41 Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com e m1J*id igan 3aig Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu Thursday, July 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com ยข9 Skill over beauty IAN DILLINGHAM EDITOR IN CHIEF AARICA MARSH EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR STEPHANIE SHENOUDA MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorialsnreflect theofficial position of the Daily's editorial board. Allothersigned articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. Eradicating More awareness needs to be directed toward diverse demographics ashtenaw County recently reported a total of 33 new HIV cases for 2013, increasing reported cases by 37 percent since 2012. With seven more cases than 2012, Washtenaw County experienced the largest number of new infections since 1999. Similar to historical statistics, men who have sex with men, or MSM, still comprise the majority of new infections at 80 percent in the county. However, the number of new cases among young adults and African Americans MSM are rising rapidly. In order to decrease the number of new infections, the county, state and national governments must work to emphasis the severity of the disease to younger and more racially diverse audiences. f you've turned on the computer in the past couple days, chances are that you've come across talk or maybe even some pictures - of Prince Fielder's shoot for the ESPN Magazine's Body Issue. Well, if you haven't, the former Tiger and Home Run Derby Champion VICTORIA posed nude for NOBLE some photos to appear alongside other (slimmer) athletes like Venus Williams, Jamie Anderson and Michael Phelps. And while others have slammed ESPN's decision as a gross publicity stunt, and complained of their indecency, I would like to applaud the message ESPN has sent. While I definitely liked Prince a little more when I could call him "my Tiger," It goes I really appreciate his and ESPN's sayingE willingness to ignore deserv American beauty y standards. And their1 that's exactly why he belongs on the pages of a major magazine - not in spite of his weight, but because of it. The outrage over Prince's photographs shows the degree to which big media has institutionalized thinner beauty standards, and gradually prompted American readers to accept them. While the naked photos of traditionally attractive celebrathletes were celebrated for depicting strength and discipline, Prince's was written off as inappropriate. Why? As a culture we've moved from appreciating function, to appreciating aesthetics. The body of an incredible athlete is worth less than if it were more attractive, regardless of the power capability of either. For some, it can be extended to other objects as well. Food is better if it looks better in an Instagram post, not if it delivers the best nutrients. Clothes are judged on their style and brand name, not their quality. Which is fine - we're entitled to our own preferences. But this superficiality shouldn't be applied to everything. Especially people. The best thing about the placement of Prince in the magazine is that it can help us move away from those hurtful judgments. Exposure breeds acceptance, and printing and posting these images is an excellent first step in correcting media bias. But, more importantly, it's just more normal. More American bodies resemble Prince's than any of the other athletes pictured. And while theirs should be celebrated too, it's important to recognize that perfection isn't the standard. Another great addition to the ESPN's series is paraolymipan Amy Purdy, and the general diversity in sport, race, gender and ability is also awesome to see. But while the pictures of Prince are wonderful, I can't help but wonder if it points to another double standard in sports. Would the pictures have been used if the heavier athlete were female? I kind of doubt it. While American culture is exceptionally, aesthetically focused for both genders, it's less so for males. In business, sports, music and other arenas, the focus seems more on performance than on beauty. r Without Take the sport of alpine ski racing everyone for example. Run a es to love quick web search of Ted Ligety, bodies. the preeminent American athlete in that sport. Very few articles will focus on his physique, or cast him into the "sex symbol" role. Now do the same for Lindsay Vonn, a female of similar status in the sport. So many more are about her dateability, past relationships and body. Both are attractive, yet Ligety is mostly photographed in action or by the podium, while several, if not most, of Vonn show her in a bikini and on the red carpet. Fair? Not really. Women lose out on the opportunity to be appreciated for their talent and dedication for their sport. They don't train year-round just to be sex icons, but rather to be the best in their sport - just the same as the men do. So I didn't mean to make this positive addition of naked Prince into a negative, but its implications are clear and important. We can't give acceptance a gender. For a while, the trends were for both genders to face body scrutiny. That trend is dangerous and unacceptable, and it goes without saying that everyone deserves to love their bodies. It's time that we throw that trend in reverse, and it's refreshing to see ESPN doing so - but improvement isn't just for the guys. - Victoria Noble can be reached at vjnoble@engin.umich.edu. Fresh 'Obvious Child' F tact bol Washtenaw County's increase in positive cases mirrors trends in Southeast Michigan and the United States as a whole. While a 37-percent increase in cases in Washtenaw County is dangerous by itself, the spike also has the potential to set a deadly precedent within the next few years. Since people contract HIV through other humans, having more uneducated or unaware citizens causes a harmful domino effect. When HIV was first discovered in 1981, several grassroots organizations - and eventually the federal government - began movements to educate the public and raise awareness about the disease. Unfortunately, with the continued development and effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs used to combat HIV, awareness and education towards the youth has tapered off. Given the disconnect between the severity of the disease witnessed when it was first discovered and the demographics of recently transmitted cases, creating a new campaign targeted at younger and more diverse audiences is a necessary step in decreasing the number of newly infected patients. The predominant way to stop this hazardous cycle is through raising awareness and educating others on HIV prevention. This task, however, proves difficultgiventeenagers and young adult's disaffiliation with the HIV/AIDS movement. About one-third of new HIV cases in Washtenaw County are those between the ages of 15 and 24. Similarly, in 2013, the Center for Disease Control reported that young, Black MSM is the demographic most seriously affected by the HIV/ AIDs epidemic with 55 percent of all new infections among young MSM. I A higher number of youth and minority race infections disproves the notion that HIV is a disease of the past. However, those under 30 often believe that contracting HIV isn't a realistic possibility. This incorrect perception likely contributes to the infection spike with those under 30. Millennials must receive comprehensive and resilient education about effective methods for preventing HIV infection and the detrimental effects it has on its victims. By heavily engaging youth, minority races, MSM and other severely affected demographics, we can work toward eradicating HIV from the nation's population. A br you she for "Ob poorlyc film's momen trailer' have y that is a romant which i is the fi posely lampoo coms ii of "The Child"i aboutp' alsoabs someth siderini The funny Stern (J Night L comedy whose1 bathroo sters e may no (her rut cut shot tal f-bo here, d uncoutl underw withthe in the t Imm Donnai Then sh drunker ilm manages to nant. Donna seems to be locked in kle abortion with a continuous loop of bad luck and unfortunate circumstances. Her dness and humor plight reaches a climax of irony when she decides to get an abortion By JACOB RICH - the procedure must be done on Daily Arts Writer Valentine's Day. Despite these trying circum- 'ief note before we begin: stances our heroine must face, this ould not watch the trailer film about an abortion is rarely dark vious Child." It is deceptive, or depressing. For Donna, comedy is cut, and spoils many of the more than just a hobby; it's a coping funniest mechanism. Donna sees the humor ts. The in even the most unfortunate of would also situations. Expect the film's fre- ou believe ObViOUS quent, funnyjokes to range fromthe the film macabre, like comparing an abor- traditional Child tion clinic to the DMV, to the just ic comedy, Rooks Nest plain nasty, like when Donna con- t isn't. Nor Entertainment templates the logistical challenges ilm a pur- abortion faced in the 60's because subversive Michigan Theater "the bushes were so bigback then." n of rom- Gillian Robespierre (a writer/direc- n the vein tor so fresh-faced her Wikipedia y Came Together." "Obvious page was literally written and pub- s a powerful, emotional story lished WHILE I was writing this eople, and aboutabortion. It's review) jokes about the obviously olutelyhilariousthroughout, controversial subjectwith abalance ling I wasn't expecting con- of poise, brains, and blunt honesty. g its subject matter. Much like a great episode of "South film opens with genuinely Park," you will laugh both at the stand-up comedy. Donna crudeness of the humor and the enny Slate, NBC's "Saturday topical cleverness behind it. And ive") is onstage at a dingy unlike the vast majority of today's club in Brooklyn, the kind comedies, nothing will insult your black marker-coated unisex intelligence in this film. ims are crammed with hip- Slate's performance, which due very weeknight. While you to the limited release and contro- t remember her from SNL versial subject of this film will likely n only lasted a year and was not receive the praise it deserves, rt in part due to an acciden- is frighteningly human. Donna is mb), Slate is unforgettable hard-drinking, crude, and some- ropping uncouth joke after times obnoxious, but she deftly bal- h joke about Judaism, dirty ances her character's negative and 'ear, and farts. Each lands positive traits to seem almost ... real. eaudiencebothonscreenand It's in stark contrast to comedies heater. like "Juno," where characters talk ediately following her set, and act in ways only people with is dumped by her boyfriend. memorized scripts could. Donna ie loses her job. Then, after a does pathetic real- people things, in one-night stand, gets preg- like spending hours leaving drunk- en messages on her ex's voicemail. I've met people just like Donna. I've never met anyone like Juno. Miraculously, Robespierre man- aged to find a supporting cast that stands up to Slate in both their ability to act like real people and to be hysterical. Polly Draper (CBS's "Golden Boy") stands out as Donna's mother, who impressively balances neurotic with wise and mature in several key scenes. Several comedi- ans are also allowed scene-stealing moments, especially unknown Gabe Liedmen, who spews a cavalcade of fantastic one-liners as Donna's "gay best friend" Joey. Robespierre did not simply suc- ceed in garnering laughs through dialogue - clever film techniques and ironic juxtapositionlead tosome of the film's funniest moments. A somberscene inwhich Donna, asob- bing wreck, stands outside her ex- boyfriend's apartment,gotbiglaughs as country singers croon "single girl, single girl, always dressed so fine." In another scene taking place in an abortion clinic, Donna hauntingly and hilariously sports a shirt printed with adorable baby footprints. If I had to find one criticism with this film, it would be that Donna's love interest, Max (Jake Lacy, NBC's "The Office") is a bit too much of a white knight. The film tries to coun- terbalance his chiseled looks and tendency to always have the right thing to say with a touch of awk- wardness, but it's notenough to keep his character from feeling far less realistic as Donna. I realize I have been frustrat- ingly vague about the direction the plot takes, but I wouldn't dare spoil anythingelse about this funny, fear- less movie. Know this: it never gives in to any sort of Hollywood cheese. "Obvious Child" is the best movie I've seen this year, and the best com- edy I've seen in several.