Monday, December 27, 2004
Beauty Is Feathers Deep
So a friend just reminded me about something that kind of annoyed me. I actually watched, “The Swan” this season despite my best efforts to ignore the show. Now, before we begin, I have no qualms with those who get plastic surgery to correct a birth defect or an injury from an accident or if rhinoplasty really does help them breathe better, then hey, what the hell, do it and make yourself feel better, physically.
However, I just don’t agree with those who use plastic surgery to “build their self esteem” because no matter what anyone says, I think that’s absolute bullshit. If you have no self esteem, you gotta start working on your mind because you can get those augmentations or suck out all your fat but in the end? You still got self esteem issues. A nip and tuck, a slice and dice isn’t going to be the cure all for what bothers you.
So, when I saw a commercial for the show I thought it was the stupidest thing I’d ever seen and made a point not to watch it. One night, however, there was just nothing on and I was bored but didn’t feel like actually doing anything so, while flipping through channels, I happened upon this program.
For those who have never seen it, what they do is take two females who applied and cart them off for three months to a hotel room. They take down all the mirrors so these ladies cannot get a peek into what they look like until the very end. While I understand why they did that, (for the surprise effect), I don’t agree with that either.
Anyway, the ladies then go to various platic surgeons and the dentist and things like that and get everything that is “wrong” with them, taken care of. I’m all understanding about the dentist. Healthy teeth actually makes for a healthier life. The rest? Sigh. The show goes on and I discover that they also send these ladies to a mental health specialist, psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, whatever you want to call the person and have the ladies deal with their emotional issues. They are also required to go to the gym and learn how to get themselves into shape regardless of all the liposcution they get so that’s also a plus.
Ok, I guess this isn’t all bad.
Still, after three months are over, they walk into a grand room and stand before curtains which are shielding a full length mirror. When the hostess says, “Look at yourself”, the curtains pull back and the lady sees herself for the very first time in three months. And, of course, they are stunned by what they see and every one of them that I saw was very happy.
The problem? They didn’t look a thing like their former physical selves. They have been cut up and sewn back together to look a certain way and unless they were black or hispanic, they all got their hair dyed blonde and it was like watching a factory spit out dolls.
Most of these women really only needed to lose a little weight and they would have looked just fine. Whatever, they were all happy with the results and felt all good and everything because of their physical appearance.
Each episode ends with one lady being voted to try out for the pageant, the Swan pageant and at the end of the season, all those who were picked from each week’s program, strut their stuff on stage and then one is named the ultimate Swan.
What chapped my hide the most about this show? They all say, in their little speeches, that beauty is found on the inside, that what’s inside is what matters.
Uh....yah. While I agree with that, I really don’t think that message is getting through. Therefore, I stand by my first thoughts about this show: It really is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen.
Remember girls: You simply are not worthy unless you look a specific way because that is all that matters: How you look.
