Oh Dolly

As I was reading “Diamond in a Rhinestone World” by Allison Glock I learned a good amount of information about Ms. Dolly Parton.  I can say I’ve heard Dolly Parton here and there, but do not listen to her regularly.  A thing that I learned about her and really stood out to me as I read more is that there was never a time where she wasn’t herself. 

            Dolly Parton grew up in Tennessee as a Southern Appalachian girl and let that build her to what she was in everyday life.  The start of her professional career began as an actor where people found to love Dolly.  People didn’t adore her just because she was a big boob blonde haired girl, it was the way Dolly carried herself in and out of her career.  I thought that even through criticism, Dolly handled herself well saying “I don’t mind being called a dumb blonde.” I also found great about what the author wrote, she said that Jack Nicholson was always Jack, and compared Dolly to Jack, saying “Dolly was always Dolly”

             Through Dolly sticking to Dolly and having a persona that was known from her because the way she carried her, she also was a great family women.  She cared for her long time husband and loved to go home at the end of the day to soak up the family time.  I think that is a huge part of knowing your career to your life.  You have to have time for your loved ones and not have your job control you.

I was intrigued to learn, once again, about someone I don’t really know too much about.  I’ve been enjoying the readings.  Dolly reminds me of many girls we have read about but also stands out like it says in the article.  She had a way of going about her life and everyone knew it whether a die-hard fan or a person who heard about her through the grapevine.  

Blog#9

Kayla Leland 

EN-003 

Professor Santos 

Blog entry #9 

April 1st,2016 

Dolly Parton 

 

This week in class we have discussed Dolly Parton and how she took ownership of her body and took back power by owning her image. Dolly Parton was born dirt poor in a very large Appalachian family where there were 12 children in a one room cabin in the Smoky Mountains. Dolly learned to trust herself when it came to her music and I think it is interesting that as a result she became the only artist to ever earn a number one record twice with the same song as a singer and three times a writer. Another thing that stood out to me about Dolly Parton was that she never used drugs or alcohol unlike many other musicians and she managed her own career with great success. Throughout Dolly Parton's career she stayed true to herself and didn’t forget her home. She broke the stereotype about where she was from and showed the world what it's like to be a true "Southern, Appalachian, working-class, female". This can be seen to represent her image as she is not afraid to represent her background and let everyone know where she came from. Dolly Parton took control of how she looks and chose to be her own person that represent her background. She created herself this way and played up her persona to take her power back. This relates to what we have discussed earlier this semester that no one should have control to tell musicians how to look or what to wear. Nowadays women are seen as trying to be pretty for men when they can do it for themselves and celebrate their body. Although I think it is great that Dolly Parton was able to embrace herself I think there are other ways for Dolly to embrace herself that showing off her image or body. 

Dolly Parton

            I loved reading about Dolly Parton this week. I am a huge country fan and I have definitely listening to Dolly Parton before but reading the two essays taught me so much more about her that I never even knew.

            Dolly is the rare celebrity that does not get sucked into the fame and fortune. She’s still the same person she was before she because famous, she’s humble and stays true to her hometown roots. But she does get a lot of different opinions about her body image. She is always talked about being this sexual icon, when in reality so is not a very sexual person and people just perceive her to be because of what her body looks like. In the reading, a couple sentences really stood out to me. “Men’s magazines (e.g., Esquire, Playboy) have claimed her as an icon for the desire male gaze, focusing on her body and sexual image. Spuermarket tabloids (e.g., The Star, National Examiner, Nation Enquirer and The Globe) have variously portrayed her as a sexual icon, as a transgressor of patriarchal conventions, and as the occasional victim of personal crisis” (111). In just those two sentences she was referred to as sexual twice, and was said to be desirable for me. I believe that people can be judged so quickly and easily just by the look of their body. Dolly teaches women to do whatever they want as long as it makes them happy, and to be independent. She said, “’I need my husband for love and other men for my work. But I don’t depend on any man for my strength’” (116). She is a strong independent woman who knows what it means to work hard and be rewarded in return. She has never changed who she is and will continue to be a positive reputation for female country singers.

I really enjoyed reading about Dolly Parton. When it comes to her music I am neutral, I don't love it, but I also don't hate it. Although Dolly has many fake aspects to her, like her wigs and make-up she is still 100% true to herself and that is something that I consider to be very admirable. No matter who you are in this world it seems to be getting harder and harder to stay true to yourself when we have all these images of "The perfect girl", let alone when you live a life of fame. Even though Dolly Parton had a likable image when it came to her body, that was just her. She did not make herself look like that to become more famous or likable. We discussed taking back the power when it comes to female artists and Dolly Parton is a perfect example of this. Many female artists we have studied have allowed their managers and other people to determine what they can sing, how they can dress, what they can say, and when they can say it. Often once this way becomes a little too successful for their managers likings they are told to tone it down. Dolly did not do this. She was always in charge of herself and her body. I do not believe Dolly Parton ever lost the power. She is a very powerful musician and person.

I personally do not like country songs, however reading about Dolly Parton and learning more about her makes me respect who she is and her work. While I was reading the article about her, the quote that stood out to me the most was, ”Dolly Parton is the most famous, most universally beloved, and most widely respected woman who has ever emerged from country music, making her a role model not only for other singers and songwriters, but for working woman everywhere”. Although I am not a fan of her music, I really have respect for her, for the fact that she is able to be many people’s role model and also have respect from everyone. In the world we live in, many ladies and young girls are not confident and are afraid of showing who they really are to others. Dolly Parton is also not afraid to be who she wants to be or showoff her unique style to everybody, which is also another way she can be a role model to many by showing people its okay to be who you.

Dolly Parton

                  This week in class, our focus was on country music. I’m a huge country music fan so I was very excited to discuss this in class. Although class was cancelled on Monday, we continued to talk about Dolly Parton on Wednesday. I had heard of Dolly Parton before, but hadn’t really heard any of her music. So, in class on Wednesday we talked about her music and her looks, as well as how people perceive her based on her looks. Her music talks a lot about where she is from and her personal life. Aside from that, people often make generalizations about her based off of her looks. They often think because she has a tiny waist, big boobs, and wears a lot of makeup, that she is a sexual person. However, that is not the case.

                  Dolly Parton is her own person, like many of us, and I personally think that if she wants to wear lots of makeup, have big hair, and show off her body, she should do it. The world now a days is far too judgmental on women and how they show themselves off. If a woman shows her body off sometimes, she is said to be not classy or a ‘skank’ but when women don’t show their bodies off, people also have something to say. The point I am trying to make here is that Dolly Parton does what she wants to do because she wants to not because she wants attention. We are in 2016 and honestly, no matter what you do or look like, someone is going to judge you. I know that it’s not right, but it’s true and that’s how the world is. Dolly Parton is just another great inspiration for women and girls to always be themselves.

Dolly Parton

     This week I was excited to learn about Dolly Parton because I am a fan of country music and I have heard of her but I never really listened to her songs or knew much about her. What I liked most about her is how she remains true to herself and sticks up for herself no matter what people have to say about her. Dolly Parton has a very unique style and look to her that make her stand out, she wears a lot of makeup, white wig, big boobs, a tiny waste, and an extraordinary voice. In the article Dimond in a Rhinestone World she said "I don't mind being called a dumb blonde, because I know I'm not dumb and I'm not blonde." This to me is inspirational she is not bothered at all by what people think or have to say about her because all that matters to her is how she feels about herself and what is actually true and not true. It can be very difficult to not be effected by peoples harsh comments and opinions.
     I also like learning about Dolly Parton's "roots", where she came from, because this is an important part of country music. She was born in 1946 into a large Appalachian family, who were extremely poor. Her family lived in a one room cabin in the Great Smokey Mountains with twelve children piled into it. Dolly Parton learned the value of music, and how "faith and art are pretty much the same thing" from her grandfather who was a member of the Pentecostal Church. Dolly Parton like many other country artists managed to stay true to her root and not let the fame get to her, she stayed humble. I think that is why I am so drawn to country music because the artists are so relatable, they mange to stay down to earth and don't let the fame get to their head and make them something they aren't.

Dolly Parton

Being a fan of country music, I had always heard of Dolly Parton, but honestly I didn't know all that much about her. The title "Diamond in a Rhinestone World" really stood out to me because that exactly explains how Dolly was seen in the public eye. Different. I really admire her for staying true to her roots, and remaining humble. Dolly Parton became a persona to the real Dolly Parton from Appalachia. Without her persona, I don't think she would have reached the success she did. Obviously, with her big blonde hair, tiny waist, high heels, and big boobs, she's bound to get some recognition. It was such a smart move for her to create this image of herself. She's not "Dolly Parton Country Mega Star" all the time. Her husband is a regular- non famous person, so if she decided to escape the fame and relax with her husband and live a non hectic life, it can be done. Many people, like Amanda Bynes for example, fall once they get to the top because they can't separate fame with home life. It all becomes one. Dolly was able to surround herself with people that kept her grounded, and didn't let her come crashing down. To put her persona in perspective, a similar example would be Lady Gaga. Without the absurd costumes and wigs she wore during public appearances, she probably would be no where near as famous as she is today. Before reading this article in, my thought was, it's a free country, if Dolly wants to wear wigs, high heels, and lots of makeup, who is to stop her? If that's what makes her feel comfortable, then all the power to her. But it didn't quite happen like that. The only thing I didn't agree with was how she basically dressed like that to get attention from the men. As I mentioned in class on Wednesday, sex sells. I don't necessarily think that's how it should be, but in the society we live in, it is. Women shouldn't have to meet a man's standards to be great. Being confident and being true to yourself, that's how society should define "sexy".

Don't Lose Who You Are

            This week in class we were supposed to focus on country female artists. However, with class being cancelled on Monday, we had a shortened amount of time to have discussions. On Wednesday we had some time to briefly discuss Dolly Parton. There was a theme that Professor Santos mentioned when it comes to country artists singing about their home or their roots, and it is something I'd like to touch on as I believe it is an important aspect of their success. I personally love country music, so I can assure you that almost every single country artist has a song that talks about their “roots.” To me, it is an aspect that I have always loved about the genre.

            Thinking about some strong female Country artists such as Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Dolly Parton, they all have songs about where they came from. Carrie Underwood has a song titled “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” and it is about her leaving home and moving forward in her life, but still remaining humble and thankful for where she came from and who raised her into being the person she is today. Another example would be Miranda Lambert’s song “The House That Built Me.” I think that it is important for women that are in the music industry to stay humble and be thankful for how their life came to be. It allows them to stay grounded and helps the public to realize that deep down, they are not much different than you and I.

            Another reason why I love the songs about “home” or family is that it allows me to place myself in their shoes. Growing up, I lived in a difficult situation and things were very far from picture perfect. Although some of the songs make me long for what these artists had growing up, it also gives me the opportunity to dream about what my future can look like. It provides hope for the future for when I have a family of my own. I find songs about home to be so beautiful and so easy to listen to. Dolly Parton has always seemed to me, to be a very humble person. She remembers where she came from and doesn’t allow her fame and fortune to erase that part of her life. I think that is a quality the more female artists need to follow, and not just those within the country music industry.