In a message dated 3/20/01 12:53:37 PM Eastern Standard Time, nydersdyner@yahoo.co.uk writes:
<< Um, well, debatable. I'm not sure, for instance, that anybody particularly expected Patrick Stewart to become a sex symbol, and frankly I consider Bela Lugosi a very good actor, but I think very few people would choose him as a sex partner even if he weren't forty years in the grave :).<<
<By the standards of the 1930's era when he first hit the public eye as "Dracula", first in the theatrical play and then the movie, he was regarded as very exotic-looking, continental and sexy, particularly in Europe. Standards of screen heart-throb have changed many times in the 70 years since.>
Hm, perhaps the wrong example to use then... perhaps, say, Trevor Cooper or Marty Feldman, both good actors but I don't think either of them have ever been considered heartthrobs (yes, alright, I'm sure somebody fancies them, but neither of them's going to be playing the Sheik of Araby anytime...)
Furthermore, actors' desirability and their acting
ability are not fixed factors: Peter Cushing started out playing young hunky heroes, but is better known for the sinister villains he played in his fifties onwards, and the actors who seem to inspire the biggest crushes are not always the ones with the best acting/imitating abilities (witness Leonardo DiCaprio).<<
<Absolutely right. Some fans go ga-ga over Brad Pitt, who looks as ugly as sin to others.>
Actually I was talking about acting talent there-- and I'm not sure even his fans will claim that he has any :).
< but the media does tend to try and steer our tastes into convenient marketing trends with respect to popular celebrities. 'Steering the crush', if you will. >
Well, yes and no. The success of Patrick Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg etc. suggest that sometimes it's the other way around.
<One result has been the disgustingly thin actress which has now become the studio norm.>
Actually, I can't think of *any* studio standard of feminine beauty that wasn't unhealthy... the Forties gave us the fuller figure, it's true, but it was one trussed up in corsets and perched on impossible shoes.
Fiona
The Posthumous Memoirs of Secretary Rontane Available for public perusal at http://nyder.r67.net
_________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com