Evening, folks! Let the weekend officially begin!
I had another fun day of classes. We talked about the Dove Real Beauty campaign, and my students had a lot of interesting things to say. They were actually really cynical about the campaign—I was kind of surprised. Many of them noted that, though the girls used in the campaign aren’t “model beautiful,” most of them are still very attractive with nice bodies. Even the girls who are “bigger,” for instance, have flat stomachs, toned legs, and no cellulite—certainly none of these girls would be considered overweight.
This was the particular ad that we viewed in the textbook:
You know…I kind of agree with my students. Although these girls are “real” looking…they aren’t exactly posing a huge challenge to the standard of beauty, as they are all relatively attractive with attractive bodies, good hair, white teeth, etc.
They also all agreed that Dove was probably only trying to find the most effective way to turn a profit—in this case, by “cashing in” on the way that women have traditionally been portrayed in the advertising industry. While many of them thought that the campaign has some merit, they all agreed that Dove’s desire at the heart of the campaign was to earn as much money as possible, not to “widen the beauty ideal” or help women to feel better about themselves.
We read a really interesting article that went along with the reading by Virginia Postrel. You can read it here—basically she says that the problem with the Dove campaign is that it insists that we’re all “beautiful” in our own way…and most of us are simply not. The word “beautiful” holds a power that has more to do with evolution and biology than social construct—that since the beginning of time, when choosing a partner meant choosing the best “mate” to bear your children or continue your lineage, we’ve been drawn to faces that are more symmetrical. We’re drawn to eyes that are bright and skin that is clear and lips that are full because these are good indicators of fertility and health, not just beauty. I thought that was really interesting. She ends her essay by saying that a girl claiming she is not “beautiful” does not indicate horrible self-esteem, but rather an acceptance of the truth. Most of us are not beautiful, we are simple average-looking—and there’s nothing wrong with accepting that. Postrel concludes, “Asking women to say they’re beautiful is like asking intellectuals to say they’re geniuses. Most know they simply don’t qualify.”
Honestly, I was kind of surprised by the way my students reacted to the Dove campaign—they were really cynical about it, almost contemptuous. I do think that part of why they had that reaction was because the ads are run by a major company who, at the end of the day, is simply selling another product, just like every other company.
Whew! Anyway!
While my students were answering discussion questions, I was cooking up dinner in my head. I knew I wanted to do something with the swiss chard that has been sitting in our fridge since Saturday—it was use it or lose it time! We also have a lot of eggs…and some mushrooms…and soon enough, I had a pretty good idea in my head of what I wanted to make!
Swiss Chard, Mushroom, and Couscous Custard
Ingredients
1 bunch of swiss chard (leaves and stems) (about 2 cups), chopped
2 cups baby bella mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. herbes de provence
3 eggs, beaten
splash of half and half
1/4 cup couscous
1/2 cup white cheddar, grated
Directions
In a pan, saute the swiss chard, mushrooms, and garlic in about a tbsp. of olive oil until the greens have wilted and the mushrooms have browned, about 10 minutes. Season with spices and salt and pepper, and transfer to a baking dish.
Combine the eggs and the half and half, and pour over the vegetables. Sprinkle the couscous over the top, and pat with a spoon to ensure that the couscous is submerged. Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Bake in an oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, until the eggs are set and firm.
Delicious! Here are some pictures of the process:
This turned out really well—the couscous took on a taste almost like grits. We had ours with a simple slice of toast:
Simple, but divine! You know it was good, because we at the WHOLE thing! 
Well, I’m beat. We’re supposed to get 40 mph winds tonight! Crazy! See you tomorrow…Friday!
