Whose Family Values?

from Hollywood.com

HOLLYWOOD, May 30, 2005

Lohan Has Digital Breast Reduction
By WENN
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Teen actress Lindsay Lohan's breasts have been digitally reduced for forthcoming Disney film Herbie: Fully Loaded, to avoid offending family audiences.

Test screenings for the new movie, the fourth sequel to the 1968 film The Love Bug about a Volkswagen Beetle car with a mind of its own, indicated that some parents felt Lohan's character Maggie Peyton was too raunchy for a children's film.

Disney technicians were forced to plough through numerous scenes - especially those showing the busty actress jumping up and down at a motor racing track, reducing her breasts by two cup sizes and raising revealing necklines on her T-shirts.

Amused at her digital bosom reduction, Lohan says, "I don't know how Renee Zellweger kept swelling and shrinking for Bridget Jones. It's no fun.

"Bring on the computer guys."

Article Copyright World Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.

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Whose family values are these?

Merely stating that "some parents felt.. Maggiee Peyton..[is] too raunchy" for a family film is utter nonsense. If two parents felt that the character's bouncing breasts are too much for the film, that would be "some." However, for the sake of maintaining Disney's golden facade of excellent family programming, Lindsay's titties have to go.

This is not an argument from the perspective of identity for Lindsay Lohan, though, as a role model for American kids, it should be. No-one should be ashamed of their body, no matter how disproportionately large or small it is in any area. I could speculate that Lohan's recent weight loss is a product of this digital identity crisis and that Disney forced her to close her mouth when it came to criticism of this move. Short of interviewing Lohan and a search for a gag order or her contract with Disney, all remains pure speculation.

Furthermore, these problems could have been taken care of at any point in shooting. Wardrobe changes, different camera shots, etc. They could have cast an actor with breasts two cup sizes smaller. Lindsay Lohan is, at present, the living "it girl" for Disney. This, however, seems to have reached its end. Lohan turns 19 in a few weeks, and, with six Disney pics completed her contract with the House of Mouse may be terminate. She can no longer play the strong, smart, little girl with perfect morals. She gets to have it her way -- no good for a Disney star.

This is an argument from the perspective of the puritanical nature of the powers-that-be in America, especially within corporate America. Were it not for moves as extreme as digital breast reduction, there would not be a $1 trillion porn industry in America. The values of focus groups, pandering to the lowest common denominator, is the reason for the undermining of any nascent form of culture in America. As long as the major concern is protecting the children from anything outside 'childhood' experiences rooted in and espoused by Disney films, the iron fist of corporate America will make these types of demands. There are too many advertising dollars on the line to offend any segment of the population.

And so, the proteges of Disney, once freed will continue to make protest songs on the eighteenth birthdays, inducing more kids to do crazier stuff and wear less clothing. Hmmm... maybe the Mouse should be the one to loosen up first.