Nip Tuck is a TV show that many love. The show’s plotline revolves around plastic surgery. I think that since plastic surgery is so popular these days, everyone can relate; therefore, they tune in. The two main characters are plastic surgeons, Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) and Sean McNamara (John Hensley), who are obsessed with body image and sex. My roommate used to watch the show, so I have seen my share of episodes. The two men are in their late 30’s early 40’s; meanwhile Sean had an affair with his 16 or 17 year old step daughter. Most of the women who are on the show are portrayed as sex symbols. One of the episodes that really struck me was when Christian sleeps with a woman and afterwards proceeds to circle all of her “problem areas” with a marker. Of course the woman was very upset and left. I know I would’ve been so embarrassed and my self-esteem would be non-existent. Another episode that I thought was degrading to women was when Christian is about to have sex with a woman but before they start he tells her to put a paper bag over her face. He says “If you want to have sex with me, you have to put the bag over your head so I can’t see your face.” I thought the woman would tell him off and leave, have some sort of self respect, but she did what he said and degraded herself. When the act is over, she removes the bag and is crying. In my opinion, the woman was pretty but I guess because she wasn’t a size 0, she wasn’t worthy of his full attention. This show is not discreet about showing what their idea of “beauty” is. Even women who are stick thin are not perfect to these men until they have had some sort of plastic surgery. It’s sad to think that there are people in real life who are just like the characters on this show. One can only hope to never bump into them on the street.
Question: Do you think this show adds to the plastic surgery epidemic in America?
What messages do you think this show conveys to a young audience?
Here is the clip of Nip Tuck that I discussed above with the woman and the paper bag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSsovYel2M8
Question: Do you think this show adds to the plastic surgery epidemic in America?
What messages do you think this show conveys to a young audience?
Here is the clip of Nip Tuck that I discussed above with the woman and the paper bag.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSsovYel2M8
I've never watched the show before, that clip was the first and only thing I've ever seen from it. I personally don't get how people could go through with something like it, from what I hear most procedures are painful and seriously risky/dangerous. But that definitely says something then about how much our society values outer "beauty." The people with big bucks are the beautiful ones because they can afford to alter their appearance with these expensive dangerous operations and apparently, it's worth it.
ReplyDeleteThis clip in particular just screams degradation. Something's amiss with this woman's confidence if she was willing to go along with his requirement. She did it just to be able to say she had sex with someone of his status and fame?
I think this show, without knowing much about it at all, sends the wrong message. I'm assuming it promotes plastic surgery. Or does it show the negative consequences enough so that people see that it's not always the answer?
I have also never seen this show, and after watching that clip, I am glad that I have never watched it before. I thought that it was offensive. The woman in this scene clearly has no self-respect or self-esteem, and the male characters in this show take advantage of this lack of self-worth in the female figures on the show. Are these men punished for their deplorable actions? Most likely not, but the women are put out there to be humiliated for no reason at all, except for not being "perfect." Shows like this perpetuate the idea that women must be "perfect" to be loved or desired, and I cannot believe that the people who work for this network allow this show to be aired.
ReplyDeleteI definately think shows like this send the wrong message. My mother actually used to work at a plastic surgery center and i've heard my share of stories about young women who go in to have everything from breast implants to lip injections. Ontop of that, many of the parents would actually pay for these surgeries as graduation presents and such. I think these messages are in almost everything we watch.
ReplyDeleteI always saw the previews for this show but I never watched it. After watching the previews it makes me wonder why people are so intrigued by this show. The main ideology of the show is to strive for perfection and everyone knows that being perfect is impossible. I think this show adds to the plastic surgery epidemic in America. Nip Tuck is the extreme side of the plastic surgery epidemic in America. This show conveys false ideas about body image to a young audience. I would not be surprised if a study was conducted and proved that this show lowered young teenagers self esteem and was linked to the increase of eating disorders in young teenagers.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of Nip Tuck does touch on important elements. People into plastic surgery are always trying to reach perfection; they try so hard to reach their ideal image of beauty, but it can never truly be achieved. As a result, they continue to alter their appearance to make themselves feel good and socially acceptable. In today's society, most people are filled with so much vanity that they isolate themselves from what is truly important, their self-worth and morals. I think in some cases, people who are addicted to plastic surgery and botox, which are a few of many addictions women have, are covering up or shielding the pain or insecurities they have experienced in their life. As a result, they turn to plastic surgery and other enhancements to make themselves feel important and maybe to gain acceptance by others. Nonetheless, plastic surgery, botox, and other enhancements women and even men undergo are forms of changing the individual to look and play the role society has deemed as acceptable. However, not everyone undergo these alterations for the purpose of beauty, but some people get plastic surgery, breast reductions and others for health reasons.
ReplyDeleteI think this show does add to the plastic surgery epidemic because it portrays from what you described the need for some males to continue controling women, and plastic surgery has become the outlet for male domination on women. This show depicts degradation and dehumanization as acceptable, but it is not. The woman with the paper bag in this show is depicted as a helpless and insecure individual with no backbone. Thus, this show furthers the power of male control and the depiction of women as objects for the male gazers.
Finally, this show seems to convey to young audience that it is alright for women to allow males to have control and to do whatever they please without women ojecting or taking a stand. Also, this show seems to convey that morals and self-respect women have are irrelevant. Young audiences are exposed to a show that is degrading in its message, which is secretly hidden until it is investigated and publicized.