It is in our nature to be fascinated by - and drawn to - beauty. I read an article recently that analyzed the changes hollywood has gone through to reflect the changing standards of beauty. Sexist though it may be, women have always been held to a higher standard of beauty than men have.
Aesthetic beauty is subjective, i suppose. But for their age, i have always felt that Catherine Zeta Jones, Sophia Loren and Catherine Deneuve are among some of Hollywood's most enduring beauties. Loren is 74 and Deneuve 65. And while Zeta-Jones is only 40 I think that she has managed to set herself apart from her contemporaries simply by embracing her figure at a time when Hollywood would prefer that she slim down and have things nipped and tucked. Her photo is of the October 2007 issue of Japanese Bazaar. I think for 40 she looks incredible. The photos of Loren and Deneuve are also recent. Of course in their primes, all three were stunning. But even now they maintain a glow and confidence that gives an air of elegance which I find incredibly attractive in a woman.
I guess what i'm trying to say is that since i view the female body differently than many of my male counterparts, i think i can appreciate things about these women that some men cannot.
I don't like to use the terms "healthy-looking" or "unhealthy-looking" anymore because who am i to say someone looks unhealthy? I'll just say that while some men appreciate the thin and svelte, i feel a more solid silhouette is more attractive. I prefer the more statuesque to the slim and a little fuller figure to the slight.
But here's to beauty in all its forms.
your thoughts ......
17 comments:
It should come as no surprise that I agree with your preferences for a curvy woman vs. an uber-thin woman.
Catherine Zeta-Jones is really beautiful, age aside. If I knew nothing about her, you could convince me that she was 28 years old, just based on that photo. (I still get a slight pretentious vibe from her, though, and that's a turnoff.)
I've also always kind of liked Kate Winslett. Her face is not as classically beautiful as Zeta-Jones, but she seems to be committed to a realistic body image, in opposition to crash-course dieting and plastic surgery. (I've read interviews in which she espouses this attitude.)
All in all, though, it is unfortunate that we place so much value on physical beauty in any form (largely thanks to Hollywood), because that attitude leaves a lot of intelligent, talented people to be considered less valuable for their looks.
But hold on a minute, what happened to the pro-plastic surgery Severo we've all come to know and love?
i totally agree. That's why my theory is to kill all the attractive people in the world so that our standard of beauty is reduced and the rest of us are bumped up a notch.
i only condone plastic surgery if you're injecting bacon fat into your lips so that you can have the taste of bacon in your mouth all day long :)
Who would have guessed that Severo and I would have similar taste in feminine beauty.
Well, not being a skinny minny, I agree with you whole-heartedly. I think it's funny that models who are pictured in bathing suits usually are a more normal size. They just look better! Who wants to see a half-naked girl with bones poking out everywhere?
Catherine Zeta-Jones is one of those women who makes women like me not even want to try to look good anymore. The bar is too high. Pass the french fries.
"I think for 40 she looks incredible."
Schwha? CZ-J doesn't even look 40 at all, which makes her a less-than-ideal image for most women to try to emulate. She does look healthy though. And Sophia Loren? Also an exception, surgically altered or otherwise.
I think most men prefer a curvy, healthy-looking woman. Compare the hips and boobs you see in the SI Swimsuit Issue to the bony figures in Cosmo. It's the women who are buying into that anorexic-looking bullshit. Quit buying magazines and clothing from the people who perpetuate unhealthy body images.
And is it just me (god I hope not) or does anyone else find it hard to swallow the never-ending "oh woe are we, the less attractive people of the world" crap from Severo, who in my estimation is a pretty good-looking dude. Please somebody back me up on this one. Besides Severo.
first of all, thank you Jacob. i appreciate the compliment. i guess by "beautiful people" i meant the brad pits and jennifer annistons of this world, the truly beautiful people who most of us have absolutely no hope of asipiring to look like. I fully realize that i'm not HIDEOUS but i just say "beautiful people" to distinguish us from those who are on magazine covers for no other reason than the way they look - the ones who are exceptional examples of all the things Western cultures consider aesthetically beautiful.
again, thank you. You're not so bad yourself... wait, was that me being sensitive and kind? Shit. Jacob you're a dork. there, i negated my kindness.
Usually I don't like it when other people get credit for my writing, but that actually worked out for me better than I'd hoped.
I didn't miss that, Mickey.
HEY EVERYBODY: Mickey thinks Severo is hot. Pass it on.
yikes. sorry Mickey, i guess i just read the post without really looking at the name. but everything i said to jacob remains true for you.
geez Chris, perpetuating scandalous lies is hurtful to others, rude and unseemly..... i'm so proud of you.
Chalking up another reason why I need to kick Severo's ass: He hits on my boyfriend via blog comments.
chalking up another reason why i'm shaking in my boots. "Can't Even Handle Colombo Courtney" wants to kick MY ass? When you have the guts to tackle a bald, aging, spittle-spraying father of 4 then we can talk. Till then, retract those claws missie.
As for hitting on Mickey via my blog, if i wanted to hit on Mickey i'd.... wait, i wouldn't know how to hit on Mickey. I don't think i've ever "hit on" someone before. The guy has ALWAYS made the first move. As many of you know i'm basically a coward when it comes to guys and making the first move. Someone tell me how to do it?
and no, Chris. Telling the guy at Home Depot "You must be a parking ticket cause you've got FINE written ALL over you" isn't what i had in mind.
I think hitting on Mickey would consist of something like: Hey baby, got some place I could put my piton? (well, for another guy anyway)
Sick, Meaghan. But clever, I'll give you that (No, not THAT, Chris. Sheesh.)
And Severo- I've never made the first move either. I repeat NEVER, Courtney. Story of my life, in fact.
see Courtney, you have nothing to worry about. Mickey and I could never get together cause neither of us would have the guts to make the first move.
oh yeah..... that and the fact that Mickey's attracted to beautiful women.
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