America's Next Top Model

[Orrex]

I'm not a fan of this show or of reality tv in general, but while flipping around the dial yesterday I happened upon a segment that resonated with a recent thread here.

If I understand the show, a flock of women is culled weekly until we're left with the Next Top Model, and en route the contestants subject themselves to various contests, evaluations, and trials. Last night's episode featured a themed photoshoot, with each woman's pictures forming a big part of her evaluation.

The theme was "violent deaths" or something similar, with each model made up and posing to appear a victim of some violent end. One woman was poisoned, one electrocuted, one thrown down the stairs, one strangled, one shot in the head, one stabbed in the chest, and another fallen from a roof. Each model was, naturally, made up in full glamour mode and dressed to the proverbial nines, creating a stark visual contrast with the gory makeup of her injuries. As an added kink, each model told a very brief (like one sentence) story of how one of the other models had "killed" her.

So what do you think? Is this in line with the recent Spanish shoe ads? Is it harmless fun in the name of sensationalism? Is it just another example of shock-value for ratings?

[fortyfeetunder]

1. Another example of TV wasteland

When they have to dream up stuff like that, you know it's an act of network desperation.

[Lint Head]

2. I agree.

Broadcast, cable and satellite television has become a total waste of modern technology. It's a tool that has become an art-less wasteland.:dem:

[ms liberty]

3. It all reminds me of a Faye Dunaway film from 1978...

called "The Eyes of Laura Mars" which also featured one of the hot, young, and hip new actors of that time...a guy named Tommy Lee Jones. She played a successful fashion photographer who specialized in photos of models in gory scenes like car wrecks or murders. She begins seeing visions of murders, and uses them in her photo shoots. Tommy Lee Jones is the young detective on the case, and they fall in love. (Spoiler below!)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0077530/













Of course, Tommy Lee is also the bad guy/killer, and she ends up killing him in self-defense at the end.

[soothsayer]

6. I loved that movie! And this episode did remind me of it. Relax--

it's an interesting show. This is the first time in 8 seasons they've done a shoot like that.

[DaveJ]

4. Well it's not just that advertisers are morons

They are morons, don't get me wrong, but there are a few at higher levels who use these morons to accomplish their goal of creating a submissive public who will do their bidding. That's all there is to it. These are low times.

[Warpy]

5. Sounds like violent porn to me

I hope this show has a quick and merciful demise/

[SemperEadem]

9. it's in its 3rd or 4th season

so it's not going anywhere soon.

I think that even more reprehensible than that is how the producers of the show encourage such hatred and jealousy of women by other women. Conflict pushers are what they are, not show producers. I cannot believe that young women are so catty, vengeful, insecure, diminished that they feel they must keep stupid, inconsequential bullshit going.

Last season, I rooted for Melrose because she was the only one who exhibited any kind of business accumen and initiative--and she tooted her own horn to make sure people knew it. She had more appreciation for the time/money element of what she was doing in her little finger than any of the other girls had combined. All they had time to do was hate on her and it was fitting that they all got culled from the pack. It's too bad that she didn't win the competition, but I believe that overall, she came away with more victories and successes and showed potential clients that her business mind was sharp and she would be a good investment of time and money because she knew how to deliver the product.

[soothsayer]

7. It's a good show. Lots of drama (young girls in a house together)

Tyra is nice with them. No different than the Real Word, really, except that they end up with a modeling portfolio.

[noamnety]

8. It's in line with advertising themes in general

Women are accessories, violence against them is erotic, restraining them is erotic, dehumanizing them is erotic, no means yes, they secretly want to be raped, they are weak, they need to be thinner and younger and more childlike, vulnerable and exposed, and be attractive to men to have any worth.



http://www.ltcconline.net/lukas/gender/pages/hallofshame.htm

[triakis36]

10. 50 cent on ANTM

If you felt the photo shoot was violent, what did you think about 50 cent shoving one of the girls into the pool in the latest episode?

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Orrex]

12. Uh, they might both be me

To which shite are you referring?

I certainly won't deny anything that I've posted, but I'd hate to get zapped for someone else's thoughts.