|
|
Index Previous Letter
Next Letter
Friday November 14th 1997 What are these advertising? It's a bit hard to know. We have Bowlmor on the bottom right. Just more of the same from this bowling alley. But what are these naked people above trying to get us to buy? It's work-outs. Your local neighbourhood gym, if you live in Queens, the Village, or in the  family-oriented neighbourhood of Lincoln Square. "It's Your World", as these World Gym ads, say. World Gym has a web page (see http://www.worldgymnyc.com/) and the opening screen asks "Does your ass feel spongy?" You can get a free "Does your ass feel spongy?" teeshirt if you print out the appropriate page from their website. The only problem is, you must show it to one of World Gym's sales reps to qualify. I don't THINK so! Men and Women of Australia
In an interesting piece in the Weekend
Australian this month, Caitlin Pincus, an Australian New York resident, wrote about the American perception of Australian men. Titled "Australian Brutus", the article outlines Ms Pincus's feelings and impressions of what she sees as the American perception of Australian men as brutes. She writes that when she first came here eight years ago, she was constantly told by Americans, that she came "to escape Australian men". (Ms Caitlan came for work and study reasons). Ms Pincus comments that she is a "one-woman defense team for the Australian male image in America". Well, Caitlin, I'll join the team. Now there's two of us. I entirely agree that "American men are not as liberated as they think". The article gives what Ms Pincus cites as being "the obvious example" given by many foreign women here: that of the dating behaviour of the American male. She writes, "Not only are American men on dates aggressive physically but also about the whole ritual itself. A hint that would let an Australian man know the pursued woman was not interested - 'I'm washing my hair that night' - and at the same time allow the man to give up with his ego intact would not dampen the enthusiasm of an American male." She later adds something that I found particularly amusing. In reporting how she was advised by an American female friend on how to get rid of unwanted male attention , she cites the friend as saying, "You have to let them know in very clear terms, harsh if necessary, that you find them totally unappealing, on occasion repulsive and that you will never change your mind about that". I hear American men complaining constantly about how they are treated by women. I've had email from American female readers of this page, on the "gender war", talk about the "thrill of the chase", and the way that American women like to be wooed. No wonder that both sexes here seem confused. I certainly am! From the Heart They're back. The niceness couldn't last. Now we are asked to sell of that precious, much loved piece of jewelry that grandma left us, and to buy a holiday shack with it. Maybe you could wear your World Gym "Does your ass feel spongy?" teeshirt on your trips to it. After a spot of ten-pin bowling at Bowlmor ... Such charming people. ReviewsLetter From New York has a new section REVIEWS section. This week, Brides of the Moon, by the Five Lesbian Brothers, which is showing at the New York Theater Workshop, is reviewed.Aloneness and SeparationI had several comments on recent stories, two in particular. Two long-term Australian residents of New York have written fairly detailed comments that they've agreed to have printed in Letters From New York, next week. David Vacha has written his thoughts on what he called the "Coldness" here that I wrote about in Alone and Away, and Peter Goslett has written in answer to the Many Degrees of Separation story, concerning the difference between life of New Yorkers as depicted on the silver screens and the actual living conditions that prevail. More on these comments in the following issues.
Check out the new Letters from New York page OZ Stuff for where to buy Australian products in NYC. |
Your Questions and Comments