tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post6033109855895087893..comments2019-05-15T23:59:20.159-07:00Comments on Feminist Legal Theory: Show a little... a lot of skinLisa R. Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469550950363542801noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-34866725520821826532010-11-12T08:37:46.717-08:002010-11-12T08:37:46.717-08:00Interestingly, I've heard a debate about Taylo...Interestingly, I've heard a debate about Taylor Swift and whether she actually does fall outside of this stereotypical "good girl" "bad girl" "show a lot of skin" scenario. This debate centers around Swift's penchant for singing about being an outcast and sitting on the bleachers, but still being incredibly beautiful herself and perfectly put together. Of course, much of this goes towards what sells music and having a beautiful woman sing about having grown into her beauty, sells music to teenage girls. However, it is true that much of her music is about...boys. Isn't this just telling teenage girls that boys are what make you pretty? <br /><br />For a more comprehensive look at this debate: http://www.autostraddle.com/why-taylor-swift-offends-little-monsters-feminists-and-weirdos-31525/N.P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08296347844003958446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-23484127758287413742010-11-11T22:49:38.842-08:002010-11-11T22:49:38.842-08:00I had a different take on the GQ magazine spread. ...I had a different take on the GQ magazine spread. GQ and other major pop culture magazines have always pushed the envelope with their celebrity photos. It’s really more of a business decision, to sell their magazines; they need to keep up with the demand. The demand today is exactly what it has been for the past few decades, Sex. Magazines have, in my opinion, become more and more sexual simply because it is now the norm. In the 1950s, a magazine like Maxim, which is far more provocative then GQ, would surly not be displayed next to the cashier at the checkout in a super- market. Today, however, there is no way to avoid these types of magazines, with their overemphasis on cleavage, in virtually any checkout stand in America. <br /><br />Also, I think that as Celebrities age, they become more appealing to other markets, which essentially drives them to change their image. Miley Cyrus, for example, started out as a child star on the Disney network. She mostly appealed to the young teen market. As she is approaching the age of 18 and is becoming more developed, however, she has started to slowly shed her child star image so that she can be marketed for a more adult demographic, by doing more provocative movies and photo shoots. Essentially, to move between different markets, celebrities must often change their persona to conform to a new demographic.Bijorn Turockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16084917511662464126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-18084131168397085482010-11-11T22:48:51.421-08:002010-11-11T22:48:51.421-08:00I had a different take on the GQ magazine spread. ...I had a different take on the GQ magazine spread. GQ and other major pop culture magazines have always pushed the envelope with their celebrity photos. It’s really more of a business decision, to sell their magazines; they need to keep up with the demand. The demand today is exactly what it has been for the past few decades, Sex. Magazines have, in my opinion, become more and more sexual simply because it is now the norm. In the 1950s, a magazine like Maxim, which is far more provocative then GQ, would surly not be displayed next to the cashier at the checkout in a super- market. Today, however, there is no way to avoid these types of magazines, with their overemphasis on cleavage, in virtually any checkout stand in America. <br /><br />Also, I think that as Celebrities age, they become more appealing to other markets, which essentially drives them to change their image. Miley Cyrus, for example, started out as a child star on the Disney network. She mostly appealed to the young teen market. As she is approaching the age of 18 and is becoming more developed, however, she has started to slowly shed her child star image so that she can be marketed for a more adult demographic, by doing more provocative movies and photo shoots. Essentially, to move between different markets, celebrities must often change their persona to conform to a new demographic.Bijorn Turockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16084917511662464126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-16146481494414617622010-11-11T21:09:25.915-08:002010-11-11T21:09:25.915-08:00I am a former (or currently closet, as I have a pr...I am a former (or currently closet, as I have a professional legal reputation I am trying to build at the moment) teenybopper as well!<br /><br />Anyway, on the other end of the spectrum, or rather maybe on the same end of the spectrum because the problem stems from the same source still, is the fact that the general consensus, from my understanding of it, looks to me like female stars have a much more popular fanbase than males do because of the fact that they are being over-sexed in their media portrayals. Yet, it would seem odd to me if teenager male stars attempted to do the same thing. What would "over-sexing" the look and general image for a male star even look like? While a girl simply dresses more scantily clad to show off cleavage or just skin in general, a male showing up shirtless more often in photoshoots doesn't really seem to me as if that would lead to his popularity as much as the equivalent for a female star. In that vein, it seems to me as if there isn't even an opportunity for male celebrity to use the "quick fix" route of popularizing their status. They merely have to be objectively attractive or just take on some heartthrob role (read: be in a boyband, croon cheesy love songs, or star as the hero or knight-in-shining-armor in some trashy teen movie . . . or novel) and they seem pretty set.Bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06097580231695840087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-53277263896675086602010-11-07T15:22:29.409-08:002010-11-07T15:22:29.409-08:00As an initial matter, I was rather shocked by how ...As an initial matter, I was rather shocked by how provocative the <i>GQ</i> photo spread was. I don't actively read <i>GQ</i>, so I am not sure whether this particular spread was typical for the magazine, but I was always under the impression that GQ was a more tasteful magazine. <br /><br />To me, the photo series is fairly devoid of any artistic merit. I don't watch <i>Glee</i>, but from what I know of it, it seems that it is a show that appeals to a sizeable segment of adolescents in America. To me, the photos basically amount to softcore pornography. <br /><br />I think the societal observations of Alcestis' post and Kate's comment are very interesting - especially when considered together. I do agree with Alcestis' observation that generally, a large number of wholesome female stars do hit a transition point where their persona of wholesomeness or innocence gives way to sexual knowing. At the same time, I can see Kate's point that certain stars who have done this are able to again transition away from being solely a sex symbol. <br /><br />It seems to me that a female star who is able to make this "third transition" probably has more "substance" to offer as an entertainer than just physical attractiveness. This is not to say that an otherwise talented entertainer would not still consciously choose to trade on sex appeal, but it also seems possible that an entertainer who solely trades on sex appeal <i>may</i> not have any more substantive talent.gtg263rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00994504490266541297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-72053692753417553542010-11-04T17:38:03.328-07:002010-11-04T17:38:03.328-07:00I'd actually add a third step to this cycle- c...I'd actually add a third step to this cycle- cleaning up and becoming a (moderately) "good girl" again. Xtina goes from wearing chaps to a classy retro look. Angelina Jolie goes from being a wild child to being Mother Teresa. US magazine touts how motherhood has helped get Britney Spears back on track. It's a constant swing between "virgin/good mother" and "whore" to keep the public's interest and sympathy.<br /><br />I also think the messages are fairly mixed from the beginning. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=etn787yup4QC&lpg=PA12&ots=U9Hul_6_c9&dq=bending%20spoons%20with%20britney%20spears&pg=PA14#v=onepage&q=bending%20spoons%20with%20britney%20spears&f=false" rel="nofollow">Chuck Klosterman</a> talks about how early Britney Spears was marketed as a "wet-hot virgin" and <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24032596" rel="nofollow">Tony Sclafani</a> has argued that talking about not having sex is just another way for teen stars to draw attention to their sexuality.<br /><br />And even the "bad" girls are careful to distinguish themselves from those <i>other</i> "bad" girls. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/03/katy-perry-topless-in-rol_n_669190.html" rel="nofollow">Katy Perry</a> and <a href="http://www.spinner.com/2010/09/27/lady-gaga-slated-by-the-like/" rel="nofollow">The Like</a> have both acknowledged that they present themselves sexily, while at the same time criticizing Lady Gaga for going too far.<br /><br />The problem is not just that female celebrities are expected to sell sex- it's that they're expected to simultaneously deny or apologize for doing so.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07414519117248079780noreply@blogger.com