Looking out, looking in...

Although we've only explored this project for one week, the topic of upper-class women has been a very provacative one for me. My expectation for this project was that I would need to set aside my previous experiences and try to look at the culture with objective eyes.

As Lauren and I discuss and observe the high-end lifestyle, I am forced to address my own history and experiences. I was raised in what is generally considered an upper-class family in Atlanta, and was a part of that culture and lifestyle for most of my life. I think it would be impossible for anyone to completely disengage themselves from something so fundamental in their history. After all, our human experience is built upon observation, and so no observer can see any situation without looking through the filter of their previous experience.

Through a lot of thought and reflection, I came to the conclusion that the information I have gathered through this lifetime of experience is just as valuable as the observations of someone new to the culture. With that in mind, I want to utilize my own knowledge and instincts about this topic, and contrast it with Lauren's more external perspective. I believe that together, she and I will be able to reveal more substantial and accurate insight into the world of upper-class culture than either one of us could alone.

I will write more about my thoughts and reflections as I clarify them. Already, it is interesting how interwoven they are with all aspects of my life, and how encompassing and provacative this reflection can be...