Fangirl Fridays: Rory Gilmore

GIf taken from Tumblr; I do not own this image.

If any of you readers have Netflix then I hope you're aware that Gilmore Girls is now on Instant watch. I repeat: GILMORE GIRLS IS ON NETFLIX. And if you do have Netflix and you don't know what Gilmore Girls is then...*gasp!* You are missing out! But I say all this because it brought attention to a fictional character that is the epitome of all things introverted: Rory Gilmore. Let's break it down...


For one thing, she is a bookworm. I won't try to generalize introverts as avid bookworms but we'd be lying to ourselves if we didn't admit that a good majority of us are. Rory can be seen with a nose in her book throughout the whole series and she is incredibly quick-witted with literary references that could make an English professor go nuts! It's so admirable, I feel inadequate with my reading list.
Although Rory is shy, you can definitely see how genuine but also how passionate she is. She is most certainly not afraid to speak her mind when it counts most, and it's one of the main reasons why I love her.

There was one episode where her mother, Lorelai, was out of town and she had the whole house to herself. She thus, passes up a night with her boyfriend Dean (Jared Paledki pre-Supernatural)because she wants time to herself. She would much rather order Indian food, wear her pjs, and do her laundry while watching movies instead of spending time with her boyfriend! This, my friends, deserves applause. Not to mention, Rory also spends her lunch listening to music and reading books, and as a child who would habitually bring books to restaurants, I want to commend Rory's character for justifying my weird tendencies.

GIf taken from Tumblr; I do not own this image.

However; what I appreciate about Rory is that she is unlike most teenage TV protagonists in that her character is genuinely relatable to ta good majority of the girl population. I would think that most girls don't party every weekend, nor do we spend our high school career trying to find a boyfriend. While she does undergo several relationship mishaps, ultimately, the story brings it back to how those relationships, romantic or otherwise, help develop Rory's character. Rory is academically driven, extremely responsible, and lovably quirky. Maybe's it's because she is one of the first of her kind, but this "nerdy" character of hers does not seem contrived because the show depicts, more or less, an accurate depiction of a real girl. Sure, Rory is "nerdy" but she is not pigeonholed to that stereotype because they show the complexities of her character like when she has mental breakdowns in the middle of her history class or how she likes to participate in quirky town traditions that require her to dress like a pilgrim. Upon watching the first season, I had this image of how Rory's character was going to play out, but I was surprised at how outgoing she could be at times, and for that, I greatly admired Rory's character.

 That's not even the best part. Rory Gilmore is a not a character to be pitied; rather, she's not afraid to lay down the sass when confronting the mean girls and as far as characters go, she stays grounded and true to her character when boys or snobby private school girls enter the picture. She sure is one heck of a fictional character. Now if you exuse me, I'm going to binge watch Gilmore girls in all its heartfelt, witty banter-ness! 

My Musical Evolution as Told By Alyssa

Amanda already gave her piece about Music and since we have such different music tastes, I wanted my chance to write about the evolution of my music taste as well as what music means to me.

In the way that colors that add character the world, music injects vibrancy into my life and I couldn't possibly imagine the world without it. The sheer, effervescent joy I get from music is hard to express in words. It's invisible art that only the ear can detect. Color adds the aesthetic but music adds the flavor. For this reason, I incorporate music on a daily basis. I begin and end my days with music.  Every mundane, monotonous thing I do is done with music in the background. It has a dual purpose as it has the ability to distract me. The notes create this sound barrier blocking my troubles away from the world, yet it keeps me focused; creating this untouchable bubble. A life without music is simply unimaginable.


The Evolution of my Music Taste

The Younger Years

The era of Kindergarten to elementary school can be characterized by all things Disney. I listened to Classic Disney and Disney Channel Stars. Memories of jumping on the bed, belting note for note to I won't Say I'm in Love are forever imprinted in my mind. I also do not bear any shame for listening to the Jonas Brothers. Yes, I was the girl who screamed in a high-pitched voice whenever a Jo-Bros Music Video came on. Disney Channel stars were the only artists I knew; I could sing all their words by heart. And can I just say, Aly&AJ were greatly underrated.

Middle School

Middle School is where my music taste really began to develop and change. I discovered what I considered, "Big Kid" music; the kind of music that didn't play on Disney Channel. I listened to everything heard on the Top 40 Countdown, and my 12-year old self felt so cool. However; this was also the era where I discovered music scores, K-pop, Alternative Music, and Indie Music a la Vampire Weekend. I would listen to the Narnia Soundtrack and hum awkwardly/incoherently to the swoops of violins and cellos. I would squeal and dance to Korean artists. My inability to play guitar did not impede me from playing air guitar to All Time Low.Needless to say my music tastes is a little bit everywhere. My hoarding skills kicked in as I scoured every corner of the internet, looking for music. YouTube was the best haven for music and I would relish every moment I discovered a new band.

High School to Present

Nothing drastic was added to my repertoire that I didn't already have; rather, these past years have been about soldifying what I already like. Alternative music didn't amount to much; I still like it, but I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore fan (although I have rekindled my love for All Time Low) and I have a newfound appreciate for indie folk. I still listen to K-Pop and Music scores but the latter is not listened to as often as the former. And I still find my guilty pleasure in sugary pop music (I am a 5SOS and The Vamps fan).

Despite my musical evolution, I still find myself open to most genres. So if I rave about the one odd rap song once in a blue moon, that may be why. For me, discovering a new song is the equivalent to opening presents on Christmas day. Most importantly, I love music for what it can offer people. It's a universal communicator. I've made friends with people solely through our love of the same music and it's such a powerful tool for communicating. As an introvert, music is an escapists' device where I can lose myself in music. There are times when I just lie in bed, stare at my ceiling, and listen to music. I don't have to worry about any of my problems or insecurities.  I can just absorb the music and feel a sense of tranquility sink in. And the fact that someone out there feels the same makes it even better.