Comments on: 1914 Vermont State Fair Poster

By: Luna

Luna — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:00:31 +0000

Edited to add: in my rush I made a cardinal grammatical mistake… “in THEIR blatant othering…” is what I meant.

By: Luna

Luna — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:58:21 +0000

While I can certainly appreciate the desire to cast this image as a positive one denoting the flexibility and agility of this woman I must, as an art historian that is especially concerned with contemporary permutations of 19th century spectacle imagery, say that the very curiousness this image is addressing is not only that of her ability to contort her body, but also her body itself. To think that this is merely a celebration of Ruth’s extraordinarily elastic limbs would, in my opinion, be naive. Freak shows and sideshows were fascinating in there blatant othering of human bodies. Ruth’s “portrait” is a glaring example of this.

Just something I thought should be mentioned.

By: dia

dia — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:05:51 +0000

I don’t wear ballet flats because I think they make my feet look funny. But they’re all my brother’s gf ever wears, and she rocks them. To each their own….

I’m with the “she doesn’t have bones” commenter. Every time I see acrobats and contortionists doing their thing, my mind explodes. (not really)

By: Jennie

Jennie — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:01:25 +0000

I like ballet flats, because they look more put-together than sneakers or (shudder) Crocs with a lot of outfits. I’m fat, yes, but I also broke my right foot rather spectacularly at one point and wearing heels for any length of time is exceedingly problematic.

I don’t know why they’re stereotyped as a “fat thing” — I’ve seen all sorts of women wearing them.

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:42:30 +0000

In conclusion, Iizfamous has issues. On we go.

By: Rei

Rei — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:33:25 +0000

Goodness. You have some issues with the ballet flats!

I can’t wear sneakers with nice dresses!

By: Iizfamous!

Iizfamous! — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:47:18 +0000

Oh!
Fer Chrissake’s!! Just wear some cute and comfortable sneaker or sandals ANYTHING but HIDEOUS ballet flats!!

They don’t look good on stick thin girls, either, u can see their feet bones!

By: Rei

Rei — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:26:52 +0000

Ugh…Ballet flats are now another thing I have to add to my list of “Things Rei doesn’t Wear because She Doesn’t Want to be the Sterotypical Fat Chick”?

Damnit! I love my ballet flats! They’re comfortable and good for all the walking I have to do.

Also…if I wear high heels I’m at least three inches taller than my husband! (which is the real reason that I rarely break out my patent leather four inch heel boots…that and I don’t go to the club anymore).

Maybe I’ll just deal with the sterotype and be the fat chick in ballet flats.

By: M

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:40:57 +0000

Regarding the ballet flats comment and the idea that fat women wear them, maybe fat women who have learned to accept themselves are just more OK with not conforming to every harmful trend that comes along.

Though, of course, we are all forgetting that being a contortionist could not possibly imply a certain level of fitness.

By: Tara

Tara — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:04:10 +0000

I find that fat women tend to wear Ballet Flats because they weigh too much to wear heals and their other options are very limited. Also the fatter they are the less likely they are to wear heels and inverse is true as well.