Michael Hardner Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 John Oliver's show proves once again that the comedy news shows are the true journalists of our world, speaking the truth as much as the court jester ever did. In this 15-minute clip they upend the lie that the Miss America pageant provides $45 million in scholarships (!) even though it has been staring the corporate news establishment in the face. Also, as the largest women's scholarship in America - it still demands that women be unmarried with a "mint condition uterus". And the whole thing is owned by Donald Trump. You couldn't make this up. Quote Looks like someone has a new patronizing catch phrase ! Michael Hardner
Boges Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 That was a funny skit. Especially calling their BS on scholarships. No one is forcing women to do this and as Oliver said, many of the contestants are quite impressive women (not just based on looks). It looks like a meat market when dude (from the Bachelor BTW, If you want to talk about objectifying woman, watch that show) walking in front of women in Bikinis. But some plus size woman have made it in beauty pageants. And there are other aspects to choosing a winner. Not saying I like these things per say, I'm just saying they aren't some injustice to women. As a side, John Oliver in his one hour show does way more than his mentor John Stewart does in tackling sensitive issues. In his few months on HBO he's tackled Beauty Pageants, Payday Loans, Profit Colleges, Fifa, Climate Change, Scottish Independence, Income disparity. I look forward to watching his show on my DVR on Monday morning. Quote
Michael Hardner Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Posted September 23, 2014 Not saying I like these things per say, I'm just saying they aren't some injustice to women. Without arguing whether they are an injustice... clearly they're ridiculous. Quote Looks like someone has a new patronizing catch phrase ! Michael Hardner
Boges Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 Without arguing whether they are an injustice... clearly they're ridiculous. Lots of things that people seem to like are. Good on Oliver for calling them on the BS that they're some woman's advocate group that helps them get an education. (though he did have to admit they aren't lying when they say they're the biggest contributor to women's scholarships) I just can't get too worked up about it. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 Without arguing whether they are an injustice... clearly they're ridiculous. It's entertainment....competition....and attracts corporate sponsorship. Just like hockey ! The women actually represent superficial (and fake) aspects of beauty quite well, reflecting what American culture values. The pageant pre-dates television by several decades. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
waldo Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 The women actually represent superficial (and fake) aspects of beauty quite well, reflecting what American culture values. good on ya! Of course, the underlying issue is exactly that: why does, as you say, "(American) culture value superficial (and fake) aspects of beauty"? Quote
Boges Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 We aren't above this kind of stuff in Canada. http://www.missworldcanada.com Quote
Michael Hardner Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Posted September 23, 2014 The women actually represent superficial (and fake) aspects of beauty quite well, Entertainment can be soooo ridiculous that it is removed due to an amount of public shaming... that's what this is... Quote Looks like someone has a new patronizing catch phrase ! Michael Hardner
Boges Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 Entertainment can be soooo ridiculous that it is removed due to an amount of public shaming... that's what this is... With all the seedy reality TV out there now, this is what you want to pick out to criticize? Quote
Mighty AC Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 I don't have a problem with people watching pageants, my issue is with the culture that teaches girls these things are a worthwhile pursuit from a young age. Quote "Our lives begin to end the day we stay silent about the things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities" - Voltaire
Boges Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 I don't have a problem with people watching pageants, my issue is with the culture that teaches girls these things are a worthwhile pursuit from a young age. Honey BooBoo FTW Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 Entertainment can be soooo ridiculous that it is removed due to an amount of public shaming... that's what this is... It is precisely because this tradition continues despite "public shaming" and other agendas that is remarkable. "T & A" just works...and it always will. Shall we insist that they wear burkas instead of swimsuits and gowns ? Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
overthere Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 Mild thread drift: some good movies with a beauty pageant theme, try the comedies Little Miss Sunshine and Drop Dead Gorgeous. Much darker and with a more tenuous pageant link is Miss Bala, a Mexican entry for Best Foreign Film Oscar a few years ago. Quote Science too hard for you? Try religion!
waldo Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 the Dove campaigns for "real beauty, self-esteem"... widening the definition of women's beauty... or slick marketing? At Dove, our vision is of a world where beauty is a source of confidence, and not anxiety. So, we are on a mission to help the next generation of women develop a positive relationship with the way they look - helping them raise their self-esteem and realize their full potential. Quote
Boges Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 the Dove campaigns for "real beauty, self-esteem"... widening the definition of women's beauty... or slick marketing? At Dove, our vision is of a world where beauty is a source of confidence, and not anxiety. So, we are on a mission to help the next generation of women develop a positive relationship with the way they look - helping them raise their self-esteem and realize their full potential. Many men might find the women used in these ads more appealing than the cookie cutter model look. Quote
Michael Hardner Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Posted September 23, 2014 With all the seedy reality TV out there now, this is what you want to pick out to criticize? Yes. Absolutely, yes. Quote Looks like someone has a new patronizing catch phrase ! Michael Hardner
Michael Hardner Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Posted September 23, 2014 It is precisely because this tradition continues despite "public shaming" and other agendas that is remarkable. "T & A" just works...and it always will. T&A is not what this is. I would have much less of a problem if it was T&A... Quote Looks like someone has a new patronizing catch phrase ! Michael Hardner
Boges Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 T&A is not what this is. I would have much less of a problem if it was T&A... So you'd be happy if there wasn't a talent and question portion of the pageant. Quote
Michael Hardner Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Posted September 23, 2014 So you'd be happy if there wasn't a talent and question portion of the pageant. Or a morality portion... or... or... Let's put it this way - do you hear as much complaint about porn or Girls Gone Wild than this stuff ? I don't. Quote Looks like someone has a new patronizing catch phrase ! Michael Hardner
Michael Hardner Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Posted September 23, 2014 Or... Donald Trump somehow at the top of it all... Or... some suggestion that these are A-PRIME-CERTIFIED genetic superiors... Or... the "talent portion" Or... Or... Or... Quote Looks like someone has a new patronizing catch phrase ! Michael Hardner
Bonam Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 Dumb contests still exist. Some people still watch dumb contests. Big shocker there... People get worked up about the silliest things. Quote
Boges Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 (edited) Honestly, until Oliver did this piece, I never gave beauty pageants much thought. Colbert did show the woman that did the Ventriloquism. I thought that was cute. Edited September 23, 2014 by Boges Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 What's next...a rant over silly cat/dog/horse pageants shows ? Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
eyeball Posted September 23, 2014 Report Posted September 23, 2014 A political pageant campaign would be my guess. Quote I said now watch what you say they'll be calling you a radical, a liberal, oh fanatical criminal
Michael Hardner Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Posted September 23, 2014 People get worked up about the silliest things. Exactly - why don't they put Amos & Andy back on the air for example ? Quote Looks like someone has a new patronizing catch phrase ! Michael Hardner
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