I have a four-year-old daughter who loves this song. So much, in fact, that we’ve had to stop letting her listen to it, because she’s autistic, and will repeat the “bugga base” line (as she puts it) over and over and over and over again until we’ve all gone insane.
Anyway, for the first time, I’ve had to think about a song from the perspective of a parent. It’s an odd sensation. On the one hand, I like the whole positive message about how it’s OK to have a big body and all that. But I really don’t like the reasoning - that it’s only OK because there are boys who will like that kind of body. Because the only thing that matters is making sure that men find you sexy. Bah.
“Bridesmaids” and “Sex and the City” are considered chick flicks. A lot of guys will act like their dicks will fall off if they watch just five minutes of these movies. But “The Hunger Games” has cross-over appeal.
Meghan isn’t real world fat. She’s music industry/Hollywood fat. The song is directed at girls who have bodies that are music industry/Hollywood fat, as well as girls who are heavier.
I can give the “skinny bitch” line a pass. Sir Mix-a-Lot told “Miss Thang” off in his song, and no one gave him a hard time about it because we know Miss Thang is complimented constantly about how hot she is. Just like how the skinny bitch who takes pride in his skinny bitchiness has her identity affirmed wherever she looks. A song can be catty and still be enjoyable, IMHO.
Do you agree that “Bridesmaids” is a totally different kind of movie than “The Hunger Games”? You could have thrown “Thelma and Louise” and “Beaches” into that list, and your point would be the same.
Of course THG doesn’t seem that remarkable if you focus just on the fact that it has a female lead. We’ve had a lot of movies with female leads. But not so many action/hero movies. That is what makes THG stand out–NOT the fact that there’s a girl in it.
But even then, The Hunger Games is hardly unique. Aliens, Terminator 2, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a shit-ton of movies starring Milla Jovovich, Lucy. It’s time to stop acting astonished every time a female-led movie is successful. Women like movies, who knew?
I’m not trying to give you a hard time or derail the thread, but you’re missing the point again. No, it’s not surprising that women like movies. No one said it was! Everyone knows that women will watch both chick films AND action/macho movies. What IS surprising is when men watch movies about women, since a lot of men do not.
Don’t you think 1986 is a long time ago? And don’t you think the fact that Ripley still remains the go-to for female action heroes only bolsters the significance of THG?
Yeah, this is kinda my take as well. The message is further tainted by the fact that it’s delivered by someone who spent hours in a makeup chair and is styled by highly paid professionals while wearing expensive clothes. I mean, I get that it’s a music video and all, but she’s still representing an unrealistic idea of beauty that’s unattainable to most young women.
I have the same dream too. Everyone is fine with only some people being smart, funny, or athletic. But for some reason, we think beauty must be universal. Even though in actuality we know this isn’t the case.
Maybe we can write a song together and be the next Hall and Oates*.
*I will be Oates of the group. Because beauty isn’t everything.
I included Milla Jovovich in my list as well. She’s starred in five Resident Evil movies over the last ten years and every single one is currently in the Top 15 of Highest Grossing Zombie Movies of All Time. When you pull out the ones that just have zombies in them somewhere and aren’t real “Zombie Movies,” they all move into the Top 10.
