A short diatribe, if you don't mind
So, whilst going through FB yet again today, something finally clicked in my brain: we have issues with the word "sexy." There are endless bumper stickers debating the "sexiness" of this character or that actor.
*pause*
SEXY--adjective, sex⋅i⋅er, sex⋅i⋅est. 1. concerned predominantly or excessively with sex; risqué: a sexy novel. 2. sexually interesting or exciting; radiating sexuality: the sexiest professor on campus. 3. excitingly appealing; glamorous: a sexy new car.
So, can I elaborate on this?
(That's a retorical question.)
SEXY is such a limited word! Do you find that person attractive? Have they done something you find appealing? Or are you just flat out enjoying the eye candy and being lusty?
Take a look at our celebrities. Excluding the President-elect and family, what's one quality they tend to share? Sexiness. And how does that translate? Its not the charities they promote. Its not the personal struggles they've endured. Its how well sculpted their bodies are and how pleasing the mass populace finds their face.
I have nothing against attractive bodies and beautiful faces. I just think we deserve so much more. In case we haven't noticed, plastic surgery sales aren't slagging. We are becoming more and more obsessed with our physical appearance. I can't guarantee the accuracy that its the number one, but what do most people include in their New Year's Resolution? Get fit or Lose weight. Seldom does anyone say "My resolution is to volunteer at least once a month." or "I resolve to spend at least one hour every weekend just talking with friends or sitting outside and just breathing."
Sorry, I digress. What I'm trying to focus on here is the idea that "sexiness" is ridiculously limited. And we, likewise, are unrealistic in expectation. And yes, I could rant against Disney and the Princess multi-million dollar industry, but at the end of the day, I'm still responsible for me; you're still responsible for you. When all is said and done, the abs will go flabby, the muscles do atrophy, and, let's face it, halitosis happens to everybody.
What are we? We look without seeing. Heck, even I do it. I adore James Barbour's voice but was horrified to learn about him. Why are we so obsessed with something that doesn't last? There's a reason we have stereotypes of beautiful but shallow people. We mock them but they still overwhelm our media outlets and we want to see that. A friend tried to look up images of overweight individuals for a class and had serious trouble finding them. We don't want to be reminded of our average, who we typically are. We'd rather dream of what we ideally wish to be. (Don't believe me? Check out Second Life where you can completely recreate yourself at your best possible person AND pay for the pleasure.)
Argh. I guess I'm still frustrated from yesterday. Here I am, home on break and I flip over to CNN.com where I learn about the Mumbai terrorism as well as the case of the mother who posed as a teenage boy on MySpace to bully a thirteen-year-old who committed suicide when the faux love interest spurned her and all she received was three misdemeanors. THREE. Potentially three years in jail. And I sit at home on break enjoying the most beautiful weather around my home. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT????
What's our problem?
*pause*
SEXY--adjective, sex⋅i⋅er, sex⋅i⋅est. 1. concerned predominantly or excessively with sex; risqué: a sexy novel. 2. sexually interesting or exciting; radiating sexuality: the sexiest professor on campus. 3. excitingly appealing; glamorous: a sexy new car.
So, can I elaborate on this?
(That's a retorical question.)
SEXY is such a limited word! Do you find that person attractive? Have they done something you find appealing? Or are you just flat out enjoying the eye candy and being lusty?
Take a look at our celebrities. Excluding the President-elect and family, what's one quality they tend to share? Sexiness. And how does that translate? Its not the charities they promote. Its not the personal struggles they've endured. Its how well sculpted their bodies are and how pleasing the mass populace finds their face.
I have nothing against attractive bodies and beautiful faces. I just think we deserve so much more. In case we haven't noticed, plastic surgery sales aren't slagging. We are becoming more and more obsessed with our physical appearance. I can't guarantee the accuracy that its the number one, but what do most people include in their New Year's Resolution? Get fit or Lose weight. Seldom does anyone say "My resolution is to volunteer at least once a month." or "I resolve to spend at least one hour every weekend just talking with friends or sitting outside and just breathing."
Sorry, I digress. What I'm trying to focus on here is the idea that "sexiness" is ridiculously limited. And we, likewise, are unrealistic in expectation. And yes, I could rant against Disney and the Princess multi-million dollar industry, but at the end of the day, I'm still responsible for me; you're still responsible for you. When all is said and done, the abs will go flabby, the muscles do atrophy, and, let's face it, halitosis happens to everybody.
What are we? We look without seeing. Heck, even I do it. I adore James Barbour's voice but was horrified to learn about him. Why are we so obsessed with something that doesn't last? There's a reason we have stereotypes of beautiful but shallow people. We mock them but they still overwhelm our media outlets and we want to see that. A friend tried to look up images of overweight individuals for a class and had serious trouble finding them. We don't want to be reminded of our average, who we typically are. We'd rather dream of what we ideally wish to be. (Don't believe me? Check out Second Life where you can completely recreate yourself at your best possible person AND pay for the pleasure.)
Argh. I guess I'm still frustrated from yesterday. Here I am, home on break and I flip over to CNN.com where I learn about the Mumbai terrorism as well as the case of the mother who posed as a teenage boy on MySpace to bully a thirteen-year-old who committed suicide when the faux love interest spurned her and all she received was three misdemeanors. THREE. Potentially three years in jail. And I sit at home on break enjoying the most beautiful weather around my home. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT????
What's our problem?