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Community => Society and History => Topic started by: TheL on December 18, 2012, 03:32:15 pm

Title: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: TheL on December 18, 2012, 03:32:15 pm
There's an unsettling trend of depictions of women Getting Sexier in ways that are objectifying and sometimes just plain creepy.  It's not that there are suddenly all these sexual libertines out there, or that Women Are Getting More Naked, More Often--it's just...we're being portrayed less like people and more like sex toys on display.  "Yessir, boys, that right there is a grade-A Pussy-Containing Device with D-cup breasts and built-in suction!"

Just for an example, I'm going to use the book Powers That Be, by Anne McCaffrey.  (Yes, I know.  I'm totally high on Anne McCaffrey lately.  Just go with it.)  There are a few minor spoilers, but the book was published in 1993, and I've deliberately left out The Big Reveal, so you're just going to have to Deal With It.

(http://www.munchkinpress.com/cpg149/albums/userpics/10146/rowena_1993_powers_that_be_29x19_oil_on_illus_board_small.JPG)

This, as far as I can tell, is the original cover image, sans cover.  There's an uncomfortable amount of Yellow Spandex, but this was the early 90's, and Yana complains in-book about how horribly ill-suited for Petaybean weather a lot of Intergal's clothing and supplies are, so I can deal.  (This is apparently a pet peeve of women on ice planets: Magda Lorne and Jaelle n'ha Mellora of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series have a similar complaint regarding Terran Federation uniforms.)  Besides, this artist, unlike 90% of the comic-book industry, understands that Spandex Is Not Body Paint.

I get the odd feeling that the rock pools in the foreground were drawn before Yana's legs were, and either Yana or the artist is sort of tucking the leg to one side to make it fit.  Overall, however, it's a very good painting.  There's enough oddness in the background to draw you in and start reading, but not enough that you're distracted from the character.  Yanaba Maddock looks like the 30-something, half-Navajo that she is (this becomes relevant later in the post), and her strong personality definitely shines through in her expression.  This cover definitely gives a good impression of What The Book Is About, and yes, it's just a wee bit sexy, what with the tight clothing and all.  Sexy, in and of itself, isn't bad.  It's how you do sexy that's important.

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51T5mXdAjKL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg)

Another cover image.  I'm not sure where this fits, chronologically, but it doesn't appear to be a very common one.  Google Image Search turned up far more results for the other two.  This is probably an early paperback-edition cover, maybe mid-90's or so.  It certainly doesn't look much later than the late 90's in style.

This fails the Male Gaze argument, but that's probably one of the reasons it wasn't used as the cover for very long.  There is one person here, and we can't be certain who it is. The character is facing away from us, riding into the Petaybean wilderness.  Points for being interesting, but let's face it, this doesn't draw us in as much as an actual face, smiling or screaming or beckoning.  We may want to follow this person, but we need more of a reason to peek inside this book or pick it up off the shelf.  Sexy Yana did a much better job of that. 

(http://resources2.deepdiscount.com/resources/deepdiscount/images/products/processed/314/9780345387790.zoom.1.jpg)

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the 2005 cover image, which was on a copy of the book that I recently purchased secondhand because I knew I would want to re-read it to death.  (I originally checked it out from the library, with the original Sexy-Yana cover image.  I had a thing for books about strong women, because I wanted to be strong too.)

I like the confused swirls of color--Petaybee's unusual nature is kept hidden from off-world characters and the reader until well into the novel, and the confusion that results is very well-represented by those vivid purples and greens.  The wintry scene at the top is nice too, and I like the curly-coat head, though it looks at first like it's a whole creature running with Yana, not a giant disembodied head.

Yes, folks, that really is supposed to be the same character that was depicted in the first cover image.  A combat veteran with a no-nonsense attitude, a Navajo bloodline, and a deep desire to Get To The Bottom Of Things Before More People Get Hurt.  No, really, come on.  That girl looks about 15, and has no more Native American blood in her than I do.  I have to give props to the artist for remembering that Aisling made that awesome blue latchkay shirt (seriously, the artist actually read the book), but it wouldn't be hanging off like that.  Yana must be freezing her tits off.  Also, I'm not sure why her leg is bent quite that far, or why she's not wearing a bra, or why she's still skeletal at a point in the story where it says she's pretty much fully-recovered.

But notice something else.  Yana isn't looking at the viewer at all.  She's got sort of a pleading expression, as if she's hoping for someone to come rescue her.  And we can see a good bit of her left breast.  Combine that with her out-of-canon youthfulness and painfully-thin frame, and you've got a very ugly implication there.  I'm not saying that the artist is deliberately playing on stereotypical "traditional" male desires to rescue or rape a young woman.  But Yana looks very weak and powerless in this image, an impression that the original cover and the book itself DON'T give of her at all.

This is a problem, y'all.  When women are portrayed as powerless Slabs O' Meat, deliberately or otherwise, that message gets internalized by girls.  Don't be strong, or boys won't like you.  Be pretty, or boys won't like you.  Act helpless and sexy, or boys won't like you.  And if boys don't like you, or you don't like boys, you're worthless.  The messages internalized by boys are just as bad, if not worse: Women are there to look pretty and to sell things to men.  Women have no agency or feelings of their own and only have to do what you want.  Women who don't look, act, and dress sexy all the time aren't worthy of your attention.  You should go out and have sex with lots of beautiful women, because that is the best thing you can do, and if you don't want to have sex with women that look just like this, then you're worthless.


Well.  That got very rant-y, very quickly.  To get things back on topic, does anybody have other examples of female characters or book covers who are genuinely empowered at first, then get more and more objectified over time?
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Captain Jack Harkness on December 18, 2012, 03:43:03 pm
You want to know what I think?  I think that you're reading way too much into that cover.  Other than the shirt being off of her shoulder on the far side, I didn't read ANY of the things you mentioned about the new cover.  Hell, I'd go so far to say as the whole shirt thing isn't even really noticeable unless you're paying attention to detail.

Granted, I've never read the book, so she might be wearing inappropriate attire (especially if the other covers are anything to go by).  That's about the only thing I could really read into it, and that's being generous.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on December 18, 2012, 03:50:19 pm
I see this more in things such as comics. For example, Catwoman #0 (http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/06/12/artists-respond-dc-comics-back-breaking-catwoman-0-cover/) or the Avengers movie poster (http://jezebel.com/5908730/good-things-happens-when-you-pose-the-men-of-the-avengers-like-women).

This does not take into account non-artistic examples of sexism (http://jezebel.com/5953107/woman-harassed-at-new-york-comic-con-awesomely-fights-back-internet-applauds) in the comic community.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: TheL on December 18, 2012, 03:54:27 pm
I may be reading too much into it, but on the other hand, teenagers today are saying things that disturb me about the role of women in society.  (Yes, I know, I'm becoming an old crank at 27.)  There is this expectation by teenage boys nowadays that ALL young women must have a 24" waist, that ALL young women must have a perfect face with no blemishes, that ALL young women must look exactly like Photoshopped pictures in magazines and porn.  Admittedly, there were idiots who thought such depictions of women were accurate 10 or 15 years ago, but it didn't seem to be nearly as ubiquitous as it is now.  And 15 years ago, people weren't calling size-2 women "fat cows" and being agreed with.  There are too many of them for it to just be an army of trolls.

These crazy ideas have to be coming from somewhere.  You don't just wake up one morning and say, "hey, I think I'll treat people this way instead of that way."  The way you are treated, and the way you see other people treating each other, and the way people are depicted on the covers of books and magazines, affect the way you treat other people as a teenager and an adult.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Distind on December 18, 2012, 04:18:52 pm
Admittedly, there were idiots who thought such depictions of women were accurate 10 or 15 years ago, but it didn't seem to be nearly as ubiquitous as it is now.  And 15 years ago, people weren't calling size-2 women "fat cows" and being agreed with.  There are too many of them for it to just be an army of trolls.
They did, assuming the they is the same group I think you're talking about. Well, groups, one being the group that uses women to amuse themselves and the other being the group that couldn't keep a woman's attention if they attached a neon sign to themselves. I say this having known plenty of them growing up.

I don't know how many guys you hung out with 10-15 years ago, but I bounced at least one off a drink machine for trashing his 'fat' girlfriend who happened to be one of the cutest girls in the school. She was drinking soda 'again', it must be what made her fat he said. He did it entirely because it got to her, worked on insecurities and made sure she wouldn't go after better. Given the rise of the utter pansy in the last few years I could see this having become a more common tactic, but it was hardly new even then.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Captain Jack Harkness on December 18, 2012, 05:00:53 pm
Well, I'm not sure if it's about the increased "sexifyiing" of women, but Women Logic (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/women-logic) is a particularly irritating meme filled with a crapton of strawman arguements and stereotypes.  Memes like this and "Go make me a sandwich." - which I've never really found to be "funny" might be a good part of the problem.

Also, there's the Rule 63 gallery on KYM. (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/rule-63/photos)  Just look at all that overtly sexual stuff.  I mean, I love porn/erotica, but I'm pretty damned sure that gallery's goal isn't to be erotic.

I mean, Jesus Fucking Christ!  They can't even do a Rule 63 pic of Bob Ross (http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/132152-rule-63) without stripping her down to a bra and panties!  Hm...maybe that's a bikini.  Not that it really matters.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on December 18, 2012, 05:04:03 pm
Well, I'm not sure if it's about the increased "sexifyiing" of women, but Women Logic (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/women-logic) is a particularly irritating meme filled with a crapton of strawman arguements and stereotypes.
I hate bigoted memes so much. They're stupid, unrelatable, and never, ever funny.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Auggziliary on December 18, 2012, 05:17:42 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.

Also, I hate it when men(and sometimes women) complain about women complaining. Or about how "all women care about in a guy is money, a nice car, and a big d*ck". That has nothing to do with gender! There are men who leave their awesome girlfriend because her breasts weren't big enough, or she gained weight. Douche-baggery knows no genders.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on December 18, 2012, 06:03:13 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.
I've noticed this among disgruntled MRAs. They tend to bleat about how they are such "nice guys" to women, yet women only want to date "thugs" and "bad boys". Then they go on to spout garbage that's more misogynist than anything a "bad boy" could ever conceive of, while feeling entitled to sex for treating women like, I dunno, actual people. Reminds me of the Chris Rock skit where he talked about people who brag about "doing shit they're supposed to do".
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: largeham on December 18, 2012, 06:39:43 pm
In terms of the book cover, while I get the exposure of her breasts and whatnot, part of it could simply be the fact that the illustrator probably never read the book.

However, in general I agree. Luckily, it seems that 'friendzoning' is slowly disappearing from the internet, or at least in my experience.

Also, there's the Rule 63 gallery on KYM. (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/rule-63/photos)  Just look at all that overtly sexual stuff.  I mean, I love porn/erotica, but I'm pretty damned sure that gallery's goal isn't to be erotic.

I mean, Jesus Fucking Christ!  They can't even do a Rule 63 pic of Bob Ross (http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/132152-rule-63) without stripping her down to a bra and panties!  Hm...maybe that's a bikini.  Not that it really matters.

I guess some people can't tell if a character is female unless she is in a sexy pose and/or in underwear.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Cerim Treascair on December 18, 2012, 06:55:17 pm
Speaking as someone that had the PTB trilogy, L? With the original covers? I never cared.  I figured it was just McCaffrey being McCaffrey.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Feral Dog on December 18, 2012, 07:08:05 pm
Anyone else on here a fan of Escher Girls?
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Dakota Bob on December 18, 2012, 07:32:34 pm
Anyone else on here a fan of Escher Girls?

That immediately came to mind when I saw the thread title.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Feral Dog on December 18, 2012, 07:55:25 pm
Anyone else on here a fan of Escher Girls?

That immediately came to mind when I saw the thread title.

One of their redraws that really stood out to me was one where a woman was kicking a guy. The anatomy was so distorted that redrawing based on the position of leg, head, arms, upper torso, and lower torso all yielded different results.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Material Defender on December 18, 2012, 08:34:11 pm
About the covers, as a male, I find the first cover 100x more alluring than the second one. Partially to do with size, partially to do with the clarity of her form, and mostly to do with the fact that I enjoy a woman with that has a lot more behind her.

Honestly, I've never understood the obsession with reducing women down or the fact that treating them like people entitles you to sex. Though I'm one of those people who finds someone who is interesting way sexier than someone who is just a mindless idiot with good form.

I don't think it's getting worse either though. I used to spot this kind of stuff a lot more earlier in life than I have latter in life despite the fact I'm far more vigilant about it now.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Auggziliary on December 18, 2012, 10:26:39 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.
I've noticed this among disgruntled MRAs. They tend to bleat about how they are such "nice guys" to women, yet women only want to date "thugs" and "bad boys". Then they go on to spout garbage that's more misogynist than anything a "bad boy" could ever conceive of, while feeling entitled to sex for treating women like, I dunno, actual people. Reminds me of the Chris Rock skit where he talked about people who brag about "doing shit they're supposed to do".

If a guy is being nice only because he wants a date or sex, then he's not a nice.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on December 18, 2012, 10:59:16 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.
I've noticed this among disgruntled MRAs. They tend to bleat about how they are such "nice guys" to women, yet women only want to date "thugs" and "bad boys". Then they go on to spout garbage that's more misogynist than anything a "bad boy" could ever conceive of, while feeling entitled to sex for treating women like, I dunno, actual people. Reminds me of the Chris Rock skit where he talked about people who brag about "doing shit they're supposed to do".

If a guy is being nice only because he wants a date or sex, then he's not a nice.
That too.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Material Defender on December 18, 2012, 11:49:22 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.
I've noticed this among disgruntled MRAs. They tend to bleat about how they are such "nice guys" to women, yet women only want to date "thugs" and "bad boys". Then they go on to spout garbage that's more misogynist than anything a "bad boy" could ever conceive of, while feeling entitled to sex for treating women like, I dunno, actual people. Reminds me of the Chris Rock skit where he talked about people who brag about "doing shit they're supposed to do".

If a guy is being nice only because he wants a date or sex, then he's not a nice.

I've always thought of it "Friends first, then maybe a date."
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: nickiknack on December 18, 2012, 11:59:05 pm
I mean, Jesus Fucking Christ!  They can't even do a Rule 63 pic of Bob Ross (http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/132152-rule-63) without stripping her down to a bra and panties!  Hm...maybe that's a bikini.  Not that it really matters.

Is it wrong that I find Rule 63 Bob Ross to be adorkable looking?? Plus, what's with the bunny in the fro??
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: syaoranvee on December 19, 2012, 02:08:42 am
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.
I've noticed this among disgruntled MRAs. They tend to bleat about how they are such "nice guys" to women, yet women only want to date "thugs" and "bad boys". Then they go on to spout garbage that's more misogynist than anything a "bad boy" could ever conceive of, while feeling entitled to sex for treating women like, I dunno, actual people. Reminds me of the Chris Rock skit where he talked about people who brag about "doing shit they're supposed to do".

If a guy is being nice only because he wants a date or sex, then he's not a nice.

I've always thought of it "Friends first, then maybe a date."

The general rule is the longer you put off any sort of romantic interest being known, the more likely the answer is will be no.   There's a point in which a friendship is worth more then the potential of ruining it, these people are the kind of people you can trust.  Only recently has it become a negative to people and generally called the "friendzone".  You're best chances are with people you meet out somewhere or only have a passing association with.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Witchyjoshy on December 19, 2012, 02:21:27 am
It doesn't help that, in the USA at least, there's a social stigma with a guy being "just friends" with a girl.

If a guy is friends with a girl, or multiple girls, people generally tend to think he's gay.  Nope, every interaction between the two genders, unless they are brother and sister, has to be for the development of sex, basically.

I find it fucking retarded.  I'm gay, and there's lots of guys who I'm "just friends" with, and I'm perfectly happy with that.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Material Defender on December 19, 2012, 10:39:43 am
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.
I've noticed this among disgruntled MRAs. They tend to bleat about how they are such "nice guys" to women, yet women only want to date "thugs" and "bad boys". Then they go on to spout garbage that's more misogynist than anything a "bad boy" could ever conceive of, while feeling entitled to sex for treating women like, I dunno, actual people. Reminds me of the Chris Rock skit where he talked about people who brag about "doing shit they're supposed to do".

If a guy is being nice only because he wants a date or sex, then he's not a nice.

I've always thought of it "Friends first, then maybe a date."

The general rule is the longer you put off any sort of romantic interest being known, the more likely the answer is will be no.   There's a point in which a friendship is worth more then the potential of ruining it, these people are the kind of people you can trust.  Only recently has it become a negative to people and generally called the "friendzone".  You're best chances are with people you meet out somewhere or only have a passing association with.

(click to show/hide)

Heh. I think it's because I grew up autistic, but I have hardly any want to 'date' anyone that I have a passing association with. I have to understand that I could enjoy hanging around a person before I'd have any interest for a deeper commitment.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on December 19, 2012, 12:15:51 pm
I find it fucking retarded.  I'm gay, and there's lots of guys who I'm "just friends" with, and I'm perfectly happy with that.
Yeah I know what you mean. I'm straight and most of my friends are women. I never thought anything of it either.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: TheL on December 19, 2012, 12:52:40 pm
In terms of the book cover, while I get the exposure of her breasts and whatnot, part of it could simply be the fact that the illustrator probably never read the book.

That's the frustrating thing about it.  Halfway into the book, we learn about the Awesome Blue Shirt with the embroidery and beadwork around the collar. I.e., the shirt on that last cover.  And you don't know about the curly-coats unless you've at least skimmed the book.  But the one thing that jumps out at you from page 1, and is repeated over and over, is that Petaybee Is Cold.  As in, Alaska-in-winter, 50-below-zero cold.  There are hot springs in some of the caves, but the words "cold," "snow," "ice," and "freezing" are repeated over and over, to the point that you can't really ignore them even if you're trying to.  Artist 1 compensates by having Yana by a hot spring, but Artist 3 has Yana floating in a contextless void.  We see bare chest skin, in an environment where baring anything is to risk it freezing and rotting off.

It's just plain irritating to someone who loves the book in particular and the series in general.

I'm also not sure what significance, if any, to ascribe to the fact that the first cover image was done by a woman and the last one by a man.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Vypernight on December 19, 2012, 04:58:36 pm
Honestly, my wife looks at women more than I do.  She even had a, 'Virtual Girl' stripper program on her computer.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Auggziliary on December 19, 2012, 05:23:31 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.
I've noticed this among disgruntled MRAs. They tend to bleat about how they are such "nice guys" to women, yet women only want to date "thugs" and "bad boys". Then they go on to spout garbage that's more misogynist than anything a "bad boy" could ever conceive of, while feeling entitled to sex for treating women like, I dunno, actual people. Reminds me of the Chris Rock skit where he talked about people who brag about "doing shit they're supposed to do".

If a guy is being nice only because he wants a date or sex, then he's not a nice.

I've always thought of it "Friends first, then maybe a date."

The general rule is the longer you put off any sort of romantic interest being known, the more likely the answer is will be no.   There's a point in which a friendship is worth more then the potential of ruining it, these people are the kind of people you can trust.  Only recently has it become a negative to people and generally called the "friendzone".  You're best chances are with people you meet out somewhere or only have a passing association with.

(click to show/hide)

Heh. I think it's because I grew up autistic, but I have hardly any want to 'date' anyone that I have a passing association with. I have to understand that I could enjoy hanging around a person before I'd have any interest for a deeper commitment.

Of course you want to be friends with a girl before you date her. I'm talking about men who only talk to women because they want to have sex or romance, and secretly don't care about them. There's nothing wrong with wanting a date and being nice to a girl to see if she's dating material, but when a guy gets rejected by a girl he shouldn't think he's been wronged.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Radiation on December 19, 2012, 07:58:12 pm
I may be reading too much into it, but on the other hand, teenagers today are saying things that disturb me about the role of women in society.  (Yes, I know, I'm becoming an old crank at 27.)  There is this expectation by teenage boys nowadays that ALL young women must have a 24" waist, that ALL young women must have a perfect face with no blemishes, that ALL young women must look exactly like Photoshopped pictures in magazines and porn.  Admittedly, there were idiots who thought such depictions of women were accurate 10 or 15 years ago, but it didn't seem to be nearly as ubiquitous as it is now.  And 15 years ago, people weren't calling size-2 women "fat cows" and being agreed with.  There are too many of them for it to just be an army of trolls.

These crazy ideas have to be coming from somewhere.  You don't just wake up one morning and say, "hey, I think I'll treat people this way instead of that way."  The way you are treated, and the way you see other people treating each other, and the way people are depicted on the covers of books and magazines, affect the way you treat other people as a teenager and an adult.

So much this. I would love it if comics, the media et.al. would start portraying women that are between 14-16 sizes and in different heights (ex. 5' 3.5") in a way that is strong, confident, fighters, etc. In other words, in roles that are not the stereotypical lonely, ugly, gluttonous fat girls. I think it would be a boost to young girls' self esteem and makes them think that they could be a strong, confident woman themselves and will have someone where they say "she looks like me" and to be relate-able to.

As for the size 2 being called a "fat cow." I don't know much about this but I do know that the thin, emaciated look came around in the 70's with the supermodel Twiggy. Calvin Klein was the one that really pushed that look with their models in 1990's IIRC. Either way, I would not be surprised now with the so-called "war on obesity" (not sure who declared that, the Bush Admin, or the Obama Admin, but I do know that Michelle Obama has a program called "Let's Move" and has claimed that she will eradicated childhood obesity in 10 years, she stated this around 2008, 2009.) has amped up double time in the past 4 years and along with shows like "The Biggest Loser" which has unrealistic and unhealthy weight loss goals for its contestants (one of who was the 3rd season winner and came out and discussed the unhealthy, desperate ways of how she and other contestants tried to get rid of their weight, another who developed an eating disorder as well as how the trainers, the staff et.al. were abusive to them.) is being touted basically as "well, if these fat asses can lose weight in so little time, then I can as well!" "Fat people can exercise, they just don't want to," "fat people are costing us money when they get sick!" and a lot of other anti-fat or fatophobic comments. Not to mention that shows like "Here comes Honey Boo Boo," "Toddlers and Tiaras," etc. portray fat people in a negative light and often times exaggerate as well as confirm the negative stereotypes of fat people in general. I am not sure how this makes Americans look like to the rest of the world, but a recent excuse as to why we should wage war against the so-called "obesity epidemic" is that people outside the USA see American citizens through the lens of reality shows like those that are listed above.

Either way, I feel that by creating characters of obese people (of women in particular) in non-sterotypical roles would probably be a boost to many women, particularly that of young women and girls' self esteem and confidence.

Sorry about the long, probably unrelated rant... I have been thinking about this the past couple of days.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Material Defender on December 19, 2012, 11:33:01 pm
Meanwhile, back a couple hundred years ago the guys all loved the big girls.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Canadian Mojo on December 19, 2012, 11:53:42 pm
Meanwhile, back a couple hundred years ago the guys all loved the big girls.
Some of us still do, or at the very least realize that within reason, who they are is more important that what they look like. I only put the within reason caveat because I will freely admit that physical attraction does play a role. I wouldn't trade my little chubette of 20 years for the world and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't trade her pudgy old husband either. We all get old and ugly, if love is going to endure, you need something more than aesthetics.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Jack Mann on December 20, 2012, 12:23:11 pm
I really liked Six Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person (http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-harsh-truths-that-will-make-you-better-person/), by David Wong.  As he says, it's not enough to be a nice guy.  That should be the absolute baseline.  It's like saying "I have legs, so I should get the gold medal."  And frankly, even though a lot of women do end up with assholes, I think a lot more often, it's the "nice guy" deciding the other man must be an asshole because he "took" the girl away from him.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on December 20, 2012, 04:25:41 pm
Relevant to the discussion of "nice" guys (http://niceguysofokc.tumblr.com/).
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: NonProphet on December 20, 2012, 04:36:48 pm
Relating to the book covers:
I don't see much of a problem with the pose of the character in the 3rd one (any more than with the first), but her expression & lack of Navajo features are a bit annoying. As is the open jacket, considering she's in a place that's similar in climate to Northern Siberia (or colder).
Now, as for the character's body type on the 3rd cover... yes, she is normally more full-figured. It's likely that the artist took too much of a liberty with the body type (or used a stock model, which happens often). I agree that the overall image suffers for it.

As for the comments about the 3rd cover's woman looking "skeletal": No. The model used might have had that body type.
While I am one of the first to be up in arms about curvy & full-figured women being insulted because of their body types, I also cannot stand it when people insult slender & thin women for the same.
I'm not saying you're doing it, TheL, but I've been seeing it too often lately & it's hypocritical. Maybe I'll post something about it in F&B.

...Sorry, rant/hijack over.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Feral Dog on December 20, 2012, 05:17:37 pm
Relevant to the discussion of "nice" guys (http://niceguysofokc.tumblr.com/).

Something Positive had it  pegged by name (http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp02142004.shtml) before the term was in wide use.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Material Defender on December 20, 2012, 06:10:16 pm
I think the issue is that "Nice guy" doesn't have a nice, firm definition and thus people think they can take the label and use it to improve their reputation with the opposite sex without actually meaning anything at all.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on December 20, 2012, 07:13:26 pm
I think the issue is that "Nice guy" doesn't have a nice, firm definition and thus people think they can take the label and use it to improve their reputation with the opposite sex without actually meaning anything at all.
Protip for these people: "Nice" is not synonymous with "socially awkward". You also cannot call yourself "nice" and then in the next  breath call women "sluts" and "bitches".
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Material Defender on December 20, 2012, 07:34:50 pm
I would love to call myself nice, but I have moments of horrifying lack of empathy and impulsive behavior.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: TheL on December 20, 2012, 07:49:27 pm
Relating to the book covers:
I don't see much of a problem with the pose of the character in the 3rd one (any more than with the first), but her expression & lack of Navajo features are a bit annoying. As is the open jacket, considering she's in a place that's similar in climate to Northern Siberia (or colder).
Now, as for the character's body type on the 3rd cover... yes, she is normally more full-figured. It's likely that the artist took too much of a liberty with the body type (or used a stock model, which happens often). I agree that the overall image suffers for it.

As for the comments about the 3rd cover's woman looking "skeletal": No. The model used might have had that body type.
While I am one of the first to be up in arms about curvy & full-figured women being insulted because of their body types, I also cannot stand it when people insult slender & thin women for the same.
I'm not saying you're doing it, TheL, but I've been seeing it too often lately & it's hypocritical. Maybe I'll post something about it in F&B.

...Sorry, rant/hijack over.

I'm not saying "I don't think Yana should be skinny."  I am saying, "This picture makes it look like the person's bones are literally showing."  That is what I mean by skeletal.  I am totally fine with skinny people.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: gomer21xx on December 21, 2012, 10:35:52 am
Relating to the book covers:
I don't see much of a problem with the pose of the character in the 3rd one (any more than with the first), but her expression & lack of Navajo features are a bit annoying. As is the open jacket, considering she's in a place that's similar in climate to Northern Siberia (or colder).
Now, as for the character's body type on the 3rd cover... yes, she is normally more full-figured. It's likely that the artist took too much of a liberty with the body type (or used a stock model, which happens often). I agree that the overall image suffers for it.

As for the comments about the 3rd cover's woman looking "skeletal": No. The model used might have had that body type.
While I am one of the first to be up in arms about curvy & full-figured women being insulted because of their body types, I also cannot stand it when people insult slender & thin women for the same.
I'm not saying you're doing it, TheL, but I've been seeing it too often lately & it's hypocritical. Maybe I'll post something about it in F&B.

...Sorry, rant/hijack over.

I'm not saying "I don't think Yana should be skinny."  I am saying, "This picture makes it look like the person's bones are literally showing."  That is what I mean by skeletal.  I am totally fine with skinny people.

I would hope you are, since you tend to be one. ;)
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Agni on December 21, 2012, 09:24:38 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.

Also, I hate it when men(and sometimes women) complain about women complaining. Or about how "all women care about in a guy is money, a nice car, and a big d*ck". That has nothing to do with gender! There are men who leave their awesome girlfriend because her breasts weren't big enough, or she gained weight. Douche-baggery knows no genders.

I dunno, I use the term "friendzone" in a joking manner when referring to girls who I'm friends with. Never really intended it to be a sexist term or not.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: RavynousHunter on December 22, 2012, 02:52:03 am
Re, "Nice Guys:"  Altruism does not work that way.

Also, "increasing popularity?"  ...Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the "male gaze" been popular pretty much since the dawn of humanity, most notably in more patriarchal societies?  This isn't some new phenomenon, and its prevalence isn't something new, either.  The thing is, we're more aware of it, nowadays.  We've got the internet, and its accessibility is bordering on universal.  The generations alive today (and those of tomorrow) have access to a broader, deeper range of information than at any other point in human history.  This allows us to really see just how wide-spread certain ideas are, to understand the true scope of that which is our nature as a species.

Its not the popularity that's increased, but our ability to see it on a global scale.  The same thing applies to, say, the prevalence of crimes, or the levels of depravity to which certain religious organizations can reach.  We see more, we hear more, but not necessarily because there is more, we've just got better access to it, now.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Auggziliary on December 22, 2012, 03:02:48 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.

Also, I hate it when men(and sometimes women) complain about women complaining. Or about how "all women care about in a guy is money, a nice car, and a big d*ck". That has nothing to do with gender! There are men who leave their awesome girlfriend because her breasts weren't big enough, or she gained weight. Douche-baggery knows no genders.

I dunno, I use the term "friendzone" in a joking manner when referring to girls who I'm friends with. Never really intended it to be a sexist term or not.

I don't know what you mean.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Auggziliary on December 22, 2012, 03:11:37 pm
This is kind of related, but I just realized I used to be "Nice guy"("nice girl" technically) when I was in love with this one chick. She was straight and I'd often get pissed whenever she'd complain about not having a boyfriend or whatever. I never got mad at her, of course, but I'd get passive aggressive and think some of the same things those "nice guys" think.
Of course, this was my first love, and I was only 12 and 13, so this was probably had a lot to do with my lack of maturity (which seems to be the case in a lot of "nice guys" anyways).
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Agni on December 22, 2012, 07:15:09 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.

Also, I hate it when men(and sometimes women) complain about women complaining. Or about how "all women care about in a guy is money, a nice car, and a big d*ck". That has nothing to do with gender! There are men who leave their awesome girlfriend because her breasts weren't big enough, or she gained weight. Douche-baggery knows no genders.

I dunno, I use the term "friendzone" in a joking manner when referring to girls who I'm friends with. Never really intended it to be a sexist term or not.

I don't know what you mean.

What I mean is that I use the term "friendzone" when talking about girls who I'm good friends with to the point that getting into a relationship would be awkward for us. I don't use it with the "that bitch" connotation other guys use it in.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Auggziliary on December 22, 2012, 07:17:08 pm
Another meme is friendzoning. Being nice to girl doesn't mean she's obligated to go out with you or have sex with you. That's a really sad thing to think. Honestly if a guy expected me to have sex with simply because he's nice to be, he's treating me worse than a prostitute. When prostitutes get paid, money is money, they aren't pretending to pay you just for sex.

Also, I hate it when men(and sometimes women) complain about women complaining. Or about how "all women care about in a guy is money, a nice car, and a big d*ck". That has nothing to do with gender! There are men who leave their awesome girlfriend because her breasts weren't big enough, or she gained weight. Douche-baggery knows no genders.

I dunno, I use the term "friendzone" in a joking manner when referring to girls who I'm friends with. Never really intended it to be a sexist term or not.

I don't know what you mean.

What I mean is that I use the term "friendzone" when talking about girls who I'm good friends with to the point that getting into a relationship would be awkward for us. I don't use it with the "that bitch" connotation other guys use it in.

Oh. I actually like that use of the word better, it makes more sense. Too bad the connotation is bad now.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: TheL on December 29, 2012, 06:36:57 pm
Re, "Nice Guys:"  Altruism does not work that way.

Also, "increasing popularity?"  ...Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the "male gaze" been popular pretty much since the dawn of humanity, most notably in more patriarchal societies?  This isn't some new phenomenon, and its prevalence isn't something new, either.  The thing is, we're more aware of it, nowadays.  We've got the internet, and its accessibility is bordering on universal.  The generations alive today (and those of tomorrow) have access to a broader, deeper range of information than at any other point in human history.  This allows us to really see just how wide-spread certain ideas are, to understand the true scope of that which is our nature as a species.

Its not the popularity that's increased, but our ability to see it on a global scale.  The same thing applies to, say, the prevalence of crimes, or the levels of depravity to which certain religious organizations can reach.  We see more, we hear more, but not necessarily because there is more, we've just got better access to it, now.

Dude, compare Barbie to Monster High.  Both are marketed at the same people: elementary-age girls.  Both are made by Mattel.  One has been in continuous production, in more or less its present form, for about 50 years now; the other is completely brand-new.

Barbie has D-cup breasts, yes, but she has a straight back.  She is standing erect like a normal human being.  The only things that you can really complain about are her feet (which are designed that way so she can fit into the high-heeled shoes properly--jointed ankles on dolls tend not to work out so well) and her skinny waist (which has been improved over the years to be not nearly as anorexic).

You can't tell it as much when they're in the package, but the Monster High girls have badly bent spines.  They may only have the equivalent of a B-cup, but they're thrusting it out about as far as Barbie's chest, and it looks really weird from the side.  What is obvious is how much more exaggerated everything is: the heads are proportionally much larger and cartoonish, sure, but their torsos and limbs are scary-thin and elongated like Bratz.  Monster High dolls and Bratz dolls can wear the same clothing, because they're both nightmarishly thin; Barbies can't squeeze into the clothes of either doll line.

Speaking of Bratz, look at the makeup.  Both of those Mattel dolls are wearing heavy makeup, but the faces still look like pretty high-school girls with reasonable proportions (again, Monster High exaggerates the size of the eyes a bit, because it's more cartoonish).  But Bratz has HUGE, pouty red lips--a typical indicator of female sexuality.  It's been exaggerated to the point that it doesn't even look cute anymore; it's just ugly and creepy-looking, and vaguely reminiscent of racist minstrel shows.  The Bratz line only sells at all anymore through sheer inertia; the line was popular when it debuted in 2000 and has slumped since.

This sort of broken-spine, huge-lipped foolishness literally did not exist in the dolls that were marketed to me when I was a little girl.  It is being marketed to little girls now.  And it is transparently used to accentuate curves and other sexual features while simultaneously making a figure that is stick-thin to a degree not possible in a human being.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Auggziliary on December 29, 2012, 06:50:52 pm
Re, "Nice Guys:"  Altruism does not work that way.

Also, "increasing popularity?"  ...Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the "male gaze" been popular pretty much since the dawn of humanity, most notably in more patriarchal societies?  This isn't some new phenomenon, and its prevalence isn't something new, either.  The thing is, we're more aware of it, nowadays.  We've got the internet, and its accessibility is bordering on universal.  The generations alive today (and those of tomorrow) have access to a broader, deeper range of information than at any other point in human history.  This allows us to really see just how wide-spread certain ideas are, to understand the true scope of that which is our nature as a species.

Its not the popularity that's increased, but our ability to see it on a global scale.  The same thing applies to, say, the prevalence of crimes, or the levels of depravity to which certain religious organizations can reach.  We see more, we hear more, but not necessarily because there is more, we've just got better access to it, now.

Dude, compare Barbie to Monster High.  Both are marketed at the same people: elementary-age girls.  Both are made by Mattel.  One has been in continuous production, in more or less its present form, for about 50 years now; the other is completely brand-new.

Barbie has D-cup breasts, yes, but she has a straight back.  She is standing erect like a normal human being.  The only things that you can really complain about are her feet (which are designed that way so she can fit into the high-heeled shoes properly--jointed ankles on dolls tend not to work out so well) and her skinny waist (which has been improved over the years to be not nearly as anorexic).

You can't tell it as much when they're in the package, but the Monster High girls have badly bent spines.  They may only have the equivalent of a B-cup, but they're thrusting it out about as far as Barbie's chest, and it looks really weird from the side.  What is obvious is how much more exaggerated everything is: the heads are proportionally much larger and cartoonish, sure, but their torsos and limbs are scary-thin and elongated like Bratz.  Monster High dolls and Bratz dolls can wear the same clothing, because they're both nightmarishly thin; Barbies can't squeeze into the clothes of either doll line.

Speaking of Bratz, look at the makeup.  Both of those Mattel dolls are wearing heavy makeup, but the faces still look like pretty high-school girls with reasonable proportions (again, Monster High exaggerates the size of the eyes a bit, because it's more cartoonish).  But Bratz has HUGE, pouty red lips--a typical indicator of female sexuality.  It's been exaggerated to the point that it doesn't even look cute anymore; it's just ugly and creepy-looking, and vaguely reminiscent of racist minstrel shows.  The Bratz line only sells at all anymore through sheer inertia; the line was popular when it debuted in 2000 and has slumped since.

This sort of broken-spine, huge-lipped foolishness literally did not exist in the dolls that were marketed to me when I was a little girl.  It is being marketed to little girls now.  And it is transparently used to accentuate curves and other sexual features while simultaneously making a figure that is stick-thin to a degree not possible in a human being.

I don't really think Bratz dolls are more sexy or whatever than Barbie. They are creepy looking, but they just look like really stylized and exaggerated, rather than extra sexy. When I look at a Barbie doll, it seems like they're making a realistic version of an ideal, whereas the Bratz dolls look like a normal tween girl if her features were extremely exaggerated.
I find both dolls terrifying though, to be honest.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Material Defender on December 30, 2012, 09:19:45 am
Re, "Nice Guys:"  Altruism does not work that way.

Also, "increasing popularity?"  ...Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the "male gaze" been popular pretty much since the dawn of humanity, most notably in more patriarchal societies?  This isn't some new phenomenon, and its prevalence isn't something new, either.  The thing is, we're more aware of it, nowadays.  We've got the internet, and its accessibility is bordering on universal.  The generations alive today (and those of tomorrow) have access to a broader, deeper range of information than at any other point in human history.  This allows us to really see just how wide-spread certain ideas are, to understand the true scope of that which is our nature as a species.

Its not the popularity that's increased, but our ability to see it on a global scale.  The same thing applies to, say, the prevalence of crimes, or the levels of depravity to which certain religious organizations can reach.  We see more, we hear more, but not necessarily because there is more, we've just got better access to it, now.

Dude, compare Barbie to Monster High.  Both are marketed at the same people: elementary-age girls.  Both are made by Mattel.  One has been in continuous production, in more or less its present form, for about 50 years now; the other is completely brand-new.

Barbie has D-cup breasts, yes, but she has a straight back.  She is standing erect like a normal human being.  The only things that you can really complain about are her feet (which are designed that way so she can fit into the high-heeled shoes properly--jointed ankles on dolls tend not to work out so well) and her skinny waist (which has been improved over the years to be not nearly as anorexic).

You can't tell it as much when they're in the package, but the Monster High girls have badly bent spines.  They may only have the equivalent of a B-cup, but they're thrusting it out about as far as Barbie's chest, and it looks really weird from the side.  What is obvious is how much more exaggerated everything is: the heads are proportionally much larger and cartoonish, sure, but their torsos and limbs are scary-thin and elongated like Bratz.  Monster High dolls and Bratz dolls can wear the same clothing, because they're both nightmarishly thin; Barbies can't squeeze into the clothes of either doll line.

Speaking of Bratz, look at the makeup.  Both of those Mattel dolls are wearing heavy makeup, but the faces still look like pretty high-school girls with reasonable proportions (again, Monster High exaggerates the size of the eyes a bit, because it's more cartoonish).  But Bratz has HUGE, pouty red lips--a typical indicator of female sexuality.  It's been exaggerated to the point that it doesn't even look cute anymore; it's just ugly and creepy-looking, and vaguely reminiscent of racist minstrel shows.  The Bratz line only sells at all anymore through sheer inertia; the line was popular when it debuted in 2000 and has slumped since.

This sort of broken-spine, huge-lipped foolishness literally did not exist in the dolls that were marketed to me when I was a little girl.  It is being marketed to little girls now.  And it is transparently used to accentuate curves and other sexual features while simultaneously making a figure that is stick-thin to a degree not possible in a human being.

They always seemed more exaggerated for the sake of cartoonishness as opposed to 'look this way' because they do not appear to be real people. They do not have the 'realism' for lack of a better word of barbie. This kind of setup means that they aren't meant to be an example, just meant to be a toy. I mean when I grew up I had a lot of action figures of ripped, muscley men in tight clothing. I felt no urge or great desire to replicate their careers or body type. They were honestly just toys to me. Even the ones with any regard for realism and ignoring the ones not intended in any regard that way. I think things involved around enforcing female roles in play, like houses, baby dolls, and cooking items are far more damaging than shitty, cartoony dolls. This whole concept of fat is bad and the concepts society as a whole are teaching kid's a lot more than these dolls. I didn't feel uncomfortable about being fat until I was in High School and was learning about all these awful things about being fat (Which is more caused by having a horrid diet than being fat, at least the majority of things). I also became much more concerned over my appearance in high school, having the urge to try to figure out how to build muscle but too self-consciousness to go to a gym with people in it. I think girls are hit with the image train early or I got on it late since I'm autistic.

I also had a barbie doll someone gave me that got set on fire. I forget the circumstances of that.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Auggziliary on December 30, 2012, 09:49:18 am
I hated the barbie dolls my parents got me. I remember I sacrificed a few of them to the Beanie Baby's god.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: Material Defender on December 30, 2012, 01:12:04 pm
I hated the barbie dolls my parents got me. I remember I sacrificed a few of them to the Beanie Baby's god.

They aren't really that interesting if you aren't into dress up. I mean, I enjoyed armoring up my playmobiles and lego people, but that was to play war. Always loved to play made up wargames with my toys and my brother.
Title: Re: The increasing popularity of The Male Gaze.
Post by: NonProphet on January 07, 2013, 03:02:42 am
Relating to the book covers:
I don't see much of a problem with the pose of the character in the 3rd one (any more than with the first), but her expression & lack of Navajo features are a bit annoying. As is the open jacket, considering she's in a place that's similar in climate to Northern Siberia (or colder).
Now, as for the character's body type on the 3rd cover... yes, she is normally more full-figured. It's likely that the artist took too much of a liberty with the body type (or used a stock model, which happens often). I agree that the overall image suffers for it.

As for the comments about the 3rd cover's woman looking "skeletal": No. The model used might have had that body type.
While I am one of the first to be up in arms about curvy & full-figured women being insulted because of their body types, I also cannot stand it when people insult slender & thin women for the same.
I'm not saying you're doing it, TheL, but I've been seeing it too often lately & it's hypocritical. Maybe I'll post something about it in F&B.

...Sorry, rant/hijack over.

I'm not saying "I don't think Yana should be skinny."  I am saying, "This picture makes it look like the person's bones are literally showing."  That is what I mean by skeletal.  I am totally fine with skinny people.
Ohhh. I must have misunderstood through the haze of body-type hate that I've been seeing all over the internet lately. I should remember that most FSTDTers are better than that.