Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Body image and the media

139 Responses

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  • Jackie Clark,

    Ah, my hobby horse. And the one afternoon I can't come. Ne'er mind. I will watch it with interest tomorrow.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Waugh,

    Reminds me of the time when the Womans Day editor (sorry been a few years I can't recall her name??) claimed that they didn't photoshop the pics...... Cracked me up at the time as 90% of my job at the time was shopping the pics for her mag (+ Cleo and SHE).

    Although I guess technically she was sort of accurate as they (ACP) didn't do it, they just subbed all that work out to other pre press companys to do.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Just to prove that you can't make everyone happy... know what phrase I'd like to see die in a ditch? "Real women have curves." No, actually, I think you'll find ALL women are real.

    There may have been an extended argument a couple of months ago about whether to photoshop off a freckle and a mole of mine. Their new scarcity may be making freckles all shexay.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Looking forward to the Bill Francis interview.

    Very under-rated in terms of his influence over NZ radio history. Most famous for his promotion of Paul Holmes, but his impact was far greater than that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Jezebel's Photoshop of Horrors tag makes for some interesting reading. The recent controversy over slimming down Kelly Clarkson on the cover of Self was like a lesson in what not to do if you're a magazine editor...

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis,

    Nice to see the 'natural' photo surrounded by teasers of stories of everyday life.
    Like ..Devil in Prada, Diana Wintour turns 60
    and.. Ray Martin, how he overcome poverty to become a TV star.
    Must have been the sexagenerian issue

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And then there's the recent Glamour magazine "revolution" predicated on, er, getting your kit off ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Had one of those "is that me" moments.
    Checked out a doco being made and wanted a specific bit that has me in it (as you do).
    When they say the lens puts 10pounds on you they haven't done the metric conversion - mine looked like 30kg.
    Thankfully my inability to work my various systems means it's now just an audio copy & all is right with the world.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    And then there's the recent Glamour magazine "revolution" predicated on, er, getting your kit off ...

    Sas has written eloquently about this.

    Just to prove that you can't make everyone happy... know what phrase I'd like to see die in a ditch? "Real women have curves." No, actually, I think you'll find ALL women are real.

    And wouldn't it be nice if we could get away from" here's what a normal person looks like".

    Most of the people I know are 'normal'. And they all look different.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    If the media had as great an influence on body image and eating habits as is claimed we wouldn't have a population that was ~50% overweight or obese. Anorexia and similar diseases are serious but also rare, but for some reason the conversation around body shape, image and disease is always about them instead of obesity.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And then there's the recent Glamour magazine "revolution" predicated on, er, getting your kit off ...

    And there was a gratifying amount of fan snark when some brain box at Sci Fi decided nobody would notice if publicity photos of BSG's Mary McDonnell (58) and Edward James Olmos (63) were so heavily photoshopped they looked like Autons. Not even in the same solar system as a bit of flattering lighting...

    Nice to see the 'natural' photo surrounded by teasers of stories of everyday life.
    Like ..Devil in Prada, Diana Wintour turns 60

    Well, the funny thing is that women like Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington wouldn't put their own mugs on the cover of Vogue, just as I have my doubts Trelise Cooper or Denise L'Strange Corbett could pour themselves into the size nada outfits they send down the catwalk. Successful, wealthy intelligent women who've cut a dash in fiercely competitive industries -- and I still wonder if they really like what they see in the bathroom mirror every morning. Which makes me sad more than angry.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    If the media had as great an influence on body image and eating habits as is claimed we wouldn't have a population that was ~50% overweight or obese.

    Seriously, can someone stab me before we have this conversation again? Unpacking all the wrong takes so long, and is so frustrating and (apparently) pointless.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Well, the funny thing is that women like Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington wouldn't put their own mugs on the cover of Vogue, just as I have my doubts Trelise Cooper or Denise L'Strange Corbett could pour themselves into the size nada outfits they send down the catwalk. Successful, wealthy intelligent women who've cut a dash in fiercely competitive industries -- and I still wonder if they really like what they see in the bathroom mirror every morning. Which makes me sad more than angry.

    Mwah, Craig. Mwah, mwah, mwah. I agree. It's something that drives me potty.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    If the media had as great an influence on body image and eating habits as is claimed we wouldn't have a population that was ~50% overweight or obese.

    Oh really? Ask the fast-food advertising "police" if they think TV has no influence on eating habits :P

    It's rather peculiar, actually, that we have the media being blamed for influencing both dietary extremes. So I'm going to take a contrary, middle position, and blame the media for my average weight and non-extreme eating habits!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    If the media had as great an influence on body image and eating habits as is claimed we wouldn't have a population that was ~50% overweight or obese

    Yes Danyl, that's a reasonable measure. Because wanting to be thin automatically makes you so. There's no media pressure to be young, either, or we all would be.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    And I think Danielle quite possibly speaks on behalf of many of us, Danyl.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • bronwyn,

    I know that this issue usually focuses on females, but I'd be interested in knowing if many males feel the same pressure that many females seem to feel? My suspicion is that whilst there's still more diversity amongst male presenters/actors/"media figures" this will slowly whither away as well, until, if aliens are tapping into our tv networks, they will assume the whole place is populated by clean-cut young 'uns with oddly smooth skin.

    tamaki makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Most of the people I know are 'normal'. And they all look different.

    One of the coolest things I've seen was the mini-fashion show at the Attitude Awards last year. It was so amazing seeing young people who not only didn't look like fashion models, but didn't look like even our kind of "normal" striding (or wheeling) out.

    They gave it heaps. And I got teary-eyed watching.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • bronwyn,

    and I still wonder if they really like what they see in the bathroom mirror every morning. Which makes me sad more than angry.

    What concerns me is the normalisation and use of plastic surgery etc. as a response to issues that are more about one's mental state. The current edition of rather awful Beautiful You magazine has an article in it stating that Botox can be a cure for depression.

    I wish I was making that up.

    tamaki makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I'd be interested in knowing if many males feel the same pressure that many females seem to feel?

    Not really. Our equivalent pressure is money/success.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The current edition of rather awful Beautiful You magazine has an article in it stating that Botox can be a cure for depression.

    I wish I was making that up.

    We feature that magazine in the show.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Danyl, Matthew: I see no contradiction in criticising both the "eat heaps" and the "be skinny" messages, or in believing that both kinds of messages have an effect. Media coverage can encourage you to eat badly, AND to feel stink about the shape you end in when you do. *

    * (setting aside the issue of whether eating habits alone account for anyone's shape which is a whole other derailing debate I suggest we avoid).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    The current edition of rather awful Beautiful You magazine has an article in it stating that Botox can be a cure for depression.

    Ah, the Listener scooped again.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Not really. Our equivalent pressure is money/success.

    Speak for yourself, darling. Let's just say that when you're a gay man in your mid-twenties and your partner is significantly older, you get a certain insight into how the laydeze have no monopoly on the fetishisation of "youth" and not particularly subtle ageism. I got to the point where I decided smacking out every bitch who made snide comments about my "sugar daddy" just wasn't worth racking up the assault convictions. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Seriously, can someone stab me before we have this conversation again? Unpacking all the wrong takes so long, and is so frustrating and (apparently) pointless.

    </mercy stab>

    And wouldn't it be nice if we could get away from" here's what a normal person looks like".

    Most of the people I know are 'normal'. And they all look different.

    So I guess that means models are normal too.

    I know that this issue usually focuses on females, but I'd be interested in knowing if many males feel the same pressure that many females seem to feel?

    Well I can only speak for the people I know, but all of the males are overweight and none of them are happy about it. They might be less unhappy about it than women, though. Hard to say. How do you measure it?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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