Tuesday 26 January 2010

Bare Bosom Calamity - or BBC

In the early days of broadcasting, BTV (before television), the BBC newsreaders were made to dress formally: i.e. dinner suits for men and evening gowns for women newscasters.

Not that anybody, other than BBC staff, could actually see them reading the news. It was just the stuffy old rules that were applied by the BBC management then.

Now the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. Smart casual, to coin a phrase, has been approved in many areas of broadcasting. Presenters can wear old jeans and trainers, no neckties required and various other dress modes are OK today.

Some presenters just look scruffy; I can't say I am in favour of some of these 'informal' styles but it does not bother me too much. I don't watch too much tv anyway.

However, what's this to do with 'Bare Bosom' I hear you scream. Tell us, show us, come clean!

The Booby Link

Very well then, just go to the link above. Prepare to be shocked beyond recall.

14 comments:

Shadow said...

casual has been taken over the top... especially in certain areas. like tv presenters.

DUTA said...

Hi Phillip,

I wasn't successful with the link you provided,but I could imagine things.

Anyway your post title is great!
I'm in favor of presenters in formal outfit, although I also don't watch much TV.

the walking man said...

ignorance abounds in Europe I see. One would think that after years of page three girls a painting would offend no one.

The Bug said...

Oh for heaven's sake - they're just reinforcing the stuffy British stereotype! Of course, the same thing would happen here - it's actually more surprising that it happened in Britain because I imagine that the British have an appreciation of art that we don't...

A human kind of human said...

Oh my soul... you would think with all that is available on magazines and TV nowadays, one little nipple would not even be noticed.

This reminded me of art classes in high school where the boys always asked for specific paintings to be viewed and all the girls blushed right through the class....

Brenda said...

I was unable to access this site, but will guess they are nude or topless or something. The news seems to be full of personalities and competition instead of the old Walter Cronkite style. I think I prefer to just hear the news and let the personalities come out of us....the viewers. If that made any sense....too much coffee today. Ha!

Argent said...

Oh my, and to think, up until now, I'd never seen a nipple before! Alie down with some aspirin in a darkened room is on the cards. Seriously though, when are ever going to get over our prudery about our boddies? We've all got 'em.

PhilipH said...

Shadow: Thanks. I think we should not go too far in the way of 'dressing down' on tv.

Duta: Sorry about the link; others have said the same so I've changed it to a proper 'clickable' link.

Mark: The overpaid execs at the BBC are always getting things wrong. And as I pay their wages each month I do get rather peeved.


Hi Bug: Art is, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder imo. We all have differing views on art and nowadays it seems to rest on how much Sothebys can get for it!

Human: Yep, I can imagine the scene; I'd have been clamouring for 'certain' pictures too! Young schoolboys always have a couple of things on their mind in their teens...;-)

Brenda: I'm sorry about the link; I've made it easier now.

Argent: You're right of course. Sometimes, however, it seems to leave no room for imagination at times. Wondering what's being hidden ... It's like the chap who went to see a certain film fifty times because a lady was undressing just as a train came by and blocked his view. He was hoping the train would be a bit late one day! Silly old fool...

Tess Kincaid said...

Offends viewers? Oh, please!! These people need a little culture.

(and I'm with you on the scruffiness)

Pauline said...

It's a rather sobering (or hilarious) thought that we are all naked under our clothes... depending on what frame of mind you're in ;)

Land of shimp said...

For those that can't see the link, it really isn't what you're thinking. It's a painting, a classic one I'm assuming, in which a woman has one of her breasts exposed in a sort goddess-style dress. I've never encountered the painting before, but it's about the level of the goddess Venus on the shell, rising from the ocean, in terms of "Look, there be lady parts!"

Jeez, where's my fainting couch when I need one? Has anyone seen my smelling salts? Oh these troublesome, puritanical vapors to which I am so sadly prone, thanks to society telling me I should be.

Philip, I thought Brits were far more level-headed about the bits and parts of people than we are here in the states. But then the literal Puritans were the folks that more or less were the start up venture in these lands.

Ay yi yi.

As to casual dress, well, you know I actually do support it for reporters in most instances. There's nothing more miserable looking than a meteorologist huddling miserable in her dress coat and heels, reporting live from the "9 News Backyard" where she's suffering from fashionable exposure concerns. Also, war correspondents need to be able to be fleet of foot in a pinch, so by all means, don some Nikes, and clothes that allow you to bust a move away from the stuff that is blowing up.

Those are mainly the circumstances under which I support being as casual as you can be. I don't really notice clothes unless there is something highly noticeable going on. "Is that Latex? How is that comfortable??" that sort of thing.

Barry said...

I'm offended, that the BBC would think I'd be offended by the sight of a nipple on a 19th century painting.

What a strange world we live in.

Stella Jones said...

Well I just had to click, didn't I and what I saw was a very elegant picture. I agree that a lot of the presenters should smarten up a bit. Just won't do, will it.
Take care.
Blessings, Star

lovelyprism said...

I find this odd since I had always been under the impression that Europeans were more cultured than Americans. You see this kind of thing in every museum. Don't British people visit museums anymore?