RIP Dr. Fredric Brandt - an touching article by Vanity Fair

[BaronArtz]

http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2015/08/dr-brandt-death-celebrity-botox?mbid=social_twitter

 

This article is not only a touching review of the life and death of a celebrity medical doctor. It describes well the deep darkness of humans engaged in dramatic changes in their appearance. In a way, extreme plastic surgery, transgender surgery and hormonal treatment, body building, excessive diets show a deep dissatisfaction in the 'cards that we are dealt with'. Often ending in premature death or suicide even. As was the case for Dr. Brandt.

 

I have been puzzled why so many bodybuilders/escorts commit suicide, even at the height of their career. This article may shed some light on this.

[+ FreshFluff]

I wonder whether extreme body building regimens, diets, and plastic surgery are the cause of deep dissatisfaction with one's body or just the symptom. Fifty years ago, when facelifts, lipo, and botox weren't available, would the doctor have been much happier? Marilyn Monroe is a good example. I wonder whether and to what degree aging was a factor in her depression and possibly her suicide.

 

About the other examples: For trans surgery, maybe a few regret the transition while others are disappointed that they still don't "pass" afterwards. There was an MtF poster here a few years ago who was in the latter situation. For body building, maybe the effects of anabolic steroids play a role.

[Lookin]

Dr. Brandt's story is indeed touchingly sad. For whatever reasons, it seems he had a fragile ego and I'm sure not in a position to judge him or how he became the way he was.

 

I've long admired Tina Fey. She's a talented writer and comedienne, and I think it would have been well within her abilities to create the caricature she needed for her show without basing it so closely on someone whose psyche she didn't understand. She probably didn't think much about it at all, and I don't believe she meant to cause Dr. Brandt pain that he couldn't handle.

 

Her send-ups of public figures like Sarah Palin are less risky, I think, because there's just a lot more in the public domain about Palin.

 

If there's anything to be learned from this, in my opinion, it's to err on the side of caution when making fun of others. When I'm tempted to get a laugh at someone's expense, I find that making fun of myself is the safest bet. Not to mention plenty of material to work with. http://www.boytoy.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif

 

And even should I inadvertently pick open one of my emotional scabs, my shrink's pretty good at stitching it up again with time still left on the clock to work on other pressing issues.

http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/60/6079/ZNUD100Z/posters/william-steig-a-man-is-lying-on-a-psychiatrist-s-couch-both-he-and-the-psychiatrist-are-new-yorker-cartoon.jpg