The creepy countdown to her 18th birthday reminds me of the scene of 30 rock, the episode in which Liz finds out she's dating her cousin and they agree to simultaneously say the degree of cousins they'd have to be in order for this to be acceptable:
Cousin: "Third"
Liz: "Never acceptable no matter what."
I feel this way. "At what point is it OK to objectify Emma Watson?"
@kithkin:I remember coming across a 'Natalie Portman Countdown to Legality' website back in the late 90s. They're almost a creepy tradition for all underaged starlets at this point.
@ozu The existence of the countdown means the "gentlemen" in question have not bothered to wait for the countdown. It's creepy all the way over on the human trafficking end of the scale. Thoroughly disgusting.
@notthemarimba: On one of my conference calls today, a colleague brought up the fact that they had seen Harry Potter naked. It was an odd, but awesome, moment.
What the public doesn't know is that she suffers from Never Nude Syndrome and wears cut-off jean shorts...even in the shower. Getting nude is just not an option for poor Emma.
Aw, that quote from Radcliffe is so sweet. It must be odd to be a female child star, having to play younger as long as possible before doing a full-180 on your 18th birthday.
She really has done a great job of maturing in the spotlight. She is always well-spoken and graceful. If she does choose to do nudity, either in a photoshoot or in a movie, I am guessing it will be tasteful and in keeping with her classy character.
Oh, polls! So misleading. Who knows how the question was framed? For instance, if it was: 'If Emma Watson wanted to play a role that involved nudity, would you approve?', well, I'd approve.
@Diziet_Sma: I know, what kind of poll asks people if they want to see Hermione naked? I mean, I would agree to see most people naked, just out of curiosity.
Not for nothin', but I did wind up seeing Equus, and in my opinion, the far braver (and much better) performance was by the girl he was playing opposite, who also got nude on stage. I just remember watching her and thinking how incredibly ballsy she was to do it. (And inevitably, the question popped into my mind, "What must she have been thinking when her parents came to see her perform!?")
But really, I think what set it apart was that Daniel Radcliffe's floppy eight minute screaming scene was abrasive and over-hyped. The scenes with the girl shocked me because her nudity, though in a sexual context, was so innocent. It's weird that the world works like that, huh - shocking me with innocence. I think it's why I like Emma so much.
Unfortunately, it will be hard for her to shake the image of Hermione. I suppose she'll try to do so by showing us her heiny. She'll take off her clothes. And strike a naughty pose. And we'll say, "what happened to our innocent Hermione?"
Honestly, if she wants to bare all, then why should we stop her? It's her decision to pose nude and as feminists, we don't necessarily have to agree with it, but we should let her do what she wants. She's an adult now and we should respect that.
@Shamrockette: I didn't think the post was in any way criticizing Watson's choice - rather, I thought the focus was on the public's creepy obsession with her body, and the very different gender norms regarding nudity.
@Shamrockette: I don't think anyone's taking issue with that; rather, it's the way the media/public reacts to young women Vs young men. The patriarchy and all that. Although I have to say, in this instance, the reaction to Daniel Radcliffe stripping off was just as creepy - from women, as well as men.
@clevernamehere: And she's smart enough to know that. But even when she's expected to, she still has the final say in the matter. If she wants to, even when people expect her to, then who are we to complain?
@Shamrockette: I've been clear before that I don't think feminism entails supporting any and all choices simply because they are made by women, but substantively, I absolutely agree with you. She should choose the roles and shoots she likes, and I don't personally care. That being said, I think she is taking the wiser road in terms of a long-track career.
If she did do a nude scene like DR, there would be people complaining about EW degrading/debasing herself/turning into a cheap, slatternly hussy, and setting a bad example for young women. Regardless of the context within the movie/play.
Edited by Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni! at 07/15/09 3:14 PM
Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni! was starred
Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni! was unstarred
There was an interesting programme on the BBC recently about a children's TV presenter deciding whether to do a 'glamour' shoot for a lads' mag.
It really made me think about the way that the mass media only really takes an interest in women who can be of use sexually and how those women feel about themselves. Personally I don't think Emma Watson would want to do a 'sexy' shoot and she may want to be judged on her brains/talent than how she looks. Or at least I hope so because my 9 year old sister is obsessed with her.
No, I'm not upset about the nudity part (although I AM, of course). I'm upset that you said Hermione and Ron snog in the Half Blood Prince! Everyone knows they first kiss in the Deathly Hallows, duh.
But, seriously, I really do feel that after HP7, we won't be seeing the last of Emma Watson...and we certainly won't be seeing her naked. She's too smart for that.
@randomnessish: Well...if you had been a nerd and gone to see the movie at midnight last night like an un named zombie lover who may be posting...you would be disappointed to find that certain plot element was quickly accelerated for this movie...as were some other relationships.
I hope not to see her naked but for some Kate Winslet type role because I really respect her as an actress in the same way that I respect Natalie Portman and Dakota Fanning for being so mature in comparison to other young female stars. I don't want to cheapen her with naked spreads.
@randomnessish: I'm betting that if we see her naked it'll be for a really meaty role in a really excellent off-the-beaten-path movie. Not that I'm planning her career in my head.
@amowls: Isn't Ron dating Lavender the whole book to make Hermione jealous? I haven't read the books in a while but I'm pretty sure the big kiss isn't until Deathly Hallows.
@amowls: No, they don't. They don't kiss til deathly hallows, and while there's some talk of Ron patting Hermione on the back during the funeral scene, there's never any actual spoken relationship til book 7. Perhaps you're confusing them with Harry and Ginny?
@randomnessish: The article just said she filmed it, not that it is in the current film. I think they are filming The Deathly Hallows now or are already finished.
@amowls: I'm so glad I'm not the only one who doesn't understand why fur=evil and leather=fine. Leather is basically fur with the furry part removed, no?
@amowls: leather as well! just the fur stuck out in my mind from some ad she did for some designer I can't remember off hand. but yeah, totally, I am anti-leather too!
@Breamworthy: I know I justify leather because it comes from a cow, which is already dead so that I may eat it. Leather is just an example of using as many parts of the animal as possible. The same thing is not done with fur animals.
@CollegeCamel: you realize that cow leater, cow meat and cow milk all come from different breeds right? The idea that the whole animal is used is a fallacy.
@thePrototype: I know that milk comes from a different breed than meat and leather, but meat and leather DO come from the same cows, with the exception of very fine leathers, which I would not buy, because there is only so much money I will spend on clothing.
I approve of her being naked if a role calls for it. I also approve of her not being naked if the role doesn't call for it. Yes, society treats male and female nudity differently, even in films, but if she's naked in a tough, artistic role, that's very different than an actress just starting off who takes off her top in a horror film.
She seems very bright and self aware. If she appears naked anytime soon, it'll probably be a calculated decision.
I feel like, unlike a lot of starlets out there, she is very aware of her surroundings, her actions, and their consequences and pretty assertive about these things. I admire that.
07/15/09
Cousin: "Third"
Liz: "Never acceptable no matter what."
I feel this way. "At what point is it OK to objectify Emma Watson?"
Others: "Age 18"
Me: "Never acceptable no matter what."
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Ditto
@ozu The existence of the countdown means the "gentlemen" in question have not bothered to wait for the countdown. It's creepy all the way over on the human trafficking end of the scale. Thoroughly disgusting.
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But really, I think what set it apart was that Daniel Radcliffe's floppy eight minute screaming scene was abrasive and over-hyped. The scenes with the girl shocked me because her nudity, though in a sexual context, was so innocent. It's weird that the world works like that, huh - shocking me with innocence. I think it's why I like Emma so much.
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She had the nerve to be born with a vagina.
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But I still stand with what I said, and it goes towards any young adult starlet.
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It really made me think about the way that the mass media only really takes an interest in women who can be of use sexually and how those women feel about themselves. Personally I don't think Emma Watson would want to do a 'sexy' shoot and she may want to be judged on her brains/talent than how she looks. Or at least I hope so because my 9 year old sister is obsessed with her.
07/15/09
No, I'm not upset about the nudity part (although I AM, of course). I'm upset that you said Hermione and Ron snog in the Half Blood Prince! Everyone knows they first kiss in the Deathly Hallows, duh.
But, seriously, I really do feel that after HP7, we won't be seeing the last of Emma Watson...and we certainly won't be seeing her naked. She's too smart for that.
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I hope not to see her naked but for some Kate Winslet type role because I really respect her as an actress in the same way that I respect Natalie Portman and Dakota Fanning for being so mature in comparison to other young female stars. I don't want to cheapen her with naked spreads.
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She seems very bright and self aware. If she appears naked anytime soon, it'll probably be a calculated decision.
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I feel like, unlike a lot of starlets out there, she is very aware of her surroundings, her actions, and their consequences and pretty assertive about these things. I admire that.