Wednesday, October 13, 2004
The swan is yet another reality tv series banking on the same ingenuity as Extreme makeover. The entire concept is sick and sad, banking on women's insecurities. Only this time it's ten times worse with a Brit-accented host who finds no qualms in exclaiming "My, tell me what's going on beneath this pretty head?" after the transformed female sees herself in the mirror for the first time in a month. Dozens of therapists, plastic surgeons cooed, shed tears of joy (?!) and made remarks like "Her rhinoplasty - Totally awesome!" As if plastic surgery is no more than a fun ride at the local amusement park. We see this whole new societal phenomenon whereby plastic surgery is glamorized like never before. Previously plastic surgery was a hushed up affair: Go for a long vacation, stay at the rehab till all the wounds have healed, then reappear in style. Now, we are able to view the gory surgical procedures and slow healing process in the comfort of our living rooms, with bags of chips in hand.
A further acceptance of plastic surgery as a way of life (as a viable option), I don't see this any less different from the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis applications in bioscience where man is dubbed to be playing god. In The swan, an element of competition is introduced as these transformed beauties are pitted against one another to win the ultimate pageant, thus regaining their self-confidence and sense of self-worth in the process. Today, the media not only feeds us its defined standards of beauty but also demonstrates how we should go about acquiring it if we are, unfortunately, not born with it. It nauseates me to see the women wallowing in self-pity before their surgical procedures. Come on, get real and cut the tears. It isn't half as bad as you made it out to be.
A further acceptance of plastic surgery as a way of life (as a viable option), I don't see this any less different from the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis applications in bioscience where man is dubbed to be playing god. In The swan, an element of competition is introduced as these transformed beauties are pitted against one another to win the ultimate pageant, thus regaining their self-confidence and sense of self-worth in the process. Today, the media not only feeds us its defined standards of beauty but also demonstrates how we should go about acquiring it if we are, unfortunately, not born with it. It nauseates me to see the women wallowing in self-pity before their surgical procedures. Come on, get real and cut the tears. It isn't half as bad as you made it out to be.
