As you might know, members of the Writers Guild have decided to usurp the capacious streets of New York and Los Angeles protesting that fact that they are not getting a fair cut of the money made by internet re-runs and other profitable things. The major televison stations have been suffering greatly, like a knee in atrophy. Many popular television series have been postponed due to the strike, and several movies have been put on hiatus at the pinnacle of their shooting. Several major theaters in New York have lost their stagehands (the hard workers who fabricate the sets and costumes), keeping hit Broadway shows from taking the stage. But the question is, has this strike turned into more of a social gathering?
Food is now being provided by movie stars, and several celebrities even went as far as coming out to protest for a little while. Two musical acts (KT Tunstall and Alicia Keys) have even graced stages (the back of trucks) to keep the writers entertained. The writers have admitted that they are having more fun protesting than working. So, are these writers really upset, or are they just taking a vacation?
To read the article I read before writing this entry go to this link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/business/media/26strike.html
Friday, December 14, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
"The Waiting Room" by Lisa Loomer
"The Waiting Room" really opened my eyes to how beauty has made little progress in evolving throughout the ages. You can see perfect examples of this in the three main characters. Forgiveness From Heaven (time period: 18th century China) has had her feet tightly bound since she was a young girl, and puts up with the pain of loosing her toes (and her husband to other wives) just to make her husband happy. Victoria (time period: Victorian ages) is secured into her corset each day, and tolerates her organs being clamped together as well as letting everyone walk over her. Finally you have Wanda (time period: modern day) who is nearing forty years of age, and thinks the only way she'll be married within the next few months is to surgically enhance her body with breast implants, liposuction, and various other treatments. As you can see, all of these women are attempting to enhance their bodies to make themselves "beautiful"; and each one suffers the consequence. Forgiveness looses toes; Victoria is forced by her husband to get a hysterectomy because he believe her female organs are causing her hysteria; and Wanda goes through an ordeal with cancer because of her fake breasts.
On the surface, Lisa Loomer's play is a comedy, but when you get to dig deeper into the plot, you see how deep her words truly are. The part of the play I found the most moving was Wanda's monologue in the last scene. It summarized the play in a way that really made you think about our society's position on "beauty". She speaks about "three stupid sisters" (a.k.a. the three main characters) and how they went to a magician and asked him to make them beautiful, and when their beauty wore off he told them "I said I'd make you perfect. I didn’t say I'd make you perfect forever". She then goes on to talk about how the three sisters smashed all the mirrors in the kingdom and advised all the women about their beauty, always telling them that they looked fine. In a way, she describes a "perfect world" where everyone believes that they are beautiful for what's on the inside, not for what's on the surface.
This play is not only a play about what beauty has become, but also an insight on the government's role in health care. The two static characters that represent this are Ken and Larry; representatives from a major drug company as well as the FDA. They are constantly fighting over new cures on the market, several of which are yet to be proven. Their fights consist of two main sides; should we approve this treatment so we can potentially help more people, or should we not approve it in order to make more money?
In the end, our main characters are "freed" from their inability to see beauty past the surface. Victoria goes back to her strict society, but no longer takes orders from her husband, Oliver who wanted to stop her from reading. She remains in a corset, but does not abide by her time periods image of beauty being a quiet, obedient wife. Wanda finally realizes that she doesn't have to make herself aesthetically beautiful in order to fall in love. She finally accepts the fact that she has cancer, and realizes that you only get to live once, and wasting time on making yourself "beautiful" is wasting precious time you could be using for a new experience. I think that if the play were to continue, she would explore the world of cancer treatments, and allow herself to take her time and live each say as if it were her last. Forgiveness From Heaven is a difficult character to sum up because in the end you are unsure of weather or not she is dead, or just asleep. In my point of view, I believe her to be dead, and freed from worry about her mutated feet and unfaithful husband. I thought that leaving us to think about where the women would go from here was a very good ending to the play because you get to see each character's problem resolved (to a certain extent) and you know that what goes on from there doesn't matter. The three characters finally understand what they have been missing in life, and you know that none of the ladies are going to let anyone push them around or tell them how to be beautiful.
On the surface, Lisa Loomer's play is a comedy, but when you get to dig deeper into the plot, you see how deep her words truly are. The part of the play I found the most moving was Wanda's monologue in the last scene. It summarized the play in a way that really made you think about our society's position on "beauty". She speaks about "three stupid sisters" (a.k.a. the three main characters) and how they went to a magician and asked him to make them beautiful, and when their beauty wore off he told them "I said I'd make you perfect. I didn’t say I'd make you perfect forever". She then goes on to talk about how the three sisters smashed all the mirrors in the kingdom and advised all the women about their beauty, always telling them that they looked fine. In a way, she describes a "perfect world" where everyone believes that they are beautiful for what's on the inside, not for what's on the surface.
This play is not only a play about what beauty has become, but also an insight on the government's role in health care. The two static characters that represent this are Ken and Larry; representatives from a major drug company as well as the FDA. They are constantly fighting over new cures on the market, several of which are yet to be proven. Their fights consist of two main sides; should we approve this treatment so we can potentially help more people, or should we not approve it in order to make more money?
In the end, our main characters are "freed" from their inability to see beauty past the surface. Victoria goes back to her strict society, but no longer takes orders from her husband, Oliver who wanted to stop her from reading. She remains in a corset, but does not abide by her time periods image of beauty being a quiet, obedient wife. Wanda finally realizes that she doesn't have to make herself aesthetically beautiful in order to fall in love. She finally accepts the fact that she has cancer, and realizes that you only get to live once, and wasting time on making yourself "beautiful" is wasting precious time you could be using for a new experience. I think that if the play were to continue, she would explore the world of cancer treatments, and allow herself to take her time and live each say as if it were her last. Forgiveness From Heaven is a difficult character to sum up because in the end you are unsure of weather or not she is dead, or just asleep. In my point of view, I believe her to be dead, and freed from worry about her mutated feet and unfaithful husband. I thought that leaving us to think about where the women would go from here was a very good ending to the play because you get to see each character's problem resolved (to a certain extent) and you know that what goes on from there doesn't matter. The three characters finally understand what they have been missing in life, and you know that none of the ladies are going to let anyone push them around or tell them how to be beautiful.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Faerie Tale Morals.
A faerie tale is a harmless children's story that ends with happily ever after, right? Well, maybe not. Tell me, how many times have you driven past a tall tower in which a alarmingly beautiful princess was trapped? If you've seen such a scene, how many times have you then seen an overly charming prince riding upon a brilliant steed canter up to the tower to set her free? And of course afterwards the couple fall madly in love with each other and are wed the next day.
This is the image a faerie tale implants into a child's mind. It teaches our boys that they are the dominant gender, and that they can easily get whatever girl they want to fall in love with them. It teaches girls that beauty and wealth are the only things that will get them what they want in the world; it shows them that males are the ones who are here to save and solve problems. Are these the things we really want to be etched into the minds of our future generations? Is there even a way to solve said problem? How could you ever stop a parent from reading their child a faerie tale in which good always conquers evil?
This is the image a faerie tale implants into a child's mind. It teaches our boys that they are the dominant gender, and that they can easily get whatever girl they want to fall in love with them. It teaches girls that beauty and wealth are the only things that will get them what they want in the world; it shows them that males are the ones who are here to save and solve problems. Are these the things we really want to be etched into the minds of our future generations? Is there even a way to solve said problem? How could you ever stop a parent from reading their child a faerie tale in which good always conquers evil?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Trends, Culture, Models, and Figure.
On Monday I took part in a seminar where we discussed an article found on the BBC website. In this article the author goes over the growing trends that have started to spill out of America to terrorize the rest of the world. Products are now available to make you thin, make your hair "perfect", even to make you skin whiter. Girls across the world dream of the day they to can look like the model posing for Coach and Abercrombie.
We discussed several controversial matters including that of beauty when it comes to race. We went around the table and shared what we thought beauty meant to our dominant culture. It was interesting to hear how each culture differed. Some cultures prefer a full figured body, others embrace a certain body part, we even touched on how long a women would keep up the work to keep her body in shape. Several people said that they thought that when a women of their culture reached a certain age they were allowed to in a way, “let themselves go”.
Another hot topic was that of how the media encouraged the stereotypical image of beauty. We talked about how shows like “America’s Next Top Model” always say they believe in having “full-figured models” (in other words plus-sized) on the show, and swear that these girls have just as good of chance as the others of winning. But, have you ever seen one of these girls actually win? Have you ever even seen these girls make it half way? It’s things like this that show you what the media really wants to show as beautiful.
The one part of the article I appreciated was the part about Helen of Troy and Cleopatra. These two famous historical fugures are said to be the most beautiful women to have ever lived. But as the article said, “t is true that we have no idea of what it was about Helen of Troy's face that enabled it to "launch a thousand ships", nor do we know what one of the world's most beautiful queens, Cleopatra, actually looked like.” A concept that will truly make you rethink the meaning of “beautiful”.
We discussed several controversial matters including that of beauty when it comes to race. We went around the table and shared what we thought beauty meant to our dominant culture. It was interesting to hear how each culture differed. Some cultures prefer a full figured body, others embrace a certain body part, we even touched on how long a women would keep up the work to keep her body in shape. Several people said that they thought that when a women of their culture reached a certain age they were allowed to in a way, “let themselves go”.
Another hot topic was that of how the media encouraged the stereotypical image of beauty. We talked about how shows like “America’s Next Top Model” always say they believe in having “full-figured models” (in other words plus-sized) on the show, and swear that these girls have just as good of chance as the others of winning. But, have you ever seen one of these girls actually win? Have you ever even seen these girls make it half way? It’s things like this that show you what the media really wants to show as beautiful.
The one part of the article I appreciated was the part about Helen of Troy and Cleopatra. These two famous historical fugures are said to be the most beautiful women to have ever lived. But as the article said, “t is true that we have no idea of what it was about Helen of Troy's face that enabled it to "launch a thousand ships", nor do we know what one of the world's most beautiful queens, Cleopatra, actually looked like.” A concept that will truly make you rethink the meaning of “beautiful”.
Friday, November 30, 2007
The Dark Side of Light Skin.
Today in Mali women are beaching their skin in order to look like what they think is beautiful. They embellish their skin with these creams that kill pigment, but that's not all it does. The creams are in no way salubrious; these creams can give the user cancer and blemishes, and putting it on is said to be extremely irritating and painful. All this just to get a more pallid skin tone. Women in Mali even go as far as saying that if you don't bleach your skin there will be no dowry in your future. They say that men are salacious of women with bleached skin, and that no man would marry a women without it.
The few women who choose not to use these skin creams are in no way jovial. These women are frowned upon by society. One woman said she was asked to stay out of some wedding pictures because of her dark skin. This is not just a harmless trend, these women are being out casted because they decide to keep their mesmeric natural skin color. This bleaching is a fashion statement that might not ever go out of style. Young girls are ebullient to get their hands on these harmful, popular products, and they will pass their passion for these products down for generations.
To read the article I read before writing this entry go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/718359.stm
The few women who choose not to use these skin creams are in no way jovial. These women are frowned upon by society. One woman said she was asked to stay out of some wedding pictures because of her dark skin. This is not just a harmless trend, these women are being out casted because they decide to keep their mesmeric natural skin color. This bleaching is a fashion statement that might not ever go out of style. Young girls are ebullient to get their hands on these harmful, popular products, and they will pass their passion for these products down for generations.
To read the article I read before writing this entry go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/718359.stm
Thursday, November 29, 2007
A Campaign for Real Beauty.
1. What were your gut reactions to this commerical?
and
2. What do you think about the central message of the commercial? Be specific and give examples to support your ideas.
Many times before I have been exposed to the ugly truth about how our society conveys beauty to our youth. Diet pills, magazines and advertisements, they all teach our youth about how they should look. Through other projects I have completed, I have learned some shocking statistics, such as, 80% of fourth grade girls have been on a fad diet, the average weight of a model is 23% lower than that of an average women, as many as 10 million women and girls suffer from an eating disorder, and the shocking fact that Americans spend approximately $12.4 million on cosmetic procedures each year. These facts show that our countries gone out of control when it comes to exposing women in the media. I appreciate that popular companies such as Dove are trying to make people aware of these facts, and would like to see more cosmetic companies do the same. I want to see a message go out to our youth that you are beautiful no matter what you look like, and it is truly unfortunate if someone can only see "skin deep".
To see the video I saw before writing this post go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epOg1nWJ4T8
and
2. What do you think about the central message of the commercial? Be specific and give examples to support your ideas.
Many times before I have been exposed to the ugly truth about how our society conveys beauty to our youth. Diet pills, magazines and advertisements, they all teach our youth about how they should look. Through other projects I have completed, I have learned some shocking statistics, such as, 80% of fourth grade girls have been on a fad diet, the average weight of a model is 23% lower than that of an average women, as many as 10 million women and girls suffer from an eating disorder, and the shocking fact that Americans spend approximately $12.4 million on cosmetic procedures each year. These facts show that our countries gone out of control when it comes to exposing women in the media. I appreciate that popular companies such as Dove are trying to make people aware of these facts, and would like to see more cosmetic companies do the same. I want to see a message go out to our youth that you are beautiful no matter what you look like, and it is truly unfortunate if someone can only see "skin deep".
To see the video I saw before writing this post go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epOg1nWJ4T8
Acceptance.
During our discussion in class today the subject of acceptance was brought to the surface while talking about the four “cardinal” virtues created by Greek philosophers (prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice). To me, acceptance should be one of these virtues.
People take one look at someone, and make assumptions about the persons personality, likes and dislikes, before they've even spoken. People will see a person and automatically find they stereotype that goes along with what the person looks like; may it be judgment on skin color, clothing, or body type. I think that people need to learn to accept one another for who they are, and not make society driven assumptions about anyone before they get to know them.
Another thing about acceptance is accepting each others opinions and views. When someone learns that another person has a view on something that is the opposite of their own, they instantly decide that they wouldn't get along with that particular person. So, two people have different views on the presidential election and instantly mark the other as an enemy. But why? Because they could add a different view on a topic then your own? Because they could show you their point of view on a controversial topic, and why they think that?
Try to see past a persons "flaws" until you've heard them out. Let a person speak before you tell them what's "right" and "wrong".
People take one look at someone, and make assumptions about the persons personality, likes and dislikes, before they've even spoken. People will see a person and automatically find they stereotype that goes along with what the person looks like; may it be judgment on skin color, clothing, or body type. I think that people need to learn to accept one another for who they are, and not make society driven assumptions about anyone before they get to know them.
Another thing about acceptance is accepting each others opinions and views. When someone learns that another person has a view on something that is the opposite of their own, they instantly decide that they wouldn't get along with that particular person. So, two people have different views on the presidential election and instantly mark the other as an enemy. But why? Because they could add a different view on a topic then your own? Because they could show you their point of view on a controversial topic, and why they think that?
Try to see past a persons "flaws" until you've heard them out. Let a person speak before you tell them what's "right" and "wrong".
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Beautiful Women of Greece.
1. How did women's roles in society differ from Athens and Sparta?
The women of Sparta were clearly better off than those of Athens. Spartan women were allowed to own more than just clothing and jewelry, they could own pretty much anything they wanted, even land (it is said that they owned more than one third of the Spartan land). Still, neither of the groups of women lived wonderful lives. Women in both cultures were looked at as objects; in Athens they were merely for show, and in Sparta their husbands were allowed to “lend them” to others in order for that man to have a child.
2. If the Greeks are considered so advanced, so culturally elite, why do you believe gender equality (equality between men and women) was not established?
I find it very unfortunate that neither society took charge in making both men and women equal. I question how it came to be that women were not “worth” as much as men. Why were women in Athens not allowed to own things like land? How could it come to be that a man in Sparta could lend his wife to another man so he could use her for sexual purposes? I can’t think of why gender equality was never brought up. What did these people see in women to make them think that they were the weaker of the two genders?
3. Based on your understanding of women in Ancient Greek society, how do you think women were depicted by artists at this time?
By what I’ve read tonight I have a good feeling women were depicted as beautiful creatures in Greek society. I noticed that no matter how many cruel things I read in the articles, they always mention how a man always wished for a beautiful wife. I predict that when I am shown samples of Greek art, the women will be gorgeous, but they will not be in the best situations.
The women of Sparta were clearly better off than those of Athens. Spartan women were allowed to own more than just clothing and jewelry, they could own pretty much anything they wanted, even land (it is said that they owned more than one third of the Spartan land). Still, neither of the groups of women lived wonderful lives. Women in both cultures were looked at as objects; in Athens they were merely for show, and in Sparta their husbands were allowed to “lend them” to others in order for that man to have a child.
2. If the Greeks are considered so advanced, so culturally elite, why do you believe gender equality (equality between men and women) was not established?
I find it very unfortunate that neither society took charge in making both men and women equal. I question how it came to be that women were not “worth” as much as men. Why were women in Athens not allowed to own things like land? How could it come to be that a man in Sparta could lend his wife to another man so he could use her for sexual purposes? I can’t think of why gender equality was never brought up. What did these people see in women to make them think that they were the weaker of the two genders?
3. Based on your understanding of women in Ancient Greek society, how do you think women were depicted by artists at this time?
By what I’ve read tonight I have a good feeling women were depicted as beautiful creatures in Greek society. I noticed that no matter how many cruel things I read in the articles, they always mention how a man always wished for a beautiful wife. I predict that when I am shown samples of Greek art, the women will be gorgeous, but they will not be in the best situations.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
1.What is so beautiful about youth?
I think that youth is beautiful because of the innocence and naivety that it embraces. When I think of innocent I think free of guilt, and the inability to know what’s wrong and what’s right. Naivety brings to mind the act of not knowing of many things our society has labeled as “important”. I believe that the mind that does not know of these “important” events can be free to live a much easier life. Of course, this sparks controversy with many people because of the fact that not knowing about said problems means that no one can help.
2. We know what "perfect" most likely means to Socrates by looking at ancient Greek sculpture and art and drawing inferences, but he doesn't describe this "perfect" human form. What are your thoughts on the idea of a "perfect" human form today? What is it in your culture for men? women? What are your thoughts surrounding those ideals?
In my mind I think that human form has nothing to do with beauty at all. I think that a person’s personality and state of mind is what makes them truly beautiful. I think that if a person sticks to whom they truly are, and refuses to change just to make someone besides them self happy, is the most beautiful person on the earth. I find it sad that in today’s society a woman has to have a perfect hourglass figure and a man has to be buff in order to be thought “beautiful”. In today’s society men and women have to be aesthetically pleasing in order to be considered beautiful. Sure, aesthetically pleasing people are technically beautiful, but perhaps they are only beautiful on the outside. No one cares to look at a person’s inner self in order to determine weather or not the said person is beautiful.
I think that youth is beautiful because of the innocence and naivety that it embraces. When I think of innocent I think free of guilt, and the inability to know what’s wrong and what’s right. Naivety brings to mind the act of not knowing of many things our society has labeled as “important”. I believe that the mind that does not know of these “important” events can be free to live a much easier life. Of course, this sparks controversy with many people because of the fact that not knowing about said problems means that no one can help.
2. We know what "perfect" most likely means to Socrates by looking at ancient Greek sculpture and art and drawing inferences, but he doesn't describe this "perfect" human form. What are your thoughts on the idea of a "perfect" human form today? What is it in your culture for men? women? What are your thoughts surrounding those ideals?
In my mind I think that human form has nothing to do with beauty at all. I think that a person’s personality and state of mind is what makes them truly beautiful. I think that if a person sticks to whom they truly are, and refuses to change just to make someone besides them self happy, is the most beautiful person on the earth. I find it sad that in today’s society a woman has to have a perfect hourglass figure and a man has to be buff in order to be thought “beautiful”. In today’s society men and women have to be aesthetically pleasing in order to be considered beautiful. Sure, aesthetically pleasing people are technically beautiful, but perhaps they are only beautiful on the outside. No one cares to look at a person’s inner self in order to determine weather or not the said person is beautiful.
Monday, November 26, 2007
My Image of Beauty.
My first image of beauty is a daisy. I chose this image for it's simplicity and what I see as "true beauty". When I say "true beauty" I'm talking about the beauty that comes naturally, without things to cover up any so called "blemishes". I appreciate the fact that this image shows just one flower, because it shows that we don't have to be surrounded by others or by a particular scene in order to shine.
The second image I chose was of a black jaguar. I chose a black jaguar because they always seem to carry themselves with such pride. A pride that says "I'm not afraid of you," and "do you dare insult me?" I think that this pride is something beautiful because it shows that the person carrying it doesn't care what other people think, and they're not afraid to break away from the main stream and what others want them to be.
My third and final image is that of two people hugging. I see hugging as a gesture that can show all different emotions. It can show sadness when two people must part, or it can show happiness when two people reunite, you can comfort a person by giving them a hug. I find all of these emotions beautiful because of how natural they are. I also find this image beautiful because it represents the connection two people can have with each other. I always find it amazing when you can be apart with someone for so long, but within seconds of reuniting, the connection between you can be just as strong if not stronger than before.
To see the assignment go to http://cortneyshumanities.blogspot.com
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