There is a subtle but growing backlash in the fashion world over the "Loose 2" theory among female models (It is said that a woman model with any chance of being taken seriously in fashion needs to be a "loose 2" dress size.)
The fashion world has reacted by coming out with rules governing weight loss in hopes of detracting attention from a worsening public image and the message it sends to young girls.
But the music industry continues to perpetrate the myth that thin is in: Album covers feature idealized stars that have no hopes of looking like they do in promotional materials yet the image is plastered everywhere. The fact is that, in an age of "keeping it real" these artists - and by extension their music - dwell in unreality.
Now this is a separate issue from ,photoretouching (if you go to this link, mouse over the image) which is practiced by media outlets everywhere (here's another one). I'm specifically talking about models' bodies here.
A "real beauty" campaign by Dove last year featured ads with real women with real body shapes and did much to counter the message that skinny chicks get the models. It is said that Tyra Banks, who is packing on the pounds, is being ordered to lose weight for "America's Next Top Model". What is incredible about that, is that ANTM is her OWN SHOW! Will she cower to the TV executives and try to lose weight, or will she stand up and show off her real "bootylicous {her words}" beauty? So far she has compromised by executives only allowing the top half of her body to be shown, since the lower half is obviously not in line with "ANTM" ideals. But why should she have to hide her body? What do you think?
3 comments:
I think it's stupid. It sends out a message to everyone's subconscious that if they are not thin, they won't be happy. But that's what the media does and has done forever...send out messages they want you to be sucked into; not anything that really makes sense.
January 16, 2009 at 10:31 AMFirst off, I love your blog...
January 17, 2009 at 1:15 PMThe message being sent is the wrong message and I'm glad that you and others notice that. I hope the kids, and not only kids but average women these days, know how to fend off this craziness as well. There's enough people with eating disorders, our society seems to want to promote that.
Yeah, the photoshopping of just about every image out there in media has really gone too far and is ridiculous. They photoshop every single thing, like lines on hands, toes, etc. *SMH* I don't agree with it, but since I know that you cannot trust any picture that you see, I feel better knowing that the image that I am looking at has been manipulated and the people in them are real human beings, not perfect folks who've never had cellulite, stretch marks or fat rolls. As far as Tyra, I see where they are going with the whole image thing and the execs prolly don't want her to get too big, but I think Tyra's beautiful the way she is and she definitely shouldn't have to "hide". Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, not just size 2.
January 23, 2009 at 3:50 PMPost a Comment