"There is difference and there is power. And who holds the power decides the meaning of the difference." --June Jordan

Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Media Loves a Catfight: Scarlett Johansen Edition

The Hollywood gossip-hounds are all over the new promotional materials for the upcoming film Iron Man 2, which feature pictures of Scarlett Johansen and not Gwenyth Paltrow, even though Paltrow was in the first film and Johansen is a new addition in the sequel. And we all know that the media loves a catfight:

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Caption reads: "Limelight: Sexy Scarlett is the sequel's female focus instead of Gwenyth
Don't you just love the juxtaposition of the two screen shots? As if Gwenyth has been caught steaming over Scarlett getting all the attention? Here's how they describe the conflict:
A source said: ‘Gwyneth was afraid she’d be upstaged by Scarlett and not being in the campaign was the final straw.

'She is furious she’s been left out.’

Gwyneth, 36, now plans to boycott a promotion in San Diego later this month.

‘She’s heading to New York instead, she’s so angry,’ added the source.

A spokesman for Gwyneth said: ‘She was not at all upset.'

(Entertainment "News" Rule #294: When there are two competing sides to a story, always go with the jucier one.)

But that's not even the end of the Scarlett-drama for the week! Adfreak reports that Johansen's new gig as the spokesmodel for the fashion label Mango is being framed as a way for her to exact revenge on Penelope Cruz for getting an Oscar nomination for Vicky Christina Barcelona. Pictured below are examples of both actresses' work for the label. Frankly, I don't know how they could even have a catfight when they're so busy lying there all passive-like:

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5 comments:

plumpdumpling said...

Have you ever been in a Mango? I don't really consider ScarJo to be a classy lady, but that place is for TRASH.

Also, um, do you really see a lot of ads where men aren't being passive, too? Maybe I've just seen too many Armani ads where the men are lounging on the beach while some woman straddles them lately, but I can't really think of any fashion ads where the men are playing basketball or whathaveyou.

Tracey said...

No, I've never been in one. I didn't even know it was a store and not just a label.

But to answer your question, it always seems like women have to appear passive and vulnerable in fashion ads, but men are put in a wider variety of positions, and are often presented as active, strong, aggressive, powerful, or in control in some way. They aren't necessarily playing basketball, but maybe they're in a strong stance with their feet apart looking sternly at the camera, while a woman in the same ad is clinging to his shoulder with her legs bent inward and a coy, flirty look on her face.

And then there's this.

plumpdumpling said...

Dude, that ad is insane. Funny how if that was a bunch of women standing around a guy, it would seem hot, but that just seems scary.

Tracey said...

I know, right? It would either seem hot (for him, anyway), or it would serve to make the girls look like silly fan-girls.

Sort of like how a male teacher hitting on a female student is always oh-so-threatening, but reverse the genders, and everyone thinks the student is lucky and should try to score.

Jaxon Oakley said...

Media loves to cover the fights of the cats in all forms and kinds of the battle. Yes, the fight of the cat has been intriguing game for the viewers and all fans of the sports.