Lena Dunham

[Mutagen]

I don't buy any of the "voice of a generation" hype about her. But it's also kind of boggling to me that her completely average body is considered a source of shock value. Like... really? That's what a lot of people look like. I think even if Dunham herself is a self-serving asshole, there's some value in highlighting how much people lose their minds about something that should really be totally unremarkable. 

[ladyboy]

The nudity thing grates on me because there's a double standard with genders.

It's true - men get naked - full naked - much less than women do, and men with undesirable bodies get naked(ish) for comedy value - think Jack Black. Is he pushing equality by wearing a thong? I get the whole "this is how some women look" - bc, to be honest, she IS chubby, and many women outside of the US do not look like her - but there is too much naked Lena and not enough naked other Girls for this to be her whole point. It's just to get chatter about her in any way, even if it's about how bad her body is instead of how good her show is.

[Deleted]

I don't buy any of the "voice of a generation" hype about her. But it's also kind of boggling to me that her completely average body is considered a source of shock value. Like... really? That's what a lot of people look like. I think even if Dunham herself is a self-serving asshole, there's some value in highlighting how much people lose their minds about something that should really be totally unremarkable.

I don't think there's as much outrage as various bloggers and media journalists and HBO make it seem. In fact, I think HBO and Lena Dunham and the Girls producers are the ones pushing this issue into the media and trying to get some play out of it to attract more viewers for the new season (*tinfoil hat* who exactly was that reporter who asked the question anyway?) The fact is, a healthy percentage of Girls viewers are men. If there is such an uproar over Lena's plus-size nudity, why hasn't HBO demanded the producers use less of it? Why are so Girls viewers male? Many of the "fans" of this show are very tepid in their praise. I seriously doubt it would have lasted without Lena's excessive, unnecessary nudity. HBO is in business to make money, and it's actually reassuring that this woman's naked body is a ratings grabber. OTOH, as has been said, the men on the show and in entertainment in general aren't required to be nude nearly as much as women and, at the end of the day, Lena and the rest of the Girls producers are perpetuating this sexism.

In all, Apatow said the nudity on the show, which was renewed during the panel, is a function of the lives they believe the characters lead and he credited Dunham’s courage to shed it all in the name of authenticity. “Lena is brave enough to do it,” he said. “If Paul Rudd said to me, ‘I’m willing to be completely naked in the movie,’ I’d do it. If Seth Rogan said he was willing to be naked — he showed his butt in a post-sex scene in Knocked Up — I would use it because it’s more honest. Most people are not comfortable so we don’t go there."

This is why Apatow hopping on his high horse crying misogyny makes me roll my eyes. It doesn't seem to occur to him that the vast majority of actresses don't have the luxury of refusing nudity because they don't feel comfortable with it. Most actresses don't say a word when they are asked to be nude for no valid, artistic reason because they know better.

[margojata]

I don't WANT to see that much of real life! On the toilet, peeing in public, sex in the woods, topless ping pong. The argument about showing life as it happens to a chubby girl who likes to be naked is just lame to me. I think she does it to get attention for the show and herself - not to champion the rights of average bodies. Get some better writers and stop going for "REAL" life for the constant chatter about it.

I quit the show last season. I'm in the SATC age group, and I didn't get all that sex and nudity either because I'm sort of a prude who just wants better writing and less titillation. That said, I liked SATC - I thought the writing was miles ahead of Lena's mess.

[chonies]

I think after a few cycles of Lena Dunham Yes or No, what it comes down to for me is that I question her motives, but that doesn't mean the critics are right, either.

[Mutagen]

Jan 11, 2014 11:41:43 GMT -4 @highondegrassi said:

OTOH, as has been said, the men on the show and in entertainment in general aren't required to be nude nearly as much as women and, at the end of the day, Lena and the rest of the Girls producers are perpetuating this sexism.

I think this is a good criticism. Honestly, I'm not a fan of Girls and I think there's a lot to criticize about it. I just hate that it's so often phrased as "But why do I have to see HER naked??"

[narm]

My husband is on a mad-man of a marathon watching all of the episodes, right now. Like, he can't stop. I watched a few in passing this week but really, it is not for me. But from what I have seen about her, the show and the criticism, it does seem like folks don't want to see *her* naked. Like, how dare she? So, to hell with that. But I don't really care for her show.

[mochakitty]

Lena at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards (January 12th, Beverly Hills, Calif.):

Close-up

Full Length Shot

FYI: Lena is wearing a Zac Posen dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Harry Winston jewelry.

[GinFizz]

Nice dress, horrible posture. (Said as a fellow roller-of-shoulders who is trying to strengthen and improve own posture)

[Deleted]

Yeah, she actually has on something that fits her well for once, but the posture does kill it. I don't like the hair and makeup, either.