Oprah told us so.
Clearly, I need to work on deepening my relationship with footwear.
So, this was one of those strange bits of programming today. Yesterday's episode was about putting aside our petty needs to help those less fortunate than we are. Today was a celebration of the innovators behind highly successful consumer products...all of which, while fun to have, were unnecessary luxuries. Coldstone Creamery, Christian Louboutin shoes, Williams Sonoma kitchen supplies. I think there's an interesting dichotomy presented in Oprah's messages. On one hand, she insists we should be happier with less (how many times has she told us she abhors waste?) and on the other hand, we giggle when she tells us that when she went to the Container Store with Steadman, she bought things she's "probably not going to use...I was just buying things, buying things." Hm.
And let's face it, the reason the Container Store is so successful is because we BUY SO MUCH STUFF and have no space for it. I felt as if Oprah's celebration of this particular business was in opposition to her other shows this season.
These contradictions are where Oprah's message gets muddy.
Is it too much to expect that one of America's richest and most powerful people should lead by example? Perhaps she was able to attain the success she has by bucking the very rules she sets out for us. I don't have any answers but I think of this often. If we want success in our own lives, should we follow her suggestions, or should we make our own rules and march to the beat of our own drummer, just as she did?
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ALSO - Here's a little something sent to me today by Susan regarding Oprah's presence of the cover of EVERY O Magazine. It's been a favorite topic of discussion on this blog. Sure, sure the "news" is on Page Six, so it's hearsay at this point, but I found it really interesting. Thanks Susan!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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17 comments:
About covers..Iremember reading in Martha Stewart Living mag that MS said it took several years before she stopped feeling that she had to be on the cover of each issue. Doesn't seem to have hurt circulation any since she stopped. NB..she wasn't referring to Oprah in any way. This was before O mag came out.
Why can't we be content with less, but still enjoy it when it's more? I don't find that contradictory.
It's like that zen idea of wanting nothing. How boring would having no wants be? No goals. I think you mentioned that before (or I'm confusing my blogs).
If she's saying that we NEED these things, then I can see your point. She has a bad choice of wording perhaps.
Let's be honest, if every Oprah show was about the poor, homeless, disease riddled, brain addled, and down trodden the suicide rate in this country would go off the charts, or at least Oprah's ratings would take a nose dive. In between shows about child predators and starving children I need shows about the founder of Jimmy Choo and Oprah's favorite things.
Don't underestimate a little brain candy (love the celebrity shows!) for women who work too hard, give too much, and don't love themselves at all. When I'm exhausted from children, work, blah, blah, and tivo tells me thzt today's Oprah was "woman with no legs loses six children in flood, gets aids from husband, loses home, and is struck by lightning" I sometims hit 'delete" because that's too much of a Debbie Downer.
And I doubt that Oprah feels compelled to buy things in order to feel complete (now, eating a biscuit is another matter) so for her I think it's about having nice things because she can, not because it defines her being (a little New Earth in there for ya).
The reason Oprah is a success is because she worked her ass off and she has shared that with her audience many times. But, Oprah's not a twenty-somehting upstart anymore, she's a made woman in her fifties so her perspective, her voice, has matured (mellowed?). I think all of these shows about bettering yourself with sharp clothing, finding ways to give in your community, connecting to your spiritual self, and owning a really great bar-b-q-grill are all about the same thing: how to love yourself, love others, and live your life with joy and purpose (and a pair of Jimmy Choo's). Now, what's so bad about that?
I think it is probably easier to love shoes when you are not a size ten and a half - like me. I only love runners. I could easily own a dozen pair but I confine myself to two and a third pair that is ratty and good for outdoor work.
I think Oprah is no less a contradiction than any of us. No one can practice what they preach all the time and though I think she really means well when she goes "guru" on us, I like her better when she gets excited about stuff and books and celebs and the latest "thing".
I for one don't like being reminded of things I'll never be able to afford. Don't get me wrong, I really, really love stuff, but I can't watch a whole show about it, nor can I watch celebrity stuff for very long. In the 'helpful Oprah' vein, why can't we learn more about how to care for ourselves better without it costing an unreasonable amount? It just seems to me that expensive shoe shows don't do *anyone* any good (and besides I think they are BORING).
The problem I have always had with these contradictory messages is that she sells her self-help ideas and consumer products in the same manner. If we keep a gratitude journal and purchased ice cream from Coldstone Creamery we will become happier people. Sometimes I wish she would say, "But if you can't afford Louboutins it's okay, you don't have to have them to be a better person." Of course, the Louboutin PR people might not like that. Afterall, companies want their goods pushed on Oprah because of how the show markets them.
I really enjoy your blogs. As far as the show today, who can afford to buy Louboutin? Yes, they are fabulous but really, over the top, price wise. I think it's a much better idea to show and tell with shoes that the majority of America can afford. I just can't relate to people who pay that kind of money for their shoes.
Oprah actually goes shopping..at a Container store no less?
I'm sure she has a pimply white girl for things like that.
I like Oprah on the cover of 'O', I think she looks great. It takes a lot of time and effort to do these covers and I think her fans appreciate her hard work. But, if she wants to quit the covers, thats ok too. I love Oprah, and I love your blog. I think you should cut her some slack on the expensive shows. She has something for everyone. Even if I can't afford those things, I'm happy to know that they exist. I think it's interesting to see what rich people buy.
I am sick of seeing Oprah on each and every cover!!! I have seen her in person and talk about the magic of photography! It would be more fun to see her monthly choices..just imagine, who would she choose?
I agree with Dani, Jurl and bookfestival. Oprah has something for everyone and I think her show has balance. I'll speak for myself when I say that I'm curious to see how others live. shows about the rich give me dreams and goals, shows about the poor remind me to be grateful for all that I have and stories of overcoming adversity inspire me and know that I can get to wherever I want to be and stories of grief remind me that it can all be taken away in an instant.
I think the diversity of her shows show that she is very open minded but also human, we all struggle with something (i.e. weight) and can we really chastise her for not being completely consistent in her suggestions or messages (whatever you wanna call what she does...)? I know some days I want to indulge in the finer things and others I can see how much is unnecessarily wasted....Oprah is human just like us...we're all perfectly flawed in our own ways.
Once again, wonderful entry! I watched her show yesterday (yes, I'm a sucker) and found it very enjoyable. I'm not sure she was so much pushing the idea of purchasing for happiness, as saying, "Look at these people who came from nowhere and did these incredible things." I think her intention may have been to inspire; to say, hey, these folks did it, and you can too.
True, when she says she has a pair of shoes whose price is gag inducing, it makes me want to roll my eyes. Her ownership of these things have become so second nature to her that I think sometimes her brain blips and she acts as though everyone has the ability to purchase such things. Of course, I don't begrudge her any of that; after all, she's commented several times about her childhood spent in poverty. It's probably a kick to go in, look at the all the boxes in the Container Store, and know she can buy as much as she wants and not have to worry about the money. Still, it does give your brain whiplash when she says that she's purchased so many and won't use them...though she doesn't believe in waste. Perhaps she'll donate them? Now if only I could write the Great American Novel so I can buy too many nifty containers and give some to charity.
I'll also say that I agree with other posters in regards to the balance of the shows. I think that they are trying to mix informative shows with entertaining ones. It helps to bring in a cross section of viewers and keep her ratings high. And, hey, if they can snag a shoe-aholics attention one day, and have her/him come back to the next day to learn about donating to a literacy campaign, I say more power to them.
hey anon - thanks for telling us about the MS cover decision. very interesting. not a dilemma many of us can share with them! :)
dani, i'm very conflicted about this - i'm going to write more about it in my post later, i think. it's hard - on one hand i totally agree with you, but on the other hand, i think it's when people see so much they can't afford looking so attractive, that's when they spend beyond their means and as a result, our economy is a mess.
jurl - yeah, i would run screaming into traffic if all the shows were 'darker' issues. totally.
anniegirl1138 - i am a 10.5 too!!! what the heck is that? why do shoe manufacturers think that half sizes should stop at a 9.5? argh!
breton. this is how i'm feeling right now, too.
american girl, yup. totally. especially because everything on the show recently has fallen under the giant umbrella of Oprah's tagline "live your best life."
anon - hee hee. wait you don't have a closet full?!
anon - i think she did go to the container store. ONCE. but do you think the store was open to the rest of the public at the time?
bookfestival, i appreciate your input. i mean, clearly she's doing it because the majority of people like it, right? i'm deeply interested in learning why you - and SO many of us - are so captivated in watching how the other half lives. i feel the same way sometimes, but i don't think it's healthy. and yet, it's so much a part of our culture.
anon - i'd love to see who she'd pick!
sonia, i actually feel just like you do - that oprah is a person just like us - i think the trouble is when she is idolized and deified. and what does it mean when a fallible human being is put on such a high pedestal by so many women? i think that's the dangerous part.
mya, i get so confused - i sometimes can't decide if her programming is balanced or conflicting. right now i happen to be in the "conflicting" camp, just because i'm following everything she tells us to do in order to "live our best lives."
thanks y'all!
xoLO
@ I for one don't like being reminded of things I'll never be able to afford.
You must never leave your house, read a book or turn on the television then. How do you do it?
I don't care much for O's makeover shows or favorite things. When those are on my Tivo, I usually delete them no harm no foul.
The Oprah Show is like a women's magazine to me, there lot of ads, lots of fluff, a few feel good stories and expose type pieces, celebrities, and a few pretty things to look at.
When I think of the content of the Oprah show (which is not very often) I think of what it must be like to come up with ideas for 5 shows a week, 9 months out of the year. Compound that by however many years she's been on the air, and I think the challenge of coming up with innovative and interesting concepts is pretty clear. I'm not all that sure she's thinking about balance or conflict, but more about just having something to talk about each show. I don't envy the producers that have to track down the guests and make sure everything comes off without a hitch. Of course, maybe some of the luxe samples find their way into their possession after the show. That would be a pretty nice perk!
brigitte, it's really been a bit stressful, i'll admit. for some reason, when i started, i thought it was going to be non-stop fun and hilarity. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! i don't actually have free time. i'll always look back at this time - my 35th year - as the year i didn't get enough sleep and spent more time on the computer than i ever thought possible.
anon - i think you've made a great point about producers, programming, and the necessity of putting shows on the air. especially after so many years. the conflict for me comes when she's framed her current work within the "live your best life" phrase. in my mind, everything she airs and prints falls under that umbrella. that's the magnifying glass under which i'm making this examination! i really appreciate your thoughts on this!
best,
LO
I happened to see that show too! And I don't watch Oprah, but I was flipping channels with my mom, and I said, "What's Oprah about today?" And she said, it's an entire show on Stuff You Can't Afford. Weird.
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