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Camille Paglia: The Death of the Hollywood Sex Symbol
The Hollywood Reporter ^ | December 6, 2019 | Camille Paglia

Posted on 12/06/2019 10:33:46 AM PST by C19fan

The cultural critic and 'Provocations' author laments the end of the bombshell and asks why only drag queens and ‘Hustlers’ star Jennifer Lopez still possess "Hollywood's most brilliant artifact." Who killed the sex symbol?

It's no mystery that in the era of #MeToo, the rules of combat have changed on the sexual battlefield. Women will no longer tolerate condescending or degrading treatment that was once business as usual in the workplace or dating arena. But in this long overdue push-back against sexual coercion and exploitation, has something valuable been lost?

The sex symbol was arguably Hollywood's most brilliant artifact, propelling the young movie industry to world impact from the moment that Theda Bara flashed her coiled-snake brassiere in Cleopatra (1917). Sex was great box office. With its impudent populism, Hollywood crashed through stuffy proprieties lingering from the Victorian age and stationed itself at the bold forefront of the modern liberalization of sex. Movies were in sync with the radical new spirit of American women, who won the right to vote in 1920 and kicked up their heels throughout the flapper decade of the Roaring Twenties.

(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...


TOPICS: Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: hollywoodfeminism; mgtow; redpill; sex
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/src on/No problem we have a boatload of Mary Sue's who can kick arse./src off/
1 posted on 12/06/2019 10:33:46 AM PST by C19fan
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To: C19fan

There’s really nothing sexy or alluring about an actress willing to go fully nude on screen.

The old sex symbols from yesterday were provocative, alluring and left plenty to the imagination.


2 posted on 12/06/2019 10:39:01 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
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To: C19fan

I watched the trailer to the latest Bond flick. None of the women in the film seem to have that Bond-girl oomph that we saw when Bond mania was at its height. And the black woman we’ve been hearing about who may or may not be the next 007 does not look attractive at all in the trailer. She’s looks like a big, strapping, mannish Michelle Obama type. Sigh.


3 posted on 12/06/2019 10:41:10 AM PST by Sans-Culotte (With every passing day, I am a little bit gladder that Romney lost in 2012.)
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To: C19fan

The masculinization of women in the name of fairness and equity is one problem.

Another issue is the elevation of homosexuals as an ideal. This is why you often see attractive homosexuals in the lineup of TV shows, and their romances are at the forefront of young adult and mainstream television. They ARE treated as sex symbols and role models, but the majority are not interested in them.


4 posted on 12/06/2019 10:46:18 AM PST by tbw2
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To: C19fan

Not enough left to the imagination.

I don’t go to movies, but the gal who played Wonder Woman, had ‘it’, as far as I am concerned.


5 posted on 12/06/2019 10:47:58 AM PST by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca. Deport all illegals. Abolish the DEA, IRS and ATF,.)
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To: Sans-Culotte

I remember an analysis of the cultural trend of veiling in Muslim societies. Everyone blames patriarchy and male oppression. One of the analysts said, “We forget the women driving it, too.” It isn’t just a matter of showing that you’re literally holier than thou, but the average looking women pressuring the pretty ones to cover up.

That dovetails perfectly with the social justice warriors tearing down pretty women. Don’t you dare dress up for the male gaze, you’re attracting evil and incentivizing rape. Pretty women, cut off your hair, gain 50 pounds and wear loose clothes and garish makeup to intentionally look BAD. It is moral peacocking, a public act of morality to get cheerleading of one’s peers, as well as necessary to avoid being attacked.


6 posted on 12/06/2019 10:52:56 AM PST by tbw2
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To: RedStateRocker

That would be Gal Gadot, and I agree


7 posted on 12/06/2019 10:53:29 AM PST by RainMan (rainman)
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To: C19fan

Two problems I have observed is that all the actresses kind of look alike. Nobody could fail to identify Ava Gardner, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe etc. The other problem is a lack of leading men who are really good looking. Bradley Cooper and Channing Tatum and Ryan Gosling are about the only ones I can think of.


8 posted on 12/06/2019 10:54:38 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: C19fan
I think the culprit was perverted Hollywood producers who would add gratuitous nude scenes to movies only because they wanted to see young starlets naked, under the threat of never working again.

-PJ

9 posted on 12/06/2019 10:57:11 AM PST by Political Junkie Too (Freedom of the press is the People's right to publish, not CNN's right to the 1st question.)
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To: C19fan

I think a lot of current stars try to come across as “fun” and sort of “one of the boys”. I’m thinking of Jennifer Lawrence and Anna Kendrick. Both are attractive, sure. But I don’t find them especially feminine. That doesn’t seem to be what they’re trying for. They’re too busy being “the fun girl at the party”. That’s not really sex symbol stuff in my book.


10 posted on 12/06/2019 10:59:48 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (If White Privilege is real, why did Elizabeth Warren lie about being an Indian?)
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To: C19fan

All the new screen women are sexual mules. Skinny, anorexic, and obviously too weak to actually do the various activities we see from some in their stunt doubles.

Give me real women of give me Patrick Henry!

https://www.iosmode.com/download-italian-girl-wallpaper/maria-grazia-cucinotta-ipad-pro/


11 posted on 12/06/2019 11:04:33 AM PST by Candor7 ((Obama Fascism)http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2009/05/barack_obam_the_quintessentia_1.html)
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To: Responsibility2nd
The old sex symbols from yesterday were provocative, alluring and left plenty to the imagination.

Well, leave at least a little to the imagination...


12 posted on 12/06/2019 11:06:42 AM PST by Yo-Yo ( is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Candor7
I don't need a gal to split and haul wood. That's what I'm for. I need her for mischief AND shenanigans:


13 posted on 12/06/2019 11:22:23 AM PST by Sirius Lee (They are openly stating that they intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live.)
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To: C19fan

Not just female sex symbols.

Who wants to go to a movie where the hero is played by some wimpy, whiny, skinny-jeaned, man bun-wearing metro?


14 posted on 12/06/2019 11:25:46 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Christina Hendricks is an example of how sexy a fully clothed actress can be. Whenever she is onscreen I have to make sure my wife doesn't see the drool running down my chin. The most exciting parts of The Dance of the Seven Veils are the first six veils.
15 posted on 12/06/2019 11:29:49 AM PST by katana
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To: mewzilla

Because most casting executives prefer either androgynous young men or prepubescent looking young women.


16 posted on 12/06/2019 11:33:16 AM PST by Bratch (IF YOU HAVE SELFISH IGNORANT CITIZENS, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SELFISH IGNORANT LEADERS-George Carlin)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Idris Elba, Shemar Moore, Sam Heughan are 3 more that I find fascinating...drool. On the leading men side.


17 posted on 12/06/2019 11:36:04 AM PST by PLOM...NOT! (With guns, we are citizens. Without them, we are subjects.)
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To: C19fan

Probably the biggest thing to happen to the sex symbol is acting classes. Sex symbols by and large couldn’t act. Once an actress learns to act things change.


18 posted on 12/06/2019 11:37:39 AM PST by discostu (I know that's a bummer baby, but it's got precious little to do with me)
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To: PLOM...NOT!

Sam’s a Remoaner.

Sigh.


19 posted on 12/06/2019 11:40:07 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds.)
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To: Bratch
Clearly.

My idea of a chick flick: Master & Commander, Hellfighters.

It's been years since I went to the movies.

20 posted on 12/06/2019 11:42:14 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds.)
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