Do Looks Matter?
Monday May 2, 2011
Did any of you watch The Voice lastTuesday night or the repeat on Wednesday? It is on again tomorrow night. To be honest, I was getting so tired of the commercials that I was thinking of NOT watching it BUT when I understood that singers would be chosen based on their voices & not looks or age or anything else - well, I had to bite.
The contestants sing while the 4 mentors on the show have their back to them so they can't see the face or the age or anything else about the singer. The choice to mentor the singer is solely about the voice! I loved that looks would be taken out of the equation! Although when they turned around & it was somebody cute, well, that was one of the first things out of their mouth - "how cute are you OR how pretty are you". I understand & get it but with a show supposedly taking that out, maybe making that less of "a thing" might have been nice.
The one things that bothers me though is the final singer will be chosen by "the viewers" and we all know how that can turn out - not always the best & lots of times based on looks & sex appeal & all that.... but glad up to the final 4, it is all about talent so I guess talent will be there no matter what.
What are your thoughts on how important looks are today? There is a lot of talk about how we need to change the importance of looks & weight of people BUT we all see every day how looks & weight are still ingrained in media & advertising - how important it still is.
Charlotte wrote an interesting post the other day (well every day but I am talking this one). My comment was: We all have different takes on this but all I know is I am tired of what the media & advertising push on women.... we just can't win no matter what. They talk a game about changing but it does not really happen for the most part. Charlotte wrote back: " They talk a game about changing but it does not really happen for the most part." True. And they never will as long as we keep buying it...
Your thoughts? Are we still buying it? Deep down, do you prefer to see pretty & thin or handsome & fit? If models were more average looking, would you still want to buy what they were modeling?
Did any of you watch The Voice lastTuesday night or the repeat on Wednesday? It is on again tomorrow night. To be honest, I was getting so tired of the commercials that I was thinking of NOT watching it BUT when I understood that singers would be chosen based on their voices & not looks or age or anything else - well, I had to bite.
The contestants sing while the 4 mentors on the show have their back to them so they can't see the face or the age or anything else about the singer. The choice to mentor the singer is solely about the voice! I loved that looks would be taken out of the equation! Although when they turned around & it was somebody cute, well, that was one of the first things out of their mouth - "how cute are you OR how pretty are you". I understand & get it but with a show supposedly taking that out, maybe making that less of "a thing" might have been nice.
The one things that bothers me though is the final singer will be chosen by "the viewers" and we all know how that can turn out - not always the best & lots of times based on looks & sex appeal & all that.... but glad up to the final 4, it is all about talent so I guess talent will be there no matter what.
What are your thoughts on how important looks are today? There is a lot of talk about how we need to change the importance of looks & weight of people BUT we all see every day how looks & weight are still ingrained in media & advertising - how important it still is.
Charlotte wrote an interesting post the other day (well every day but I am talking this one). My comment was: We all have different takes on this but all I know is I am tired of what the media & advertising push on women.... we just can't win no matter what. They talk a game about changing but it does not really happen for the most part. Charlotte wrote back: " They talk a game about changing but it does not really happen for the most part." True. And they never will as long as we keep buying it...
Your thoughts? Are we still buying it? Deep down, do you prefer to see pretty & thin or handsome & fit? If models were more average looking, would you still want to buy what they were modeling?
Posted by truth2beingfit at 5/1/2011 8:30 PM 
Categories: Awareness, Women Issues, Media Influence, Acceptance
Tags: The Voice media media influence looks advertising acceptance awareness The Great Fitness Experiment
Categories: Awareness, Women Issues, Media Influence, Acceptance
Tags: The Voice media media influence looks advertising acceptance awareness The Great Fitness Experiment
ahhhh you and ryan (nomorebacon) are blogging to get me thinking this morning!!
I agree on the 'things wont change till we cease buying' and yet was consistently BAFFLED it was my clients who had the most weight to lose who most demanded the fit LOOKING workout instructors or trainers.
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Carla - that is interesting! I hear that too - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
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I feel that its sad advertisement industry has to sell on looks. I totally believe if they showed real people in food commercials there would be alot less overweight individuals. Perhaps not, but maybe. I for one am disgusted when I see a thin tiny person eating a Quarter Pounder with Fries and a large soda. That ain't the real picture!
Yes, it bothers me that looks are so important, but its been that way for quite awhile.
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Sheri - yes, it is that way - it bothers me too & being honest - I think that may have been some of the reasons for not getting picked for the reader model - I don't have the big wide open eyes & the huge smile - maybe not but my thoughts on it - I certainly was fit enough.
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For me, connection doesn't happen due to a person's facial features or size. It radiates from within. That apparently doesn't sell.
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I agree Cammy but you are right, it does not sell....
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I don't think model size has much effect on me -- I mean for one I'm not very consumeristic in the typical way; I wear sweat pants and scrubs every day and honestly I've owned the same makeup for probably 4 years now...But also, the models that the fashion, makeup, and all other industries use don't appeal to me. I don't want to look like a twig.
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Sable - a great attitude & when you have kids - they will learn from you - love it!
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i think it can and it can't matter. i personally wouldn't take dieting and exercise advice from someone that's 300 lbs., but when it comes to talent, i think The Voice is great, because it gives a chance for the viewers to learn the stories of the people, and that in itself helps get people past "looks".
then again, people want to see what they consider pleasing to the eye.
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Cher - all great points - I think we will keep buying into it.. that is what I see at least...
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Sadly, I think looks do matter. Shouldn't be, but is.
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I agree Karen.
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There has been surveys done saying that woman feel worse about themselves after reading glamorous magazines with super pretty/ skinny people in it....whywhywhy??
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Interesting that they keep buying them & wanting to be like them though.... yes, why!
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Yes, looks do make a difference. I think much of it is genetic. Survival of the species and all that. One can learn to overcome it. I suppose my bottom line is healthy is the best looking of all.
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Love that - healthy is the best looking!
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It is sad, but there is SO much emphasis put on looks in our society and I just can't see that changing any time soon. And the image of "perfection" is often retouched. No wonder so many of us struggle with self acceptance sometimes. Great thought provoking post Jody. Have a good day.
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Thx Roz! Yes, the thing is so many know that retouching is done yet they still aspire for that...
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It's never going to change. Looks trump everything for the most part. No matter how nice someone is or talented or smart. Always judged on appearance first. Which is a shame.
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That is my feeling Lori - It really had frustrated me with all my tries for things.... sucks!
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