2002 School Magazine

original works

What's in a Name

What3 in a nome? rhot whith we coll a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet Romeo and Juliet 11,110 William Shakespeare

Don't judge a book by its cover, looks aren't everything. Remember, it's what's on the inside that counts. Apparently first impressions last, but paradoxicalIy beauty is only skin deep. And what is in a name? Genuine pearls of wisdom, or cheap imitations that chip after the first wear? Despite the sheer quantity of proverbial sayings that hint at the jewels that lay protected within, there is mounting evidence to suggest that perhaps first Impressions are those best remembered and the importance of appearance should not be undervalued We live in a world saturated by advertising that is designed to captivate at first glance - underwear, shampoos and even rice crackers come complete with their own unique image. Popular culture movies bombard their audience with blaring soundtracks and gaudy colour; relieving Its viewers from the onerous task of having to delve beyond the two dimensional nature of the screen to grasp the simplistic nature of the plot. Burgeoning music careers are founded on the image of gyrating hips rather than the ability of the singer - who changed their name to enter the industry - to sing or write their own songs And what is in a name? It is all about the name. The brand name, that is Would the latest Louis Vuitton knee-high leather boots still cost eight thousand dollars if they were not Louis Vuitton? Would the same awe. respect and approval be accorded to them had they not been graced by that prestigious label? Suppose, hypothetical Iy, there existed an identical pair of Clark's knee-high boots, if for the sake of argument. Clark's made stylised footwear. Would those boots still cost eight thousand dollars? Would they still be touted by Marie Claire as the new must-have for the season? Probably not Regardless of the Identical nature the two pairs of boots would share, one could never be placed on the pedestal that the other languidly lies on. It is inconceivable that those second pair of boots could ever achieve the status that the other demands with a name that is a seasoned veteran of catwalks worldwide. Without the name. there comes 00 glory. Their haute couture appearance, and chic fashion-house image suddenly pale into the far distance; losing their allure, once they lose the name. One is of the impression that which we call a rose by any other name would not smell as sweet The name means everything. In the fight against good and evil. heaven and hell, nature and nurture. outer and inner beauty - it 15 outer beauty, the image of the product, the image of the name, which has become paremount. The facade has become more important than the products themselves. Who buys Evian over Mt. Franklin because it tastes better? Who wears Nike instead of Reebok because it helps them run faster? Who buys Chanel over Revlon because it makes their eyelashes longer? it is the name that makes Evian taste better. feet in Nike shoes run faster. and eyelashes coated by Chanel appear longer. Nothing more, nothing less The association of particular brand names with certain images on a sub-conscious level has become so strong that as consumers, we do not think twice before choosing one product over another, simply based on the image perpetuated by one of those names. The psychology behind this decision-making is so strongly based on the label that without it, the reason for being attracted to one product over another is Irrevocably lost. Without the name. indeed even with a different name, the taste is not as rich, the touch not as soft, the smell not as sweet As consumers conditioned to respond to a product by associating it with an image, we are being led down the garden-path by shrewd marketeers, at the end of which our bank accounts will be emptied, the atmosphere of dissatisfaction heightened and possibly our sense of morality offended. Perhaps it is time we extricated ourselves from our preoccupation with names and associated images. to evaluate whether we value something for what it is rather than the aura its label projects. Without the inscription of Louis Vuttion to shield it from intense scrutiny, would those pair of boots still hold up under close inspection? Without the name to form our opinion for us, would the Evian still taste better, would the rose still smell as sweet? One would hope so

Shehorn MendiS 12 Mockoy

Allson Merenzie 8 Hi, schfeld FontosyAnimol