Trends: Acrobatics, Acronyms, Apps, and More

By Jordan Schraeder in 40 Acres, July | August 2012 on July 9, 2012 at 9:21 am | No Comments

Draw Something

Temple Run may have had its 15 minutes of fame this spring—it was a featured trend in our March|April issue— but it’s now an app of the past. Introducing Draw Something, a Pictionary-like app that’s taking the Forty Acres by storm. From witches to Warhol, Titanic to turtles, more than 6 billion drawings have been created since Draw Something launched earlier this year. Players are given the choice of three words to draw for their opponents, who then try to guess what the picture is. The great part: no real skills are required, so even artistically challenged math majors can get in on the action.

YOLO

“I need to study for biology, but everyone is heading down to Sixth Street. Oh well, YOLO!” It’s the “carpe diem” of the 21st century. YOLO, a term coined by rapper Drake in his song “The Motto,” stands for “you only live once.” The acronym is now a popular hashtag on Twitter and a Facebook favorite, often accompanying statuses encouraging brash decisions or shirking responsibility. After a UT freshman survived a terrifying Foam Sword Friday bus hit, a meme with the image of a CapMetro bus became a hit on Facebook, featuring the word “YOLT”: you only live twice, a play on the popular phrase.

Tangerine Tango

The Pantone Color Institute named it the official color of the year, but Longhorns are drawn to pantone #17-1463, known as tangerine tango, for another reason: it’s a great twist on the burnt-orange shade they already love. An energetic reddish-orange, tangerine tango is popping up everywhere on campus—from the outfits and makeup students wear to dorm-room decorations. It’s also a fan-favorite on the Texas Exes’ “Burnt-Orange Style” Pinterest board. Because the color of 2012 is so widely available, it’s easy to show your school spirit.

Slacklining

Students don’t have to be part of the Longhorn Circus to be acrobats. Slacklining, similar to tight-rope walking, is popping up everywhere from the South Mall to Pease Park. Created in Yosemite Valley, Calif. in the ’80s, slacklining involves tying a 1-inch-thick nylon rope between two trees somewhat loosely—not rigidly taut like a tight rope—to challenge balance. The most adventuresome Longhorns, often members of Facebook groups such as Keep Austin Slacklining, even execute tricks and stunts over water, at locations including the Barton Creek Greenbelt’s Sculpture Falls.

Illustration by Maria Hansen. Photo courtesy Pantone.

Tags: draw something, slacklining, tangerine tango, trends, yolo