Amanda Beard to appear in Playboy (Page 5)

Dang, now I will have to see the pictures in order to speak intelligently about them on BT.

Sigh. 

But to the point, if average looking single girl x wants to be attractive to the opposite sex, let's say she's going to the church social/ church singles night and prayer fiesta. She doesn't wear her most conservative church-going clothes, she wasn't to be attractive to a potential suitor. She looks at her butt in the mirror. She wears her wonder bra. She wears make-up. Her shoes are probably not flats, but accentuate her legs. Call it what you want, but she is purposefully trying to be sexy.

In one scenario, lets say the man of her dreams is not taken by her charms and she blames the objectification of women and media generated standards no one can compete with.

In another scenario, she and man of her dreams strike up a conversation and hit it off - but there's another woman there, not as attractive and not dressed as smartly who might think, "look at that slut! the make up, the heels - and that skirt!" People like her are why men objectify women..."

I guess my point is that objectification and judgment are constructs that begin in the mind and are arbitrary depending on any given individual. That you say she's a, b, and c because she's doing the pictures is fine, you're entitled to your opinion, but be aware that that opinion cannot assume the same paradigm in terms of someone else's motivation or her outlook. Maybe she needs money. Maybe she is narcissistic. Maybe she dislikes the self-proclaimed superiority those espousing puritanical values carry on about. Maybe she feels it's an incredible complement on the countless hours she's spent fine tuning her body? Who knows, but no one hear has the right to judge her. It seems to me that if you want to judge the action, your beef should be with the magazine, not Amanda B.

That's a really good point.

I'm not trying to suggest that there is a rule book somewhere that says that if you, for example, pose a woman's back at a 30 degree angle it's automatically bad, but if you pose her at a 35 degree angle it's automatically good. That might well result in the end of art. I'm not interested in ending art.

And I also agree that not everyone in an audience is going to experience things the same way, nor should they. I'm also not interested in everyone walking lockstep.

I think I understand the concern that many have that what I'm talking about here is some sort of fundamentalist reduction of freedom. But really, as with everyone who's posted here, I'm interested in an expansion of freedom, not a reduction. I'm just trying to point out some basic flaws I see in postmodern culture that I believe leads to something looking like freedom, when in fact it is not.

And taking my own advice, if what I write here is not having that effect with readers, if instead it seems like fundamentalist tyranny, then I need to reconsider the work itself. Work in progress, I guess.

I think the moment any of us consider ourselves not a 'work in progress' we close some important and valuable routes to improved development.

I'd never really thought about this subject properly until your points inspired me to do so. 

I didn't mean to suggest you were a "fundamental tyrranist".

Right, can I go back to the date thread now - she MUST be back from lunch....

Just read this thread:

First, thanks Jim.

Second, the reason she is doing this is for money.  Her business is being in the public eye and selling herself.  EVERY athlete does it in one way or another. 

Third, Thanks Jim.

Fourth, someone said something about starving for attention...look at this board.  IMOP when you post a picture of yourself as your avatar, rely on a community of people to solve your problems, request opinions from others over the internet about what you should do next in your personal life or compete with others to see who is the smartest (1,000's of times mind you) well I would say that is someone looking for some attention.

Lastly, and again thanks Jim, do any of you think Amanda cares?  I doubt it. 

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you did.  I'm just aware that the things I write can appear that way.

Yes, you are excused now, proceed to the other thread.  

And SweetK and Welshy, great stuff.  I look forward to reading more of it later in the day.

For myself, of course I'm looking for attention. At least attention for ideas, not really me personally.

I'm an artist professionally. It's part of my job to draw attention. CoJ is a medium, just like a piece of clay, or canvas, or newspaper, or blog, or camera.

I assume there are plenty of other people who read CoJ other than just those who post regularly. It's a chance to get ideas out to an audience in a little corner of the internet.

I'm not sure who you had in mind when you wrote that, but I, for one, love competing with others over ideas. Not to see who wins, but to see what's right. I love it when I "lose", because it means I'm getting closer to the truth. The feedback here, both positive and negative, is invaluable in developing ideas.

when i read the title of this thread i was so excited now after reading this thread i don't even want to see her nude anymore...

Who am i kidding!!! YES I DO!!! 

I enjoy most of the posting and discussion that goes on, don't get me wrong.  What I was getting to was that people in this forumn expose themselves everyday.  I know myself that I can learn about someone from their topics, how they write, their opions, etc.  Blogging/chatting/internet has taken many people out of their shells to a world where they share everything with strangers.  The only difference with Amanda is that she is getting paid to do it.  This is another source of income for an athlete or someone famous.  Exposing yourself, be it, selling Nike, baring your bod, or asking people on a chat board whether they should break-up with their boyfriend, IMOP very much the same.

And when Amanda takes her clothes off, all of us will be that much closer to the truth ;>

 You mean this one Chris?

I think he meant this one...

You are a great photographer.  You're right to want to finish your formal education.

It's obvious that you have your head screwed on straight.  Wise beyond your years.

Your fiance must be a special kinda guy.  I'm sure you both can do this.

I used to have this book and it got lost in a move... I wonder if it's in my attic somewhere.  It had beautiful pictures, not provocative at all, and one was funny. 

I can't find it online to buy anywhere. oh, well....

(life.jpg)

I totally believe you can make it work .  My wife and I met on a 6 week study abroad program in Paris.  She's a Texan I'm Canadian.  We dated long distance for 3 years flying back and forth and got engaged without having ever lived in the same city before.  We finished our degrees moved to be together and now have been married and loving life together for 2 years.  I know that it can be done and that you can do it  

I know that has nothing to do with the topic at hand but I wanted to be supportive because I've been there.