1. Jane and YooJeong

3.  Idea of conforming  You behave the way people expect you to (this comes partly from the media) like acting superficially and fitting into the mould.  Aspects of a material/consumer culture  You are exposed to lots of material goods and spending money on unnecessary goods  Selfish living  Knows what is righteous but ignores it to be normative and for its own fulfillment.  Truth  A need to impress overriding a civic duty

4. “I don’t look at myself in the mirror because I’m a narcissist I simply like to watch myself exist…(HHHH) Now I’m in a fog and mist…(HHHH) Now my reflection is anonymous” Language Feature: Repetition of the chorus, effect: to reinforce or emphasises the main ideas mirror symbolizes truth, he doesn’t want to see it because it shows a reflection of himself which is all vision to truth. He is trying to see in a one dimensional way; only caring of what you look on the outside instead of seeing the truth of him. I’m in a fog and mist…refers to 1)In the dark 2)He’s entering a crowd where everybody’s superficial. reflection is anonymous 1)He can’t see himself so he is confused of who he is. 2) So he is becoming the same as everybody else.

5. “ I’ve seen a reflection of my soul in the store window. Caught in limbo ‘cause I was dressed all in Timbos” Language Feature: Rhyme, effect: to make it more memorable, which then makes people think more deeply about the idea. reflection is the second reference to reflection for truth. He saw something true but in limbo because superficial reflection reveals fallacy.

6. “ Having fantasies of playng Polo with Ralph Lauren on a Tommy Hill” By referencing to famous brand names it is again emphasizing how materialisitic our society is becoming also showing people following trends.

7. “I’d buy a pair of trends even if they didn’t fit my size” This shows the story of modern society. Modern society being a generic model perhaps presented to us by the media to which we are expected to conform. Which again links to one of the main themes of

8. “ Made these cheap ass fabrics that were so worthless and sad. Just look priceless, they used unethical devices to attack my sense of Self-worth during my prepubescent crisis.” Language feature: slang, effect: to express his anger rhyme, effect: to make it more memorable, which then makes people think more deeply about the idea. Sad is referring to the child labour (eg sweatshop) He is using negative connotations to express his true feelings towards people’s selfish living.

9. “ “It fed into my insecurities, so instead of being righteous. I want everyone to see me like this.” Insecurities Sage Francis is insecure about not being like the popular culture, appearing as though he is different and so he conforms, even though he knows it is not honest or righteous. And this is why he doesn’t want to see his reflection (the truth) because he will see that he is a fake. He knows what is righteous (being true to yourself) but chooses it to ignore it to be normative. There is a internal conflict between righteousness and insecurities.

10. “It’s all about who looks the nicest.” This is the thing the modern society cares about. So there’s societal pressure and expectations to look like you have ‘made it’ which is having a picture perfect life (big house, success in career…) Also the word look portrays not only the physical looks but also your background.

11. “What I seen made my heart hurt, stomach turn, throat burn, teeth cringe, spine tingle, and ribs sting. I noticed that the swoosh symbol was nothing but a whip in mid swing” Language feature: Listing, effect: makes the sentence more intense Negative connotation, effect: expresses Sage Francis’s internal feeling towards his actions in being part of civic duty. Realisation at the fallacy in consumer culture and feels pathetic about his fake image.

12. The ideas that are really present in this poem: Our society encourages a culture of chasing perfection. It is one where we become so concerned with meeting normative expectation that we risk losing ourselves. Society expects us to look a certain way dress in a certain way maintain a lifestyle which shows the image of success, living in a certain way reassures that you are conforming to mainstream ideals and living up to the pressure that society dictates. It is reasonable to assume that it is the media that is responsible for our preoccupation with perfection.