The Fat Boys – Culture of the Abdomen

Posted on May 1, 2004 by glasscastle

The
socio-cultural and economic dimensions of the obesity gap are clearly
visible in the third world and developing countries.  Here, (the Dowbrigade is currently reporting from Ecuador)
as was the case in the United States in the past, the obese are seen
as
enviously successful, while most of the poor people are lean and
hungry looking.

Almost every day, it seems,
there is another alarming study about the dangers of being fat
or a new theory about its causes and cures.

But a growing group of historians and cultural critics who study
fat say this obsession is based less on science than on morality.
Insidious attitudes about
politics, sex, race or class are at the heart of the frenzy over obesity, these
scholars say, a frenzy they see as comparable to the Salem witch trials, McCarthyism
and even the eugenics movement.

"We are in a moral
panic about obesity," said Sander L. Gilman, distinguished
professor of liberal arts, sciences and medicine at the University
of Illinois in Chicago and the author of "Fat Boys: A Slim
Book," published last month by the University of Nebraska
Press. "People are saying, `Fat is the doom of Western civilization.’ "

from the
New York Times
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15 Responses to The Fat Boys – Culture of the Abdomen

  1. rory young says:
    November 21, 2007 at 5:59 am

    Please may i use your image for educational purposes in my gcses. Thanks rory young

  2. Ben Purvis says:
    March 8, 2008 at 11:50 am

    ur very, very, very handsome (call me on 0790 189 17993)

  3. sexy says:
    March 12, 2008 at 8:35 am

    u fat plump errrrrr fat boys

  4. gross out person says:
    March 14, 2008 at 7:53 pm

    what if gay kids saw that and whore that to school.if kid did that i would sew everyone in that picture

  5. lover says:
    June 12, 2008 at 1:34 pm

    it shouldnt matter who wears it, whether gay or straight, its just a funny image jackass so it doesnt make a difference. if i saw someone wearing this i would think it funny because thats exactly what it is.

  6. Tim says:
    October 4, 2008 at 10:15 am

    What do you guys think about this particular comic for liberal arts? Enjoy! Cheers!

    http://www.jjcomics.com/liberal_arts_degree_and_education_cartoon_comic.htm

  7. pooh says:
    November 9, 2008 at 1:27 am

    damn ya’ll fat as hell that’s a shame yall just eat eat and eat yall are som fatass

  8. taint says:
    November 18, 2008 at 3:07 am

    who the hell taught you how to spell? ingrates. you all suck at life.

    P.S. punctuation is not an option.

  9. Get Rid of Man Boobs says:
    January 1, 2009 at 11:58 pm

    That’s a real sad looking picture, it no wonder the media uses good looking people on TV. But at least they look like they’re having fun.

  10. Anonymous says:
    May 5, 2010 at 9:15 am

    WTF

  11. Anonymous says:
    May 5, 2010 at 9:15 am

    go on my habbo bar5 😀

  12. Anonymous says:
    September 7, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    sooooooo hot!!

  13. saraa says:
    January 8, 2011 at 11:52 am

    u guys are hott call me ASAPPP ! 4069958885

  14. sexxybeast says:
    January 8, 2011 at 11:53 am

    where u guys live ?

  15. sexxybeast says:
    January 8, 2011 at 11:53 am

    facebooook meeeeeeee kayla jones

Comments are closed.