Skintight

Cosmetic surgery is everywhere: we are surrounded by altered, enhanced, skinny and stretched celebrities, in a hyped media culture that focuses increasingly on the body beautiful. Once only associated with the rich and famous, cosmetic surgery is now widely available, advertised in magazines, doctors' surgeries, and even on television. In some parts of the world it has become an aesthetic and cultural norm, yet remains deeply troubling for many. Skintight argues that cosmetic surgery is the most provocative and controversial aspect of a new 'makeover culture'. Shows such as Ten Years Younger and Extreme Makeover demonstrate that 'fixing' the body is a way to improve lifestyle and uncover true identity. Meanwhile, celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Jocelyn Wildenstein demonstrate the horrors of extreme surgical alteration. Presenting a multidisciplinary approach, and examining a wide range of popular culture case studies from women's magazines, television, architecture and the Internet amongst others, Skintight dissects the realities of cosmetic surgery and culture.

ISBN 184520669X   Pages 256 ISBN13 9781845206697 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher A & C Black Publishers Ltd   Weight (grammes) 365 Imprint Berg Publishers   Published in Oxford Format Paperback   Series title Key Concepts S. Publication date 01 Feb 2008   Height (mm) 234 Library of Congress 2007043766   Width (mm) 156 DEWEY 306.4613   Spine width (mm) 14 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level Tertiary education

		Illustrations
		Introduction		1
1		Before/After: From Heresy to Makeover Culture		7
2		Space and Place: Globalisation and Mediascapes		31
3		Morphing Industries: Surgeons, Patients, and Consumers		59
4		Stretched Middle Age: Mothers, Daughters, and Fairy Tales		83
5		Makeover Misdemeanors: Magazines and Monstrous Celebrities		107
6		Sleeping Beauties: Lola Ferrari and Anaesthesia		129
7		Makeover Artists: Orlan and Michael Jackson		151
8		Transit Lounges for the Self		179
		Notes		191
		References		199
		Index		215

'Cosmetic surgery has become one of the most polarizing topics of our time. While feminists have used it as an example of the impact of sexist notions of the perfect body, other cultural critics and performers see plastic surgery as a metaphor for the flexible body in global capitalism. Jones carefully navigates the critical and material terrains of cosmetic surgery and gives us a beautifully nuanced account of what she calls 'makeover citizenry.' This is a must-read for anyone interested in the body and global capitalism.'Judith Halberstam, University of Southern California'Meredith Jones' excellent book playfully demonstrates the working of mediation in the current 'makeover culture', in which our bodies and appearance are constantly being readjusted. It steers away from the familiar moralism towards cosmetic surgery while also raising important ethical questions about its specific procedures.'Joanna Zylinska, Goldsmiths, University of London'Skintight is a brilliant anal

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