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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe childlike strangeness of Melania's "Be Best" campaign
This article contains one of the best descriptions I've ever read about her:
"Donald Trumps emptiness revealed itself over decades in the media glare. But Melania, a former model, has long embraced vacancy as an aesthetic. She has the creepy, objectified opacity of a doll, or a robota shimmer of the uncanny valley. Her willed passivity may be the strongest expression of her agency. She is an avatar of blankness, a mute queen. Standing behind a podium in the Rose Garden, her husband in the audience, Melania spoke slowly, with practiced inflections; she sounded like an actor reading from a script that she didnt quite understand. When the words Be Best materialized on a screen above her head, their wobbly font and off-key grammar produced a sense of dissociation, as though we were all kids wondering where our parents had gone."
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-childlike-strangeness-of-melania-trumps-be-best-campaign
greatauntoftriplets
(175,749 posts)OMGWTF
(3,975 posts)"I'd call Trump a c*nt but he lacks depth and warmth."
leftstreet
(36,112 posts)Good article, thanks for posting
Mike Nelson
(9,966 posts)...if it could be because English is her second language - and she has trouble articulating. Her accent is lovely, though. I know my grandfather often seemed to have childlike language in his second tongue... but my grandmother spoke three languages fluently and always seemed so smart. I doubt our First Lady speaks six languages fluently. I can say phrases in six languages and don't even consider myself fluent in the language I took in college!
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,505 posts)the "sadness protocol".
Goonch
(3,614 posts)She and especially Ivanka remind me of Barbie dolls.
fierywoman
(7,694 posts)when asked what her past times or hobbies were, she answered: looking at fashion magazines and taking Pilates classes.
Anyone who actually spoke the languages she claims to speak would have figured out, after 20+ years, how to speak English properly.
Ohiogal
(32,057 posts)And, I hate to keep picking on her, since she probably didn't want the position of First Lady to begin with ....
But gosh, can anyone be more ill-suited to that role? She is a real empty barrel. (to use the phrase that's popular right now). I guess we were all spoiled with Michelle, and her warmth, grace, humor, and intelligence.
procon
(15,805 posts)No doubt some her strangeness is due to the language barrier, and probably different cultural norms as well. The relationship she has with Trump is clearly destructive and her repugnance is on full display in her public appearances. Her emotionless speeches more resemble a hostage situation than a happy marriage, but maybe that's her subtle, but intentional, way of fighting back against the things she is forced to do.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)Avatar of blankness.
Spot on.
handmade34
(22,757 posts)much better off not taking on a "cause"... she could have just continued as an enigma
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)Last edited Wed May 9, 2018, 05:30 PM - Edit history (1)
Perfect description of her-- are we sure she isn't a robot?
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)to a rapturous live audience during an interview with Oprah Winfrey...
"Be best" is the lame one-ups-personship that the ungracious and plagiarizing wife of Comrade Casino* floated, like a turd in the cesspool of republican values.
* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief
Grammy23
(5,813 posts)That she willingly married him. She struck a bargain with him long ago. She knew who he was then but chose to marry him anyway. He didnt suddenly turn into a monster after she married him. He was a soulless, depraved man then and has only gotten worse with time.
So even though serving as First Lady was not on her list of things to accomplish, she had it thrust upon her. The deal was probably that hed never win and she would not have to serve. But once he did, if she just played along, hed make it up to her later. Just make nice. Smile and wave. It is clear she has been pretty miserable since becoming FLOTUS. But what's a girl to do when your Sugar Daddy calls the shots?? In order to complete her bargain she has to see this through. Maybe she hopes that his bad habits will catch up with him and get her out of this mess.
In any case, I have no sympathy for Melania. Her greed and desire to be rich got the best of her and now she has to live with the choices she made.