More Vinyl Than Tweed
How long is it going to take for this stereotype to die? Until everyone who saw The Music Man in its first run dies off?!?!
In a NYT article describing Diane Keaton’s fashion sense (just the fact that this article was written at all distresses me greatly), author Ruth LaFerla refers to Keaton’s dowdiness: “For the better part of her 30-odd-year film career, Keaton has hidden her light under bowler hats, oversize jackets and calf-grazing skirts–and almost always prim gloves–cultivating a persona that on screen and off is less siren than librarian.”
OK, you know what? I’m a librarian AND a siren. And I know there are lots of us out there–male and female. I own more vinyl than tweed, more pleather than wool, and not a single oversize jacket. How exactly, then, do I fit in with Ms. LaFerla’s stereotype, that she so casually throws into her oh-so-high-brow fashion article? To suggest that the antithesis of a siren is a librarian is not only just plain stupid, but also very, very untrue.
Perhaps I’m getting irked over nothing, but I wrote a letter to the editor, I was so pissed. Anyone want to join me?
Rock on, you librarian sirens.
February 24th, 2004 at 5:12 pm
You have a point. Sometimes writers don’t realize who they offend with statements that seemed witty when conceived.
I knew a couple librarian sirens back when I was in high school. What made them attractive was that their obliviousness to their attractiveness. I dunno … maybe that’s what Ruth meant.
February 25th, 2004 at 7:17 am
Do you wear said pleather and vinyl to work?
A Curios Reader
February 25th, 2004 at 10:35 am
Sometimes…usually a touch of vinyl there, pleather boots here…nothing to raise the eyebrows of my supervisors too high. But, it took a while for me to feel comfortable enough to dress like myself at work. It’s something I think everyone should do, especially if you’re lucky enough to work in a library without a dress code
February 26th, 2004 at 2:38 pm
You are a siren, librarian in black!
February 26th, 2004 at 5:07 pm
Reviving Marion
The Librarian in Black is ready to take names and kick butt over at the NY Times style section for suggesting that the antithesis of a siren is a librarian. And God bless her for it. But she briefly touches…
February 26th, 2004 at 5:08 pm
Hey, you got me thinking about Marion (see the TrackBack) … Thanks.
February 26th, 2004 at 5:37 pm
I guess I should say it here too:
Good point re the NYT, but I think Marion gets a bad rap. She sure didn’t make librarians look bad as I remember the movie (and we saw it again on DVD within the last 18 months): the smartest, liveliest, most independent woman in town.
August 30th, 2004 at 3:02 am
It’s really a pleasure being here. I will surely recommend your site to all my friends.
September 24th, 2004 at 2:07 am
I just surfed in this great place. But it’s really a pleasure being here. Go on
with this good work.
October 19th, 2004 at 1:54 am
After a long search, I finally found your site. My granny used to say, that you must never give up to reach a certain aim.
So keep on going like I did it recently.
January 17th, 2005 at 12:36 am
Just be surfing around in net. I definitely fpund a very informal place with a lot of good stuff for everybody. I will
certainly visit your site again sometime. Really good work.
November 15th, 2005 at 6:43 pm
Reviving Marion
The Librarian in Black is ready to take names and kick butt over at the NY Times style section for suggesting that the antithesis of a siren is a librarian. And God bless her for it. But she briefly touches upon poor Miss Marion Paroo. I think it’s rat…