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Interwar Pilot Finds & the Psychology of Leather

16 Apr

I have to warn you, folks: Today I have no insights into the writing process, only interwar period finds and musings on the possible mentalities of some of the earliest airplane pilots in history.

So I was doing some random browsing on the internet the other day…

…as is my idle habit at times, and came across these photographs of a French leather flight helmet from the interwar period (1918-1939).  I think they’re simply beautiful:

French Airaile flight helmet from the Interwar period (1918-1939). Source: militaryheadgear.com

 

French Airaile flight helmet from the Interwar period (1918-1939). Source: militaryheadgear.com

Idk, there’s just something about leather, folks.

…Whaaa?  What is this?  Why are we talking about leather?

People, I love leather.  Let me tell you: I’ve got three pairs of leather boots, a sweet leather jacket, leather belts, several leather purses and handbags…and yes, even leather gloves to top off the collection.

Brazilian leather boots--bought during a ridiculous clearance, of course! (They look black here, but they're actually a dark green.)

Do I wear them all at once?  Of course not.  That would be silly.

>_>

(I don’t wear them often, though.  The boots, I mean.  I get the “are you a model?” question when I do, and sometimes with my jacket, as well.  And since I don’t model, it’s kind of annoying because people don’t believe me!  lol)

The Psychology of Leather

What is it about leather that makes certain folks go batty for it?

They say it’s a symbol of masculinity and power.  So what, does that make women who wear it power-hungry?

Maybe.

Maybe it’s just that being wrapped up tight in leather can make you feel all warm and comfortable and safe–invincible, even.

Maybe it’s a little of all these things, and something more.

For some, like me, you could say it’s almost a kind of fetish–not in the weird, kinky way that I’m sure Western society has ingrained into many minds.  (Okay, this is getting weird…)  Just a particularly strong liking for it.  Perhaps even in the mystical way that it is imbued with superpowers.  (Why else would a leather suit be associate with superhero status?)  And wouldn’t you know, it’s just one other thing that’s leaked over to my heroine and will pop up in my writing every now and then.

I can’t help it.  Leather–real, organic animal hide–is a beautiful material.  Plus, it just feels good.

It’s a quality thing.  Maybe it’s even a little bit primal.  It’s stylish, classic…and even when worn down by time, it remains timeless.

Maybe you understand; maybe you don’t.  (Though, I’m not-so-secretly hoping you do!)

I betchya Amelia Earhart understood it very well, as she was sometimes clad in it:

Amelia Earhart in Newfoundland (1928). From Topical Press Agency/Getty Images.

I could only imagine how good it must feel for a pilot to pull a nice snug, leather flying cap onto his/her head. *sighs* It makes me wonder how Amelia felt in her flying gear.

The Psychology of Individual Articles

Here’s what I think: Hats, leather or otherwise, can make you feel safe; so can a leather jacket.  The jacket can also give you a sense of assuredness, that things will turn out all right.  Gloves (I’m guessing Amelia wore some while flying) are kind of an official statement; they say, “I’m ready to take on this mission put before me.”

And the boots…well, those just finish it all off, don’t they?  A good tug on those laces and you’re set to go.  If anything is a sign of power, a message that “I can do anything,” it’s a good pair of knee-high leather boots.  (Thigh-high?  Well, there’s a difference between “check me out” and “pick me up.”  The difference is but inches.)

Of course, there’s a practical side to all that gear: It protected pilots who flew in open cockpits from brisk winds.  Even so, leather on its own is simply amazing.

Enough about leather!  What about flying?

Well, what about it?  Closest I’ve been to planes are airliners, and I obviously didn’t get to play pilot.  And I won’t be hopping into the cockpit of a biplane any time soon.  In the meantime, I will be checking out this nifty little flight simulator (probably after I graduate and have some more time to get lost in it).  See how that goes.

This game has been around for a while now, but that won’t keep me from trying it.  Here’s the blurb about it off Microsoft’s website:

The year is 1937. The United States has shattered under the combined weight of the Great Depression, regional Prohibition and mounting isolationism. The transcontinental railroad and the budding highway system have become useless as they now cross hostile borders. Commerce and trade leave the ground as air travel now becomes a vital lifeline connecting allied countries — and a national obsession — while daring air pirates and valiant air militias battle for control of the skies. Giant zeppelins crisscross the skies, carrying both passengers and cargo. It is a time of gunship diplomacy and airship piracy. It is the age of the fighter pilot and a time of daredevil adventure and sinister intrigue. It is the world of Crimson Skies…

I mean, why wouldn’t you want to play something like that?

The game’s plane models are more advanced than I was looking for, but oh well.  Still looks like fun.  Too bad this isn’t on the Xbox 360, as that’s how I like to roll…

Oh, snap–they’ve got it on the regular ol’ Xbox!  It’s a date.

Okay, so before I go…there’s actually one other little reason why I think leather is amazing:

Introducing U.S. Air Mail pilot William C. “Wild Bill” Hopson--striking a cocky pose before a flight from Omaha to Chicago in 1921. Source: Amazons link to Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: An Autobiography.

Bottom line: There is nothing like a man in a suit.

Note to self: one day I’ve got to base a character off that man…

(Okay, you know how they say not to judge a book by its cover?   Well, I confess: I am 100% guilty of doing this.  The first time I encountered “Wild Bill” was in Mavericks of the Sky: The First Daring Pilots of the U.S. Air Mail, and I probably picked up the book because he was smack-dab on the cover–entirely pwning the cover, to be sure.  But really, I promise: It was a wonderful book!  Lots of insights into the dangers that pioneer pilots faced when scouting out the first airmail routes.  Those folks were crazy-brave.)

So, I guess the real question is: Does anyone else have an insatiable craving for leather, or am I just weird?

Or maybe it isn’t leather for you.  Maybe it’s fluffy pink things.  Or white tennis shoes you can’t stand to get dirty.  Or…maybe you’re just normal.  That’s cool, too.

I guess. :P

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Inspiration from Vintage Times: Influence, Insecurity & Expectation

8 Apr

Late Wednesday evening I mentioned that my protagonist wears a corset.

This may seem like a very frivolous thing, but it’s actually connected to a rather intimate part of her character.  It’s not really about the corset at all; it’s about how it makes her feel.

Speaking of the intimate…

1930 Munsingwear Hosiery Ad.

Found it here.  That one is hard to see, so here’s another I thought was amusing (if not a tad bit gross, haha):

A 1936 ad for Lux detergent “for underthings.” (Click for full size!)

Found that one here.  It’s interesting to look back on the kind of attitudes that were prevalent about women in the past but also how they viewed themselves.  Though, I wonder have they changed all that much?

I don’t consider myself to be a feminist (unless you automatically consider being female being “feminist”), but I think it’s fun to consider these things.  I, for one, am not really the kind of chick that aspires to “popularity, romance, and a devoted husband,” heh.  Not that I’m saying I’ve never consider it, or that these things are bad.  It’s just right now, at this point in my life, these are not things that belong in my life.

However, I’ve observed that sometimes these things become points of insecurity for some young women.  Maybe this is just a cultural thing, but I think in high school the peer pressure to “get a boyfriend/girlfriend” is really high for young people, and that can carry on well past their high school years, sticking with them as adults.

I think this kind of influence is interesting; it’s something I explore in various ways in my WIP.  The power of peer pressure, typically associated with young folks, merely translates as the power of pure influence the older you get, as I see it.  It can be not only a micro (character) concern but a macro (global) one.  Influence, among other things, allows world powers to maintain the position that they do.  It also allows them to shape the world as they see fit.  This, alone, can make for some interestingly epic plot points.

Points to Consider with Characters: Insecurities & Expectations

The most interesting thing about that last ad, for me, is how it points out various sources of insecurity for women: hygiene, popularity, success in one’s career, beauty, and an expectation to get married.  As silly and superficial as the selling point of that ad may seem, these are still legitimate concerns for many ladies today, and I suspect some may even pertain to men.  (And maybe that’s why the ad held/still holds any power?)

So what can a writer take away from this?

I think it helps make characters more realistic when you consider their insecurities but also what society expects of them because most, if not all, people have at least one insecurity even if they don’t openly talk about it, and everyone is expected to do one thing or another.  Sometimes, the two can be tied so closely together that the expectations become capable of engendering insecurities.  If certain people are unable to meet certain expectations, they can start to feel insecure about themselves.

Some examples of expectations I place on my characters and insecurities I’ve given to them are a need to:

  • live up to the expectations of one’s parents (and feel lesser or unworthy when they do not)
  • please the job
  • please an enemy (only to avoid death or harm, or to sabotage them later, of course!)
  • just please other people in general

I don’t know, but maybe all insecurities can be traced back to a need to please or impress someone other than ourselves.  Of course, it’s healthy to have some concern about meeting the expectations of others, but to let that run one’s life…well, that’s debilitating.  You then allow yourself to become a pawn or tool rather than someone who’s capable of making their own decisions in life.

The influence of others can be good, to a certain degree.  I think the same goes for our characters.

Do you give your characters insecurities and consider expectations placed on them–either by others or themselves?  Or do you think this is a frivolous thing to do?

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