"Project Runway" : a perfect example of American Dysfunction in action?

The Native Americans used to have something called a "POTLATCH" where they conspicuously destroyed, usually by fire, a good portion of the wealth of the band or tribe in a sort of orgy of consumption. This was to show all the other tribes/bands how rich and powerful they were without a war; that they could destroy things they might need sometime and not even miss them. This is how I view fashion in general: VERY rich women buying dresses that cost enough to feed a family of four for a year very well, to wear maybe once. Most of them looking like something out of a drag queen's worst nightmare.

Welcome to "Project Runway," where we pay a panel headed by Ilsa She-Wolf of the SS, excuse me, Heidi Klum, with some judges getting paid or invaluable free publicity for their label or fashion rag.

They dangle the carrot of a designing contract in front of a bunch of poor schmucks pitting them against each other in a KICK 'EM OFF elimination with loads of tension and low grade psychological torture. This is watched for the ENJOYMENT of the viewer??

Discuss.

:shrug:

Hey, I watch IMPACT and HIGH SPEED PURSUITS. They're pretty damned meaningless too.

I think there's a place for brainless entertainment.

Thinking about heavy shit all day is no way to live. :(

"Project Romney" : a perfect example of Republican Dysfunction in action?
:D

Classic.

:)

On the screen was "Bring your best game, or AUF WEIDERSEIN!"

Why do you think they have Heidi saying "You're off." She's a low grade dominatrix.

Hey, BB if you like it, COOL! Don't take this seriously or get offended! I'm an old fart Socialist: I'm SUPPOSED to look down on stuff like this!

It's my JOB!

I'm an Econ major in my Senior year, and I take my diversions where I can get them. :D

Oh, and I'm only watching it right now b/c I had to get away from the primary BS. :)

No worries! :hi:

... I don't think so.
I really doubt if that comparison would have been made if she wasn't german.

:hi:

:)

;)

as an operative.

:rofl:

Lee Atwater and follow the links? Hmmmm?

not "you're off." but with her accent it sounds something more like "you ah ouht." it's kinda catchy, really. it's what i tell my cats when they balk at stepping outside into the winter weather - you either in or you ah ouht - you ah ouht.

i myself do look down on such trivial television gar-bage as project runway. but i also have been watching it since season 1 ;-)

I can no longer love you!

:cry:

They may be pitted against each other, but his kind encouragement every week is really refreshing to see on a reality show.

I love Project Runway!

One of the few shows not cooking or travel related that we watch.
My daughter is a fashion design major and loves it too.

Don't let Heidi ruin it for you. Nina Garcia is far more contemptible! :D

:thumbsup:

:hi: you!

:hi: Sending hugs to your household!

:hi:

:pals:

with all her fashion expertise, you'd think she'd wear better clothes - and get a hairstyling from time to time (or at least comb it)!!!

and to pause the TiVo on her

:scared:

Rather startling looking.. oh and you get to ogle Heidi Klum right in front of your wife too BONUS!

I always try to think of what I would make when every challenge is announced. I'm still bummed about the twizzler bustier because that was MY idea...only I would have paired it with twizzler pants and a black twizzler belt. :D

I'll watch anything with a good car crash. Guess this is the same sort of thing but in slow motion!!!

I love to see how creative people can be. I am soooo unartistic that I like to see their creations. I also pretend to be each judge in my head. Michael Kors cracks me up!

A new twist on a classic. :(

People watch sports games where there is a winner and a loser. Winning teams go to the playoffs and the losing team gets kicked out. :shrug: It's the same thing with a different skill.

actually *creating* something and it's interesting to see a little of their process.

Most reality TV (as far as I can tell) consists of primping (Top Model), eating disgusting things (Fear Factor), people pretending to be in love with a total stranger (The Bachelor, Marry a Millionaire, Tia Tequila, Flava of Love, etc.), or contestants displaying their ugliest behavior in order to be the "Survivor."

Watching people "make stuff" is quite refreshing.

and tim should have had sweet pea on his other show....

This group seems to have the least amount of friction. They are actually pretty supportive of each other, although Christian can be a bit catty with his comments.

I didn't think Sweet P. would make it this far. She is improving quite a bit.

Annoying as hell but he'll probably win it all

And I like fashion. I don't like spending a lot of money on designer crap, but do use clothing as a form of artistic expression and I think a lot of others do too, especially those actually doing the designing. It's an art form, in my opinion. What happens to this product, the demand that is placed on it, that's driven by consumers, the fashion industry, and marketing. Not generally the actual garment designer. Fashion works similar to the art world. Some designers get huge like painters or photographers get huge, and the demand for their product (or art) goes up, and prices go up.

i don't know what you're talking about -- outside of rich people.

your two dollat t-shirt is as much fashion as heidi klum's manolo blahniks.

A habit acquired when homeless.

Pants-TSC usually as they wear like IRON.

the impetus to dress/decorate is human.

and we've done it from the beginning --

Ask D my SO: she'll tell you.

PS: she LOVES PR.

you can tell your your SO -- that you are fashionable -- it might be the cause for some disbelief -- and she probably still won't let
you leave the house in certain combinations -- but wave that fashion flag high, i say.

For the most part, they're assholes, all too ready to slide knives in the backs of others to get ahead. Boo-hoo if they get kicked off the show - the publicity they get will be more than enough to compensate.

but I disagree with the judges pretty often.

I got totally upset one season when someone made a man's suit w/ no pockets and the judges were flabbergasted. Well, I'm sorry, but you fashionistas pull that shit on women ALL OF THE TIME.

And this year, Michael Korrs said to one contestant, "I know women who are willing to bleed if the dress is fabulous enough". Yeah.... so enable that behavior.... good going.


I'm also tired of the whole idea behind the fashion industry where women's clothes are designed around 2% of the buying population. That's twisted.

I, on the other hand, inevitably end up leaving the room out of excruciating boredom or otherwise start reading a book.

Clothes. They keep you warm and/or modest. Other than that, there just isn't anything that interesting about them. Why kill 60 minutes of your life watching people make something that boring?

On edit: The similarly themed cooking show on the same channel is somewhat interesting, however. Mainly because I can actually imagine something useful coming out of it.

So in the end, Who Cares? I go do bills, or walk the dogs, or something else so it doesn't irk me.

But I am allowed to make fun of it, just a little, no?

10:00 pm is our dog's final peeing time for the evening before he gets put away in his bed. I can say I find that more interesting than the show.

Last week the designers made outfits from stuff they found in the Times Square Hershey Foods store. All of the dresses were to be auctioned for charity.

This week the designers made prom dresses

A few weeks ago the designers made dresses from everyday women who had suceeded in losing a significant amount of weight. The women all wore their favorite old outfit (one had on her wedding dress) and those outfits were redesigned as new everyday outfits.

Fashion is NOT about high-end expensive couture where 1 outfit could feed a family of 4 for a year. Fashion is for everyday women and men too who don't want to go around in life looking like they rolled out of bed and tossed on their dirty clothes from yesterday (and yes - some like it like that - to each their own).

Tim Gunn use to work for the Fashion Institute and is now a consultant for Liz Claiborne - one of the biggest names in Everyday women ready to wear fashion. Previous PR winners won fashion interns with Banana Republic and INC - two other big names in everyday fashion.

Most of these designers will not go on to make $25k couture gowns - couture business is NOT profitable, most of those designers make their money off of Ready-to-Wear fashions, perfumes, and label distribution.

And as for the judges - I own several Michael Kors items (he's the main designer judge there each week). I love his sense of style for women and use of colors. I also like that he has a design line for women who AREN'T size zero (yes, I'm double digits). I usually scour the sales rack at my local Macy's stores and grab items when their on sale (hey I have a budget too).

So before you judge PR - watch the damn show.

And I take total offense at referring to Heidi Klum as something out of the SS. Yes she's German, hell I'm of German heritage myself - doesn't make either of us a member of the Nazi party.

YES I've seen the show.
YES I'm German too, of which the show takes advantage ("...or AUF WEIDERSEIN"?)
YES I watch silly stuff too (YES, this is silly stuff. We are NOT talking ART.)
YES we all have to be able to laugh at ourselves a little.

As far as low grade psychotorture for these poor schmucks, yep.
As far as EVERYTHING on the tube can't be something socially responsible, yep.

Take a deep breath and RELAX. The world allows me to watch "HYPERBAD COP CHASES ENDING IN HUGE CRASHES" and giggle like a monkey, The world allows you guys to watch PR.

It's ALL a joke.

At the urging of my girlfriend who said I looked "hot". So I can't say a fucking thing.

Good thing I don't wear a thong though :yoiks: