So I haven’t been very good at keeping a blog. And I think the reason is that I was trying to limit it to writing and publishing information, but truth be told, writing and publishing are a pretty small slice of my life, and I long ago ran out of ideas that excite me enough to log on to WordPress.
So watch out, readers. I’m going to use this forum to write about whatever the heck I want.
And today the thing I want to get the word out about is . . . this. The Beauty Redefined movement. It’s something I feel strongly about. I feel sad that our culture is so interested in selling beauty products and surgeries that we tolerate a media that endlessly promotes both body hatred among women and dissatisfaction with *real* women among men.
Check out the Photoshopping done to this already skinny model in an Ann Taylor ad.
Something that got me thinking about this issue lately is that I’ve read a lot of fiction books and manuscripts that shall remain nameless featuring drop-dead gorgeous protagonists, the kind of girls who all the guys fall in love with and fight for. But—surprise—the protagonist still feels confused about love and insecure and unattractive. I’m having a hard time understanding why the authors chose to make these characters so beautiful since I can’t pinpoint how it affects their emotional issues or the plot in general.
Though I don’t approve, I understand the emphasis on physical beauty in TV, movies, advertising, magazines, and other visual arenas. Designers are artists, and I know they feel driven to present the most visually appealing image possible. But why books? Are you more inclined to buy a book about Hottt characters than average people?
Okay, so I guess I’m still talking about writing and publishing and reading. What good books can you think of where the character’s appearance is central to the plot?
I’ve been following that movement, too, and trying to share it when I can. It really is sad how people today can’t feel good about themselves unless they change everything. Nice post!
dear kim. I’m with you on all of this. Writing and publishing are also only a small part of my life.
Dear Gaylene and Ann Dee: I miss you both!
This may not fit the bill, but my favorite book is Gone With the Wind. The very first sentence of it says “Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.” For some reason, that always appealed to me because you realize throughout the book that although she is portrayed as a ‘beautiful’ character with the flirting and men falling for her, it is not a factor as much as her character and personality. Of course I am biased because GWTW is my favorite book and I think Scarlet O’Hara is one of the best fictional characters ever created
Uglies. Lol, but in a good way. I’ve been following Gaylene as she’s been blogging about this topic as well. I bet it’s easier for writing and publishing to be a smaller part of your life with that cute little bundle of cuteness at your house now. She is a beautiful. Irony!
Yay for writing about whatever the heck you want! I don’t really ever pay much attention to characters physical characteristics and seldom remember them for the duration of the book (Unless the author repeatedly hits me over the head with it) so my .02 is that it isn’t very important unless it is important to the plot.
“The Hunchback Assignments” comes to mind, where the main character is a hunchback who can shift the appearance of his ugly face into something handsomer…it made for interesting plot I thought. I liked that book. (I think most books where appearance affected the plot were books where that was the main theme–Fire by Kristen Cashore comes to mind, although I’ve never read it.) But I do think all things should be tied/tails of the theme b/c I like stylized storytelling like that.
I know what you mean about writing/publishing being a small slice of life…that’s probably the way it should be. If I did any larger slice of it I would go crackerjax.
Yeah, she is unnaturally thin in that Photoshopped one. YUCK. And it’s sad that the general public thinks that is attractive. I think it’s fine not to blog about writing all the time. In fact, it’s way healthy.
What would be even better is if we got together for lunch again!
The funny thing is the misconception about the fact that guys find it attractive. So, who really thinks that being emaciated is a good thing? I do love books with protagonists who are actually happy with the way they look, not in a vain way, but confident.