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May 6, 2008 at 05:38:23

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Headlined on 5/6/08:
People. People Who Don't Need People

by Brasch     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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by Walter Brasch
 
            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 here You 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.

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10 comments


Wolfie

DO I LOOK FAT IN THIS?

When celebrity trumps cortex and courage, then it demonstrates the

 buy-in of the facade over the core of beauty.

Beauty has its place in art and literature. Yet without all the other

flavors of life's palatte, we would soon be difficient in our diets.

Our loss for recognizing beauty in all people has resulted in a

myopia of the myriad visions of beauty the world has to offer.

Is not the beauty of a Sophie Tucker, Louis Prima, Jimmy Durante,

Patsy Cline, as well as a Byron Katie, Eckhard Tolle, Michio Kaku and

so many other beautiful people who have lived or now extant represent

true beauty. Just look at your life partner and parents and children and

tell me they are not the most beautiful people in the world.

Superficiality is what is learned on the tube. A depth of true meaning

is what we know from the reality show called living.

 

Wolfie doesn't look to bad even without a poodle cut!

by Wolfie (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 33 diaries, 1208 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 11:02:40 AM
 


Former Lawyer, current Business Consultant,history buff, Christian, father of 2 sons and a supporter of democratic government.
ArchieFormer Lawyer, current Business Consultant,history buff, Christian, father of 2 sons and a supporter of democratic government.

People

People Magazine's 100 most beautiful is really a comment on the vapidity of American culture.

by Archie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1285 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 12:41:17 PM
 


SW Texas ultra-liberal
john riggsSW Texas ultra-liberal

I have a thing for

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.

by john riggs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 441 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 9:33:21 PM
 


anna van z publishes The Mills River Progressive, a blog dedicated to progressive news and views. The MRP is based in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
annavanzanna van z publishes The Mills River Progressive, a blog dedicated to progressive news and views. The MRP is based in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Speaking of Nutty

Maybe you should think before spewing, and consider if your reply has any relevance to the post you are responding to. Just a thought... 

by annavanz (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 32 comments) on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 6:39:19 PM
 


Mark A. Goldman is an activist, author, financial planner and recent unsuccessful Candidate for Congress.
Mark A. GoldmanMark A. Goldman is an activist, author, financial planner and recent unsuccessful Candidate for Congress.

Very well done

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.

by Mark A. Goldman (81 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 243 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 5:59:21 PM
 


August Adams is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology. He is an activist striving to create a fair and just world for all.
August AdamsAugust Adams is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology. He is an activist striving to create a fair and just world for all.

America Continues to Buy the Fluff

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.... 

by August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 469 comments) on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 10:32:17 PM
 


Just a plain working person that is sick of the lies and our ego driven complacency about those lies.
arlen custerJust a plain working person that is sick of the lies and our ego driven complacency about those lies.

What is to be done?

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.

by arlen custer (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 288 comments) on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 7:56:25 AM
 


A 'senior' world citizen concerned about how badly our shared domicile is being ravaged by imperialists, dominionists, neo-cons and evangelists.
syed mahdiA 'senior' world citizen concerned about how badly our shared domicile is being ravaged by imperialists, dominionists, neo-cons and evangelists.

"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
 

 

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