Comments on: Pixar joins in on fat-bashing http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:09:42 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Wall-E revisited » The-F-Word.org http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-63669 Wall-E revisited » The-F-Word.org Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:43:45 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-63669 [...] two posts — here and here – on Pixar’s Wall-E last fall drew strong reactions across the spectrum. At the [...]

[...] two posts — here and here – on Pixar’s Wall-E last fall drew strong reactions across the spectrum. At the [...]

]]> By: Wall-E Madness « Boobs i haz dem http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-62083 Wall-E Madness « Boobs i haz dem Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:11:11 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-62083 [...] F-Word also had some negative things to say, and urged readers to write into Pixar about Wall-E, although the writer here is outraged because the feel the film makes the [...]

[...] F-Word also had some negative things to say, and urged readers to write into Pixar about Wall-E, although the writer here is outraged because the feel the film makes the [...]

]]> By: Spineless » The-F-Word.org http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-61123 Spineless » The-F-Word.org Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:49:58 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-61123 [...] my post on Pixar’s upcoming film WALL-E has garnered strong reviews across the spectrum. I must admit, I was rather surprised by the hordes [...]

[...] my post on Pixar’s upcoming film WALL-E has garnered strong reviews across the spectrum. I must admit, I was rather surprised by the hordes [...]

]]> By: Rachel http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-24874 Rachel Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:29:30 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-24874 If anyone has additional comments on the issue of Pixar's film WALL-E, please make them at this follow-up post: <a href="http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=221" rel="nofollow">Spineless</a> http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=221 If anyone has additional comments on the issue of Pixar’s film WALL-E, please make them at this follow-up post: Spineless

http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=221

]]> By: Quiwi http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-24873 Quiwi Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:12:03 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-24873 To Mike D: People who are willing to speak up for something that they feel is wrong aren't exactly spineless, perpetually fragile beings. People who remain silent and take no action, especially when they have been wronged, are called pushovers. Last I checked, people of size are pretty darn hard to knock down. When you hear and see every single day how much society hates your appearance, developing a thick skin comes pretty naturally. To Mike D:
People who are willing to speak up for something that they feel is wrong aren’t exactly spineless, perpetually fragile beings. People who remain silent and take no action, especially when they have been wronged, are called pushovers. Last I checked, people of size are pretty darn hard to knock down. When you hear and see every single day how much society hates your appearance, developing a thick skin comes pretty naturally.

]]> By: Rachel http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-24865 Rachel Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:17:13 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-24865 <i>The difference between this and weight is that everybody has some degree of control over their weight. </i> Mike D - And your point is? It's okay to discriminate against people because they "chose" to become fat and lazy? People choose religion, too, but you seem to give religious folk a pass. But since fat people just can't seem to get this "causal relationship" of exercise, diet and willpower, they're open game, right? Wrong. Discrimination is discrimination, no matter how much you try to minimalize it. Let's say someone did "choose" to become fat - are they any less deserving of basic human rights? And quite frankly, it's beyond rude to come onto a eating disorders awareness and pro body-acceptance site and start spouting off about diet and willpower. Many of the people who visit this site regularly have willpower like you wouldn't believe, Mike. In fact, my willpower almost killed me. The difference between this and weight is that everybody has some degree of control over their weight.

Mike D – And your point is? It’s okay to discriminate against people because they “chose” to become fat and lazy? People choose religion, too, but you seem to give religious folk a pass. But since fat people just can’t seem to get this “causal relationship” of exercise, diet and willpower, they’re open game, right?

Wrong. Discrimination is discrimination, no matter how much you try to minimalize it. Let’s say someone did “choose” to become fat – are they any less deserving of basic human rights?

And quite frankly, it’s beyond rude to come onto a eating disorders awareness and pro body-acceptance site and start spouting off about diet and willpower. Many of the people who visit this site regularly have willpower like you wouldn’t believe, Mike. In fact, my willpower almost killed me.

]]> By: Mike D http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-24852 Mike D Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:08:55 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-24852 Rachel - You mentioned blacks and hispanics in your example of potential predjudice. Race is something that you have no control over, like your gender, height or sexuality. (You also mentioned Jews, but religion is a whole different topic for debate.) The difference between this and weight is that everybody has some degree of control over their weight. While genetics definitely play a role, some part of your weight is tied to your level of exercise, diet, willpower and ability to understand this causal relationship. The depiction of humanity descending into a species of lazy, gluttonous, excessive consumers is not unlikley to be predjudicial against overweight people in today's society. From my understanding (having not seen the film) the "people" in the film barely resemble people from reality. I also understand that the robot is meant to be the protagonist in the film and humans are the antagonist. Using fat, lazy blobs to represent people is most likely a story-telling tool to distance the audience from the bad guys, because it's a less effective story if people identify with the bad guys. I think some people are being a bit precious and overly sensitive and I'd suggest hardening up. Rachel – You mentioned blacks and hispanics in your example of potential predjudice. Race is something that you have no control over, like your gender, height or sexuality. (You also mentioned Jews, but religion is a whole different topic for debate.) The difference between this and weight is that everybody has some degree of control over their weight. While genetics definitely play a role, some part of your weight is tied to your level of exercise, diet, willpower and ability to understand this causal relationship.

The depiction of humanity descending into a species of lazy, gluttonous, excessive consumers is not unlikley to be predjudicial against overweight people in today’s society. From my understanding (having not seen the film) the “people” in the film barely resemble people from reality. I also understand that the robot is meant to be the protagonist in the film and humans are the antagonist. Using fat, lazy blobs to represent people is most likely a story-telling tool to distance the audience from the bad guys, because it’s a less effective story if people identify with the bad guys.

I think some people are being a bit precious and overly sensitive and I’d suggest hardening up.

]]> By: Rachel http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-24811 Rachel Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:51:58 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-24811 The whole "humans are fat blobs due to a lack of gravity" argument seems a bit more convoluted for audiences to swallow than, given the tone of the anti-obesity hysteria currently, portraying them as fat and lazy. I mean, do you really think that a general audience, upon seeing a fat blob "drinking liquified food from Big-Gulp-esque cups, and forever surfing (and chatting) on chair-mounted video screens" is going to first think "Oh, wow, so that's what <i>gravity</i> does to humans!" or are they going to think "Wow, so that's what the <i>obesity epidemic</i> will do to humans!" This interpretation isn't based on the sole opinion of one possibly biased person who has seen the film. According to a <a href="http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33497" rel="nofollow">review</a> from Aintitcool.com, the clip: <blockquote>"showed a big plaza where dozens of these couch potato humans were moving about in their hoverchairs. The next clip showed one human attempting to roll out of his chair and falling on the ground. Humans are big and fat, but not quite blobs or mutants. Just fat humans."</blockquote> Nor is it my perception only. As VPW notes at <a href="http://www.bigfatblog.com/pixar-were-all-just-fat-blobs#comment-32415"Big Fat Blog</a rel="nofollow">: <blockquote>"I haven't seen the clip, but going from this source, it doesn't seem that the human race will be evolving into a gelatinous jellyfish-like race with no bones. It just seems like the film is saying that fat people are so gluttonous and lazy that we will destroy the Earth."</blockquote> In any case, I'm still waiting to hear back from Disney with a clarification on its portrayal. The whole “humans are fat blobs due to a lack of gravity” argument seems a bit more convoluted for audiences to swallow than, given the tone of the anti-obesity hysteria currently, portraying them as fat and lazy.

I mean, do you really think that a general audience, upon seeing a fat blob “drinking liquified food from Big-Gulp-esque cups, and forever surfing (and chatting) on chair-mounted video screens” is going to first think “Oh, wow, so that’s what gravity does to humans!” or are they going to think “Wow, so that’s what the obesity epidemic will do to humans!”

This interpretation isn’t based on the sole opinion of one possibly biased person who has seen the film. According to a review from Aintitcool.com, the clip:

“showed a big plaza where dozens of these couch potato humans were moving about in their hoverchairs. The next clip showed one human attempting to roll out of his chair and falling on the ground. Humans are big and fat, but not quite blobs or mutants. Just fat humans.”

Nor is it my perception only. As VPW notes at :

“I haven’t seen the clip, but going from this source, it doesn’t seem that the human race will be evolving into a gelatinous jellyfish-like race with no bones. It just seems like the film is saying that fat people are so gluttonous and lazy that we will destroy the Earth.”

In any case, I’m still waiting to hear back from Disney with a clarification on its portrayal.

]]> By: Jackie http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-24808 Jackie Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:26:26 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-24808 Well the more I hear about this film, I think it can be considered sizeist. I have a hard time really being certain about it. It seems they are claiming laziness is the downfall of mankind. Thin or fat people can be lazy. Perhaps the end result supposedly is everyone is obese, or appear obese due to lack of gravity. It seems more like a criticism on how people don't really have communities anymore. How most people know more people on the net than they do in their own neighborhood. I also find it hard, given that some of the creators in Pixar are overweight themselves, that they would be willing to make such an egregious statement. Also, it says in the teaser that the film idea was conceived of 4 years ago, before the Obesity crises became as big of a deal that it is now. I mean, I'm willing to hear a response on this, because as a sci-fi fan, I am pretty open minded towards crazy ideas of what the future might bring. Perhaps the film is being unfairly dragged into the contraversy of sizeism, because reviewers are too ignorant to find another word to describe round people other than fat. I think the main concept behind the film, is that EVERYONE, fat or thin should become more involved with society and the issues surrounding helping keep the Earth green. Well the more I hear about this film, I think it can be considered sizeist. I have a hard time really being certain about it.

It seems they are claiming laziness is the downfall of mankind. Thin or fat people can be lazy. Perhaps the end result supposedly is everyone is obese, or appear obese due to lack of gravity.

It seems more like a criticism on how people don’t really have communities anymore. How most people know more people on the net than they do in their own neighborhood.

I also find it hard, given that some of the creators in Pixar are overweight themselves, that they would be willing to make such an egregious statement. Also, it says in the teaser that the film idea was conceived of 4 years ago, before the Obesity crises became as big of a deal that it is now.

I mean, I’m willing to hear a response on this, because as a sci-fi fan, I am pretty open minded towards crazy ideas of what the future might bring. Perhaps the film is being unfairly dragged into the contraversy of sizeism, because reviewers are too ignorant to find another word to describe round people other than fat.

I think the main concept behind the film, is that EVERYONE, fat or thin should become more involved with society and the issues surrounding helping keep the Earth green.

]]> By: Jackie http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2007/11/01/pixar-joins-in-on-fat-bashing/comment-page-1/#comment-24806 Jackie Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:41:36 +0000 http://the-f-word.org/blog/?p=218#comment-24806 Hmm, this certianly sounds like a interesting contraversy. I think it does really depend on if Pixar is using people as blobs as an example of what would happen if people lived in space, or as a example of the negative stereotypes about fat people. Frankly, I'm kind of torn between the issue. The concept as Remi describes it, does sound interesting. I also have a hard time beliving Pixar has writers that are so stupid as to make something that is little more than fat-hate propaganda. I think I'll need to see what develops further down the line to really tell if it's something I can get offended over. Hmm, this certianly sounds like a interesting contraversy. I think it does really depend on if Pixar is using people as blobs as an example of what would happen if people lived in space, or as a example of the negative stereotypes about fat people.

Frankly, I’m kind of torn between the issue. The concept as Remi describes it, does sound interesting. I also have a hard time beliving Pixar has writers that are so stupid as to make something that is little more than fat-hate propaganda. I think I’ll need to see what develops further down the line to really tell if it’s something I can get offended over.

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