[Vision2020] Copyright-was "The new The Saga Continues"

[Ted Moffett]

Palin made a comment recently that she would not pose for a Newsweek cover
photo in shorts.  This could be interpreted not as a issue of sexism, but
simply that Newsweek was promoting a image of Palin that does not project
the respect that more formal clothing inspires.

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My comments above I suppose did not clearly state what I intended.  I was
not addressing Newsweek's motivations in the above comments.  I was
addressing the mindset and intentions of Palin and/or her camp, who are
clearly in damage control mode to reconstruct her image to that of a more
"thoughtful serious competent" personality, given some of the interview and
comment gaffes she made or allegedly made during the presidential campaign
(Couric interview, where she dodged a question to name newspapers or
magazines she reads, Gibson interview and the "Bush doctrine" gaffe, the
alleged "I can see Russia from my back yard" comment as evidence of
international experience, et. al.). This perhaps involves intentions far
beyond promoting book sales.  If Palin is open to possibly running for
political office again, which I suppose can be questioned, her image must be
reconstructed to replace the common evaluation in the media that she
lacks intellectual capacity or education.  Thus, though the Palin
camp is playing the "sexist card" in their responses to the Newsweek cover,
a tactic that might place Palin's critics on the defensive and mitigate
further media attacks, what might really be of more concern is that the
Newsweek cover photo did not fully communicate the image of a thoughtful
serious person deserving of professional respect; professional women usually
do not do business in running shorts, they wear more formal attire, of
course, just as professional men.

As to the sex appeal of the Newsweek cover in question, I find it
laughable... Maybe in Saudi Arabia or Kabul would such attire be regarded as
sexual, but given current standards of public dress for women in the US, the
running outfit is modest.  What is or is not sexually attractive is
subjective and conditioned by culture, of course.  No doubt some find this
photo to have sexual appeal, but for others viewing it might be therapy for
priapism

Ted Moffett

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 11:18 AM, Kenneth Marcy <kmmos1 at verizon.net> wrote:

> On Thursday 19 November 2009 10:06:06 Ted Moffett wrote:
> > Palin made a comment recently that she would not pose for a
> > Newsweek cover photo in shorts.
>
> Sarah Palin's current job is to promote her book, and making such a
> comment, sure to engender conversation, is part of the process of
> keeping her name, and her book, in front of the public's awareness.
>
> > This could be interpreted not as a issue of sexism, but simply that
> > Newsweek was promoting a image of Palin that does not project the
> > respect that more formal clothing inspires.
>
> That's rather further down Newsweek's list of reasons, I suspect.
> Closer to the top of the list is selling their magazine. Most people
> know that photos of attractive women on magazine covers raise sales
> more than most other types of photographs. That Palin has sex appeal
> is clear; that alone is reason enough for some magazines. Newsweek,
> in particular, likely did find it "the most interesting image."
>
> > Would Newsweek run a photo on the cover of Secretary of
> > State Clinton in shorts?
>
> No. Hilary Clinton is engaged in diplomacy, not book sales or public
> image maintenance.
>
> > The Palin cover photo is thus suggesting an image of Palin that some
> > might think is not taking her seriously...
>
> Not taking her, or the image, seriously would be a mistake. Look at
> the photo. One sees a healthy, attractive woman posed with one elbow
> jabbed out over, and holding down, an American flag disrespectfully
> draped over the back of a long-legged bar stool. Her other elbow is
> jabbed out leading to a hand on hip that suggests "Look at me; I'm
> looking at you." And what is her other hand holding? An athletic
> runner's stopwatch? No, it's holding a political runner's cell phone.
>
> This photograph was staged and posed with both athletic and political
> running in mind. Anyone who thinks it is merely disrespectful in some
> sexist way is underestimating Sarah Palin's power for self-promotion.
>
>
> Ken
>
>
>
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