From New York's new ad campaign to discourage people from chugging sugary drinks and...
If you're really lucky, you might catch one of these lard-filled ads on your way to LUNCH. Drink it up, kids! YUM!
(Hey, it's gross but that doesn't mean it's untrue, right?)
More here: http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/2009/08/stop-drinking-that-human-fat-nyc-ads-urge.html
Still thanking Steph for a fabulous selection of articles... And it's about time we all started reading Jezebel, I think. Clearly they have a good grip. I'm adding it to my favorites:
By Dodai, 12:30 PM on Tue Aug 25 2009
Today's Washington Post story about the popularity of plus-size TV shows actually begins, "Have a sandwich, Twiggy."
Writer Neal Justin is trying to make the point that the rash of plus-size TV shows — Drop Dead Diva, Dance Your Ass Off; Ruby, More To Love and The Biggest Loser — are getting great ratings, and writes: "Fat is suddenly fabulous, at least on TV." Not in real life! In real life it's still totally gross, okay?
But what Justin wants to know is why. Why would people want to watch shows with plus-size characters? He writes, "Why this appetite for fuller-figured personalities?" But it almost sounds like: Why would you want to watch fatties?
You'd think, since according to one study, "adult obesity rates increased in 23 states last year," it's about American audiences seeing a reflection of themselves.
But Paul Telegdy, who oversees NBC's reality programming (including Biggest Loser) says: "I think it embraces a concern and a worry that keeps a lot of Americans awake at night." Hear that? You're lying awake at night, afraid to get fat, which makes you watch The Biggest Loser.
Yeah, I'll just go ahead and say: Bullshit! If you're watching these shows, it's because there's drama, and a human story. We love a personal story, and if it's personal, it's universal. Even if you've never been overweight, you can understand the range of human emotions showcased on these programs: Frustration, heartbreak, dedication, triumph. As Loser host Alison Sweeney says: "[The show] strikes at the heart of the human spirit.You see people being able to overcome this obstacle that seems insurmountable. Miracles can happen."
And honestly? It's not like plus-size, overweight, fat or large people all live sequestered from society. In many cases, they're your mom, your dad, your aunt, your uncle, you, me. It's not strange that people are interested in seeing plus-size people on TV; it's strange that up until now, plus-size people have been mostly ignored on TV.
Thanks again to Steph for sending me another genius Jezebel piece. In fact, she's sent me two today but here is the first one...
And by the way, what you are basically about to read is that PETA had NO IDEA that THIS billboard would be offensive:
Clearly the marketing guys are PETA are also members of MENSA...
By Intern Katy, 11:00 AM on Tue Aug 25 2009
Yesterday morning, PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk appeared on the radio show Montel Across America to discuss her organization's horrible "Save the Whales" billboard in
The good news is that the billboard, which features a woman in a bikini and the highly offensive tag line "lose the blubber: go vegetarian," is coming down. Unfortunately, it will be replaced by another bullshit billboard. Former Jezebel editor Megan Carpentier writes,
Ms. Newkirk stated that the controversial billboard would be replaced with another highlighting the amount weight people can lose by switching to a vegan diet. Because, really, the only thing keeping every overweight person from a body type acceptable to PETA is their inability to obtain from eating meat, eggs or dairy products.
During the course of the four minute interview, Newkirk comes across as though she has the utmost confidence in her fat-shaming techniques. Sadly, she probably does. We've taken on Newkirk before, as has almost every blogger and media outlet worth its salt, but it doesn't seem like she's learned much from all the negative press. And as Montel points out, if her plan is to get attention for their cause, it sure is working. He says,
Ingrid, you have admit, come on, I've got it, you were controversial, you hit your home run, it went out of the park, I'm talking about it for three days. And the rest of
While we think PETA needs a much more radical change than to "slow down a little bit," there must be some good in having a discussion about the negative effects of PETA's advertising tactics, right?
Not really. Newkirk's response to Montel's criticism shows that her commitment to animal rights, at the expensive of human dignity and common consideration, continues to trump all else. She says:
I wish more than anything you can ever imagine that we could not be controversial, and we could not be provocative. I really do.
There is no other choice! We must shame every fat woman into losing their "thunder thighs and balloon belly." Thanks for clearing that up, Ingrid.
source: http://jezebel.com/5345010/peta-founder-apologizes-for-save-the-whales-billboard
Well you've all wondered where I've been and now I can tell you - I've been watching the Food Network.
Honest to God, how did I not know about this before? My mom and brother have me turned onto all of these fabulous shows-- "The Best Thing I Ever Ate," "Chopped," "Diners, Dives and Drive-ins," "Ace of Cakes..." Do you know this is a fat girl's worst enemy and yet, I can't stop! I'm tivo'ing the hell out of this stuff.
Next question - how do I get a job there? LOL.
The thing that kills me, though? The commercials. Well, usually I can fast-forward through them (thank you, Tivo) but I've counted, at LEAST, one Jenny Craig commercial per break. I'm not kidding. And that is JUST what you wanna see,right? Whilst I watch Ted Allen relive his best BBQ experience, I want to be guilted by Valerie Bertinelli in a bikini.
Bitch. (Oh leave me alone. You know I've worked with her and she's cmpletely nice but I get to be bitter right now.)
In other news, as I clearly can't be trusted to blog here often enough, I want to remind you there are other ways to stalk me on the web:
My personal blog: http://confessionsofafatgirl.typepad.com/other/
My Twitter: http://twitter.com/AmandaJoy
I wish you all a lovely weekend. I'll be half-heartedly reading my new book while I whole-heartedly watch Food TV.
In light of the recent video clip from Janice Dickingson Modeling Agency, I was excited to find this article, where a plus size model from JDMA relates her experiences...
Read the full article here: http://www.plusmodelmag.com/General/plus-model-magazine-article-detail.asp?article-id=123217881&page=0
[Maddy] Janice Dickinson was not convinced that plus models should be included in her agency. How did you feel about that?
[Alana] I felt it was up to me to try to convince her that plus size models are just as beautiful as her size 2 models. I even went as far as wearing an outfit similar to an outfit Janice wore on the show to prove to Janice that even though my outfit is a size 14, and not your size 2, I look just as good as you did in yours. As a matter of fact, I looked a lot better in the outfit than you did.
Maddy] How did you personally show Janice your worth in the modeling industry?
[Alana] I tried numerous times to try to connect with Janice on an emotional level about how hard it is for women as a whole to be comfortable in their own skin. Society has put a picture in our heads that if you are bigger than a size 4 you're not beautiful. I tried to explain to Janice that society plays a very important role in shaping our attitudes about beauty, how we are looked at, and judge others, and ultimately, how we look at and judge ourselves. I tried to convince Janice that she has the power to help change the way society defines beauty. But, no matter how hard I tried, Janice was not interested.
[Maddy] Now that the show is over – how do you feel and what has this experience changed your life?
[Alana] I am very happy that the show is over. I feel like Janice played with all the plus size models emotions. She never liked us from the beginning. And, she made it apparent during the show she will never like plus size models. I feel the only thing Janice liked about us plus size models is that she had some new models in her agency that she could ridicule, so she can feel better about herself. If Janice offered me a million dollar contract to be apart of her agency, I would gladly decline. To be represented by an agent that doesn't believe in you, would be like selling your soul to the devil. My self-worth and well-being is priceless.
From being on the show I realized that I want to be more than just a plus size model. I want to be a role model/motivational speaker for women of all ages dealing with self esteem issues. I want to encourage women to love the skin you are in, and your self worth is not based on the size clothing that you wear. Last but not least, skinny models are overrated!
When bloggers called out Cheryl Burke for putting on a few pounds, the Dancing with the Stars pro fought back. But what upset her most, she says, is the unhealthy body image issues promoted by such stories.
“I want kids or women out there to realize you don’t have to be anorexic to be beautiful,” the two-time Dancing champ tells PEOPLE exclusively. “There’s a lot of pressure living this Hollywood life. People expect to see you at a certain weight and when you gain a few pounds then all of a sudden it’s the talk of the week.”
Burke, 24, says she is secure with her looks–and she advises fans to be true to themselves.
“People will always have an opinion about you, whether it’s good or it’s bad,” she says. “But most important is to have a secure feeling about yourself and know that you’re beautiful regardless of what people think of you.”
Burke, who owns her own dance studio in San Francisco, admits it’s taken years for her to learn to embrace her curves.
“When I was younger, I wasn’t stick thin. I wasn’t tall. I don’t
have long legs. I wasn’t naturally skinny,” she confesses. “As I grew
older, I just became more comfortable in my own skin.” – Monica Rizzo
