J. Ann Tipton
Copy Editor
The plastic surgery trend in reality TV has raised several red flags that need
to be thought and talked about. I am concerned for the people who are on the
shows and for the viewers of these shows who think that what happens on screen
is a remedy for their poor self-esteem. This reality craze can be found on at
least two network TV stations (NBC and FOX) and one cable station (MTV).
In fact, MTV's show called I Want a Famous Face goes so far as to promote itself
as a documentary with the show's promos proudly proclaiming that "MTV documents
a new phenomenon…" Each show follows a young person who desperately wants to
look like a celebrity and is willing to endure painful plastic surgery and
rehabilitation to achieve the look. So far this season, viewers have met women
who want to look like Pamela Anderson, Kate Winslet and Britney Spears. Maybe
even a little more disturbing are the men who have had surgery to look like
Elvis, Brad Pitt and one transsexual who was transformed into a bizarre version
of Jennifer Lopez.
What?!
Then there's FOX's new show called The Swan (a play on words from the story of
the ugly duckling) where the show proclaims itself to be a "fairy tale (that)
turns into reality." During a three-month transformation of diet, exercise,
dental work, wardrobe, makeup and plastic surgery, female contestants will not
be allowed to look in a mirror until the total transformation is complete and
they compete in a beauty pageant.
What what?!
Seeing the hurt and the inadequate feelings that these people have makes my
heart ache. Playing the "easy fix" card through plastic surgery seems so cheap
and very hopeless. If I am honest, I know that I'm not completely satisfied with
myself, but as cliché as it sounds, if I just revert back to Mr. Rogers'
Neighborhood days, a small voice in my head tells me that I am liked… just for
being me.
Then, as a child of God, I can't help but wonder what he thinks of the fact that
we watch plastic surgery for entertainment. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God
created humans in his own image. Some may argue that doing anything to change
our images, even dieting or dying our hair, may go against the image of God that
he created in us. While I think this view is a little extreme, I do think that
appearance-altering surgery such as we're seeing on reality TV is walking a thin
line of playing God.
Don't get me wrong; plastic surgery reality shows aren't evil incarnate or even
all bad. I have seen at least one episode of NBC's Extreme Makeover where
individuals with serious dental, sight and hearing problems were helped with
corrective and plastic surgery. In these instances, however, it was so much more
rewarding to experience the joy of seeing a serious abnormality fixed rather
than a certain body part or two be enhanced.
In many ways, these body-transforming surgeries that are being glorified in most
reality shows are sending direct disrespect to the Creator of the human form. In
1 Corinthians 6, Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit
and that as Christians, we do not own ourselves. The blood of Christ has bought
us, and he deserves the honor of our perfect creation, no matter how imperfect
we think our bodies are. We should admire human uniqueness and find beauty in
each person if for no other reason than that God doesn't make mistakes.