselves. This period of time in a young person’s life has taken many forms and manifestations, the one abiding characteristic being that of extreme narcissism and suffering. It is up to each generation to reject the outmoded angst of their parents and come up with a new one, but this is very difficult to achieve, since the human experience is rather limited from a practical point of view.
Greek tragedy, prime-time soap operas, the Beat Generation, nihilism, Japanese opera, Shakespearian plays, the list goes on and on. Humans love throbbing misery, and each generation has its new and improved version. But let’s face it, folks, nobody-but nobody-did it better than Edgar Allen Poe. He was obsessive-compulsive, self-absorbed, enjoyed drugs, alcohol and poor health all of his short, calamitous life. He was the best at emo, and stuck with it much too long. He died "emo" in the street of unknown causes. His death has been attributed to everything from rabies to alcohol/laudanum poisoning. Is that cool or what?
Fortunately most of us move on after the emo phase. After all, I survived Hermann Hesse, didn’t I? A funny thing happens to most of us on the road to eternal torment. We grow up.
Tags: emo, puberty, suffering, angst, misery, edgar allen poe, hermann hesse
Lisa,
My oldest granddaughter appears to be emo-like lately. She had her lip pierced and you seldom see one of her eyes due to the swath of hair across her forehead.
Nice connecting with ya…thanks.
Lynn Barry