Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Demand for more ugly people on TV
aftenposten ^ | 10/17/02

Posted on 10/17/2002 1:09:55 PM PDT by Ranger

Lecturer Trond Andresen of the Norwegian Institute of Technology in Trondheim accuses the media of discriminating against the ugly and emphasizing beautiful people whenever possible. Andresen wants higher ugly quotas on television.

"Ugly people should be spotlighted in the media in the same way that the media wishes to emphasize persons from ethnic minorities," Andresen, a lecture at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics, said to newspaper Bergens Tidende.

Andresen blasts journalists, photographers and TV producers for concentrating on beautiful faces and bodies and accuses the press of choosing attractive interviewees from schools or the workplace, and avoiding others.

Andresen compares the phenomenon with racial discrimination. "Ugly people are as ignored today as dark-skinned people. They are told daily that they are inferior. This isn't done openly, but indirectly, by overlooking them, by focusing on appearance in advertising, TV-series, magazines, schools and in groups," Andresen said.

Andresen believes the focus on appearance is a serious social problem that makes young people insecure and increases their own dissatisfaction with how they look. Possible outcomes are eating disorders, psychological problems and cosmetic surgery.

Andresen doesn't find it easy to argue his case.

"If I were chosen for a TV debate I would obviously be assessed by viewers - not for what I had said, but for how I looked," Andresen said.

The academic has suggestions about how to combat the situation; with a choice of subjects to interview, do not approach the attractive ones - instead give the ugly a higher quota. Andresen also advises that media reports ignore mentioning appearance if it is not directly relevant.

Researcher Wencke Mühleisen at the Center for Women and Gender Research backs Andresen and agrees the media should be giving the ugly more exposure.

TV 2 news editor Kjell Oevre-Helland, on the other hand, could not agree less.

"Claiming that we consciously pick out the best looking people to interview is absurd and totally meaningless. That would mean that we depart from the main point of journalism, which is to talk to those who have influence and something important to say. That often means middle-aged men without particularly attractive characteristics," Oevre-Helland said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: buttugly; fuglyquotas; hillaryalert; ratalert; renoalert; television
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-106 next last
To: Destructor
We had the Roseanne years, do we really want to go there, again?
41 posted on 10/17/2002 2:36:14 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: ofMagog
I try but they keep complaining about the camera breaking.
Oh well...
42 posted on 10/17/2002 2:36:21 PM PDT by michigander
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Ranger
This fellow is speaking from Norway, where some of the most striking women in the world come from (speaking as someone who has Norwegian heritage). He can be forgiven for wondering where the ugly people are.

Regards, Ivan

43 posted on 10/17/2002 2:36:44 PM PDT by MadIvan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy
Is it any wonder that Greta had a snip and tuck?
44 posted on 10/17/2002 2:37:08 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides

,,, I don't want you thinking ugly people don't have fun - it's just that they tend to have fun alone. Ask Janet Reno.

45 posted on 10/17/2002 2:37:10 PM PDT by shaggy eel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
Tell him to look at the Dim party. There are plenty of uglies in that party.
46 posted on 10/17/2002 2:38:16 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Ranger
Paging James Carville ....
47 posted on 10/17/2002 2:39:01 PM PDT by woofie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ranger
Media equality!! As of right now, most of the ugly people are on the Internet! ;^/
48 posted on 10/17/2002 2:39:30 PM PDT by ovrtaxt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shaggy eel
LOL! So it was you in the bushes, with that camera.
49 posted on 10/17/2002 2:40:01 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy
LOL! Contrast her to the perpetually constipated Judy Woodruff.
50 posted on 10/17/2002 2:40:55 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
,,, he asked, knowingly!
51 posted on 10/17/2002 2:41:52 PM PDT by shaggy eel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy
When I watch Laurie on the news updates, I have a devil of a time concentrating on what she's actually saying. In fact, my powers of concentration are so hindered by her presence on my tube that I usually have to end up watching her next update....and her next...
52 posted on 10/17/2002 2:43:40 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Rye
Those shiney lips of hers are hypnotic.
53 posted on 10/17/2002 2:44:46 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Ranger; wardaddy

54 posted on 10/17/2002 2:45:44 PM PDT by martin_fierro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
Yep, they beckon.
55 posted on 10/17/2002 2:45:55 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: ovrtaxt
Have you ever noticed that ugly girls always want to wear the skimpiest clothes?
56 posted on 10/17/2002 2:45:57 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro
Oh man, I can't take it.
57 posted on 10/17/2002 2:46:39 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: SERE_DOC
I would like to take this opportunity and submit myself as a candidate for the position.

I thought the same for me too, but my wife said I'm over qualified, thats good right?

58 posted on 10/17/2002 2:46:51 PM PDT by DainBramage
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Rye
I know I wouldn't give her a ticket for speeding.

That reminds me of that Seinfeld episode.

59 posted on 10/17/2002 2:47:32 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: ofMagog; Scuttlebutt; beowolf; Fred Mertz; michigander; Aquamarine; Pippin; WVNan; COB1; ...
Now that you mention it, it could build the self-esteem of the crew, Captain, to be actually accepted.

The locals ofttimes recoil at the sight of some of our members, making them feel badly at times.
We are, after all, a sensitive bunch of psychoceramics.

60 posted on 10/17/2002 2:49:01 PM PDT by LadyX
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-106 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson