Three "Reasons To Be Pretty"
MINUTES AFTER VIEWING LIONS FOR LAMBS, IT SEEMED FITTING THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF APPEARANCES DEMANDED CRABBY'S ATTENTION THROUGH THE WEB'S LOOKING GLASS. Three examples to wit:
The New York Times gives a terrific review to a new Neil LaBute play entitled, "Reasons to Be Pretty" that opened Monday night. The play is the last of a trilogy by LaBute "devoted to the contemporary obsession with physical appearance,'' writes the Times'Ben Brantley. "What makes this play resonate is less its Big Theme — beauty (or lack thereof) and its discontents — than how that theme illuminates the insecurities of people who don’t feel they have much to offer the world." Which is a wonderful idea to ponder if we remember to throw darts at the media and the ways in which so many of us so easily fall into its beauty traps.
One example: the new website "Facestat,'' which promises "market research for the individual." Basically you upload a picture of yourself and wait for strangers' judgments to pour in. "We'll ask a bunch of people questions like, "How old does this person look?" or "Does this person seem trustworthy?" Within a couple hours, you will have detailed statistics about how people feel about the picture you provide."
Crabby wonders how many hours of therapy will this generate? I feel really sorry for the people who submit their pics only to learn that strangers describe them as "disturbing" or "UpToTrouble" or as "ratlady." Do different photos of the same person elicit completely different judgements? And is it proof's pudding for the need to be obsessed with how you look? You'll find some different takes on the Facestat here at Buzzfeed.
And, finally, a reminder that beauty is our greatest protection from the contemporary predators we call media. Alas, if you don't have it, even the title "princess" doesn't protect you.
The former Duchess known as Fergie roared at the press for criticizing her daughter's size after photos appeared of Princess Beatrice frolicking seaside. The sight of Beatrice's buxom bod in size 10 swimsuit apparently was too much for Daily Mail columnist Allison Pearson, who sniped, "Can't someone buy that girl a sarong? For her sake, as well as ours." To which an indignant Fergie quipped, "Should we focus on [Pearson's] derriere?" Crabby doesn't need to actually see Pearson's rump to know she is a huge ass.
All further evidence of the need to be pretty. Girls, apply your lipstick!
Posted June 3, 2008
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