Oh for goodness sake, what's a matter with a bunch or pretty girl's making the most of themselves on a series if that's what they want to do. People can choose to watch it or not. It's just the way it is, some women like Elle are stunning, others aren't, you can't blame them for making the most of it!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00spjw8/Tom_Jones_at_70/

totally off topic, but a crossover fem-macho gem, enjoy,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BgZCmB6iZY

The age-old debate over celebrating high-achieving women no matter who they are or what they believe is as old as feminism itself (Thatcher being a shining example in the 1980s). Much energy was expended decades ago on trying to resolve the issue but as we can see, essentially it was just one debate that led to the failure of feminism. Still, it's good to see you in there battling away Laurie! cheers

Laurie objects to "the idea that young women need to be both beautiful and willing to engage with a certain kind of relentless capitalist self-fashioning in order to achieve their dreams".

We should add: “in order to achieve their dreams…of being a model”.

It's unclear whether her objection is more to beauty, relentless capitalist self-fashioning or being required to do both simultaneously.

“Relentless capitalist self-fashioning” sounds the worst, doesn’t it? Yeah, I think that’s what she’s on about. For any non-intellectuals reading this thread, it means: “I’m unhappy with the world and I am absolutely unable to articulate any clear diagnosis of what it is I object to".

Hi tabby cat. My only point is that as a very popular, pop culture TV show, that is all about women and 'feminine' identity, it is worth examining Top Model not just to criticise its portrayal of catwalk modelling.

There is a lot going on, such as the identities portrayed by Tyra Banks and the way she interacts with some of the young models, in terms of gender and ethnicity.I haven't come to any conclusions as I haven't analysed the show in that way properly. But it definitely engages in conflict over 'ethnicity' 'gender' 'racism'...

This reminds me a bit of the reviews of Sex In the City 2 e.g. by Lindy West that criticised the misogyny of the film, and in so doing managed to put down the women who love sex in the city and their complex reasons for identifying with the characters.

I shouldnt have mentioned McPherson's success I am not interested in commercial capitalisms standards of success. Sorry.

I'd be equally worried if it were men being treated in this way, but is that really, honestly, likely to happen?

Anyone reading this article would assume there were no male models, or at least if there were then they were all paid vastly more than the women and not exploited whatsoever. In reality female models are getting paid vastly more than men for doing the same job.

I guess pay gaps really don't matter in industries where the lower paid sex has a penis.

"I'd be equally worried if it were men being treated in this way, but is that really, honestly, likely to happen?"

Erm, No. That argument always seems a little pointless John Jones, whereas this kind of treatment of young girls is virtually a cultural norm. I suggest you get hold of a few women's magazines, have a read and draw your own conclusions.

Thank you I Am A Comment! But we must remember that 'The Model', and indeed all the erotic stories of Nin's early years, were written for commission, the stories handed down by wealthy patrons, many of whom explicitly wanted stories about voyeurs/ the power of the male gaze. Raises interesting questions though!

well we don't walk round with our heads bowed but if you visit my blog www.quietgirlriot.wordpress.com and say hi I will give you some pointers.

yours,
submissively and feminist,
QRG

"I do not want to be the leader. I refuse to be the leader. I want to live darkly and richly in my femaleness. I want a man lying over me, always over me. His will, his pleasure, his desire, his life, his work, his sexuality the touchstone, the command, my pivot. I don’t mind working, holding my ground intellectually, artistically; but as a woman, oh, God, as a woman I want to be dominated. I don’t mind being told to stand on my own feet, not to cling, be all that I am capable of doing, but I am going to be pursued, fucked, possessed by the will of a male at his time, his bidding."

And quite frankly, they just don't make em like this anymore!!

I'm sure Britain's next top Lawyer would be almost completely indistinguishable from its model cousin, though would perhaps allow for contestants under 5'9".

I cannot watch tv. I am sitting in a living room in Japan, the tv is on. It is a comedy variety show. Comedy variety shows are on 24 hours here.
"This is not, at heart, a show about beauty, or even about fashion: it is a programme about social mobility. The reason that America's Next Top Model and its 20 local variants have been so wildly successful is that they formalise the rules of late capitalist femininity as experienced by young women in the West: life may be hard and jobs may be few, but if you are beautiful enough, if you are thin and pretty and perky and prepared to submit to any conceivable humiliation, you too might have a chance of "making it"."
Even my Mother, herself victim of Capitalist ideology, taught me that victimizing and exploiting women, especially young women was wrong. But my Mother was aberrant, she had to work to support 3 kids.
Anyway, keep writing. I like your anger.

File away the names of the lucky winners and come back to them in two or three years; if their modelling careers are over then they might be free to tell you about the lies, coercive sex, exploitation and squalor.

I can't imagine that anyone would publish the story, but it is well worth recording.

Saw this by chance. The opening title sequence with EM's theatrical look-over-the-shoulder hair flick made me laugh out loud. Surreality TV.

Wonderful as always, Laurie. Your anger is a constant inspiration, and somehow always makes me feel stronger and braver. You rock. :-)

I agree with all of this except the characterisation of the model industry as universally exploitative. The snippets of data you offer in support of the claim don't add anything to the argument that Next Top Model is vile and misogynistic, and the false generalisation undermines the article as a whole.

For a start, catwalk modelling is a tiny and weird section of the industry. Secondly, while I'm sure abuse exists, claiming that it's an intrinsic or unavoidable part of the experience of modelling is just not true, and more than it's an intrinsic or unavoidable part of the experience of dating.

Sure, the industry is problematic as all hell, especially when it comes to gender politics. But it's not rotten to the core. Look at the rise of female photographers taking pictures of men; the many creative and empowered people making non-exploitative visual art together. I know you're focussing on fashion and catwalk modelling here, which I have less experience of, but I think your point would carry better if you admitted more nuance. Modelling really isn't that black and white.

So many women spend their womanhoods trying to reattain the ideal slightness of the girl.

What does this say about what men want?

Hi Pandora,

I understand your point, and I'm not trying to make out that the very *act* of posing for a picture is exploitative. I'm saying that the fashion industry, not 'modelling in general', is rotten to the core. My research and limited experience through friends lead me to believe sincerely that this is the case. I'm sorry this wasn't nuanced enough for your tastes, but I'm not here to make an assessment of the art of posing per se, and I feel it's rather a straw man to suggest that the review is lacking if it doesn't apologise for any and all types of portrait photography.

Fundamentally, this is about one particular show and one particular industry which deserve no mercy whatsoever, particularly as they seem to play out some of the worst aspects of anxious, performative commodified femininity.

Quiet riot girl - I'm not hating on all models, I don't know what part of the piece led you to believe that. I just believe that Elle MacPherson has made vast fortunes by embodying a particular type of bland, perky corporate fetish of womanhood, and that does merit criticism.

Nor do I think it's acceptable to defend a woman just because she's 'successful'. Surely feminism has come far enough that we don't have to celebrate every rich and famous female without questioning the motives behind that celebration. Why should Elle MacPherson be one of the most famous, most universally praised women in the world just for looking a particular way, when - for example - real heroines like Malalai Joya and Aung San Suu Kyi are far less well known?

Quiet riot girl, I really object to being told that I've 'dismissed modelling out of hand.' I've done a lot of research and reading around this area, and I know people who are models -both fashion models and 'alternative' models where, as Pandora says, the arrangements are often different - including my little sister, although she doesn't do it any more.

I think the whole topic of modelling, sexual performance and controlling gaze deserves unpacking. There's scope in there for a whole other post (many, in fact), and yes, I do find performativity problematic in terms of young women's career choices. But I feel that you're reading something into this piece that simply isn't there.

I am very critical of other women, and including other feminists. But then they are very critical of me too! I just thought you painted a physical picture of McPherson that wasn't necessary and traded on her looks and age.

I agree the industry of modelling and how it is presented on TV needs unpacking. But I think the terminology you use serves to reinforce some of the stereotypes of women models.

I find many feminist discussions of 'femininity'in our culture problematic, because they often go down the same road as the mainstream culture they are trying to challenge, and end up reproducing very negative versions of feminine identities.

Take Tara Banks, I don't like her. But I'd be interested to examine her role and what it says about ethnicity and femininity. Not in the oh shes a successful black woman isnt that great way but to 'unpack' some of the ways in which she presents being a successful black woman in that industry. It can't be all negative.

I think you are right there is a lot more to say about Top Model!

i have always loved these show even when i was in my teens ;however why not do something that no one has done before ;have people over 40 to model there are some very good looking men and women out there it should not be about age everyone is enique.Has nature been good to you? X

Katherine, expanding her chest,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWYLxitHkU