On beauty

[pegkerr]

An interesting article in the Daily Mail about the TV series Ugly Betty, and how it addresses our cultural myths about beauty in women.

I haven't seen the show (I don't watch television) but it looks interesting--I have always liked America Ferrara as an actress (loved her in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants). She has done interesting things in her career in examining the pressures on women to have a certain body type: that was certainly a big part of the plot with STP, and her first role, Real Woman Have Curves.

Any of you seen "Ugly Betty"? What do you think of it?

Comments

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I've seen bits of episodes and thought it was worth catching, but I've never seen an entire episode -- mostly because I generally only watch Sci Fi, so when there's something on another channel, I tend to forget about it. It struck me as probably quite entertaining and funny.

Been watching it...

[dlandon.livejournal.com]

And really enjoying it. It's actually funny, versus a lot of sitcoms out there that aren't, and I like the fact that the normal, healthy family is the Hispanic family instead of the rich, white one. It wouldn't be appropriate for your girls, since one of the lead characters is a playboy who's learning how to appreciate things he's taken for granted and there are sexual references, etc, but you might enjoy it. Betty solves problems with her brains, not looks, and she's strong-minded and intelligent, which I also appreciate. You can watch full episodes at abc.com online.

- Dena

[kayselkiemoon.livejournal.com]

I am enjoying it. at first I was put off by the title and premise, so I didn't start watching immediately. but when I caught part of an episode I got hooked. it's smart and funny, and while there are plenty of characters whose lifestyles and decisions are not the greatest, you see them in situations which make them think about these things, and their characters get rounded out so you see the insecurities and wants that make them up. it's a much more rounded show than I had expected.

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

My wife has been watching, and she's drawn me in. I've enjoyed what I've seen of the show. I like Betty's family a lot, the way they can fight and argue without ever losing the sense that they love each other and will be there.

It annoys me a little bit that braces and glasses are prerequisites to "ugly," but that's a minor nitpick. America Ferrara is gorgeous, and I think that still comes through somewhat, which potentially undercuts the ugly bit again.

But it's been a fun show to watch. I loved the tale of the handbags in their little flashback episode :-)

[lenora-rose.livejournal.com]

The one thing I've noticed with the advertisements is just that: she's got becautiful cheekbones and nice eyes, but she has braces, glasses, and lets her hair get straggly.

That's not ugly. I'm two for three on the above (Glasses, straggling hair when I'm feeling lazy), and I'm not ugly.

Still, using the superficial traits as shorthand for "ugly" wouldn't bother me... if it weren't the 1,582,773rd such instance, and I've heard good things about the show.

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

I know Ugly Betty isn't the same as those obnoxious "Ugly high school geek loses her glasses and becomes the prom queen" movies, but by using the ugly shorthand, the show still triggers that connection in my mind. I think UB is a much more intelligent and all-around better show, but it's still there, tickling the back of my brain.

[daharyn.livejournal.com]

I've been watching it for a while now. (If you want to get a taste of it check out the free full episodes on abc.com -- that's how I got hooked in.) I thought it was kind of a silly premise, but it's witty and sharp.

[nmsunbear.livejournal.com]

I've been watching it and really really like it. There's no doubt that it's a fantasy, but that's a great deal of its charm.

I get a little annoyed by people constantly harping on "she's not ugly, she's not ugly" - of course she's not ugly. It seems to me clear that in this version, the American version, she's intended to be "one of us," perhaps a bit invisible due to her self-effacing manner, but "ugly" only to the fashion-obsessed workers at Mode. I think they tried to underscore this in the first episode, when there kept being references to a woman known as "fat Sophia" (or something, I forget her actual name) who was, of course, not fat in the least.

Anyway. It's a cute, very enjoyable show, and I do love the presentation of Betty's family, including their sometimes baffled, deeply affectionate acceptance of Betty's feminine, fashion-loving nephew Justin. Even the fashion-victim "bad guys" who taunt Betty are adorable, coming across more as spoiled children than anything.

Anyway. I'm not saying it's the best TV show ever aired or anything -- it's certainly not - but it's well worth checking out.

[nickel234.livejournal.com]

I've been watching it from day one and love it!

mmsunbear explained it the best, I think.

At first I was kinda put off by it, because it tends to be a little cartoonish at times, but it turns out to be SO witty and funny and is cartoonish just to show how out of wack our society is with the concept of beauty and normalcy.

They definitely do a good job with it. I'm hooked.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Hmm, maybe I should give it another chance. I caught the last half of one episode and thought it looked promising. Then I deliberately watched an episode (well, the first half of an episode) a few weeks ago and it failed my basic TV show test: I wandered away during the 2nd commercial break and didn't care enough to come back. The actors are interesting, but the writing, at least in that episode, was utterly predictable sitcom stuff. Now I'm thinking that I just caught it on an off-night, and it might be worth another look. Thanks for the comments, people. (Peg, you have such an interesting and thoughtful LJ cohort!)

[amymcauley.livejournal.com]

We love Betty at our house!

[chamisa.livejournal.com]

This is my new favorite show. It's not absolutely perfect or profound, but it's very fun. I love America Ferrara in this role. Her character is very smart, kind, sticks to her beliefs, stands up for herself and for others. And her family is great.

I also love the visual look of the show itself--the way it is filmed, the sets, the color palette. And of course in the middle of all the silly--and important--plotlines, it definitely does make you think about the definitions and concepts of beauty, fitting in, body types. I haven't quite decided how I feel about Betty's "ugliness" and how the show should or shouldn't deal with it.

I also would like to say that I'm dying for her to get together with Henry and I wish her annoying ex-bf would just go away. And now I can't wait for tonight's new episode. :-)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I saw the pilot episode and liked it a lot, but it was scheduled opposite something I liked better and was not always able to tape both shows simultaneously. Caught up on a lot of episodes recently during the rerun season and continue to find it charming. Exact same environment and premise, really, as The Devil Wears Prada, but with a slightly different spin. Based on long running telenovella on mexican TV and has that sort of soap opera sensibility. "Fat Sophia" by the way is Selma Hayek, who is an executive producer for the show and shows up in several of the episodes (needless to say, not at all fat). America Ferrara is great in her role. Each of the actors does a great job with their roles, both at their most cartoonish, and when they get a little more real.


Rob,
repository of all television knowledge within the house

[dreamingcrow.livejournal.com]

My whole family, including both my boys (13 and 10) enjoys it. The title appalls my husband, but we still watch it.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

I have never seen Ugly Betty, and from the sound of it I might well enjoy it as a show. And I look askance at many men's idea of beauty. Still, the sense of beauty is an emotion, and no one has ever managed to talk anyone else out of feeling what they feel at someone else's appearance, nor, usually, out of acting like a fool in reaction to how they feel.

[verstehen.livejournal.com]

I made it through about half the pilot episode before my embarrassment squick got to me. I assume things get better for Betty as she goes on, but what I seemed to catch was one embarrassing moment after another. I like the premise (though I'm hardly interested in fashion at all) and I like America Ferrara but I just couldn't get past the fact that the main character was created essentially to be the butt of every possible dumpy/frumpy woman cliche and pitfall within the first twenty minutes of a show.