When you first think about an argument, the picture that pops into most people’s head involves two people, eyes bulging, voices raised, and fists pumping through the air while incoherent words are being sputtered back and forth in anger. While this may be true in some cases, I am slowly learning that arguments are everywhere and don’t necessarily require any words to be spoken or written to make it so. A simple picture can arise more conflict and public distress then words ever could.
The picture I have chosen to analyze was incredibly ironic to me. It showed a common theme in society now a day’s which is that of this unnatural obsession with weight. It shows a very thin, pretty girl standing on a scale while eating a bar of chocolate. It seems as though she is fighting this internal battle as to whether or not this piece of chocolate will somehow turn her suddenly obese, and so she stands on the scale to make sure nothing changes. Her eyes show this unnatural fear of having any sort of weight change occur, but at the same time she seems incredibly happy to be eating the chocolate, as though she hadn’t really enjoyed food in a long time. It is really disturbing to me just how accurate, although a tad bit exaggerated, this image is. We look through magazines and watch television, and now have it in our heads that the “ideal” body is to be as thin as possible, and usually with large breasts. It now gives normal women this incredibly high standard to live up to if they themselves want to be considered “beautiful”. This has resulted in an incredible increase in women with eating disorders and self-image problems, as well as an influx in cosmetic surgery. It really is a shame to see just how influential the media and society can be on an individual’s outlook on everything, including themselves.
When we look at other cultures, women that are heavier are sometimes considered much more beautiful and are sought after by men. They see weight as a sign of health and wealth rather than as a detriment. This is a perfect example of how the media really controls everything. If we had grown up watching television shows where larger women were featured as beautiful, we in turn would most likely find that to be beautiful and strive to have that body type. Unfortunately we have become very impressionable due to the media and skinny girl propaganda, and have stopped embracing the many different sizes and shapes women come in. There is now only one really sought after body type: skinny. It is a shame to watch as the "lose weight now" epidemic floods throughout America, but it is my hope that this will not cause any more damage to perfectly healthy women. We should strive to be healthy and fit, not to starve ourselves to near nothingness.
Amanda, first I would like to start off by just saying I loved the topic and picture you decided to use for your blog. I will start off by talking about your picture of choice; the woman standing on the scale while eating chocolate was a great choice. The picture was entertaining, while also being so accurate with living in today’s society. I highly enjoyed reading your blog and your topic, especially because I am a woman living in this society and live by the standards in which you referred to. I know what it is like to live day by day, feeling like I’m being judged by my body type or weight. I also liked how you wrote about how in other countries, bigger women are thought to be beautiful over thinner ones. It should be in the USA, as it in other countries, which it is okay to be thicker and still be considered beautiful. You are a very well writer and your blog could possibly inspire many young women to realize that they do not have to be picture perfect and super skinny to be considered beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, great choice of picture, and good job tying the issue with the influential power of the media. It's not only true that different body structures are appreciated in different cultures, but also throughout time. Flappers, who were notoriously skinny and delicately built were seen as gorgeous during the twenties, and years later, the fashion trend changed, flashing the spotlight on thicker women. On top of "fashion" trends, like you mentioned, the media is an excellent at influencing people's perceptions of what is deemed beautiful in today's society. You'll hear hundreds of miracle weight loss pills and diet plans, and see thousands of young actresses equally-framed. Again, great choice of visual: You described well the fear in her eyes mixed with happiness. I liked your assumption that she probably hasn't tasted something like that in a long time, and it's truly emotionally unhealthy. Women are really self-aware creatures, and you can tell that by the way she eyes the camera, as if caught doing something terribly wrong. I agree with you to strive on good healthy and physical fitness, but leave this obsession with what the media portrays as an ideal body behind.
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