“The Swan” should be shot
Posted on May 6, 2008
Filed Under Entertainment |
Whenever I hit up my parent’s house, I half avoid the television out of fear, and half tackle it out of ironic fascination. My parents have hundreds of channels. This trip, I discovered the Fox Reality channel.
If you aren’t aware, Fox Reality is Fox’s network jam-packed with only reality TV. Reading that sentence over makes me gag.
One of the shows advertised on the channel is called “The Swan.” Here is a description excerpt from the show’s website:
“THE SWAN takes women who are stuck in a rut and revitalizes them by restoring their beauty and confidence. It offers women the incredible opportunity to undergo physical, mental and emotional transformations and follows them through the process. This groundbreaking idea culminates in a pageant in which one woman will be crowned ‘the Ultimate Swan.’
Each of the 18 contestants will be assigned a team of specialists — a coach, therapist, trainer, cosmetic surgeon, dentist and stylist — who will work together to design the perfect individually-tailored program. The final reveal will be especially dramatic because the contestants will not be permitted to see themselves in a mirror during the three-month transformation process.”
What this description does not explain is that the “mental” and “emotional” transformations are only the consequences of cosmetic surgery. These women are taught that they can achieve self confidence after they surgically change their face. What the fuck?
I visited the show’s forums, where a guest posted that it was “sad the show was even on air.” Many of the faithful viewers were curious as to why.
I didn’t want to waste my time registering a username with Fox’s website, so I’ll say it here and now: the show teaches women the social construct of femininity, and that it is the only option for success–that self confidence can be bought with a mask. It may be so that many of these women do feel confident after the transformation, but it is only due to the fact that society has taught them that their physical appearance can advance them further than their own personality. It’s not like these women are taken to a room and taught about the injustices taking place around the world, the prejudices that exist, the cultures that are becoming extinct, or the proactive movements to make to change these things.
Additionally, these women are, and the target audience is, the most common audience to consume this type of media: women ages 18-34. Why not recreate this construct of society and teach it to more women?
Thanks Rupert Murdoch.
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That’s not going to increase the amount in his bank account. Product placement…
I’m expected to arrive at interviews, face painted, feet in uncomfortable, back-damaging stilletos, adorned with the latest conservative cut of textile. I doubt I would have a job if I didn’t conform. People would wonder if I was depressed. Or if something was wrong with me.