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Lordy, lordy....
I get home from work today and realize that it is the greatest day of the year. Why is that you ask? Because today is the day the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition landed on my doorstep.
Normally I am far above that type of immodest, immature, unseemly and generally inappropriate type of objectification in the media....But I'll make an exception this one time.
I was very happy to learn earlier in the week that gracing the cover would be none other than Bar Rafaeli. Rafaeli , a Jew, was born and raised by an Israeli family in the city of Hod HaSharon. After some modelling and acting, she first appeared in the 2007 Swimsuit Edition and again in 2008.
With this year's magazine she now becomes the first of the tribe to grace the cover of the SI SE.
Say what you want about the role of this issue and whether or not it objectifies women beyond what our society might classify as 'reasonable' (if there can be any objectification that is reasonable at all), but being on the cover of one of the most read magazines - sporting or otherwise - is a big deal.
Is her Jewish heritage a big deal though? Should Jews and non-Jews alike even care about her religion?
Maybe it's politically incorrect to say this, but 'the chosen people' haven't always been known as the modelling type. As far as stereotypes go you could get away with smart, entrepreneurial, doctors, lawyers, cheap (we are talking stereotypes here and I already threw out the politically incorrect card, so sue me) maybe even handsome. But classically beautiful, or what might be referred to as "hot"?...I don't think so bubby...ah...buddy.
In that sense it's kinda refreshing, or maybe affirming even to some people that yes, Jews can be hot. Why not?
Hey, if she's good enough for Leo DiCaprio, why can't she be good enough for SI, let alone you and me?
On that note, I've gotta run and do some more...ah...research on this topic...
P.S...fly Southwest
Hey SLB. What gives? Modeling is now a sport? Well maybe if it's for SI, and who am I to say the penultimate sports magazine doesn't know good sport photography?
ReplyDeleteI know you say you write about sports and non-sports so it probably falls into one of those categories.
Rafaeli is Jewish? Who would've known, or cared?
In any event, she has what it takes to make the cover. But do you think she got there in the same way that Ben Roethlisberger did last week, or to follow your lead, Sandy Koufax did in 1963?
These guys worked with single minded determination and focus to stretch their best in an objective way. Everyone may not agree they were better than someone else on a particular day, but no-one of intelligence and good will argues they got there merely with a good diet and the help of a great (Jewish?)plastic surgeon. They did the work by themselves, on themselves, and with great personal sacrifice. (To say they had personal coaches misses the point).
No SLB, the chosen people are not lifted higher in my eyes because Rafaeli has broken a sweat on the beach, allowed herself to be objectified,used to titillate, and Mr. Mazzucco clicked a high end camera at a bunch of opportune times.
Her provocative side will sell this SI issue no doubt. But is there really an issue to write about?
I guess you and I just did.