At some point in our young adult lives we’ve probably all tried our hand at skateboarding, only to fall off graze our knees, cry a bit and throw the board away never for it to see the light of day again. Truth be told, the skateboard was never a means for simply getting from A to B, it was a play thing and a fashion accessory, an extension of one’s body used for showboating and physically expressing creativity.
Becasue the sport of skateboarding was so cheap, accessible and un-regulated, it quickly became popular, the skateboard became an icon of cool and of resistance among teens. So popular was skateboarding that towns had problems with skaters using the pavements and disrupting pedestrians.
These parks comprised of mock street furniture that boarders could navigate and interpret in the their own way. Boarding soon become popular worldwide due to Tony Hawk and his daredevil stunts, the American family man, sponsored by Quicksilver rose to stardom rapidly through his endorsement of a big-selling video game,
Boarding still thrives today, it is influenced by culture but also asserts it’s own influence upon society. There is a clearly defined skater fashion, revolving around wide chunky, trainers, mens socks pulled up, bold t shirts made by brands like Fenchurh and Mambo and beanie hats. Intricately fashioned facial hair as well as piercing and Oakley sunglasses define the typical skater.
Skaters often carry with them an image of nonchalance, of no aspirations and of being talentless drifters. One thing we can certainly say is that they’re not polluting the environment!
A few things I brought from London the other day =]
Music video by The Roots performing Silent Treatment. (C) 1995 Geffen Records
A first movie trailer to the newDVD directed by Kiloz Oner. more coming soon. 
Lesson 2 – Monday 23.03.2009 Interpreting the Contemporary City [G.Ginocchini]