Jessica+Y+Subcultures

= Organizers =

I purchased a book in Singapore titled __Sorted__ by Lissanne Oliver in an attempt to get organized. As I read the first few pages, I realized that I was not a part of this subculture that so fervently treasures hangers, bookshelves, dividers, labels, checklists, and plastic containers. Organizing is in itself not considered a chore for this community, but a hobby, profession, and lifestyle. The organizer subculture embodies the systematic process, functionalism, and design of organization. One of the most popular words in the organizer subculture is "clutter", the term used to refer to disorder and the mess we see in our workspace and home. Also, many of the brands that organizers commonly use for storage to combat clutter are Swedish-owned: IKEA, elfa, and Vitsœ, to name a few.

The subculture has grown incredibly over the past few years due to the media. Organizers have their own niche in television shows such as "Clean Sweep". With its influence on interior design shows, organizers have made an significant impact on mainstream culture. Even I (a not-so-organized person) am motivated to start sorting my life; it is too bad that this motivation does not sustain itself for long. Even so, I respect this subculture for its drive to incorporate concepts such as design and function so effectively. Here is a news story on Peter Walsh, a professional organizer on "Clean Sweep": media type="youtube" key="Z7tpNsVJcZQ" height="344" width="425"

 =Environmentalists = == Environmentalists' shared concern for protecting the environment affects much of their decision-making. Between private and public transportation, between processed and organic food, between disposing and recycling, members of the green subculture would most likely choose (or at least prefer) the latter options. I classify myself as part of this subculture because of my passion to protect the environment. Common language in this subculture include words such as "carbon-zero", "environmentally-friendly", and "green". Hybrids, non-motorized transportation, green consumer products, energy-efficient appliances, and sustainable design are integral aspects of the environmental subculture.

Decision-making in this subculture is largely based on one's awareness of his or her surroundings. Many environmentalists take note of climate change, air pollution, water contamination, and other environmental issues. In terms of action, many choose to take individualistic action such as recycling, purchasing environmentally-friendly products, etc. Others choose to take public action by lobbying and protesting for green measures. Thus, one can see many environmentalists involved in organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Friends of the Earth, or Greenpeace. In addition, environmentalists emphasize education. Documentaries, such as //An Inconvenient Truth// (2006) particularly educate citizens of the urgency of climate change. These types of organized action bring environmentalists together in their quest to conserve Earth's resources and reduce pollution.