Wednesday June 03, 2015
Old Actor, Young Actress
The Wrap recently featured a slideshow of old actors and young actresses starring together in rom-coms, etc., which indicates—according to its headline—that “Ageism Still Plagues Hollywood.”
A few points:
- I think they mean sexism. Since the reverse isn't true. Jane Fonda isn't bedding Channing Tatum.
- Of the 17 films listed, fewer than half (eight) are from the last 10 years. Just as many are from the 1990s, so you wonder about the “still plagues” hed. Or the amount of effort they put into the piece.
- What's it all about, Alfie?
Seriously, any discussion of this topic needs to address what it means. Why are men in their 50s and 60s still considered romantic leads while women the same age can hardly get work? Put another way: Why are men valued for experience and position while women are valued for youth and beauty?
Put still another way: We know how men reduce women (cads). But how do women reduce men?
This one didn't make The Wrap's cut even though Bradley Cooper is 15 years older than Jennifer Lawrence. Is that OK? What's the cut-off? Do we do half+7?
Twitter: @ErikLundegaard
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