Julia Louis-Dreyfus appears on the most recent cover of Rolling Stone Magazine wearing nothing but the preamble of the U.S Constitution – and perhaps a little more. Despite the misprinted John Hancock signature sitting right above Louis-Dreyfus’s luminescent derriere, the image itself is rather shocking. At first I was a bit skeptical about the productiveness of Louis-Dreyfus’s unexpected nudity, especially the photograph of a white-wigged fellow tattooing her lower back. However, the more I thought about it, I began to realize that a critique of the photo shoot would be more ineffective than Rolling Stone’s slightly problematic attempt at exhibiting female empowerment.
That being said, Louis-Dreyfus’s surprising nude body, marked with the nation’s most important document, seems to make a statement about “the people’s” supposed, “protection under the law.” The fact that the words inked on Louis-Dreyfus’s body are temporary and, admittedly, historically inaccurate, suggests that these words have proven to be ineffective, if not entirely inaccessible to most of the population. With naked pride, Louis-Dreyfus exposes the truth; white, male-dominated U.S. institutions are slowly, but surely dwindling. Julia, and many other women have proven that systemic, institutionalized sexism can no longer prevail in the society we live in now, as it is run by a republic of women refusing defeat.
In regards to the issue of sexism in Hollywood, Louis-Dreyfus comments in her Rolling Stone interview that, “I’m saying that I will deny its effort against me. I just pay it no nevermind and say, ‘Get out of my way.”
Clearly, Julia wants the world to know that the industry, and patriarchy can’t ride on her coattails forever.
On a lighter note, Like an elegant, comedic genius, Louis-Dreyfus responded to the John Hancock signature blunder with this tweet:
Louis-Dreyfus’s contribution to television and comedy has been indispensable to the growth of small-screen female leads and her role of Selina Meyer on the show VEEP, is just straight-up HILARIOUS. Season three of VEEP premiered last Sunday, April 6th, and airs every Sunday at 10:00pm EST, so make sure to tune in for some brilliant comedic shenanigans!
