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Nip/Tuck : Introducing the New Age of Consciousness |
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Tuesday, 25 April 2006 |
By Shabnam Parker
 In this age of Paris Hilton and the like, it seems almost fitting that a television programme heralds discussion about identity and relationships in society. At first glance, it is ironic that such debate would arise from a programme such as Nip/Tuck, but at a closer look it seems apt. In a world where so much media emphasis is placed upon the concept of an ideal sense of beauty, Nip/Tuck is both condescending as well as uplifting. This is as it should be, especially as a middle-ground is always difficult to achieve and grey areas have always been more interesting than not.
Nip/Tuck, for those misfortunate enough not to know, is a show that not only deals with the trials and tribulations of the lives of plastic surgeons Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) and Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh), but is also concerned with putting contentious topics to the fore. As such, the content of the show, while deeply based within a narcissistic framework whereby physical flaws are erased with the scalpel, also highlights some sticky situations such as racism, gender issues and identity crises. All of the above appear to stem from the deep-seated desire of human beings across the board who have bought into the beauty myth.
It is immensely interesting for me as a viewer, when confronted with these issues, to see the various points of view that abound. One case in point would be a key moment in the episode entitled “Abby Mays” (Season 3). I was accosted by one fan exclaiming how funny it was that Christian wanted this woman, Abby, to wear a brown paper bag while he had sex with her. The fan could not get over his fit of laughing, while I stood there puzzled. I remember exclaiming that I did not think it funny at all and that he did not understand the depth of the characters or the extent of the situation. A niggling voice in my head kept saying perhaps he watched it for the sex scenes only, but as I didn’t want to be crass I mentioned none of this.
So, this brings me to my current state of wry amusement in which I take my hat off to the writers of Nip/Tuck, for they are true masters of their craft. They excel at happily deluding audiences into a sense of security at one moment and in the next split-second breaking boundaries, knocking down walls and shoving crap into your face. There is a constant challenging of stereotypes whereby the heroes are disrobed of their proverbial capes and as such our beloved Christian and Sean are reduced to bitter, vulnerable, complicated specimens of human. It makes for a highly disturbing, yet riveting, hour of television and there is little else that can compare to the feeling that Nip/Tuck inspires. A feeling that I wish more viewers were attuned to because it is my belief that this show should act as a beacon of light in a world where dread and despair proliferate. “The gauntlet has officially been thrown down,” Sean says somewhat angrily in the above-mentioned episode, and I challenge you to introduce yourselves to this new age of consciousness. |
