La Brick has added her voice to the nonsensical issue of Professor Mary Beard being ‘too ugly’ for television. At this point she sounds more and more like those hilarious old home economic text books we used to chortle over.
She seems to have some notion that Professor Beard’s sole ambition is to be a career presenter and therefore should be encouraged, nay, even contractually obliged to put up with the kind of shenanigans that any other female presenter would. These are not limited to: minor cosmetic procedures and daily rigorous work outs.
Clearly missing the point that Professor Beard already has a pretty senior position at a major academic institution and is distinguished in her field, so she’s not really looking for a career change; it is because of this, the fact that she has interesting information to impart and can do so in an engaging way suitable to her topic, that she is on television, not because of how she looks while gazing off into a sunset off Ostia*.
I actually feel sorry for Samantha Brick. She seems to have shark-like mentality concerning her looks (and now the looks of others) where she must continue to be aesthetically pleasing (for her or any man), and as she seems to have no other livelihood sustaining skills other than drawing on this facet of herself. What she intends to do when gravity and time’s inexorable march can no longer be ignored is anyone’s guess.
She doesn’t appear to realise that women (and men) can have something to say the import of which far out ways the way they may look while saying it. Given her fixation on the way she and women presenters should look, it suggests that she doesn’t put much faith in what’s on their minds.
*I am not completely up to date on the show so don’t know if she has been to Ostia or looked off into the sunset. Either way I’d say, screw it, the suns warm, let’s have some wine!
