Desperate Housewives, etc.

[out_there]

So, I went to the Desperate Housewives thingy last night (and apparently missed sajee who was also there. Boo.) and heard the critique that the show perpetuates the myth of female beauty (that women should always be attractive and beautiful naturally -- ie. without visible effort; that only beautiful/thin/young looking women are interesting/worth getting to know). The basic idea was that the main girls are *always* shown at their best and are never shown actually *doing* anything to look that way. They're never seen putting on makeup, or going through any kind of skin routines. They never discuss insecurities about looks and body-shape/size.

(ETA: I should mention that Lynette was mentioned as someone who doesn't always fit the glamour mode, but it was also mentioned the way that the moment Lynette gets a nanny, she immediately slips straight into the glamour mode without any mention of extra beauty routines. It's just that now she gets enough sleep, and doesn't spend all day with four monsters kids, she's instantly beautiful.)

There was also a mention that the women, while presented as very different, all represented the "good" side of femininity. Although they all have their flaws, they're all "good" women because none of them are "bad" women like Edie or Mrs Huger (? I don't know how to spell her surname). Unlike Edie, none of them wore clothes that are *too* revealing, or makeup that's *too* obvious, which further pushes the idea that it's not the actual sexual practices that make a woman good or bad: it comes down to the beauty myth about being attractive and making it look effortless.

While the entire show is about revealing what's behind the superficial layer, the constant glamour of the women is never treated as one of these imposed, artful layers, thus subtley encouraging the reader to accept it's falseness. it's an interesting idea -- and yes, I see the truth in it -- but it's also a pretty show about pretty women and I am shallow enough to love that about it.

(Mind you, this got me thinking about shows that don't feature young/thin/glamourous/beautiful as the only form of attractive femininity, and all I could think of was "Carnivale". Where the women at least have different body sizes and looks, and Rita Sue is the sexiest woman of them all.)

After that, I spent the night at in_the_bottle's and watched Stargate: Atlantis. While I like Sheppard and McKay -- and probably have the basics to read fic for them -- it's not a series I'm desperate to watch. I don't know why, but I think that like Stargate itself, it's probably a great series, but not one that interests me too much.

Then I slept in this morning, completely forgetting that I was suposed to volunteer at the RVIB school today. Oops. I called in sick and now I'm wasting my Friday. (I was going to put this time to good study use, but eh. That hasn't happened yet.)

I think I'll do that icon meme later.

Comments

[sajee.livejournal.com]

I thought it was very interesting but my personal reading of the show is that flawless, unmentioned, hyperfemininty of these women is just another level of the absurd humour of the show. Whilst I agree that, in certain ways, their appearance becomes "invisible", I was not at all sold on what she was saying.

Anywhooooooo, I wrote CARNIVALE as large as I could on what they should do a lounge critic on. I was also going to write "and you should get me to do it" but thought that maybe that was talking it a bit too far.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

I thought it was very interesting but my personal reading of the show is that flawless, unmentioned, hyperfemininty of these women is just another level of the absurd humour of the show. Whilst I agree that, in certain ways, their appearance becomes "invisible", I was not at all sold on what she was saying.

I thought it was a valid point, but not something that I'd really... not something that would stop me from watching it, basically. It is one of those shows that some people will point to as an exaple and other will see high-mockery in it. I guess it's just... nice to be *aware* of that as you watch it, to be aware that it's another source of humour there. (I tend to get a little distracted by my love of the show, so I don't really criticise it. It's a thing I do.)

Meanwhile, I think I didn't notice it because I have a firm idea of TVLand. TVLand is where almost everyone has a certain level of beauty, where a guy as pretty and nicely built as Xander is a social reject in highschool, where a guy who looks like Sam Seaborn seems to have no social life or awareness of dating/flirting. TVLand is where female soldiers like BSG's Starbuck, Farscape's Aeryn Sun and Firefly's Zoe look incredible. It's a wonderful place to watch but I *know* it's not real life, or anywhere near it.

Anywhooooooo, I wrote CARNIVALE as large as I could on what they should do a lounge critic on. I was also going to write "and you should get me to do it" but thought that maybe that was talking it a bit too far.

*smooches you* Brilliant girl! I can never think of good things to write on those feedback forms, but man, that would ROCK!

[alasen.livejournal.com]

Have they actually watched the show, and seen, eh, what's her name with all the kids. She always looks like crap, and she hates it, you can tell when she makes an effort.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they did point out that Lynette was the only one who wasn't constantly beautiful. I should have mentioned that in my post.

[phoebesmum.livejournal.com]

That sounds like pretty much bollocks to me. Felicity Huffman's really dressing down for her part, and looks pretty much like one would if one were struggling with three ghastly pig-faced ginger-haired brats from hell all day. Only thinner, but I don't hate her for being thin, because she looks as if she's naturally that way. I suspect her of being one of those women who could eat nothing but lard six times a day and still be thin. And Edie isn't a 'bad' character, particularly. Nor was Martha Huper (although I can't spell it, either), not 100%. It would be nice to see a wider selection of body types on TV - there are larger women in Carnivale, as you said, other than that I can only think of the woman in The Practice - but on the other hand ... I like to look at pretty people. I suspect I watch more American than British TV because British actors tend to be pretty damn ugly. As long as I don't go around judging real people by the same criteria, does it do any actual harm?

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Felicity Huffman's really dressing down for her part, and looks pretty much like one would if one were struggling with three ghastly pig-faced ginger-haired brats from hell all day.

*nods* I should have mentioned that Felicity was the one exception to the constantly-effortlessly-glamourous thing, but she still sits in the "never discusses it" column.

I don't think it's total tripe. I think there is a grain of truth to it: that by purporting to "reveal" the secrets, it's interesting the things that aren't even questioned. I just don't generally sit back and notice those critical details because I'm enjoying the show too much.

[meadowlion.livejournal.com]

I, too, was going to mention Camryn Manheim from The Practice. A program with young (and, in my opinion, beautiful) but not all thin women that comes to mind is Less Than Perfect, with Sara Rue and Sherri Shepherd. Oh, and I've been very happy to see Medium's Patricia Arquette wearing well the appropriate figure, and clothing at home, of a woman who has given birth and regularly cares for children. These continue to be exceptions to the 'norm,' though.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* Nice to know the shows are out there, but I've never sat down and watched a full episode of any of those (hence, I'm excusing myself for not thinking of them).

[simplelyric.livejournal.com]

Well, I wasn't trying to pick on you for not naming them. I was just trying to see how many I could even think of, out of curiousity.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

That's cool. I wasn't all offended or anything, I was just... Hmmm. It kind of sucks that everyone has to stop and really think to find shows that don't centre around one body type.

And, while I'm here, "Ed" might fit that as well.

[meadowlion.livejournal.com]

It kind of sucks that everyone has to stop and really think to find shows that don't centre around one body type.

::nodding::

And, while I'm here, "Ed" might fit that as well.

Ack, yes! I've had such a revival of Ed love recently, and I've given a considerable amount of thought to how much I appreciate Lesley Boone's role on that, but I completely forgot to include her. Jana Marie Hupp as Nancy on that was often harried and not particularly glamorous as well.

[norah.livejournal.com]

I tried to metafandom this but didn't notice it was locked; would you care to unlock it? Or I can just delete it from metafandom. Let me know.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

'Tis now public. *g*

[norah.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Re-added.

[thelastgoodname.livejournal.com]

Um, actually, Gabrielle is often shown doing exactly those things (exercising, maintaining her skin, etc), because it's an explicit part of her personality: this is important to her. The Bree-beauty is the one that is a mask, and very obviously so (fur coat and lingerie?). Lynnette, even with the nanny, is much less put together; she is also the only character who wears clothes that are visibly worn. Susan is often shown vaguely less made-up, with questionable clothing choices (the Valentine's Day dress?).

On the other hand, Edie, Mrs. Huber, and Mrs. LandingGod (Lynnette's neighbor, who is played by Kathryn Joosten) are shown to be deficiently desperate housewives: one has a job, and the other two are single women. They are, if not content, at least not desperate.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Well, first of all, I'm in Australia, so all comments are based on the first series. (We're only a few episodes after Mrs Huber's death.)

At this stage, we've seen Gabrielle do yoga, but no mention of make-up.

Both Susan's attempt at seduction (the frilly blue nighty-thing) and Bree's (the red underwear) were shown as examples of the girls using Femme Fatale stereotypes -- obviously wearing costumes to exert sexual power -- but also used obviously to give their everyday appearances the impression of normality (of natural-ness, even).

Susan is often shown vaguely less made-up,

The point was that Susan isn't *naturally* looking like that. To have that appearance, she'd have to be wearing quite a bit of makeup. However, the way that the show presents other women (say, Edie) makes Susan look "natural" in comparison. In comparison, she wears less make-up, it's less effected, but the reality is that of course she's wearing it.

It was really a discussion on the impression of women that the show gives. I don't agree with it 100%, but I think it's there.

[(Anonymous)]

So's I don't out myself on the locked entry, I'll return great big hugs to you here. Sorry I could only do 2 mos. for you.

If inspiration strikes, a drabble about Casey & Dan's relationship some thirty years in the future would hit the spot. :) Still, the offer alone was nice.

~LJ Fairy