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A Karen Carpenter Case Analysis
Karen Carpenter, one-half of one of the biggest American musical acts of all time, sensitized the public to the seriousness of an eating disorder. Today’s episode discusses her tragic life and death, in conversation with Todd Haynes’ film entitled “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story”. Our cultural response to her suffering and eventual death is heightened because of her perceived untouchability and her very existence as a spectacle who is exploited by the media. Carpenter’s life was in and of itself its own screen at which to view anorexia; an object to gawk at, trivialize, and dehumanize.
Bibliography (show notes):
Banerji, Atreyi. “The Tragic Story of Karen Carpenter: An Artist Failed by a Faltering Society.” Far Out Magazine The Tragic Story of Karen Carpenter An Artist Failed by a Faltering Society Comments, faroutmagazine.co.uk/karen-carpenter-tragic-story-mental-health/.
Chu, Paige. “Illness as Aesthetic.” The Varsity, 3 Sept. 2018, thevarsity.ca/2018/09/03/illness-as-aesthetic/.
Eames, Tom. “The Tragic Story of Karen Carpenter, One of the Greatest Vocalists of All Time.” Smooth, 27 Mar. 2019, www.smoothradio.com/artists/carpenters/karen-carpenter-death-story-solo-album-husband/.
Gilbert, Sophie. “'To the Bone' and the Trouble With Anorexia on Film.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 19 July 2017, www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/07/to-the-bone-review-netflix/533517/.
Haynes, Todd, director. Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. Youtube, 1988, www.youtube.com/watch?v=H13d1nOorJM.
Latson, Jennifer. “Karen Carpenter: How Did She Die?” Time, Time, 29 Dec. 2016, time.com/3685894/karen-carpenter-anorexia-death/.
Person. “The Real Reason Karen Carpenter Was Driven to Anorexia.” Independent, Independent.ie, 18 Mar. 2016, www.independent.ie/life/the-real-reason-karen-carpenter-was-driven-to-anorexia-26703889.html.
Rose, Megan. “It Begins And Ends With Empathy; Remembering Karen Carpenter. • National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.” National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 6 Apr. 2020, anad.org/begins-ends-empathy-remembering-karen-carpenter/.
Schmidt, Randy. Karen Carpenter: Starved of Love, by Randy Schmidt | Extract. 23 Oct. 2010, www.theguardian.com/books/2010/oct/24/karen-carpenter-anorexia-book-extract.
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By Kiera RussoKaren Carpenter, one-half of one of the biggest American musical acts of all time, sensitized the public to the seriousness of an eating disorder. Today’s episode discusses her tragic life and death, in conversation with Todd Haynes’ film entitled “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story”. Our cultural response to her suffering and eventual death is heightened because of her perceived untouchability and her very existence as a spectacle who is exploited by the media. Carpenter’s life was in and of itself its own screen at which to view anorexia; an object to gawk at, trivialize, and dehumanize.
Bibliography (show notes):
Banerji, Atreyi. “The Tragic Story of Karen Carpenter: An Artist Failed by a Faltering Society.” Far Out Magazine The Tragic Story of Karen Carpenter An Artist Failed by a Faltering Society Comments, faroutmagazine.co.uk/karen-carpenter-tragic-story-mental-health/.
Chu, Paige. “Illness as Aesthetic.” The Varsity, 3 Sept. 2018, thevarsity.ca/2018/09/03/illness-as-aesthetic/.
Eames, Tom. “The Tragic Story of Karen Carpenter, One of the Greatest Vocalists of All Time.” Smooth, 27 Mar. 2019, www.smoothradio.com/artists/carpenters/karen-carpenter-death-story-solo-album-husband/.
Gilbert, Sophie. “'To the Bone' and the Trouble With Anorexia on Film.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 19 July 2017, www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/07/to-the-bone-review-netflix/533517/.
Haynes, Todd, director. Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story. Youtube, 1988, www.youtube.com/watch?v=H13d1nOorJM.
Latson, Jennifer. “Karen Carpenter: How Did She Die?” Time, Time, 29 Dec. 2016, time.com/3685894/karen-carpenter-anorexia-death/.
Person. “The Real Reason Karen Carpenter Was Driven to Anorexia.” Independent, Independent.ie, 18 Mar. 2016, www.independent.ie/life/the-real-reason-karen-carpenter-was-driven-to-anorexia-26703889.html.
Rose, Megan. “It Begins And Ends With Empathy; Remembering Karen Carpenter. • National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.” National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 6 Apr. 2020, anad.org/begins-ends-empathy-remembering-karen-carpenter/.
Schmidt, Randy. Karen Carpenter: Starved of Love, by Randy Schmidt | Extract. 23 Oct. 2010, www.theguardian.com/books/2010/oct/24/karen-carpenter-anorexia-book-extract.