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how much of what we perceive as something we like is what we actually like because of its individual and specific merit, and how much of it is because the media and other outside pressures tell us we should like it?

take fashion, for example, the example that originally got me thinking about this. fashion trends change, and most of our own fashion tastes change along with them. even those who claim to be the most immune to what’s most trendy are not unsusceptible to trends—there’s a distinct “hipster fashion” despite the fact that the existence of such a style goes against the very concepts of hipsterism in the first place, or proving my point better, even abdel just bought some v-necks.

my question is, why do we follow these trends? is it because the trends are formed based on the high caliber of the subject of the trend? or is it because we’re innately sheep, even down to what we thought made us fundamentally ourselves, our likes and dislikes? to what degree do we form our preferences based on what we see around us?

in some ways, it’s like what i posted a couple of weeks ago, about how i find that many of the things i like are actually things that i am familiar with that have been subconsciously turned into things i like. perhaps it’s not just me, perhaps it’s society on a larger scale and that familiarity-turned-preference is the root of trends, whether fashion trends or music trends or linguistic trends or any kind of trend you can think of. it is an interesting thing to consider, if one takes the time to do it. how much of ourselves are really, well, ourselves?

in the end, what i’m wondering is, why did abdel buy the v-necks?