The summary of ‘UNDERCOVER: Crowder Infiltrates "FAT STUDIES" Conference | Louder with Crowder’

00:00:00

In this part of the video, the discussion centers around the field of “fat studies,” an academic discipline focused on topics such as fat pride, self-love, and acceptance. The speaker highlights that prestigious universities teach this subject and even host annual conferences, like the one at Massey University, where scholars present on topics related to fatness. Key figures such as Esther Rothbloom and Sonia Renee Taylor contribute with talks about fat history, present, and future. The segment also covers critiques of traditional academic perspectives on fatness, noting the influence of white male scholars. The speaker humorously shares their experience of writing and submitting a paper titled “Embracing Fatness as Self-Care in the Era of Trump” under a pseudonymous activist identity for an academic conference.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses an identity-focused event impacted by COVID-19, resulting in a shift from an in-person to a virtual conference. The abstract of an activist named C Matheson, based in Austin, Texas, was accepted by Dr. Cat Pause for the New Zealand Fat Studies Conference 2020. Matheson’s work focuses on supporting the non-binary and fat communities, with involvement in events like the women’s march, March for Our Lives, and climate strikes. Matheson’s paper, titled “Embracing Fatness as Self-Care in the Era of Donald Trump,” argues that fatness serves as a distancing mechanism from Trump and his supporters, creating protective ideological and physical space. A content warning is issued for discussing fat phobia, and Matheson connects Trump’s election to existing societal bigotries while pointing out that Trump’s fat phobia has been less scrutinized.

00:06:00

In this segment of the video, the focus is on the societal and political dynamics of fatphobia, particularly in relation to President Trump and his derogatory remarks about individuals’ appearances. The commentary highlights how Trump’s attacks often target women and extend to international figures like North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, whom Trump called “short and fat.” The speaker criticizes responses to Trump that perpetuate fatphobia, such as Atlantic writer Bess Levin’s comments about Trump’s weight.

The discussion broadens to mention how members of the progressive left also engage in fatphobia in their critiques, including an example where Joe Biden called an attendee “fat” during a campaign event. The segment transitions into the importance of self-care in the era of Trump, emphasizing the need to reclaim and affirm fatness as part of self-care. Quotes from the New York Times are used to illustrate how self-care often connects health with exercise, showcasing inherent anti-fat biases. The conversation then touches on the concept of space in self-care, both ideologically and physically, and shares a personal anecdote about the speaker’s experiences with non-consensual touching during younger years.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker recounts their personal journey with weight gain and how it led to a deeper understanding and acceptance of their body. Initially motivated by friends and family comments to ‘take better care’ of themselves, a pivotal incident occurred at a gas station where an inappropriate advance made them realize their additional weight served as a form of protection. This incident prompted the speaker to identify as fat and embrace it as a form of self-care and resistance against toxic masculinity and rape culture. They highlight how being perceived as fat afforded them physical space, crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker contrasts the disregard shown by individuals not wearing masks with their own sense of safety gained through their body size, ultimately arguing that fatness, often seen as a threat, can actually be life-saving.

00:12:00

In this segment, the speaker emphasizes the notion of personal fatness as a form of resistance against societal norms such as homophobia and fatphobia. He argues that increasing waist size symbolizes increasing power and self-determination free from societal standards of health. The speaker asserts that fatness is a visible declaration of non-conformity and independence against arbitrary health standards and societal bullying. Surprisingly, these ideas were accepted at a prestigious academic conference and received positive feedback, highlighting the concern that academia might propagate unfounded concepts as scholarly truths. This acceptance could lead to these unconventional ideas influencing future professionals like lawyers, doctors, and teachers, potentially embedding such notions deeply into societal norms.

00:15:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the evolution and impact of higher education on culture, particularly focusing on the rise of queer studies in the late 1980s and its subsequent development over the following decades. The speaker criticizes modern academic approaches, especially those promoting gender fluidity and the acceptance of extreme obesity, arguing that these ideas are unfounded and harmful. They express concerns that such academic pressures endanger lives by prioritizing egos and financial interests over health. The video concludes with a call for viewers to share the content and a plug for merchandise, with some dismissive remarks about critics.