The online whirlwind created surround Marie Claire, is an example of the active participation talked about in the Jenkins article. This became a collaborative effort among those who were offended by the article, across the blog world, facebook, twitter and other forms of online open discussion, in which everyone could contribute and together could evoke a response large enough to be covered on such a widespread show as the Today show. There has been a online boycott of Marie Claire that thousands of people have rallied around. In the past, controversial articles would never have received this much feedback. However, with New Media, almost anyone can be a part of the effort to create buzz on a subject.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Marie Claire at the center of controversy..... again
This week, I did my presentation on Healthy Living Blogs and the cyber uproar surrounding the Marie Claire article that was written about them. Recently, Marie Claire has come under fire again for an article posted on their website called "Should Fatties get a room?". This article was written about the new sitcom on CBS called Mike and Molly, which is about an overweight couple who meet at Overeaters anonymous. The author of the article, seen here, describes how uncomfortable she feels watching fat people on TV. Her exact words are "Yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I to watch them doing anything,". She says that she finds it aesthetically displeasing to even see fat people in general. Her defense is that the show is "implicitly promoting obesity". She ends the article by asking "Do you think I am being an insensitive jerk?". The answer around the internet has been an overwhelming YES. There have been numerous blog and twitter postings that call for the boycotting of Marie Claire, their and Facebook page has once again been bombarded with comments from appalled readers. People have called the author insensitive and small-minded among other things. The controversy was even shown on the today show, seen here -->http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39868583.
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It is interesting how one article or tweet or status can cause people from all over the world to come together and react. However, it sounds like the girl was just giving her opinion, not that it was a nice one, but everyone is entitled to an opinion.
ReplyDeleteTara, great presentation this week. You bring up a good point about how new media can create buzz on a subject so quickly and easily.
ReplyDeleteTARA! I loved your presentation this week. I'm such a health junkie...even though I love to eat chocolate and junk food daily! It's something I'm constantly thinking about, espeically being an athlete my coach always talks with us about "what we are putting into our bodies". Do you have a favorite site in particular that offers the best options??
ReplyDeleteAs far as your presentation goes...I think it's just life- people take advantage of things and take things too far and I don't think there is any way of really stopping this. People always do what they want and choose to ignore messages about dangers and proper protocol for these types of sites. Just have to be careful, that's all.
Thanks guys! Tory- Sorry for the late response.. I actually found out about these sites because my cousins college roommate started one and now makes a living off of it! Her website is CarrotsnCake.com but theres others that I like that promote healthy lifestyles including pbfingers.com, graduatemeghann.com and fittingitallin.wordpress.com. And I think you're right about people taking advantage of these sites, too often people go too far.
ReplyDeleteAh I can't believe this post ! Marie Claire seems to be out of control. This is ridiculously hypocritical and they need to figure out what stance to take and hold it. Also- this show seems realistic and certainly not trying to encourage people to be an unhealthy weight, just a commentary on real life issues. Marie Claire-- Never buying it again!
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