July 10, 2008

In defense of Us Magazine

You subscribe to The Economist. You've read (and understood) James Joyce's "Ulysses". You're fluent in Chaucerian Englishe. And you love Us Magazine.
It's OK—stop feeling so damn guilty about it. Of the 12 million people who read the trash rag, we suspect more than a few are well-schooled, sane-minded professionals just like you. They furtively get their tabloid fix at checkout lines, in dentist wait rooms or on secluded beaches, privately reveling in the drama of Madonna and A-Rod, or snickering at Mariah Carey's inability to know how many bathrooms she has.
Vanity Fair, the New Yorker and "The Cremaster Cycle" may have pride of place on the coffee table—but it's Us Magazine that travels with us, our secret mistress.
I recently talked to a former tabloid magazine writer (she couldn't take it for more than a few months) who is an exceptionally smart and cultured woman. She reasoned that our unhealthy obsession with "Us" stems from lack of self-esteem, and depression that our lives aren't like Brad and Angelina's. "Hollywood stars seem so perfect, so beautiful, so wealthy—we need to hear about their drama and their ugliness in order to feel better about our own lives."
It's a spectator psychology that dates back to the era of Greek tragedies, Roman gladiators and Shakespeare's groundlings: in the end, seems like humans are genetically programmed to wallow in the misfortune of others. Schadenfreude is our therapy.
So instead of feeling ashamed of your Us Magazine habit, accept it. You're only human.

July 10, 2008 in FAME | Permalink

Comments

Guilty on both counts! I've been looking for a copy editor, you need a job?

Posted by The Stylephile | Jul 16 2008 1:19PM

"snickering at Mariah Carey's inablity to know.."or snickering at the way you spell 'inability" & "Caesar"....

Posted by clearance blouse | Jul 15 2008 3:50PM

They really should rename it "Them Magazine". it's really got nothing to do with "us".

Posted by Us and them | Jul 11 2008 10:49AM

Whoever thought up the concept of "They're Just Like Us" should be thrown into a pit of fire. It's probably the most insulting column of any magazine I have ever seen. It's like the editors expect you to get all giddy because a celebrity carries a grocery bag or sips a Starbucks. Eccch!

Posted by Us Mag is Satan | Jul 11 2008 10:03AM

You mean "catty", not caddy, unless these poor female dogs are forced to work on a golf course.

Posted by You moron | Jul 10 2008 3:53PM

But it's catty.

Posted by Good Point | Jul 10 2008 3:52PM

Stop reading US and do anything to better yourself. I don't care how small, it's a start. US is for caddy bitches who end up making some poor bastard suicidal because he foolishly decided to marry them.

Posted by God Help You | Jul 10 2008 3:49PM