Born from a swan's egg

Dissecting the controversial plastic surgery reality show 'The Swan' 20 years after its two season run.

When attempting to diagnose the ~vibes~ of 2024, culture critics have hyper-focused on the permeation of western and country aesthetics and decline of Y2K indie-sleaze obsession without diagnosing the why, the larger theme at play this year across all niche algorithms which is transformation through a mind-body connection. Is that too vague or too specific? Let me try that again. You see, Pluto entered Aquarius on January 20th, 2024 which hasn’t happened in over 200 years, during which time we saw the French and Haitian Revolutions…sorry, is that too much woo? Let me try to explain the best way I can: by searching for the answers in my modern existential quandaries in vintage reality shows. This time, I look to FOX’s 2004 competition series The Swan.

Each episode, two women that self-identify as average or ugly go through intensive plastic surgery and cosmetic dental work, strict exercise and diet regimens, as well as therapy and life coaching before being selected to participate in the season finale pageant where the most one woman is dubbed The Swan, the most transformed and thereby the most beautiful.