I’m afraid I’ve lost my sense of humor. More and more, I see/hear jokes aimed at eating disorders (anorexia t-shirt). On an episode of Family Guy, a high school cheerleader says to another, “Wow, it sure is great being thin and popular. Let’s go throw-up.”
The New York Post reveals a report that the cast trailers for the filming of The Nanny Diaries (in Manhattan) are labeled according to the roles each star will play: “Glamour Mom,” “Charity Mom,” “Divorcing Mom,” “Eating Disorder Mom.” I’m not quite sure I see the parallel structure here.
In OK Weekly magazine, staff writers discuss a “beauty boo-boo” they call “blondorexia,” which is an “acute condition” that “happens when a young star aspires to the ‘more-is-more’ school of hair color.” True, some celebrities (and even we normal folk) might take hair coloring a bit too far. But, do we really have to equate this with a disease? (same goes for “tanorexia”)
On E’s 50 Most Shocking Celebrity Confessions, comedian Pat Dixon quips, “Bulimia isn’t a disease; it’s a decision.” On the same show, another commentator reports that Dennis Quaid, who after losing 40 pounds for the role of Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp, developed “manorexia,” a term I’d describe as a cutesy bastardization of a serious illness (which, by the way, he admits to having). And, on 101 Incredible Celebrity Slimdowns, a comedienne says, “When I know I’m going to have to wear a bikini, I usually throw up everything I eat for about a week straight.”
This is supposed to be comedy.
3 comments:
Really great observations, Doc....Scary observations. People aren't taking Eating Disorder's seriously enough. Why is that? Why do you think that is? I think it's partly because eating disorders mostly afflict women--and the entertainment industry is male dominated. The industry seems to see it as a silly little feminine problem. I also think that it's all part of our culture's historical association of women with illness. Anorexia is "hot," basically. Anorexia is "feminine" and "posh."
It's really not funny. So, no, you haven't lost your sense of humour. We're clearly a culture in denial and in fear of a lot of things--not least of which is the fear of the "feminine"--hence our culture's historical desire to control women, and its obsession with the ideals of femininity (with constructing and reinforcing unhealthy ideals).
Way to go, Haley-0, with some wonderful explanations. You're right abt 90% of those who suffer from (clinical) e.d.'s are women. The industry might even see e.d.'s as a choice, "Snap out of it!" But we know, this has nothing to do with choice.
AS--so, there is still a little humor in the baby bump obsession (and the fact that the way the "baby bump" rumors are often disspelled is by showing the same stars drinking and smoking)
agree with haley-o, good points
Post a Comment