From a pool of about seven billion, those hard-working geniuses at People magazine have managed to find the hundred most beautiful people in the whole wide world. And—get ready for the surprise—almost every one of those beautiful people are rich American celebrities. For almost two decades, People’s editors believe they have been given the divine right to anoint who they believe to be the most beautiful people on the planet. The ethnocentric celebrity-fawning People editors are so secure in their self-imposed knowledge that they don’t even tell us what criteria they used to make their determinations. Not even an “editor’s note,” common in most magazines. For the first few years, People etched their version of reality into our minds by attaching cutesy capsulated biographies to full page color pictures of the most beautiful. This year, the writing is minimal, the design is almost to the level that a good college journalism or graphics arts student could create and, except for a few full page and two-page spreads, most pictures are no bigger than thumbnail size. Leading off the 69-page special section is actress Kate Hudson. Advance stories about her selection appeared in just about every American newspaper and major website, all of which think stories about celebrities are more important than stories about the recession. Also on the list are Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Ashton Kutcher, and Norah Jones. The seven member cast of TV’s “Gossip Girl” made the list. “Onscreen,” People told us, “they are gorgeous, scheming, backstabbing high schoolers.” Just what America needs. More future business executives and politicians. The first few years, when the magazine editors could find only 50 beautiful people, there was a fairly even split between men and women. This year, about 90 percent are women. Except for six athletes (three men and three women), the rest are actors, singers, dancers, and models. Three years after the first list came out, People recognized the elderly. Of course, the elderly were Paul Newman, Faye Dunaway, and Barbara Babcock. This year, there’s a special color spread deep in the magazine on pages 174–175 for 40 celebrities, 10 in each of the categories of 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. People once selected size 5-foot-11 size14 model Emme as a beautiful person. It championed her as representative of the “burgeoning large-size modeling industry.” Of course, these vacuous editors have no idea that a size 14 isn’t large—it is the average size of American women. This year, the only large size models are in full page ads for Jenny Craig diets and Curvation underwear, which declared, “Style starts with the Side Shaper Underwire bra and shaping panty.” Teachers, social workers, and medical researchers, no matter how beautiful, didn’t make this year’s cut. But, they shouldn’t worry about it. Neither did Miss America, Miss USA, Miss World, Mr. Universe, or, for that matter, Miss Crustacean, Ocean City, New Jersey’s, salty tribute to hermit crabs, and a spoof of the beauty contest that once inhabited next-door Atlantic City. People magazine may need people to justify its $254,000 full page advertising rate. But, people, even with insatiable curiosity about celebrities, really don’t need People. [Walter Brasch is professor of journalism at Bloomsburg University and president of the Pennsylvania Press Club. His latest book is Sinking the Ship of State: The Presidency of George W. Bush, available through amazon.com. [click hereYou may contact Brasch at brasch@bloomu.edu or through his website at: www.walterbrasch.com]
Walter Brasch is an award-winning journalist and university professor. His current books are America's Unpatriotic Acts: The Federal Government's Violation of Constitutional and Civil Rights, and 'Unacceptable': The Federal response to Hurricane Katrina, both available at amazon.com, borders.com and most major on-line bookstores.
the Power Ranger lady, those long finger-nails could really scratch my back. But on a more pressing matter maybe the fringe left or the conspiracy theorists should come up with our own 100 most wacked-out people, those who have fought the non-existant NAU, or PNAC or the Bilderberg, or the 911 hoax. Just a nutty thought.
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john riggs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 441 comments)
on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 9:33:21 PM
This was a nicely written article and very perceptive. The kind of stupidity advanced by People Mag pervades the consciousness of our culture and breaking through that consciousness to bring awareness of what we so often miss as most of us slumber through our days is a valuable contribution. Thanks.
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Mark A. Goldman (81 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 243 comments)
on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 5:59:21 PM
American's buy the empty fluff of People magazine and the Infotainment that has replaced journalism. Turn off the televisions. Don't look at the nonsense in the check out lanes.
With gas prices through the roof, an unpaid war raging on longer and more costly than WWII and corporate domination and pillaging of the nations treasure - you would think we would be Marching in the Streets and protesting everywhere our selected representatives traveled and round the clock at their home offices.
Instead, nothing. Not a peep.
Lot's of stuff on the internet - lot's of comments and blogging.
At my town council meeting this week - one citizen in the audience. (me). Not a single social concern on the agenda.
So you wonder why our country is in such a mess?
Where is everyone? Watching America's next top model and reading people?
Damn, what's it going to take - complete economic collapse and food rationing?
... it might just be coming soon....
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August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 469 comments)
on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 10:32:17 PM
Clearly the training works well. My, me, mine fill your head with meaningless dribble and concern yourself only with your own comfort. Never look at the big picture or learn to add two plus two. Ah the twenty first century. Isn't it grand.
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arlen custer (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 288 comments)
on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 7:56:25 AM
"People, People Who Don't Need People" Subm by Brash
For 90% Americans the WORLD is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Hence, the World Series, the World this and the World that. For the remaining 10% the World is what it actually is, billions of 'critters' with no rights to be treated as EQUALS except for the few RICH amongst them, the few Whites and those few who are unfortunate enough to have oil, gas, minerals or precious stones under their feet. So, what's the big deal, Brash?
by
syed mahdi (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 126 comments)
on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 4:46:40 AM
10 comments
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