Reflection 1: Nailed It—On the Lure (and Fails) of Pinterest

Since its inception in 2010, Pinterest has become the go-to place for creative inspiration. Everyone from brides-to-be to new parents to fashionistas look to Pinterest's "boards" for the latest trends in cooking, decor, art, and style. But along with heightening creative aspirations, Pinterest has also increased people's anxieties about achieving perfection. From elaborate birthday cakes to hand-knit wedding dresses, Pinterest has raised the stakes for do-it-yourselfers. In fact, so many people have tried—and failed—to complete the site's "easy to do" projects that "Pinterest fails" are now celebrated. Why do we expect ourselves to meet Pinterest standards? Have you ever felt the lure of replicating something on Pinterest? If your project wasn’t a success, did you feel let down, or were you determined to try again? For this reflection, explore the lure of Pinterest and the often unrealistic expectations it creates.

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Pinterest Fail: Postmortems on Craft Disasters" (San Francisco Chronicle)
• "What's Really Going on in the Psychology of Pinterest” (Psychology Today)
• "In Defense of Pinterest" (Wired)
• "Why I Hate Pinterest" (New York Times)
• "Pinterest Has Destroyed My Home, Burned My Body, and Shattered My Self-Confidence" (StudyBreaks) 
• "The Rise of 'Pinterest Stress': How Image-Sharing Site's 'Perfect' Photos of Cakes and Crafts Make Mothers Feel Inadequate" (Daily Mail)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Two pages in length
• Works cited page

Due: Th 2.9