Emotionally Hard Core (EMO)

I will admit to being stumped when I first found the reference to something being emo. I’m not hip to anything but you would think I’d know more working with kids and all. So when I kept running into the "Emo tag" on beads and other things on Etsy I had to look it up. At the bottom of the post I have included the Wikipedia reference for you – like YOU need it! But I certainly did.

It looks like I may have leaned toward being an EMO kid – except maybe for the bang part because I was in the Cher generation and could not stand the bangs in the eyes bit so I kept giving all of my girlfriends barrettes. It wasn’t Emo then – just weird. I didn’t mind being weird (all the art students seemed to be) and I’m guessing today’s Emo kids don’t either. If you minded being labeled you’d conform, but where would be the fun in that!

I asked one of the kids I worked with about Emos and he gave me an additional rundown. He said it meant “emotionally hardcore”. What fun to be able to talk to kids who are usually alienated from everyone. It sure keeps your eyes open. And, as thanks for the information, I made him the bead that is pictured. He gave me a critique and I have a few small things to fix in the next one. In the meantime I’m going EMO – at least bead wise. At least once in awhile so I can visit my roots (aside from the hair roots I visit as often as I can, hahahaha).

This is what the Wikipedia has to say about Emo (quoted directly):

Fashion and stereotype

Today emo is commonly tied to both music and fashion as well as an inspiration toward the emo subculture, and the term "emo" is sometimes stereotyped with tight jeans on males and females alike, long fringe (bangs) brushed to one side of the face or over one or both eyes, dyed black, straight hair, tight t-shirts (usually short-sleeved) which often bear the names of emo bands (or other designer shirts), studded belts, belt buckles, canvas sneakers or skate shoes or other black shoes and thick, black horn-rimmed glasses. This fashion has at times been characterized as a fad. Early on, emo fashion was associated with a clean cut look but as the style spread to younger teenagers, the style has become darker, with long bangs and emphasis on the color black replacing sweater vest In recent years the popular media have associated emo with a stereotype that includes being emotional, sensitive, shy, introverted, or angst-ridden. It is also associated with depression, self-injury, and suicide.

This definition is almost exactly the same as my youthful friend had to say. Well, if it's anything like being punk, greaser, preppy, jock, or any of the hundreds of other definitions and labels we give everything and always have lets keep our fingers crossed that most kids hit the middle ground somewhere - and long live individuality!