On this month's cover of GQ magazine, a publication arguably for and by gay men, Jennifer Aniston, a sitcom celebrity, appears naked with a strategically placed necktie (because men wear neckties and you know, like naked chicks). In the article, she says some surely fascinating things about that dog movie she's in and continues to talk about her ex-husband Brad Pitt, and just embarrasses herself in general. However, Ms. Aniston's cover begs the question of why a 30something woman with a successful career ("successful" in media terms, not mine!) and solid stardom feel the need to strip down for a men's magazine?
Jennifer Aniston rose to fame on a stupid yet successful sitcom (Friends) and continued to find roles in mainstream movies (Along Came Polly and You, Me, and Dupree...wait, that was Kate Hudson. Same thing) due to her conventional attractiveness. Ms. Aniston really hit her stride when her more famous husband left her for a hotter woman with whom he proceeded to procreate and populate the earth with. It was the stuff that tabloid dreams are made of. Ms. Aniston then became the everywoman because every woman loves Friends, is getting older, and hates that humanitarian minx, Angelina, too.
Ms. Aniston is 39 and probably has been for the last five years. And thanks to cosmetic surgery, facial injections, a personal trainer, nutritionist, and stylist, she looks great. Some would argue the fact that Ms. Aniston is "Sexy at 40!" is reason enough to pose nude on the cover of a magazine. I argue that it's reason enough not to pose naked as some masturbatory fantasy. Brad Pitt is in his 40s and recently graced the cover of Rolling Stone with a mustache...and clothes. George Clooney is a sex-symbol in his 40s and sadly, has not been naked on the cover of anything.
Alas, the aforementioned are men. Jennifer Aniston is not. Sure, women can age but only if they do so wrinkle and fat-free manner. From her cover, Ms. Aniston shouts, "Hey! Hey! Hey! Look at me! I'm 40 and hot! Older women are hot too! Hey!" Ms. Aniston passed desperate when she started talking to the media about her ex-husband and his current partner. While Ms. Aniston's GQ cover could be understood as her representing the single and aging ladies. However, she is really just representing our obsession with women's looks. The real issue is the fact that women are only relevant in our culture when they are look good. It's okay that women get older, we just better not look it.
1 comment:
george clooney is such a good example of how off-balance shit is. Imagine if his wrinkly (but super handsome) face graced the cover of Cosmo or Better Homes and Gardens. The imaginary article contained inside would speak not of hair dye but of philanthropy; not of catty jealousy but of inspiration; and, certainly, not of tits.
keep up the good blogging, e
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