Week 8: Obsession [Sierra C.]

I have and always will love Halloween above all other holidays. It's been my favorite time of year for as long as I can remember and I'm not ashamed to admit I'm more than a little obsessed with it. Despite the fact that we're coming up on Thanksgiving next week, I still have all of my Dia de Los Muertos and Halloween decorations up in my living room, including these string lights framing the window.

What I love about these lights in conjunction with the obsession theme is that, much like Halloween, there are two sides to the concept of obsession: innocent and dark. I feel like these lights fit both of those parameters. The fuchsia color recalls the childlike innocence of Halloween and bounces off the walls to illuminate the entire room in a pinkish glow. It's very pretty and in combination with all of the Halloween decor still set up, is very atmospheric. However, despite the beauty of the color and the childlike joy it brings me, it also becomes very eerie when we leave them on as a night-light of sorts. My roommate works really late and rather than leave on the kitchen light, we leave the Halloween lights on and that fuchsia glow comes across as quite creepy when it's the only source of light. For me, the progression of the mood these lights cycle through is representative of the progression of an obsessive habit; it starts out innocent and harmless, but can quickly shift into something scarier and unnerving.