"You used to be alright, what happened?"

Upon watching Tuesday's video "The Merchants of Cool", I was stuck in particular by the trend of the "midriff" and the over-sexualization of girls.

My mind quickly went to thinking of Edie Sedgwick. Using her as an example of this may be a bit of a stretch because she was 22 at the time in which she came under the influence of Andy Warhol. However, her exploitation and ultimately tragic ending seem to echo a warning of caution to todays girls/women who become caught up in "mid-riff" ideal.

Edie Sedgwick came to New York with her family inheritance at the age of 22 with the goal of becoming a star. She heard of Andy Warhol and was brought to his studio to do a screen test. Warhol immediately was drawn to her. From that moment on she became so intwined with the twisted world and thoughts of Andy Warhol that she was certainly doomed for tragedy.

Edies beauty was a strange and childish one. She had a young, androgenous look to her that was exploited commercially and sexually.

I find it interesting that during Edie's time in the 60's she was encouraged to continue to look like a young girl, almost like a little girl playing dress up. However, today the opposite is encourage. Girls today are urged to do everything they possibly can to make themselves appear as adult and alluring as possible.

Andy Warhol controlled Edie's every movement. He introduced her to drugs, mostly speed and barbituates, on which she became heavily addicted. Warhol had her star in obscene and degrading "movies" and he introduced her to various men who would go on to cause her great heartache. Her tumultuous realtionship with singer Bob Dylan was one such example.

The whirlwind of Andy Warhol, combined with the drugs, alcohol, men, and lack of confidence that she developed from having her worth based on her looks all contributed to her downfall.

Though it is recognized that she was a bit mentally unstable even as a child, the world she came to live in only worsened her mental state.

At the age of 28, just 6 years after meeting Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick died of a barbituate overdose and ethanol intoxication. She had been considered the "It Girl" of the 60's.

While we obviously cannot hold Andy Warhol directly responsible for her death, he played a large part in her downfall. He knew how unstable she was. He encouraged her drug used and her wild life style. But he saw that what she was had become something thatAmerica wanted. He preyed upon her childish despiration to be "cool" and used his own mass culture to sell her right back to the masses.

As I said earlier, it does concern me what the direction the teenage girs of today will go with all the ridiculous trends and messages that the media and culture are sending them.