Abject Objectification, Part 1

[vovat]

Whenever the subject of ogling women comes up, you're going to get some people who are totally on board, and others who are really annoyed. (This probably pertains to ogling men as well, but I haven't personally seen as much backlash for that.) I remember when a thread on the Frank Black Forum (which I haven't read in a while; apologies to anyone there who might have missed my witty repartee {g}) with pictures of hot chicks, and it ended up being deleted. I think the official reasons had something to do with people posting nudity and someone requesting pictures of underage girls, but I don't see why the moderators couldn't have just erased the offending posts and left the rest alone. Not a big deal, really, but it bothered a fair number of posters. I've heard the argument that looking at a lot of models and porn stars and such makes us less attracted to everyday girls, and I'm sure there's some truth in that, but I can say that I still find plenty of everyday girls attractive. When ogling, however, it's probably best to stick to celebrities and whomever you're dating if you don't want to come off as a creepy pervert. That said, when I find myself attracted to someone solely based on looks, I feel a little guilty about it. I wonder if that's one reason why magazines tend to provide minor trivia. It's enough for us to know we have something in common with these unattainable ones ("Hey, we both enjoy Nintendo!"), but not enough to feel like we actually know them personally.

Anyway, with that in mind, I'd been meaning to review a "hottest women" list to see how much my own opinions match up with those of the journalism industry. Recently, I came across this, which fits the bill. In this entry, I'm going to go over the twenty women on the first page of the article.

100. Kate Winslet - Sure, she's pretty. I have this thing where I prefer women who look approachable, though, and I don't think she does. The pictures there make her look a little stuck-up. I don't know.

99. Jennifer Connelly - I like her, but she looks way too skinny in recent pictures. Hey, Jennifer, eat something! But really, how can I be opposed to the girl from Labyrinth, even if people who've seen the movie more recently than I have say her acting in it wasn't that good? Not to mention that I think she's the only girl I've seen who'd actually REJECT advances from David Bowie. {g}

98. Alicia Keys - Eh, I don't think much of her one way or the other.

97. Kat Dennings - She often seems to go for kind of a goth-y look, which I'm really not into, but she's attractive enough to pull it off. And I subscribe to her Twitter feed despite not knowing much about her, because she's really very funny. And, yeah, okay, she has nice boobs.

96. Olivia Munn - I know a lot of people who are fans of hers, but I have to admit I've never watched Attack of the Show. I'm still inclined to like her, though. Attractive, and apparently friendly and geeky. That's the full trifecta, right?

95. Eliza Dushku - Can't say I've seen enough of her to really form much of an opinion. Maybe the Dollhouse fans of my friends list can help me out here.

94. Michelle Trachtenberg - There's something weird about child actresses who don't really change their appearance much as they get older. That said, yeah, she's attractive.

93. Julie Benz - No opinion, really

92. Colbie Caillat - I just wrote about my annoyance at this girl last week, so I don't need to reiterate myself here, do I? She's apparently from Malibu, so maybe that explains everything.

91. Jenna Fischer - I don't like her as much as everyone else seems to, but I have nothing against her.

90. Julianne Hough - Honestly, from what I see there, I don't think much of her.

89. Lauren Conrad - Again, she doesn't do anything for me, and I say that without even having watched The Hills.

88. Uma Thurman - Too skinny for my taste, but I like her pretty well. I just don't consider her a hottie.

87. Anna Faris - Figures that she'd star in a movie featuring the Playboy Mansion, as she looks like Hef's type. She's cute, but nothing special.

86. Amy Adams - Not very familiar with her work, but I like her. Very attractive, and I've seen some really cute pictures of her. She's apparently a natural redhead, too, although she gets it dyed a darker red than it is on its own.

85. Leighton Meester - She's all right, I guess. Does it count for anything that I like her name?

84. Giada De Laurentiis - Well...having an extra I in her last name is kind of cool, right? :P Seriously, kind of cute, but I think they have to grade Food Network stars' appearances on a curve. When your competition is Sandra Lee, it's not that hard to look hot. {g}

83. Tina Fey - Why did you ever stop wearing your glasses? They were part of your image, Tina! Then again, they were for Weird Al, too. I think Amy Poehler is more my type, but I still find Tina attractive. And she seems like someone who'd be cool to hang around with. Then again, I've heard second-hand that someone who worked with her thought she was a bitch. I guess I'll never know the truth.

82. Cali Lewis - I really can't get a good sense of her from the pictures on the page, and I'd never heard of her before, so I'm going to withhold judgment. I do appreciate that she looks more like an actual person than a movie star or model, though. That global warming denial doesn't go over too well with me, however, especially in a time when even the Republicans have admitted it's an actual thing. (They just don't think it's man-made.)

81. Jennifer Aniston - Yeah, you know I don't like her. Mostly, she just seems incredibly dull. At least most celebrities I don't like do interesting things. Apparently all Aniston does is whine about how guys keep dumping her. Hey, I'd dump her too, if it weren't for the fact I'd never date her in the first place. Besides, everyone knows she's going to end up with Ross.

Comments

[kevenn.livejournal.com]

Julie Benz - Gotta say, in her recent appearances of Desperate Housewives - if she was coming after me, I may not be able to resist. I never thought about her that way until her Desperate Housewives stint where she plays an ex-stripper. The scenes of her in her underwear - damn, the woman is HOT!

Oh, and two other women - Angelina Jolie - I couldn't resist her either, and another woman I totally crush on, Christina Hendricks - she is a *WOMAN*!!!!

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I don't really think that much of Angelina, but it seems like everyone is attracted to Christina. They're both on the list as well, by the way.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

I *prefer* normal looking girls, personally -- although Eliza Dushku surely is hot. (Also, big fan of natural redheads, who for some reason all seem to dye their hair when they've been in Hollywood for awhile.)

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I don't think I have a particular thing for redheads, but it seems like a lot of the girls I find attractive have red hair. Maybe it has something to do with how feisty they look.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, the redhead I fell in love with was a very sweet, shy, quiet girl, nothing like the stereotype. I have enough feistiness in other areas of my life!

[onesto-hotel.livejournal.com]

Oh man, in total agreement about Miss Fey's glasses. I saw her without them and honestly, I didn't even recognize her. And not in a "Oh, well she was plain-looking before, but now she's GLAMOUROUS" sort of way either. She really does not look very attractive when all made-up to look like a star, like at the Oscars recently. She's a whole lot prettier in plain clothes and glasses, IMO.

I haven't even heard of half the women on this list...:P

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Well, I've never really understood the Hollywood trope of girls looking attractive when they take their glasses off. For me, it's often kind of the opposite.

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

I don't know half the women on the list either, and mostly because I don't watch those tv shows or channels. Uma Thurman doesn't do it for me either. I applaud her for keeping her relatively large nose in Hollywood, but it still kinda turns me off. Besides, she looks more like someone who would kick my ass instead of dating me. I like Jenna Fischer and Amy Adams because they seem like normal women. Laura Conrad is just plain annoying and that's with only seeing clips of The Hills when my sisters watch it. Her life just seems really scripted.

Anyway, I prefer Drew Barrymore over any of these girls any day. {g}

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Uma Thurman doesn't do it for me either. I applaud her for keeping her relatively large nose in Hollywood, but it still kinda turns me off. Besides, she looks more like someone who would kick my ass instead of dating me.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I feel, too (about her kicking my ass, that is, not the nose thing). Come to think of it, if they ever make a Metroid movie, she'd make a good Samus. Not that I want there to be a Metroid movie, mind you.

I actually don't think Drew is on this list, despite the fact that this past year has been pretty busy for her. I can't argue with your choice, though, as she's just adorable. Even if she was a drug addict in her youth.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

You're insane. This post is insane.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'm at a difficult time in my life!

[revme.livejournal.com]

Kat Dennings was about the only thing I could stand in 40 Year Old Virgin. Because while the rest of the movie was busy being terrible, I could just stare at her boobs for a while. That was kinda cool. Too bad they had to stick her boobs in such a shitty movie.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I wonder if Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is any better.

[1womp.livejournal.com]

OK, so this post IS insane - agreed - but you do touch upon an interesting topic; is it OK to ogle while also married and in love? I'll start right off with my personal opinion that, yes, it's OK. As they say, window shopping only, though. That having been said, I feel like I get a little bit of a pass since, as an "artist" (more or less), I really do actively examine beauty, and therefor the occasional beautiful woman. My wife is generally cool with all of that, but I don't really pursue the exercise vigorously, either. If I see a hot girl, I take mental note, momentarily enjoy the experience, then move on with my life. Oh, my wife and I each have our "I'd have to" fantasy people (as in "if Halle Berry wanted me, I'm sorry honey, but I'd have to"), but it's not a big deal for us. I know her type (Billy Zane), she knows mine (anyone who flatters me), and we're cool with the mutual knowledge. Looking, though, is as far as I ever care to go. It seems crazy, but I can't even think of another woman in the way that I think of my wife. Maybe that's accidentally romantic, but it's true anyway. That having been said, Giada De Laurentiis is pretty damn cute, Tina Fey (yes, with glasses) has beautiful eyes, Olivia Munn dressed as "Wonder Twin" Jana makes me weak in the knees, and, I'm sorry honey, but if Jennifer Connelly wanted me...well, you know.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

OK, so this post IS insane - agreed - but you do touch upon an interesting topic; is it OK to ogle while also married and in love? I'll start right off with my personal opinion that, yes, it's OK. As they say, window shopping only, though.

I think it really depends on the particular arrangement that someone has with a significant other. I think it's kind of silly to be threatened by people that your partner could obviously never get, but part of a successful relationship is helping the other person through their insecurities. I don't know. Personally, I'm probably going too far into "hey, look, hot women" territory because of the problems in my own relationship, but that's just me.

As for Olivia Munn, I have to say that I like her dressed up as Chun Li from Street Fighter II.

[bitterfig.livejournal.com]

I'm not too up on pop culture but as a single bi-sexual woman I do know what I like....

100. Kate Winslet – She’s my ideal woman, buxom, vivacious, generally hot. Love her.

99. Jennifer Connelly - I liked her in Labyrinth, but she hasn’t moved me too much since the mid-80’s. Sorry, couldn’t even think of her in Pollack compared to Marcia Gay Harding and Tim Roth was the only actor I noticed in Dark Waters.

98. Alicia Keys – I really liked her first album but I don’t see her that way.

97. Kat Dennings – I’m afraid I don’t know her.

96. Olivia Munn – Again, I don’t know her.

95. Eliza Dushku – Love her. As Faith in Buffy, as Echo in Dollhouse.

94. Michelle Trachtenberg – Too young. She’ll always be the little sister to me.

93. Julie Benz - Darla. With Dru. Heaven.

92. Colbie Caillat - ???

91. Jenna Fischer - ????

90. Julianne Hough - ????

89. Lauren Conrad - ????

88. Uma Thurman – Before Kill Bill I was in love with her. After that she was hard and skinny like a lizard.

87. Anna Faris - ????

86. Amy Adams – I loved her as an actress in both Junebug and Proof yet I see her as cute and talented rather than sexual.

85. Leighton Meester - ???

84. Giada De Laurentiis – Sexy, and good recipes but too skinny for a cook.

83. Tina Fey - Amazingly I’ve never seen her comedy work, only read interviews. I guess I link her too much to Sarah Palin to find her attractive.

82. Cali Lewis - I’m afraid I don’t know who she is.

81. Jennifer Aniston – Too wholesome for my tastes though I did like her hair on Friends circa 1995.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

99. I remember watching part of Pollock with bethje, and she mentioned finding Marcia Gay Harden attractive. I thought her character seemed really grumpy, but her haircut was cool.

84. Yeah, you can't trust a skinny cook.

83. Well, I knew about her before I did Palin, so I guess I can see her without making the association. Tina has a confidence about her that Palin very much doesn't. Not that I mind nervous girls, but Palin is way too defensive of her awkwardness, like it's everyone ELSE'S fault that she seems uncomfortable all the time.