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Does anyone have any sort of ideology with there hair? Say you might grow it long because it is natural, or to go against the systems of society or any other reason? Does anyone not trim there hair no matter what the condition of it is, no matter how any knots, tangles and splits because to do so would be partly giving into styling and fashions and the systems of society or any other reason?
Not really. I have no problem with people who have short hair, I don't think of it as conforming and I don't really care too much about comformity or non-comformity either. My hair is long because I like long hair for just what it is. Every part of having long hair is something that appeals to me. My heritage is almost entirely Swedish/Danish, while the little parts that aren't are Celtic. I'm very proud of my heritage, my genealogy, and my family's history, and a lot about my appearance gives ode to that, the long hair included (A lot of my family's male ancestors had very, VERY long hair.)
Given my interests in heritage and family, it's no surprise that I'm also very interested in history, namely that of the Celts and Vikings. Even my user handle is taken from the King Gylfi in Snorri Sturluson's Gylfaginning.
I'm also about to enroll for a minor degree in Modern Icelandic. I've been studying Old Norse for several years now on my own (I home schooled from 8th grade throughout high school, it's nice to be able to choose your own curriculum.)
Soo..I was going on and on, but it was with the intention of showing that a lot about me is shown through my interests. It sounds like a ridiculous reason to base a personal aesthetic off of, but rest assured that I was growing my hair long for just that reason of having it long, and I use my ideals to reinforce my choice :)
I was going to ask you if you had gotten your name from the ancient Swedish king, but I kept forgetting to do it. You answered the question.
Can I ask another question? What school offers a minor in Icelandic? That is very rare. I'm sure it will be very interesting. I was watching the Beowulf and Grendel DVD, and the 'extras' section had an Icelandic TV interview in Icelandic. I had never heard it spoken before, but it has a melodious sound to it.
Glad you were able to make a connection, though!
The University of Minnesota. It is very rare, and I'm lucky enough to live right next to it! They teach a lot of Germanic/Scandinavian languages there, I suppose it's due to the relatively high percentage of Norse immigrants in the state. And you're right, Icelandic sounds very nice! It's been practically unchanged for over one thousand years -- it is almost identical to Old Norse! The only thing that has changed over time are the pronunciations of certain characters. The writing is the same. Any student in Iceland can read the Old Norse sagas without much hesitation. I think Iceland itself is one of the most beautiful countries, everything is so isolated and unchanged. I always get an epic feel just walking around there :)
Hello Gylfi,
I am like you in that I go with my heritage. I have Native American blood - Muscogee Creek and Cherokee. And I'm pretty sure those guys didn't wear a butch. By the way, your hair looks great...I'd like to get a head of hair like that. Am working on it!
They certainly didn't! Native Americans in general have some of my favourite 'long hair'. Grows very fast and very thick! Thanks for the compliment on mine, and I'm looking forward to seeing your own progress now.
Cherokee roots here , I might be the whitest person of Native American decent you have ever seen! But after attending some pow-wows and regional gatherings at the local Ocmulgee Indian Mounds National Park, I have seen even lighter skinned peope than I. It does influence my style very much. Wado
RedTail Wolf
Eat A Peach For Peace!
Interesting topic. I suppose I kind of enjoy not being part of the mainstream--maybe in a small way my hair is some sort of statement of independence, but most of the time it's there because I enjoy it more than I do short hair, and i can let it grow if I want to and that's what i choose to do. Also, I can identify with longhairs because they are usually:
1. Nice guys.
2. Not into greed.
3. Not into fashion.
4. Not into domination and control.
5. Tolerant.
Probably a few other good points I can't think of.
Actually a few weeks ago when I had too much time for thinking, it occurred to me that if long hair became really popular it would be a drag in a way, because millions of guys would have long hair and then, if I met a longhair on the street I'd no longer be sure of the above 5 points. He might be a fad longhair alpha male with a Let's-clear-the-land-and-build-more-hummerhouses personality. On the positive side, there'd probably be more general acceptance of long hair. But anyway, the chances of long hair becoming extremely mainstream are low if you ask me, because my hunch is that most guys would not have the patience for it.
In the link posted below is a short essay on different ideologies that idealise long hair, and how long hair is the view of the author seems to be getting mainstream.
However, mainstream or not, I like long hair and will not cut it off just because everyone is growing their's.
Have a nice day,
Georges in Montreal
Essay on long hair, religions, rebels and society
There certainly was a stronger ideology amongst long hairs in the 60's and 70's where it tended to symbolise a committment to peace, love, rock music, racial and religious tolerance, liberalism, egalitarianism and a need for a change from pervailing attitudes, pro-environment, communal, an anti-capitalist, anti-business or anti-commercial attitude especially in Western society at the time.
However, I feel the this ideological commitment has been diluted since the 90's with some long hairs taking different positions now.
However, overall, I feel longhairs still have an anti-establishment, independent attitude, whether from the liberal left or the liberal right and some long hairs are quite happy with capitalism and commercialism today, though also from a rebellious position of opposition to existing capitalism not being capitalist enough, and freedom not being free enough.
Charles