Cup of Snarky

It’s not as easy to connect nurture and nature as it once was, especially when it comes to things as complex as contemporary culture.  While there are connections between environment and behavior, they start to take on a very different characteristic when they enter into the realm of popular imaginations.  More often than not, if there is a slight possibility of turning it into a lifestyle, Southern California will somehow find a way to lay claims on it.

In many cases, of course, the claims are legitimate.  SoCal is one of those unique places that not only has an intense and vibrant local cultural history, but has an equal draw on cultures from all over the world, so there is a constant sense that this is an experiment in process.  Rockabilly and Hot Rod culture have been an interesting part of that experiment for over a decade now, and the origins are likely to be elsewhere, but they do come to take root in Southern California for the same reasons that icons still find their seedbeds here.

It’s likely that someone looking for wheels for hot rods is simply trying to make something look nicer and more attractive, combining style and function.  But a little history of the hot rod and Rockabilly demonstrates that it’s also participating in a larger framework.

Both the music and the car culture have their origins in the post-War U.S.  In the case of Rockabilly, the center of the storm is much further to the east, in the heart of the South.  This is where Jazz first started to link with country music, when the slap bass evolved to make a music that was not only catchy to the audiences, but also interesting for the musicians who were eager to innovate emerging cultural forms and forces.  With hot rods, there is a similar bend toward combining, but here the combination was a unique blend of the old and the new.  Vintage cars fueled with new technologies and innovations in auto mechanics gave the youthful car culture an opportunity to test their chops to build something stylish and remarkably fast.

Both of these trends have their inspirations in a culture that was coming of age after a long and horrible war.  Increased resources after a long period of want, and an energy to do something new, to make something happen, all combined in this particular cultural moment to make unusual combinations that made perfect sense.  And Southern California was the perfect testing grounds for these things to come together.  Today, it may not matter so much if nature or nurture contributes more to their continuing, and often increasing popularity, because style seems to have a way of replicating itself and insuring its own survival.  It’s as beautiful as any movie.

One of the earliest impulses to develop in human beings is that of mimicry. For all of the fascinating changes that a baby goes through on their way to becoming a toddler, this is perhaps the most complex. The need to look like someone else, or something else, isn’t just a desire that gets enacted at the time of year when people are wearing Halloween costumes , but in fact seems to be much more connected to the very basic instincts.

The reasons for this are perhaps as complicated as the action itself. Wanting to act like something else is usually an instinct that comes from wanting to understand. As the human being begins to develop, their capacity for observation is enormous. They watch other people, especially the parents, and start to become used to how they behave.

By the beginning of the first year the capacity is already very well-established. They can imitate people and animals, and seem to have a natural sense for the potential for laughter in imitation. It seems to be a remarkably human function, but of course, it’s not.

Plants and animals also have very highly tuned instincts for imitation. Here, it’s something that’s developed out of the natural instincts for survival. By adopting characteristics of the stronger of the species, they can make themselves more invulnerable. It’s fascinating to see how this works its way into human behavior, and how it’s modified to become something of a source for entertainment, rather than simply survival.

When the city of Paris is brought to mind, the last thing that is going to be associated with it is coming up with something great to do while you are there. Instead beautiful romantic evenings, lovely walks on historic boulevards and images of the Eiffel Tower are most likely going to start streaming through your thoughts. And then they will be followed up with cravings for delicious pastries and fancy coffee drinks. And while all of this is appropriate and definitely part of the Paris mystique, there is actually a lot more to do in this great city than what most people realize. And while English speaking guests in the best hotels in Paris are most likely going to encounter language friendly service, studying up on a few communication basics will greatly enhance any trip there, or to any place whose native language is different from that where you’re from. But of course, it’s not mandatory, and frequent world travelers can’t be expected to learn all of the languages in existence, right?

So, while you may not wish to learn French before planning your trip, you will definitely want to research some many attractions, landmarks and entertainment options before you leave. Of course you will want to visit the Eiffel Tower and take part in one of the great tours that are offered. This is probably the most famous landmark in Paris and one that is visited by people from all over the world. It wasn’t nearly as popular when it was first established in 1889, however, today it is one of the most famous structures in the world.

While you’re visiting the city’s major landmarks you will want to stop at the Arch of Triumph, officially known as L’Arc de Triomphe. This enduring symbol of French victory and national pride was commissioned by Napoleon . The monument was completed in 1836 and serves to remind people of the great victories France has won and to honor various soldiers and military leaders. You will also want to pay a visit to some of the great museums in the city. The Museum d’Orsay, or Musee d’Orsay if you’ve studied your French, is one of the great museums and included in its collection are great works from Monet, Manet and others. In fact this converted railway station contains the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist works in the world.