Monday, September 20, 2010

Sexy Mathematicians

Is our children learning sexy?
Danica McKellar -- best known for playing Winnie Cooper, Kevin Arnold's love interest, on "The Wonder Years" (yes, really) -- has found a second career writing about math. Her books have all reached the New York Times bestseller list: "Math Doesn't Suck," "Kiss My Math" and the just-out "Hot X: Algebra Exposed!," which is exponentially more engaging and entertaining than any math book has a right to be. Yet McKellar's vocation as role model isn't uncomplicated: She holds a degree in mathematics from UCLA and co-authored a complex theorem that bears her name, but she's also posed for Maxim in skimpy lingerie, and her books feature cheekily sexy titles and fluffy packaging -- the cover of "Hot X" promises "boy-crazy confessionals!" Is she sending mixed messages that compromise her mission -- or just making savvy marketing moves?

15 comments:

M. Bouffant said...

I always thought math(s) was kinda gay, but what do I know?

Smut Clyde said...

M. Bouffant is banned.

fish said...

related

Give me something to write on man.

tigris said...

Is she sending mixed messages that compromise her mission

Yes, the modeling in skimpy lingerie totally undercuts her "math is sexy!" message.

Substance McGravitas said...

Custard π.

J— said...

Wait, didn't Justin Timberlake sing "I'm Bringing Sexy Math"?

Substance McGravitas said...

I thought we were on that other Justin.

mikey said...

Shocking that American publishers would consider Math a dry subject that required a little 'sexing up' in order to become a commercial success.

I mean, when has THAT ever happened?

Jennifer said...

Shocking that American publishers would consider Math a dry subject that required a little 'sexing up' in order to become a commercial success.

Math lube...

Brando said...

Solve for xxx.

LOL at Substance's Zeppelin use.

Hamish Mack said...

Hey baby, if you've got the curves, I've got the angles. Yowsaaah

Smut Clyde said...

Let's have a love poem, lyrical, pastoral, and expressed in the language of pure mathematics. Tensor algebra mainly, with a little topology and higher calculus, if need be. But with feeling, you understand, and in the cybernetic spirit.

Substance McGravitas said...

After AK's last project I think I will look elsewhere for poetry-machine builders.

Anonymous said...

It takes two to have a simple harmonic oscillator.

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

What's wrong with being sexy?

WV (I kid you not)=carwar