Puttin' On The Ritz

''If you're blue and you don't know where to go to

Why don't you go where Harlem fits

Puttin' on the Ritz.

Spangled gowns upon the bevy of high browns

From down the levy

All misfits

Puttin' on The Ritz."

I've been listening to ''Puttin' On The Ritz" a lot recently and looking at the Wikipedia pages reveals that it was meant to be a social commentary on White New Yorkers visiting Harlem to see the people there spending all their money on flashy clothes.

This is a strict hypothetical, but if I was going to write a short story about someone living beyond their means, how would I do it so it doesn't come off as judgmental? (TBH, buying heaps of clothes I can't really afford isn't something I'd do). I suppose I could try and work out a plot involving trying to get an additional job for the cash or something. And slumming, since the song is written from a White perspective.

I already have a title for the hypothetical: "White Spats and Fifteen Dollars", which is a line from the verse of the song.

edited 22nd Jul '13 6:30:27 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

You could try by rationalising/explaining why (at least from their view) it is so important - perhaps even necessary, be it for social reasons or otherwise - that they spend their cash like that.

Incidentally, this is an ongoing problem with many young adults who then run up huge credit card debts that they can't fully service. And why short term loans with huge interest rates (>1000% APR) is a thing. Perhaps reading up on these topics might also help shed some light and help inspire you.

edited 22nd Jul '13 11:24:57 PM by peasant

Thanks.