Buff Brides: Disciplining the Female Body
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how the female body becomes both disciplined and docile in the quest to fulfill
the ultra-feminine role of women today—the beautiful, perfect bride.
Goffman’s dramaturgical metaphor of the front and back regions
applies to reality television versions of bridal media; the reality genre allows
glimpses into the back region where “the suppressed facts make their
appearance” (111). Although the camera transforms the back region into a front
region upon which the participants play out what occurs behind the scenes, these
glimpses provide an otherwise inaccessible means by which to examine both
visual and textual narratives of bridal preparation. In addition, in Buff Brides, the
inclusion of scenes of brides getting dressed, at the beauty salon, and working
out at the gym normalize these activities as expected and unquestioned
requirements for women who desire to many in the formal wedding.
Weight Loss as Spectacle: Creation of the Buff Bride
Buff Brides the series premiered in 2003 on the Discovery Health Channel.
Buff Brides then appeared as a series of ten episodes, each featuring the stories
of two out-of-shape brides on FitTV, the Discovery Health Channel’s fitness
outlet. Programming on this specialty network centers on fitness instruction
programs; these shows range from “in-home” workout sessions, such as
Namaste Yoga and Gilad's Bodies in Motion (a long-running
aerobics/calisthenics program) to lifestyle programs about how to get one’s
home “fit” (with neat, a program that transforms messy homes).
Each hour-long Buff Brides episode opens with a voiceover by an
anonymous female narrator introducing the two featured brides. Shot on
videotape, the footage features separate, chronological storylines that go back
and forth between the two brides, giving the viewer a sense of the progress of
each woman. Narrative comes from on-camera interviews with the women and
their fiances, natural sound of each woman as they workout with their personal
trainers, participate in wedding planning (such as shopping or rehearsal dinners),
try on their wedding gowns either at home or at bridal salons, and other non
exercise oriented activities. Each episode features three weigh-ins. Close-ups
appear prominently when personal trainers measure these women’s body thighs,
arms, and hips, and when the women are doing push ups or using exercise
machines. Brides admit cheating on their diets and complain about working out
on the “Bride Cam” in confessional-style, black-and-white segments. Wide
shots of the hustle and bustle of New York City feature the women themselves
scunying to get to work or the gym. Each episode ends with footage of the
wedding ceremony itself as well as the reception.
These are young women; ages are not mentioned in the episodes, but all
brides appear to be in their early 20s to early 30s.2 Even with this sample of 10
brides, the program shows racial diversity, perhaps reflecting the diversity of
New York City itself: five of the brides were Caucasian; two were AfricanAmerican; two were Chincse-American, and one was Indian. The female
narrator announces brides’ and bridegrooms’ occupations at the beginning of
each episode. While husbands-to-be are not the subject of the program, their