TOW #13: "The Obama Selfie-Face-Gate", Lauren Collins

A couple of weeks ago, the world lost one of the most influential leaders that it has ever seen. On December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, president of South Africa, died. Since his death, a lot of news media has been focusing on him and his many innovations toward society. Recently though, the attention has not been completely on Mandela. At his memorial service, there was a photo taken of Barack Obama, with two other world leaders, snapping a "selfie." Although this type of picture seems to be commonplace in America now, it became a big deal when the president of the United States was taking one, especially at such a somber occasion. The most talked about part of this whole matter? Michelle Obama's face, and the "story" behind the photo. In her blog post, "The Obama Selfie-Face-Gate," Lauren Collins addresses the media attention on this popular picture. Many commentators looked into the character of the Danish prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who was seen in the photo with Obama. One of the things that was dug up about her was that she enjoys watching the American show "Sex and the City." This popular show has captivated many viewers over time, so it is not surprising that Thorning-Schmidt likes it, but reporters tried to attack her with this information because it is considered a racy show. To counter this, Collins states that "Celine Dion, Harry Styles, Julian Fellowes, Marina Abramović, and Antonin Scalia" are also fans. That does not make them any worse of people. The media tried to portray the prime minister as a temptation for Obama, and attempted to create a story where he was flirting with her, while his wife was off to the side, jealous. After all of this, Collins asks, "why the presumption...?" What makes everyone feel the need to assume there is a scandal. Michelle Obama is not smiling in the picture with the other three, but as Collins states in her closing, "sometimes a woman who doesn't smile is just thinking about something else." Her turned face does not mean she disapproves or is jealous. That is just what people chose to interpret it is. Maybe it was not the most appropriate time for this shot, but that does not make it the scandal that the media has been trying to create. The idea "that Barack Obama was flirting with Thorning-Schmidt, and that Michelle Obama was mad about it" is "juvenile." I believe that rather than broadcasting news on a selfie of the president, the media should pay more attention to what the memorial was actually about. Mandela, and all that he did for South Africa and the world.

David Cameron, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Barack Obama, and Michelle Obama

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/12/obama-selfie-face-gate.html