Do I Watch the Farrah Fawcett Documentary?

June 25, 2009 update: Editor’s Note: We are sorry to hear of Farrah Fawcett’s passing. We pray that she rests in comfort now, and we wish her family and friends peace in her passing.

To watch or not to watch, that is the question. Do I allow myself to wallow down the depths of celebrity culture? Do I watch my usual TCM classic movie instead? Do I continue plowing through a very boring classic novel?

I’m wondering about tonight’s Farrah Fawcett documentary.

Other than Count Von Cheney jonesing to justify his wicked soul of torture, women dominate the news cycle: Elizabeth, Nancy, Farrah, and what’s her name, Miss California USA.

Elizabeth had my last blog. Nancy is on the top of the political heap, and not immune to commentary. Farrah is an American celebrity icon, and Miss California is kind of like a fem-bot.

Is it my aging eyes, or have the ideals of what is beautiful and what is not changed since the day of Farrah’s ever-famous red bathing suit poster?

If we decide to watch a TCM movie classic, there may well be beauties in bathing suits. Does anyone remember when a woman’s body was kind of soft and natural? (Okay, I’m a tad bit too much soft…) A woman’s face might show a slight flaw, but that was character, not something to be unnaturally straighted, whitened, or erased. Ever since Barbie hit the scene, the possibility of long-cellulite-free legs, endowed busoms, teeth so perfect that one wonders if they slip in and out at night, and long blonde hair plagues Ms. Normal America.

I don’t care about Miss California USA’s opinions. She’s a corporate model doing what she can to get ahead. But, just compare for a moment how our visions of American beauty have changed with these photos.

Miss America 1948, was a beauty with cheeks and shoulders.

A 1950s pinup. Za-zoom!

images

Can you find the differences in these four beauties?

It seems as our mechanized industrialization waned, our need for “my time” grew, as did the women’s equality battle. And now, today’s vision of beauty for both men and women, is largely machine-made.

Unlike Elizabeth, Nancy, and the beauty queens, I am free of hyper-criticism. But, will I watch the documentary? Probably. Cancer is the one element that delivers icons back to the real world and makes us all seem more like each other than not.

3 thoughts on “Do I Watch the Farrah Fawcett Documentary?”

Death vs Beauty? It’s a no brainer. I too will watch not because I’m a fan but knowledge is power and Farrah is sharing her story out of unselfish survival for all those who have hope like she has had all along.

I’d like to think that the burden of beauty shouldn’t extend to the reprobation of the community. Farrah is a sensitive, intelligent, and talented woman.

A highly lauded Emmy and Golden Globe nominee she has grown beyond her iconic hair style as an “Angel” and has on to become a critically acclaimed actress, appearing off-Broadway and in acclaimed television movies in challenging roles in “The Burning Bed,” “Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story,” “Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story,” “Margaret Bourke-White,” and “Small Sacrifices.”

I think the body of her work, her provision of a nationwide toll-free number for victims of domestic abuse, and the quiet and dignified way she has dealt with her own losses and her cancer are inspirational.

Since I don’t have television, and Farrah is a cousin of mine, I hope you’ll watch the documentary tonight and let me know what you think afterwards.