Shut Up and Sing

Just got back from seeing the Dixie Chicks' documentary: Shut Up and Sing -- and I am blown away!
I have been a huge Chicks fan for a while now - and of course I have followed their recent media exposure after they made a comment about Bush back in 2003 before the war began. And if you have never really wrapped your arms around what went on with that whole scenario, I highly recommend this movie as it tells a very interesting behind the scenes story about courage, sisterhood, and strength.

No matter what your politics or personal leanings may be about the Chicks, it did make me want to share a few thoughts about how this film and it's subject matter really resonates in my life and our body image/self-image.

The Chicks to me are real women. Flawed, imperfect, vulnerable, and super ass talented. They look like girls you grew up with or friends you share coffee with each Sunday afternoon. They are wives, mothers, sisters, and friends. Throughout the whole ordeal they didn't turn on each other - they stuck in there and allowed themselves to feel angry, hated, violated, frustrated, envied, ridiculed, and uncertain. And although I am fairly sure there were a lot more tears shed than the ones I saw in the movie, you rarely saw them break down and hide from all that went on - instead they smiled, they laughed and they found the humor where they could.

That is amazing INNER STYLE to me - and something that defies conventional focus on looks and beauty. This was so beautiful to me because it was raw, fresh, and relatable. There were plenty of shots with the Chicks sans make up- bellies soft, in comfy clothes - literally letting it all hang out. You didn't see them work out obsessively or stop eating in order to control the feelings they were having. They showed them eating non-diet foods (sandwiches with white bread, etc) stuff that jars your Hollywoodized eyes and you don't realize that you have been conditioned to NOT watch women eat on TV. They had babies and allowed their bodies to be filmed while in their fullness never making apology for the state of their physical shape (as you often hear some celebs do).

Basically, without meaning to - I took away a lot of visual cues that these women really do allow themselves to be women in a world that clearly still doesn't value a woman with a voice - let alone a voice of discord or political difference. The world tried to silence these women - and right, wrong, or otherwise - they didn't let it dampen their spirits or impact their image.

There was no publicist warning them they needed a 'make over' or image overhaul. Instead, their team dealt with the harder, deeper issues of self-confidence, defiance, and strength. You imagine standing up to a huge record label like Sony, a huge industry like country radio, and huge hatred like that which was spurred their way.

I thought about all the times I get upset if someone writes in a nasty e mail to my website or dare I say it, calls me 'ugly' or 'fat'. How I want to shrivel up and die. And here I am watching three powerful women navigate through a most unexpected emotional upheaval in their lives - and do it with a majority of grace, class, and love.

I was really impressed and more so, I was grateful. We need more images of flawed, real, available women in the world - so that those of us who want to walk upstream through the mainstream- don't feel so alone.

PS I am going to their concert tonight in LA and I can't be more excited!! I'll let you know how it is....

Comments

I had never really heard of the Dixie Chicks until they had that big flap about president Bush in 2003. Then I began to pay attention as to how they were demonized in the media and it made me mad. i gained a lot of respect for them for sticking to their guns inspite of such pressure.

btw, jess, in future posts can you be a little more specific about what you call 'inner style' - it is intriguing but a new concept for me (i haven't read your books yet so maybe you talk about it in there) but i'd like to know more...thnx!

Thanks for the beautifully written piece on the Dixie Chicks and their recent challenge. I haven't seen the film yet, but definitely will after reading this. The Chicks are (like you, Jess,) such fresh air for those of us who love being inspired by real women.

What Makes a Woman?

What makes a woman a woman?
Is it her supermodel body, her popular appeal?
The idea that she has to walk on mile-high stilettos?
Though to be able to in them, she's crippling her toes?

Maybe you'll deny that this is what a woman is...
But we're inundated with such images in the media, as is...
Television, magazines, movies, ads, and so on
Yet do you realize that despite all this hoopla, real life goes on?

Lady, if you just sit down and simply reflect--
Worthy men will judge you by your intellect--
Not by your ability to up the ante on your looks!
Try this everyday--read interesting books.

I challenge--go outside without makeup for thirty days--
You will feel liberated in so many ways--
Nobody is putting the pressure on you, sis,
For it is you who feels compelled to be a Perfectionist Miss...

In the end, it depends on what you want to do--
Whether you reject the media or accept what's true...
Nobody is forcing you to feel this way--
You are the one in charge right away.

11/29/06