Cleavage-clad Jennifer Lawrence on Glamour cover is not what we’re “hunger”ing for
The cover of Glamour’s April issue features Jennifer Lawrence, the actress who portrays the Hunger Games‘ heroine Katniss Everdeen, in a bosom-bearing one piece outfit. In the book, Katniss is a symbol of strength, but this photo subdues that strength with a side dish of sexy.
Is it not enough to be a strong female, that we must sexualize Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen?
The upcoming movie adaptation of the first installment of the behemoth book trilogy, The Hunger Games, is set to open this week. While the Glamour piece is obviously showcasing the actress (not the character), the prop she’s holding (a bow) blurs the line.
The central plot of the novel involves a futuristic nation, Panem, where the government creates an annual, reality show-esque game involving two individuals under 18, randomly selected from each of the nation’s 12 districts, to complete in a fantastical death match where only one victor comes home alive.
I’m only on the second book, but I have yet to come across a description of an outfit resembling the one featured in this picture. Sure this feature is giving us Jennifer Lawrence and the article is about her, but, really, Glamour? We could see this in a men’s magazine, many of which notoriously disarm powerful women with some element of sexualization.
Even mutants aren’t immune to body insecurities in “X-Men: First Class”
X-Men's Mystique struggles to accept herself as she is.
I knew that it was set in the 1960s, so I was expecting a bit of a swinging retro vibe.
I expected a few references to the other films.
I was definitely expecting some nerdy comic-book action sequences and a bunch of people in the audience squealing with delight over some cool weapon or special mutant power.
But I wasn’t expecting a subplot about body image.
When we first see Raven (played by Jennifer Lawrence), we don’t really see her. You see, Raven (later codenamed Mystique) has the special power of being able to transform her appearance into that of anyone else.
In fact, she spends the majority of the film in her chosen disguise: a pretty, young, blonde girl. Anything to avoid being in her natural state, which presents as deep blue, scaly, and with slicked-back red hair. While this power certainly comes in handy when fighting villains, Mystique is constantly hiding behind a false appearance.
She would give anything to be “normal,” so when fellow mutant Hank tells her of his plans to create a serum that will help, she’s very interested.
She scoffs at the idea of being “mutant and proud,” all the while dreaming of retaining her skin-coloured form forever.
However, when presented with the serum — the do-or-die moment –Â she hesitates. Does she really want to change forever? Or could she become proud of her natural form? Continue reading