The big business of a culture of stupid girls

when you continue reading here at the wonderful culturekitchen, and you click onto a different page, the little advertising box at the left-hand top of the page has this enticement to do something-or-other to make your blog look better. Why? Because "being attractive makes money."

I'm just saying. . .

Nance -- trying to raise my daughter to enjoy being pretty but to have self-respect and not waste her time and money on trendy or inappropriate junk, but the mixed messages are everywhere.

. . .when the all-time Number One viewed post even here, is that provocative picture of the Uncanny Valley of the Pussycat Dolls . . .

OTOH, isn't it a whole different thing when we help our daughters think of creatively shaping personal appearance as part of the larger expressive art of creating a self, rather than mere sex-peddling ploy? -- then isn't it more like (hopefully!) their writing, photography, politics, friendship, study, sex and reproductive creativity?

Of course in a stupid girl, all her creations will reflect that stupidity no matter how she looks.

I can't help but remember reading about Dolly Parton so thoroughly creating a "self" she could make millions with, but also music and warmth and even an example to look up to (past?) despite all that exaggerated feminissimo stuff on the outside.

It makes me feel actually fond of her somehow -- is that stupid of ME, maybe? More sighing . . .

Let's face it -- she's spent a ton trying to lose a ton. Her fortune came from the visual medium and if you watch the clips of her career from weathergirl on up, she's had more looks than a peep show and most of them painful. The great style she finally bought and paid enough for after reaching her forties, with personal dressers and trainers and chefs, and all kinds of endorsement freebies and from exposing others -- so didn't her successful appearance and her successful self come to her through obscene sums of celebity money in a "culture of exposure" too?

Plus, she has bared a LOT over the years even if it wasn't flesh. Makes me wince sometimes at what she's exposed in return for fame and fortune.

Definitely NOT a stupid woman. Just exposes her "self" for money and is very smart about it. . .

Certainly, Oprah has learned the Brand game well. But, I would say that she built her career in spite of her appearance and not on it. Like her or not, she has a powerful voice. My blog entry was about the cultural marginalization of women - the one dimensional portrayal of women.

I would also argue that anyone who criticizes culture (especially those in the media spotlight themselves) are necessarily hypocrites. But, we can participate in and challenge our cultures at the same time. Can't we?

since no good alternatives occur to me.

But I participate from Florida rather than superstardom, so I guess I'm more likely to challenge the superstar's perspective than the "stupid" Florida girls on her show. It's challenging for me to not see such a show as buying into the exploitation.