Slate ran a piece on Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and weight loss. You can find it here:
https://slate.com/culture/2019/08/taylor-swift-diary-entries-body-image-beyonce-diet.html
The piece complains about certain interviews and written statements. In these statements, both Beyonce and Swift have confessed to worrying about their bodies. The writer wonders if these confessions are calculated: Are Beyonce and Swift publicly wringing their hands over calories in a capitalist effort to seem more relatable? Then, the writer says, even though she can't be sure that this is what is happening, she finds the possibility saddening. End of piece.
One thing that bugs me: The writer doesn't really make a distinction between Beyonce and Swift. Beyonce apparently says, in a recent documentary, that re-attaining a certain ideal weight after a pregnancy is a huge achievement (for her--for Beyonce, personally). I do find this irritating. I find it irritating because there doesn't seem to be context, i.e. "I re-attained this ideal weight with the assistance of a fleet of nutritionists, personal trainers, personal chefs, and coaches, and I recognize that these resources aren't available to most people."
On the other hand, Swift, at thirteen, didn't have the trainers and the nutritionists. When Swift, at thirteen, tries to persuade herself that "nothing is better than low-cholesterol Tasti-D," well, that's it. That's all. That's a thirteen-year-old in America worrying about her weight.
A small distinction? Yes, but it seems important to me, and Slate suffers for having failed to connect the dots.
I don't have any problem with Swift releasing her age-thirteen musings. I do think the more-recent Swift--exclaiming, in "Vogue," that a few extra pounds means "shinier hair" and interesting curves--isn't quite persuasive.
In any case, as always, I'm in favor of people who are fully blunt about their bodies and their self-loathing. My goddess is Nora Ephron: "I feel bad about my neck." And three cheers for Roxane Gay, who has candidly acknowledged that it's not easy to resist the urge to "eat one's feelings."
Honesty is the best policy.
That's all I have to say about that.
https://slate.com/culture/2019/08/taylor-swift-diary-entries-body-image-beyonce-diet.html
The piece complains about certain interviews and written statements. In these statements, both Beyonce and Swift have confessed to worrying about their bodies. The writer wonders if these confessions are calculated: Are Beyonce and Swift publicly wringing their hands over calories in a capitalist effort to seem more relatable? Then, the writer says, even though she can't be sure that this is what is happening, she finds the possibility saddening. End of piece.
One thing that bugs me: The writer doesn't really make a distinction between Beyonce and Swift. Beyonce apparently says, in a recent documentary, that re-attaining a certain ideal weight after a pregnancy is a huge achievement (for her--for Beyonce, personally). I do find this irritating. I find it irritating because there doesn't seem to be context, i.e. "I re-attained this ideal weight with the assistance of a fleet of nutritionists, personal trainers, personal chefs, and coaches, and I recognize that these resources aren't available to most people."
On the other hand, Swift, at thirteen, didn't have the trainers and the nutritionists. When Swift, at thirteen, tries to persuade herself that "nothing is better than low-cholesterol Tasti-D," well, that's it. That's all. That's a thirteen-year-old in America worrying about her weight.
A small distinction? Yes, but it seems important to me, and Slate suffers for having failed to connect the dots.
I don't have any problem with Swift releasing her age-thirteen musings. I do think the more-recent Swift--exclaiming, in "Vogue," that a few extra pounds means "shinier hair" and interesting curves--isn't quite persuasive.
In any case, as always, I'm in favor of people who are fully blunt about their bodies and their self-loathing. My goddess is Nora Ephron: "I feel bad about my neck." And three cheers for Roxane Gay, who has candidly acknowledged that it's not easy to resist the urge to "eat one's feelings."
Honesty is the best policy.
That's all I have to say about that.
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