Ms. Monsod

The WASP is an intriguing culture, with equally intriguing clothing. A lot can be learned about a culture based on the types of clothes they wear, so let us look at the clothing worn by WASP men.

Wearing the Blue Blazer: Part 1- The Basics. Digital image. WASP 101. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. .

It is essential to any WASP’s wardrobe to wear a blazer with a dress shirt and button down or point collar. WASP blazers come in colors like navy blue, and even white. A candy striped shirt is allowed if one wants to explore a little. Ties are customary, but not mandatory.

Most WASPs can be found wearing isle vests from time to time. These are often made from wool or cashmere and used as a replacement for the blazer.

The Fair Isle Sweater." WASP 101. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. .

The 12 Styles of American Man: The Wasp. Digital image. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. .

A common option for trousers is a white cream color. These are often worn with loafers, a common footwear option for WASPs

WASPs have an attachment to penny loafers and are found wearing these quite often. Saddle shoes are fashionable as well and are a classic to the WASP style. They are often worn with a casual suit, blazer, tweed jacket, or a buttoned down shirt.

The Saddle Shoe. Digital image. WASP 101. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. .

Some sources like WASP 101 promote the idea that WASPs like branded clothing: Lacoste Shirts, Gucci Loafers, and GAP to name a few popular brands among them. Another website source, GASTRO CHIC,  however, insists that WASP fashion is based on “practicality, comfort and timelessness, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

Works Cited

Gastro Chic. (2009, Sept. 7). Wasps: What They Really Wear. Retrieved Nov. 3, 2010, from http://www.gastrochic.com/2009/fashion/wasps-what-they-really-wear/.

The Fair Isle Sweater. WASP 101. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://wasp101.blogspot.com/2008/01/fair-isle-sweater.html>.

The Saddle Shoe. Digital image. WASP 101.  Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://wasp101.blogspot.com/2008/01/saddle-shoe.html>.

The 12 Styles of American Man: The Wasp. Digital image. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://www.esquire.com/style/fashion-story/american-men-style-0310-syn>.

Wearing the Blue Blazer: Part 1- The Basics. Digital image. WASP 101. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://wasp101.blogspot.com/2008/01/wearing-blue-blazer-part-1-basics.html>.

The Intro to Theatre class is researching the WASP culture as part of their studies of AR Gurney’s The Dining Room. Here is a hilarious link on WASP manners and etiquette. It is an interview on Wordsmoker.com under the subheading, “The Wasp Entertains.”

The True Wasp (Part II)

Wordsmoker: Because you have a craving to write (2010, October 15). Retrieved October 21, 2010 from http://wordsmoker.com/2010/10/15/the-true-wasp-part-2/.

Here are tips on table manners from Wiki:

MANNERS

• The fork is held in your left hand and the knife is held in your right when used at the same time
• It is not acceptable to use your fingers to push food onto your fork, nor to handle most food items.
• Drinks should always be to the right of the plate with the bread plate to the left.
• Do not start eating before the host does or instructs guests to do so. At meals with a very large number of people, it is acceptable to start eating once others have been served.
• When finished, place the knife and fork together at six o’clock with your fork on the left (tines facing down) and knife on the right, with the knife blade facing in. This signals that one has finished.
• Never blow your nose on your napkin. Place it on your lap and use it to dab your mouth if you make a mess.
• It is considered rude to answer the telephone at the table. If you need to take an urgent call, excuse yourself and go outside.
• Always ask for permission from the host and excuse yourself if you need to leave the table. You should place your napkin on your seat until you return. It is considered common courtesy for all gentlemen at the table to stand when a lady arrives or leaves the table.
• Never lean across somebody else’s plate. If you need something to be passed, ask the person closest to it. If you have to pass something, only pass it if you are closest to it and pass it directly to them if you can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_manners#United_Kingdom

Yummy Republican cookies

The Intro to Theatre class is researching the WASP culture as part of their studies of AR Gurney’s The Dining Room. Here is Miguel’s advice regarding WASP Politics:

WASPs, or White Anglo-Saxon Protestants, in their prime, were major figures in the American Republican Party. They generally leaned toward the more liberal side of the Republican party, having “internationalist views” concerning foreign policy, supporting social programs, and having a liberal opinion concerning racial integration. Much of the WASP population supported the “Rockefeller Republican” party, favoring “temperamental conservatism”, meaning that they oppose policies considered to be far right, or ultraconservative, but are still against certain left-wing policies and ideas such as socialism. They have more moderate views on politics, having a usually center-right policy. The term “Rockefeller Republican” has fallen into disuse nowadays, since the man for which the party was named died in 1979. Today, it is more common to refer to such a party as “moderate republicans”, “liberal republicans”, or “republicans in name only (RINO)”. WASPS and other Rockefeller Republicans were advocates of Wall Street and big business, favored balanced budgets, were not averse to raising taxes, and supported state colleges and universities

Sources:
1980s, By The. “White Anglo-Saxon Protestant : Related Political Culture.” 1000s of Museums Online : MuseumStuff.com. Web. 21 Oct. 2010 from http://plumbot.com/white_anglo-saxon_protestant.html#Related_political_culture
Roberts, By Sam. “Rockefeller Republican.” The Big Apple. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. .
“WASP – Encyclopedia Article – Citizendium.” Welcome to Citizendium – Citizendium. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. .

We have begun studying The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney. The summary of the play on the back cover of the book (Dramatists Play Service Inc.) is as follows: “The play is set in the dining room of a typical well-do-to household, the place where the family assembled daily for breakfast and dinner and for any and all special occasions. The action is comprised of a mosaic of interrelated scenes — some funny, some touching, some rueful — which taken together, create an in-depth portrait of a vanishing species: the upper-middle-class WASP.”

(By the way, the picture above is not a real WASP dining room but a nice dining room somewhere in Australia.)

The students are focusing on the basics of stage movement, vocal clarity, scene structure, and characterization.  They have chosen six scenes to perform, with the following role assignments:

Callum FATHER, David V. CHARLIE, Selene GIRL, Luna MOTHER, Annika ANNIE

Grace OLD LADY, Bengi  NANCY, Joanna BETH, David A. STUART, Harry FRED, Miguel BEN

Ben JIM, Michelle  MEG

Luis STANDISH, Shivani EMILY, Ayra CLAIRE, Justin DAVID, Alexa BERTHA

Sam  SARAH, Kat HELEN

Justine KATE, Daniel GORDON, Arshaan CHRIS

More updates to follow!