Fat people in movies

[plain 12]

I find there's a huge difference between laughing at and laughing with. Jack Black seems very comfortable in his skin, and any movies where they play up the chubbiness (like Nacho Libre) seem ok to me. I did cringe a little bit on that cheerleader scene from Dodgeball, but that commercial that OH Juli wrote about.....that sounds super offensive. Just substitute "pizza" with "booze" and "fat kid" with "Native American". Or substitute "welfare checks" and "black people". Think anybody could get away with either of those?

I think it's just an issue of insensitivity....

[luluc 6]

luluc, like your golden, is it yours? I have to ask because my avatar dog is just a cute pic.

He's my big baby - 95lb Red Fox Lab:)

[babygrl1234 6]

Is it really any different than movies poking fun at people who are very ugly or very stupid? Do you laugh at those kinds of movies or not? I am sure a person who is ugly, or a person who is stupid would probably get upset at things like that, while we "fatties" are offended by movies poking fun at issues that are real to us.

[OH Juli 15]

I'm just being a smart alec, but a stupid person might not get they are being poked fun at. But yeah, people get indignant for MRDD folk and the phrase "that's retarded".

As for ugly people, that's just unfortunate. And the joke doesn't go beyond one or two lines, well because there's just not enough fodder.

However you can take a fat person put them in a scene and get many laughs from it, from a broken chair, to giant panties, to whatever...

And I'm an advocate for saying, deal with your stuff and don't expect the world to bend not to hurt your feelings, because if you wait for the world to meet you, you'll be waiting a long time. On the other hand, it sucks to be poked fun at. And being quiet about it when you don't want to be quiet isn't acceptable either.

So if you're pissed speak up. And if you see someone being hurt, speak up for that person too.

[Mariposa Bella 3]

Is it really any different than movies poking fun at people who are very ugly or very stupid? Do you laugh at those kinds of movies or not? I am sure a person who is ugly, or a person who is stupid would probably get upset at things like that, while we "fatties" are offended by movies poking fun at issues that are real to us.

I am in agreement with your statement.

Take it for what it is--made up comedy. If you stop and analyze every little thing that the media, tv or movies puts out there you will drive yourself nuts. What about all the blondes that are made fun of in movies, or the nerds? If there is something I don't agree with I don't watch it, end of story.

My personal favorite funny part in a movie is in Norbit where Rasputia (sp?) is going in the Water park and the attendant asks her if she is wearing bottoms and she lifts her belly up to reveal her bikini.. I almost pee peed my pants.

I personally am tired that we all take offense to every little thing out there. I don't have time to take everything personally, too much going on in my own life to worry about those things. But that is JMHO.

[brandyII 9]

Well luluc, he's a purdy boy!! brandyII

[brandyII 9]

babygirl,

You are completely right!

[Gone4Now 4]

I don't think it's all that different from ugly people or stupid people being made fun of...however, I don't think that's good either.

I'm not talking about sparing feelings, I'm talking about raising the dignity bar just a tad. How dignifying is it watch a fat girl in a cheerleader outfit wiggle around? That's why I cringe. Large panties - fine, but it's the idea that it puts in people's head.

I actually dated a guy (not for long) who asked if I wear granny panties. He mentioned, "like in Shallow Hal." Ugg.

That's what I don't like - when people think that's what fat people are like. The reason that they think that is because for the most part all you see of fat in movies/commercials is a joke.

As a fat person, I don't think being the butt of a joke ALL THE TIME is funny. Even blondes get a break.

[brandyII 9]

Let Cosmo put a beautiful fat woman on the cover of their mag!!!

Do you think the world is ready for that?

We can only dream!

[Gone4Now 4]

I was watching America's top model and there were 2 "plus size models" I think they wore a size 10/12...

[ReadySteadyGo 8]

Some of it bothers me, some does not. The Playtex commercial where the fat lady pulls a Gummy bear out of her bra and eats it - that bothers me as much as anything I've seen in a movie.

Sometimes I think it's funny. Sometimes I think it's tasteless. It just kind of depends on different factors. Whatever the Luke Wilson movie was where he started a fraternity - the fat kid with the brick tied to his penis, that was funny. It would have been funny if the kid was skinny. Shallow Hal - didn't find that funny, maybe because I've yet to like a Jack Black movie. The Replacements, the fat cheerleader tryout girl - thought she was funny, but it's the humor that comes from something being the antithesis of what we expect more so than her being fat. Old, uncoordinated, etc. all could have equal entertainment value for me.

Honestly, take the most offensive fat moment thing, and what bothers me more is like -- Mo'Nique's movie where her and her fat friends meet the hot guys in Jamaica or whatever. It's one of those "learn to love yourself" movies. And I don't know if it's more offensive to me to watch a fat person be made fun of, or to watch someone advocating it as an OK way of life, because I don't think anyone should advocate for obese lifestyle.

I have to disagree with you. Woman, especially big woman, need to love themselves and feel sexy and beautiful. With society the way it is with almost impossible standards these woman need to love themselves. If you cannot love yourself then noone can love you. If a woman hates herself so much and the way she looks that she can't even disrobe in front of her husband then their is a problem. Woman like this need encouragement to love themselves. Mo'nique is an example of someone who is does not fit into societies views of beauty but loves herself anyway and encourages other woman to love themselves. And she is Not unhealthy. Have you ever seen her dance. That woman can get down as long and hard as any skinny minnie.

Some people will never be skinny no matter what they do. I want them to know that it is ok. That they are beautiful. I feel beautiful and I am faaar from skinny. I don't that you should encourage people to eat a million hotdogs covered in cheese sauce, but I do embrace the big woman of the world. You can be healthy and big. You can be big and beautiful. I think that is what she and other woman (like beth ditto from the gossip my personal rolemodel) like her encourage and promote.

[ReadySteadyGo 8]

Let Cosmo put a beautiful fat woman on the cover of their mag!!!

Do you think the world is ready for that?

We can only dream!

The Gossip has a lead singer who is a about a size 18 and is gorgeous. And its a younger band and for a woman not to be heroin skinny is almost unheard of. I just discovered her on the cover of a rock magazine. Shes naked with her belly and rolls hanging out. (Its a profile and its not pornographic you cants see anything its just proud) She has big lips on her butt and on the side it says. I'm beautiful and you can kiss my ass.

I love her, and would love to look like her some day...but mostly I just want her confidence. Infact she is the only kind of celebrity that are on my myspace page. That picture of her infact.

Oh and P.s- Hairspray is the cutest movie of all time.

Edited April 23, 2008 by ReadySteadyGo

[Gone4Now 4]

The Gossip has a lead singer who is a about a size 18 and is gorgeous. And its a younger band and for a woman not to be heroin skinny is almost unheard of. I just discovered her on the cover of a rock magazine. Shes naked with her belly and rolls hanging out. (Its a profile and its not pornographic you cants see anything its just proud) She has big lips on her butt and on the side it says. I'm beautiful and you can kiss my ass.

If this link works...here's that picture. I'm not sure what to think. I don't think this is healthy. We're trying to promote healthy in this country; aren't we?

On the other hand, her confidence to do this impresses me very much.

http://blog.thismagazine.ca/archives/Beth%20Ditto.jpg

But, then there is this one...That just doesn't look good.

http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/05/bethdittoLIVE_450x598.jpg

[ReadySteadyGo 8]

Should you hate yourself and be ashamed if you do not look like Amy whinehouse. I feel that hollywood encourages you too, and sadly people take their cues from that. I have never seen anyone perform in Louisiana or TExas and not look like they are going to die. I don't know where that was taken at but it looks like every other performer that has been running and dancing on a muggy stage in the summer. (Minus the belly) This humidy kills.

I think we should be promoting healthiness...but not self-hate. I should be able to feel beautiful at size 18 as size 8 as long as I am healthy. At size 18 I wasn't unhealthy I could keep up with with all my size 5-14 friends. I am not healthy at the size I am now, but if I looked like her at size 18 and never lost another pound then I would be ok. I wouldn't hate myself or cry and whine because I was still fat. I feel beautiful now and I am much larger than she is.

[OH Juli 15]

RSG,

Again girl, I've got your back. I agree with you that big doesn't equal ugly and healthy is the goal, not skinny.

And hello, I'm nearly 200 pounds, I can run a 5K and bike 50 miles in a morning. I am fit, fat and beautiful.

But there are places and times when what we say can be heard and understood. On a weight loss forum you're just not going to get broad support for the notion that fat is okay. However, this is a place for airing different points of view and you are articulate and smart so keep on spreading the gospel.

Glouster,

You mentioned promoting healthy in this country, which is true and false depending on what you look at. There a public service announcements about getting kids moving and eating differently, but the real money goes toward mass producing and marketing cheap, poor quality food for the masses. One can well argue both sides of the issue.

Really what I see that we are talking about here is fat acceptance and internalized fat phobia. And we, the obese choosing WLS, are at ground zero trying to make personal choices that are right for us while still being true to who were are/were politically-historically.

It's not a problem easily resolved with a few paragraphs.