- Feb 3, 2021
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@JaJa I agree that it is enormously problematic to require “feminine grace” and this is literally the phrase in the current code – phrasing that was introduced in 2001 and later removed because of the bias inherent in it.
The entire Women’s Technical Committee should be fired for that and the rules revised, making dance an optional element, among others.
However…
I don’t think that most people totally equate artistry with feminine grace. That’s a more extreme position, and there are lots of counterexamples over the years, even internationally. There are MANY other aesthetics that Carey could use, yet she chose this aesthetic — so it’s fair game to judge it for what it attempts to be.
Moreover, even if she had a different style, she’d probably fail. She really lacks musicality. She is never sharp where sharpness is called for, never soft where softness is called for, and always rigid, never loose. She also has limited mobility in certain parts of her body. All of these are independent of feminine grace, and all of these would inhibit her artistry, regardless of aesthetic.
I’ll add that I used to judge men’s gymnastics when there were rules that did reward guys for artistry – even with no music or dance. I am not sure Carey has anything artistic under those rules, except maybe the sequence after her double double. Maybe.
The entire Women’s Technical Committee should be fired for that and the rules revised, making dance an optional element, among others.
However…
I don’t think that most people totally equate artistry with feminine grace. That’s a more extreme position, and there are lots of counterexamples over the years, even internationally. There are MANY other aesthetics that Carey could use, yet she chose this aesthetic — so it’s fair game to judge it for what it attempts to be.
Moreover, even if she had a different style, she’d probably fail. She really lacks musicality. She is never sharp where sharpness is called for, never soft where softness is called for, and always rigid, never loose. She also has limited mobility in certain parts of her body. All of these are independent of feminine grace, and all of these would inhibit her artistry, regardless of aesthetic.
I’ll add that I used to judge men’s gymnastics when there were rules that did reward guys for artistry – even with no music or dance. I am not sure Carey has anything artistic under those rules, except maybe the sequence after her double double. Maybe.
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