Ridiculous examples of our overly-PC culture

[Jambalaya]

Lamp? Movie? I must have missed something. I just thought it was a random leg!

Even so, reinforcement of unattainable female perfection is reinforcement of unattainable female perfection, IMO. And objectifying women's bodies is the same however it's dressed up, again IMO.

 

[the_mother_thing]

Lamp? Movie? I must have missed something. I just thought it was a random leg!

It's from the movie classic A Christmas Story, and is one of the most popular movie props in history.
http://heatst.com/culture-wars/florida-town-apologizes-to-residents-offended-by-sexist-leg-lamp-statue/

Younkins-Herzog, the sculptor, said the statue was intended as a feminist work. She said the proportions were based on Barbie’s, and the lampshade is a reference to some of her other artwork depicting the female form.

“It has more to do with being a woman in a predominantly masculine field,” she told Heat Street. “Feminist means female perspective as far as I am concerned. I take ownership of these stereotypical trappings of beauty, combined with the humorous context of the movie. It would not have happened if I had not enjoyed watching A Christmas Story as a kid.”
...
“Seems odd to me that people would be so offended,” Younkins-Herzog said. “The wife in the movie was offended based on context in the 70s. Our society and ads and tv are far more suggestive than a disembodied leg.”.

And this guy has a fabulous sense of humor!

The leg lamp has become so popular that one can now purchase ready-made Halloween costumes in its likeness. But Josh Sundquist, a paralympian, motivational speaker and author who lost his leg to cancer when he was nine years old, won Halloween last year when he decided to make his own leg lamp costume. He even shaved his leg for authenticity.

 

[the_mother_thing]

WTH? Instead of the pic I tried to attach twice, the damn giraffe is showing up.

This is the pic with the paralympian who dressed up as the lamp.

 

[Dee*Jay]

WTH? Instead of the pic I tried to attach twice, the damn giraffe is showing up.

This is the pic with the paralympian who dressed up as the lamp.

OK, you want to know something either more WTH? I see a pic of Monnie's daughter and niece!!!

 

[Jambalaya]

I think you'll have to write me off as culturally inept, JoCo! Me and popular culture never really hit it off, except the really obvious things like Friends and Harry Potter. I'll take your word for it that the leg is a thing!

 

[Dee*Jay]

Sorry for the dark pic, I'm PSing on my laptop in bed.

 

[lovedogs]

Sorry for the dark pic, I'm PSing on my laptop in bed.

omg and I just see the giraffe again!

 

[VRBeauty]

Sorry for the dark pic, I'm PSing on my laptop in bed.

So crazy - I saw this earlier today and again just now - I'm not seeing that picture at all, Dee*Jay.

I wonder - if you'd still see the Monnie's daughter and niece picture if you log out of PS and then log back in?

 

[AGBF]

I never heard of the leg and the lamp, either. I never saw "A Christmas Story". So when I saw the statue, I saw a piece of "art" divorced from anything else. I was not at all offended, but not very impressed, either. Of course it had no context.

Deb

 

[Alybetter]

Context is everything. And uber-PC culture doesn't allow for open interpretation of it, IMO.
I'm never personally offended by art. It is the free expression of respective artist. I might not like it, but I'm certainly not going to let one person's opinion or expression get me in a bother.

Of course abuse of the helpless, i.e. children, animals, always disgusts me. I can't find a contextual alignment where these are ever acceptable.

As for objectification of women, I'm always at a loss as to how to form my opinion. Plenty of empowered women pose nude, provocatively, and/or use their sexuality for gains. I get lost in the paradox; a woman's right to choose how she presents herself and what she does with her own mind and body has been hard won. Yet, it's probably almost impossible to prevent others from, at the least, mentally objectifying a woman who presents her sexuality openly.
I guess I'm not sure how there can be freedom of sexual expression without objectification.

 

[House Cat]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

 

[the_mother_thing]

WTH? Instead of the pic I tried to attach twice, the damn giraffe is showing up.

This is the pic with the paralympian who dressed up as the lamp.

OK, you want to know something either more WTH? I see a pic of Monnie's daughter and niece!!!

Okay, this thread (because of the weird pic posting) has become something of a bizarre anomaly.

I just deleted the giraffe pic altogether from my tablet, and posting something not internet-originated below.

What do you see?

 

[AGBF]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

I am an "old biddy" and I am fairly open minded about sex and do not complain about vulgarity although there are words I, personally, do not use unless I lose all control. I am not sure age and sex (after all, "biddies" are women) should be used as the measuring stick with which to determine how much a person has grown in accepting new ideas.

Deb

 

[ksinger]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

This. This has nothing to do with being "politically" correct, which I think is a term that gets bandied about to the point that it's pretty much lost all meaning. This is simply old fashioned outrage and prudery about art, which has been going on forever.

But yeah, really. The "A Christmas Story" lamp, essentially? I wouldn't call that art, although it's still funny. More a visual joke than real creativity. But something to get one's knickers in a twist? No.

Real PC stuff - as in actually political - was Ken Cuccinelli covering the bare breast of the classical goddess on the Virginia state seal.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/01/virginia-seal-breast-picture_n_559673.html

And just for laughs, those of you who are Gilbert and Sullivan fans, will want to listen to the song that got written about the guy. It even made it out to the hinterlands. Hilarious and really well done.

http://static.mgnetwork.com/rtd/audio/JasonMarks-IAmTheVeryModelofAMadAttorneyGeneral.mp3

 

[AGBF]

And just for laughs, those of you who are Gilbert and Sullivan fans, will want to listen to the song that got written about the guy. It even made it out to the hinterlands. Hilarious and really well done.

http://static.mgnetwork.com/rtd/audio/JasonMarks-IAmTheVeryModelofAMadAttorneyGeneral.mp3

I just e-mailed it to my husband, a Gilbert and Sullivan aficionado. If he had heard it before, I would have heard it before! Thank you.

Deb

 

[Dee*Jay]

WTH? Instead of the pic I tried to attach twice, the damn giraffe is showing up.

This is the pic with the paralympian who dressed up as the lamp.

OK, you want to know something either more WTH? I see a pic of Monnie's daughter and niece!!!

Okay, this thread (because of the weird pic posting) has become something of a bizarre anomaly.

I just deleted the giraffe pic altogether from my tablet, and posting something not internet-originated below.

What do you see?

I see a bezel set three stone ring. If that's the right answer do I win it as a prize -- it's a lovely piece!

 

[lovedogs]

WTH? Instead of the pic I tried to attach twice, the damn giraffe is showing up.

This is the pic with the paralympian who dressed up as the lamp.

OK, you want to know something either more WTH? I see a pic of Monnie's daughter and niece!!!

Okay, this thread (because of the weird pic posting) has become something of a bizarre anomaly.

I just deleted the giraffe pic altogether from my tablet, and posting something not internet-originated below.

What do you see?

I see a bezel set three stone ring. If that's the right answer do I win it as a prize -- it's a lovely piece!

I see the same thing! Lovely ring.

 

[House Cat]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

I am an "old biddy" and I am fairly open minded about sex and do not complain about vulgarity although there are words I, personally, do not use unless I lose all control. I am not sure age and sex (after all, "biddies" are women) should be used as the measuring stick with which to determine how much a person has grown in accepting new ideas.

Deb

I used the term "old biddy" to prove that there have always been people with this frame of mind long before being politically correct was a concern.

I'm not sure "prude" would have had the same effect.


I don't really see you as an old biddy for the very reason that you do keep up with modern culture. Aren't old biddies the opposite of that? Aren't they frozen and angry and wanting to keep everyone controlled? A twenty year old can be an old biddy, as far as I am concerned. But then again, maybe I am creating my own definitions for language.

 

[the_mother_thing]

I see a bezel set three stone ring. If that's the right answer do I win it as a prize -- it's a lovely piece!

I see the same thing! Lovely ring.

Thank you both! You don't 'win the ring', but should I ever decide to sell, you win 'dibs'!

Back to the statue: I don't want to get into labeling people as "biddies", or anything else really. I think a simple distinction that first should be made in this case is: what is it/the intent? It's art; it's not a cover of Cosmo. And it was created by a self-proclaimed feminist, so I'm hard-pressed to think she was trying to shame women with cellulite, 'meatier thighs' like my own, etc. It was in homage to a movie & famous movie prop.

When it comes to art, interpretation is very subjective to the viewer. Me - I think perhaps her very intent may have been to challenge people to not jump to conclusions about sexism, and instead first consider things like 'context' when forming opinions.

That's what is so great about art; we all 'see' the same thing, but clearly can/do interpret it in a variety of ways.

 

[VRBeauty]

To me, AGBF's comment on the use of the use of the term "old biddies" has more to do with political correctness than the objections to either the sculpture or the showing of the giraffe giving birth. But this discussion does have me thinking about "what is political correctness"? The conservative press bandies the term about with disdain, and suggests that it's always about liberals imposing limitations designed to "not hurt peoples feelings," essentially imposing the sentiments and potential hurt feelings of the few on the many. And yet that same conservative press has made it almost de rigueur for mail politicians to wear a little tiny flag pins on their lapels whenever they appear in public, suggesting that failing to do so indicates a lack of patriotism. And "God bless America" has become the standard amen/benediction/ending to almost any prepared political speech, as if the politician who fails to use that phrase lives neither God nor America.

 

[redwood66]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

I am an "old biddy" and I am fairly open minded about sex and do not complain about vulgarity although there are words I, personally, do not use unless I lose all control. I am not sure age and sex (after all, "biddies" are women) should be used as the measuring stick with which to determine how much a person has grown in accepting new ideas.

Deb

I used the term "old biddy" to prove that there have always been people with this frame of mind long before being politically correct was a concern.

I'm not sure "prude" would have had the same effect.


I don't really see you as an old biddy for the very reason that you do keep up with modern culture. Aren't old biddies the opposite of that? Aren't they frozen and angry and wanting to keep everyone controlled? A twenty year old can be an old biddy, as far as I am concerned. But then again, maybe I am creating my own definitions for language.

Is it a requirement that people keep up with modern culture or be subjected to the label of old biddy?

 

[the_mother_thing]

To me, AGBF's comment on the use of the use of the term "old biddies" has more to do with political correctness than the objections to either the sculpture or the showing of the giraffe giving birth. But this discussion does have me thinking about "what is political correctness"? The conservative press bandies the term about with disdain, and suggests that it's always about liberals imposing limitations not hurting peoples feelings " the sentiments and potential hurt feelings of the few on the many. And yet that same conservative press has made it almost de rigueur for mail politicians to wear a little tiny flag pins on their lapels whenever they appear in public, suggesting that failing to do so indicates a lack of patriotism. And "God bless America" has become the standard amen/benediction/ending to almost any prepared political speech, as if the politician who fails to use that phrase lives neither God nor America.

For me, PC generally equates to 'negative' assumptions where none were intended nor inferred in or by the context for which something was said/made/written/etc. Negative reactions to this leg lamp statue are a PERFECT example. If one doesn't want to be labeled "PC" in cases like this, they might first ensure understanding/consideration of the intent/context of something (or ask if they don't know) before forming an opinion or assumption about something. I think that is what leads to a lot of discourse and disagreement about things. Just my $0.02.

 

[ruby59]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

Why do you refer to older people as old biddies?

Are you the one harboring anger?

 

[ruby59]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

I am an "old biddy" and I am fairly open minded about sex and do not complain about vulgarity although there are words I, personally, do not use unless I lose all control. I am not sure age and sex (after all, "biddies" are women) should be used as the measuring stick with which to determine how much a person has grown in accepting new ideas.

Deb

Why should every individual have to accept every new idea out there as if they are definitive proof of positive change?

 

[House Cat]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

I am an "old biddy" and I am fairly open minded about sex and do not complain about vulgarity although there are words I, personally, do not use unless I lose all control. I am not sure age and sex (after all, "biddies" are women) should be used as the measuring stick with which to determine how much a person has grown in accepting new ideas.

Deb

I used the term "old biddy" to prove that there have always been people with this frame of mind long before being politically correct was a concern.

I'm not sure "prude" would have had the same effect.


I don't really see you as an old biddy for the very reason that you do keep up with modern culture. Aren't old biddies the opposite of that? Aren't they frozen and angry and wanting to keep everyone controlled? A twenty year old can be an old biddy, as far as I am concerned. But then again, maybe I am creating my own definitions for language.

Is it a requirement that people keep up with modern culture or be subjected to the label of old biddy?

Now you're just showing me that I'm digging a hole!

That's it, I will affectionately refer to everyone here as "you's guys!"

 

[AnnaH]

Overly PC? I'm not convinced. There has always been a few old biddies who have taken issue with things like this. They will always be a part of our culture. They are not creating an overly PC atmosphere. They are just angry people who are trying to control everyone...as usual.

I am an "old biddy" and I am fairly open minded about sex and do not complain about vulgarity although there are words I, personally, do not use unless I lose all control. I am not sure age and sex (after all, "biddies" are women) should be used as the measuring stick with which to determine how much a person has grown in accepting new ideas.

Deb

Why should every individual have to accept every new idea out there as if they are definitive proof of positive change?

Good point, Ruby. Sometimes new is better, and sometimes it's just new.

 

[AnnaH]

Weird thread. I'm seeing what Jenn sees. But then, I usually get her.

 

[the_mother_thing]

Weird thread. I'm seeing what Jenn sees. But then, I usually get her.

I wouldn't brag about that here.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Weird thread. I'm seeing what Jenn sees. But then, I usually get her.

I wouldn't brag about that here.

HAHAHAHAHA -- love that pic! And the movie is one of my all time favorites!

 

[AnnaH]

Weird thread. I'm seeing what Jenn sees. But then, I usually get her.

I wouldn't brag about that here.

No problem. Already an outcast per another thread.