Accessories
I was amusing myself on Yahoo by tabbing through all the photos of women in hats at the Kentucky Derby (what is with the hats, Poet?), enjoying all the different varieties, when I ran across the above photo. It names Hugh Hefner, but he might as well be there alone, because none of his companions are identified. One might say that this is because they’re not famous, but other non-celebrities are named in other photos. It’s almost as if they’re just accessories to Hefner, a part of his outfit for Derby Day, nothing more. Less that people.
I know others would say that they should not be rewarded with attention for selling themselves for fame, and maybe that’s true. But this really bothered me, to see them rendered invisible as anything other than bodies on the arm of a notorious man, interchangeable like different sets of cuff links. He may see them as trophies, but should we? I don’t think so.
They are human beings. If we’re going to leer and sneer at them, we should at least know their names.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I’m bummed over this Derby, Terry. It’s hard to believe that a horse could make a lovely run like Eight Belles did and then, after it’s all over, be fatally injured. She was a beautiful horse.
But about the hats, I think it comes from a time when racing was an upper class thing. Or at least when American racing tried to pretend it was an upper class thing like racing in Britain. Hats were required. Even now I think the British royals are very into hats. Didn’t Camilla wear some awful concoction to her wedding reception?
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Oh — at the Derby now I think the hats are just a costume party sort of thing. I saw some one compare it to Mardi Gras.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I know everybody who goes to the Ascot races in England does the hat thing. Not just the royals.
It was heartbreaking about Eight Belles.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
The outcome for Eight Belles was just tragic. All for human amusement.
That’s for the explanation on the hats! Sort of dress-up for adults - I can get into that.