1. Herman and Chomsky in "A Proganda Model" note that print-based media companies crossed over into television in the 1980s. Pierre Bourdieu notes in "On Television" that print-based media companies are now victim to television and now the internet and must continually make decisions about whether they will continue to exist or if they too will roll with the tide of change. Does the move to from print culture to television make print culture turn to sensationalism? Why has television and print culture both rejected opinionated, politicized news? Is is because of fear of libel/slander law suits a contributing factor as Herman/Chomsky suggest?
2. Bourdieu has a bone to pick with sensationalized news. If we apply his issues with that type of news to how "the mass media are interested in attracting audiences with buying power (p 268, "A Propaganda Model"), how are commercials sensationalized to gain consumers' money? Is advertising only for commodified products or fear factor in election cycles? What would YOU advertise and how instead?
Response to Leslie Miller's "The Many Figures of Eve" essay:
First, I'll start with a couple questions.
1. In examining the methodology of this essay, Miller seems to privilege the leisure class in this essay because of the use of satin in the corset's construction. To what extent are her findings appropriate for wealthy women? What sources might she have used to understand other women in relationship to corsetry?
2. As this essay started with a specific corset tied to a specific person (pun intended, though not necessarily going to make you roll on the floor laughing), why does the author tell us nothing further about the OWNER of the corset? Consider the possibilities of the U.S. census of 1900 and 1910 (corsetry leaves the dominant culture in the aftermath of the first World War), local censuses, etc.
Secondly, I had MANY issues with her conclusions (I will not enact a pretense of objectivity unlike mass media). Several times in the essay she uses dress reformers (an emergent culture which started in the 1840s but did not become a part of dominant culture until after both the Victorian period [1837-1901] and Edwardian era [1901-1910] had passed, see page 135-6 for example). She states that women could not bend at the waist, deeply breathe, or sit anywhere except on the edge of chairs.
In considering historical problems, one way to form one is examining the discrepancies between arguments of others and primary source evidence. I contend another way is to reconstruct through living history (where one attempts to educate self and others to the ways of the past). Therefore, having never worn a corset, but enjoying the study of mid-19th century America so much as to participate in living history with lots of people who do wear corsets, I find this statement of immense restrictive mobility to not add up. Furthermore, I'm not sure I can answer my own question #1 (in regards to Miller's article). Miller points to husbands and servants helping women into corsets but also admits that women could place themselves within them alone. I can assure you that women of across society (races, places, classes) wore corsets and were active within them.
Can't move? Note the (staged) but still active movement: Young women cutting and fitting clothing in class at Agricultural and Mechanical College, Greensboro, N.C.
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c10000/3c18000/3c18900/3c18917v.jpg
Across races: African American family standing in a yard in Georgia. http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c20000/3c24000/3c24800/3c24820v.jpg
Across races and completely in chair: Nursing student wearing a starched white uniform, seated in a rocking chair, reading http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3c20000/3c24000/3c24800/3c24811v.jpg
Cooking in 1860s corsets: Two of my friends are shown here by another friend (and daughter of one of the women) cooking (see Dec. 7, '09 entry) http://blog.historicalfashions.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-07T23%3A34%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=10
Cutting hay in 1860s corsets: http://agsas1861-65.dotphoto.com/CPViewAlbum.asp?AID=3420419&IID=117024448&Page=1 and http://agsas1861-65.dotphoto.com/CPViewAlbum.asp?AID=3420419&IID=117025412&Page=1
Miller contends (from only one source) that corsets were frequently used to terminate pregnancies. This is difficult to prove one way or the other because few nineteenth century women wrapped up in the cult of domesticity would admit to purposefully terminating a pregnancy. Greater information however points to the importance of the corset DURING the pregnancy and in the timeframe after the birth of a child. In the period there were gestational and nursing corsets which were not as restrictive as the one shown in this essay. See some images here http://corsetra.livejournal.com/20947.html
Ok I think I've said enough.
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