Comments on: Analyzing The Entourage

By: Roxana

Roxana — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:54:35 +0000

Sociologically speaking… Bruno is a film that makes you see how full of paradigms this world really is… Cohen only takes real situations out of context and voila! he gives us an eye-opening film… again sociologically speaking…BUT MYYYYY HE RISKED HIS LIFE LIKE 10 TIMES!

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:29:53 +0000

I can’t speak for any of the other countries, but I know for the UK premier (4th row down), SBC’s entourage consisted of both men and women.

If you look to the left in the background, you can see one of his male “Queen’s guard” standing on the podium.

Also see:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1194562/Is-Brunos-outlandish-outfit-Sacha-Baron-Cohen-wears-anatomically-correct-body-suit.html

and

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1193742/Sacha-Baron-Cohen-marches-camp-Queens-guards-hot-pants-London-premiere-Bruno.html

and

By: Cate

Cate — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:00:48 +0000

I considered myself a Sacha Baron Cohen fan, but after seeing the film at the weekend, I’d like to join the previous commenter who wished never to see his face again.

By: al oof

al oof — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:57:46 +0000

my thoughts on this: if people are -noticing- this in the case of a fake model (bruno) that is good, because he is clearly commenting on the reality of fashion advertising, which is exactly like this. i do not think he is commenting on stefani in particular, but the ubiquitous trope of offsetting white people with non-white people or men with women. i mean, find some fashion ads that involve background people that do not use this method.

By: Elena

Elena — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:48:31 +0000

Sue: I don’t think it’s an accident that the bullfighters are little Spanish guys. Those hooves are platforms. we aren't that short, although Pablo Motos (the guy interviewing SBC) is frankly on the tiny side :D

By: Zora

Zora — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:28:08 +0000

“I also think that finding him attractive in his Brüno persona depends on your knowing that he is straight. At least if you’re a straight woman.”

Since when is finding somebody attractive based on their sexual orientation? I find that an extremely weird thing to posit since most of the time there’s no way of knowing on sight. Also, everybody knows gay guys are hotter than straight guys.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:19:44 +0000

The OP clarified the “women and men of color but not both” thing already. She meant that his entourage includes either (option A) women in general or (option B) men of color, but never both men of color and women. The women may be white or they may be non-white, but there is never a mix of men and women and never (from her point of view) a mix of white and non-white men.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:26:43 +0000

Sue

“ourselves”

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:26:00 +0000

I think that many women have a more generous and varied idea of what’s sexy in men. (Whether that’s a reaction to be so viciously criticized ourself all the time, I don’t know.)

But if you like boyish types, SBC is much more attractive than the more muscled guys in the lederhosen.

I also think that finding him attractive in his Brüno persona depends on your knowing that he is straight. At least if you’re a straight woman.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:21:46 +0000

Keeley wrote:

“Questions of the attractiveness of SBC’s butt aside, I think that the particular choice of using people different from Bruno in a specific way in each photo is due to Bruno’s desire to stand out and be a star, and standing out is most easily accomplished as the odd person out in an otherwise fairly homogeneous group.”

There’s that, but I think there’s also the commandment “Thou Shalt Not Fetishize White [American] Men in Ridiculous Poses.”

I don’t think it’s an accident that the bullfighters are little Spanish guys.

By: bruno dias

bruno dias — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:16:25 +0000

black man > average man
white models > average models
it’s funny you analyse someone that works with stereotypes himself.
(by the way, better sociologist than the average)

By: Alicia

Alicia — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:12:51 +0000

Ditto on seeing the women of color as well. Also, I’m not sure which country the bull fighting picture is from, but if they’re Spanish… wouldn’t that fall under White? I understand that Spaniards and Italians are considered the “Dark and Handsome” of the European countries, but I think it would be a stretch to call them POC unless this is a Latin American country.

I find Gwen’s Harajuku bit disgusting, and I think his actions are extrapolating the ridiculousness of the whole thing quite well.

By: msruth

msruth — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:58:05 +0000

I read an interview with SBC which seemed to suggest that it’s about using people as accessories that he is commenting on.

By: Keeley

Keeley — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:01:52 +0000

Questions of the attractiveness of SBC’s butt aside, I think that the particular choice of using people different from Bruno in a specific way in each photo is due to Bruno’s desire to stand out and be a star, and standing out is most easily accomplished as the odd person out in an otherwise fairly homogeneous group.

By: LSaldana

LSaldana — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:11:46 +0000

I agree with hypatia. I think Bruno/Cohen is making fun of Gwen Stefani’s trend of having an entourage of “harajuku girls.” I always thought the Stefani trend was creepy–to use people as accessories is gross … am surprised it’s not criticized more in the mainstream press.