You’ve probably noticed during the past two years of extreme polarization in american life that everyone can agree on one thing: the country is headed in the wrong direction.Define cognitive learning it’s just that each side of the debate — and increasingly within each side — has a completely different set of reasons. Part of navigating such an era is learning to accustom oneself to mixed messages, cognitive dissonances, contradictions, inversions, and general topsy-turviness, along with the usual bias, self-interest and hypocrisy that characterizes public life.Define cognitive learning

The news roundup in our last post featured a report on declining revenue and earnings at ralph lauren. RL is a huge company with multiple divisions, but the fact that it has been pushing a neo-prep revival has us paying close attention as to whether or not consumers are responding to it.Define cognitive learning in the comment section of the last post, ivy style contributor BC shared a link I found interesting enough to warrant further discussion, especially as it exemplifies this strange zeitgeist we’re living through in which everything comes down to interpretation.Define cognitive learning

Second, and as I have written in these pages, ralph lauren has been hammered not just by the ascent of global grunge — but by the triumph of global grunge.Define cognitive learning from the cafes of europe to oxford street in london to chicago’s magnificent mile, the slovenly look is in. Indeed, grunge is not only in, but it is the new chic look for those who dress for success.Define cognitive learning

Today’s millennial generation, like other generations, is rejecting the values and structures of the preceding one. Period furniture, oriental carpets, and antique silver are not so much in demand — simple basic things are, and these are things that do not convey a sense of discernment or hierarchy.Define cognitive learning indeed, why would a young socialist shop at ralph lauren?

Like virtually every other major corporation, RL has made a big diversity push in its marketing imagery over the past couple of years.Define cognitive learning so while the brand’s clothing still draws upon traditional anglo-american class signifiers, now more than ever the message is that the clothes are for everyone.Define cognitive learning moreover, ralph lauren’s house style is not the globalist-elite look the author decries, but rather, one could argue, its antidote. Nothing could be a better antithesis to global grunge-chic than american classics like khakis, oxfords, canvas sneakers, ribbon belts and polo shirts.Define cognitive learning

The author is correct that ralph lauren’s look is based on elitism, but it’s the old elitism, which makes it simultaneously elitist and not-elitist. Or rather “wrong-elitist.” this is because we’re going through a drawn-out paradigm shift regarding which displays of elitism are socially acceptable and which ones aren’t.Define cognitive learning the author suggests that RL should “dumb-down” its traditional and stuffy elements, while those in this corner of the web would counter that dumbing-down the trad look is precisely the problem. If RL is confused about how to merchandise at this present moment in time, it’s a reflection of the fact that we’re all confused. You can’t have things both ways, and yet we’re bombarded with contradiction every day, when every aspect of society seems to also carry its opposite.Define cognitive learning yes we live in the age of trump, but we also live in the age of anti-trump. The wisdom tradition provides us with the principle of polarity as a universal law:

define cognitive learning

Undaunted and evidently determined to stick to its roots, this season ralph lauren is offering an americana collection that in design is only a few degrees removed from the unabashed patriotism of its recent olympic collections, and which includes items featuring stars and stripes at a time when the american flag is considered problematic.Define cognitive learning in an age of polarity, one thing’s for certain: the american flag has been, and will always be, a sign of the times. — CHRISTIAN CHENSVOLD

The ivy/trad look represented an elite once, yes… but it was also a symbol of social mobility and egalitarianism in the american ethos.Define cognitive learning anyone could wear a sack suit and blend in with the masses of middle class american men of the post-war era. RL is the “high fashion” derivative of this style, giving it a tinge of elitist flair.Define cognitive learning but there is nothing wrong with aspiring to something better. I don’t wear RL clothes because I’m a broke recent graduate (and I’d probably never wear them because they’re too flashy for me), but after just having gone through four years of schooling at a large public university and spent my entire life in the US public school system, I’m put off by how much these institutions cater to the lowest common denominator instead of trying to inspire people to strive to better themselves intellectually and socially.Define cognitive learning this seems to be the prevailing shift in our cultural zeitgeist and it’s unfortunate. I’m the son of soviet emigres, my parents and I have had to work hard to get to where we all are today.Define cognitive learning I’ve had nothing handed to me. We live in a society that trains its intellectual classes to be critics of injustice for criticism’s sake; we teach our future leaders to think in tropes and axioms of critique instead of to think for themselves and to think in terms of truth.Define cognitive learning criticism of one vision without a coherent alternative is an exercise in futility and leaves one cynical and unhappy. We wonder why so many college students suffer from depression and anxiety today, why cultural pessimism is so high?Define cognitive learning this is why: in college we are taught that in order to change the world we must criticize it relentlessly and ruthlessly; mock, deride, and deconstruct the hierarchies (some real, some imagined) that hold up the social order around us until it can no longer stand.Define cognitive learning but what to replace it with? A world of abstract egalitarianism, of uniform diversity (sounds contradictory, that’s the point), and of justice that corrects the ills of the past.Define cognitive learning this is an incoherent future that relies on the minds of resentful, cynical, and ruthless people to be built, and of great power to coerce it into being, all masked behind a veneer of compassion and justice.Define cognitive learning I’m no establishmentarian; I don’t believe things are as they always should be, but I am also not quick to throw away all that is good and beautiful about the world we already live in, injustices and all.Define cognitive learning simply decrying “elitism” is one of a myriad of tropes we use to abdicate our responsibility to think for ourselves and formulate a vision for a future that can integrate cultural and aesthetic traditions which provide people with a sense of rootedness and belonging, with progress that materially improves their wellbeing.Define cognitive learning

What really defines clothing as being “elitist” is the price tag. RL is a relatively cheap brand, with the exception of the few top lines that it carries, so isn’t it ridiculous to blame someone dressed in RL, as “elitist”?Define cognitive learning besides, no one ever dresses like a polo RL model. As a matter of fact, I don’t even understand how the company survives as I hardly ever see anyone dressed in something that would resemble RL (I live in new york city).Define cognitive learning there’s a polo RL boutique inside macy’s on herald square, and I often see young african american guys there. Does this mean they’re fond of the “white elitist oppressor” look, or do they just like the brightly colored shirts, socks, and sweaters with a cool logo?Define cognitive learning any company that has any heritage and history could be blamed for being “elitist” (fendi, burberry, dunhill, chanel, LV, hermes, etc.). As a matter of fact, the above mentioned companies are in fact elitist as they keep extremely high prices and the markup on their products is ridiculous.Define cognitive learning yet, many many people wish to acquire “a piece of luxury” like an hermes scarf or a LV bag. Yet, it’s RL that is often criticized for being “elitist” by certain politics-obsessed commentators.Define cognitive learning the good news is that 90% of people won’t think anything of your “polo pony”-decorated clothing. So, wear what you want — most people don’t give a damn about you and clothes anyway.Define cognitive learning

Of all the dressed-up looks/styles out there, trad-ivy-preppy (T.I.P.) is the most quintessentially american. There are other versions of american style that are decidedly less formal (jeans, cowboy boots, t-shirt, for example) and plenty of dressed-up styles that salute london, milan, and paris, but T.I.P.Define cognitive learning is dressed-up style at its american best: as CC has chronicled, T.I.P. Is what happened when brooksy anglophilia made its way to college (and high school) campuses.Define cognitive learning

The 20th century will be with us forever. Cloaks, cravats, breeches, and wigs won’t return, but ocbds, khakis, blazers, and loafers will stand the test of time.Define cognitive learning I’m not exactly sure why. But here’s a guess: the great depression and WWII victory inspired us to believe the truth about ourselves: we were (are) exceptional and, by god, second to no one. (cue the charge of jingoism).Define cognitive learning before the second world war, we stood in the shadow of the british empire and germany. We emerged from the smoke and hunger and desperation a united republic (cue the charge that, because of discrimination, post-war unity was an illusion).Define cognitive learning

America was born in the 50s–all over again. A lucky few were “present at the creation” (nod to dean acheson). Our great, great, great, great grandchildren will speak of that era with a proud sigh. (subsequent eras will be judged as less interesting and forceful).Define cognitive learning if the civil war might be understood as essentially tragic (and it probably should), the 20th century conquests must be regarded (collectively) as a moment of lasting redemption.Define cognitive learning as a nation, we rose from the grave…and we’ve moved on–to fell a serious of demons.

Various forms of inequality and exclusion are part of every system and society we’ve ever known–political, economic, and otherwise.Define cognitive learning we can (ought to) strive for a society where there’s as much equality of opportunity as possible, but let’s be consistently weary of attempts to impose it by force.Define cognitive learning burke would remind us that the only thing worse than a lack of equality is the totalitarian instinct (among some) to institute it by way of coercion or violence.Define cognitive learning we have no idea what equality-by-decree would like. Orwell helped us imagine it, as have others. It would be a hideous, horrific, godforsaken nightmare.Define cognitive learning

There are plenty of ways I’m not awesome as lots of other people. I’m not as handsome, smart, hard-working, creative, imaginative, innovative, clever, charming, educated, or wealthy as plenty of people.Define cognitive learning and, for a variety of reasons, I am thankful for this. They should thrive and excel in ways I do not. Because, simply put, they are better. Just as I might claim to be superior to others in other ways.Define cognitive learning

I question the notion that T.I.P. “has played a role in perpetuating hierarchies and enforcing conformity in ways that have put some people on the margins of american society.” I’m not sure any style/look has that much power.Define cognitive learning if anything, the look was adopted by a generation of men and women who (I’ll argue sub/un consciously) affiliated it with a moment of enlightenment–of rebirth.Define cognitive learning so, the logic is here is not causal (“we survived the great depression and defeated the nazis because the best among us wore brooks brothers”); rather, it’s correlative (“that happened–then.Define cognitive learning and when we think of that (then), we remember this.”).

@ezra cornell, I’m not sure if you meant the term “greatest generation” literally, or if you meant it to encompass all US adults alive from the 1940s to the 1960s, but to be more accurate, the “greatest generation,” as termed by tom brokaw, or sometimes referred to in academic literature written on the topic of generations as the “G.I.Define cognitive learning generation,” encompasses those born between 1901-1924. The generation largely responsible for the internment of japanese americans during WWII was actually the missionary generation (born between 1860-1882), of which FDR was a member (and probably that generation’s most famous person).Define cognitive learning the missionaries were the generation in charge of the country through the great depression and most of WWII, and are to shoulder both the blame for the mistakes and the applause of the triumphs from a leadership perspective.Define cognitive learning in contrast, JFK and LBJ, both members of the greatest (G.I.) generation, were the two presidents responsible for pushing the civil rights act through congress.Define cognitive learning plenty of the greatest generation were, of course, racists; however, it’s important to remember that that generation, at the height of its power, also accomplished great deeds which pushed the country further toward racial, ethnic, and cultural equality.Define cognitive learning

-if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail: if your perception of the world is inexorable decline, then quack away. So, if there’s always some new thing to complain about as the next “end of civilization” & we’ve made it through to the next thing to complain about then, well, it likely wasn’t the linchpin you’re looking for.Define cognitive learning if, rather, you hold that the essential output of history is change then you’ll likely live with a whole lot less agita.

-one of the oldest critiques of the fashionability and propriety of men’s clothing is the evergreen statement that kids these days aren’t holding up the standards of the past; this is ridiculous.Define cognitive learning if the natural inclination is to dress less formally, then one would think that the regression curve is one straight to loincloths. Quite obviously this is not the case.Define cognitive learning there’s the ebb & flow of fashion but there are also fine reasons why I haven’t seen a pictorial on powdered wigs. Clothing trends fall by the wayside, there’s pearl-clutching & then the cycle rinses & repeats.Define cognitive learning

-ralph’s not doing too hot because, in this particular age of retail, they’re deciding that maximizing receipt nets is better than maximizing total receipts (“we’re not selling as much as we used to, so let’s up our price points to get the most we can out of each shopper”).Define cognitive learning it’s a death spiral & it’s happening all over the industry. Meanwhile, indochino, uniqlo & the like are cleaning up.