2007-01-17...7:29 pm
Baring for Art’s Sake?
It’s raining scantily dressed women, as there has lately been a barrage of them celebrities being featured in calendars, billboards and men’s magazine covers. 
It seems to be the trend in local showbiz and one is not “in” if she isn’t, well, IN them. There’s Angelica Panganiban, photoshop princess. And Roxanne Guinoo, the latest White Castle Whisky girl, chosen from among a bevy of wannabes because like her predecessors she has the wholesome aura. Of course we are not to leave out the FHM babes.
Most are quick to summon the cliche, “for art’s sake” to their defense. Fair enough. And then they add, they’d like to tell all and sundry that they are ready to take more mature roles. Mature, my foot. Does a girl have to bare herself in order to be called mature? I’m not complaining… what’s not to like about these beauties? But were they lured into it, given this premise? Gina Alajar, Lorna Tolentino, Amy Austria and their lot were able to transcend from being “bomba” girls to credible actresses because they showed talent, depth, range and professionalism. They were able to prove that they were more than just pretty faces and beautiful bodies.
Speaking of mature roles in Philippine entertainment… how about showing maturity by departing from the usual formula of comedy/song and dance routine? of the exaggerated melodramatic histrionics that guarantees fans and a best actor trophy? the rags to riches story of a songbird? the “you and me against the world” love story? or the good guy winning over Pacquito Diaz(or an alternate stereotype) and his minions theme? It’s quite ironic, too that for a largely Catholic and supposedly conservative culture, the films that are given acclaim, both here and abroad are almost always about prostitution and sex/sexuality in the Philippines. Is this supposed to reflect Philippine society in general, or just the lifestyles of those who churn these media out? Could there be other aspects to Philippine life worth documenting in art that isn’t about these and doesn’t need to exploit?
4 Comments
2007-01-17 at 8:07 pm
Yes, as a fellow member of the male specie, I do relish the sight of a semi-naked (or even fully naked) female body, but I do think that using that to measure a woman’s maturity seems as flimsy as some of the outfits these beauties wear…
I’d agree that the real marker of one’s maturity as an artist -especially for the females - is being able to fly in the face of expectations, being able to stand up not just on the consequences of their actions but also being able to transcend them.
For that these girls deserve understanding, not outright censure as some indignant elements of our (still) largely-conservative society are already pondering.
2007-01-18 at 9:48 am
Correct me if I am wrong…
It has become a fad for (near-to-extinction) stars to post for these magazines. Is it a way of boosting their careers?
Well, for Katrina Halili, it works.
2007-01-18 at 11:53 am
It does seem to work for many of them, it gets them back on the news. And in the case of Angelica Panganiban, even if it’s bad publicity, it still IS publicity. But it gives one the impression that these young women aren’t given any other options to advance their careers. While it is true that local showbiz needs to cater to the demands of a flesh hungry public, it also has the responsibility to develop and encourage an environment that promotes art, in its truest sense. Not a cut throat one where the girl who is necessarily clad least gets the most fame and moolah.
I’d like to believe that we do have an endless pool of real talent, for which we have not sufficiently provided the proper venues to harness. By talent I do not only mean those who willingly strip for art’s sake, but the whole bunch of them involved in production.
2008-03-07 at 1:47 am
[...] know what to do with it. The first comment came from emperorbananaketchup, though, over an article on scantily dressed women. Well, here’s hoping for one more year of [...]
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