In world history class in high school, I learned how it was customary for the Ancient Greeks to bring expensive gifts when visiting royalty. I believe history repeats itself in modern day America when wealthy visitors to the Oprah show come bearing offerings to the queen. Today's gifts included a one-of-a-kind Oprah Barbie, given by the "real" Barbie, Barbara Handler Segal. She was also given a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, not yet available in this country, by Tamara Mellon. Oprah seemed quite thrilled by the doll and amused, but slightly bored with the shoes. Let's face it, she owns a gazillion shoes, but probably not too many iconic toys created to look just like her. (I'm not including the creepy doll given to her by Marie Osmond. Boy, that one sure went into the "regift" closet, didn't it?!)
Of course, I know that Oprah's life and mine are hardly parallel. For instance, I've never even held a pair of Jimmy Choos. Scratch that. I've never even seen a pair of Jimmy Choos in person. The last pair of shoes I bought was at Payless. I bought a pair of platform sandals and got a pair of flipflops for half price. But those are material differences. What really struck me was the surreality about the Barbie. I can't imagine being placed so high on a pedestal that Mattel would forge a doll in my image. Although I cringe whenever I hear Oprah's disconnection from the "real woman," I think it would be impossible for her to remain grounded in our reality when she is presented with such honors on a consistent basis. If we keep laying offerings at her Christian Louboutin-laden feet, how could we then expect her to be a representation of the "real woman?" And yet, we keep returning to her for advice. Is it still possible that Oprah is able to bestow upon us knowledge to live our 'best lives' when she isn't playing with the same deck of cards we are? Or maybe she has risen so far above our plane of existence, she is able to better view our path to happiness.
In closing for the week, let me tell you...I am both thrilled by AND dreading Sunday at the same time. Sunday night will end my 21-Day Cleanse which will be celebrated later in the week by cooking up some of the turkey burgers Oprah wanted us all the try. Sunday will also be the beginning of the "Live with Less" challenge. I think my husband is trying to find ways to work around the rules already. I notice him looking at his iPod as if it were being euthanized instead of put in a drawer for 7 days. Poor guy. He's just gonna have to be entertained by me.
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4 comments:
That's a really good point. Maybe we're giving her an impossible role to fill. Can any woman really be an idol AND a relatable peer?
that_girl - i've been thinking so much about this lately. for much of the first part of this project, i've been uncomfortable by her lack of relatability and now i wonder if it's feasible to expect such a thing of her. i'm not sure. xoLO
LO-
I think you are expecting too much from Oprah. Who said she had to be like us. Given her incredible success she ceased being like us a long time ago. That doesn't mean that she has fogotten her struggles, difficulties, etc. I beleive that she is simply a conduit for information. She can bring things forward that will help any woman (or man) in many walks of life. Watching her show is like going to the suppermarket. You can pick and choose the items that you want, you can borwse and not select and even when you've loaded your cart with bad things, you have the good right there too to help you choose more wisely. We have free choice, no one says we have to follow her lock, stock and barrel.
hey anonymous. thank you so much for writing! just to clear up...i actually agree with you - oprah's position in life has separated her from us ages ago. i don't imagine she'd ever be able to (or want to) live like me or my "Average Jane" peers. frankly, if i was a billionaire, i'm sure i'd morph into a different person, too!
and i agree with you about her show, too. in fact, that's why i think of this project less about oprah and more about how women interact with celebrity, the self-help industry and the media. oprah was the obvious choice on whom to focus my project because of her influence and her holistic lifestyle suggestions, but this is not an analysis of Oprah...it's an investigation of "us."
thanks again for writing. looking forward to hearing from you again! best, LO
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