Melissa Leo Controversy

When Melissa Leo won the Oscar on Sunday for Best Supporting Actress, she gave probably one of the most honest reactions anyone could ask for. She said "fuck."

Yes, it's an offensive word but if I won an Oscar, I'd react the same way.

We were discussing the scandalous moment in my Arts Criticism class yesterday and one girl couldn't believe that a 50 year old woman would use such language and was disappointed that Leo couldn't get it together and, "act like a lady."

My inner feminist became my outer feminist. I groaned and said in my head, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!?" Only, it wasn't just in my head. The whole class stopped and turned and waited for an explanation.

After taking a breath, I responded, "If I just won an Oscar - which just so happens to be the highest prize for my profession, the last thing I would be concerned with is acting like a lady, whatever that means. Age, class, gender, race, I don't care who you are but you are probably going to react like a human being first and foremost. She's no less feminine because she said fuck, definitely more human, but no less feminine. Telling her to 'act like a lady' is far more offensive to me than her using the word fuck.'"

I may have officially become a feminist in that moment.

Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi

I finished this book a couple of days ago and I'm still blown away. Portia De Rossi wrote this autobiography to chronicle the darkest days of her life. She boldly exposes her battles with her self-image, self-loathing, and her paralyzing fear that someone would out her as a lesbian and her career  (and life) would come crashing down around her. 

She began abusing her body through eating disorders at the age of 12 when she decided to become a model to prove to others that she was beautiful (even if she didn't believe it herself.) She talks about her days obsessing over her eating rituals, her obsessive workout routines and manic episodes. Every costume fitting for her on the set of Ally McBeal (which I watched religiously as a kid) was a battle always ending in either victory or defeat. 

She writes so beautifully that when she reaches 82lbs, it feels as though you're holding her entire weight (via the book) in your hands. 

America's Sweetheart

Natalie Portman.

More girls should look up to her. She is such an incredible example of brains, beauty and talent. She was quoted once saying, "I'd rather be smart than be a movie star," after she had already made a name for herself. She is known for taking thought provoking roles, like her role as an 11 year old assassin in "The Professional" or a woman caught up in an anarchist movement in "V for Vendetta" and then her small role as a Hasidic Jewish woman preparing for marriage in "New York, I Love You."

She risks everything while compromising nothing. She is proud of her heritage and Jewish faith. She attended and graduated from Harvard University. She is an actor, a director, a published scholar, a ballerina, soon-to-be mother, and now, Oscar winner.

She is the definition of a role model- in a time when our culture is in DESPERATE of positive examples of women.

So kids, stop following Kim Kardashian on Twitter and stop tuning in each week to see if Snooki will finally meet a "juice head." Do your homework, stay true to your convictions, and strive to the Portman standard- settle for nothing less.

Formula Proven!

I found this article weeks ago and wanted to do it for my Cultural Commentary but decided to wait until the Oscars were over.

Is Hollywood glorifying mental illness? Or is it one last genre that can scare the hell out of us because the horrors and tension of psychological thrillers come not from super powers or a shadowed figure with a knife... the fear we experience comes from the possibilities? Could that be us?

What defines "crazy" and why when a man takes a role dealing with mental health issues, are we less afraid (example: A Beautiful Mind?)

Perhaps the "crazy chick" is more than that. It seems to be such a phenomenon. We watch them on TV as Real Housewives, we watch them battle it out on the Jersey Shore, and we mock them as they make fools of themselves during American Idol auditions, and we follow their lives on TMZ... always wondering what will they do next?

Give me a break!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!

American Apparel defends the use of porn star models. [Link]

This is so obnoxious. They think they are being pro active by not using models with silicone, collagen, or retouching and for using "average" models or varying ethnicities. The most variation in ethnicities I see is the occasional girl with dark hair and busy eyebrows with slightly exotic but mostly white appeal.

They like the irony in using porn stars to sell clothing. I remember when American Apparel started gaining momentum and they loved to praise the fact that they use "real" women. Now are using women whose entire purpose in life is to simulate/recreate/perpetuate male fantasies.

In the image above you BARELY even see the tube socks porn star Sasha Grey is wearing. What's the point if I can't see the product? 

(Disclaimer: I only know Sasha Grey from her role, playing herself, on Entourage.)

Tom Ford

Artist? Pornographer? Sexist? Pervert?

Golden ticket?

The image we discussed today in class had me wondering what else Tom Ford had to offer. Was the perfume in front of the vagina an isolated incident or no?

The answer is no.

What could he possibly be selling in this advertisement? Suites? The main focus of this ad is clearly the couple having sex on a park bench, not the nicely dressed man in the foreground or the man presumably enjoying a smoke and a free show.

Since he IS a gay icon, I wondered if he portrayed men in the same way --by explicitly sexually objectifying them. Again. Nope.

I still gave him the benefit of the doubt until I saw this overtly sexist ad: 

A man reads his paper while ignoring the naked woman ironing his pants. The woman is both servicing his domestic needs and his sexual desires (whether he wants her or not.)

Lady Gaga's Drunk Diet

Link to Article: Drunk Diet

Whether or not Lady Gaga is trying to be ironic or not, telling the world that she constantly drinks whiskey while working or being hungover is irresponsible and destructive.

With fans of varying ages ranging from male to female, Gaga has devoted fans worldwide who look up to and imitate her. Promoting destructive behavior in order to lose weight is a poor use of her name. And she is apparently working on a book that details her dieting methods.

Give me a break!

Perhaps I'm being overly sensitive as I'm currently reading Portia De Rossi's Unbearable Lightness where she chronicles her battles with anorexia, bulimia, and depression.

American Film and Television to Blame for Reporter's Sexual Assault?

Maybe.

I just read an article by a reporter named Angella Johnson here. In it, she talks about her experiences covering the protests in Egypt. She details an account where she was sexually assaulted, taunted and intimidated by a mob of men similarly to CBS correspondent Lara Logan. 

In her personal account, Johnson quotes a friend of hers who says,

'In their minds, you and Lara were just two "infidel whores", the kind of sexually-liberated women they see in films and videos, or the ones who visit on holiday, get drunk and have liaisons with local men.' 

After spending a semester abroad, I completely agree with that statement. In my first few days in Italy, the coordinator for my program told us explicitly to be aware of our company, how we portray ourselves, and how our behavior could be portrayed or misinterpreted by men.


All too often, in foreign countries, the words "American" and "girl" conjure up lewd images in the minds of men. While I was in Venice, one man was appalled when I refused his advances asking me, "But aren't you American?!" Decades of "teen flicks" have influenced the way the rest of the world perceives not only Americans, but women.


We're often portrayed as drunk and disorderly sluts who give at first resist advances, but eventually give in to the desires of men. We're expected to take our clothes off at parties and make out with one another. We are supposed to dance provocatively and act promiscuously and are very rarely taken seriously.


I believe a lot of factors played into the horrible attacks on these two reporters, but I feel that we should definitely reconsider how our country portrays women to the rest of the world. Perhaps if we were portrayed as intelligent, strong, and confident we might be treated as such -- rather than the objects we are portrayed as and subsequently treated as. 

Ron and Sam

A common scene for Ronnie and Sammi

Last week's episode of The Jersey Shore was disturbing, to say the least.

The notoriously on again, off again couple's relationship came to a head resulting in an outrageously inappropriate blow out fight.

The back story is that Ronnie and Sammi broke up after Season 1 of "The Jersey Shore." In fact, they broke up on live television at the reunion show after secret footage of Sammi confiding in the sleaziest of the roommates, The Situation. During Season 2 in Miami, Ronnie led Sammi to believe that they were back together, while going out and hooking up with anyone and everything behind her back.

Ronnie admitting his infidelities to another roommate.

When the truth came out, she condemned the other girls in the house for keeping the truth from her, and ultimately stayed with Ronnie despite her humiliation. Talk about misguided anger!

Well, here we are at Season 3. The cast is back at The Shore and Ronnie and Sammi immediately appear to make amends-- for the time being at least.

Sammi is an insecure, image obsessed girl who nags and picks on Ronnie, constantly accusing him of new crimes. While unfair and seemingly similar to what she did throughout "The Jersey Shore" experience, this time she had merit.

However, last week their arguments were taken to disturbing new heights. The couple decides to break up after Sammi resorts to punching Ronnie in the face for speaking to one of the other girls in the house. Actually, they make up after that but 24 hours presumably pass, and they are back together.

Now, I cannot recall what exactly sets off this epic battle but I feel that this has largely to do with the fact that what MTV decided to show was terrifying. The couple got into eachother's faces, Sammi was restrained by another roommate trying to claw at Ronnie while hurling insults and swears. Ronnie attempted to throw Sammi's belongings out of their shared room-- including her bed which she mounts as he violently tries to throw her and the bed out of the room.

The fight gets physical with Ronnie trying to remove Sammi's bed at all costs

Curtains are ripped, doors kicked from either side by both restrained parties. Finally the two are separated and Ronnie mutters to himself calling her a slut.

Vinny Restrains Sammy

To make matters more dramatic, both parties end up at the same club. And Sam is determined to "get him back" already. By making him jealous and dancing with "the hottest guy" there.

Ronnie runs home in a rage and not only removes her stuff from his room, throwing her mattress outside where she can "sleep like the dog she is," he smashed and shreds all of her belongings.

Now I understand being upset in the heat of the moment, saying things you can't take back, and that Sammi's logic using jealousy as a tool to get him back was flawed... but calling her a "dog" and a "slut?"

All of this started because Ronnie cheated on Sammi, and yet presumably thousands of dollars of her persona belongings are getting smashed to pieces?

The episode ends with Sammi wisely leaving the house. She and Ronnie agree that she can't heal there, that they need space and time apart. Ronnie is shocked and heartbroken at her decision to leave, he can't seem to fathom that she would ever leave him. And episode goes by and still, no Sammi - just segments of Ronnie isolating himself and crying, sending her roses, and more crying.

At this point, I almost started gaining a newfound respect for the girl. Giving up on a toxic and psychologically abusive (on both sides) relationship, and doing what's best for her and leaving to heal...

But before I can finally start to sympathize with her, the previews for this coming week show her stepping out of a cab and back into the madness.

An Open Letter to American Apparel

Dear American Apparel,

Your advertising campaign, while some might consider it sexy and racy is losing you valuable customers. For us women who are not a size two with long flowing hair and fair skin, we find your ads highly annoying. Usually women are depicted writhing around in tights or thongs with either their breasts exposed or "covered" in tight mesh. The other formula you use is having your models pose with their legs spread or their rear in the air as if her keeper (because they are more likely than not in subordinate positions) is taking these pictures for his own self-pleasure.

I am a woman with curves. I am not stick then or subordinate. The sexual nature of your advertisements send the message that, "this is what guys want." I feel ostracized by your company and the image you portray because I do not look like your models, nor do I desire to. 

Until you show an everyday woman -- a woman with curves, or, hell, maybe even a black woman-- in a non-sexualized way, I think I'll shop elsewhere. 

Sincerely,

Arielle

Where do we go from here?

While reading one of the articles this week that talked about marketing to children, I was left with the question: If children are being marketed for products that are knowingly "too old" for them, and we're tweening them at even earlier ages, where could the industry possibly go from here?

Well, I got my answer.

LINK: Disney Looking Into the Cradle for Customers

This is just sick.

"Love the Way You Lie"

I just read an article on Yahoo News that asks the question: LINK: Why Is Rihanna Singing About Violence?

What a fascinating point. I largely ignore popular music, but this issue is so glaringly obvious. After being a victim of domestic violence, Rihanna turns around and glorifies it in a collaboration with Eminem, stating in one of the first lines of the song "It's alright because I like the way it hurts." What a dangerous message to Rihanna's followers and any woman who hears the song.

Their normalization and rationalization of domestic violence is so disturbingly accepted. This song plays everywhere. Clubs, parties, groceries stores, even the car waiting for the light to change blasts this song.

 The video starring Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan is even more charged than Eminem's lyric "I'mma tie her to the bed/and set the house on fire." It shows beautiful celebrities, idolized celebrities with international fandom fighting, scratching, kicking, throwing each other into walls and nearly punching each other.

Now, normally after an episode of television that deals with a sensitive issue, like suicide, eating disorders, or domestic violence, there is a screen at the end with information on how one dealing with those issues can seek help. Instead, this video that glorifies violence only offers the options to "Like," "Share," or "Replay."

The Old Swicth-a-roo

Maxxie = Bad?

Tea = Good?

I finally broke down and watched the American version of Skins. Aside from being a cheap imitation, the thing that offended me most was the token gay character.

In the E4 series, the character Maxxie is a homosexual male. In the American version, the character is replaced by a female called Tea. I suspect that they changed the sex of the character because the story line would be far too "shocking" for American television (which has already lost a gasket over some content of the show already.)

In the British series, the widely accepted "main character," Tony, has a falling out with his girlfriend because she catches him hooking up with Maxxie, claiming he's just "trying something new." The American show copied the story line, but it is far less shocking to see a straight male conquest the lesbian female. Also, because our culture seems far more accepting of feminine, exotic lesbians rather than gay males.

Harvard study connects media images to eating disorders

LINK: Harvard Links Media Images to Eating Disorders

Well, this is kind of a no-brainer. But I also think that the language we use to describe, non-skinny women isn't helpful either. Curvy, fuller, and thick. To me, they have negative connotations. No woman wants to be described as such, we just want to be identified as women.

Finally!

Link: HOLLABACK!

I just read about a movement spreading from country to country. Its called Hollaback! Women are asking for consequences and asking one another to speak up to end street harassment. A movement to end all leering and catcalls.

I am so thankful for even the idea of this as a woman who has had some pretty traumatic experiences that just get laughed off or chalked up to "a bad day." For instance, over Winter Break, I went to the city where my mom works to visit her office and the doctor's she works with. While waiting for her to wrap up her day, I decided to check out the public library across the street. I noticed a man, presumably homeless, who kept wandering over to the section I was at. The fourth time I saw him out of the corner of my eye, I knew he wasn't lost. As soon as he was out of sight, I gather my things (and myself) and darted off into the bookshelves in search of a less-secluded place.

He found and followed me. I sat in the women's restroom for an hour asking myself, if I tell someone, will I have to fill out a police report? Is that vain? Maybe he wasn't following me? Would I have to go to court? Does he have daughters?

Finally I call my mom, begging her to hurry up. Only "15 more minutes! Go check out the art in the gift shop!" As soon as I left the restroom, my shoulder brushed past someone. It was that man again, and he was close enough to whisper in my ear. I hardly remember what he said because I was terrified and caught off guard.

So I rounded the corner into the gift shop and tried to carry on a conversation with the very unfriendly librarian who knew I wasn't going to buy anything.

I knew I was upset about the incident then, but writing it out in response to this movement made me realize not only was it "shitty" as I told my mother, it should not be ok. I shouldn't have to shrug that off and accept it because I'm a woman.

Definitely time to Hollaback!

Does LA Count?

LINK: Here's a report about the sex life of LA.

It is a pretty wild article. Lots of sordid accounts of the escapades of a the hundreds of wannabes in a town that, to me, represents desperation.

Not much shocked me, many of the statistics were predictable. Men are more likely to "blank" while only this tiny percent of women are into "blank." Standard gender roles represented. But I expect all of the numbers to be higher than if in any other city. Take a college town verses a college city. San Francisco verses Dallas. I would have been far more interested in the numbers if it hadn't been so regionally specific.

The personal accounts of extreme sexual encounters I wonder about. Would I be more or less likely to lie knowing that everything I say would be confidential and my name would be reduced to "21-year-old artist."

Ken to Rekindle Romance and Sales?

LINK: 'Barbie, we may be plastic but our love is real'

I found this article under the CNNMoney section after just having watched the video about the Barbie Phenomenon in class. I thought it was hysterical in 2004 when they split up citing a need for "some quality time apart."However anti-Barbie I may have been as a child, I have to admit how genius this marketing campaign is.

The company is publicizing the imminent return of Barbie & Ken by way of social networking media!? According to the article, people noticed on Facebook that Ken checked in through Foursquare at Barbie's favorite cupcake place. I guess that's how we all relate to one another nowadays, so it was only a matter of time. I wonder if Barbie tweets?

Anyways, the whole campaign is aimed to boost sagging sales. They mention note how successful, independent Barbie is... and yet the company is using the male to rescue the brand?

Fascinating, hysterical, and a little twisted.