My brainwashed, somewhat adorable at times little sister is OBSSESSED with Disney Channel. Thats the only thing she watches. As you know, I've abandoned American TV for movies and Dr. Who but ovccasionaly, Disney will show a Tim Burton movie and I'll be captive audience. But then there's the commercial breaks.
Disney's latest project, Selena Gomez (the next Miley) has a song out (Who doesn't on Disney Channel) somwhere along the lines of be yourself and happy things will happen, even if you will never be as beautiful as me! There is absoloutly no interpretation of the "Ugly side" in this video. Selena is dressed in beautiful fany gowns and prefect make-up and flaunting of the thin-ness.
I then flipped channels, much to my sister's dismay. It fell on VH1, which was playing music videos in the afternoon hours for some odd reason.
I recognized it from the radio. Pink's Effin'Perfect.
That is an uplifting music video.
If you presented me with the horrer that I could only listen to one popular female pop singer's discography for the rest of my life, I'd pick P!nk. She has nice pipes, has overcome a troubled past, and this song makes little Gomez's song look like "I'm Too Sexy". The video is beautiful, so is the song (and I am normally not tolerant of swearing).
It was so refreshing to know someone is not afraid to expose the ugly side of low self-confidence. I mean, this was the real deal. After just reading Wintergirls, it was so wonderful tosee.
On that subject, Katy Perry's "Firework is somewhere in the middle. If I was given the choice of two female pop singers on the top ten, it'd be Katy Perry and Pink. The music video is somewhat leaning more towards Selena over there, but it's more serious (except for the part where pyrotechnics explode from Perry's boobs. I thought the whipped cream was bad enough.)
But anyway, at least the issue is being addressed at all angles. Hope for the future, man.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wintergirls
Chances are, you've probably heard of Laurie Halse Anderson. She wrote the controversial, challenged every other day, excellente, important novel known as SPEAK. Now she's written another powerful book, Wintergirls.
Lia and Cassie have been best friends for a long time. But in recent years, they've been competing in the deadly battle so many girls find themselves in: Who can be the thinnest?
In the process the two girls get two different eating disorders. Lia has Anorexia (starving yourself until you die or get dragged to the clinic) and Cassie bulemia (you stuff yourself full and full and then puke it all up after a meal.
But then, Cassie dies alone in a motel room from the erosion of her stomach lining. She literally died from puking.
So Lia, dangerously thin and cutting herself, can't rely on her family, stepmom, stepsister, or anyone to help get over Cassie's death and I don't want to spoil the rest for you, but it's an intense and powerful ride. If you were to hand this book to a girl with an eating disorder as I'm writing this and have her finish it in a day (it's a fairly short book) I have no doubt she would most likely at least consider getting some help. Thsi book could save lives, I have no doubt. Ms. Anderson could very well save a generation of weight obssessed girls who are going to kill themselves to be pretty.
The book was written just as strong as it's content. There are phrases that are crossed out because Lia doesn't want to think that (it's mostly stuff like I'm So Hungry, or I Want To Eat The Whole Thing and stuff like that). You can basically see Cassie calling herself a stupid fat loser even when she's not saying it directly.
But on the subject of beauty, why so thin?
Why are we as Americans so obssessed with being thin that we drive ourselves into the ground, quite literally?
In Africa it is beautiful to be plump, seeing as so many are starving. Large women are married faster and are considered super model hot.
I think it's crazy what we do to ourselves. I was already aware of eating disorders before this and know that they can kill people if they go at it long enough. But this book really drives the point home.
Thank you Ms. Anderson. Here's to more eye openers.
Lia and Cassie have been best friends for a long time. But in recent years, they've been competing in the deadly battle so many girls find themselves in: Who can be the thinnest?
In the process the two girls get two different eating disorders. Lia has Anorexia (starving yourself until you die or get dragged to the clinic) and Cassie bulemia (you stuff yourself full and full and then puke it all up after a meal.
But then, Cassie dies alone in a motel room from the erosion of her stomach lining. She literally died from puking.
So Lia, dangerously thin and cutting herself, can't rely on her family, stepmom, stepsister, or anyone to help get over Cassie's death and I don't want to spoil the rest for you, but it's an intense and powerful ride. If you were to hand this book to a girl with an eating disorder as I'm writing this and have her finish it in a day (it's a fairly short book) I have no doubt she would most likely at least consider getting some help. Thsi book could save lives, I have no doubt. Ms. Anderson could very well save a generation of weight obssessed girls who are going to kill themselves to be pretty.
The book was written just as strong as it's content. There are phrases that are crossed out because Lia doesn't want to think that (it's mostly stuff like I'm So Hungry, or I Want To Eat The Whole Thing and stuff like that). You can basically see Cassie calling herself a stupid fat loser even when she's not saying it directly.
But on the subject of beauty, why so thin?
Why are we as Americans so obssessed with being thin that we drive ourselves into the ground, quite literally?
In Africa it is beautiful to be plump, seeing as so many are starving. Large women are married faster and are considered super model hot.
I think it's crazy what we do to ourselves. I was already aware of eating disorders before this and know that they can kill people if they go at it long enough. But this book really drives the point home.
Thank you Ms. Anderson. Here's to more eye openers.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Ah, 2011 movies.
So being my nerd self, I'm looking ahead at different movies that are coming out and I'm a bit disappointed myself. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights.
Red Riding Hood- All the signs of a despicable movie. Twilight director, sexy male lead, whimpering female lead.... well no. I'm not going to call it a lead. More like a tag-a-long to male lead because said female can't defend herself and must depend on dude to do everything for her. *rolls eyes* Not to mention paranormal romanticizing (Sp?) of an old myth.
Beastly- This SHOULD be in the same vein of RRH, but it isn't. Beauty and the Beast was originally a very romantic fairy tale, so the romantical aspect of Beastly doesn't bother me, as it's a modern retelling. And from all trailers, I really love the makeup. It's perfectly horrifying (mind spelling, I'm still retired from the church retreat).
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2- Nuff said. It's going to be epic, and I don't mean that in the slang term. I mean it in Middle-Earth-Is-About-To-Blow-Up-Because-of- Daleks EPIC!
Red Riding Hood- All the signs of a despicable movie. Twilight director, sexy male lead, whimpering female lead.... well no. I'm not going to call it a lead. More like a tag-a-long to male lead because said female can't defend herself and must depend on dude to do everything for her. *rolls eyes* Not to mention paranormal romanticizing (Sp?) of an old myth.
Beastly- This SHOULD be in the same vein of RRH, but it isn't. Beauty and the Beast was originally a very romantic fairy tale, so the romantical aspect of Beastly doesn't bother me, as it's a modern retelling. And from all trailers, I really love the makeup. It's perfectly horrifying (mind spelling, I'm still retired from the church retreat).
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2- Nuff said. It's going to be epic, and I don't mean that in the slang term. I mean it in Middle-Earth-Is-About-To-Blow-Up-Because-of- Daleks EPIC!
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