I'm pretty sure this is right about when I fell in love with her (and then that SNL skit... girlcrushies). I remember discussing with a girlfriend how Natalie Portman is the kind of girl that other girls respect, admire, like, and emulate, whereas, say... Megan Fox is the kind of girl that boys "like". Or some verb similar to that, but more misogynistic. My guys friends have literally said "Megan Fox is the perfect woman," direct quote, full agreement among all males present. And between all of them, not one could verbalize a reason aside from her obvious beauty. Megan Fox herself mentions in multiple interviews that guys love befriending her because she has "a badass personality," and that girls don't like her because they are jealous of that. I could see her being right about both statements, to an extent. As to the "girls don't like me" part, I could see why, potentially. There's something about her tone, demeanor, self-presentation that seems ... pandering to men. The things she says, the way she poses in photographs, her ubiquitious "sexyface" and unrelenting bedroom eyes... she comes off as very self-sexualizing (if that's a word) with no "artistry" reason behind it, which I think is unattractive or not quite respectable to fellow females. (Not that artisticness is an "excuse," if such a thing is even necessary, although I think it normalizes the behavior and makes it more socially accepted in general and in turn, more accepted among women.)Case-in-point:
It's not that she takes many, many nearly-nude or lingerie photos. I'm sure Natalie Portman has taken very similar risque photos and I very distinctly recall Keira Knightly taking nearly-topless photos for Chanel ads and fashion spreads. In fact, googling "Natalie Portman nude" produces this as the no. 1 image result:
And we've all seen her pretty much naked in Closer. So what exactly is the difference? Both girls are undeniably beautiful. Why are they in different boxes in my head? Is it that Natalie Portman is a Harvard graduate, and thus obviously intelligent and "automatically" more respectable? Is it that she acts in "better" movies? Do you view them the same way? Are you male or female?
Thoughts?
Agh I totally didn't even mean to write an entry! Have tons on the to-do list!!!
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ReplyDeleteshould it be "good for her" because she's so embraced her sexuality? Then what's the difference between her and Beyonce, who also wears her sexuality on her sleeve and sells it incredibly well, whom I greatly respect? Is it because she was on the cover of Fortune mag?
WHo is georgina. I thought my friend Jean was writing these... This is an amazing blog!!!!!! keep up the work. Great discussion.
ReplyDeleteI think she is just in different box in your mind because they both further different images or have different philosophies about themselves in media. Natalie portman probably sees herself as having a responsibility being someone who young girls will see in movies and ads and aspire to be similar , so she voices her opinions, and is probably more opinionated
whereeas that other woman who i have never in my life have ever HEARD of until my google search just a moment ago, is probably someone who wont last very long under the radar, and clearly wears a fucking shit load of makeup. natalie portman is like timeless beauty. and im pretty sure she has the look of the flushed aroused passive woman, so either she does it for jobs or for her male audience (same thing) or because we are living in a special time where the "sexified" female is no longer objectified, she is seen in photographs, exposing her long fleshy parts because she is aggressive and almost in a challenging/ inviting relationship with the viewer, so as to permit them of their sexual thoughts/ jerkin it/whatever
natalie portman pprobably (i have no actual clue , nor do i care, this is for the sake of the argument) thinks that that fox model/actress is just a slave. giving in for the sexuality, no matter what position , standing sitting, in photographs or other forms of "art", you are still an Object. this is a common stunt just for making $$$$$ in the cheapest way possible and you are only famous because little preteen boys can relate her to a barbie doll, or for some girls who need her to help validate their use of makeup/ plastic surgery/ any other form of artificiality in the way we carry ourselves as women- which brings me back to scarification, tattooing, those wedding bands, corsets, or even those women that had their heads shaped in a melon shape to show the men they are ready for adult life (sex/,marriage/this usually just means they had their first period).
I recently learned about modern makeup as it was introduced in the west, the red of lipstick, reminds men of vagina (lips), the flushed look of being aroused gave the inspiration for blush and to put emphasis on the eyes, using eye shadow or liners has the same affect of the "orgasmic sex look", like Wow, Im having such a great fuck, I want YOU and only YOU, the whole passive/ sex slave thing has gone on for wayyyyyyy too long, the eye liner look was stolen from egyptian men and women (they used it in the desert to keep out bugs and hmmm they just were into that look.... as well, for very similar sex-related reasons)