America As Seen From Europe

The blamestorming and name-calling has begun around the WTO collapse. I’ll post more about that particular storm in a teacup soon. Update: Here’s a swift thinkpiece on the WTO.

But regarding the insults that have been hurled across the playground of the Atlantic, it’s amusing to see that Europe has increasingly been calling America, in print, art and cinema, a “big fat meanie”.

There’s more to be said about the politics of flab, who has it, who doesn’t, and what it means, but while I assemble the argument, I thought I’d share a couple of bits of evidence.

The first came via email with the caption After a two year visit to the United States, Michelangelo’s David is returning to Italy

fat David

The second comes from the excellent Triplets of Belleville, which I had occasion to watch again last week.
triplets of belleville still shot

More on the cultural politics of fat when I get a moment…

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